Sunny in London

A Florida girl's guide to finding SUN and FUN

Can’t Miss Tips for Your First Trip to London 

Are you ready for your first trip to London? Whether you have been planning your whole life or just found out through work that you have a business trip across the pond, your travels will be easier if you read this.

As an American, I first moved to London on a study abroad program. I later returned to marry a British camera man I met while interning at NBC News- London Bureau. There were also many trips in between.

On the Sunny News YouTube channel, I have tons of videos sharing what I have learned about London through the decades. My husband ‘Mr Sunny’ and his family contribute content too.

London Tips: In Addition to the Video

Don’t share your fake British accent with people here. You’ll see in many video comments that people make fun of mine. My YouTube schtick does involve a bit of comedy, so the over the top Madonna accent is sometimes intentional. Londoners will say you sound like Dick Van Dyck. That’s a reference to the original Mary Poppins film. It isn’t a compliment.

Recognize that you are in a different culture. Wait until you get back to your hotel room to openly criticize how things are different here, if you don’t like something.

Don’t count on wifi. While free wifi is getting better in London, it’s not great. Up your text messaging plan or get an international package before you arrive.

Learn how to ask for the bathroom. Here people say ‘Loo’ or ‘toilet.’  The later one is a bit crass sounding to Americans. But- just go back to the second bullet point. As a side note, if you need one urgently, hit a pub. Just be sure to buy a drink before you leave. As Mr Sunny and all of London say, ‘It would be rude not to.’ 😉

London Tips: 10+ More Bits

For more important tips, including advice for what happens when you arrive at the airport, watch the Visiting London for the First Time video. Be sure to ask questions of the Sunny in London News community. There are tons of Londoners and other London lovers who watch and contribute information.

Subscribe so you don’t miss any future updates and tips for visiting London too.

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes safety tips, pub advice, an afternoon tea etiquette guide and a shopping guide. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

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British Things to Do in London

Putting together a list of things to do in London for a visit, can quickly be overwhelming. This is especially true if it’s your first trip. Wouldn’t it be great to ask someone who lives there for help? Here is an even better one- what if you could ask a British person born in London for ideas?

My husband, Mr Sunny, and generations of his family were born and raised in London. As an American expat living in London, I rely on their advice often when planning things to do for myself or for creating Sunny in London blog content. They haven’t let me down yet!

In fact, recently my father-in-law suggested a London pub for our Best Hidden London Pubs video that even my husband didn’t know about. If you’ve read our pub crawls or any restaurant reviews, you know my husband is a self-proclaimed pub connoisseur.

Naturally, when I started thinking about creating a video that moved away from the ‘first time visiting London tourist’ planning persona, I consulted the Sunny-in-laws. You’ll have to judge how much time you have on your trip and what your priorities are when you review the possibilities they listed. It’s doubtful you could do everything suggested in one go. It would also depend on the time of year you are here too.

We tried to keep a bit of everyone in mind when creating it. There are sports activities and food suggestions. Our list is for both guys and girls too. One thing that isn’t mentioned in the video is renting a ‘Boris Bike.’ Poor coordination and the genuine lack of still not knowing which side of the road cars are coming from has prevented me from doing this. I’d love to know if you’ve done it though.

London Blogger Boris Bikes 2015

Let me know your thoughts on the video and what else you would like to learn about London. There is also a great community of Sunny News watchers on YouTube that have left their British Things to Do suggestions in the video comments too for you.

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes tips for riding the Underground, pub advice, an afternoon tea etiquette guide, a shopping guide and cultural differences between the UK and USA. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

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Curious what the London Harry Potter Studio Tour involves?

Butterbeer, Diagon Alley, Dumbledore’s office… Attending the London Harry Potter Studio Tour at Warner Bros is an experience for every aspiring muggle!

Any true Harry Potter fan waiting for the underground has stared at a Charing Cross Station platform and thought…  Where is it?… Could I do it?

Platform 9 ¾.

