I have kind of decided that this week in London, instead of trying to knock off as many of my top ten as possible, will be a week to scout out and better formulate a Top Ten London that I can conquer during weekends down from Cambridge. To be honest, the heat is getting to me, yes I'm sorry to moan about hot weather to all you kiwis, but it's true. I really can't face much when it is this hot outside. I am tempted to run a cold bath and just stay there all day.
Anyway, after a bit of research, here is my Top Ten London:
- Houses of Parliament
- Shakespeare's Globe
- Tower of London
- British Library
- High Tea at the Ritz
- A proper exploration of Hyde Park
- A picnic with food being bought from the Borough Markets and the Harrods Food Section.
- A West End Musical
- A meal at Jamie Oliver's restaurant Fifteen
- A walking tour with London Walks (tossing up between something gory like Jack the Ripper's London and something corny like Harry Potter's London)
I have managed a couple of highlights of London this week - not too much indoors though. There are so many things to see that it's hard to limit a list of must do's to just 10. Here are some of the things I've seen this week: Oxford St, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament (outside only), Borough Markets, Harrods, Buckingham Palace, Greenwich Village, Picadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, All Blacks game in an Antipodean pub, Natural History Museum, and the Diana Memorial at Hyde Park.
London really surprised me - some of what I had expected was true, but there were other things that I had never really thought about that I encountered. Of course before we left I was adamant I could never live in London - too many people. I was right: the pace of life is Hectic, and not for me. However, I also sensed that while it could be a very lonely place for some, it really enhanced the community feeling among those that you knew. It is a place that I look forward to going back to for weekends because there is just so much to see and do. I have no doubt that if you lived there you would be constantly entertained, and while I understand that the cost of living is quite expensive, there is so much to see and do for free. The other thing that I found quite amazing was to actually be in a city that has basically been around since Roman times. There is so much history all around - I think that especially for a Kiwi who has such a short history to draw upon, it was one of the most attractive things about the city. Overall, I must say that I was more than impressed with London, and really can't wait to visit again!
2 comments:
Hey you - I thought that a bit of London might get under your skin. Reading this post really took me back to my brief time there so many moons ago. I remember hating it at first and then some how it just grew on me and yes, that sense of community that you build with those around you certainly helps. And the history of such a place - it is just wow! Really glad you're enjoying it bubba. And neat to think that you're walking some of the steps that I walked over 30 years ago! And again - what a pleasure reading your postings. Love you forever and alwyas. Mum
HAHA I havent even done half of these places and I have been here for a year now. I will get there eventually though :)
Yeah watching the ABs game in a Walkabout is fantastic (if thats where you were watching it).
You will have to do the London Eye, London Dungeon, there are other things I was thinking of as well but I have totally gone blank.
Anyway good to hear you are over here an enjoying everything.
Drop me a line sometime :)
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