It’s been a year since our 2-week family trip to the UK, but I still find myself going back to those memories from time to time.
Just the other day, I was scrolling through my phone photo album and suddenly came across our UK pictures again. It brought back so many memories at once, I guess I really miss that time.
I know this post is long overdue, but I still want to jot it down here, especially because this was one of those rare trips where I got to travel with my family for an extended period.
Nothing rushed, nothing overly planned, just days spent together in a completely different country, sharing small moments that feel even more precious as time passes.
Just the other day, I was scrolling through my phone photo album and suddenly came across our UK pictures again. It brought back so many memories at once, I guess I really miss that time.
I know this post is long overdue, but I still want to jot it down here, especially because this was one of those rare trips where I got to travel with my family for an extended period.
Nothing rushed, nothing overly planned, just days spent together in a completely different country, sharing small moments that feel even more precious as time passes.
So I’m writing this not just to document the places we went, but to keep a little archive of how it felt, to travel with them, laugh with them, get tired together, and simply be together away from our usual routines.
The kind of memories that don’t always stand out in the moment, but somehow stay with you quietly afterward.
Hopefully one day, I can look back and remember it all again, just as clearly.
We started from London, then went on a road trip through Oxford, the Cotswolds, Bath, York, Leeds, Windermere, and all the way up to Scotland.
It was a 2-week journey that slowly unfolded with every stop, each place carrying its own mood and pace.
There’s honestly so much I want to share; from how we managed accommodation for the seven of us, to the long drives in between cities, and even the little challenges we faced along the way that made the trip feel more real and memorable.
I’ll be slowly sharing each part of the journey here, hope you’ll stay for the rest of it.
Hopefully one day, I can look back and remember it all again, just as clearly.
We started from London, then went on a road trip through Oxford, the Cotswolds, Bath, York, Leeds, Windermere, and all the way up to Scotland.
It was a 2-week journey that slowly unfolded with every stop, each place carrying its own mood and pace.
There’s honestly so much I want to share; from how we managed accommodation for the seven of us, to the long drives in between cities, and even the little challenges we faced along the way that made the trip feel more real and memorable.
I’ll be slowly sharing each part of the journey here, hope you’ll stay for the rest of it.
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From Malaysia to London
We flew from Malaysia to London with Malaysia Airlines since they offer a direct flight, which felt like the most convenient option for my parents.
Even though the tickets were slightly more expensive compared to other airlines, I felt that avoiding long layovers and transit time would make the journey much easier and less tiring for older family members.
Since it was around a 14-hour flight, things like the in-flight entertainment, food, and beverage service actually mattered a lot more than usual.
I’ve always felt that the F&B service on Malaysia Airlines is quite decent, so it felt worth paying a little extra for the comfort and convenience.
I’ve always felt that the F&B service on Malaysia Airlines is quite decent, so it felt worth paying a little extra for the comfort and convenience.
What really stood out to me as well was that they also prepared wheelchair assistance for my parents, which made the whole airport experience much smoother and less stressful.
It was something small, but it made a big difference for us as a family travelling together.
It was something small, but it made a big difference for us as a family travelling together.
Overall, it was a really smooth and pleasant flight, and honestly a nice way to start the trip.
Where to Stay London
As we were travelling in a big group of seven people, to be honest, finding accommodation throughout the trip was not easy at all, especially when we needed at least two bathrooms for everyone.
I probably spent the longest time searching for our first Airbnb stay in London because I wanted something comfortable, convenient, and suitable for the whole family.
Then, about three weeks before our trip, I suddenly came across this apartment in Battersea that was having a discount.
After checking how convenient the Battersea area was in terms of transport and surroundings, I honestly booked it without much hesitation.
Looking back now, I’m really glad I did because it ended up being such a good starting point for our UK journey.
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Overall, London was still a good experience, but to be honest, it wasn’t as amazing as I had imagined it would be this time around.
Then, about three weeks before our trip, I suddenly came across this apartment in Battersea that was having a discount.
After checking how convenient the Battersea area was in terms of transport and surroundings, I honestly booked it without much hesitation.
Looking back now, I’m really glad I did because it ended up being such a good starting point for our UK journey.
One thing we really liked about the apartment was the location in Battersea.
The area honestly felt very convenient and comfortable for a family stay.