Charing Cross Sunny in London

We believe in the magical world of Harry Potter. Whether it’s through reading the novels and/or seeing the films, we love the story of the most famous orphan with supernatural powers and know he exists somewhere.

Since we aren’t actually going to try to run through a wall at Charing Cross (I hope), we have two realistic options for a glimpse in to his world: the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London or the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando.

This year I visited both.

Foremost, the London tour tickets must be booked and purchased in advance. The studio’s webpage is fairly simple. From the available options, you select the day and time you want to attend. If you are planning on touring in the summer months, I suggest you book weeks in advance. (For non-Londoners, the studio is no where near Central London, so check out a map and consider transportation before you plan your day.)

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The tour claims to be three hours in duration, but that’s not necessarily the case.

First, you MUST arrive early, because the staff will begin the tour’s queue 10-15 minutes prior to its start time. As you wait, you will see the infamous “cupboard under the stairs.”

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Much like attractions at Universal Studios, once the doors open, you are herded with the tour group in to a large room while you hear an energetic employee deliver a speech. Next, you move with the crowd in to a cinema and see a short film.

After the movie, you pass through the giant doors in to the Great Hall and feel the immense excitement of what it could be like to attend Hogwarts. This is the last time you are with a structured group.

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Next, you move at your own pace through the Big Room to view the costumes, sets and props, which are displayed like museum exhibits and have signs detailing their relevance to the film.

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When you are ready, you can enjoy some fresh air in the Backlot while you sip butterbeer and view a replica of Harry’s house. (Note: no matter what you hear, there’s no alcohol in the beer!)

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For the second part of the tour, you see the fascinating Creature Shop which displays animatronics used in the films.

Harry Potter

As you venture in to Diagon Alley, you’ll be impressed with the color and creative displays but shocked because it’s been dramatically reconstructed several times for the many films. Therefore it’s a bit small, especially in comparison to what Universal Studios features.

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The Art Department is intriguing, but the most breathtaking experience is seeing the Model Room as you end your tour.

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Well, that’s actually not the last stop. To keep up with the marketing “spirit” of modern day theme parks, you are dumped in to the gift shop as your last location.

Throughout my journey, I tried to absorb every detail and finished in a little over two hours. Even though I have worked in the film industry and know many of the “behind the scenes” secrets and tricks, I developed an even stronger appreciation for the masterful JK Rowling and the film’s production crew/cast. It’s an experience any fan would value at least once, but you’ll have to read my post on Harry Potter’s Wizarding World in Orlando to see how the two experiences compare!

I’d love to hear about your comments about the London Harry Potter Studio Tour or try to answer questions you might have if you are planning to go. Please leave them below. For questions to ask yourself to determine if the Warner Bros Studio Tour is worth it, watch this…

And, if you’re looking for more Harry Potter Things to Do in London, this video below is for you.

 

 

 

Harry Potter London Bus Tour

If you go on the Harry Potter London Bus Tour you can be chauffeured around London to see some of the best locations featured in the films! I recently had the chance to do this with Brit Movie Tours.

Since ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ opened at Palace Theatre, which was just near where I first lived in London, every muggle is buzzing with a renewed interest in the magical stories.

Twice I’ve visited the Warner Bros Studio tour in London. I also have been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Because many blog readers contact me about the Harry Potter experience in London, it seemed like a good idea to give this 2-3 hour tour a go.

Harry Potter Bus Tour London Brit Movie Tours Guide

Harry Potter London Bus Tour: What You See

Foremost, you need to know that through the duration of the tour, you will only get off the bus 5-6 times. It’s a long time to sit just to see a handful of exterior ‘sets’ up close. That being said, there were several times on the tour that I learned locations I walk by frequently were important sets in the films! For example, Australian House was used to shoot scenes for the outside of Gringotts Bank.

There were also two markets on the bus stops that I had yet to visit. They’re definitely on my list of things to do in London now. Both markets were sets for the Leaky Cauldron.

