I have been looking forward to this day for the entire trip, finally, a full day in London! Ever since arriving in England, I had been counting down the days until we could explore the city, and today completely lived up to my expectations. It was busy, exciting, educational, and honestly one of my favorite days of the whole trip.
We started the morning by visiting the Florence Nightingale Museum. Earlier this year I learned a little bit about Florence Nightingale in class, but I learned so much more during our visit. She is considered the “mother of modern nursing,” and seeing her story laid out in the museum made me appreciate her impact even more. Florence grew up in an upper-middle-class family with her younger sister, and unlike many women during her time, she did not want to simply get married and settle down. Instead, she felt called to nursing.
One of the most interesting things I learned was about her work during the Crimean War. She traveled there to help care for wounded soldiers and was horrified by the conditions in the hospitals. They were overcrowded, dirty, and unsafe. Florence worked tirelessly to improve sanitation and organization, making sure hospitals were cleaner and more structured. She also carefully documented everything she did and took notes on patient outcomes. After analyzing her data, she was able to determine what treatments and practices worked best. She spent the rest of her life improving nursing education, nursing regulations, and healthcare standards, helping shape the profession into what it is today.
After leaving the museum, Meredith, Cameron, and I headed toward Big Ben and the National Covid Memorial Wall to take pictures. London was bustling with people, and even though it was crowded, it felt exciting to finally see places I had only seen online or in movies.
From there, we walked about forty-five minutes to Borough Market, and it was absolutely worth it. Borough Market ended up being the highlight of my day. The market is filled with food vendors and farmers market stands selling everything imaginable. Our first stop was Turnips for the famous chocolate-covered strawberries, which were incredible. After that, we got sandwiches from Black Pig, which is famous for its pork sandwiches with apple coleslaw. Honestly, it may have been one of the best things I have ever eaten. The bread was perfectly crispy, and the combination of flavors was amazing.
We spent a while wandering around the market looking at all the different stands and food options. Everything smelled incredible, and there was so much energy everywhere. We ended our Borough Market experience with dessert from Humble Crumble. I got a strawberry rhubarb crumble with warm custard and crumble topping, and it was so good!
After eating way too much food, we walked about twenty minutes across London Bridge toward the area around the Tower of London. We spent some time shopping and exploring before our entry time. Once inside the Tower of London, we managed to join a tour led by one of the guards, which made the experience even more interesting.
We learned so many fascinating stories and facts during the tour. One place we saw was Traitors’ Gate, where prisoners accused of treason entered the tower. The guide explained that famous prisoners like Anne Boleyn came through those steps before their executions. We also learned that the Tower of London served as a royal residence for kings and queens for over 500 years.
One of the most interesting myths involved the ravens that live at the tower. Legend says that if the ravens ever leave, the tower will crumble. Apparently, the ravens are cared for extremely carefully, a veterinarian can arrive with a police escort within minutes if one becomes sick. We also learned that three queens were executed on Tower Green, including Lady Jane Grey, who was only a teenager at the time of her execution. Hearing these stories while standing in the actual location made history feel very real.
After the tour, we got to see the Crown Jewels. They were absolutely magnificent and unlike anything I have ever seen before. Unfortunately, photos were not allowed, so I had to just take mental pictures and appreciate the moment.
After leaving the tower, we took the tube back to the area around Piccadilly Theatre. I was nervous to use the Tube at first, but it actually ended up being pretty easy. Before the show, we grabbed dinner at a nearby restaurant. We decided to be adventurous and try escargot. I was definitely nervous, but it actually tasted really good. I also had lentil soup with garlic naan, which was delicious.
Finally, we met up with the rest of the group to see Moulin Rouge! The Musical. I had already seen it once in New York, but it was just as spectacular the second time. The music, costumes, and energy of the performance were incredible, and it felt like the perfect way to end our trip.
By the time the show ended, it was around 10:30, so we headed back to the hotel on the Tube. I spent the rest of the evening hanging out with some friends before finally going to bed. Tomorrow I get to meet up with my mom and sister, so the adventure is not quite over yet. Still, the last couple of weeks have been so educational, exciting, and unforgettable, and I am incredibly thankful for every moment of this experience.