London
Trip Taken December 2008
A very English sight overall, near Trafalgar square
The end of 2008 was coming up. I was in India. First off, New Year’s isn’t right when it is still hot. Second, how can New Year come without Christmas, if not a white Christmas? This wasn’t making much sense at all. And things have to make sense. So as I panicked and when my father saw me re-acting to a weather driven frenzy, he simply said, “Go far enough to get the feeling, but not all the way to the US.” Alright then, London sounded great. A good friend of mine was doing his masters there and mercifully decided not to go away some where himself during his holidays. So I booked my ticket to land in Heathrow on the 24th, Christmas Eve.
Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the world. It took forever to walk out. Then the cold hit me outside and the merry feeling set in. I was wearing a coat, scarf and boots, feeling good about being able to use my winter wear again. Then the London experience began, unraveling itself as if in an old English movie, beginning with the ride in “The Tube”, as the local train system is commonly referred to.
The ride takes you above ground for a while, and I could see the old English houses, row homes as we call them, with the chimneys going. It was cinematic moment for me, so much so that I forgot to take pictures! It hadn’t snowed there yet. So for now, it was a typical over cast London winter day.
Leicester Square, my direct destination from Heathrow Airport
It was around 6pm when we got off at Leicester Square, a popular square for evening fun. Since it was that time of the year, the square was decorated with lights and filled with fun fair games like air guns to win a stuffed animal, carousels, ball games etc. It was colorful and full of life. I can’t repeat myself enough when I say the Christmas feeling was in me so much, I practically felt my eyes absorbing the blue, green and red lights as if to charge up for the next year.
So, as my friend Siddharth is a party animal and somehow decided the best time to be had in London was to be in a bar in London, he walked me and my luggage right into his friend’s bar and the party began at Yates’s, this popular bar at the square. The whole square was alive and kicking until late, people from such diverse backgrounds talking around me. I really had to look hard to find a proper English person in the square. But I thought maybe it was just a touristy night, I have time yet.
Carnaby Street decorated for Christmas
Christmas day, as in the US, is a holiday for all things commercial, so it was just walking around the neighborhood of Woodgreen, North London. I think one of the key things to absorb about London is the look – the old English lamps on the streets, the neighborhood stores above which are apartments, the mom and pop eateries, the slanted roofs touching each other, the narrow stair cases and hall ways of buildings none of which are over three floors, all with the Queen’s touch.
Oh the London double decker buses and the taxis and more Christmas cheer on Oxford Street
Since there is no Thanksgiving in London, their Black Friday is the day after Christmas, the 26th, and the shopping frenzy begins. It definitely is a fashionable place to go shop; the royals are still there so things must climb all the way up to their and their friends’ satisfaction. The more popular street is Oxford Street, and the walk can be long if you go one way and walk back the other, and take hours even if you do nothing but see all the brands and non-brands that are on sale. The crowd pores out of the Tube and people move in waves, it seems. The signature double-decker buses and the black London cabs make their way through the crowds just to make the picture perfect.
The best way to see and feel the heart of the city is to walk it, I feel. It is similar to New York; it is a strong financial centre and the second most visited city next to Paris, it has old and new architecture side by side, it holds all the entertainment in the form of theatre and museums with a royal touch, at the end it lets one know the true strength of London as a power house, a cultural centre, its history and the sparkle of the English touch. The accent is not so bad either!
The London Eye and beyond from River Thames
Typically, a walk from Leicester square to Trafalgar square (popular for political demonstrations along with the Nelson’s Column and central fountain), walk down to 10 Downing Street and past the Parliament House, to Westminster Palace to Clock Tower, Big Ben, and finally end up at River Thames and the Big Eye. It is truly worth spending time along this path. It is the heart of London, the old red telephone booths so well blended with the old style taverns, showing off its resilience to modern changes.
Random art on the side wall of a building
The London Eye is the Ferris wheel on the banks of River Thames. A new addition though it is (1999), the ride is popular and offers a bird’s eye view of London, and is quite a sight if the day is clear. But London is so popular for its over cast days, so don’t be too disappointed if its not a clear movie, its still adds to the experience to look at London through hazy eyes!
London has its fair share of market places and open squares to add to the flavor. Similar to a lot of European countries, there are outdoor seating restaurants and pubs, performers in the squares, hand food and snacks, and some interesting art and handicrafts. It is a good way to spend the early part of the night before heading out to a late dinner. You may get full on a bite here and a bite there, and just decide to go home!
Like I said, London is very big and Central London itself can keep you busy for days on end. From Carnaby Street to Kingsley Street, around the corners of any lane around there, and there are a few other such fun areas that offer great boutique style shopping and late night energy. The night life is diverse and clubs are open late. I have to say the security on New Year’s Eve in Leicester Square in the form of gun power and show surprised me but was impressive.
New Year's Eve security set up at Leicester Square
The rest is like any big city: you can’t cover every hidden secret but there are plenty you will stumble across and enjoy. Public transportation is the very best and the same card works for The Tube and the buses, so ask about a three day pass or the latest thing they have going and price it out. London is not cheap at all, so plan your day wisely; you may want to keep some money for shopping at the end of the day. I was lucky enough to follow my friend around and he was a great host and my stay was free, otherwise two weeks of London would have hit me pretty hard! I have to say though, I wish I did more… and tell you more, but I went into the arms of hard time party maniacs, during New Year’s, and fell sick for three days, so I will have to go again and get you guys more information!