Harry Potter Bus Tour London Brit Movie Tours Guide Leadenhall Market

Harry Potter Bus Tour London Brit Movie Tours Guide Leadenhall Market

 

Harry Potter Bus Tour London Brit Movie Tours Guide Borough Market

Harry Potter London Bus Tour: What You’ll Learn

The tour guide shared tons of movie trivia with us as we moved through the streets of London. This was not only to provide us with interesting information but also to occupy our time as we sat in London congestion.

For example, as we crossed in to the City of London, he shard that roads leading in to London have a dragon statue. This marks the start of the City. Dragons always face outward to show they are protecting the city.

Movie Trivia on the Harry Potter London Bus Tour:

Did you know that no American actors or actresses were allowed to be cast in the film’s per JK Rowling’s direction? Verne Troyer (Mini-me in ‘Austin Powers’) is the only actor ever cast. It was due to height requirement, and his lines were dubbed over to avoid people hearing his American accent.

Routemaster bus no. 15 is what inspired the Night Bus featured in the movies.

There are several errors in the Charing Cross station scene. First, Mr. Weasley and Harry are shown going down an escalator to leave the Underground. Next, they struggle with Oyster cards. The films are set to take place in the mid to late 90’s, which was before the Oyster card was available until 2003. (If you’d like some travel advice, be sure to watch my YouTube video ‘20+ Tube Tips in Two Minutes‘)

When movie production companies want to film the London Underground, a member of TFL must be on the set at all times. In fact, it’s the TFL employees suggestion that they struggle to get through the turn stiles because the employee said it’s something very common that nearly happens to everyone.

The late Alan Rickman, who played Professor Snape, had to be told at the start of the films what would happen to his character. JK Rowling felt it was important he knew the path his character was on so he could adequately play the role. This occasionally caused arguments between him and the various directors because they couldn’t understand why the actor would modify or refuse some directions.

The London Eye in Harry Potter Films:

It seems I can never get enough pictures of the London Eye. But did you know it’s very difficult to film due to so many restriction? It’s barely featured in the London skyline shots in the Harry Potter films. Rules for filming the London Eye include: the film can’t promote terrorism and the attraction cannot be destroyed.

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If you’ve seen ‘London Has Fallen’, you may have noticed it doesn’t show the London Eye falling. In fact, the new ‘Independence Day’ only implies it’s destroyed. The one exception that exists is ‘Fantastic Four.’ In it, the London Eye comes off its axis and falls in to the River Thames. They get around the restriction because (SPOILER ALERT!) the super team puts it back together in the end.

Harry Potter London Bus Tour: On the Platform

The tour ends at the mock Platform 9 3/4 and has a photo opp for anyone who wishes to wait in the queue. Be warned, if it’s on a busy day, the line could be an hour or more.

As I mention in the video of the Harry Potter London Bus Tour, scenes were not actually filmed between platforms 9 and 10 at King’s Cross St Pancras International Station. They took place between platforms 4 and 5.

Now, watch the video which shows the stops you make on the tour, and the actual school that Danielle Radcliffe attended. If you can’t find it, leave a comment on the Sunny YouTube channel, and I’ll tell you the name of the school. One hint is: it’s located near the Millenium Bridge.

Harry Potter Bus Tour London Millenium Bridge

Don’t forget to read the other Harry Potter posts on the blog after you watch the video:

Harry Potter Bus Tour London Millenium Bridge

My experience was complimentary for the purpose of a review. This doesn’t affect my opinion expressed above. There are tons of walking tours I would like to try with Brit Movie Tours now, including: James Bond Tours, Romantic Comedy Tour London and the Krays Gangster London Tour. For Downton Abbey fans, they have a tour for you. And, Game of Thrones fanatics who are in Ireland, you might want to read this too. Let me know which ones you do! You can also check their TripAdvisor reviews to see what others have to say about the experience.

