I didn’t expect 2025 to begin surrounded by half-dressed people on the London Underground, yet there I was, unintentionally swept into the famous No Pants Tube Ride. Equal parts hilarious and mortifying, it turned out to be the perfect metaphor for the year ahead: unexpected, joyful, and a reminder not to take life quite so seriously.
Looking back now, 2025 wasn’t about ticking boxes or chasing milestones. It was about saying yes to moments, to people, to celebration, and to the kind of experiences that make a year feel full rather than fast.
Playfulness, Curiosity & Saying Yes
That January moment on the London underground set the tone because it was unplanned. The year unfolded with that same spirit of curiosity: playful afternoons wandering London during the Big Egg Hunt, immersive nights like Secret Cinema’s Grease in Battersea Park, and experiences chosen simply because they sounded joyful.
A trip to Birmingham, England surprised me more than I expected. Wandering the city between plans, discovering great food and architecture, and seeing a place with fresh eyes reminded me how much joy there is in going somewhere without preconceived expectations.
A Love Letter to London
If 2025 had a heartbeat, it was London.
Spring arrived in full color with the return of Chelsea in Bloom, transforming familiar streets into something magical. Summer brought the unmistakable energy of the Wimbledon Championships, a day spent watching world-class tennis live, soaking up the atmosphere that makes it one of the city’s most iconic traditions.
Autumn leaned into culture with Frieze sculptures filling Regent’s Park, while October’s Halloween celebrations, including a return visit to Halloween at Kew Gardens, felt even more atmospheric the second time around.
By December, London was glowing. Christmas lights everywhere you turned, festive walks through the city, a celebratory afternoon tea at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, cocktails at the Miracle pop-up, and one final wander through Christmas at Kew, were all the perfect way to close out the year.
Tradition, Style & Celebration
Some of the year’s most memorable moments were rooted in tradition and a sense of occasion.
A sun-soaked day at Royal Ascot felt timeless between the fashion, pageantry, and the simple joy of dressing up for something special. There were weddings that reminded me how beautiful it is to witness love evolving, Diwali celebrations filled with warmth and color, Thanksgiving shared with friends, and an unforgettable evening at the Holland Park Opera Gala which was elegant and atmospheric, with spectacular musical performances.
Wandering, Near and Far
Travel in 2025 wasn’t about distance, but I still made some wonderful memories and explored new places, plus old favorites.
There was a breezy escape to Margate, where the pace slowed, the air felt different, and the sea offered exactly the reset it always does. A day trip to Ridgeview Winery brought something equally restorative: rolling countryside, English sparkling wine, and the joy of learning something new in a beautiful setting.
Later in the year, a return to Boston and New York felt deeply nostalgic with long walks through Central Park, the High Line, Hudson Yards, and Little Island. I also stayed at the Eliot Hotel and YOTEL in Boston, plus the Kimpton Hotel Theta in New York, adding some exciting new properties to my YouTube hotel reviews.
Later in the year, Stockholm offered a quieter kind of magic with crisp air, early nights, and the joy of rediscovering a city I hadn’t seen since 2017. Sometimes returning somewhere after time has passed shows you just how much you’ve changed.
Ending the Year Grateful
As the year came to a close, I found myself reflecting less on what I did and more on how 2025 felt.
It felt full. Full of laughter, culture, travel, tradition, and moments that reminded me to stay present. A year that proved joy doesn’t need to be loud, it just needs to be noticed.
Here’s to saying yes a little more often, carrying the magic forward, and stepping into whatever comes next in 2026 with gratitude and curiosity.
A big thank you to everyone who continued to read and recommend my blog in 2025. My blog had over 100,000 views in 2025 I’m grateful for your support and will continue to share my travels, favorite products, recipes, snippets of my life, and more into 2026!
If you’re curious what people found the most useful on The SavvyBostonian in 2025, here are my 10 most read blog posts in rank order:
- Travel: What To See, Do and Eat in Budapest, Hungary
- The SavvyBostonian’s Boston Guide
- First Time Visiting Bangalore, India
- Easy Entertaining: Hosting an Elegant At-Home Bridal Shower
- Travel: A Winter Weekend In Stockholm
- Travel: A Daytrip to Bath UK
- Recipe: Brownie Mix + Canned Pumpkin= Amazing Brownie Bites
- Travel: Hiking The Ochre Trail in Roussillon
- Travel: An Epic Girls Weekend In Paris
- Travel: Exploring Roussillon, France
Jessica Gioglio founded the travel and lifestyle blog, The SavvyBostonian and is the co-author of The Laws of Brand Storytelling and The Power of Visual Storytelling. Professionally, Jessica has led innovative marketing and public relations programs for Dunkin’, TripAdvisor, Sprinklr, and more. Today, Jessica is a keynote speaker on brand storytelling (book her here) and founder of With Savvy Media & Marketing, a strategic branding, storytelling, and content strategy consultancy.
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