It's Okay to be a Tourist

       In certain cases, it's okay, and even preferable, to embrace your tourist status while abroad. London is a global city, a hub for the world in business, immigration, and tourism, and while you're there, it's likely you'll want to see and experience all the iconic sites which give London its fame. Here are some of the destinations and landmarks you'll want to consider in and around the city, and remember to take plenty of pictures of/with each.

       Before I give you the list, though, I'd like to mention the London Pass once again. This pass will get you into most of these attractions. It seems like a lot of money up front, but if you do the math, you'll see how quickly you get your money's worth out of it. I also recommend getting the 6 day pass if you'd like to see most of the sites. They do take longer than you'd expect, and you want to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy everything and not be rushing through it. If there are only one or two things you're interested in, then get the 3 day. If do not have an Oyster Card, I highly recommend getting the travel pass as well; it will also cost you less than getting the individual tickets to travel to each site.
       ** = Sites included on the London Pass

Landmarks:

• Big Ben - Something I discovered while in London was that, at some point, everyone finds a favorite building. The architecture is so unique and beautiful that it's difficult not to find at least one that makes your heart light up and a smile spread across your face whenever you catch a glimpse of it on the horizon. Big Ben, to me, was love at first sight. He's a beautiful piece of gothic architecture, and the first time I saw it, lit up on the skyline from Trafalgar Square, my heart melted. I can't tell you how many photos I took of Ben over my 6 and a half weeks, because it's too many to count, but I can say that I never got tired of standing on Westminster Bridge staring at him. 
  
  
  
• Trafalgar Square - This is where the National Gallery, Nelson's Column (complete with 4 lions that are excellent for photos and climbing on), two fountains, and street performers can be found. It's a beautiful square with a long history and a great deal of meaning behind its construction and layout. Admiral Horatio Nelson, the man who stands at the top of Nelson's Column, lead England to victory against the Spanish and French at the Battle of Trafalgar, where he unfortunately lost his life. The four lions symbolize strength of the nation and monarchy, and, along with the four depictions at the columns base, the four battles in which Nelson fought. It's a public space, great for people watching and pictures. 
  
• London Eye - This is also an attraction and is not included in the London Pass, so book your spot in advance online to avoid queuing for an hour just to buy your ticket. It's a beautiful view and something everyone who goes to London should experience. At night, the eye is lit up with red lights, most likely representative of its owner, Coca-Cola. Should you happen to be there on a hot day (it's unlikely, but it happened while my family was there, so I suppose anything's possible), the Eye does have air conditioning. It's roughly a 30 minute ride, so take pictures and enjoy the view of London town. 
  
• Buckingham Palace - Unfortunately, I was not there during the time they allowed tours, but Buckingham (pronounced without the "h" - "Bucking-Uhm") Palace is beautiful to look at and the changing of the guard takes place at 11:15am every day. There are normally a lot of people, and so a night walk to Buckingham is a great way to see it empty and lit up in the night. 
  

Historical Sites:

• Tower of London** - The Tower of London was a place I was very excited for, and it was really cool to be inside it, in such a historic place where so much had happened. However, it was very touristy and not exactly in a good way. It felt a lot like a museum, which wasn't what I had expected. My favorite thing while I was there was to just stand on the walls and take in the view of the Thames, the feel of the stone, the beautiful towers and architecture of the castle. It was also fun to find all the animals left over from the menagerie that had been there; we found an elephant, lions, monkeys, and a polar bear. Some of the signs are quite hilarious, too, and there are some guards still lurking, ready to protect the crown jewels, if you look hard enough. 
  
• Windsor Castle** - Go here to see the castle you've always wanted to see, with armor on the walls, stone towers, moats (well, it's a garden now, but still cool), and the rooms of kings and queens. The changing of the guard here was very interesting; the band played the Star Wars theme song, among other hits most people are familiar with, and the picture opportunities are, again, something of which you should take full advantage. 
  
• Westminster Abbey** - So. Many. Dead. People. You will understand what I mean when you visit. Unfortunately, you can't take photos inside Westminster, but it's a beautiful place and definitely worth a look around, or three. It's also worth it to sit in one of the chairs and just take in the gothic architecture, the history, the important people buried there. Go on a weekday as well; at least then it will be slightly less crowded. Be advised also that it's closed on Sundays. 
  
