How to Plan A Girls Trip That Doesn't End in Drama

Just a touch of the London skyline.

💍 From Bridesmaid to Barcelona: How Our Canceled Wedding Trip Turned Into a UK Adventure

Okay bestie, full disclosure: this trip started with a wedding. My girl Shanell was getting married in London, and we were ready. Dresses? Bought and altered (yes, both of them). Flights? Non-refundable and locked in. We were crossing the pond, no matter what.

And then—plot twist—the wedding was off. Cue the group chat chaos.

Suddenly, we had a week in the UK and no itinerary. And when I say no one had ideas, I mean they wanted me to plan everything and just tell them when to show up. Classic. 😅

But you know me—I wasn’t about to waste a perfectly good international flight. So I rolled up my sleeves and built a whole new trip from scratch.

🆓 Step One: What Can We Do for Free?

Since this was originally a wedding trip, we hadn’t budgeted for a ton of extras. So I started with the freebies. Turns out, London is stacked with iconic sights that cost zero pounds. Think Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and all the royal drama you can soak up from the sidewalk.

We even took a random side trip to see Pocahontas’s grave (yes, that Pocahontas) because Shanell’s parents live in the town. History detour? Checked.

💡 Affiliate Insert Opportunity: Link to a free walking tour app like GPSmyCity or Go City London Pass for discounted attractions.

📲 Pro Tip: Crowdsource the Fun

Even when your girls don’t want to plan, make them toss one “must-do” into the group chat. For us, the list was:

• A food tour 🍛

• Tower of London 🏰

• A flamenco show 💃

• And quality time with Shanell 💕

Easy peasy. Everyone felt heard, and I didn’t have to guess what would make them happy.

🧖‍♀️ Spa Days & Surprise Parties

Shanell’s mom felt bad we flew all the way to the UK for a canceled wedding, so she treated us to a full spa day—complete with high tea. Honestly, it was giving royal retreat.

Now these aren't the spa we went to but they are for sure worth a try.

The Savoy: Spa and Afternoon Tea for Two

Heavenly Spa London: Aromatherapy Associates Wellbeing Afternoon Tea Package

Later that week, we ended up at someone’s birthday party (don’t ask how, we just did), and it was a whole vibe.

🍽️ The Food Tour That Changed My Life

We booked an Indian food tour through Secret Food Tours, and let me tell you—10/10, no notes. I would fly back just for that samosa. Seriously, if you don't click any other link on this page, click that one. I don't even make money from it, it's just that good and you should not miss it.

We also did a Jack the Ripper walking tour because… vibes. Creepy, historical, and weirdly fun.

Secret Indian Food Tour: East London

✈️ Bonus Round: Barcelona, Baby

Because flights were cheap (looking at you, Ryanair 👀), we popped over to Barcelona for two days. Flamenco show? Check. Tapas? Devoured. Sunsets? Magical.

👩‍👩‍👧‍👧 The Secret to a Drama-Free Girls Trip

Invite your mom. Seriously.

This trip turned into a mother-daughter adventure: me, my mom Jewel, my sister-in-love Cyne’thea, and her mom Maria. When you travel intergenerationally, there’s no room for drama. Moms want everyone to have a good time, they keep you laughing, and they will veto your 12-activity day plan in favor of a nap and wine.

And honestly? They’re right.

📥 Grab My Free Itinerary

Want the full breakdown of what we did, where we stayed, and how we made it work on a budget? Click below to download my free itinerary and start planning your own UK adventure—even if it starts with a canceled wedding.