20230319_151916House of Parliament and Big Ben (March 2023)

My third day in London was a shorter and more-chill day: I was still battling jetlag and trying to catch up with rest, especially after two full days of non-stop sightseeing. Don’t get me wrong: I love being busy on my travels, but I’ve come to realize that I just don’t have the same stamina as I used to in my early 20s to go the full day without feeling absolutely knackered at the end of it. Call it age, but that’s life…all the same, “E” and I took it slow in the morning before we headed out close to noontime to begin our day.

We took the Tube to Borough Market, the oldest food hall in the city that dates all the way back to the 12th century! The market was packed with people, and we went through like cattle to get to stalls and try some food. E got some Thai food while I went with a classic steak and ale pie, which was absolutely DIVINE. Holy cow, I did not expect for it to taste so good (pun intended)! The steak was so tender and juicy, the gravy thick and savory, and the crust was massive, flaky, and rich– honestly I dream about that steak and ale pie to this day.

20230319_123242At the market


20230319_133559Steak and ale pie– SO good!

Borough Market also had a ton of other food options, like paella (which had a huge line), mushroom risotto, and massive ciabatta sandwiches the size of one’s face. E and I also opted for some drinks, including mulled wine and hot toddy, the latter an Irish drink consisting of hot whiskey and spices. It was still a chilly day in March, so those drinks warmed us up! The market also sells fresh produce and artisanal wines, cheeses, and teas– I ended up purchasing a box of loose-leaf Assam tea at one of the shops as a souvenir for my family. After all, when in England, you gotta buy some tea!

Full from food and drink, we took a stroll along the Thames, where we hit just about every major landmark by the river: Shakespeare’s Globe, London Bridge, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and so forth. We stopped briefly at another smaller, outdoor market for some drinks before we reached the site of the London Eye, House of Parliament, and Big Ben– I’d actually seen Big Ben back in 2015, just months before it was scaffolded for restorations, and I happened to be back just as it’d reopened four months prior. Big Ben looked a lot shinier and cleaner, which was a lovely sight to see.

20230319_153458Big Ben in all of its glory


20230319_153224Westminster Abbey

We saw a bit of Westminster Abbey from the outside before we caught the Tube to Primrose Hill, where we got some distant, but free views of London. After grabbing dinner at a nice Vietnamese restaurant near E’s flat, we had an early night in with a few TV shows and even the film 13 Going On 30 (which was very apropos for my 30th birthday then).

20230319_162733Views from Primrose Hill

I had one more full day of sightseeing in London (which I’ll recap in the next post), but I wanted to add in a few miscellaneous eats I had on other days I was in town: these were dinners following long day trips to other parts of the country, starting with Nigerian food. I hadn’t had much exposure to Nigerian food prior, but as there’s a notable Nigerian population in the UK, I was interested in having more of it. I opted for jollof rice and goat stew, which came in huge portions: I could barely finish it all, but it was all delicious.

20230321_193510Jollof rice and goat stew

Another night, I had the classic bangers and mash at a pub near my accommodation, along with an ale. I did not expect to like ale, but it was really tasty; I don’t like beer or carbonated drinks, and I’d expected for ale to be the same. Turns out it’s not carbonated, and it was like drinking beer without the bubbles– I’d definitely get it again! The bangers and mash was simple, but hearty and delicious. I also met up with my blogger friend Hannah from Travelling Han at the pub, and it was nice to meet her in person, after being online friends for a few years!

20230322_194121Bangers and mash and ale

On my final night in London, I met up with E again to get Malaysian food near Piccadilly Circus: it was roti with chicken curry and teh tarik, a hot milk tea and one of my favorite drinks. Overall, it was a lovely last meal in town before I would continue my travels elsewhere.

20230323_185233Chicken curry with roti and teh tarik

Stay tuned for the fourth (and final) day in London in the next post. Until then!

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

60 thoughts on “Destination: London, England (Borough Market, Strolling the Thames, and Miscellaneous– DAY 3)”

      1. Thank you! I will be commuting into London every day so not looking forward to getting up early or the pricy tickets but apart from that hopefully it will go well! Looks like you had a brilliant time! 😊

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    1. Same here! I don’t like carbonated drink for that reason; that’s why I rarely drink soda, beer, or even seltzer water! Ale was such a refreshing take on an otherwise bubbly beverage, and I really enjoyed it! Stay tuned for my next (and last) post on London soon!

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  9. All that food looks delicious! I was overwhelmed by the people and options at Borough Market, but we got some delicious sandwiches. Afterwards we walked along the river taking in all the sights too. So fun to meet Hannah! Her and I keep just missing each other on some travels.

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  11. Borough Market is wonderful! I’m there a lot as my husband runs, and I volunteer with, a charity that helps to redistribute the food left over at the end of the day to people who need it 🙂 I’m betting your pie was from Pieminister, one of the stalls that donates their surplus food regularly. But did you know that the tower you photographed on the Houses of Parliament isn’t Big Ben? That’s the name of the bell inside the tower, but the tower itself is the Elizabeth Tower 🙂

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    1. Right! I went to Pieminster: such a good pie, and it’s great to learn that it donates surplus food to reduce food waste! Yes, I am aware of the tower being called Elizabeth Tower, so Big Ben is just shorthand for the overall monument. Thanks for stopping by!

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  18. That’s a great area of London. We usually stay above a pub very close to where Blackfriar Bridge hits the south bank and much of those things are within walking distance. Great sites and great food – what more could you want?

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  19. Borough Market is our absolute favourite spot for London bites, such a great vibe to the whole place. Have never tried Nigerian food before, think I’ll make a note of that for the next time we’re in London. You certainly had some good eats in this piece.

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    1. I really enjoyed Borough Market, lots of good food and drink to keep you busy for a long time! Nigerian food was delicious, too, and I’m glad I tried it! Hope you can eat it soon!

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