• St. Paul's Cathedral** - Again, you cannot take pictures. St. Paul's, the new version, was designed by Christopher Wren after the Great Fire. In the catacombs, you can still find some of the original tombs rescued from the old St. Paul's, as well as the tomb of Wren and Admiral Horatio Nelson. 
  
• Kensington Palace** - The home of the prince, princess and the two new little bundles of joy. A modern castle with a beautiful garden and a throne you can sit on. It's a great place to explore, see Princess Diana's clothes and life story, see the playroom of queens and kings. It's worth it to go on a nice day and then stroll through the gardens and park just outside the front door. 
  
• Stonehenge - It's roughly an hour to an hour and a half outside London, and, as our Blue Badge Tour Guide told us, it really just just a bunch of rocks. However, it's a bunch mined from Wales and some how transported to a field in England, the third stage since it originally appeared, and most of its history is a mystery and will always leave us with unanswered questions. What do we know? We know the Aubrey holes around it (holes of varying depth) were meant to hold wooden poles, and the height of those poles followed the solar cycle, meaning it was used as a calendar. We know that it has even more to do with the lunar cycle. We know that it was most likely used for animal sacrifice and religious rituals, and we know that we will never know why exactly it was built or how it was built or even really why it was built. But it is a beautiful site full of history and energy, teeming with secrets we will never know.  
  
• The Monument** - Built by Christopher Wren, the Monument stands just outside Monument station and, if laid on its side, goes to the point where the Great Fire began. You can go inside and climb to the top for a nice view, but be warned that, like St. Paul's, there are more stairs than you think and it's a tight spiral staircase. You'll have to maneuver past people coming down, but once you get to the top, it really is worth it. 
  
• Tower Bridge/Tower Bridge Exhibition** - You'll obviously want to go to the Tower Bridge and stand on it looking over the Thames, getting a nice view of the Tower of London while you're at it, but you should definitely consider going up the tower into the exhibition. They have videos that I didn't watch at the top of each tower and a little exhibition on bridges from around the world, but the best part is the clear floors at the top from which you can watch the traffic below. It's an awesome feeling and another great view. 
  
• Bath - The Roman Baths are a really neat thing to see. A lot of the exhibit is like a museum and full of people listening to audio guides who don't know how to move out of the middle of the walkway, but my favorite part was sitting by the baths and writing. DO NOT TOUCH THE WATER. For some reason, everyone wants to touch the water, and it is really actually very dirty, full of hundreds of years of bacteria. Feel free to touch the fountain at the end, though, and take a drink from it, as it's fresh spring water and will help you cleanse your body and spirit.
  
• Kenilworth Castle - I love castles, and anyone who knows me will tell you so. I spent the first 5 minutes at the ruins pacing one of the walls, going on and on about why castles are so amazing, about those who walked there before us, about the history and the mystery. This castle once belonged to the Earl of Liecester, a rumored lover of Queen Elizabeth I; she spent more time at this castle than any other with the exception of her own. Today, the castle is in ruins, and is a beautiful spot to sit, write, read, or explore. Step down into the dungeons, climb up the site-seeing platforms, and enjoy, hopefully, as sunny a day as we did during our visit.
  
   
• Stratford-Upon-Avon - Roughly 90 miles outside of London, the home of the great bard bustles with life. See his family home, his burial site at Trinity Church, and the lovely river Avon. A real treat is to see the performers in the back garden of the Shakespeare family home recite his sonnets and act out scenes of his most famous and/or obscure plays. 
  
• The Globe - In relation to the Bard's home is the reconstruction of his playhouse. Though it is only a guess, as we have no concrete evidence as of yet as to what the Globe looked like inside, the beer, cider, and 5 pound groundling tickets will give you the authentic experience you crave; just be sure to wear comfortable shoes, or standing for 4 hours will feel like a lifetime. 
  
• Kew Gardens** - Perhaps the largest collection of exotic plants in the world, Kew Gardens is a short train ride away from Paddington Station and offers a beautiful, peaceful walk through grassy fields, tall trees, Japanese gardens, and Kew Palace. Be sure to climb the tree walk and get a full view from the sky. 
  
• London Zoo** - We've all been to zoos, but this one lets you get up close and personal with monkeys, lemurs, sloths, and birds. Sit beside the sunbathing lemur and walk around to the petting zoo (just, please, don't let the goats out of their pen). It took us roughly 6 hours to walk around, and that was going quickly, so reserve a good half a day to really take in the animals and enjoy yourself. 
  
