Meet Passport: Alex’s Trip to London

Based in San Francisco, Alex is a Lead Delivery Recruiter in our Permanent team. Recently, he took advantage of his Meet Passport - spending time working from our London office while exploring the city along the way.

The Meet Passport is offered to all employees on their four-year work anniversary. As well as covering flights, accommodation and meal allowances, one working day is swapped for PTO, encouraging people to explore a new city while connecting with colleagues globally.

Below, we’ve wrapped up Alex’s experience and favourite moments in London.

Why did you choose to visit London?

For Alex, London stood out as the perfect destination because he is based in the US, making the trip feel like a genuine international adventure. Having already spent time in cities like New York and San Diego, the opportunity to travel overseas offered something new both culturally and personally.

“I chose London just because it’s the coolest experience… going abroad is always something I’m going to choose.”

Although Alex had visited London before, this worked in his favour. Instead of feeling the need to tick off every major landmark, he was able to see the city in a more relaxed and authentic way.

“I’d been before, so I didn’t feel like I needed to do all the touristy things again.”

What did you enjoy most about working in the London office?

A major highlight for Alex was spending time with colleagues in person and experiencing the office culture first-hand. Being physically present made it easier to build relationships and have more natural, engaging conversations.

“I got to interact with everyone - it’s a very fun culture. I loved everyone over there.”

He also found that being in the London office gave him valuable insight into the city itself, and recommendations from the team guided many of his plans outside work.

“They had really good local recommendations… so I was able to try things people actually enjoy.”

What were some of the highlights of your trip?

For Alex, the highlights came from both the social side and the time spent with colleagues outside of the office. These moments helped build stronger relationships and made the trip more memorable.

“Getting to hang out with people outside of work, that was definitely one of the highlights.”

Whether it was team social evenings or simply exploring the city together, these shared experiences stood out as a key part of the trip.

What did a typical day look like?

Alex’s days were a balance between time in the office and time spent enjoying London. During the working day, he was focused on collaborating with the team, attending meetings and making the most of being surrounded by colleagues in person.

Outside of work, he appreciated the flexibility to spend time discovering the city at his own pace.

“I was able to just walk around, do what I wanted to do, and not feel rushed.”

Starting the day with an English breakfast also became a highlight in itself, a simple but enjoyable way to ease into the day before heading into the office.

How did you spend your time outside of work?

Because Alex had already visited many of London’s main attractions, he focused more on exploring the city through local recommendations. This allowed him to experience London in a more personal and authentic way.

“When you go somewhere for the first time, you feel like you have to do all the touristy things… but I’d already done that.”

A big part of this came through food. Alex made the most of London’s restaurant scene, with one standout meal being Blacklock.

“It wasn’t super fancy, but it was so good… the meat was insane.”

He also visited Duck & Waffle, where both the food and the view made for a unique experience.

Alongside his time in London, Alex used the opportunity to extend his trip and travel further with his girlfriend. The two spent time in both the south of France and Sweden, making the most of being in Europe and turning the trip into a longer time abroad. 

“It’s hard not to be excited about that… it’s gorgeous.”

From relaxing in the south of France to visiting Sweden, this additional travel made the trip even more memorable.

What were your overall impressions?

Alex came away with a very positive impression of London, highlighting it as a great city to visit. 

Having also spent time in other major cities, Alex appreciated the variety of experience London offers, particularly when it comes to exploring the city beyond the usual tourist spots.

“You can’t really rely on online recommendations… you have to know where locals actually go.”

What did you take away from the experience?

For Alex, one of the biggest takeaways was the importance of having exposure to authentic experiences both professionally and personally. Being in a new environment encouraged him to try new things and approach the trip with a more open mindset.

“It’s not just about working somewhere else - it’s about trying things that people there actually enjoy.”

He also found that travelling more generally changes how you view things.

“I think when you’re travelling, you just enjoy things more, you’re more open to everything.”

Would you recommend London as a Meet Passport destination?

Alex spoke very positively about his trip and would absolutely recommend London to others considering their Meet Passport.

“I really enjoyed it… it’s a great place to go and experience something different.”

For him, London offered a strong office culture, great social opportunities and a city full of things to see beyond the typical tourist route.

Alex’s trip highlights exactly what Meet Passport is designed to offer, the chance to step outside your usual environment, build meaningful connections and experience a new culture in a more immersive way.

Stay tuned for the next installment of our Meet Passport series as we continue to share more experiences from across our global offices.

And if you’re interested in joining the Meet team, please reach out if you’d like to apply for any current or upcoming opportunities.