Destination: London, England
Street view of Big Ben
During my study abroad trip to Paris, France I took a trip to the United Kingdom. While in London I stayed at the Tune Hotel, Liverpool Street and the Hilton London Olympia. Though the trip got off to a rocky start with a flight delay, sketchy hotel, and issues with a hostel, I was able to make the most out of my trip.
Wind Blowing at the London Bridge
While there, I was able to see the Tower of London and the London Bridge. The Tower Bridge was the most impressive since it was huge. As the bridge sat above the River Thames, I clearly saw everything the City of London had to offer. After checking into the Hilton Olympia my friend and I strolled down Kensington High St in the direction of Kensington Palace. We were in for quite a shock when it started raining. As the cliché goes, it does rain quite a lot in London. One minute the sun may be shining as you are walking and the next you are seeking shelter in TopShop because of the rain.
In London I took a liking to eating chicken wings with champagne! Though different than my fries with rosé obsession in Paris, it took to the same vibe of classy drinks with finger food. I also took a liking to drinking English Breakfast tea. I had a great tea experience at Caffè Nero next to Trafalgar Square, which is also a site to see. It is quite interesting to note that in English culture tea is served with cubes of sugar and mini honey jars.
In the more central part of London I saw Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and Big Ben. Though I thought La Chateau de Versailles was a bit more extravagant than both Kensington and Buckingham Palace, they were no doubt exemplary of the British royalty.
Buckingham Palace
At Pret A Manger (Ready To Eat in French), I grabbed a quick lunch. It is a very niche "fast food" place that serves very fresh pre-made sandwiches, coffee, tea, and pastries. They are sprinkled all over London. As of late I've been seeing a lot more of them in New York City. It is definitely a place to try if you are looking for a quick bite.
For most of my stay in London I relied on Uber as my primary source of transportation. It was easy because I could pinpoint my location then request my destination. Driving through the streets via Uber allowed me to see a lot more of London than I would have if I took the Underground or the double decker bus. Using the bus however you would need an Oyster Card. Most of them are sold in hotels or local convenience stores but you can't buy one onboard the bus.
The London Eye at Night
Above all, London is a destination I would hope to visit again. Due to so many traveling difficulties, I did not get to experience everything I would have liked. Had I stayed an extra day or so I would have loved to visit Shakespeare's theater, participate in a pub-crawl, and go thrifting. London was different than the Parisian life I was getting used to. The vibe was somewhat of a laissez-faire where people were generally calmer than Paris. A great way for tourists to find things to do while here is to find a map in your hotel or airport. Depending on how recently they are updated they may dates about different events in the town. Most importantly, I did try the quintessential English breakfast (Café Tarte) and I must say that it was amazing!
Selfie at Buckingham Palace
- Manessa Lo.
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