We had the changing of the guards scheduled in, but more as an “on your option”, one day after breakfast so we decided to go with Johnathan’s (our awesome tour guide) recommendation and go off the beaten path a bit. We started the day with a heavier breakfast at The Breakfast Club in Soho, which was a bit of a walk, but SO worth it and the wait. We walked through Leister Square where the premiere was to be so we saw them setting up a lot of the signs as such which was pretty cool to see the process unfold and where we would be on Tuesday night. As it turns out, this was the original location of the now very popular local chain as well. Since it was a Monday, it was only around a half an hour, but as we found out chatting with others in line as we offered to share our umbrellas, is typically closer to 2 hours.(yikes!) Thank you rain & work days!
Behind us in line was an aspiring lawyer who was coming to “drown her sorrows in syrup” (her words) since her boyfriend had to return home from holiday & he was hoping to try this spot prior to her class that day. Once we got inside and saw our table could hold one more, we offered her to join us and we were so glad we did! Peteché was such a delight! It was so much fun chatting and sharing a meal together & we were all touched by her sweet spirit!
Buckingham Palace
Following the most yummy (and super filling) breakfast, we scampered over to where the new guards start their march towards the palace. From there we followed them and the horses (read: broke into full sprint to capture the moment) and joined the crowds at the palace to see the switch. It was the perfect way to get the experience without being squished up against thousands of strangers – well done Johnathan! The palace itself was gorgeous and ever so grand. While we opted out, there were other options for tours through Buckingham Palace as well.
Kennsington Palace
Following the changing of the guards, we did a bit of shopping at Fortnum & Mason (most adorable luxury gifts since 1707), Barry Bros & Rudd (hello Bourbon & Scotch scene – looking for you Blanton’s Gold), and some other adorable little local shops along the way back. We then hopped on the double decker and headed to Kensington Palace since we missed the cut the day before.
While we didn’t run into Will & Kate, the grounds were lovely and the palace was a mixture of extravagant and simple elegance. They had a princess Diana exhibit that was truly beautiful with several of her dresses on display. Her style was so classic and cutting edge at the same time and I love her independence through it. The remaining exhibits were the Queen’s and King’s halls, and Victoria’s exhibit. I would definitely recommend adding it to your list to visit!
Bateaux London Dinner Cruise
The evening was capped with a dinner cruise on board the Bateaux London. The top of the boat was open air, and made for some lovely views of the city at night. It was just the five of us at our table for the evening, so it was a great time to be dressed up, in no rush, and just relax and chat together. There was champagne flowing, music, and even dancing. It would make for a truly perfect event space for a rehearsal dinner or other larger party. The food was good and was offered in courses (either vegetarian or not) and I truly enjoyed not having to choose my meal and just being served the chef’s choices! I would love to see the views during the day as well! The lights were pretty awesome though on the London Eye and the bridges. It was well worth the experience!
See all the posts from London & the entire Fantastic Beasts Premiere VIP experience here and check back on Fridays for more of what we saw & did! #ATTThanks #FBpremiereVIP
