It’s rare to get quality time with one child when you have three but when I was invited to a briefing at Downing Street with the PM Sir Keir Starmer, no less, I took the opportunity to make it into a mini break with my eldest son Oliver, with two days away.
My back is still causing leg pain (physio resumes soon) but I braved the streets of Covent Garden and beyond (grabbing cabs when the pain relief faded) and Oliver and I lapped up a wonderful cocktail of culture, shopping, eating, and parklife in a thrilling way only London can offer.
We did and ate so much I would need days to write about it all but highlight below include:
Visits to the National Gallery and National Portrait gallery. Sharing photos of some of the highlights from the Stubbs: Portrait of a Horse exhibition at the National Gallery to viewing pop culture icons, royalty, notable scientists, sportsstars and artists’ self portraits at the Portrait Gallery.
Greek yoghurt with thyme honey and fresh fruit with a side of Greek coffee (sketo for me) from Athens at Fresco.
Shopping in Covent Garden with purchases for Oliver and I from Abercrombie and Fitch, Space NK and Office respectively. We also hit some charity and book shops.
Resting by the fountains at Trafalgar Square as the sun shone.
A moment of reflection at the statue honouring the women of World War 2, and a quick photo of the Royal Horse Guards before a stroll around St James Park admiring the white and pink cherry blossom in full bloom.
Watched Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre: a lively, jazz-infused folk score set in a Depression-era, post-apocalyptic New Orleans. An adaptation of the mythical and utterly heartbreaking love story of Eurydice and Orpheus set in the Underworld (the subplot focuses on Persephone and Hades’ relationship), was the first choice for a theatre visit for me. Having written a bestselling children’s book on Greek myths this was a layered experience for me, especially as Persephone and the Six Pomegranate Seeds is my most loved myth.
People watching. London is only second to Paris when it comes to cafe culture and people watching. We got to talk, put the world to rights and laugh. Oliver and I share the same sense of humour so bonding is easy for us. This was certainly a memorable trip. Next time we visit, it will be a whole family shindig.
Picking up this week’s edition of Woman magazine in Sainsbury’s with a piece about my work as a creator and how my children contribute to my content within!
My visit to Downing Street for a briefing with the PM, Sir Keir Starmer (whilst Oliver enjoyed an al fresco cafe in St James Park).
What a memorable trip.
Have you been to London lately?
Order my debut children's book
Greek Myths, Folktales & Legends for 9-12 year olds
Published by Scholastic. Available on Amazon
