The Closest I've Felt to Home in a Very Long Time!
May 30th 2010 18:41
Time: N/A Date: Multiple Location: Multiple
Leaving Sunderland was one thing but knowing I now had a week to spend in arguably the biggest tourist city in the world was another. However, although I quickly became sick of the tourists that walked the streets of London Town (denying that I was in fact just as much of a tourist as they were); this was the first time in four months I felt like I was at home. Putting aside the fact that unlike me, they all seem to be forgetting the letter 'T' in their everyday language; I took joy in the way: the common language used is in fact English (go figure!), they all drive and walk on the right side of the road which is the left and I was staying with two genuinely nice Australian people.
Luckily for me, I found a roof over my head in Surbiton (about 20 minutes out from London’s’ city centre) with Amy and Justin Byrne - sister and brother-in-law to a mate of mine back home. They found me at Heathrow Airport on Monday, the 5th of April, early afternoon. It was good to see them again. Last time I saw these guys was at their engagement party way back in 2006 if I remember correctly, and they had been living in London since they officially tied the knot a year later. We spent the afternoon in the beautiful suburb of Richmond - only about 10 minutes away. We walked through a park that stretched miles on end, stopped by a bar beside the River Thames and caught up on recent times. The weather was a little chilly but fine and with a hint of spring in the air, the surrounding greenery was immaculate.
London is such a massive city - you don't realise until you actually get there. I really had no idea where to start and what I really wanted to do. Amy was kind enough to write me a list of the so called 'tourist attractions' and how to get there on the 'Tube' (London's world famous underground subway). The Tube is so convenient and so popular that I was waiting for one at around 6pm one day. It was so busy; I had to wait for three to go by before I could actually squeeze on. Luckily, they come like every three minutes. Amy’s’ list was just what I needed but knew that for the amount of time I would spend in London, I would need double that to see and do it all! However, I felt satisfied with what I saw by the end of it and will be back to see more for sure.
Day 2 began at around 10am. I knew with Amy and Justin working, the onus was on me to get up and see what I wanted, instead of wasting the day at home or in bed! A perfect spring day saw me arrive into Waterloo station right next to the London Eye. I wasn't sure of the weather for the next few days so along with the novelty of the giant 424m round Ferris wheel standing right next to me; I had to go on it today. I decided to take the River Cruise/London Eye combo and my experience began with a 4D short film of the festivities surrounding the Eye. That was quite entertaining if I say so myself. Next, I jumped on the boat to take a river cruise down the famous River Thames. Along the way, I saw:
- Big Ben
- Westminster Abbey (actually this place was happening because it was the day the British government had called the election)
- MI5
- MI6 (our tourist guide believes there is a tunnel under the river that connects the two together)
- The London Eye
- Many red double-decker buses
- The National Theatre
- One of England's oldest pubs (possibly even Europe's)
- St. Paul’s' Cathedral
- The Monument
- City of London School (This is where Daniel Radcliffe went to school)
- Shakespeare Globe
- London Bridge (a lot of people think the Tower Bridge is the London Bridge but it's not)
- Tower Bridge (is currently being re-painted for the Queen as a present for the 2012 Olympic Games)
- The Tower of London
- The Millennium Bridge (This is the one that almost fell down during a special event to open the bridge and therefore millions had to be spent on it to fix it. Apparently it was so bad that some people crossing the bridge at the time succumbed to motion sickness and had to be taken to hospital!
When we arrived back to the shore, I lined up for the Eye. I thought I was at a theme park in school holidays. Thankfully, it carries 800 passengers per revolution so the line moves quite quickly. A full revolution takes about 30 minutes to complete which is just the right amount of time because there is so much to see - apparently you can see around 40km. This is one city that just keeps on going! As you sit/stand in the capsule to a height of 135 metres; the view becomes ever so amazing. Apart from all the things I just mentioned that I saw on the river cruise, the London Eye allowed me to get a glimpse of many additional landmarks such as:
- Buckingham Palace
- Greens Park
- St. James Park
- Trafalgar Square
- Hyde Park
- Canary Wharf (London's Business District)
- Londons' Southbank
- P.S. I'm sure I saw lots of other things as well; the fact is I wasn't aware of them as yet!
When my Ferris wheel ride was over, I took a stroll down London's Southbank - almost as good as Melbourne's! With many street performers and cafes, there was stuff happening everywhere. You can't miss the skate park under the National Theatre - all the graffiti and jumps etc. really added a piece of culture to the city itself.
