While the majority of our trip centered on Switzerland, I had never been to London so we decided to break up the flight to Zurich by doing a quick stopover for 48 hours. Since it was such a short window, we wanted to make sure we stayed in a convenient location for accessing the sites and sounds of the city, and the neighborhood next to Tower Bridge, staying at the lovely Dixon Hotel, was just that.

There is so much to do and see in the capital of England, and with just 2 days in this history-filled urban setting, we definitely made the most of it. One of the reasons I love Europe is because it’s so easy to get around just by walking. In cities where I know there is a lot to see I try to make my own little walking tour . We started off by taking the train to Hyde Park, and that is where we began our nearly 20,000 step day one adventure. From Hyde Park you can walk directly to Buckingham Palace. We were there early, observing the grounds before the volume of tourists poured in. While we didn’t tour the palace, we did walk around it, capturing some family photos with the royalty’s residence. Being there early proved advantageous for the photo ops - pictures look a lot better without hundreds of your unknown, new best friends standing beside you. The state rooms at Buckingham Palace, which seem very worthwhile for a visit, are open for 10 weeks in the summer and by guided tours only in winter and spring. And, perhaps would have been perfect for a visit while our little one was still in his immobility phase of life.

From the Queen’s oversized home we headed to Parliament Square. You will pass by the Guards Museum and many other worthwhile stops depending on how much time you have. Parliament square is a great place to grab a coffee or a quick sandwich. From there, it’s a brief jaunt to Big Ben, London Eye, Paddington Station and finally, Westminster Abbey (where we bought the cutest little Paddington Bear for our Samuel Gianni in the gift shop). The weather was perfect for soaking in the scenery and our tiny little man had no problem finding himself napping in the stroller with plenty of natural sounds to play the role of our sound machine. Ancient architecture isn’t part of our hometown in Denver so it’s always a nice change to view structures with so much inherent history.

Next stop for us… Borough Market. You will likely need to take a cab to get there from Westminster Abbey, even if you’re a walking extraordinaire. (As a mamma pointer, the cabs in London are perfect for families with incredibly spacious interiors that can easily accommodate car seats, strollers and the whole crew). Located in the Central part of London, this market, which was recommended by a friend originating from the UK, is not only pretty, but has something for everyone. Flowers, food, drinks, clothing, jewelry… it’s also indoor and was a good reprieve from the summer sun.

Since our hotel was located next to the Tower of London we decided to go there in the evening before heading back to the hotel. Located right next to the Tower Bridge, you need to purchase a ticket to the tower which is really fun to walk around. We were incredibly lucky that the timing of our visit aligned with the Moat in Bloom during the Queens Jubilee. It continues every year from May to September with the entire moat around the tower filled with wildflowers. As you can see below, it’s absolutely gorgeous. There’s something about beautifully colored flowers with a castle as a backdrop that really works for me.