Right downstairs from the apartment, there were already restaurants, cafés, and even a grocery store, so it was super easy whenever we needed food, snacks, or simple essentials after a long day outside.
Transport-wise, it was also really convenient.
There was a bus stop about a 1-minute walk away if we wanted to head into central London, and the tube station was also around the same walking distance, which made travelling around the city much easier for all seven of us.
If you wanted more affordable groceries, there was also a Tesco about a 5-minute walk away, so we ended up going there quite a few times instead of buying from the grocery store downstairs.
Another thing I really liked was that the surrounding area felt much quieter and less noisy compared to staying directly in the city centre, which made it really comfortable for us to rest after long days outside. It had a more relaxed atmosphere while still being very connected and convenient.
The Battersea shopping mall nearby was also really nice to walk around.
The whole area felt modern and pleasant, especially in the evening.
Unfortunately, we only stayed there for 3 days, so we didn’t really have enough time to properly explore the neighbourhood as much as we wanted to.
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Some homemade food we made at the apartment. ^^
Since the London Bridge area is already quite central, we actually ended up walking around that whole district for almost half the day.
Right across the river, we could also see the London Eye, which made the whole scenery even more iconic.
The area honestly felt very convenient and comfortable for a family stay.
Right downstairs from the apartment, there were already restaurants, cafés, and even a grocery store, so it was super easy whenever we needed food, snacks, or simple essentials after a long day outside.
Transport-wise, it was also really convenient.
There was a bus stop about a 1-minute walk away if we wanted to head into central London, and the tube station was also around the same walking distance, which made travelling around the city much easier for all seven of us.
If you wanted more affordable groceries, there was also a Tesco about a 5-minute walk away, so we ended up going there quite a few times instead of buying from the grocery store downstairs.
Another thing I really liked was that the surrounding area felt much quieter and less noisy compared to staying directly in the city centre, which made it really comfortable for us to rest after long days outside. It had a more relaxed atmosphere while still being very connected and convenient.
The Battersea shopping mall nearby was also really nice to walk around.
The whole area felt modern and pleasant, especially in the evening.
Unfortunately, we only stayed there for 3 days, so we didn’t really have enough time to properly explore the neighbourhood as much as we wanted to.
As for the apartment itself, we were honestly quite impressed the moment we checked in.
The self check-in process was surprisingly easy and smooth, which was a relief after such a long flight.
The self check-in process was surprisingly easy and smooth, which was a relief after such a long flight.
What surprised us the most was how much bigger the apartment looked in real life compared to the photos.
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Since we were travelling as a group of seven, space was something we really cared about, and thankfully this place didn’t feel cramped at all.
The apartment had a total of 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, which made getting ready every morning so much easier for everyone.
The living room was also very spacious, with a long comfortable sofa and even Netflix available, so it became our little gathering spot every night after coming back from outside.
One of my favourite parts was definitely the balcony. It was really nice being able to sit outside quietly in the morning with a cup of coffee before starting the day.
Small moments like that somehow made the stay feel even more memorable.
Small moments like that somehow made the stay feel even more memorable.
The kitchen was also very well-equipped with basically everything we needed, so it was easy whenever we wanted to prepare simple meals, supper, or just store groceries during our stay.
Some homemade food we made at the apartment. ^^
I’m really glad I chose the right place to stay in London after weeks of headache searching for accommodation.
In the end, it turned out to be such a good decision for our family.
I’m also really happy that even now, my parents still mention how much they enjoyed staying in Battersea.
Hearing that makes me feel like all the effort of planning and searching was worth it.
Honestly, if you’re looking for a family stay in London, I would really recommend considering Battersea.
It’s convenient, comfortable, and in my opinion, really worth it for a group stay.
In the end, it turned out to be such a good decision for our family.
I’m also really happy that even now, my parents still mention how much they enjoyed staying in Battersea.
Hearing that makes me feel like all the effort of planning and searching was worth it.
Honestly, if you’re looking for a family stay in London, I would really recommend considering Battersea.
It’s convenient, comfortable, and in my opinion, really worth it for a group stay.
Where We Visit in London
It was actually my second time in London, but since it was my family’s first time, we made sure to cover all the iconic spots.
Honestly, I didn’t mind revisiting them at all either, it had already been about 10 years since my last visit, so everything still felt worth seeing again.
Our first stop was Buckingham Palace.
It was very crowded when we arrived, and it was quite hard to get a proper photo.