I next found myself in Convent Garden where I briskly walked through the markets whilst holding my backpack extremely tight at all times. I was warned by Amy and Justin to be wary of pick-pocketers in Convent Garden, as they seem to swarm on people in amongst the crowds enjoying the many street performers. I managed to find one of these street performers - it was hard not to miss him! A funny looking Greek man with a crowd of about 300 watching his every move. He was quite good but like all street performers; not good enough to earn my money =P
I then walked to Leicester Square where you will find many half-price ticket booths for the many theatre shows in West End. You can go to one of these booths on the day of the show and get an amazing price however I soon learnt that the perks of being a student wins again - even in Londons' West End! I walked past so many theatres during the week including:
- Phantom of the Opera @ Her Majesty's Theatre - has been here for the past 24 years...making it the longest show at one theatre ever!
- Wicked @ Apollo Victoria Theatre
- Billy Elliot @ Victoria Palace Theatre
- Jersey Boys @ Prince Edward Theatre
- Avenue Q @ Wyndhams' Theatre
- Priscilla: Queen of the Dessert @ Palace Theatre
- The Lion King @ Lyceum Theatre
- and many more...
Trafalgar Square was next on the list. I was so amazed to go there because it would always be the property I would buy when I played Monopoly. I didn’t realise though that it’s just a massive courtyard with a big statue in the middle and the ‘National Art Gallery’ at the rear. At least I can say I have been there now!
From the square I walked through St. James Park to the gates of Buckingham Palace. I told you I had a date with the Queen… The walk through the park was really beautiful with so much greenery surrounding you and some amazing flora. There were even deck chairs that you could hire to enjoy the best of London’s’ natural beauty. One thing that got me though (and I had been warned) was the squirrels! These little guys were everywhere and they were not afraid of any passerby. When I arrived at the palace, it felt like I was underdressed or something. Buckingham Palace is amazing! Although I was not able to go inside, it stands in a world of its own looking onto St. James Park with the city centre in the background. The front yard is simply just driveway with guards (and yes these guys are as serious as they are made out to be) circling the terrace, but outside the gates stands a massive roundabout surrounded by four garden beds which are all exactly the same on the other side of the road. As they say, “Fit for a Queen!”
After a bit more looking around, slowly wandering back towards Waterloo Station, I received a message from a friend who I had recently met in Helsinki. I knew she was back in London and told her I would love to meet up. Amazingly, the second day I was there, she contacted me to meet her and another friend I had met back in Finland for dinner that night. It was so cool to hang out with them again – especially after I had been wandering the streets of London by myself the whole day. Travelling alone is probably recommended because you can do exactly what you want to do; however, you do start to miss the company pretty quickly. The girls took me to a Chinese dim-sim restaurant right on the waterfront. Once again, delicious food in an amazing setting. We then took a stroll back to Leicester Square to visit one of the best ice-cream places in the world. It’s an American ice-cream restaurant known as ‘Häagen-Dazs’. I’m not going to describe it because it had to be seen to be believed and plus you’ll probably start drooling all over your computer screen!
Day three I had the house to myself and therefore began it with a sleep in. When I finally found some motivation to go explore the much more that London has to offer, Justin told me about this Aussie shop that sells lots of Aussie imported foods and touristy stuff. It was actually really cool, but not surprisingly; very expensive! The first thing I noticed when I walked into the door was the Villi’s Pies! This was big for me as well because I hadn’t seen Villi’s since I was last in S.A. As I walked further inside, I saw the wonders of Sanitarium WeetBix, Froot Loops, Wagon Wheels, White Knights, Cottee's Cordial, Aeroplane Jelly, Clinkers, Raspberry Bullets, Maggi 2-minute Noodles and of course Vegemite – none of this Marmite rubbish!
I then traveled over to Harrods – London’s pristine, upper class department store. I didn’t realise how posh it was before I got there until Justin asked me when I arrived home, “Did you buy something for your mum? You got to get something for her from Harrods!” Well, technically I did…a shopping bag that says ‘Harrods’ on it! The store itself stands about seven floors high with each level a different category of goods. Harrods settle for nothing less than the best in terms of brands so expect to find a selection of Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Calvin Klein and the like. A highlight for me whilst inside Harrods was the sighting of Arsenal’s full back Bacary Sagna. He was shopping for men’s clothing. Working at Rebel Sport, I was used to famous sports stars (mostly AFL players) coming into work and possibly serving them but that’s nothing compared to seeing an English Premier League player out and about! After enjoying a ‘take-away’ sandwich roll which had to be eaten outside since there was no allocated seating for eating in and a massive ice-cream sundae which cost me a mint but was well worth it, I noticed that whilst walking around Harrods on the outside, there were many window displays set up to advertise the products inside. It reminded me very much of the ‘Myer Windows’ but slightly less cooler and for advertising; not sight seeing.
