My London Travel Diary
Everything we did — and what I wore! — on my trip with Atlas Adventures.
As promised! I am back in your inboxes today with a full recap o f my week in London with Atlas Adventures. Scroll down for everything we did — and everything I wore — on this very memorable group trip.
Our itinerary was a delightful mix that blended sightseeing with royal history as well as two exclusive shopping excursions, a glamorous tea, and a night out at the theater. For fashion, I wanted to play with volume and tailoring, sprinkling in a few of my favorite royal-inspired purchases and a dash or two of HRH blue. (If you want to jump straight to the links, I’ve rounded those up here.)
Interested in joining a trip like this in the future? Please fill out this Google form. No obligation whatsoever, only the promise that you will be the first to know if I do this again.
Questions for me about this trip (or what I packed)? Pop them in the comments of this newsletter, I am happy to answer whatever I can.
🫶 ICYMI: So many people in our group generously offered up their thoughts on why they wanted to come on this trip, as well as what words of encouragement they would offer others venturing somewhere new. Click below for one of my favorite newsletters of late.
This newsletter will very likely get cut off in your inbox! Click here to read it in full.
But first, thank you to…
🇬🇧 British Airways for providing my round-trip ticket to London.
🌎 The Atlas Adventures team for putting this together! They covered the costs of the London stay and activities for me and my photographer, and compensated me for my time. Yasmine, thank you for all of your efforts to organize our group. Lucy, thank you for being the most delightful leader on all of our excursions. And Whitney, what you have built is incredible! It was an honor to join one of your adventures.
📷 Jarrard Cole, my good friend and talented photographer/videographer, for tirelessly documenting this all with me. (I paid Jarrard for his time.) Thank you, Jarrard — you make everything better!
My London Travel Diary
Please note: I use affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting So Many Thoughts!
Before we begin: As the trip got underway, I received several DMs asking what this adventure was all about. Whitney Haldeman, aka the Blonde Atlas, invited me to join one of the many bespoke excursions she plans each year. Atlas Adventures brings together groups of women in the spirit of connection, traveling all over the world to see new places together. As I told Whitney, I have been approached several times in the past with travel opportunities; her approach felt like the perfect fit for our community. I love what she does and how she puts the trips together. For more, read my newsletter on her here.
TRAVEL
The trip began on a high note thanks to British Airways, who very generously provided me with a round-trip business class ticket to London. I flew with them last year to cover the coronation and was delighted to be back on board. The airline has incredible lounges in both Los Angeles and London for pre-flight bites and last-minute prep. On board, the personal cabin made it possible for me to work and lounge (with great in-flight entertainment options). But mostly: The lay-flat seat meant I actually slept on the 10+ hour flight.
DAY 1
Getting settled in London
Atlas Adventures booked the group at the Mayfair Townhouse, which happens to be a favorite of mine. I have stayed at this charming, centrally located spot for my last two London visits. I love that it’s a short walk through the park to Buckingham Palace. (It’s also very close to a tube station and a M&S food market.) My friend and photographer, Jarrard Cole, and I popped by the palace — as one does! — then headed to lunch just around the corner at Little House Mayfair with Whitney and Lucy from Atlas Adventures.
What I wore and why: I love a piece that does the work for you (especially when jet-lagged!). This jacket from Hill House Home makes an entire outfit. The exaggerated collar reminded me of Diana’s early years and the elevated twist on red, white and blue hues felt like a subtle nod to the Union Jack. The temperatures in London were milder than I anticipated, allowing for a cropped jean (wearing my usual size 27 here, though with the stretch I could have sized down) and my new J.Crew Factory loafers. Ahead of the trip, I dug through my sunnies stash and found this classic pair I bought after Kate wore them to Wimbledon.
Welcome drinks and dinner at Circolo Popolare
I wish I would have taken a picture as I walked into welcome drinks at the hotel, the official start of our Atlas Adventures trip. A glass of champagne in hand, I was greeted by a sea of smiles from the group. My nerves dissipated quickly as we all shared why we came on this trip and then walked to dinner at Circolo Popolare, the most delicious Italian restaurant. The place was packed, such a vibe! And the food was served family style, with plates being passed as we all got to know one another.
What I wore and why: My goal was SoCal-meets-London. I bought this Posse skirt after seeing it on Meghan in Colombia (hers was white, I chose the natural hue). This was a very intentional repeat, as I first wore it on my reporting trip to Godmothers bookstore to hear the duchess speak. To make the linen feel a bit more autumnal, I paired it with a super soft cashmere sweater, one of my favorite pieces from my capsule with MM LaFleur. My hope was to give off warm, relaxed vibes as I met everyone for the first time. The most comfortable Marion Parke heels completed the look.
For dinner, I topped it off with my new Kule coat (more on that in a bit) and a Jason Wu crossbody I have had for ages. (The bag was a nod to Jarrard; back when I was at the Wall Street Journal, we worked together on a big project to capture Wu’s runway show in virtual reality.) We took this shot in the tunnel right next to the restaurant’s entrance.
