A Weekend of Rehearsals and Adventure in London

Notting Hill is so Boujie and Aesthetic! The rent in one of these flats is on average 4k a MONTH!


This past weekend, I found myself in London for rehearsals, staying in a beautiful little hostel in Notting Hill. It was my own private room, and I felt incredibly safe—so clean and well-maintained that I could truly relax. A rare thing when traveling, especially with my health concerns.

Of course, I had to do my infusion a couple of days early, which meant I was traveling from Cardiff to London feeling the delightful aftereffects of an infusion hangover. Never ideal, but what can you do?

The Hostel: A Hidden Gem


free fooooood?!

The actual hostel was gorgeous—far beyond what I had expected. It had a peaceful garden space, shared bathrooms that were cleaned hourly (which, as any seasoned traveller will know, is an absolute game-changer), and free hot meals for guests. There was even a gym and wellness centre, though I didn't go in. Still, it’s lovely knowing it’s there.


study room-so calming in here. 

One of my favourite little touches? A quiet study room stocked with magazines—including Tatler and Grazia, with the latest issues. The small joys in life!



it's sometimes the small pleasures in life... also, Paris Hilton is my fave bimbo ever!

Seeking Green in the City





Saturday morning, despite being full of mushrooms and eggs from breakfast, I was feeling like I was on the verge of insanity. I needed to find something green, something wild, something that felt like home. So, I made my way to Kyoto Gardens for a brief moment of tranquillity, spending about 20 minutes under the cherry blossoms before walking back. Thankfully, it was all on flat surfaces, so not too strenuous.



Then, a quick coffee, and I was off to rehearsal in Soho. I opted for the bus instead of the Tube—it’s such a great way to see the city, and Notting Hill felt very safe to walk around in general.



It's such a wonderful thing to find green foresty spaces like this in London....

High Notes and High Society

Rehearsal was fantastic. We blocked all of Act 1 and then sang through all the chorus songs. I was assigned some solos in a high operatic style—fitting, considering I’m playing a snobby aristocratic woman. Typecast much? I adore this character, and I can already feel the show coming together beautifully as we bond as a cast.

For dinner, I tried a Too Good To Go bag from Arancina, which was an absolute steal—two personal 8-inch pizzas and an arancini ball, all for under £7. Delicious and sustainable.


I had to share some of this pizza as it wasn't all vegetarian, but it was well worth it, and if you're in Notting Hill, stop by this pizza place, because the sourdough base is ELITE! 

Later that night, of course, I watched Notting Hill on Netflix. It only felt right, having spent the day walking past some of the most gorgeous houses I have ever seen in my life. A perfect way to end the evening.

The Sunday Sprint




One last breakfast before the trek, and a couple croissants stored in my bag for the journey... heeehee

Sunday’s rehearsal was even faster-paced, and I thrived on it. We wrapped up by 2 PM, which meant it was time to begin the journey back to Paddington. I had to take the Tube this time—an experience I genuinely dread due to its lack of ventilation, which is less than ideal for someone like me. But needs must.

Something was happening with a crane, or maybe the buses were just being their usual chaotic selves, but everything was a mess—diversions, closures, confusion. I still don’t fully know what I dodged, but somehow, I made it to Paddington in one piece.

A quick sushi stop while waiting for my train, and then... utter chaos. The train to Cardiff was horrendously packed. Standing for over two hours? Absolutely not. I ended up sitting on the floor like a peasant despite having a reserved seat. GWR, sort it out! Also, why has the journey time mysteriously stretched from 1.5 hours to over 3? Merging services? I remain baffled.
This CAN'T POSSIBLY BE SAFE? What if we had to evacuate the train? people are getting crushed on the way to the emergency exits. Genuinely concerning behaviour. 

My brother met me at the station and drove me home, where I promptly ate more pizza, took the longest shower to wash the travel away, and collapsed into bed by 10 PM.

A Weekend Well Spent

Despite the travel madness, this weekend was a reminder of why I love what I do. The thrill of performance, the energy of the cast, the joy of finding hidden gems in the city—it was all worth it. Now, onto the next adventure, this time, a smaller one at home! 
(like, bed!)

Clare

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