After three weeks in Morocco, we touched down in London — ready for familiar faces, cooler weather, and a comforting dose of home life before the next leg of our journey.
A Warm Welcome in Greenwich
We arrived at Gatwick and made our way by train to Maze Hill Station in Greenwich, just a short walk from Nicola’s sister Jenny’s house. It was wonderful to be greeted by family after two months of hostels, hotels, and hauling our backpacks around. Ruby was home from school first, eager to tell us stories and introduce us to their two mischievous kittens, Pebbles and Hevie.
That evening, once everyone was home, we headed to the Cutty Sark Pub — my first proper English pub in years. After weeks of tajines and couscous, I was craving something classic: fish and chips with a cold pint. Sitting in the cozy pub, with the Thames and the lights of London just beyond the window, I felt completely content.
A Night at the Theatre
The next day, while everyone was at work or school, Nic and I decided to head into central London to see a show. We settled on Wicked — neither of us had seen it before, and it was fantastic. Our seats were good, the production was incredible, and the music stayed in my head for days. Before the show, we found a pub for lunch where I had roast beef with Yorkshire pudding — easily one of the best meals I’ve had in months.
Family Time and Everyday Moments
Friday was laundry day — the kind of ordinary day that’s oddly satisfying when you’ve been living out of a backpack. Jenny’s washing machine had broken just before we arrived, so she and Nic spent the morning at the laundromat while I enjoyed a quiet start. That evening, Nic cooked dinner — her first time cooking in weeks — and it was such a treat to have a home-cooked meal again.
Saturday was a busy day for Jenny’s family, so Nic and I wandered around Greenwich on our own. Nic popped into a hairdresser for highlights, and I went geocaching (unsuccessfully, I might add). That night, instead of going out for pizza as planned, we stayed in for Jenny’s homemade curry — and honestly, I wouldn’t have traded it for any restaurant meal.
Escaping the City: The New Forest
On Sunday morning, we traded city streets for countryside charm and took a train to Brockenhurst, a small town in the New Forest. I wanted to experience a quieter, small-town side of England, and it didn’t disappoint.
Our B&B was cozy and full of quirky touches — folded toilet paper with stickers, disposable bath mats, and even a tiny dish for used tea bags. For breakfast, we were treated to the full English: sausage, bacon, eggs, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast.
We spent our first afternoon wandering the village, finding geocaches, and discovering local spots we’d never have seen otherwise. The New Forest is beautiful and unique — wild ponies, donkeys, and cows roam freely through the streets and fields. You have to watch where you step, but it adds such a rustic charm.
Biking, Getting Lost, and Laughing About It
The next day, we rented bikes to explore more of the forest. The plan was to ride to the nearby village of Burley — a 22-mile round trip. What we didn’t plan on was getting lost twice, and always somehow uphill. We finally stopped for lunch at the Queen’s Head Pub, sore but happy. We made it back to the bike shop with ten minutes to spare before closing, laughing about how wrong our “easy ride” had gone.
Back in Greenwich
Once back in London, we spent a day being tourists in Greenwich. We visited the O2, took the Emirates Air Line Cable Car over the Thames, and visited the Royal Observatory — standing right on the Prime Meridian. Later that evening, we had dinner in a very cool converted double-decker bus restaurant. Eating pizza on the upper deck of a bus was surprisingly fun — a perfect last dinner in London.
A Visit to Birmingham
Our final full day in England was a special one. We took the train to Birmingham to visit my Aunt Fran, my dad’s sister, who has lived in England all my life. After a bit of confusion at the station (two different stations and missed messages), we finally found her and spent a lovely day together.
Aunt Fran gave us a walking tour of Birmingham — a city far more charming than I had imagined, full of modern shops and lively streets. We had lunch at a beautiful Italian restaurant (her treat, very generously) and later visited her flat, where she proudly showed us her garden. Nic and Aunt Fran bonded over their shared love of flowers and gardening, while we all enjoyed tea with strawberries and cream.
It was a really meaningful visit for me — the kind of family connection that’s hard to find while travelling.
Wrapping Up and Moving On
That evening, we caught the train back to London and had dinner with Jenny and Garry, celebrating Garry’s new job. The next morning, we were off again — back to Gatwick and onward to Madrid.
It was hard to say goodbye to Jenny, Garry, Ruby, and Amy, who made us feel completely at home. After so many weeks of travel, sleeping in their house and sharing everyday moments was the break we didn’t know we needed.
Looking Ahead
A week in England was just what we needed — a pause, a reset, and time with family before continuing on. From here, our travels take us to Spain, where Nicola and her mom will walk a stretch of the Camino de Santiago, and I’ll live with a Spanish family while taking language lessons.
The next adventure begins… in Madrid.