But I still remember even 10 years ago, it was already just as crowded, some things really don’t change.
After visiting Buckingham Palace, we continued our walk through Hyde Park.
The park felt like a nice little break from the busy tourist spots in the city.
The park felt like a nice little break from the busy tourist spots in the city.
There were people cycling, jogging, having picnics, and simply sitting around enjoying the weather.
Even though we were still in central London, the atmosphere suddenly felt much calmer and more relaxing.
While walking towards Big Ben, we passed by Westminster Abbey, and I remember stopping for a while just to look at the building properly.
From there, we slowly walked towards Big Ben.
The walk itself felt really nice, and the view was beautiful for photos.
My nieces were especially excited because it was their first time seeing it in real life after only seeing it in pictures before.
My nieces were especially excited because it was their first time seeing it in real life after only seeing it in pictures before.
Since the London Bridge area is already quite central, we actually ended up walking around that whole district for almost half the day.
Right across the river, we could also see the London Eye, which made the whole scenery even more iconic.
One thing that surprised me was the queue for the iconic red UK telephone booth photos.
The line was honestly so long that I immediately gave up the idea of waiting for it, I’m pretty sure it would have taken more than an hour just for a photo.
In the end, I simply took photos from the side instead, where I could still capture both the iconic red telephone booth and the famous Big Ben together in one frame.
Honestly, I think it still turned out quite nice without needing to queue for that long.
The line was honestly so long that I immediately gave up the idea of waiting for it, I’m pretty sure it would have taken more than an hour just for a photo.
In the end, I simply took photos from the side instead, where I could still capture both the iconic red telephone booth and the famous Big Ben together in one frame.
Honestly, I think it still turned out quite nice without needing to queue for that long.
On our way towards Trafalgar Square, we also happened to see the horse guards along the way, which added a very “London” feel to the walk.
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Trafalgar Square itself is a very open public space in central London and was filled with both tourists and locals just enjoying the atmosphere.
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For dinner, we went to the famous Rock & Sole Plaice for fish and chips.
It’s one of the oldest fish and chips shops in London, known for its traditional style, crispy batter, and classic British comfort food experience, it felt simple but really satisfying after a long day of walking.
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We ended the first day in London at Covent Garden, which was extremely lively and crowded, with street performances, shops, and so many things happening at once.
It had such a vibrant energy, but also meant there was a lot to take in at the same time.
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On our second day in London, we started the morning at Tower Bridge.
This was one of those iconic spots that you almost have to visit when you’re in London, and it really looks just as impressive in real life as in photos.
The architecture is beautiful, with its classic Victorian design and the view of the River Thames running underneath.
The architecture is beautiful, with its classic Victorian design and the view of the River Thames running underneath.
We actually walked from one side of the bridge to the other, taking our time and stopping for photos along the way.
I felt quite lucky that my parents were still able to enjoy walking quite a bit, otherwise, this kind of sightseeing would have been quite challenging.
I felt quite lucky that my parents were still able to enjoy walking quite a bit, otherwise, this kind of sightseeing would have been quite challenging.
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While walking around the Tower of London area, we also passed by the famous Traitors’ Gate.
It’s one of those places that carries so much history behind it.
Back in the past, prisoners accused of treason were brought into the Tower of London through this water entrance by boat, which honestly sounds quite surreal to imagine now while standing there in person.
Back in the past, prisoners accused of treason were brought into the Tower of London through this water entrance by boat, which honestly sounds quite surreal to imagine now while standing there in person.
Even though it’s just a small part of the whole area, knowing the history behind it made the walk feel more interesting and memorable.
London really has so many places where history quietly exists right in the middle of the modern city.
London really has so many places where history quietly exists right in the middle of the modern city.
We saw The Shard standing tall in the skyline.
The modern glass building looked very striking against the more historic surroundings of London, and it became one of the landmarks we kept spotting throughout the day while walking around the area.
The modern glass building looked very striking against the more historic surroundings of London, and it became one of the landmarks we kept spotting throughout the day while walking around the area.
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After that, we headed to Borough Market for some famous local food.
It was extremely crowded, with lots of tourists everywhere, and honestly it felt a bit overwhelming.
The food was interesting to try, but quite expensive, and personally I think it’s not somewhere I would rush back to again in the future.
The weather that day was also surprisingly warm, which made the walking a bit more tiring and less enjoyable compared to the first day.
