British food in a mouthful

While there are lots of reasons to travel, getting to try new food is always a favourite part and London is no exception. While its nothing crazy and out of the ordinary from Aussie food, there are some novelties.

Cream tea

This is my favourite thing to eat/do. Just find any cute looking café and order tea and scones with clotted cream and jam. You can thank me later. After a long day wandering through the (free) museums, a 3pm pit stop for a cream team goes down a treat. English tea is as good as they say and usually comes in a very generous portion for only $2 pounds that they say is for one, but can easily be shared between two. I’ve had both cold and warmed scones, fruit and fruitless scones and can’t pick a favourite. I love scones in any way they come, although warmed fruit scones are always a much welcome surprise. Layer with cream and generous lashings of jam for a treat you won’t regret.

Fish and Chips

Known to be a popular British staple it lives up to its expectation. Always crumbed in light and crispy batter with light flaky white fish and generous serving of crispy chips this is a meal that won’t disappoint. Sprinkle salt and top with Tartare sauce for a hip-hating yet lip-licking meal that suits any time of the day.

Sunday Roast

Sadly this one took me 7 weeks till I got around to trying it, and now I want it every Sunday. The Kings Lion is a pub just down the road from my Uni and for $12 pound was served a deliciously big portion of pork with crunchy crackling, amazing potatoes, broccoli, carrot, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. I want another just typing this. Admittedly there wasn’t enough gravy and the puddings not the best, but the pork was divine. And for someone who felt like a home cooked meal without the cooking or washing, it really hit the spot. Treat yourself to a Sunday roast, it’s well worth it even if it is something your mum can make you at home.

Steak and Ale pie

Nothing says delicious like a hot flaky pie, with chunks of beef in a gravy like sauce paired with a cold cider (or beer) in a warm pub. A pie can do no wrong, so go out, order one and enjoy it. And don’t judge if the Australian in me still puts tomato sauce on it.

Full English Breakfast

Save this one for when you’re hung-over or haven’t eaten and its lunchtime. You need an empty and growling stomach. A thick piece of sliced toast topped with eggs and a side of mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, baked beans, bacon and sausages will make anyone happy for a day. Fair warning, you won’t be able to eat for another 10 or so hours. So enjoy, it really is delicious.

Scotch Eggs

Sadly I ran out of time to try a fresh, just cooked Scotch egg and was reduced to trying a pre-cooked one picked up at the local supermarket. It’s a soft boiled egg that’s been wrapped in minced meat and usually eaten hot with the egg still runny and meat warm. While my tummy grumbles just thinking about this version, I was only privy to trying a microwaved heated one but it was still enjoyable and I’m adding it back on to my list of things to try when I return to London. Keep your eyes peeled for an update

The night before travelling

Perhaps one of the most exciting moments about travelling is the night before. You sit there checking you have passports and visa’s, that you’ve packed enough clothes, shoes and toiletries all the while your head is screaming at you that in less than 12 hrs youll be on a plane, going somewhere you’ve never been before.

Time almost feels heavy, like something you want to offload, to go away, but it just keeps ticking at its own pace. Sleep doesn’t come easily, your head filling with images of all the beautiful places youll see, adventures youll have, friends youll met and experiences to remember for the rest of your life.

That’s how my trip started. With anticipation and the thrill of new discoveries. Saying goodbye to a tearful mum (of course), I boarded the plane bound for London.

…

About 25 painful and cramped hours later, I had arrived in London. We had 5hrs to kill before our next flight to Munich, so what did we do?

Wheeled our suitcases straight out of the airport and down to Maccas. Yep, we were in London for the first time in our lives and we chose to go to maccas…

To be fair, we didn’t have much time and Maccas was close.

After scoffing down a cheeseburger meal, we all logged into Facebook to check in. It sounds sad that we were starting a great adventure and the first thing we did was use Facebook to check in, but I think that’s the reality of our generation. Were able to connect with friends and family so easily and so effortless, it seems stupid not to use it. Instead of having the same chat with each and every friend about where we were, what we were doing, when we were leaving, how the flight was, what movies did we watch, are we all still getting along and so on, checking in let everyone know what we were upto, and to be honest we just wanted them to know that while they were working hard, or studying at uni we were in London having a great time. Great friends huh…