Our London adventure began bright and early—7:00am sharp—with a collection of slightly sleepy, slightly nervous children and parents gathering at the station. Caps were on, sunscreen was at the ready, and breakfast bags were already being enthusiastically opened before we’d even boarded the train. A special mention must go to the mystery, partially-eaten bag of pancakes left behind on the platform—still unclaimed but fondly remembered.

Breakfast choices were… diverse. Rosie proudly confirmed that yes, she did go to McDonald’s for breakfast and she wasn’t alone. Meanwhile, Daisy arrived with Hershey’s crepes, reassuring Miss Zajaczkowska (several times) that they were very healthy indeed. Delicious and nutritious, we’re sure!

Once on the train, it was immediately game time. Teachers were enthusiastically (and repeatedly) asked for UNO before 8am, while word searches, sudoku puzzles, and maths challenges appeared in abundance. We were particularly proud to overhear a group of girls chanting “posture, pencil, paper, pressure!” before beginning their activities—proof that learning never truly takes a day off!

Arriving in London, we were greeted by a scorching summer sun but thankfully our lovely coach, with glorious air conditioning, was waiting to whisk us away. Along the journey to Buckingham Palace, the adults enjoyed some memorable observations, including:

“Everyone in London is so stylish!”

“Can we wave to the King?”

“The pavements are so clean, this area must be nice.”

And our personal favourite: “I think I just saw the Eiffel Tower.”

While Buckingham Palace itself was rather shy, hiding behind an impressive amount of scaffolding, we were treated to a dramatic low-flying plane overhead, which proved to be an unexpected highlight!

Next stop was St. James’ Park, where we enjoyed lunch al fresco under the shade of a large tree. It was peaceful… until a particularly curious goose decided it would quite like to join us for lunch too. A polite but firm refusal was issued!

A quick toilet break turned into a slightly longer adventure, as we discovered only two available toilets—and approximately 70 nursery children also waiting in line. Patience was well and truly tested!

The main event of the day was our visit to Parliament, where the children were absolutely fantastic. Their behaviour, enthusiasm and thoughtful participation made us incredibly proud. During our workshop we met Alastair, a staff member for Liz Twist MP, who spoke to us about his work, his journey from Whitley Bay, and what it’s like to be part of a team making real change in the country. He also very kindly put together snack bags for the journey home—a true hero! Thank you, Alastair!

To round off the day, we headed to Pizza Express, because who doesn’t love pizza and a gooey brownie to finish off the day? After plenty of food and even more water, we were recharged and ready for the journey home.

The return train was noticeably quieter though the UNO cards did make a comeback, alongside more word searches and maths games. We arrived back in Durham very tired but very happy, reflecting on a brilliant day packed with laughter, learning and unforgettable moments.

We only wish we could do it all over again! 🌟