I’ve been missing London a lot lately.

That’s really nothing new–I miss London all the time. But lately it’s been more of a pulling, a longing, than just the feeling of ‘missing’. Wishing I was there has turned to closing my eyes and feeling myself there in my head. But, of course, when I open my eyes, I still see Kentucky and COVID-19 travel restrictions.

I will always cherish my Kentucky home. I really have made this my home. I’m not much of a nester, but I finally have a fully decorated apartment after two years of living here. I can almost drive the shortcut streets with my eyes closed like I could at home in Indiana. I’ve made my own little family here, too. Nothing will replace my times in Kentucky.

But I still long for London.

To encourage you to visit (once everyone is happy and healthy again) and to help cope with the separation, here are 5 things that make me want to be in London right now.

1. The Art

I can’t art. I was bitter for a long time about not being able “to art”, so I resented many people who could art. I didn’t care about classic works of art, but then I saw the National Gallery in London. We studied a few of the paintings in British Studies, which made it even more interesting. I was able to see work by Van Gogh up close and personal, which influenced my decision to go to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which changed my life. There are many museums in London that are free to enter!

2. The Architecture

London is old. There are all different types of architecture in London depending on which area you go to. The thing that every building has in common is that is that every single one of them is beautiful. If I could, I would walk around for a full weekend just admiring the different buildings. *heart eyes*

3. The Markets

Everyone knows about the Borough Market, which is a spectacular experience, and the Camden Market, even if only from listening to Taylor Swift’s ‘London Boy’, but my favorite was the Southbank Centre Food Market. I visited this market with my brother Kyle when he came to visit me. It has all different kinds of food and drink stands, and you’ll be sad that you can’t try all of it at once. My mouth is watering just thinking about that shrimp Pad Thai.

4. The Food

On the topic of food–people say food in England is bland (according to our standards). They aren’t entirely wrong, but they also aren’t talking about Nando’s. I ate at Nando’s 12 times while studying abroad at Harlaxton, and the closest location was 40 minutes away by train. When I tell you I miss Nando’s every day of my life . . . I mean every day of my life. There’s also Wahaca, a street taco-esque restaurant that rocked my world. That one is right down the street from the O Bar, which had a very generous happy hour deal for my friend Hannah and me.

5. The Tube

London is, somewhat surprisingly, a very walkable city. We saw all of the main sights on foot the first day I ever visited. It took 27,000 steps, but still. It wasn’t until the second day that I experienced the Tube. The Tube would become the mode of transportation I never wanted to get off of and was always excited to get back on. It takes you so many places so quickly. It’s also a ton of fun to figure out the different routes it takes to get all over London. 10/10 rollercoaster ride.

6. The Accessibility to the World

There are multiple airports in London and they’ll take you anywhere. You can also take a bus to Paris. Did you know that? I didn’t. But I miss those train rides through England and cheap flights across Europe something awful.

It has taken longer than expected to get back to London, but I know I will be there again sometime soon! Until then, at least I have the memories (and plenty of bottles of Nando’s sauce from Kroger).

What I’m listening to: Lots of Abba (going back and forth between the originals and the Mamma Mia! versions).

What I’m watching: FLEABAG. A masterpiece. And I just rewatched The Queens Gambit with my dad (this was his first time watching it).

What I’m reading: Nothing right now, but I have the strangest urge to read Anne of Green Gables (a book I don’t think I ever finished as a child), so I checked it out from the library.