• Sky Garden - Up in the Walkie-Talkie, a beloved, but problematic building after it melted a car the first summer it was built because of its concave shape, is the Sky Garden. It's over-priced (9 pounds for a glass of Pimm's - the best Pimm's you'll ever have, mind you) and the service isn't great, but the view is completely worth it. Book in advance and ride the elevator up to the very top, maybe grab yourself a snack, and enjoy the view of London. 
  
• London Bridge Experience** - My roommate, Bridget, and I went to do this one morning. It's a akin to most haunted houses, but incorporates London's history and takes you through the changes of the London Bridge. I won't give you any spoilers, but it's definitely something to do on a rainy day if you have time. 
  
• Camden Markets - Camden Town on the Northern Line has a special place in my heart. It was what I called home for nearly 7 weeks, and I grew very fond of the changing atmosphere as day turned to night. The Markets are an entire strip of road and a large part of a warehouse on the lock. Inside, you'll find everything from food to jewelry, from art to clothing. I got some of my favorite gifts for people (including some bags of tea and an infuser), as well as my favorite artwork from local artists and photographers. It's relatively inexpensive for the quality, and the food court is great for a quick lunch around the world. 
  
  
  

Act Like a Local: London Customs and Phrasing

       I went to England thinking I would be able to understand everyone perfectly; they spoke English, right? Wrong. British English and American English are very different, and on top of that, they have small phrasings and words that weren't anything I'd ever heard. However, as soon as I got the lingo down, living there became much easier, and I began to feel like a local.

• Quid = Pound (like buck = dollar)
• Half 10 = 10:30 (half      =    :30)
• Take Away = To Go
• Jumper = Sweater
• Pants = Underwear 
• Trousers = Pants
• Loo/Toilet = Bathroom
• Cutlery = Silverware
• Chips = French Fries 
• Crisps = Chips
• Fizzy Drink = Soda/Pop/Soft Drink
• Coach = Bus
• All Pear Shaped = It Went Wrong (the more wrong it went, the more you down play it - AKA: My car was on fire, so it was all a bit pear shaped.)
• Cheers = Thanks
• Hiya = Hello
• Lift = Elevator
• Car Park = Parking Lot
• Brekky = Breakfast
• Flat = Apartment 
• Sauces = Condiments

Along with an altered language comes different etiquette.

• Walk on the left - no one else will, but they drive on the left, you should walk on the left
• Speak quietly - America is a loud place, and so we are all used to speaking loudly; London is shockingly quiet, and so it's important to keep your volume low and be aware of how loud you're being
• Talking on the tube - people don't talk on the tube, so if you do, be sure to be quite and courteous towards fellow riders 
• Order at the bar - at most pubs you seat yourself and order at the bar rather than having a waitress come to your table; pick a table, have your table number if there is one on the table, and go up to the bar when you're ready to order

Documenting Your Adventure

      No one wants to forget their time abroad, that is why it is so key to take steps to document and immortalize your journey. In the new technological age, there are a million things you could do, from vlogs to old-fashioned journaling. These are the two I did:

Pictures - When I was in Japan, I barely took any pictures because I just wanted to experience it, not take my time worrying about taking pictures; however, now that four years have passed, I wish I would have taken pictures of my adventure to show others what I did and where I went. I vowed never to make that mistake again. I was armed with a camera and a phone, ready to take every picture imaginable, and I came back with a couple thousand to choose from, some of which I've posted on this blog, all of which I shared with my family and friends on Facebook so that they could see what I was up to, as I was not blogging while I was abroad. My cousin, Lisa, gave me a gift card for Shutterfly before I left, so when I got back I was able to put all my favorite/best photos into a book for me to keep and show people, because people want to see your adventure, and someday, when your memories are fading, you'll want to look back and see it, too.

Journals - I'm a writer, and so I'm an advocate of a good old fashioned journal for keeping your thoughts and documenting your days. My boyfriend, at one point over the last 5 years, gave me a TARDIS notebook, and it wasn't until I decided to go to London that I found the perfect use for it. I am a proud geek, and as such, I confidently carried my TARDIS journal with me everywhere I went to write down my thoughts, feelings, and observations around the city. Some days, it was just a few quick lines about what I did that day, others it was two pages about an interesting person sitting across from me on the tube. One day, I wrote, "There is a man across from me on the Northern Line, Charing Cross Branch. He's in a nice navy suit and slightly lighter blue tie. Headphones in, plugged into his Andriod phone that has a blue dinosaur case... That was the first thing out of place I noticed. Then, the neon purple and pink running shoes with black laces and the childish camo bag between his feet with bright yellow straps" (June 2, 2015 - 10:25am). I wrote about a lot of interesting people I saw on the tube, and often gave them stories, destinations, origins. I'm also an advocate because with a journal you are able to tape in all your tickets, pamphlets, and receipts you'd like to keep in one place.

