London Will Never Be the Same

It all began on a Monday morning, when 16 ninth graders met at Frankfurt Airport – armed with suitcases, snacks for days, and a questionable understanding of British etiquette. Destination: London. After a short flight across the Channel, we touched down in the UK, ready to explore. What followed was a week full of double-decker buses, exciting shopping tours, and a few confusing moments involving the London Underground – and students who still don’t know their left from their right.

After our arrival, we moved into our small dorms and tried to make them feel a bit like home. Since we had a fantastic view of Hyde Park, we decided to take a walk there – and were impressed by how massive and beautiful the park is. 

The next day began with visits to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, two of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Afterwards, we took part in a city rally: split into small groups, we had to visit several sights, including Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the South Bank. Along the way, we answered quiz questions and explored the city. The day ended with a ride on the London Eye, giving us breathtaking views of the skyline.

  

On Wednesday, we visited St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern art museum. After that, we had some free time to explore the city in small groups. I chose to visit Borough Market and then Notting Hill Gate. In the evening, we cooked dinner together again in the hostel kitchen – teamwork at its best!

Thursday was a day full of choices. In the morning, we could pick between the Natural History Museum, Madame Tussauds, or Sea Life. In the afternoon, the options were the National Gallery, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, or another visit to the Natural History Museum. The day ended with more free time: some went shopping, others explored Chinatown, and a few checked out the Harry Potter shop.

On our last day, we spent an hour shopping on Oxford Street before heading to the airport with our bags already packed the night before. After a long train ride home, we finally arrived back in Gotha – tired, but full of memories and stories to tell.

Looking back, it was a week full of unforgettable moments, unexpected discoveries, and a healthy mix of culture, chaos, and comedy. London won’t soon forget us – and we certainly won’t forget London. Most importantly, we’d like to thank our teachers, Mrs. Ehrhardt and Mrs. Hornschuh, who managed to stay calm, organized, and (mostly) sane throughout the trip. Without their planning, patience, and good humor, none of this would have been possible.