London had been on our list for a long time, but life always had other plans. Until last week, it remained one of those cities we said we’d visit “one day.” Finally, that day came, and we made it there as a family for the very first time. This trip felt extra special because we weren’t just traveling for the sake of it—we were celebrating two important milestones: my husband’s birthday and our wedding anniversary. It felt like the perfect excuse to pack our bags, grab our toddler daughter, and escape to a city that everyone talks about but you can never fully imagine until you’re actually there.
We didn’t plan a strict itinerary. With a toddler, planning every minute is just asking for stress, and we wanted this trip to feel easy and fun. I flew to London a day before my husband and daughter. It gave me a chance to settle in and catch my breath before diving into family mode. Meeting them at Heathrow the next day was one of those heartwarming travel moments I’ll always remember. There’s a certain kind of joy in waiting at an airport, watching the arrival gates, and suddenly spotting your family after even a short separation. My toddler’s little hands waved excitedly when she saw me, and my husband’s relieved smile said it all—it was just an hour’s flight from Germany, but in that moment, it felt like a grand reunion.
We made a practical choice for accommodation. London’s central hotels are no joke when it comes to pricing. We looked at 4-star and 5-star options in the city, and the costs were eye-watering. It just didn’t make sense, especially for a family trip where comfort was more important than having a prime city address. So instead, we booked a 4-star hotel just one stop away from Heathrow airport, with a tube station conveniently nearby. From there, it took us about an hour to reach central London. Yes, it added travel time every morning and evening, but expense-wise it was the smarter choice. The money we saved on accommodation could be used for food, small experiences, and of course, books—because we never return from a trip without a few new reads.
I’ve always been fascinated by metro systems, and London’s Underground is one of the most famous in the world. Every time I stood on a platform waiting for a train, I couldn’t help but wonder how on earth cities manage to build these intricate tunnels without everything above ground collapsing. The engineering behind it feels almost magical to me, and it’s something I’ve promised myself to read about one day when I have the time. Riding the tube made getting around simple enough, though not always easy for my husband. With a toddler in a foldable baby wagon, stairs became his daily challenge. London doesn’t always offer lifts or escalators in its older stations, so he often ended up carrying our daughter, wagon and all, up and down multiple flights of stairs. We laughed about it later, calling it his unexpected London workout, but in the moment, it was hard work.
Our five days in the city were a mix of wandering, window shopping, family meetups, and soaking in the atmosphere. London has this energy that keeps you moving but also gives you endless spots to pause and just observe. We met up with relatives we hadn’t seen in a long time, sharing dinners and catching up on stories that felt both old and new. Our daughter enjoyed playing while the grown-ups chatted. It made the city feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more like home, even just for a while.
One thing that stood out to me instantly was the cost of everything. I had expected London to be pricier than Germany, but I wasn’t prepared for how absurd some price tags felt. A Coach bag that costs 475 euros back home was marked at 475 pounds in London. Same number, different currency, more expensive. It felt ridiculous. I remember staring at the display, doing quick mental math, and turning to my husband with a look that said, “Can you believe this?” We laughed and walked on, agreeing that window shopping was the only kind of shopping we’d be doing for luxury goods on this trip. The only real purchases we made were books. London has amazing bookstores, and we couldn’t resist the lure of their shelves. A good book always feels like a worthy souvenir, one that brings the trip back to life every time you read it.
When the weather turned gloomy and rainy one day, we decided to head to Westfield Centro. I’ve been to the Westfield mall in Germany, which is massive, but London’s felt like another level. It was huge, spotless, beautifully designed, and full of life. I’m not usually a mall person on vacation, but this was an experience on its own. We wandered through its endless corridors, admired the modern architecture, and enjoyed having a dry, warm space to let our toddler run off some energy. Compared to the one we know in Germany, London’s Westfield felt more appealing somehow, maybe because it was so lively and well-kept. It turned a rainy day into a surprisingly fun part of our trip, and I’ve decided to dedicate a separate blog post just to that visit.
But my favorite moments were the simple ones. Walking hand in hand with my husband while pushing our sleepy daughter through cobblestoned streets. Watching double-decker buses zoom by and hearing our little girl squeal every time she saw one. Finding quiet cafes where we could take a break, sip tea, and just people-watch. Stopping on bridges to look out over the Thames, feeling the city hum around us. These were the moments that made London feel alive for us.
And then there was the Uber Boat. I had never heard of it before, and the first time I saw one, I honestly thought it was a joke. I know Uber taxis. I rely on Uber Eats when life gets busy. But a boat? There it was, cruising along the Thames, looking every bit like part of the city’s transport system, with the Uber logo boldly displayed. People were boarding it casually, like it was the most normal thing. It made me laugh, the kind of innovation that feels both clever and slightly absurd. We didn’t get to ride it this time, but seeing it felt like one of those little discoveries that make you love a city even more. London doesn’t just move on land—it finds a way to turn its river into another bustling street.
Traveling with a toddler changed the rhythm of our days, but in the best way. We couldn’t do long museum tours or late-night dinners, but we got to experience the city through fresh eyes. Our daughter found joy in the simplest things—watching pigeons, pressing buttons on the tube ticket machines, waving at strangers who often waved back. These moments slowed us down and reminded us that a trip isn’t about doing everything, it’s about enjoying what you do together.
Every evening, as we rode the tube back to our hotel outside the city, I felt a pleasant tiredness. We’d sit there, my daughter sometimes asleep in her wagon, the day’s adventures still buzzing in my head. The hour-long ride back felt like a peaceful buffer between London’s energy and the quiet comfort of our hotel. It was the right choice, staying outside central London. We avoided the crazy hotel prices, had a comfortable place to sleep, and got to see another side of the city’s outskirts that most tourists probably miss.
By the end of our five days, London had left its mark on us. We may not have ticked off every landmark or splurged on fancy souvenirs, but we had something better: memories. We had the joy of that airport reunion. We had the adventure of navigating the tube with a baby wagon. We had laughter over silly price tags. We had rainy-day fun at Westfield Centro. We had family dinners that warmed our hearts. We had the surprise of an Uber Boat gliding past on the Thames. We had sunsets on bridges, books in our bags, and happiness stitched into every step we took together.
London reminded me that travel isn’t about how much you spend or how many places you visit. It’s about how you feel while you’re there and the stories you bring home. Our story of London is one of togetherness, first-time experiences, small joys, and a city that managed to charm us despite its expensive ways. We came back to Germany with fewer things than we might have if we’d stayed in central London, but what we carried in our hearts was worth far more than anything we could have bought.