A stroll through Hyde Park was next on the agenda, where I was expecting a lot more squirrels. Apparently this one was the one to go to for the squirrels but I realised that no matter what park you go to in London – you’re guaranteed to find a squirrel! I walked around the river that cuts the park in two and then went to visit Princess Diana’s memorial, which was very beautiful. The path I followed led me to the Science Museum – what felt like the only free attraction I visited! Seriously, just a word of warning; nothing’s ever free in London!! Once I arrived, I managed to get a quick glance of what it was like before it shut in the next 15 minutes. I was quite impressed with what it had to offer so if I had more time, I would certainly go back.
On the way back to the train station, I walked through Greens Park (right outside Buckingham Palace) and I was amazed at the amount of Daffodils that had sprouted from the ground. I then took a left turn and headed to the hottest properties in Monopoly – Mayfair and Parklane. There, I found an Australian War Memorial, directly opposite from a New Zealand War Memorial.
Day four, I went to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. It began at 11am – the time that I arrived. I was wondering the night before if I should arrive early incase there would be a lot of people; I should have listened to my instincts. When I eventually found a place to locate myself to get a picture of what was happening; I couldn’t believe the amount of people. I thought the Queen was actually going to come out! There must have been at least 3000 people there. It was cool to see the guards change over. The new guards entered in with horses as well as some on foot, did some sort of march (remember, I couldn’t really see much) and then I assume they took their positions. The old guards did some sort of march outside the palace in the courtyard and then paraded out the gates and past the centre roundabout and down the road. Yes, I did get to see the guards with the famous big, black fluffy hats but they were the ones playing the instruments in the band.
I left Buckingham Palace with a sense of achievement. I knew that I would probably never meet Her Majesty but I felt like I had now gotten as close as I could. From actual royalty, I ventured forward to football royalty – Wembley Stadium (the ‘home of football’ as well as London’s music scene)! I arrived with the intention of taking a tour and I’m so glad I did. I hadn’t realised that the stadium had been recently re-opened a few years back (2007) and that I had now seen it in its full entirety. The redevelopment saw an additional 8,000 seats by lowering the pitch a further four metres than the previous pitch and a few extra rows were added to the top. It was immaculate. The picture perfect pitch with the divided squares, the perfectly aligned red seats with stand out blue ones to read ‘Wembley’ at either end and the famous arch that stands over the top which is there not only for the look but acts as a crucial support structure to the stadium. From high in the third tier; we walked through the corridors of Wembley Stadium and saw England manager, Fabio Capello. We ventured into the media room, walked past the referee’s room and dreamt in the players changing rooms. As I looked at the English strips hanging on the coat hangers at names such as Rooney, Gerard, Terry, Lampard and Beckham; I could only dream of having Smith up there one day. However, this was never going to happen. We lined up just outside the players rooms, divided into two teams (West Ham and Leeds United) as if we were about to step out onto centre stage for a 90-minute football match. With ambient noise as if to say 90,000 fans had filled the stadium, we marched out almost onto the pitch. Of course we weren’t allowed on, as this was the most sacred grass in football history. From ground level, I could see the dugout (where the coaches and substitutes sit) right behind me, the royal box and the past winners of the F.A. Cup. Of course, I found Manchester United! We then walked up to the second tier to have a photo with the cup itself (well, a replica anyway) and that was that! A day in the life of a football superstar!
However, the night was still young and I had a show to see in the famous London West End. I met up once again with my Helsinki-Londoner friends and their mates where we waited to see ‘Avenue Q’. I was absolutely amazed at the price of my ticket – 20 Pounds!! Like I said before, you can get them half price at the Leicester Square booths on the day of the show but if you’re a student and buy the tickets at the theatre, well I can definitely say they look after you. And these weren’t rubbish seats either; this was prime! Approximately eight rows from the front, in the middle of the stalls; what more could you ask for!? Before the show, we went for drinks in Soho – the ‘gay’ district of London. Paying more attention to our drinks than the time, we found ourselves taking our seats right as the show started. It was amazing! I had originally wanted to see it with my sister in Melbourne but had missed out so I was so glad that I hadn’t missed it in London. The extremely rude puppets made me laugh so much and now that I’ve seen it; I highly recommend it to anyone within the age bracket of 18 and 30! If you’re under 18; it’s far too rude for you and if you’re over 30…well, same reason!!
The following day I went from football royalty back to royalty in its purest form. I went to visit Hampton Court Palace – the residence of King Henry VIII. Not far in the opposite direction to town from Amy and Justin’s’ place, I arrived there with about four hours up my sleeve. By the end, I could have stayed another four. There was so much to see; so much history – actually too much for one day in the life of a 20 year old male. Throughout the day, you could follow a day in the life of King Henry. They had actors in costumes playing the day when the King married Catherine the Great. It was very cool to watch but I cracked up laughing when the guard would come past and say, “Bow for the King”, “King Henry is passing” and old ladies would actually bow on one knee! Everything was in pristine condition with the furniture as it was, the paintings explicitly detailed and the gardens carved into a perfect formation. Like I said, it was well worth it but you seriously could have spent the whole day. I highly recommend the earphones as the man in the speakers explains each room as you walk into it. If you’re into English history, I highly recommend this place as one to go check out yourself!
