London oh London, how I love you!
Can I show you some images from my trip to England?
Now… before you go thinking me all sorts of fancy, I need to make a confession. This is the very first time I’ve used this little blue passport. Seriously. The first time!
Here’s a bit of London adventuring. Thanks for letting me share!
I was in London with the lovely people of Beefeater and Plymouth gin. They were kind enough to cart me and my American accent all over town teaching me about gin. I even distilled my very own gin. I’m contemplating a semi-permanent blog change: Joy the Distiller?
…doesn’t quite have the same panache.
I arrived in London on the day of the London Marathon.
I love this picture of a photographer checking his marathon shots.
I met Jen Pelka.
Not only is Jen the editor of one of my very favorite shopping websites, GiltTaste… Jen is also hilarious, insightful, and a champion gin drinking partner.
Gilt is nothing but glorious shopping trouble. If you don’t know, now you know.
Meet James Burrough. He’s the founder of Beefeater gin.
I’d like to thank Mr Burrough, and juniper berries for co-existing and bringing us gin.
I love heartwarming signs in cozy dark bars.
This is JubJub Bar.
A bathroom wall covered floor to ceiling in cassette tapes.
I met two crazy loyal blog readers in London. Jamie and Katy, you’re both gemstones. Your accents sound totally posh, and make me sound like a silly American… I swear.
Also… thank you for saving me from nearly getting hit by a car. Your streets are so confusing!
The Eye of London. Or. Wait. Is it the London Eye?
Waterproof cover-alls? Check.
Oversized raincoat? Check.
Totally still wearing heels? Duh.
On a boat down the River Thames? Check.
A bit of rain? Check.
Big Ben? Check!
Nothing but contagious laughter and smiles? Check.
London is HUGE and total CONFUSION to my eyes.
And oooh, how I love a map.
Self portrait in the cream jug.
Cream jug is totally not the correct name for that vessel.
In a taxi with Lauren and Ali.
Lauren is a wonderfully talented writer, and I love her eye for photography.
Alie, of Alie and Georgia, is so funny she literally makes my body ache.
These are admirable ladies… with smart things to say, hilarious jokes to tell, and nice hair too…
The American Bar at the Savoy (just the most wonderful hotel in London) is THE PLACE to have a cocktail.
It’s gorgeous, regal, it’s drenched in history and style, charm and grace…. and the cocktails are like egg white frothed dreams.
I’ll be back, Savoy… and I’ll be wearing a gown, and emerald earrings… just because.
The Savoy Cocktail Book is my small attempt at bring this beautiful place home with me.
The view from Plymouth, England.
This takes my breath away… and makes me want to do cartwheels.
The water in Plymouth runneth over.
Plymouth is green, lush, and the air feel crisp… and so different from Los Angeles.
This river. Aaaah… this is where I met my favorite gin of all time. Plymouth gin, served with a few dashes of bitters, and fresh, cold river water.
Seriously! A cocktail served simply… with fresh water that’s been filtered by English peat moss.
What a world. I wanted this moment to last for always.
Thank you, England!
Thank you for showing my eyes new sites. Thank you for inspiring to make a Sunday roast. Thank you for introducing me to Devonshire Cream and Plymouth Gin and beautiful new friends.
Very soon I’ll be visiting Jamie Oliver, my beloved Nigel Slater, and Nigella Lawson. Let’s make a roast! Let’s make some biscuits and call them scones! Let’s make a gin cocktail… even if it’s not made from English river water.
73 Responses
So glad you chose the UK for your first trip outside the USA. Next time you must visit Scotland too! We have so much yummy food for you to try here!
Congratulations! London is my preferred city in the world and I will be there tomorrow evening! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the tour of England! It’s beautiful through your iPhone! I have to live vicariously through you.
One word, Joy: INSANE!!!!
Oh, I am so jealous! theHubby and I visited London on our honeymoon. We have been trying to go back there ever since but things always seen to come up to prevent another trip across the pond. So I will have to live vicariously through the generosity of bloggers like you who share photos of their trips. *sigh*
I love England! I was able to study abroad for teaching there last year IN PLYMOUTH!:) It was so great!! One of my favorite places there was a thai bar down by the harbor and a tea room called the Tudor Rose. Seriously the best scones and clotted cream.:) And how great is it to say that you ate authentic Devonshire cream IN Devon?? Ahh, so glad you posted this. Totally reliving my memories now.:)
So… one question. What is that you’re holding in the first picture? All I can think of is Legos!
