London — 2024
Mission log · 19–24 September 2024
VIEWSCREEN // LOG 2024
LONDON — 22/09/2024
Six days in London, from 19 to 24 September 2024 — from Tower Bridge and the London Eye to the British Museum, Camden Town and a breathtaking view from The Shard. Log below, day by day.
Day 1 — Thursday 19 September 2024
Arrival in London
Our departure from Schiphol, a flight with a view of the coastline, and an evening that grabs us right away: we walk along the Thames at sunset, watch Tower Bridge light up against the evening sky, and round things off with dinner at Flat Iron — steak and a toast between mother and daughter.
The last glimpse of Schiphol
12:14
Through the gate window I catch one last KLM plane on the tarmac, then we board for the short hop to London.
Before departure
12:15
Us at the gate for a selfie, breakfast on our laps — the trip has barely even started.
Above the coastline
14:50
From the plane window I look down on a jagged coastline far below, somewhere between the Netherlands and England.
By the water
19:05
B'Elana on the quay, shortly after arriving at the apartment — our first taste of London air.
Together on the boardwalk
19:05
Us on the wooden boardwalk along the water, our first walk together in the city.
Heading for Tower Bridge
19:09
Posing for the camera close to the bridge, the towers of Tower Bridge clearly visible behind us.
Sunset over the skyline
19:15
From Tower Bridge we look out over the City of London in golden evening light, the Thames calm beneath the bridge.
Street view with The Shard
19:25
A coach and pedestrians on a street that looks straight out onto The Shard — London showing itself off right away.
An English pub at dusk
19:32
A pub on the corner, lit up in colour against the blue evening sky — exactly the picture we expected of London.
At the table at Flat Iron
21:14
Me and B'Elana at the leather bar, menu still open — the first proper dinner of the trip begins.
Atmosphere in the restaurant
21:14
Through the wall of plants I catch a glimpse of the busy restaurant, full of chatter and the clink of cutlery.
A toast
21:29
Our glasses raised at the table, laughing at the camera — a real "we made it" moment.
Steak on the board
21:35
The famous Flat Iron dish on a wooden board, with refreshing cocktails alongside.
Tower Bridge by night
22:14
Walking back, we cross the bridge, now fully lit up and reflected in the dark water.
The Shard lights up
22:17
The spire of The Shard rises above the night-time skyline — a lovely close to a long first day.
Day 2 — Friday 20 September 2024
Harrods, Big Ben and the London Eye
We start the day with breakfast, take a detour past the windows of Harrods, and then comes the big outing of the day: a ride on the London Eye with breathtaking views over the city — and lots, and lots, of laughing selfies of us in the pod.
Breakfast with a view
08:51
Coffee and orange juice on the table in a bright restaurant — a calm start to a busy day.
Eggs Benedict
08:52
Eggs Benedict with salmon, ready to be devoured.
Mother and daughter on the street
09:58
Arm in arm on the pavement, a red double-decker in the background — on our way to Harrods.
In front of the façade
09:58
The three of us together in the photo, just outside the famous department store.
Big Ben against a blue sky
12:35
The clock tower up close, clouds drifting past — a must-have shot that never disappoints.
The Thames and the Eye in view
12:39
From the bridge we get our first sight of the London Eye, the afternoon's destination.
Waiting in the sun
13:01
A portrait on a terrace right by the big wheel, smiling in the midday light.
In the pod
13:38
In the Red Bull jacket, leaning against the railing while we wait to board the London Eye.
A silly pose up high
13:45
A laughing photo in the pod, with London's skyline visible in the background.
View over Hungerford Bridge
13:47
The river, the bridges and the rooftops of London from up high — exactly why we paid for the Eye.
The river bends
13:55
Another view, further along in the ride, with the bend of the Thames clearly visible.
Laughing in the pod
13:55
Mother and daughter cheek to cheek, beaming — the best of the many selfies in the wheel.
Looking out
13:56
Seen from behind, gazing out over the city as the pod slowly turns.
Catching our breath
15:05
Us at the table after the London Eye, ready for a late lunch.
Another steak
15:20
Another wooden board loaded with good meat — London clearly knows a good meal.
Evening walk along the river
19:18
Me and B'Elana together in the photo, the Thames in the background, evening light over the water.
An atmospheric room
19:48
A glimpse into a grand, softly lit interior — the day ends as beautifully as it began.
Day 3 — Saturday 21 September 2024
The British Museum and Camden Town
We go from the columns of the British Museum, past cases full of jade and Buddha statues, to the colourful chaos of Camden Town — two completely different sides of London in one day.
