London in a blur

When we originally planned our trip we were warned this is too little time! 4 days in London is nothing ! But hey we wanted to do it all! So off we set on a 9 day journey to take it all in! In all of my Europe trips I have been underwhelmed by the cities. So we were prepared for London to be just that and didnt think we needed longer than the three days. But boy were we wrong! I didn’t think much of the history and culture till I saw it with my own eyes! London has a really chill vibe to it! Every corner you turn you take in a piece of history! You recognize something that brings a spark in your eyes! I was reaching out for my phone every other second much to my kids dismay! [To be fair I felt this way about Rome as well, history at every corner just overwhelmed me there!]

As we got off the airplane we decided to do it the London way! We got ourselves the Oyster card and went off to explore the tube system and get to the hotel! In under £10 and a change of train later we were dropped off across our hotel at the Edgeware Rd station. I now felt like a pro at navigating London! I had the tube map pat down!

The hotel though had other plans! I paid through the nose to stay at a Hilton! But they were terribly under staffed, were under going construction and had an old property that was just unclean! And they wouldn’t give us a room till 3 PM. With a day to kill and our new found power in the Oyster cards we set off to explore Notting Hill. [side note: Oyster card is a pay as you go card that you can load up and swipe as you use the underground transit. It costs about £2.25 per trip regardless of where you go in central London. For a short visit the Travel card may work better as it’s about £7 for a 7 day unlimited pass. We did it like the locals do! ]

Notting Hill ! There are plenty of tips across the Internet on what to do and how to visit this quaint l district of London. I made lots of notes and of course followed none! Now you could explore and take it all in as I did or you could explore and declare this is just “Nothing Hill” like Tootise did! As for me after the million times I have watched the movie I half expected Hugh Grant to pop out and say “Hello” in that adorable British  accent! Now our journey.. We got off at Ladbroke Grove and made our way to Portobello market on Portobello street. It’s a street market that sells bespoke stuff! Think more like a thrift market/ antique mall vibe! The food street looked delectable but my family just walked past it as I took in the sights and smells! And ofcourse there are the lovely streets with the colorful homes, Lancaster street in Particular! IMO, looks very much like San Francisco in some parts! Here are some of the pictures from our wanderings! Notice Cheeky with the very London bucket hat, the London telephone booth and post boxes! 

Portobello Market

Lancaster Street

After our walk we made our way back to Edgeware road in South Kensington for lunch. This place is dotted with a lot of Lebanese and Middle Eastern stores and restaurants! Some yummy falafel and shawarma to be had here!

We enjoyed the sightings of the famous Telephone booths and Post boxes. Now I must tell you the telephone boxes are filthy and tragic looking reminders of the past! The post boxes and really a lot of little things in London reminded us of India. It is clear to see that India was once a colony and has a lot of influences from London! Even some of the buildings reminded us of a walk down Old Madras (Mount Road and Paris Corner) or the Central Station in Madras and I am told Howrah station in Calcutta is almost a replica of Kings Cross! Clear to see the influences!

At about this time the jet lag was feeling real! So it was a wrap for our day! We ended up going to an Indian restaurant near Soho for dinner with friends! London continues to amaze and surprise at every turn! That’s the University Hospital of London and Gower St. In a later post we will see other chance viewings when least expected. That was the theme of London :)

 

I was ready to be underwhelmed by London but the surprises at every turn continues to amaze! More to explore tomorrow!