I squeal with delight as I read my schedule for the month—London! My first international flight and I get jolly old London. Better yet, I would be flying with one of my favorite stews. Ok, so I had been there before, a few times in fact, but this time would be different. I was actually grateful that I had already crossed all the obligatory sites off my list and could dig a little deeper into the city.

But first, caffeine.

Coming in on the red eye means one thing-coffee! Lucky for me there was a Marks and Spencer just steps from the tube station exit. At the bottom of the massive department store chain lives the food hall. We swung in for a giant coffee, sausage rolls and snacks to take on the road. If we didn’t have lunch plans I would have load up my purse with their pre-made sandwiches. I’ll go ahead and pat my own back for showing some restraint.

Pro Tip: When coming in on a red eye flight, experiment with a sleep schedule that works for you. Personally, I take a 4-hour power nap before going exploring. Waking up is like an episode of The Walking Dead but ultimately worth it. I usually set a wake-up call just to make sure I get up. I find I am more functional and have more energy to see the sights. Some people prefer to go out right away and plan for an early night. Find what works for you.

Pinky’s Up, Dahling

Why is tea time not a bigger deal in the US? Popularized in the early nineteenth century by the 7^th Duchess of Bedford, it started as a light snack to combat the afternoon slump but quickly became a lovely excuse to recharge and catch up with friends. For us, it was a lovely excuse to take a break after wandering around Hyde Park for hours.

Tea at The Orangery  at Kensington Palace is about as quintessential London as it gets. Plus, how posh is it having tea in the palace garden?!?

I suggest dressing a little nicer than your typical tourist. We spent the day wondering around town so we were rocking a casual chic vibe. The staff is far too polite make you feel unwelcome but the dishes alone really deserve more than torn jeans and tennis shoes.

Bond, James Bond

When you live life at 500mph, you appreciate fast cars.  There is no sexier collection then Bond in Motion at the London Film Museum. We walked into the fashionable lobby in Convent Gardens and were greeted by the pulsing sounds of the 007 theme song. The next hour or so my crew wandered around the museum in near silence as we admired the actual sports cars, as well as some of the tricked out creations, we had only ever seen on screen.

High Chai

Having done the traditional Afternoon Tea, we decided to mix it up a bit with High Chai at Cinnamon Soho. London has a strong Indian influence and I was intrigued by this melding of cultures. The Indian Masala Chai was heavenly and bite-sized goodies were spicy and delicious. The cinnamon bellini was an add on and worth every penny.

Give Me Liberty

Most stews head over to the iconic Herrods to wonder the massive department store and pick up a signature pouch I fell madly, deeply in love with Liberty. The store maintains an intimate, distinct personality despite floors and floors of stunning goods. I moved from room to room, swooning over fresh off the runway creations before I made my way to the accessories department. The store’s early history of selling Japanese and Eastern goods and being instrumental in developing the Art Nouveau style comes through in their artful custom fabrics.

Pro Tip: On the top floor, next to the Haberdashery department are bins of Liberty-branded handkerchiefs and dinner napkins (which also work as scarves) that make excellent gifts.

Bacon and Egg Martini Anyone?

A long day requires a cocktail, no? I was intrigued by London Cocktail Club creative cocktail offerings. From the outside the place looked a little dodgier than expected but that is part of the charm.  We managed to come on 2-for-1 night and the place was absolutely packed. Cheers to Bacon and Egg martinis and Brixton Riots complete with flaming passion fruit husk.

 The Slam-Clicker Layover

For those times when you just want to stay in, watch Secret Diary of Call on Netflix while eating curry from room service.