Early start
08:15
Our morning walk through a quiet street, before the crowds arrive.
Pastries on the way
09:31
An extensive second breakfast at the table — omelette and pancakes, just a treat along the way.
The British Museum's colonnade
10:32
The impressive front façade, visitors already gathering at the entrance.
In front of the museum
10:37
Me and B'Elana with arms around each other on the square, ready to head inside.
The Great Court
10:52
The famous glass roof over the courtyard, an architectural highlight in its own right.
Thousands of years of jade
11:08
A case full of old Chinese bronze jewellery and plaques, carefully lit.
Centuries-old paintings
11:10
A large religious panel with figures that have survived the centuries.
A stone guardian
11:18
A carved figure that has silently watched over a gallery for centuries.
Relief in stone
11:23
Finely detailed carving, seen up close.
Leaving the museum
11:55
One last look at the façade before we move on.
Arriving in Camden
12:21
The entrance to the tube station, the switch into a completely different atmosphere.
Colour everywhere
12:26
A market stall full of brightly coloured things — Camden Town in miniature.
Camden Lock
12:31
The famous sign by the lock, with the market in the background.
Teapot upside down
12:36
The Camden Tea Bar's lettering, back to front as seen from the other side of the glass — exactly the kind of detail that makes Camden so special.
Day 4 — Sunday 22 September 2024
Bus tour, Westminster and The Shard
Our day starts with an open-top double-decker past all of London's icons — Piccadilly Circus, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge — and ends high above the city, with cocktails and a hug hundreds of metres up in The Shard.
Breakfast before setting off
09:09
A well-loaded plate, ready for a day full of sightseeing.
On top of the double-decker
11:48
A selfie of us in the open air, wind in our hair, right in the middle of the city.
Piccadilly Circus
11:48
The famous neon signs, impressive even in daylight.
Westminster Abbey
12:12
The Gothic façade seen from the bus, one of London's most recognisable silhouettes.
Lunch on the go
14:42
Our table full of shared dishes — refuelling between two sights.
A statue among the skyscrapers
15:29
A sculpture in a quiet green square, glass and steel towering high above it.
Tower Bridge at dusk
19:06
From high up in The Shard we watch the bridge light up as evening falls.
Cocktails above the city
19:37
Our glasses of cola at a table with a view — time to enjoy the moment together.
RAW shot at The Shard
19:50
Possibly a sharper version of the skyline shots, worth viewing on its own.
London as a sea of lights
19:57
Thousands of lights stretching out to the horizon, seen from one of the highest points in the city.
A hug hundreds of metres up
20:02
Our spontaneous hug with the lit-up city as a backdrop — one of the loveliest moments of the trip.
One last look down
20:03
The city keeps impressing us, no matter how long we look at it.
Day 5 — Monday 23 September 2024
Piccadilly, Leicester Square and on to Heathrow
Our last full day in the city: one more morning of shopping and strolling around Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, then the train to Heathrow — with a hearty burger as our last London meal, right by the airport.
Heading to the station
13:05
A busy station hall, our suitcases in tow — departure is drawing closer.
The sign says it all
13:26
"Train to Heathrow T5" — the sign that our London days are nearly over.
On the train
13:27
Mother and daughter side by side, backpack as a pillow, on the way to the airport.
Arriving at Terminal 5
14:18
The distinctive, soaring roof of Heathrow T5 — almost home, but not quite yet.
View of the tarmac
14:54
By the window with a drink, planes coming and going in the background.
The last taste of London
15:08
Our last hearty burger and fries — a fitting close to a week of English food.
Together at the table
15:08
Our last meal together before the night at the airport hotel.
Day 6 — Tuesday 24 September 2024
Home before dawn
Us awake in the middle of the night, suitcases packed, walking through a deserted Terminal 5 toward the very first flight of the day — a quiet, almost cinematic end to our trip.
The hotel by night
03:38
The façade lit up in purple, the sky still pitch dark — time for us to leave.
Into the night with our suitcases
03:39
Us on our way to the terminal, the city still asleep.
Terminal 5, still nearly empty
04:00
A handful of early travellers scattered across the big hall.
Ready for the final step
04:01
Mother and daughter with the suitcases, heading for the check-in desk.
The terminal roof
04:13
An architectural shot of the distinctive, wavy roof, lit up in white against the dark.
One last look at Heathrow
05:04
One last look of ours at an empty departure hall in the early morning — London is over, the journey home begins.