We were slowly moving from place to place, but I could feel the heat making everyone a bit more drained.
Later in the day, we made a quick stop at Oxford Street and just walked around for a while.
It was more of a casual stroll and shopping street vibe, nothing too long, before we wrapped up the day and headed back to rest.
It was more of a casual stroll and shopping street vibe, nothing too long, before we wrapped up the day and headed back to rest.
On our last day in London, we visited Notting Hill, and this quickly became one of my favourite areas in the city.
I really love the atmosphere there, it feels like a trendy yet quiet neighbourhood, filled with pastel-coloured houses, small cafés, and unique independent shops.
Compared to the busier parts of London, Notting Hill feels much slower and more relaxed, like you can actually take your time walking without rushing anywhere.
I really love the atmosphere there, it feels like a trendy yet quiet neighbourhood, filled with pastel-coloured houses, small cafés, and unique independent shops.
Compared to the busier parts of London, Notting Hill feels much slower and more relaxed, like you can actually take your time walking without rushing anywhere.
We stopped by the famous blue house from the Notting Hill movie and walked around some of the streets that felt so familiar from photos, films, and social media.
We also checked out some filming spots, including places related to Jay Chou’s MTV shoot, which made the visit feel a bit more special and personal.
Of course, I also got a Notting Hill tote bag from one of the shops there.
It was quite expensive, honestly, but since I had already travelled all the way there, I thought I might as well get it as a souvenir for myself. Something simple, but meaningful.
It was quite expensive, honestly, but since I had already travelled all the way there, I thought I might as well get it as a souvenir for myself. Something simple, but meaningful.
Overall, Notting Hill just has this charm where everything feels aesthetic but still lived-in, not overly touristy in a chaotic way, but still full of character in every corner.
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As a bagel lover, I’ve always had this small goal of trying bagels from different places around the world.
Since I was already in London, and I had also read quite a lot of reviews online about places like Beigel Bake and Beigel Shop, I was quite curious to finally try them myself.
So for dinner, we went to explore some of these famous bagel spots in the city, which are very well-known online and often recommended as must-try food in London.
However, to be honest, it was a bit disappointing. The bagels were quite hard in texture, and compared to other bagels I’ve tried in different countries, I personally feel London-style bagels are not really my favourite.
Still, it was an experience to finally try it ourselves after hearing so much about it online, and at least it checked off one more food spot from the list.
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On the same street, we also came across the famous Dark Sugars chocolate shop.
We actually found it online beforehand too, and it had really good reviews, so we decided to give it a try while we were there.
We actually found it online beforehand too, and it had really good reviews, so we decided to give it a try while we were there.
Unlike the bagels earlier, this one definitely did not disappoint.
The chocolate was extremely rich and dark, with a deep cocoa flavour that felt very indulgent from the first sip.
It had that intense, slightly thick texture that makes it feel very comforting, especially after walking around the city.
It had that intense, slightly thick texture that makes it feel very comforting, especially after walking around the city.
It was one of those small food moments that ended up being more memorable than expected; simple, but really satisfying at the Brick Lane Street.
Renting a Car in London
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Sometimes travelling in a big group is really not easy, and honestly, it can get very costly too.
Just planning the accommodation alone already took up so much of my time and energy, not to mention figuring out transportation for seven people with all our luggage for a 2-week road trip across the UK. We knew from the beginning that we needed a big car that could comfortably fit everyone and our large suitcases, so before departing from Malaysia, we booked a 9-seater car from Sixt and thought everything had finally been settled properly.
On our last day in London, me and Lik were actually so excited to finally pick up the car and officially begin our road trip journey.
But things suddenly became very stressful when the staff at Sixt rejected our booking because we didn’t bring our physical Malaysian driving license with us.
The frustrating part was that we did have our original international driving permit, and we had also successfully used our online Malaysian license in countries like Australia and New Zealand before without any issues.
So honestly, we didn’t expect London to be different. But apparently in the UK, at least for that rental company, the physical license was still required.
No matter how much we tried explaining the situation, they still couldn’t release the car to us.
At that moment, we honestly felt completely lost and didn’t know what to do next.
But thankfully, one thing I really appreciated was that Sixt processed a full refund for us immediately without much trouble.
The bigger problem was that the UK happened to be having a long public holiday that week, so many car rental companies either had no large cars available or were already fully booked.