What Electronics to Ship When Moving to London

When moving to London from the US, you might be confused about what to ship. Moving to London is much simpler than you may have thought. Man And Van Hire In London make moving across London extremely simple once you have settled on a permanent base here. Four years ago I sold my townhouse in New York and packed up 45 boxes and a few small furniture pieces. Making decisions about clothes to take to was easy because I had lived in London short-term a few times previously, so I knew what I would need and not use. I also knew I was taking all of my dishes, glassware, silverware, baking pans, and other kitchen items. When you relocate to london it can be pretty jarring at first, but everything will fall into place once you get all your stuff together.

The process of moving to London was fairly smooth, aside from unforseen problems that happened with my fiance visa. What I didn’t realise until after I was reunited with my boxes was that I could have kept quite a few of my electronic appliances in my kitchen.

Moving to London Advice for Electronics:

Just because the voltage is different between the US and UK doesn’t mean you need to abandon all electronic items. If it’s feasible to ship them, you might want consider doing that rather than selling everything or giving it away before you leave. Check out PHS Teacrate and get some crates to put all of your belongings in. Now, of course there are variables like whether you are planning on moving to London permanently or just a few years on a work transfer. And, like I discuss in the video below, you might have sentimental attachment to items that perhaps were gifts or be curious about the quality of what you’ll find in the UK.

These are the decisions I made and what went well and what electronic appliances I regret leaving behind. I also show what happens when I use this transformer in the UK with some US electronics.

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes safety tips, pub advice, and a shopping guide. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

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If there are specific questions I can answer for your about moving to London or if you need a recommendation for the shipping company I used, please don’t hesitate to use my Contact page, the comments, social media, or YouTube to get in touch!

Moving to London Helpful Blog Articles:

Finally, my video on the UK Visa Process for Living in the UK (after Brexit Vote) is really popular and could help you too.

The Best Places to Propose in London

When you’re considering which of the best places to propose in London, you will think about a number of different things. First of all, you might be deciding between an oval or a cushion cut engagement ring, but once that is out of the way, there are more questions about the location that need to be answered. Where is the most romantic? Most unique? Most memorable? If you quickly google ‘best places to propose in London’, you’ll find tons of lists that target the same places.

This is why I chose to feature my husband, known for years on this blog as ‘Mr. Sunny’. We regularly share his wit, humour and lifelong knowledge of London. But, he’s never made an appearance- until now. Below we share the story of where and how we got engaged in London.

In our first YouTube video together, I highlight the standard ‘best places to propose in London’. Mr. Sunny’s list has an entirely different thought process and he picks places you’d never guess!

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5- The London Eye

With packages you can purchase to set up and celebrate the engagement, The London Eye tops nearly everyone’s list who is looking for a very quintessential ‘London’ experience. Perhaps you are an American visiting London and want something truly representative of the city while having a great view of its most popular landmarks as you propose in your own pod?

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4- The View from the Shard

I’ve been to this attraction several times and feel its truly majestic. Again, with the highest views of London, aside from a helicopter ride, its off the charts for showing you the city. Oh- and you’ll want to watch my helicopter review video to literally see my advice on this activity. It’s not listed here for a best places to propose in London for a big reason. The View From the Shard has numerous special events, is available for private hire, and has marriage proposal options on their website.

3- SEA LIFE London

This aquarium is actually a very popular place to propose in London. They offer it as one of their VIP Experience packages. I included it as part of the ‘How to See Four London Attractions‘ earlier this year.

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Best Places to Propose in London- Final Thoughts

That’s the start of my suggestions. For the final choices (and I guarantee you won’t find my top location on any other list), you’ll have to watch the video.

Mr. Sunny provides his own five funny choices to counter mine. He also provides cheaper alternatives and ideas for what to do if your partner says, ‘NO!’

We’d love your thoughts on how romantic you think his actual proposal to me turned out to be. If you’d like to see more of Mr. Sunny in future videos, let us know that too by liking the video, sharing it, and pinning it.

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For more lists about things to do in London, watch and subscribe to the Sunny News on YouTube.

