Disembarking the Viking Sun and Exploring London
After 138 unforgettable days aboard the Viking Sun—our home away from home—we finally disembarked. Our “dorm” cabin had just enough space to hold all our “stuff” and, more importantly, a married couple of 39 years still very much in love (and not filing for divorce anytime soon!). In fact, we grew closer throughout the journey and truly cherished the quality time together.
Packing it all up
Packing was a challenge. We ended up buying an extra suitcase, bringing us to five large checked bags, two carry-ons, and two backpacks. All the large bags were packed just under Virgin Atlantic’s 70-pound weight limit. We knew we’d have to pay for the fifth checked bag (our Upper Class tickets included two each), but it was still cheaper than the luggage-forwarding service Viking offered.
Next Stop: London
Our next major milestone was getting all that luggage off the ship and over to the Hyatt Regency Churchill hotel on the west side of London—our home for the next seven days. We made it, but lugging those bags through customs, transport, and London sidewalks was exhausting!
Day 1 – Settling In & Exploring
After checking in, we headed to the post office to ship home a canvas painting that was too large for our suitcases—fingers crossed it arrives before we do! Then we hopped on the Underground into central London to explore Leicester Square, Covent Garden, and Chinatown, where we grabbed a delicious lunch. Later, we located the Wyndham Theatre in preparation for Friday night’s show, My Master Builder.
Day 2 – The British Museum
The next day, we spent hours at the British Museum—arguably the most comprehensive collection of ancient and historical artifacts in the world. Some pieces have fascinating (and controversial) stories about how they ended up in London. We loved every minute, and even walked all the way back to the hotel. We were definitely getting our steps in!
Day 3 – Oxford Excursion
On Thursday, we took a train to Oxford for an extended campus tour, including the famous Great Hall that inspired the Harry Potter dining hall. The entire campus is steeped in literary history—think the Narnia door and the lamppost from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. So inspiring!
Day 4 – Notting Hill & Theatre Night
Friday at noon, Gina and I headed to Notting Hill and strolled down Portobello Road, enjoying the street market and doing some people-watching. Sadly, no Julia Roberts sightings, but the vibe was unforgettable.
That evening, we attended My Master Builder at Wyndham Theatre. The cast—Ewan McGregor (Star Wars), Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown), and Kate Fleetwood (The Wheel of Time)—was phenomenal. The play, a tense dinner party drama centered around a past affair, was gripping and well-acted.
Day 5 – Westminster Abbey & More Theatre
Saturday took us to Westminster Abbey on a beautifully sunny day—and we weren’t the only ones! The crowds were massive and incredibly diverse. It’s been a while since we’ve seen London so alive with tourists.
Later, we attended Here We Are at the National Theatre, a Stephen Sondheim play (possibly his last). The cast included familiar U.S. TV stars like Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope), Jane Krakowski (30 Rock), and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family). The production was cleverly twisted between reality and performance—a unique and memorable show.
Day 6 – Hampton Court (May 11)
On Sunday, we visited the magnificent Hampton Court Palace, immersing ourselves in its history and grandeur.
Day 7 – Rest & Repack (May 12)
Monday was a much-needed rest and repacking day. Initially, we were planning some traveling around the london subway to get to see Kensington however, prior to getting to the station, the power grid flashed and all the trains stations closed and trains stopped. That was an omen that maybe we needed to wait for another time. So, we organized our bags, separating the essentials for Scotland, and arranged for the hotel to store our five large suitcases while we were away. A simple pizza dinner wrapped up the day, giving us time to recharge before the next leg of our journey.
Onward to Scotland!
On May 12, we boarded the LNER express train from London to Edinburgh. The four-hour journey through the English countryside was smooth, scenic, and fast. Our Scottish adventure begins next—stay tuned for the next blog post!