Finding another 9-seater last minute honestly felt almost impossible.
Thankfully, my friend Zay managed to find that Enterprise Rent-A-Car still had one last 9-seater available, and most importantly, they accepted the online Malaysian driving license together with our international permit.
Without thinking too much, we quickly made our way back to the airport again to collect the car.
Looking back now, we were actually very lucky that everything somehow worked out in the end.
I honestly can’t imagine what would have happened if we couldn’t get the car, especially since I was travelling with my parents and all our accommodations for the rest of the trip had already been booked and paid for.
Without the car, there was basically no way we could continue the road trip all the way from London up to Scotland as originally planned.
So if there’s one important thing I learned from this experience, it’s this: if you plan to drive overseas, always bring your physical driving license with you, even if you think the digital version is enough. Different countries and rental companies have different regulations, and you really won’t know until you encounter the situation yourself.
In the end, Enterprise Rent-A-Car actually gave us a really good experience. The staff explained everything very patiently, helped us through the process smoothly, and even gave us a small discount after hearing about what happened earlier. Honestly, we were really thankful for that after such a stressful afternoon. Big thank you!!!!
On our last day in London, me and Lik were actually so excited to finally pick up the car and officially begin our road trip journey.
But things suddenly became very stressful when the staff at Sixt rejected our booking because we didn’t bring our physical Malaysian driving license with us.
The frustrating part was that we did have our original international driving permit, and we had also successfully used our online Malaysian license in countries like Australia and New Zealand before without any issues.
So honestly, we didn’t expect London to be different. But apparently in the UK, at least for that rental company, the physical license was still required.
No matter how much we tried explaining the situation, they still couldn’t release the car to us.
At that moment, we honestly felt completely lost and didn’t know what to do next.
But thankfully, one thing I really appreciated was that Sixt processed a full refund for us immediately without much trouble.
The bigger problem was that the UK happened to be having a long public holiday that week, so many car rental companies either had no large cars available or were already fully booked.
Finding another 9-seater last minute honestly felt almost impossible.
Thankfully, my friend Zay managed to find that Enterprise Rent-A-Car still had one last 9-seater available, and most importantly, they accepted the online Malaysian driving license together with our international permit.
Without thinking too much, we quickly made our way back to the airport again to collect the car.
Looking back now, we were actually very lucky that everything somehow worked out in the end.
I honestly can’t imagine what would have happened if we couldn’t get the car, especially since I was travelling with my parents and all our accommodations for the rest of the trip had already been booked and paid for.
Without the car, there was basically no way we could continue the road trip all the way from London up to Scotland as originally planned.
So if there’s one important thing I learned from this experience, it’s this: if you plan to drive overseas, always bring your physical driving license with you, even if you think the digital version is enough. Different countries and rental companies have different regulations, and you really won’t know until you encounter the situation yourself.
In the end, Enterprise Rent-A-Car actually gave us a really good experience. The staff explained everything very patiently, helped us through the process smoothly, and even gave us a small discount after hearing about what happened earlier. Honestly, we were really thankful for that after such a stressful afternoon. Big thank you!!!!
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Overall, London was still a good experience, but to be honest, it wasn’t as amazing as I had imagined it would be this time around.
The city felt much more crowded and hectic than I remembered, especially in the main tourist areas. There were people everywhere almost all the time, and some parts of the city honestly felt quite messy and overwhelming.
At certain moments, especially in the busier areas, I also didn’t really feel very safe carrying our belongings around in such large crowds.
At certain moments, especially in the busier areas, I also didn’t really feel very safe carrying our belongings around in such large crowds.
Even the London Underground felt almost exactly the same as when I visited 10 years ago; quite old, crowded, not very clean, and sometimes a little stuffy and smelly too.
I guess some things really never change.
I guess some things really never change.
Maybe if I were younger, I would probably enjoy the fast-paced city vibes more.
But now, I realize I’ve started preferring quieter places, slower mornings, and destinations where you can actually relax a little more instead of constantly rushing through crowds.
Still, I’m happy that I got the chance to visit London again after so many years, this time with my family.
Even though the city itself may not be my favourite part of the UK anymore, the memories we made there together still made the experience meaningful and worth it.
Even though the city itself may not be my favourite part of the UK anymore, the memories we made there together still made the experience meaningful and worth it.
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