London is the best. I went at the ripe young age of 16, but the memories will never leave me. The pictures, souvenirs, and memories that I acquired in London, United Kingdom have left me figuring out how to get back there. Although I spent quite a long time trying to locate my missing passport, finding adapters, and packing my bags, it was ultimately so worth it. If you love art, history, and culture as I do, a trip to London has to make its way onto your to-do list.

One of my favorite locations was the Tower of London. I spent a whole day reading about it’s history and seeing first hand what it was like. Probably most well known as a royal prison and place of torture, the Tower of London also served many other uses, from menagerie to stellar observatory. One of the most interesting parts of the Tower of London was seeing it’s famous ravens. The ravens that walk around the Tower have been occupants there for generations. A very old superstition keeps them there, one that says if the ravens leave, the kingdom will fall. The ravens have some of the most royal treatment of the Tower’s inhabitants, with their own personal handler and living quarters.

Big Ben is probably one of the most recognizable monuments in London. As the third largest clock tower in the world, this huge and incredibly beautiful tower is even more breathtaking in real life. It is readily apparent why Big Ben has been represented for generations in films, TV, and books. Standing at the base of the clock tower is a really neat experience. I’ll be the first to admit that I’d rather not get into inner-workings of the government, getting to visit Parliament was really pretty inspiring. Getting to see first-hand how the government of London, U.K. runs taught me a lot, and I left feeling happy that I decided to go.

Although it’s a little cliche, seeing the Changing of the Guard was a really cool experience as well. I didn’t pick a guard’s nose or try to make him laugh anything, they are armed after all, but I did get pretty close to have my picture taken. There are numerous locations where you can see the guards, including the Tower of London. The various parks and gardens in London make walking anywhere as adventure in itself. Huge ponds full of all kinds of birds, from swans to some funny looking ducks, walk around parks full of beautiful sculptures and breathtaking gardens. Seriously, the gardens are beautiful.

London’s shopping scene is just awesome. I got to visit Camden Market, which isn’t your ordinary shopping spot. Stretching on for as far as I could see, Camden Market offered everything from handmade bags to leopard print Doc Martins. So grab some money and your passport, as there is something for everyone at Camden Market, and I guarantee after a long day shopping, you can’t help but walk away with tons of stuff.

London really has so much available for everyone in your family to experience. Some of my greatest memories come from my London trip, and I hope that I will be able to go back someday. Even having to deal with a missing passport was worth the trip. If you have never been to London, I highly recommend going. You will not regret it.

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