I love lists. As a guiding force in my life, lists are at the very top. Whenever I arrive in a new place, I make a bucket list of everything I want to do in the area. I made a D.C. bucket list as a freshman in college. I made a London bucket list as a study abroad student. And I made a Hawaii bucket list as a young adult. I find that it provides me purpose in a place. Even if school or work is stressful, I have an “extracurricular” goal in my bucket list. If I’m struggling to meet people or my social life isn’t as vibrant as it could be, I’m able to structure my time in a way that is fulfilling. I also think that it’s particularly helpful when you are meeting people in a new place. Having a list of things that I want to do allows me to be the first person to suggest something to others if we’re making plans. I know what I want to do — let’s check something off my list together. It makes it that much more exciting. 1. Regent's Park ✔️ Located north of the city, Regent’s is one of the “Royal Parks of London.” As a fairly massive part of London, I wanted to see what it was all about. I had heard it had excellent sports facilities, an open-air theatre, and the London Zoo. I also knew Primrose Hill was located north of the park, which is also on my list. 2. Kensington Palace ✔️ At the tail end of my spring semester in May, I visited Kensington Palace to see the Diana, Princess of Wales, exhibit that was on display at that time. I was also able to see the gardens, which cover an enormous 265 acres. Of course, given that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge live here, I was on full royal watch. During my semester abroad, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was pregnant with Prince Louis. I didn’t think I would see her, but I hoped I may see either Prince George or Princess Charlotte as I knew they were sometimes spotted playing in the park. Alas, no luck! 3. Primrose Hill ✔️ During an outing with friends, we walked through Primrose Hill. This neighborhood is known as being highly desirable for celebrities and has one of the best views of London. 4. Camden Market ✔️ As Taylor Swift says, “I enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon.” Both Camden and Borough Market are top of my list when I go to London next. I love strolling through markets, tasting different food, and shopping for souvenirs. When my brother visited London during our Year 3 trip, we headed up to Camden Market because it’s one of his favorite spots in London. 5. Borough Market ✔️ My residence hall, Great Dover, was located only about 10-15 minutes from Borough Market. Thus, during that semester, I spent a lot of time walking past or through Borough Market. I would commonly buy fudge or pasta, taste-test different olive oils and bread, or enjoy mulled wine. 6. Shoreditch ✔️ My friends and I headed to Shoreditch, a hip area of London, most memorably for my friend’s (Catherine) birthday. She's pictured below with "TOMBS" written on her forehead as a Georgetown tradition. There are numerous fashionable clubs and bars along with an eclectic dining scene, artisan coffee shops, and vintage stores. While my memories of Shoreditch are all at night, I feel confident this is an area I should explore in the future during the day as well. 7. The Breakfast Club ✔️ This restaurant is one of the first recommendations I ever received in London. This is my brother Jake’s favorite restaurant. Not only did I frequent the Borough Market location during my time in London, but we also visited together during his stay in London in April 2018. 8. Tate Modern ✔️ Known as just the “Tate,” it is a family of four art galleries that house the U.K.’s national collection of British art as well as international and contemporary art. While this is the spot to go if you love modern art in London, I can’t say that I spent all that much time here. I visited with study abroad friends during a weekend afternoon, and while I was thrilled to have seen it, I couldn’t see myself going time and time again. 9. London Bridge ✔️ Believe it or not, this is different than Tower Bridge, which is what everyone assumes is London Bridge. London Bridge isn’t anything special, but I did take it a handful of times to go to class. Been there, done that! 10. Hyde Park ✔️ Hyde Park is the largest Royal Park in central London and merges with Kensington Gardens at one point. Personally, I love that London is so full of well-kept green space. Whenever I walked through these parks, particularly on nice days, there were always people out. They were walking dogs, biking, having picnics, reading. The space was always in use. 11. Tower Bridge ✔️ This is the most famous bridge in London, and I love the picture that I have with it! It’s so unmistakably “London.” While I’ve been to Tower Bridge, walked over Tower Bridge, and feel content with my experience, I’ve never actually “visited.” You can actually plan to go up inside the bridge to learn more about the city’s defining landmark and see iconic panoramic views of Lon
