A day in London

To celebrate valentines, my boyfriend and I treated ourselves to a day in London, ticking items off the bucket list! This post is going to be the more detailed account of our journey, pictures will ensue.

Our first destination of the day was the London Aquarium. As it was just before lunch time, we visited the waffle house just outside - a terrible choice. The waffles were overpriced and heated in the microwave. A waffle with chocolate topping cost £3.80! You can get one much better, with fruit, for 50p more or so in South Kensington! But, with the view of the Thames River just to your-side, the overpricing becomes more acceptable.

With a slightly more satisfied stomach, we ventured into the aquarium. Booking in advance avoided us from having to queue for around an hour to merely just 15 minutes! 2 hours were then spent wondering around, looking at all the beautiful (and ugly!) fish and having sharks swim above us. The aquarium may have been heaving with cute and screaming young children, but it did not take away the beauty it brought to light through the diversity of the sea-creatures. Like many of the London attractions, the cost of entrance is slightly steep (approximately £30-40 for two adult tickets), but it offers something so wonderful and so well maintained, that it is undoubtedly worth every penny.

After spending some time with the sea creatures, we moved towards our next destination: the Shard. With plenty of time until our slot we walked down the South Bank. Here we had the opportunity to gaze down the River Thames, from St. Paul's Cathedral (a place that still needs to be visited!) to Canary Wharf. As we strolled down the river, we found more places to visit in the future. From little cafes and shops just outside OXO Tower to the Clink Prison next to London Bridge. All of which just highlighted how more time needs to be spent here!

The walk ended at the Shard, where the nerves and excitement joined! The entrance was like reaching the airport terminal: coats off, cameras handed and body-scanner. Quickly followed by a photo and rush into the two-journey lift. By the time you realised you were in the lift, you had arrived at your destination. 69th floor in one of Europe's tallest buildings. The view was jaw-dropping, with the city lights contrasting with the dark sky. If you are not consumed by a fear of heights, you have the option to go further up to the 72nd floor. Unlike the first viewing gallery, here your face is brushed with the cold breeze from the partial windows.

The cost of the Shard was slightly sharp, £25 per advanced booking ticket, but the view was certainly worth it. Not only could see the whole of London, from each and ever angle and side, but you were also in a suave and romantic atmosphere. Each of the assistants were more polite than the other, the classical music welcomed a sense of harmony, and even if people shoved for a bit of the view, you were too taken by the whole momentum to react. Overall, visiting the Shard is a must.

The final destination of the day was Inamo St James. Doing some research online beforehand, this restaurant had grabbed our attention through its novel interactive ordering system - all done through a touch-pad on the table! The system displays your food and allows you to play some games, bringing something new to the dinning experience. You can even peek into the kitchen and check if the chefs are working hard. Thankfully this restaurant has not focused all its attention on the technological side, serving delicious food at an affordable price for Central London, ranging between £10-25 per person. Although not winning my vote of 'place to visit over and over again', I would definitely recommend giving it a try even if it is just to unleash that inner geek and play battleships against your date, while you await your meal.