How to Visit London: 9 Attractions in 2 Days

If you’re planning to visit London, you probably are keen to see all the top attractions. Unfortunately, you might not have much time to do it. For this reason, I’ve put together a two-day itinerary for you that includes at least nine iconic places to see. It is organised by attractions that are in proximity of one another. You’ll also find other suggestions for if you have more time and energy.

How to visit London attractions like Big Ben

How to Visit London: Itinerary Day 1

For your first full day in London, the attractions I suggest are: The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Monument and the British Museum.

Starting Tube Station: Tower Hill or Tower Gateway

I’ve written separate blog reviews each for Visiting the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Monument. These three attractions will take approximately 3 1/2 hours, depending on how thorough you are at the Tower. If you take the Beefeater Tour and see the Crown Jewels, this should be enough time.

Once completing these visits, take the Underground to Tottenham Court Road on the Central Line if you want to skip lunch. The station is on the edge of Great Russell Street and is a three-minute walk away from the British Museum.

If you want to take a break and enjoy a nice lunch, exit one stop earlier at Holborn station. This is on the edge of Covent Garden. Read my Guide to Covent Garden which has restaurant and pub recommendations.

A Complete Guide to Covent Garden London from a London Local includes restaurants, hotels, attractions, Christmas, things to do, pubs and street performers

If you want to add an additional attraction, you can visit the London Transport Museum, which is great for both kids and adults.

Finally, head over to the British Museum, which will be free. The reason why I have ended each day with a free museum is because of time. If you find you only have an hour or so left before they close, you can quickly hit the artifacts and pieces at the top of your list. The Rosetta Stone, Magna Carta, etc.

Also, should you have more time on other days of your trip, you can return and explore knowing that you didn’t waste any money paying for two visits.

Extra Attraction:

You can’t do all of the above and an additional attraction, but if you want to swap one out, consider adding the London Bridge, which is indeed different from the iconic Tower Bridge.

How to Visit London: Itinerary Day 2

Starting Tube Station: Waterloo

It’s really important you read my advice for How to Fly High on the London Eye before going to it. You must arrive at this attraction about a half hour before the opening time. This will allow you to be in a pod soon after it opens. If you watch the 4D film, it will be a bit later. Either way, you could easily finish this visit within one hour. Your admission ticket will give you one rotation, which lasts about 20 minutes.

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Next, begin walking toward Big Ben. Cross the River Thames via Westminster Bridge. Big Ben is the second most popular place in the world for selfies. For a list of suggestions for London’s Top 10 Selfie Locations, you guessed it, I wrote about that too. In fact, I show you through Google Maps the best telephone booth to stand in front of for the most popular selfie with Big Ben behind you.

Westminster Abbey should be your next attraction to visit. It’s right near Big Ben. Once you finish a tour of the church, walk to Buckingham Palace.

There are always crowds at the Palace, but it’s fairly easy to get great pictures.

How to Visit London attractions buckingham palace

Walk to St. James’s Park underground station and travel west to South Kensington station. There are plenty of places to eat in that area.

Like Day 1, this itinerary ends with a museum. The Victoria and Albert (‘V&A’) is my favourite museum in London. It nearly always has an exquisite fashion exhibition. The Andrew McQueen: Savage Beauty last year was by far the best I have ever seen in a museum.

Extra Attraction:

Instead of, or in addition to the V&A, you can also visit the National Portrait Gallery.

Visit London: Final Thoughts

That’s a list of how to organize and maximize your visit to London. If you have more time, I wrote a review on how to see four attractions in South Bank in one day. They include: Shrek’s Adventure, the London Aquarium, London Dungeon, and the London Eye. Obviously if these sound appealing, you want to adjust the itinerary for Day 2 to omit The London Eye. There’s a discounted pass you can buy which is a ticket to all four attractions.

