Louise and Amy Visit London & Paris!
Edinburgh to London
Having had a relaxing and surprisingly quick journey down from Edinburgh on the LNER train, being looked after by very attentive staff, we arrived in London mid-afternoon. Finding the underground was easy as it is situated right at King’s Cross and we arrived to the H10 London Waterloo Hotel in around half an hour. The reception provided us with a warm welcome and the added bonus of a refreshing drink!
We dropped off our bags and headed out to see some of London’s iconic attractions such as Big Ben and The London Eye before finding somewhere to eat right across from Trafalgar Square.
The weather wasn’t ideal for much sightseeing but the gorgeous Sky Bar in the hotel made for the perfect place to unwind, boasting panoramic views of the London skyline from their outdoor terrace and cosy comfort inside. After a day of travel we were ready to enjoy a good night’s sleep before a full and exciting day ahead.
London
After an ample breakfast with something for everyone, we set off to see some more of the sights in between appointments. We spied some Beefeaters down by the Tower of London, strolled across Tower Bridge…
…before heading along the South Bank towards the fantastic Borough Market!
Borough Market is a must if you want to try different cuisines, whether it’s oysters, chocolate covered strawberries, fresh pasta or empanadas, there really is something for everyone. Not only do they offer plenty of choice for that day’s lunch, it also offers a variety of fresh fruit & veg, homemade ciders and lots of sweet treats which make perfect gifts!
Shortly after we found ourselves ready to get checked in for the next leg of our journey on the Eurostar in London St Pancras. The journey to Paris was very smooth with a lovely meal and great comfortable seats in the Standard Premier service.
Paris
Having had a comfortable first night in the Hotel de Noailles, we headed out to explore Paris after a breakfast of coffee and croissants. We had a busy day of meetings but got time to have a quick wander up the Champs-Elysées, admiring the creative displays of some of the world’s leading fashion designers including as Dior and Louis Vuitton.
Paris is known for its café culture so it would have been rude not to sample some of the amazing food that’s on offer, including the famous croque monsieur!
Afterwards we headed towards one of the city’s most famous landmarks; the Eiffel Tower. It was bustling with tourists but we managed to get some great pictures!
We then headed back to the Hotel de Noailles for a quick freshen up before heading back out to do some shopping and see the Arc De Triomphe which looked stunning lit up at night.
The next morning we took the metro to the Grand Palais and walked through the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries towards the famous Louvre Museum where lots of tourists were waiting to see the Mona Lisa in all her glory!
We transferred to the Lorette Astotel for our final night which was in the perfect location for some amazing bars and restaurants.
Our last morning we decided to hop on a River Seine Cruise which was fantastic! Definitely a great way to enjoy a sunny day seeing Paris from the river and enjoying more of the beautiful architecture. I was delighted to have seen the Notre Dame up close as it was one landmark I had yet to see.
After the cruise we wandered through several different districts which was fascinating to see so many different cultures in one city. We stumbled into a few bakeries to get some last minute treats to take home!
Before long we found ourselves at the iconic Moulin Rouge and just had to get a picture! The shows were already booked out for the days we were there, so if this is on your bucket list then be sure to book early.
We found that using our Visite Paris cards, purchased from the self service machines in the Metro, gave us unlimited travel on the Metro and local buses (within certain zones) for a set number of days. These wonder of mobile technology and search engines will keep you on the right path, bus or Metro line to help you get around the city with minimal fuss. After a quick bite to eat we set off for Charles De Gaulle airport for our flight back to Edinburgh!
To find out more about Louise and Amy’s visit to London and Paris, or if you are interested in a similar trip, give the team a call on 0131 243 8098 or send us an email.
