London, not unlike New York, is a city that never sleeps. The first time I visited the English capital, I fell in love with the place in a matter of seconds. I exited Heathrow airport to discover a city rich and vibrant where there was, and still is, so much to do and see. I felt at home immediately, even though I was thousands of kilometers away from my actual country. London holds a dear place in my heart since it is the city where I first traveled by myself. If I had not felt that comfortable or safe there, that may have stopped me from wanting to travel the whole world alone. But that was surely not the case. Instead, my first solo trip was a beautiful, not-too-challenging, and happy one. London made me want to see more of what is out there, it gave me the confidence I needed to explore more obscure places, and it showed me that I could travel to anywhere I wanted, that I was a strong and determined young woman, and that the world was my play-field. (I know, London is not Baghdad- but when you are a clueless teenager, any place far from home can be challenging to navigate by yourself.)
It is then logical for me to pay tribute to this British city, and to look back on everything I experienced on my very first trip to London Town!
My first day in London was quite cliché! I wanted to see all of the famous monuments, so I did. I took the underground and was somewhat seduced by the tube voice telling passengers to “Please, mind the gap between the train and the platform”. Once I arrived downtown, I spent the day walking, only stopping once for some good old fish and chips! I saw the great Tower Bridge, was quite disappointed by London Bridge (I thought it was a cool bridge, but no, just a normal boring one!), walked around Big Ben and crossed the Thames many times. I also saw Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, 10 Downing Street, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace. As a huge Harry Potter geek, I also went to King’s Cross station to photograph Platform 9 3/4. I was just so excited to see everything I wanted with my own eyes, not in books and films like I always had.
On my second day in London, I went to Abbey Road. I had wanted to go there for years since I have always loved the Beatles so much. Their music was continuously present when I was growing up, so seeing that famous street as well as Abbey Road Studios meant a lot to me. I even risked my life taking a picture crossing the road. I did not care about cars, I just wanted to feel like Paul, John, George and Ringo! On that same day, I also visited the British Museum, a must-see for anyone who loves archaeology and history.
When I think back, I can safely say that each of my London visits was a memorable one. I always enjoy going to Piccadilly Circus as well as to Covent Garden to go to the Royal Opera House where it is possible to watch a spectacular opera or ballet for just a few pounds. I really like chilling in St. James’s Park or Hyde Park too, and having a beer in one of the million of small laid-back pubs. I particularly appreciate all of London’s busy markets, especially the very famous Borough Market. There are also countless hip neighborhoods to explore such as Soho, Chelsea, Notting Hill or Camden Town that I personally adore for its punk vibe and underground culture.
When I have a friend or an acquaintance who plans on traveling to London, I always try to give them personalized recommendations and advice. Although, in a more general way, I would say that some of the must-see places in the capital include the Royal Botanic Gardens for nature lovers like myself, and Shakespeare’s Globe for English theater geeks. Furthermore, for people who love WWII history, then I would say that Churchill War Rooms is for you. And for people who are more into monarchy, I would suggest planning a palace itinerary. There are countless of castles in and around the city that are all stunning and interesting, plus most of them offer tours and guides, which is great since you can learn so much not only about English kings and queens, but also about politics, history, art and architecture.
Whatever you choose to visit in this busy city, you will never get bored. Every station of the underground takes you to a unique neighborhood. Some places are more “hip”, some classical, some posh, some dirty, some colourful and some plain white and grey. Every borough has its charm though, so don’t refrain from exploring as many as you can. I particularly enjoy visiting all of the quirky thrift shops, especially second-hand book stores where there are thousands of treasures to discover (and purchase).
Overall, I will always be grateful for London. The city was welcoming the first time I stopped by, and all of the times after, really. It made me realize that traveling was my passion, that it was a need I had, and that the whole world was out there waiting for me to come and join the party!
Bittersweet Travel Memories 