Getting to London from home in Phoenix is shockingly inexpensive on Norse Atlantic Airways.
And cheap flights change everything.
They turn vague ideas into actual plans.
Plans into movement.
Movement into blog posts…
…and, inevitably, into mildly annoying social media updates you didn’t ask for—but are definitely going to see anyway.
I wrote a full blog post about Norse that you can read by clicking HERE, because yes—cheap transatlantic flights are real, and no, it’s not a scam (I checked).
To get to LA cheaply, I use Google Travel, which I also blogged about HERE, because step one of international travel is not overpaying just to leave your own country.
And once you land? A proper plate of fish and chips with a cold beer at a London pub is way cheaper than you’ve been led to believe—especially if your reference point is North America, where you apparently need a small loan to eat out.
I was able to visit London twice in 2024 and I’m headed back again in September 2025. I’d been to London a few times before that, and it’s always been a great experience—familiar, lively, and endlessly walkable.
That said, it felt a little different this time. Landing without Queen Elizabeth II around gave the city a subtle but noticeable shift. London was still London, but the sense of continuity she represented was quietly gone.
On my last visit, I was just passing through on a layover. I took the train from Gatwick Airport into the city and hopped off at London Bridge station. Even with limited time, stepping into central London felt like reconnecting with an old friend—familiar streets, constant motion, and that unmistakable energy that never really shuts off.
London changes, but it somehow stays the same. That’s part of what keeps pulling me back with the inexpensive flights.
You can catch the Gatwick Express from the luggage area after clearing customs. 🛃
It is a hassle-free way to get to the action and back to the airport. Tickets are available online or on the platform for about $24 USD one way.
Just like everything else in London, Uber is very expensive!
After I got off the tube, I walked over to Tower Bridge, which was neat to see again—one of those sights that never really gets old, no matter how many times you’ve been to London.
And yes, London Bridge is right there too. I checked. I can confirm it was not falling down, falling down… despite what the song would have you believe 😄
These are a few shots I took of typical London pubs, which seem to exist on just about every corner. No matter the neighborhood, there’s always a local pub tucked into the streetscape—part gathering place, part landmark, part living room for the city.
One thing that always trips up visitors to London is traffic flowing in the opposite direction. It sounds obvious, but muscle memory is powerful. You’ll notice “LOOK RIGHT” painted at crosswalks for a reason—and I very nearly learned that lesson the hard way on my first visit.
London does its best to warn you. You just have to remember to listen… before stepping off the curb.
I was only in London overnight, with an early morning flight out to Istanbul. With an early bus ride back to the airport, there wasn’t much point in pretending it was a proper stay.
So I did what seasoned travelers do—I grabbed a short nap at the airport, watched the place slowly wake up, and had a quiet morning beer before settling in for the long flight to Turkey.
Not glamorous.
Not rushed.
Just one of those in-between travel moments that somehow stick with you.
If you want, I can also share maps or pub-crawl routes (historic, classic London, best for beer, etc.) to pair with your travels!
https://chatgpt.com/share/69477321-9558-800b-90da-9f39a9b228f9
