London in 5 Days: Wrong Turns, Victorian Nerds & Carnivals

Between buses going in every direction except ours, impromptu pilgrimages to shrines of 18th-century science, and wandering straight into one of Europe’s biggest street parties entirely by accident, I think I’ve aged approximately three monarchs.

So here it is — my gloriously chaotic, somewhat educational, and occasionally overpriced 5-day London adventure.

Day 1: London by Bus… Just Not the Right One!

We began in classic tourist style — by confidently boarding a bus that whisked us in the exact opposite direction of our destination. Several buses later, we had seen parts of London that we didn’t know were part of London.

At one point, I’m fairly sure we entered Narnia. Or possibly Croydon.

Score: London’s buses – 1, Us – a humbled 0.

Day 2: Touristing With a Side of Science and Masala

Determined to reclaim our dignity, we upgraded to the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off. Basically, a sightseeing buffet on wheels. 

This time, we saw Actual London™: Big Ben, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and other icons that scream “postcard.”

Then, because I can’t resist a nerdy detour, we hopped off for an intellectual amuse-bouche:

• The Royal Society, the place of science superheroes like Newton, Faraday, Boyle, Wren, etc. 

• Paddington Station, which is famous for Agatha Christie AND a bear with excellent fashion sense. 

• and of course, Baker Street — home to Sherlock Holmes and that Gerry Rafferty earworm that refuses to leave your head. 

Lunch was a split decision: Sridhar went for Chinese while I chose the all-veg Arya Bhavan — because nothing says “vacation” like ragi dosa and being unintentionally trapped between two tables arguing about Indian politics in stereo: one in Hindi, the other in… louder Hindi. Our final hop off: Harrods, where I zoomed in on the price tags, then zoomed right back out and onto the bus to financial safety.

Day 3: Darwin, Detours, and Subo’s Global Family Tree 

Friday was a treat — Subo’s effortlessly charming brother-in-law, Shakthi, drove us all (Subo, Bala, Sridhar, and me) to Down House, aka Charles Darwin’s cozy countryside crib, where he casually invented modern biology. Down House was amazing. Standing where Darwin probably spilled tea on his manuscript for The Origin of Species felt surreal. On the way, we made a pit stop at Chinmaya Kirti, which was lovely and peaceful — a brief spiritual cleanse before diving into natural selection. 10/10 day! 

Bonus: good company, no wrong buses, and no politics at lunch. 

Day 4: Newton’s Pub and R&R Mania. I decided to go full historical nerd again and hunted down the Grecian

Coffee House, where Isaac Newton and Edmond Halley (the comet guy) and other scientific legends used to hang out. These days it’s a pub, because nothing says “progress” like turning a scientific salon into a spot for trivia night and pints. So naturally, I had a drink in their honor and raised a glass to the time they casually dissected a dolphin there (Yes, that actually happened, and yes, pub snacks have really improved since.)

Then came the main event: a Classic Rock & Beatles Tour. Four hours of musical joy. Recording studios, legendary venues, stories about musicians, and even a spot where Phil Kenzie, the supreme saxophonist behind some of the biggest rock hits, might have recorded and made himself immortal. 

And yes, I walked across Abbey Road. Badly. Like a confused John Lennon with jet lag. 

Day 5: Antiques Market? Nah. Carnival, though! 

The plan? Portobello Road Market for antique hunting. The reality? The Notting Hill Carnival — one of London’s biggest street festivals — had taken over. No antiques, but a front-row view of vibrant Caribbean music, colors, dancing, and a powerful reminder of how culture blooms in response to history. It was loud, chaotic, and not well planned. Just like most of this trip!

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