...is definitely one of the most brilliant cities in the world and so in stride with tourists' needs. It's incredibly easy to get around this gigantic city with the many way-finding devices, superb public transit (when it's not on strike), and urban eye candy that knocks your socks off. The old buildings and monuments, Christmas light displays, never ending pedestrian streets and alleyways, and all the free (!) museums can keep you wandering the streets for hours on end -- even in the bitter cold and rain. And when you need a break, there's always a cozy pub just around the corner to warm you up with mulled wine and fish and chips.
Did I mention the shopping yet? This is the city of shopping. Luckily the British Pound is so strong that I was forced to keep my wallet safe inside my bag (for the most part, though Anthropologie and Liberty fabrics got the best of me). Spending nearly $6 on a single tube ride and another $6 for a beer hurt the pocketbook, but luckily my cousin is living in London while studying for the year and she was able to hook us up with a comfortable place to stay -- in Kensington to say the least! From her place we could walk most parts of the city and almost all the major tourist destinations.
Since I want to keep this short and sweet, here are the highlights:
The charming local pub in Kensington
Gloucester Road
Just another adorable street
Natural History Museum
Did I mention the shopping yet? This is the city of shopping. Luckily the British Pound is so strong that I was forced to keep my wallet safe inside my bag (for the most part, though Anthropologie and Liberty fabrics got the best of me). Spending nearly $6 on a single tube ride and another $6 for a beer hurt the pocketbook, but luckily my cousin is living in London while studying for the year and she was able to hook us up with a comfortable place to stay -- in Kensington to say the least! From her place we could walk most parts of the city and almost all the major tourist destinations.
Thank God these signs where there! We almost got ran over several times!
Since I want to keep this short and sweet, here are the highlights:
- New Years Eve fireworks on the Thames
- Columbia Road flower market in Shoreditch
- Sunday UpMarket at the old Trumer Brewery (my favorite!!!)
- Spitalfields Market in Shoreditch
- Fabric shopping at Liberty and the super quaint Carnaby Street
- Kensington Garden and St. James Park stroll
- Soho shops - hello Muji, Camper, and Paul Smith!
- Pedestrian alleyways all over place
- The commercial chaos of Oxford and Regent Streets
- Victoria and Albert museum
Really?!
St James Park with the Eye in the background
Westminster Abby - on April 29, Will & Kate will wed here
Cousin Moira and her friend Jane - NYE
New Years fireworks and Big Ben watching
The new 'Cycle Hire' system, similar to Paris' and Barcelona
Carnaby Street
Big red bus and lights!
Shoreditch
Columbia Road flower market
Columbia Road in Shoreditch
Shoreditchers
The market
Liberty - the original London department store
The famous Liberty print fabrics
Quaint French cafe in Kensington
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