Distance Makes the Heart Grown Fonder: Relationships While Abroad

       "Absence is to love what wind is to fire: it will extinguish the small and enkindle the great." My boyfriend of five and a half years says this to me quite often, as we were never the traditional couple that went to the same high school, and even now we don't attend the same college. There is always that fear when you or your significant other travels or goes away for an extended period of time, the fear that they may forget about you, that they may find someone else, that they may realize that they don't miss you at all, or worse yet, that you may find you don't miss them. But things like that happen when the wind has extinguished a small flame of passion masquerading as love, for when two people truly love each other, distance can only make that fondness stronger.

       It was not easy to say "see you later" to Taylor and board a plane for 3,724 miles away, but we both knew that this was an experience I could not pass up. That is the first part of this, the first part of any big decision in a couple's relationship made by one that affects them both - it's the question of support, and, quite honestly, if your significant other doesn't support you going abroad, it's time to reconsider the relationship. Now, do not misunderstand me. I don't mean that you should dump them if they're sad or hesitant about you leaving for 6 weeks or 4 months or a year; I mean that they should, no matter how much that distance will pull at their heart, support you in the adventure you'd like to embark on. 

       Every couple will have their own way of dealing with this time apart and their own method of communicating because usually you won't have a normal phone while abroad and will be completely reliant on wifi. 

Emails - When I went to Japan for three weeks during high school, we could only communicate through daily emails. Emails are nice because they are long love letters you can keep forever, but they are slower than the communication most of us are used to today, and that may cause some frustration if you're used to talking constantly with your significant other. 

iMessage - If you and your significant other have iPhones, iMessage is probably the easiest way to go, considering you're basically just texting them as you normally would and can use it as long as you're on wifi. 

Viber - Taylor and I used an app called Viber that allows instant messaging, calls, and facetime through wifi. It was very reliable, and I also used it to keep in touch with my family. It's free and you can talk to anyone who has the app as long as you both have wifi/data.

Facebook - Facebook is pretty obvious, but it's an easy way to keep in touch with messaging. 

To my surprise, I got to talk to Taylor a lot more than I expected while I was in London, even with him working full time as a chef and the 5 hour time difference. Every couple will be different, and Taylor and I had it easy because, as I said, we aren't used to seeing each other all the time. But as long as both of you work and you take your significant other's feelings into account, you should return to loving arms that missed you dearly and be able to pick up exactly where you left off.

Bucket Lists

       It's important to research your host country before going, especially in terms of what you'd like to do while over there. I had only 6 and half weeks to do everything I wanted in London, and as I said earlier, attacking London must be strategic; you have to prioritize and organize to get everything you want done. Pinterest and travel blogs are great places to get ideas of what's worth doing, what's just okay, and what are must do's, as well as finding the little hideaways and secret places others have found on their journeys. Refer to It's Okay to Be a Tourist and Must Do's From Me to You for my opinions on great things to do in London.

My Bucket List:

• Climb Big Ben - Unfortunately, I did not get to do this because you have to be a UK citizen to climb Big Ben, but I very much enjoyed staring at him and taking photos.

• Go the the Doctor Who Experience - It was a whovian's dream come true, and I recommend it for everyone who loves Doctor Who. The Experience is a secret, so you'll have to go to actually know what goes on there, but they have all the costumes and props (including the TARDIS!) from the show. Three friends and I took the train 2 hours outside of London to Cardiff Bay, Wales and spent the day at the Experience and then exploring the Bay: we saw Torchwood tower, street performers, beautiful sites, and had a great dinner before heading back to London. It was by far the best day of my trip. 

http://www.doctorwho.tv/events/doctor-who-experience/


• See a Show at the Globe Theatre - I actually got to see two shows: The Merchant of Venice and As You Like It. Both were absolutely amazing, and though it was painful to stand for three hours, it was worth it to get the groundling experience. It's 5 pounds for a groundling ticket, and worth it to see Shakespeare come to life. 
  
