A last-minute(ish) solo trip to London turns into a soulful getaway with city wanders, unexpected clarity, and a little Harry Potter magic.

2024, The Year of Destination Concerts

This was such a fun way to experience places, old & new, and connect with myself, colleagues, friends & fam. London was no exception. But first, we must explain how we got to this moment….

Picture this: You’re knee deep in a spreadsheet early one afternoon when finally you’ve come to a good stopping place where you’re ready to take a break, or, you’ve been staring at the numbers for so long that they all sort of blend together and if you don’t do something else for a minute, you’re going to end up messing up some very simple formulas…All of the sudden, you find yourself pausing your playlist and googling one of your favorite artists because you knew she’d be on tour — and you found that instead of picking your usual closest location, you’re inspired to look at other dates in other places. Low and behold, you find that she is going to be playing some shows in London very close to when you are going to be in Paris.

TL;DR: I was already going to the Eras Tour in Paris and saw that Kacey was playing in London a few days after and was like—why not??? Someone help me kick this impulsive habit?? I’m not mad about it though.

I love how quite often these trips sort of come together last minute—but perfectly. There is always something that starts the domino effect – in this case, already being in Europe & a quick train ride away. Love a solo date to another country. And so the trip begins…

The Journey: Paris to London (With Baguette in Hand)

From my Parisian home base, I was off to Gare Du Nord in Paris to take the train. Honestly super easy & quick to get there. I will always choose taxi over metro when traveling with lots of luggage, which seems to be always lately—and give yourself extra time so you’re not rushing. There can be lines but they seemed to move pretty efficiently. Quick tip: buy train tickets in advance of departure date & look into if you feel the business upgrade is worth it. It was not for me this time around. Check out this Eurostar class description from The Points Guy which explains them in detail.

You can grab a lil’ baguette sandwich, drink or snack for the train. NGL, I was not looking forward to the short underground-underwater situation, but we survived. Having my Apollo Neuro helped! Can’t live without it.

Everyone on the train was pretty much a Swiftie heading home from the Eras Tour weekend. I felt at home amongst my fellow destination concert travelers.

Platform 9 ¾ and the Magic Moment I Didn’t See Coming

Arriving at St. Pancras Station… I walk out and suddenly—KINGS CROSS. I had not thought about this for one second and was completely surprised and delighted to find myself in a Harry Potter moment. Thrilled would be an understatement.

I rushed over to play pretend, buy all the merch, and watch the muggles take pics with the luggage cart going through the wall. Genuinely curious, how many people do you think ask for Platform 9 ¾ at the customer service desk thinking they’re being cute? Thought about it.

It might sound silly, but this moment was extremely underrated at the time. It tapped me into something deeper within the first minutes of arriving in London. A reminder of childhood magic, joy, intuition, and how sometimes travel shows you something you didn’t know you needed to remember.

At the hotel trying on said merch ⬇️

Where I Stayed: Inhabit Queen’s Gardens (Design Hotel, Marriott) in Paddington / Hyde Park

TBH: This was one of those very last-minute bookings. I procrastinated hard but ended up choosing based on location, Marriott loyalty, wellness perks, and—if I’m being honest—an angel number that showed up in the final price to seal the deal. Sold. We vibe first -> affirmed later.

It’s considered London’s first mindful hotels.

Highlights:

• Solid breakfast setup (downstairs restaurant only)
• Salt room & infrared sauna (book in advance!)
• Adaptogenic lattes, yes please
• Meat-free menu, so plan accordingly
• No room service, but still cozy and comfortable

⬆️ When you can’t order just one morning beverage

Sushi and IRL Connection

All settled into the hotel and off to explore! One of the things I love most about being a traveler is that there are almost always people to connect with in the cities you land in. Sometimes you plan it out, sometimes it’s spontaneous—and sometimes, the trip is just for you. But this one? This one was about shared experiences.

Even though the trip was short, it felt mighty. I got to meet up with an online podcasting friend IRL—Anthea Bell—and we had the most tasty sushi at Oka in Marylebone. Such a cute neighborhood! You can actually check out our podcast episode together here: Anthea Bell on Embodiment. So fun when internet connections turn into real ones.

If I Were Planning My First Trip to London (Knowing What I Know Now)…

Even though this particular trip was less touristy and more of a mix between intentional and spontaneous (if those two things can live in the same sentence), if I were planning my first-ever London adventure—I’d approach it a little differently than just booking the typical “must-see” spots.

Anchor the trip with 1–2 experiences you’re genuinely excited about—maybe a concert, a tea tasting, or a walking tour—and build around that. It helps keep the energy intentional rather than checklist-y. When the trip has a focal point, everything else can flow more intuitively.

Stay in a central-ish neighborhood with charm. Ask yourself: What kind of vibe do I want to come home to at the end of each day? Your “home base” shapes the whole experience.

