Freezing London + Amsterdam Day 7

30/12/2015

Itinerary of today:

Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Centre 

Breakfast @The Alley 

Cheese Inn

Tea @Vegabond Cafe

Anne Frank Huis

Lunch @Jacketz 

Van Gogh Museum 

Rijksmuseum 

House of Bols Cocktail & Genever Experience

Dinner @Pizzeria Steakhouse Amsterdam 

De Wallen (Red Light District)

Check-out the hotel room early in the morning. A city tax of EUR7.83 was needed to pay while checking out. We headed to Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Centre which cost us HKD1236/ night, which was kinda expensive for us! But we could do nothing as it was the cheapest available room in town which is located close to the train station. Of course, it was too early and we were only able to check our baggage at the concierge. 

Freezing London + Amsterdam Day 6

29/12/2015

Itinerary of today:

Breakfast @Julia's Cucina Italiana

Koog-Zaandijk station 
Zaanse Schans
Tea @Banketbakkerij de Wiji
Rotterdam Central station 
Stadhuis City Hall 
Lunch @Dudok
Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk
Markthal 
Rotterdam library 
Blaak station 
Kijk kubus
Forever 21
Dinner @Vapiano 

With the complementary EUR19 1-day train pass bought together with the Holland Pass, we planned a day trip to Zaanse Schans and Rotterdam today. 

We woke up really early today, trying to make good use of the time exploring both places. 

Freezing London + Amsterdam Day 5

28/12/2015

Itinerary of today:

Hoek van Holland 

Amsterdam Central 

Good Hotel Amsterdam

Breakfast @Omelegg 

Oude Kerk

Dam Square 

De Wallen (Red Light District) 

Patisserie Holtkamp

Heineken Experience 

Dinner @The Butcher 
Restaurant Café in de Waag

Arrived Hoek van Holland port after a great sleep. An announcement was made at around 6ish to wake people up for breakfast. Since we didn't add onboard extras, we simply did wash up and packed our belongings. People were really well behaved queuing up for the lift down waiting for landing. It took us quite a while as there was one lift only in each wing catering for heaps of passengers. Anyway, it was a fantastic experience taking trains and ferry to Amsterdam.

Getting through the customs was easy and fast at the port in the early morning. 

Freezing London + Amsterdam Day 4

27/12/2015

Itinerary of today:

Breakfast @All Bar One Euston Station
Westminster Cathedral 
Buckingham Palace (Changing of the Guard) 
Horse Guards Parade
Lunch @Flat Iron
Fred Perry
Covert Garden 
Burberry
Old Spitalfields Market 
Dinner @Poppies Fish & Chips
Brick Lane Market 
Stena Line (ferry)
Harwich 
Hoek van Holland 

Our last day in London. We woke up late again since it was too tiring the day before. We decided to go out for breakfast instead. We had no ideas for restaurants nearby and just dropped by All Bar One Euston Station right next to Euston Station before taking the train to Victoria Station for Westminster Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.

Freezing London + Amsterdam Day 3

26/12/2015

Itinerary of today:

Breakfast @hotel 
Soho 
Liberty Department Store 
Hamleys
Oxford Street 
Piccadily Circus
Cool Britannia 
M&M World
Lunch @Burger and Lobster 
Spurs VS Norwich City @White Hart Lane  
Primark 
Dinner @Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Boxing Day, gourmet day! Putting the 2 most popular restaurants together in one day, we decided to just have a quick simple breakfast instead. Sandwiches with ham, cheese and jam would be a great choice leaving room for the feast.

As we were gonna watch a football match in the afternoon, there was not much time left for sightseeing. Wandering around the Soho Area was probably the only option. 

Taking the underground to Oxford Circus, Liberty Department Store caught our sight right away. We didn't get a chance to go inside as it opened at 11am on Boxing Day, but seeing the spectacular on the outside was also enjoyable. I especially love the Tudor style outlook. It was wonderful to photograph. Even I am not fond of buying luxury goods, we had a thought that we needa come back again later on the day to see the inside.

Liberty Department Store
Address: Regent Street, London W1B 5AH
Opening hours: Mon- Sat 1000- 2000, Sun 1200- 1800