STARDATE 2025.261

SECTOR 01

LOG — 18 SEP 2025

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London — 2025

Mission log · 18–22 September 2025

VIEWSCREEN // LOG 2025

LONDON — 19/09/2025

Five days in London, from 18 to 22 September 2025 — log below, reconstructed from the mission planning. As soon as the photos with location data come in, the matching images will be added here for each day.

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Day 1 — Thursday 18 September 2025

Arrival in Sector 01

Up early for flight BA0423 to London. After landing we dropped our bags at Luggage Hero and headed straight for La Masseria for our first breakfast — the first of many, as it turned out this week. The afternoon went to the V&A Museum and the Science Museum, before we picked up our suitcases again and checked into our base for the week. Honest Burgers in the evening, followed by a walk past Primark.

Schiphol, the car park in the rain

The car park was already full before it got light — the alarm went off at a ridiculous hour, but the holiday had already begun the moment the car was parked.

On board BA0423

Boarded, seatbelts fastened, and the last quiet minutes before departure — BA0423 was ready to take us to Sector 01.

Landed — on to Liverpool Street

Feet on the ground, suitcases still in hand — the mission could officially begin.

The menu at La Masseria

Our first (and certainly not last) London breakfast — this place would remain our regular spot all week.

V&A Museum — baroque cabinet

Inside the V&A Museum this ornately carved baroque cabinet caught our eye right away — centuries-old craftsmanship, decorated down to the smallest corner.

V&A Museum — the façade

The stately red-brick façade of the Victoria and Albert Museum, with ornate arched galleries high above the courtyard.

Science Museum — the steam locomotive

From art to engineering: this nineteenth-century steam locomotive stood proudly in the Science Museum's main hall.

Honest Burgers, first evening

First evening, first burger — a fitting end to a long, full day.

Day 2 — Friday 19 September 2025

Sunrise over the city

Up early for Sunrise at Sky Garden — a ticket for the sunrise, including coffee and a croissant, well before the official opening time. Then back to La Masseria, followed by Tate Modern via St Paul's Cathedral and a visit to Southwark Cathedral. Later that afternoon to the Horizon 22 viewpoint, dinner at Flat Iron London Bridge, and the evening ended — as it often does in London — with the usual decision paralysis over what else we wanted to do.

Out early, quiet street

Out the door before six through empty streets — for Sunrise at Sky Garden we really did need to be on time.

Sunrise at Sky Garden

Above the city with coffee and a croissant, as London slowly woke up — well worth the early start.

Second breakfast, La Masseria

Back at La Masseria for breakfast number two — this week was clearly also about the food.

The three of us at St Paul's

An obligatory photo of the three of us on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral, one of the city's best-known silhouettes.

St Paul's Cathedral

The monumental façade, a defining part of London's skyline for centuries.

Across the Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern — from a baroque church to a former power station full of modern art.

The view from Horizon 22

High above the city at the Horizon 22 viewpoint — London's skyline stretched out in every direction.

Catching our breath above the city

Sitting down for a moment to catch our breath and enjoy the view — well earned after a morning full of steps.

Dinner at Flat Iron

An early dinner at Flat Iron London Bridge — steak, and the first of the evening's decision-paralysis sessions.

Day 3 — Saturday 20 September 2025

Markets and flavours

Breakfast again at La Masseria, followed by a Three Markets Tour with an extensive Indian tasting menu at New Globe Walk. Lebanese food in the evening at Bon Appetit.

Past Big Ben on the way

Past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, on our way to an afternoon full of markets and flavours.

Crowds during the Three Markets Tour

London on a Saturday doesn't hold back — busy, busy, busy.

Freshly prepared on the street

Freshly made, right on the spot — exactly what a market tour is all about.

Under the railway bridge at Camden

Among the wooden galleries and the distinctive satellite dish of Camden Market, among the stalls and the noise of the city.

The tea menu card

The extensive tea menu at New Globe Walk — plenty to sample for the rest of the afternoon.

The market from above

Seen from above: the market in full swing, with stalls as far as the eye can see.

We closed out the day with a hearty steak — after all the market snacks, still room for a proper dinner.

Day 4 — Sunday 21 September 2025

From graffiti to Camden

La Masseria for breakfast, then the colourful Leake Street graffiti tunnel and a walk through Maltby Street Market. The afternoon was all about Camden, and the day ended with dinner at Flat Iron Marylebone.

On the way to Leake Street

A quiet, empty street on the way to Leake Street — the sharp contrast with the tunnel that followed couldn't have been bigger.

The graffiti tunnel

The Leake Street graffiti tunnel: every inch painted, and completely different again by tomorrow.

Weaving between the spray-can colours — artists here literally paint right over each other.

A pub along the way

A short break along the way, between two sights.

View over the river

A view over the Thames from the window — London looks just as good from the water as it does from the street.

Charcuterie at Maltby Street Market

Exactly the kind of unexpected find this market is known for.

With the Shard in the background

London's tallest building made its presence known all afternoon.

Past a church tower

A church tower against a clear blue sky, somewhere among the afternoon's sights.

The harbour in the golden hour

Exactly the kind of light I hope for as a photographer.

Day 5 — Monday 22 September 2025

The journey home

Last morning: dropping off our bags, one more visit to La Masseria, and then Frameless — an immersive art experience near Marble Arch. Via Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Cecil Court to the pedestrian tunnel under the Thames at Greenwich, before we picked up our suitcases and took the Elizabeth line to Terminal 5 for flight BA0442 back to Amsterdam.

Frameless — colour in motion

A corridor full of moving light, as if we were walking through a work of art ourselves.

Frameless — the mirrored ceiling

One of the most photogenic corners of the whole exhibition.

A quick drink along the way

One more drink before the last round through the city began.

Past The Sherlock Holmes

One of those typically London corners we always seem to run into.

Statue at Victoria Embankment

One of the many statues lining the riverbank.

A walk along the Thames

With the London Eye and the skyline in the distance.

One last moment by the river

One last moment by the water before the real goodbyes began.

Waiting for the flight home

The suitcases were already checked in, the mission drawing to a close.

BA0442 heading home

From the plane window, on the way home — five days in London, safely tucked away in memory.

Out and about in London, September 2025

On the Tube escalator, September 2025

// Chief Engineer B'Elana had no trouble keeping pace on the Tube escalator.