From London to Seville to Vilnius: A Journey Through History, Taste, and Memory

By Dr. Adekunle Omotayo

🏙️ London: A City That Never Truly Leaves You

There’s something magnetic about London — a city that stays imprinted on the soul long after one leaves. Returning this time felt less like tourism and more like a reunion with an old friend.

We stayed at the St. Ermin’s Hotel, perfectly nestled in central London, making it easy to explore via the London Underground, Uber, and the occasional black cab.

📸 Photo: Entrance courtyard of St. Ermin’s Hotel — a peaceful haven amid the city’s bustle.

The Underground remains one of the great marvels of modern engineering. Opened in 1863, it was the world’s first subterranean railway — a sprawling network that now carries nearly five million passengers daily through over 250 miles of tunnels. Riding it again reminded me how seamlessly Victorian ingenuity meets 21st-century precision beneath the city streets.

Absolutely — it truly is. The London Underground (or “the Tube,” as locals call it) is not only the world’s first underground railway (opened in 1863), but also a continuing feat of design evolution.

What makes it remarkable isn’t just its age, but how it’s woven into the fabric of a modern city that has grown exponentially around it. Imagine: 270 stations, over 250 miles of track, multiple layers of tunnels — some carved through clay in the 19th century, others bored deep below modern skyscrapers.

Even more impressive is how it all still works together: airflow systems, escalators designed for constant movement, signals running through tunnels laid by hand, and architectural flourishes from Art Deco to modern glass pavilions.

🚶‍♂️ Walking Through Memory: Oxford Street to Buckingham Palace

I retraced my old stomping grounds — Oxford Street, Tottenham Court Road — and found that while the storefronts had changed, the heartbeat of the place hadn’t.

Despite having lived in London for nearly a decade, I had never actually toured Buckingham Palace. Seeing it now, it was exactly as I imagined: a working palace, dignified yet alive with purpose.

We crowned the visit with the quintessential afternoon tea, complete with delicate sandwiches and warm scones. Later, at Fortnum & Mason, we indulged in a pre-booked tea service that was as much ceremony as cuisine.

📸 Photo: Afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason — fruited scones, clotted cream, and strawberry jam perfection.

After several cups of tea, there was little room for the sandwiches, but the fruited scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam were pure joy.

And of course, family — the sweetest reunion of all — filled the trip with warmth that no itinerary can capture.

🍴 Culinary Adventures: From Street Eats to Fine Dining

London’s culinary scene continues to impress with its diversity.

We dined at:

Enish Oxford Street – authentic Nigerian cuisine, a taste of home. TH@51 – modern European flair and elegant plating. Noble Palace – refined Chinese fine dining (and priced accordingly). The Laughing Halibut – classic fish and chips, still unbeatable.

And then, the street food: from Borough Market and Leadenhall Market, where chocolate-dipped strawberries, steak and kidney pies, and lobster paella tempted at every turn.

📸 Photo: Borough Market food stalls — the colors, aromas, and chatter of London in one frame.

⛪ Sites of History and Spirit

Climbing the 520 steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral was a challenge I had conquered years ago — though this time, age made itself known! I doubt I’ll attempt it again.

At Westminster Abbey, the weight of British history is tangible. Beneath those storied floors rest monarchs and poets alike, though none may tread on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

📸 Photo: Interior of Westminster Abbey — sunlight through stained glass over centuries of history.

The tomb of Mary, Queen of Scots struck me most: layered three times to symbolize her claims to three crowns — Scotland, England, and France — claims denied by a cousin’s executioner’s blade. History, as ever, is laced with irony.

All the Tudor kings rest here, except Henry VIII — perhaps poetic justice.

🌉 Modern London: Bridges, Markets, and the Thames

From Millennium Bridge and New Change to Shad Thames, we walked the city’s new arteries. A leisurely Thames cruise carried us to Greenwich Observatory and the Cutty Sark, offering fresh perspectives on a familiar skyline.

📸 Photo: View from Millennium Bridge at blue hour — St. Paul’s glowing in the distance.

Covent Garden remains vibrant — street performers, shopping arcades, and the echo of live music in the air.

A note for fellow travelers: build flexibility into your schedule. London’s weather, ever the moody companion, often demands it.

London’s cultural life remains unmatched. One highlight was our visit to His Majesty’s Theatre, where we experienced the timeless magic of Phantom of the Opera — a production as haunting and spectacular as ever, with music that still stirs emotion decades on.

We also attended the immersive ABBA Voyage Show at the purpose-built arena near Stratford — a dazzling blend of technology and nostalgia. Watching digital avatars perform with such realism was astonishing; it felt like the band had truly come back to life. London once again proved that its innovation extends beyond its architecture and history — it’s equally alive in its art and performance.

📸 Photo: His Majesty’s Theatre before showtime; ABBA Voyage Arena glowing in the London night.

☀️ Seville: The Warmth of the South

From London’s gray skies, Seville was a welcome burst of sunlight. September offered glorious weather — golden, dry, and perfect for wandering.

We stayed at an Autograph Collection Hotel in the city center, within easy reach of the Royal Alcázar, Seville Cathedral, and its impressive Giralda Tower.

A day trip took us beyond Seville to the magnificent Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba (Mezquita–Catedral) — a breathtaking blend of Moorish arches and Renaissance grandeur. Its very stones whisper of centuries where faiths intertwined and empires shifted.

📸 Photo: The red-and-white arches of the Mezquita–Cathedral in Córdoba.

And then, the food: tapas, jamón ibérico from the famed Iberian pigs, and the warmth of Andalusian hospitality that seems to season every meal.

🏰 Vilnius: A Baltic Gem with a Complicated Soul

Lithuania was a spontaneous choice — and one of the most rewarding. Once under Russian and Soviet rule, it reclaimed independence in 1990, reviving a proud identity first declared in 1918.

The country’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites include:

The Vilnius Historic Centre The Curonian Spit The Kernavė Archaeological Site The Struve Geodetic Arc And Trakai Castle, best admired by a gentle boat ride for unique photo angles.

📸 Photo: Trakai Island Castle reflected in still waters — serenity in red brick.

Vilnius rewards the walker — though good trainers are a must for its cobblestones! We took the Gediminas Tower funicular for panoramic views, and explored cathedrals like St. Peter and Paul, St. Francis and Bernadine, and the Vilnius Cathedral.

📸 Photo: View from Gediminas Tower — Vilnius Old Town rooftops beneath the Baltic sky.

Culinary highlights included:

Etno Dvaras – authentic Lithuanian dishes rich in potato and flavor. Blue Lotus – Indian and Thai excellence. MEATing Room – superb steak and atmosphere (reservations essential).

We stayed at the Vilnius Heritage Collection Renaissance Hotel, a stylish base for discovering the city’s modern charm and historic heart.

🌍 Final Reflections

Each destination revealed a different rhythm:

London, familiar yet ever-renewing — a city of memory and motion. Seville, radiant and flavorful — where sunlight and history dance together. Vilnius, thoughtful and proud — a rediscovered thread in Europe’s tapestry.

Travel reminds me that while the world changes, certain places still hold us — in taste, in memory, and in the quiet joy of rediscovery.

✨ Dr. O’s Takeaway