Photographs From a Vacation in London: Good Weather for Late February and Lots of Free Museums

”… this sceptered isle … ” John of Gaunt, from Shakespeare’s Richard II.

March 16, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

I started this blog planning to write about local corporations, some local government and travel, but I quickly found out that Lehigh Valley readers gravitate to stories about Wawa and boondoggles. I’ve done my part. Now, back to what I wanted to do …

My past few weeks focused on a trip to London and a root canal that turned into a double root canal. Nobody wants to hear about a root canal so here are some images from London.

The Brompton Oratory is also known as the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This Catholic church is in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, about a block below Kensington Park and next to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

We flew overnight, so after dropping our bags at the Westbourne Hyde Park, we walked a block toward the Lancaster Gate of Kensington Park, stopped for coffee and visited the Oratory and the V&A, as the museum is called. Both are free and worth seeing.

I’ve made the trip from Newark to Heathrow in the morning, arriving in the evening in the UK, and mostly flown overnight. The overnight trip works out if you can push through the first day. It helps to check in early for a brief rest.

We usually stay in the Covent Garden area, but the hotel off Gloucester Terrace was excellent, the neighborhood was quite and we were two blocks from Paddington Station. Very convenient.

We were near regional stations and multiple subway lines.

They don’t call it “The Tube” for nothing, although it was usually not this crowded.

Many museums in London are free. The subway system is cheap and not hard to use. Americans tend to have problems dealing with public transit. Get an Oyster card, get in a train and you’ll get around just fine. Force yourself. There are taxis but the city is crowded and The Tube is fast.

There are many great museums in London, from the big ones, such as the National Gallery, medium-size edifices such as the Wallace Collection, below, and smaller galleries such as The Courtauld, one of our favorites.

The Wallace Collection in Marylebone is in what used to be somebody’s house, but it’s a very big house. It also has an excellent restaurant in a covered courtyard.

The Courtauld Gallery is small, and just off the Strand near Covent Garden in Somerset House, which overlooks the Thames. It features some of the world’s most famous paintings, including a Van Gogh with bandaged ear, and below, Manet’s “Bar at the Folies-Bergere.” The gallery is not free but it’s worth visiting.

Note the bartender’s bored look, and to the right of her, a skewed reflection of her and the male patron who’s probably trying to charm her. I’ve seen that look. There’s some Bass ale in the picture too.

There’s a lot for people who want to see history of the UK and of western civilization. Below, Winston Churchill’s accommodations during World War II in the War Rooms, deep underground.

Churchill was known for roughing it as a young man in South Africa, India and even Cuba, but he couldn’t have cared much for this lodging in his 60s, under Westminster.

Near the War Rooms, Westminster Abbey, a World Heritage Site and still an active church. It is the site of every English coronation since 1066, and the tomb of many royals and others, such as Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton and Charles Dickens.

Good weather outside the Abbey, good for London in late February.

Despite some international turmoil, the British have always been friendly and hospitable. They can be good sports, as the statue of George Washington below, outside the National Gallery, indicates. Once the island nation’s biggest foe, he’s now admired.

The State of Virginia donated this statue 105 years ago to commemorate the former colonies’ friendship with the UK and Ireland.

So even in late February, as the Lehigh Valley was preparing for a big storm — that didn’t come in quite as planned — the weather in London was good. Highs near 60 and some sun.

St. Paul’s Cathedral as seen from the other side of the Thames.

Visiting in February has advantages. Fewer crowds, generally cheaper flights and a choice of accommodations.

London is a great spot for one’s first visit to Europe, as they generally speak the same language. It’s also ideal for the frequent visitor because the city and the environs offer so much, and public transit will get you almost anywhere. I’ve driven in Europe, but never somewhere where they drive on the wrong side of the road.

Getting to Heathrow airport from Newark takes about 6.5 hours in the air, and Heathrow is served by taxis, a Heathrow Express train and several subway stops. I’ve taken cabs, the subway and the express, and if there’s no hurry, the subway is as good as anything else.

The Heathrow Express takes about 17 minutes to get to Paddington Station, which is served by multiple subway lines. There are information desks at Heathrow and the people are actually helpful. There are also machines for buying tickets.

The Express is the fast way in, but unless you’re staying nearby, requires a cab or another subway trip to the hotel. Cabs are fun and traditional, but can cost $100 or more, depending on the destination, and the subway is the cheapest route.

I’ll post some common-sense tips later. Mostly though, just get there. It will be worth it, and you’ll want to go back again and again.

The Great One, interred among other greats in Westminster Abbey.

And no trip would be complete without a stop at The Wellington, a Regency-era pub right on the Strand, below.

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