My husband and I first dated and later lived together in London, so for our 20th anniversary we decided to go back to where it all began. We shifted the timing slightly to align with a Premier League match, which felt entirely appropriate.

My husband is a lifelong Luton Town supporter, a loyalty passed down from his dad. Their promotion to the Premier League in 2023, their first time in the top flight since 1992, made a home match feel worth building a trip around, and we chose an early December game to catch London's Christmas lights and festive atmosphere.

Our plans grew from there. Our youngest son, an equally passionate Luton Town fan, joined us for part of the trip, and the chance to see his team in the Premier League was too good to pass up. His grandmother, who hadn't been back to England at Christmas in far too long, came too. In the end the trip became exactly what the best trips are, several good reasons woven into one.

Our trips to London aren’t the typical “hit all the major sights and attractions” kind. Having lived there, albeit many years ago, we do enjoy select attractions and current exhibitions, but our time in London is often more about wandering down memory lane and slipping back into the rhythm of the city.