I flew to London with a ten-pound laptop and an empty schedule. The plan was simple: work remotely during the day and see Gary Barlow at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday night. International-girl-boss fantasy unlocked.
Within 24 hours, my work back in LA was canceled, my laptop was dead weight, and suddenly I had an entire week to kill in my favorite city. At first, panic. Then I thought: what would a Londoner do? I’d always dreamed of living here—so why not fake it for a week? Not Buckingham Palace, not the London Eye. Ordinary things. Haircuts, bus rides, grocery shopping. The kind of stuff that makes a city feel like home.
So, I filled my week with “simple” things (with a few luxury splurges) and discovered my new travel hack: the anti-itinerary.
The Concert That Started It All
The myth, the man, the legend: Gary Barlow
Honestly, Gary Barlow was the reason for the trip—he’s my favorite singer. I’d crossed the Atlantic once before for one of his shows. He’s worth the jet lag. This time, I stayed in the posh Kensington neighborhood so I could walk to the concert venue—because my disdain for the Tube is unmatched. It is an underground public transport nightmare, but that’s a story for another time, or for my therapist.
Going alone to a concert felt intimidating until the lights dimmed. Then the room roared, and suddenly I was belting alongside the two German superfans who had glared at me minutes earlier. By the end of the night, we were all screaming like 12-year-old girls again. Concerts are the perfect excuse to hop on a plane.
Haircut Fit for a British TV Host
New hair, who dis (UK edition)
One of my favorite British celebrities, journalist and TV presenter Ruth Langsford, gets her hair done at Josh Woods Atelier, a fancy London salon. If it’s good enough for Ruth, it’s good enough for me. So, I booked an appointment and ignored the price.
Against my better judgment, I took the Tube, immediately got lost, and ended up sprinting down the street while wheezing into my phone, telling them I’d be late. Totally worth it. My stylist, Kristie, explained my hair better than anyone ever has. Supercuts could never.
Pro tip: if you want to feel like you live somewhere, book a haircut. Nothing feels more local than getting your hair done while you swap salon gossip.
A Massage, a Taco Bell, and a Revelation
The heartbreak of the trip: London Taco Bell tastes NOTHING like it does in America
With my schedule wide open, I decided to pull myself out of the funk: massage time. The spa was conveniently near my hotel and across the street from a Taco Bell. Fate. I, of course, ate tacos first—which was maybe not the best pre-massage choice.
The massage itself was bliss. My massage therapist, Melissa, and I chatted about British politics and pop culture while she worked out five years of knots. When the staff asked if they could send me promo texts, I said yes immediately. For a moment, I passed as a local—and left giddy, thinking, if I lived here, this would be my Tuesday night.
The Japanese Head Spa I Didn’t Know I Needed
Why stop at a massage when you can add a scalp spa? If you’ve ever seen those viral head massage videos online, you’ll get it. I found a Japanese head spa a mile away from my hotel and strolled over on a sunny afternoon, weaving past market stalls and schoolkids like I belonged there.
For an hour, a specialist zoomed in on my scalp with a camera, scrubbed, massaged, and rinsed until my hair was squeaky clean. I nearly fell asleep. It was luxurious, a little weird, and unforgettable. Now I want to go every year. Life-changing.
Primark, Poundland, and TSA Judgment
My glorious London haul
Confession: I now fly to London with an almost-empty suitcase. I was raised to stress and overpack, but why suffer when Primark exists? It is my favorite European store, and my eyes glaze over when I cross the threshold.
I also raid Poundland (aka the British dollar store) for Skinny Whips bars. I bought 20 boxes. When I was flying back home, my bag alerted airport security in Portland. Agents dug through my backpack, and it burst open to reveal my stash. A TSA agent gasped, “Is your bag just… underwear and candy bars?” Correct. Zero regrets.
Parks, Palaces, and FaceTiming Mom
Lollygagging in a London park
There’s no better antidote to jet lag than sitting in a London park. This trip, Kensington Gardens was in my backyard. I spent a day strolling with my mom on FaceTime, showing her Kensington Palace and the Princess Diana Memorial. It was the middle of the night for her, but she’s that dedicated.
No tickets, no queues, just trees, sunshine, and excellent people-watching opportunities. Sometimes the best sightseeing is free.
Riding the Bus Like a Local
For a little sightseeing without the price tag, skip the tourist double-deckers and ride a regular city bus. For just a couple of pounds, Route 11 takes you past some of London’s biggest landmarks.
As someone who endured Los Angeles buses for years, London’s felt like luxury: clean, safe, and filled with cranky Londoners instead of cranky creeps. I snagged a front-row seat on the top deck and let the city roll by.
The Takeaway
Sometimes, self-care is hiding in your hotel, watching British telly, and demolishing a gluten-free Victoria sponge cake
This trip taught me something I wish I’d learned years ago: you don’t need a packed agenda to experience a city. Skip the monuments. Buy the snacks. Get a haircut. Sit in the park. Take the bus.
Simple, ordinary things filled my week. If you want to know whether you could really live somewhere—or just want to travel without stress—make the itinerary ‘boring’. Sometimes that’s where the magic is.