How to See 4 South Bank London Attractions in One Day

Keep in mind, Shrek’s Adventure is best for small children, while London Dungeon is definitely not. Finally, if you’re expecting shows and organization like that of Orlando theme parks, that’s not what you’ll find. As a girl who grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida and worked at Universal Studios Florida, I can speak from strong experience. But, you sure won’t wait in 95º heat and humidity either 😉

Finally, you’ll want to visit London pubs in the evening. Watch these tips before you go, especially if you’re an American visiting London for the first time.


Note: all travel and attractions are within Zone 1 of the Underground.

If you’d like a page to bookmark which is a great London things to do list, the Guide to London for Americans Visiting the First Time includes day trips, shopping, cultural differences, hotels, restaurants, afternoon tea recommendations and more! Each one is included because I’ve personally visited and enjoyed it. My husband, ‘Mr. Sunny’ and his father, who are both London born passionate beer drinkers also use the Good Pub Guide whenever exploring a new British pub. It’s never let us down either. 🙂

What other questions do you have about your trip?

Ice Skating in London- Rave with Morning Gloryville

What gets me out of bed at 4am? The chance to go ice skating in London at a Christmas themed rave with Morning Gloryville! This was the third time I have attended an event with the award-winning dance immersive dance experience. The first time was their two-year anniversary party in which Fatboy Slim was the surprise guest DJ.

It takes place twice-monthly in London and generally sell-out, with 1,000 strong crowds coming together. Their December 2016 rave featured the chance to go ice skating in London at Somerset House. It was a super ‘chill’ morning, as the temperatures were at freezing levels. I could only shoot video of my epic ice skating in London morning in short segments because my hands were burning from the icy air. However, as you can see from the YouTube video below, it was a blast!

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For a look at what a ice-skating morning rave held at Somerset House looks like, watch my experience here…

https://youtu.be/-HcKye-weI8

They’ve also recently started a crowd-funding campaign ‘The Gloryville Effect’ which will raise funds to take the experience around the world, starting in Africa. They will partner with charities and bring the joy of music and dance to locations like Zimbabwe and Jordan. They announced this at The View from the Shard in London event, which saw hundreds come together at 6am and included a DJ set from very special guest Felix Buxton from Basement Jaxx.

Supporters will be rewarded with a range of gifts and thank-yous – from ‘Become a Unicorn’ (a handcrafted and personally designed unicorn costume) to ‘Private Rave’ (hold a Morning Gloryville event in your own office or home). Their Indiegogo page outlines the full range of rewards. Of course, you can track the movement with the #TheGloryvilleEffect hashtag too on Twitter and Facebook.

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes safety tips, pub advice, a shopping guide, and more Christmas Things to Do in London. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

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What British People Eat for Christmas

Before my first holiday trip to London, my family asked what British people eat for Christmas. I arrived in the beginning of January the first time I lived in London and didn’t stay an entire calendar year. So, I wasn’t actually sure how to answer everyone.

Would it be just like how it was depicted in ‘A Christmas Carol’? Do they really eat pheasant or goose now? Was that just the Victorian era or true English tradition?
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I relied heavily on my English husband (London born) for ideas to share with you, as well as a little research.  After living here four years, what British people eat for Christmas still has me curious. I enjoy some of their holiday foods and drinks. Others- not so much!

You can see which British Christmas season drink has me plugging my nose and running the other direction here…

While no person’s Christmas dinner plate is ever the same, there are some general items that you see at a British holiday meal. If you’re British, be sure to add your additions and thoughts to what British people eat for Christmas in the comments below or on the YouTube video. American friends, what other things about living in London as an American expat would you like to know?

If you’re visiting London for the holidays, the blog has tons of things to do for Christmas. There is also a very popular feature about Christmas Differences Between the UK and USA.  Be sure to subscribe to the blog’s newsletter so you don’t miss any fun events in London or expat advice too!

What’s on your Christmas dinner plate this year? Do you eat a meal at home or book a table at a restaurant? Do you have the same selection annually or does it depend on how your family is traveling?