• Ride the London Eye - The morning we were set to ride, my friend Katy and I accidentally got on the wrong Underground train TWICE. We had tickets for 10am, and as we sprinted up Westminster Station steps, we could hear the seconds ticking down. The second my foot hit Westminster Bridge, Ben began tolling 10, and we just made it and were able to meet up with our friends to ride on time. It was an absolutely beautiful view and worth the pain in my chest from running to catch it. 
  
• Have Afternoon Tea in Fancy Hotel - Thankfully, my program, CAPA, took care of this one for me. Our first week, we all gathered at a hotel in South Kensington for proper English tea with finger foods and in fancy dress. It angered me slightly that some students showed up in street clothes, as that is not at all appropriate for tea, but my friends and I had a wonderful time. 
  
• Try Cider - This was the most dangerous thing on my bucket list, for once I tried it I could not stop drinking it, and I have craved it every day since coming home. English cider, unlike American Angry Orchard or Red's Apple Ale, is not as sweet and has a more bitter taste like beer. Because I am not a beer drinker, I doubted I would like it, but it ended up being my favorite drink and was always refreshing after a day of running around the city. Aspall and Strongbow (including Strongbow Dark Fruit) were my two favorites. Old Mount Cider is great if you want a fruity, refreshing drink on a hot day. 
  
• Eat REAL Fish and Chips - It's true that fish and chips are better over there. They're served with peas (either whole or smashed) and tater sauce, so if you like ketchup, like I do, you have to ask for "sauces" (refer to Act Like a Local: London Customs and Phrasing for proper ordering etiquette). I never had fish and chips I didn't like while I was over there, but the pubs know how to do it best, and you can't beat a cider to wash it down. 
• Take the Stereotypical Picture by a Phone Booth with Big Ben in the Background - Of course, everyone should do this because have you really been to London if you don't? It's a popular destination, so you have to be strategic about getting your photo. When we went to do ours, a bride and groom were doing photos, and we had to wait until they left to take ours. The photo's worth the hassle, though. 
  
• Have a Drink at the Old Bell Tavern on Fleet Street - My friend, when she went to London, frequented this pub most nights and told me I had to go and have a drink there. So, one night my two friends, Bridget and Katy, and I found ourselves near Fleet Street and decided to grab a pint. The entire way down the street we sang songs from Sweeney Todd and joked, we sat around a circular table by the horseshoe bar and drank a couple pints, and as we were knee-deep in a discussion of American politics and America's future, a Lithuanian man came and sat next to us. At first, we thought nothing of it and tried to include him in the conversation, but he was so drunk and his accent was so thick that understanding him was nearly impossible. It got better when he took a liking to Katy and put his arm around her. We tried every diversion tactic in the book: bringing up her imaginary boyfriend, telling him we were having a girls night, flat out ignoring him... Finally, I just pretended our friend texted us and that we had to go meet her, but, because we were two pints in at that point and not really thinking, we just went to the next pub on the street, and not two minutes later, once we had our drinks and a table, he walked in wanting to join us again. We got rid of him eventually, but it was a very interesting encounter, and one that has fondly burned the Old Bell into my memory. 
  
• Take a Picture at Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station - A must do on any Harry Potter fan's list. I went twice, once with my friends and once with my family when they came for vacation, and both times were absolutely amazing and fun. Pictures are free and the line moves pretty quickly, plus the store is pretty cool - I got a t-shirt from there that was very comfortable. 
  
• Talk to a Stranger in a Pub - This happened several times, obviously. There was the Lithuanian guy, a Greek man I had a lovely conversation about the English language with, and two men who bought us a round and danced with us at a pub with live music (that night I was also asked by an extremely intoxicated man if he could take me home, which was both flattering and hilarious). 
• Do All the Touristy Things - You have to, you just do, when you're in London. There are so many cool things and historical places that are just fun to go to, and with the London Pass, it's easy to do them all for a very discounted rate. 
  
• Find a TARDIS - I did find one! It's outside Earl's Court Tube station, which also happened to be the station for my family's flat when they came over for vacation. 
  
• Get a Great Family Photo - This was the first time my mother, father, sister, and I have ever been on vacation together because my parents are divorced and my sister is my half-sister, so I've never had the chance to be with just them somewhere else, and on top of that, a picture of the four of us together never actually existed before this trip. So, thank you to my wonderful roommate Bridget for taking such a wonderful photo of us.
  
• Ride a Double Decker Bus - Another must do in London. Buses are a bit difficult to figure out and are certainly not more convenient than the tube, but are fun and not a bad way to get around London while still seeing everything, considering the tube is very much underground. 
  
