Once we decided to turn Chris’s UK work trip into a family adventure, I devised several possible itineraries for when I’d be alone with the girls while Chris worked. After evaluating the driving situation and the train station, I was more comfortable taking the train into London and using the Underground than driving the rental car 2-3 hours outside Crawley to visit various sights.
We spent Sunday night through Friday morning at a hotel in Crawley, UK. Mad props to Chris for waking up, getting ready, and leaving for office work, knowing that the girls and I would be exploring. We did not see much of Chris during our week in Crawley. He was typically ready and out the door before we dressed for breakfast. He had team dinners in the evenings, so the girls and I were usually on our own for dinner, too.
While staying in Crawley, the girls and I got into a daily routine. Every morning we enjoyed the traditional English breakfast served in the hotel restaurant. After breakfast the three of us walked 20 minutes to Three Bridges train station and caught a train into London. It was $25/day for the three of us to ride the train into the city with unlimited Underground use while there, which felt like a deal. The “family gate” made it super easy to use public transportation as the girls could pass through the gates with me simultaneously rather than being separated once tickets were scanned. Every single train station and most Underground stations had someone attending the gates, so there was assistance and supervision close by, which felt more comfortable. That was not the case in Paris; a story for another time.
We spent a lot of time on the Underground, yet I did not capture a single picture of them with an Underground sign. I was shocked at how easy and clean the Underground system was in London. We could get everywhere we needed to go using our daily passes. One of my closest friends had visited London just a few weeks before our trip and had recommended using the Citymapper app for navigation and transportation logistics. Citymapper was a lifesaver and told me the fastest way (including estimated price) to get from one point to the next. It was fantastic and made the logistics easy.
MONDAY
Monday was our first day traveling solo, and we decided to explore the Science Museum. Every museum that we visited in London was FREE which is bananas, and we took complete advantage. We did have to get reservations, but for the most part, those were easy to come by.
I definitely bribed the girls with ice cream for good behavior. Since we typically had an extensive and late breakfast, we weren’t hungry enough for a traditional lunch. So! We’d explore a museum and then visit the cafe for treats and count how many English school groups we saw. It was surprising to see how well-dressed the schoolchildren in London were. Most school groups had the kids wear matching vests, hats, or, as you can see in this picture, matching neon bows, which felt very Madeline-inspired!
TUESDAY
On Tuesday, there was rain in the forecast, so we headed to the Natural History Museum and to the Victoria & Albert Museum. The girls LOVED the Natural History Museum, this ended up being their favorite London museum.
The V&A we weren’t planning on going to, but when we saw that it was across the street from the Natural History Museum and free to check out, we decided to explore!
The V&A's variety and the extensiveness of their collections was astounding. Despite the amazing reviews, I hadn’t put this museum on my radar, and I was so glad we fit it in. It’s known as the home of “art, design, and performance,” and it was unlike any other museum I’ve *ever* been to.
We saw statues by famous artists such as Rodin.
We saw jewelry dating back to 1500 BC. The jewelry collection spanned the entire length of history and even included Beyonce’s Papillon ring.
That evening we stayed in London for dinner since Chris was eating with his team. We made the best of it and enjoyed some excellent pizza!
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday, we took a break from museums and spent the day shopping and exploring a couple of covered markets. It was still rainy, but that didn’t stop our adventuring.
First up was Borough Market which was established in 1756! I love visiting food markets whenever I’m in a new city, so this was at the top of my list for London. It was, by far, the best food market I’ve been to…ever?! The only rival thus far would be Pike Place market in Seattle. Our travel agent, Alexis, had specifically mentioned the chocolate-covered strawberries, and they were a hit!
After Borough Market, we headed to Covent Garden. We walked around, enjoyed a street performance, and then headed to Hamley’s world-famous toy store. The girls had been doing chores for the month leading up to the trip in preparation for this outing, and it did not disappoint. Hamleys had SEVEN floors of toys for sale, and multiple toy demonstrations on every level. It reminded me of COSTCO, but for children.
Adelaide bought a world-famous Hamley’s bear, and Evie bought a hamster that runs around in a little ball. It was quite the experience!
That evening we made it back to Crawley and had dinner as a family. The girls even got to enjoy the hotel pool for an hour!
THURSDAY
Thursday, we took the train south to the coast to visit Brighton. Many of Chris’s coworkers recommended visiting Brighton while in Crawley. While waiting for the train in Crawley, a stranger named Tony introduced himself after hearing our American accents. Tony recommended trying the fish and chips and the donuts and visiting the pier while we were in Brighton. We sat by him on the train, and I enjoyed chatting with him for the 30-minute train ride. One of my travel highlights was meeting locals and hearing their stories. Tony had a fascinating love story, and I could not get enough! Perhaps a future book idea ;)
The Brighton Palace Pier is an amusem*nt park with rides and games situated on the water. It’s a very fun spot and we spent the day riding rides, walking the pier, and throwing rocks into the ocean. We tried the fish and chips for lunch and the freshly made donuts, which were fantastic.
After Chris wrapped up work for the day, he took the train down to Brighton and joined us for dinner by the sea. We had a great meal by the water and then took the train back to Crawley. It was a great way to end our time in Crawley.
I entered the trip feeling a bit unsure if it was wise for me to explore London and Brighton alone with the girls. I had a decent list of worries, but in the end my love of travel and adventure won out. I was so glad we decided to bring them along and that we had some girl time together. We had the best time exploring and seeing things through their eyes.
Next week I’ll be highlighting our family time in London!
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