Glad you had a great time going to London for the week! (did I sound snooty there? I was thinking of ‘oh I’m just going to New York for the weekend. No biggie’)
Beautiful joyful photos! Glad you had such a lovely time in London and Plymouth, I need to pay a visit to that reservoir – thanks Marg for giving us the name! I guess you’re glad for some sunshine again now you’re back Joy? You’d always be welcome back :)
I loved that map – where is it from? I hope you can let me know – I love maps. It’s not a London transport map or something is it? I don’t recognise it :)
Looove all your photos of London, but I especially love the cassette taped bar bathroom. Very High Fidelity – I don’t know why. Awesome trip, Joy!
xo,
Shalan
I love that cassette tape wall! It’s so creative and unique. It sounds like your trip was very successful. And the photos are absolutely fantastic. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful moments with us. :)
So lovely to meet you, as well. You are rad.
xoxo
What a fabulous trip, Joy! And, I love the company you kept! I mean, Alie may be one of the most hilarious people I’ve ever met…
England….one of the places I dream of traveling to one day. Thank you for transporting us there today. Love ya xoxo Kim
oh Joy, I’ve just got back to LA from a trip home. Home being England, you went to the 2 most important places to me. London and Plymouth, AND that picture of the water rushing is Burrator Reservior which is about half a mile from my parents house and one of my favorite places in the world! We were quite possibly there at the same time! :)
You need more stamps on that passport. Come to India NOW :)
Did you get a chance to try sticky date pudding, the most amazing of British desserts? If not, definitely give it a go when you go back!
Yay I’m going to be in London in just over a month! Loved the pictures.
Congratulations on that first stamp! It is so exciting. Isn’t the world so beautiful!? Love all the old churches, too … it’s like they are breathing. When I walk into their cool, dimly lit halls my whole spirit hushes.
Joy- this trip looks amazing! I’m so happy you got to go, you deserve that first stamp on your passport! I loved what you said on the most recent Homefries podcast… how annoying it can be when people say they were just in New York or London or whatever. I totally know what you mean! Though you did not come across that way at all- you of all people deserve to go on such an amazing trip!
Great pics! I love London… it’s such a wonderful city! I hope you brought back lots of English candies, like that licorice in your picture, Jelly Babies and Bounty Bars!!
This post was so lovely and breathtaking….except I almost cried because it made me miss london SO badly! I’m thinking a third visit has to be in my near future, especially now that I’m 21 and gin is an option in my life:)
So nice to see London through your eyes. I love your perspective. You *definitely* need to come back and do a book signing.
Also, I highly recommend the English countryside in the summer – tea and cake (Victoria sponge) on the lawn, rainy BBQs with Pimms, strawberries and cream with a glass of bubbly… BRING ON THE SUMMER!!
(honestly, I’m fed up with getting soaked in this drought we’re having)
I’m glad you had such a nice trip! I foresee many scone recipes and cocktail recipes on this blog in the coming weeks.
Did you get a Sunday roast with spring peas and yorkshire pudding while you were there? It’s my absolute favorite. My daddy always makes it for me on my birthday, but somehow it tastes better when you’re in a certain foggy city.
That bathroom wall totally rocks. Just sayin’.
Thanks for sharing your lovely pics, Joy. :)
I’m planning a trip this summer and trying to decide between London and Rome (not that I’m fancy either) and you’re definitely tipping the balance towards the London side. p.s. I love your podcast and the call in last week about the girl who paid $130 to download it…haha so classic. I can totally relate because I just almost went over my data limit by streaming it while I was on a run.
Looks like you had a fabulous time!! I LOVE the Savoy Cocktail Book– delicious drinks, beautiful illustrations and fun stories. I hope to visit the Savoy someday too (with Emeralds etc., of course;)!
Oh my word I know that bridge! I go running there!
I’m so glad you liked Plymouth, it’s my hometown, and Plymouth Gin is officially the best. Did you to the distillery on the Barbican? I love it there. The Pilgrim Steps are just down the road, pretty much our only local landmark, except for the lighthouse.
London is okay too – I’m studying here at the moment. Not quite as cool as Plymouth though :)
Awesome post. I’m heading to London in September for the first time and I can’t wait. Can someone who isn’t as amazing as Joy the Baker visit the distilleries? I would love that!
Ohhhh I want a cassette tape wall,thats so cool! Love London!
Sounds like you had a wonderful time…despite our typical English cold rainy weather!
You visited my hometown plymouth! How strange!glad you loved it though and enjoyed the gin :)
it’s the very best gin. for real.
Gorgeous pictures. I can’t wait to go to London one day!
I love London and I always snap pictures when I am there, but yours, Joy, are spectacular! I especially love the pictures from Plymouth. Have you ever tried biscuits–err I mean scones with Devonshire cream and berry jam? Simply heavenly… Just like England!
i just….can’t…jealous!
Joy I absolutely love these pictures! And might I add that you look fabulous :)
Sorry, forgot to mention that you are looking sharp in that last photo! Love the jacket and booties.
Ooh Joy, I’m so glad you got to use your blue passport! London is a magical place, especially when the sun comes out. Sounds like you had a great time. I want to experience gin with clean river water in London, too!
P.s. If Beefeater and Plymouth brands are reading this, I want to come next time! Pretty please?
My first passport stamp was London, too – 1985!
Gin and London! Sounds like a recipe for a good time to me…
Hi Joy, I just came across your blog! It’s amazing. And to think the first post is about my home country – the UK. I hope you get to use your little blue book more often.
May I say I absolutely adore both you and your writing? I want to be you when I grow up! Loving your recipes, photos and humor. My fave blog by far.