Star Wars Identities at The O2

Thinking of visiting London’s Star Wars Identities exhibit at The O2? If you’re a passionate Star Wars fan, this is one you can not miss. It features costumes, production materials and mdels from the most epic films of all time.

Star Wars Identities creatively appeals to those who are more scientifically inclined too. For insight on what the experience involves, advice for a visit, an activity suggestion to pair with your trip to The O2 and a fun look at the ‘stars’, make sure you read all the way until the end!
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Star Wars Identities: The Show

This is a two-minute highlight reel of who and what you’ll see in London at the Star Wars Identities exhibit at The O2:

https://youtu.be/O120bjCjRso

Star Wars Identities- What You’ll See

Mr Sunny and I went to see the costumes and props. He’s a huge Star Wars fan. I have always liked the films. As a former film student in the US, I also have deep appreciation for how they’ve affected pop culture.

My eyes were on the infamous gold bikini.

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After seeing it, I actually don’t believe Carrie Fisher, or any human being for that matter, actually wore it. That thing is small!

Star Wars Identities: What You’ll Hear

Our expectations were set on seeing the stuff above, so Mr Sunny and I didn’t care much about the audio adventure. That was a good thing because that part of the exhibit gets a two thumbs down.

You receive a lanyard to wear around your neck that has a circular device in the centre. It’s supposed to track your journey. You’re also given a rubber bracelet that you tap to certain areas to register your character choices. Finally, you have an earpiece that goes over one ear. I understand that the premise of exhibit is scientific and psychological exploration. But, that was way too much stuff to keep track of when you’re also trying to upload pictures to Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. AND collect images for a video and blog review!

My devices for the exhibit didn’t work. Between the static and random sound bytes fizzing in my ear, that part of the experience was more annoying than useful.

Star Wars Identities- What You Do

You visit 10 different stations. At each location there is information about human psychology and character development. It’s billed as a character driven adventure into identity.

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As you read about the journeys of Luke and Anakin Skywalker, you make selections about items like what you want your guiding trait or value, origin for your character to be. At the last station, you see a picture of your character projected in the ‘universe.’ Then, you have the option to receive the description via email.

I received mine within a minute after entering my address. If you’d like to see who I would be in the Star Wars Identities galaxy and a sample of what you’d receive, this is some of the email’s text and link they sent:

You can view your Hero’s full identity profile, and even share it with your friends here:

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Star Wars Identities: Advice

Choose your first character carefully. It’s the physical appearance you’ll see at the end of your journey. Girls, you don’t have many options if you’re seeking female physical representation. Book tickets in advance and arrive early. The O2 is ginormous and the exhibit took us about 10 minutes to find once we arrived inside the building.

There are plenty of places to eat and drink at The O2, if you’ve never been there before.  I’ve reviewed plenty of other restaurants that are there, including Cabana.

Plan on at least 75 minutes for the exhibit, if you’re like us and just want to see costumes and spaceships. For those more scientifically focused, you could be there several hours. After the Star Wars Identities experience we also jumped on the Emirates Cable Car ride for our third time. It has amazing views of London at night, but here you can see more about the daytrip views.

If you’re traveling a bit of a distance to The O2, book the Climb the O2 experience also. I did it over the summer and loved it. It’s one of the most open places you can get to ‘under the stars’ in London. It could be a really fun adrenaline filled activity to test out your newly acquired hero identity! Read my review or watch the video here…

We purchased our tickets through a deal notice I received via my email subscription with Timeout. This allowed us to preview the exhibit four days before it opened at a discounted rate.

The Star Wars Identities exhibit runs from November 18 2016- September 3, 2017. So you don’t miss the Sunny News about London, like fun things to do and advice for visiting, subscribe to the YouTube channel and email! Leave your thoughts and questions about the Star Wars Identities exhibit in the comments below. I’d love to know what else you would like to learn about London too!

THE ESSENTIAL FIRST TIME GUIDE TO

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HARRY POTTER

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