• Go to the Natural History Museum - I'm not one for museums, but they are free in London, and the Natural History Museum was amazing and full of interesting artifacts. 
  
• Go to a Night Club - This is a bit of a cheat, since I counted my "night club" as a bar with dancing and live music. Clubs aren't my forte, but I did enjoy the pub we went to. Koko in Camden Town, though, is, from what I hear, a great club to go to if you're into that kind of thing.
• Take a Picture with the Royal Guard - Another must do, of course. They're every where, but it is difficult to get close to them. The closest we got was at Windsor Castle. 
  
• Go to the IceBar - Absolutely go! It was so much fun. You have to prepay online and book, but it's right in central London, and for your admission price you get an awesome cloak, a cocktail in a glass made of ice, and 40 minutes. It's actually not that cold, and really the only reason you're there is for the awesome photos, but the cocktail was delicious, and we had a blast. 
  
• Climb to the Top of St. Paul's Cathedral - 528 steps to the top of St. Paul's dome for a gorgeous view of London. Bridget and I dragged ourselves to the top, and it was worth it in the end, but my legs were definitely not happy the next day. We were dying, but we still looked pretty from the top!
  
• Find the City of London Crest - This one was actually given to me by my boyfriend, and at first I didn't understand where I was supposed to find this mystical crest, but as soon as I went from Westminster into the City of London, it was literally everywhere. 
  
• Find a Piece for my Wall - I have a wall in my room covered in random things from all over the world, from Shisa statues from Okinawa to Italian masks to a preserved spider from the Middle East, so I knew I needed something from London to add to my collection. I ended up finding many things, including a painting and several photos from all around London that I am very excited to put up. 
  
• Go to the Bedlam Museum - Unfortunately, this was put to the side and I never got to go, but I did so many amazing things that I'm not too upset about missing out on one museum. 
• Go on the Jack the Ripper Tour - Katy, Bridget, and I ended up going on this tour together and it was so much fun. Our tour guide was the most amazing man, completely hilarious and entertaining, which you don't think of when you go on a Ripper tour, but it actually made it that much better, and he was very knowledgeable and took us around the sites where the women were found. 
  
• Go to Hatchard's Book Store - Hatchard's is the Queen's bookstore and the oldest bookstore in London. I ended up buying two books and a journal, all of which were very good buys. It's just one of those spots you should see. 
  
• Kenilworth Castle - This was a site my program took us to see. It's a castle in ruins with a recreated rose garden in the back and was said to be the home of Queen Victoria's lover. It's an amazing place, and we had so much fun running around and taking pictures. 
  
• Cardiff Castle - Because I was only in Cardiff for a day rather than a weekend as I had planned, I didn't get a chance to go, but hopefully I will get to go back and see it some day. 
• Stonehenge - An obvious tourist destination, but it is absolutely wonderful and worth the trip outside London to see. I could feel the energy and history of it, and though we will never truly know how it was used or built, it's mystery makes it that much more appealing to curious humans. 
  
• Bath - The Roman Baths were really cool; however, the tourists were absolutely awful. They all had the audio tour which made them stand in the middle of everything without moving. My favorite part was sitting by the baths and writing. 
  
• Princess Diana Memorial Walk - It goes across four parks, but we only did a bit of it in Hyde Park because, quite honestly, we got distracted by food and had a hard time finding the plaques we were supposed to follow. We ended up having a very nice day, though, as we rented a paddle boat and went out on the Serpentine for an hour and sang to Taylor Swift. 
  
• Read Shakespeare in the Park - I did this several times, as I was taking a Shakespeare class and parks are the perfect places to read. My favorite day was reading The Tempest in St. James' Park with the animals frolicking around me and people walking by. 
  
• Windsor Castle - It's everything you want a castle to be! It is slightly touristy, but you can see what a working castle looks like and it's absolutely beautiful. Bridget and I began our London Pass week here, and we had a wonderful time and sat for a nice lunch at a place called Bill's before heading back to London. 
  
• Frolicking on Castle Grounds - Because who wouldn't want to do this? Natalie and I skipped in the grass by Kenilworth castle, holding hands and laughing. It was a beautiful, sunny day, barely any clouds in the sky, and felt pretty magical. 
  

Bucket Lists really help to keep your priorities in line, and there's no harm in adding as you go. Mine streamlined what I really wanted/had to do, and now it's a fun thing to share with people who ask about my trip.