My 2025 London Trip

If you aren’t subscribed to my newsletter, you might have missed that I am heading back to London in the autumn with my mom for a two-week trip! (Or I suppose a fortnight…) We’ve had some excellent luck with getting tickets to things, and I have to say, this is a once in a lifetime trip with everything we’re fitting in. We’ve got exhibitions, we’ve got performances, there is something for everyone. (Or everything for me…) Let’s get into my 2025 London trip! 

My 2025 London Trip

We’ve got a good mix of things for this trip! A musical, the ballet, several exhibitions, Christmas windows, historic sites, and seeing friends. I am fortunate that all sorts of timing has worked out for the better! 

Exhibitions

This might be one of the most impressive trips I’ve been on for exhibitions, and that includes my 2019 trip where I saw the Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition at the V&A and Royal Women at the Fashion Museum in Bath. (Not to mention the Romanov exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace.) 

Cartier, V&A

Cartier is another of one of the V&A’s blockbuster exhibitions. Featuring over a century of Cartier history, I will definitely be looking for the Manchester Tiara and the Aquamarine Pineflower Tiara (hoping that Princess Anne isn’t borrowing it again), as well as the Williamson Diamond Brooch. The Romanov exhibition in 2019 had several Cartier pieces, so knowing the incredible craftsmanship, this will be a big one. 

Marie Antoinette Style, V&A

While the Cartier exhibition will be exciting, Marie Antoinette Style is going to be major for me. Now that it is finally open, the videos and tours I’ve seen from the exhibition look incredible. We not only have several pieces of clothing, accessories, paintings, and items from the tragic queen’s life, there are modern Dior pieces, as well as things from the 2006 Marie Antoinette film and more. I have to say, I cannot wait to see Élisabeth Vigée le Brun’s portraits- I’ve never seen one in person, so this is a big art history moment for me. 

The Edwardians: Age of Elegance, The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace

This is another once in a lifetime exhibition, and I think it is one of the most impressive exhibitions from the RCT. It includes Queen Alexandra’s coronation gown and King Edward VII’s coronation mantel, their thrones, several portraits that I’ve also wanted to see in person, and the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. 

The King’s Gallery (previously known as The Queen’s Gallery) is not the biggest gallery in London by a long shot, but the Royal Collection Trust does an incredible job with using the space efficiently. (I have already done the virtual tour, and it looks amazing.) Very excited for this exhibition! 

Performances

I know that everyone has different interests but I always think it is a massive waste for someone to go to London and not take in a live performance. You’ve got the West End, the Royal Opera House (with both ballet and opera), the National Theatre, the Globe, the list is endless. And I have to say, the prices are reasonable for the quality that you get! 

La Fille mal gardee, Royal Opera House

This is one of my favourite ballets, so I am very excited to see this performed live. The Royal Ballet is my favourite company, so I’m always happy to see their productions, but this is certainly at the top of my list. (If I could see them perform La Sylphide, life would be perfect, but La Fille mal gardee is very close!) I’ve not seen any of the principals perform live, so I am also happy that we have tickets to this particular performance. (Also, I will take any chance I can get to go to the Royal Opera House…) 

Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre

I will admit, I am very excited to see the new Paddington musical but ever so grumpy as it opens at the beginning of November and we don’t have a single clip of music or anything. As someone who stops to take a picture with the Paddington statue at Paddington station every time I’m in London, I am very excited to see how he translates to the stage and what he will look like in person. And I will admit, I have never seen a musical in previews, so that will be an interesting experience! (Poll: do we think I can get away with bringing a Paddington with me? It feels appropriate.) 

Historic Sites

I’ve got several historic sites on the itinerary, as you would expect from an historian. I will be heading back to St. Paul’s Cathedral, as I was there for less than an hour when I visited in 2013 and you weren’t allowed to take any photos. (I will admit, I took 2 photos inside before I found out that you couldn’t take photos but I would like to take many more.)

My mom and I also have tickets to tour Buckingham Palace, which is my number one bucket list item. Because tours were only offered for 8 weeks over the summer for so long (and I can’t travel then), I never thought I would be able to visit. And as an historian who studies the history of modern monarchy, this is a big one. 

Christmas

As evidenced by my annual Blogmas tradition and love of all things festive, I am glad that we will be able to catch the beginning of the holiday season in London. We will be heading to Fortnum and Mason and Liberty to see the Christmas shops (all of the tours I’ve seen so far look fantastic!!) and hopefully see some Christmas windows. Ditto for the Covent Garden decorations! 

We have also booked an open top bus tour to see the Christmas lights on Oxford Street and Regent Street which I am very excited about. I have a whole separate bucket list for Christmas, and I’m crossing off several items at once! 

If you have seen any of these exhibitions, please let me know your thoughts! 

Cheers,
The Historian
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