DAY 2
Vintage bus tour and visit to Susan Caplan’s studio
We began with a vintage bus tour of London, weaving our way through the crowded, rainy streets serenaded by Gary, an affable, knowledgeable tour guide. The group piled out at Westminster Abbey then walked to a picture-perfect spot of Big Ben. The bus dropped us off at a delicious food hall in Covent Garden for lunch.
Most of us then climbed onto the tube to head to Camden Town to visit Susan Caplan, an expert in vintage jewelry who I have known for years. She regaled us with stories of how she supplied jewelry for The Crown — you can read all about it in my earlier newsletter — as well as how she became one of the most trusted sellers of Chanel pieces. We then got to shop directly from her coffers with a friends and family discount — what a delight this was!
What I wore and why: I knew our vintage bus would be bright red, so I chose my beloved HRH blue trench coat as a softer contrast. (I bought it from Theory for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, similar here.) I topped it off with my KCIII scarf, a coronation trip souvenir, that had enough red to pair back to the bus.
When packing, volume really spoke to me, particularly in tailored pieces. This new shirt from Madewell is an instant fave, with a slightly cropped hem and the exaggerated cuffs. I love how it looks with these pleated wide-leg cropped trousers from Banana Republic (similar here). Given the rain, I went with my new pair of white leather Keds, which I knew I could clean easily. For jewelry, I wore one of several Susan Caplan pieces I already own: this pearl necklace worn by a young Princess Anne on The Crown. At Susan’s showroom, the neckline of my shirt was perfect to play around with her gorgeous pieces.
Dinner at Dishoom
When planning this trip with Atlas, one of the choices I leapt at was dinner at Dishoom. Every London location is bustling at all hours, serving plate after plate of comfort food (the slogan is “From Bombay with Love”). Again, the vibes were high! Scoring a big table for our group — thanks to Whitney and Lucy — felt like such a win, as did the family-style serving. As we shared food, our conversations dove deeper into life stories and career paths. By the end of the meal, we were all swapping book recommendations.
What I wore and why: I had something else in mind for this dinner but switched it up to wear my new Chanel necklace from Susan Caplan. It only felt fitting — and, to be honest, so fun! — to keep the new piece on for dinner. This black button-down from Madewell let it shine (similar here), while these J.Crew Factory jeans with the raw hem felt relaxed. For the ultimate high-low pairing, I threw on these Target loafers (an impulse buy on a pre-trip sprint for an umbrella. My oversize Kule trench completed the neutral story.
DAY 3
Private shopping at Selfridges
Over lunch the day before, a bunch of us scheduled blowouts for our third — and most fashion-y — day of the trip. I know some of you are looking for recs! My fave chain in London is Duck and Dry. The timing didn’t work out on this trip, so I went to Headmasters, which was great, and John Freida (not my favorite, too pricey for what it was).
With our hair done, the day began at the most luxe private shopping suite at Selfridges. Whitney asked for my input ahead of time; I requested British brands and was delighted to find racks of Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Barbour and more. We also ventured out into the store, to snap pictures of other pieces we loved (which magically appeared in the suite!). Group shopping — champagne in hand, surrounded by friends — is one of my favorite ways to shop. I bought the most fun quilted light blue jacket from the Barbour’s “The Edit” capsule by Alexa Chung.
What I wore and why: I have been waiting to debut this epic Veronica Beard vest and trousers. Another purchase inspired by Meghan’s trip to Colombia, this suit fit perfectly from the moment I put it on. The thicker material magically resists wrinkles (making it a dream to pack) and made it so easy to move (I didn’t want anything to get in the way of shopping LOL). The earrings I found at Anthropologie and the top-handle bag is a J.Crew favorite I bought to carry to the White House holiday party last year (similar here).
Tea at Raffles London at the OWO
Next, it was on to tea at Raffles London, located in the Old War Office Building on Whitehall. I tend to come to London in the spring and early summer, so this autumnal tea felt new and delightfully cozy. Atlas had booked us in a private room, three tables in a library-like setting for us to enjoy.
What I wore and why: Did I need to change between shopping and tea? No. Did I want to? YES! Mostly because I haven’t had a chance to re-wear this Self-Portrait dress since the coronation! (Similar versions here and here.) It’s one of my most favorite pieces in my closet, an entire — very special — outfit in one gorgeous garment. The light blue was an unexpected complement to the room, filled with wine and tan hues. This style is a favorite of many royal women and I can see why; highly recommend for any festive but somewhat more formal or business-like occasion. (I chose to tone it down with Marion Parke beige heels, rather than the sparkly pumps I wore for coronation coverage — a small but big difference.)
A night out at SIX
I have heard SIX described as the Spice Girls meets Hamilton — sounds right to me! I love this retelling of a well-covered time in Tudor history, staged as a pop concert starring the six wives of King Henry VIII. The show runs for a tight 80 minutes, with no intermission; set at the intimate Vaudeville Theatre, every seat in the house is a good one.