Thanks for sharing the pics! You will have the best time! I was just talking to some friends about the wonderful time I had some years back in London. I want to go back. Cheers!
That just looks…well, wonderful. Its so cool how you can just fly to another country and meet people face to face that you’ve only known online (I’m assuming)! Also gin with river water just sounds way too romantic to be real. Oh, and another thing- that coat- super duper cute. Ok, and last thing I have to know- what is that cookie-looking thing you’re holding in the first photo? It looks fanciful.
I have always wanted to go to London and thank you for taking me there through your pictures! Everything sounds dreamy.
Looks like a fun trip! I can’t believe you got to go for gin purposes. Mad jealous. xxx
I LOVE gin and Nigella and all of those things. So glad you had a great time!
Yay Joy! So thrilled you loved London – I need reminding sometimes what a great city it is so thank you:)
I’ve got to try gin with English river water! Your trip sounds so amazing, Joy! I hope you had a wonderful time–London is one of the cities I would most like to travel to! One day… one day… :)
Love the photos! And your outfit in that last pic is super cute! I love the shoes.
Im sorry girl, but if you return to nosh with mr Oliver in his glorious home garden I’m going to be tag-along ace jumping into your carryon number one suspect. Fair warning.
What a fun trip! I’ve never been to London but would love to visit someday. Oh and I love Gilt :)
Looks like you had an awesome time! I’m so bad.. I still haven’t uploaded my pictures from London and I came home about a month and a half ago. Dang spotty internet connection at home..
London is such an awesome city, despite its horrifically intimidating and confusing Underground system :-P I love your outfit in that last picture! So European!
Come back and do a book signing for us!! And… sorry about the weather. London in the summer can be glorious – sadly, its taking a good long time to get here. And I agree with you about our accents – when I’m with Americans it makes me feel posh and awkward :-)
So glad you loved London! England is my favorite country in the whole wide world. I spent two summer studying in London and Stratford-Upon-Avon back in college, and then my {lovah} and I went to London and Oxford for our honeymoon…it’s been quite a few years now and I’m itching to go back. I hope I can retire there someday, in a wee cottage in the country a la The Holiday. xoxo.
I am sitting in my beige cubicle at work in Northern California – I was just transported to a distant land and taken on a most delightful adventure. Thanks!
Same here…except I’m in my beige cubicle in Boston :)
You must try a Pimms in England which is served in the summer in a pint glass with peices of cucumber, strawberries and slices of lemon and orange.Mmmm!! You should also try to get a seat in one of Miss Marmite’s supper clubs since she’s a huge foodie and so are you. She’s the pioneer of this movement in the UK. http://www.marmitelover.blogspot.com
Next time come to Scotland and we’ll teach you about whisky! (though I don’t like it and will prefer to partake of the gin anyway)
Thanks for sharing and it looks amazing! I have always wanted to visit England hopefully one day it will turn into a reality.
i love love love london! will have to check out the american bar at the savoy next time i am there!
well, you know, you can’t really come to England and not get caught in the rain! It’s the law! Your visit also coincided with one of the rainiest springs EVER, despite the ridiculous hosepipe pans we have been given!
Glad you had a good time, I loved seeing London through your eyes. I’m biased and love it anyway, but it’s always good to see it from another point of view.
Gin is a great reason to suddenly put the old passport to good use. Looks like a lovely trip; I’ve been dying to go back to London since a brief trip in 2005. Thanks for reminding me about this dream through your photos!
What a lovely trip! London is my home and you’ve made me miss it dearly with this blog post (love the photos.) My sister got married at the Savoy…I agree, an amazing hotel. Even through the dreary, rainy weather, such a lovely, lovely city:)
Next time you come to London you should definitely publish your itinerary and I will definitely accidentally bump into you just happening to be carrying your book in my beg… :)
Oh!! This whole post is one big swoon. And those booties you’re wearing are killing me softly. Love!
Ow, ooh … wincing with envy over here. What a fabulous trip! Visiting England is one of my lifelong dreams. Looks like you had an amazing trip – next time I’ll just hide in your suitcase, ‘k? I promise, I’ll be no trouble at all!
You were in England!! Amazing! Glad you enjoyed yourself, it’s all kinds of awesome isn’t it.
I’m sorry that we couldn’t provide you with any sunshine. I know rain is very English but London is so pretty in the sunshine.
Oooh…now that sounds like a seriously wonderful trip. I love gin. It’s my fave. When I was planning my wedding and buying the booze for the bar, this stupid online booze calculator told me not to buy gin unless more than 50% of my guests were all going to be over the age of 60. And I was like “What the heck?!” It’s my fave so I went ahead and bought a bunch anyway, and everyone ran around all night drinking gin cocktails and I was happy that my friends apparently all act like old people.
Oh my gosh I am green with envy right now! I have been to London three times and it is my all time favorite place. I want to go back so bad. Hello lucky!!!!
gin served with cold river water? wow! how awesome is that? love the old school effect of your pictures. :) someday i hope i get the chance to travel to london too!