Give yourself a buffer day if you’re planning a big destination event. Seriously—check in with your travel self: Are you someone who needs rest and recovery after long-haul flights and time zone shifts? Or can you hit the ground running? I was lucky to already be on a similar timezone for this one, but I’ve learned how important it is for me to go slow the first couple of days when I land in Europe from the U.S..Or is jet lag a choice? As Mother Taylor Swift once said after the Super Bowl…I think about that line a lot now when traveling and setting the intentions of how I’d like a trip to go.

Explore as much as possible, but stay grounded in your own pace. See things through the eyes of awe and wonder—especially if it’s your first time. And if you’re a repeat visitor? Choose neighborhoods or corners of the city you haven’t seen before.

If you’re going solo—claim it. I felt incredibly comfortable traveling solo in London. Native language, accessible transit, plenty of people I could ask for recs, and a manageable few-day trip all added up to feeling free and capable. It was main character energy at its finest.

And finally, don’t overschedule or get caught in the “shoulds”—unless there’s something iconic you truly want to experience. Ask yourself: What’s my version of London? It doesn’t have to include every landmark or museum. Tune into the energy of the trip—whether that’s history, art, music, food—and let that be enough.

And if you do want to weave in the most popular, staple sites? That’s amazing too. 🫶

Concert Time: Kacey at The Roundhouse

The Roundhouse was such a cool venue. I recruited a local U.K. friend as a fellow concertgoer. We got there right when doors opened—thought this was a good idea since we had standing room tickets but I felt like it ended up being a rookie mistake. Not much to do inside if you’re not drinking, and food options were limited. But Kacey? Kacey was amazing. The acoustics were so warm and full. It felt like the perfect size to actually feel and be in the music. I had seen her before in D.C. at Capital One Arena for the Star-Crossed Tour and these could not have been more different experiences. I loved being able to actually have that contrast to learn what kind of venues I enjoy.

Post-show? Uber Eats to the room, obviously. Greek food for the win. I have become that person that leaves right before the last songs are ending to skip lines and wild crowds.

Fish ‘n Chips (Because I Know You’re Wondering)

One afternoon, a local U.K. friend made a reservation at The Ivy – Tower Bridge for us to catch up and it was so good. I absolutely vibe with the feeling of being in one of the world’s most iconic cities, sipping espresso, eating crispy fish, and talking life + work with a view. There are countless amazing spots for Fish ‘n Chips, but this was the choice winner for this trip.

Reflections: A Pivot I Didn’t Expect

This trip felt different from every other London visit I’ve had. It was less touristy, more intuitive. Just a few key things to fill my cup—and somehow, that was more than enough.

The soundtrack? Full-on in the feels—more So Long, London from The Tortured Poets Department on repeat and less London Bridge. Bittersweet, without yet fully knowing why.

Sometimes, we travel to find answers. Other times, the answers find us when we least expect them. And lately, I’ve realized that even with the best intention-setting, you don’t always know the real reason for a trip until it’s over—or even months after you come home.

As much as I love the connections I have there—and, let’s be honest, the accent—I’ve never fully felt like London was my city. Living there? Not quite me (yet). So, with that being said… ⤵️

6 things I might want to do on my next London inspired trip:

Somehow didn’t manage to take a phone booth selfie. Just a pic of the actual phone booth itself. Rookie move.

I was completely enamored with the touch-to-pay metro readers—clearly I hadn’t been out of the house in a while, because this felt really futuristic to me. But… cue the chaos during rush hour when my card wouldn’t load and people were trying to push past me. Even better? I couldn’t figure out the ticket machine in the first place. Love that for me.

Forgetting to bring the UK plug converter and barely managing before being able to go buy one and charge my phone.

✨ Honorable Mentions 

Casual strolling through Hyde Park — The kind of beautiful place that has enough space for you and your thoughts.

City life! The energy, the bustle, the architecture… everything felt alive.

Walking through the City of London / Financial District gave me a full-circle moment. After working in insurance for 10 years, being surrounded by so many of the world’s most iconic finance buildings like Lloyd’s of London hit in a nostalgic way I didn’t expect.

Seeing one of the filming locations & inspirations for Diagon Alley / Leaky Cauldron in Harry Potter & The Sorceror’s Stone (aka Leadenhall Market). I geeked out hard.

P.S. ✈️

I’ve found I enjoy it most when I’m visiting a place with a clear purpose or an inspired reason. Lately, I’ve been learning to really honor that feeling when I travel.

Sometimes, we book the ticket first. Sometimes, the clarity comes after. But every now and then, we get to travel with intention—and it changes everything.

If you’ve been craving a shift, planning a solo escape, or simply want to reconnect with what’s next, my Travel Vision Sessions are designed to help you align your next chapter with your next destination.