Visiting London: London’s (Supposedly) Burning

“None can mistake a place which has defined the world and influenced it’s cultures so thoughouly.” – Old Sean

Dire Cities

After nearly a month sprinting through mainland Europe, I’ve been granted a break in London.

Here, I’ll spend my time resting, attending work meetings with my company’s London office and organizing material for the next leg of the trip.

I’ve got to hand it to London locals this year; they could give a small army of doomsayers a run for their money.  Everywhere I went in London, I was warned to stay on my toes and be safe in the city. 

Apparently, London is on the verge of high-resolution gang wars, if the volume of warnings is anything to judge by. I think it’s more likely that news is sensationalizing circumstances again.

The warnings kept me on edge and limited my nightly gallivanting sessions. However, I spent half a week in London unscarred and amused. 

Impressions on Visiting London

Overall, I found the city perfectly safe and not prone to inflicting injury at all.  That’s not to say that someone should be naïve when wandering a large city, but I was lucky and stayed in safe areas.

Now, I enjoy London for the same reasons I appreciate Paris, New York and Hong Kong. The cities are so prevailing and well-documented in popular media, you understand the “flavor” and vibe long before arrival. 

It’s an interesting, comforting phenomena that elicits a slight humming emotion of “home away from home.”

Usually when traveling, this is inverted. For most places in the world, a person has preconceptions that are dissuaded upon arrival. 

For example, I assumed China was universally made of large cities clustered together in traditional valleys with misty mountains covering the rest of the land. 

That was wildly inaccurate and colored solely by stereotypes. China is actually an enormous nation with vast and varying landscapes. 

I also imagined Mongolia as lush green fields of flat highlands with horses running every direction. I misjudged the diversity, mountains and overall white-and-brownish-color-scheme dramatically. 

It all comes down to perceptions.  

However, London does the reverse.  London is exactly what twenty years of media and movies has described to me.  Visiting felt like entering a known vibe.  

A Tourist Visiting London

I’ve been to London a couple of times before. Generally, I’ve never really felt the compulsion to undergo the strains of tourism.

But London is the land of free museums, legions of monuments and patrols of pigeons on statues. 

This visit, I delved into the more notable places so I can bob my head along when people quiz me about the popular places I’ve visited.

Part of traveling to popular tourist destinations evokes a commonality of experience, where everyone asks the same questions.

For example, when a person goes to New York City and mentions it in conversation, someone else asks “Hey, did you get to visit the Empire State Building while you were there?” 

And the answer for myself is probably “No,” because I don’t find the Empire State Building interesting enough to pay upwards of $40 USD to visit.  

But visiting the major, common tourism landmarks gives people a touch point and sense of comradery in a conversation which is otherwise a bit abstract. 

So sometimes, in the cases of things like the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House, the Statue of Liberty, the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids of Giza and Mt. Fuji, it’s worth visiting even if lacking a personal interest.

It’s nice to have that experience in common with the rest of humankind.

Wandering London

For the following few days, when not working, I was the consummate tourist.

I spent considerable amounts of time along the Thames, riding the (Coca-Cola) London Eye, which is surprisingly hot in direct sunlight.

Later, I saw musicians and buskers while visiting Trafalgar Square, dipping my hand into the fountain. Later on, I passed Covent Garden before moving on to London Bridge, and London Tower.

During off hours, I also walked around The Shard in all its lofty glory. I got a few snacks at the Borough Market, which was enormously expensive. I was granted entry into the art museum, Tate Modern, where a truly creepy chain-and-puppet kinetic sculpture exhibition scraped along the floor.

Later on, I saw Westminster (though Big Ben was under reparations), wandered through the Ritz Hotel. I watched the guard change around Buckingham Palace and took a relaxing break in Regent’s Park after visiting the rose gardens.

Eventually, I met up with a friend in Hyde Park and rode the tube through London without rhyme or reason like a bamboozled tramp.

Away from Tourism

However, visiting and listing popular tourism features is dull news. 

Heavy tourist stuff is all the same. A crowding press of squishy people-heaters herd themselves through streets at a slow amble.

It’s still nice seeing these things, especially if one is acquainted with the history behind them. But the issue is that expectations are accurately fixed long before arrival.

Overall, the experience made me realize I’m dreading the lines when I eventually get to the Eiffel Tower.

The more interesting aspects of London are everywhere else. It’s a huge supercity.  London is so stupidly ancient, large, famous, influential, vital and powerful through the ages there’s essentially no limit to the number of experiences.

I ended up bouncing between several friends as I explored the more obscure portions of the city.  

Other Nooks While Visiting London

Guided by local friends (Ali, Farrah, Sam and Emily), I started crisscrossing London at all hours.

Sarah Bahbah’s Gallery at the Lawrence Alkin Gallery was splendid, though the coupon coffee-alcohol drink at a separate location was more questionable (though still enjoyable). 

The Tate Britain Museum was a lovely foray into abstract artwork. The experience was accented with strawberries, a flower market and some (accidentally) eaten chocolate bars.

I eventually found Stompie the T-34 Art Tank which was an interesting discovery. I also enjoyed marching through Leake Street’s Graffiti Tunnel (though I’m sure I was slightly high on paint fumes by the time I stepped out). 

The Natural History Museum, despite being touristy, is an unbeatable feature of London. 

The St. Katharine Docks Marina is a stunning view each morning, especially when one pays enough attention toavoid falling into the water. 

The major shopping nexus of Beak Street is armed with Hamely’s Toy Store. The multi-storied toy shop is fantastic. I’m primarily saying that for the Harry Potter Butterbeer and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans I managed to nab while I was there. 

I got to overhear one of the Hamely’s Toy Store employees upselling the Harry Potter foods.

She said “The Butterbeer is for the gentleman who understands class, but prefers magic.” and “Every Flavour Beans are eighty percent excellent and twenty percent inedible.”

I bought both.

Life in London

During my time visiting London, I had eggs scrambled for me every morning by my host who has reached master level egg-cooking abilities.

Each day, my host Sam made drinks and fruity pancakes. My brunch hours were spent at cafés with an old friend of mine named Ali from high school. I also got to see an old friend of mine from China, who happened to be in town at the same time.

I also had several dinners with my company’s branch supervisor, making it an enormously pleasant visit.

Departing London

Despite my joy, I didn’t do everything I desired. 

A few odds and ends on my bucket list will remain unfulfilled until my next trip.  I’ll be visiting London again on my way back towards the European mainland in a few weeks.

But for now, I’m due on a bus towards York. I’ve found my seat and settled in. Just a week ago, I was entirely burnt out from my time in Luxembourg. Now, I feel re-energized while en route to York and eventually Scotland.

For the time being, I’m getting awkward eye contact with a sheep who clearly own this part of the UK’s countryside countryside.

Cheers and such, London.  It’s always a pleasure.

Best regards and excellent trails,

Old Sean

Written June 25th. 2018

Read more about visiting London and seeing the world by visiting Leftfade Trails Destination Info.

Affiliate Disclosure: Leftfade Trails contains affiliate links, so using services or products through these links supports the website, at no extra cost to the user. All links are to tested services and products designed to aid travelers on their journeys. Some links specifically connect to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate this website earns from qualifying purchases.