What I wore and why: THE COAT, obviously. This felt like the perfect night to bring out my Kate-inspired trench, a treasured piece in my closet since I bought it at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2022. Talk about making a whole outfit! It’s the definition of a statement piece. (And I love that a few members of our Atlas group were so excited to see THE COAT in person.) I was inspired by Kate’s original styling, with a pleated skirt and pointy-toed heels. Tassel earrings topped the look off.
DAY 4
Day trip to Hampton Court Palace
Field trip! I have wanted to visit Hampton Court Palace on many previous visits, but it’s just far enough that I never made it on my own. Enter the expert planners at Atlas, who made this as easy as could be. (Having someone handle the mental load of traveling? A GIFT!). The palace, famously home to King Henry VIII, is a roughly 30-minute train ride to the southwest of London. Seeing SIX the night before was fitting, as it was a bit of a pop primer before the darker reality shared at Hampton Court. Afterwards, we met up for a delicious lunch at the Mute Swan. It was billed as pub food, but felt much fancier. Conversation flowed easily, as we all shared what we had learned at the palace.
What I wore and why: I have been wanting an oversized blazer for quite some time and loved this from Madewell. It is meant to be large but I would say it still runs big (I sized down, to a 2). I chose a more fitted T-shirt underneath (I wanted to love this as its super soft, but it noticeably pilled after one wearing). The fit of the J.Crew Factory jeans were key to keeping the look from getting too bulky. (I got them in my usual size for the brand, 26, but in “tall” for extra length).
The pièce de résistance was my new Kule trench in olive. I love a classic tan but also here for other colors, which feel fresh and help you stand out a bit in the crowd. This is also oversized! (I sized down to XS). The loafers pulled it all together. Jarrard gave me a hard time for my “capacious” Cuyana tote, but it held a lot. 🙃
PS: Quick shoutout to a new sunscreen I tried on this trip — Supergoop’s Mineral Mattescreen. It was so helpful in keeping shine to a minimum.
DAY 5
Royal portrait exhibition at the King’s Gallery
We began the last day with a group visit to the King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, catching the final days of an exhibit I was eager to see. Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography featured more than 150 prints of the royal family. “No artistic medium has had a greater impact on the royal image than photography,” read the opening placard. The exhibition has since come to a close, and pictures were not allowed inside the gallery. But it was striking to see how the art form has evolved, from Cecil Beaton’s coronation portraits of Queen Elizabeth II to the ones Hugo Burnand took last year of King Charles III.
Before stepping in the gallery, we walked by Buckingham Palace and took a few pictures. Someone in our group asked if everyone could get a shot with me, which was so sweet! I’m so glad to have these memories.
What I wore and why: On the last morning, I returned to my signature white-and-blue combo, inspired by my book, HRH. This incredible Hill House sweater is thick enough to double as a jacket and gave me a chance to try one of Jamie Beck’s scarf-tying tutorials. Mine wasn’t quite as crisp, but I consider it a good first attempt. My QEII scarf, purchased at the Buckingham Palace gift shop on my Platinum Jubilee trip, is a favorite. The jeans, bag, and loafers were all repeats from earlier in the trip.
Farewell dinner at the Ivy
When compiling our itinerary, Whitney said that folks would like some free time toward the end to explore London on their own. She was right! Everyone dispersed that afternoon. Some went to the Tower of London, others went shopping in Notting Hill. I loved that flexibility! (I took a nap LOL.) Then we convened for one last — really wonderful — dinner at the Ivy SoHo. Atlas arranged for a private room and took orders ahead of time, so we could just enjoy one another’s company that night. Whitney gave a wonderful goodbye toast, and I had the chance to thank everyone for coming. A very special end to a very special trip!
What I wore and why: This Hill House dress felt like a fitting finale, a moody autumnal vibe for the low-lit restaurant. (It’s a sleeved version of the very popular Cosima style, which I love; sizing is similar to the Ellie). Statement flower earrings from Jennifer Behr (similar here) upped the celebratory factor. Full disclosure, I had planned to wear heels but by this point in the trip my feet needed a break. And finally, adore this Madewell crossbody. It comes with a shorter strap to make it a cute top-handled style, too. (And it’s on mega sale right now.)
(Photos by the very talented Jarrard Cole)
WHAT. A. TRIP! So many reasons to smile! I am still wrapping my head around our time together. I am so immensely grateful to the group of women who stepped outside of their comfort zones and came on this trip with me. And I can’t thank the entire Atlas team enough for their work pulling it together.
If you are interested in a future trip — no obligation whatsoever! — please fill out this Google form. It will help us get a sense of what would be most fun for (and I promise you will be the first to know if another one happens).
Questions about this trip? Leave them in the comments below.
What fun to relive our week in London with so many new friends! I miss you all!
I am already thinking about the next trip 😀