Day 10 was my last day to do anything in London before I travelled back to Helsinki the following afternoon. Therefore, I began very early at the home of the most famous pieces of grass in the whole world: Wimbledon Tennis Club. With the intentions of taking a tour of the grounds that holds one of the best Grand Slams of tennis, I prepared myself with a bit of shopping beforehand. I started the tour at 12pm and we began at one of the many outside courts. That was nothing compared to Court 1 in which we saw next. We were told that this is ‘the second most famous piece of grass in the world!’ This is the second most major court at Wimbledon and 11,000 thousand people. The grass on the courts has to be seen to be believed. Along the border of the main courts you will find an electric fence. This is to keep the foxes out in the off-season. We then went to see ‘Henman Hill’ or what is now becoming known as ‘Murray Mountain’. This is where fans famously sit during the tournament to watch their heroes on the big screen. Obviously, we could not walk on any of the grass but I was amazed that we could not even step foot on this. Throughout the entire tour, we had a security guard bring up the rear to make sure no one touched the grass. Apparently, it’s quite precious! At the top of ‘Henman Hill’ or whatever you want to call it; there is a fabulous view of Wimbledon Park, the surrounding suburbs and the city of London in the background. There is an apartment block that resides directly behind this lookout and would have to be the prime location to watch the tennis during the tournament. We were told however, that the police force hire out the top floor during the tournament for obvious reasons – those residents must get paid a mint!
Halfway through the tour, we visited the press centre. I couldn’t help myself by sitting in the would-be players chair when facing the media after a match. Realistically, I can’t see myself ever sitting in this chair again but I could see myself in the other chairs asking questions to the upcoming tennis star who will eventually sit in that chair. After walking through the corporate area and seeing the honour roll of champions the tour guide took us to Centre Court. It was great to see the new roof that had only been used a couple of times since it first began operation in 2009. According to the tour guide, this was ‘the most famous piece of grass in the world’! The court was immaculate. Centre Court 15,000 thousand people, the royal box and comfy chairs. We had to sit in the media benches as the public seats were covered for protection. However, I felt at home.
In the off-season you will see tennis folk using the outside courts. In true Wimbledon fashion, they will be dressed in white and they will have paid thousands of pounds to become Wimbledon members.
Before I left Wimbledon Park, I walked through the museum. I was able to see things like Roger Federer’s previous outfit, the actual trophies, the fact that Andy Murray is sponsored by Fred Perry and the quote that stands above the door to the entrance of Centre Court. It reads as follows: “If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same” Hmmmm….
Also, if you ever wondered what is across the road from the tennis club; it’s a golf club!
As I finished up at Wimbledon, I discovered that the day was still young. This gave me time to attempt to tick some of the things off that I hadn’t yet seen. I went back into town and wandered over to St. Paul’s Cathedral - a truly amazing building but extremely expensive to go in and look. Outside was enough for a travelling student. I then climbed 311 stairs to the top of the Monument, which provided you with a spectacular view of the city of London. When I arrived back down the bottom, I decided to take the short walk over to the Tower of London. Needing three hours, which I did not have to get my moneys worth; this too was enough to see from the outside. However, looking back – I wish I had another day to spend that three hours and look inside.
The third last thing I wanted to do was to go down ‘shopping central’ in London – also known as Oxford and Regent Street. Even for a Saturday afternoon, the people were everywhere. It was like Chadstone on Christmas Eve all over again! If you’re into sports then both the Nike and Adidas stores are a must see but there was one store that I was really there for. My Helsinki-Londoner friends had told me that when I arrived, I must go and now I know why. It is called ‘Primark’ – a department store where everything is so cheap! It’s so cheap and so popular that they have to employ crowd control staff for the checkout line. The checkout line itself stands 300 metres long and looks like an airport check in line. Luckily they have about 15 registers so the line moves along pretty quickly.
The second last thing I wanted to do, particularly for the sake of my sister was to find the Royal Opera House. After walking 30 minutes around in circles, I eventually found it just to take a picture. It was cool…I guess?!
Therefore, this brought me to my final landmark: Piccadilly Circus. Described as a mini New York Times square, you’re surrounded by flashing lights, advertisement screens, traffic, street noise and ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum’.
My trip had not yet ended though. I was still in for one big farewell with Aak (the London girl who I had met in Helsinki) and her friends. I found them in a restaurant in Richmond where we ate and drank and ate and drank. We then drank some more at a nearby bar…
And that was that! London…full of tourists just like me =)!
P.S. You can see all my pictures from the Motherland by clinking on the link above! Actually, that's the just the first album but feel free to navigate through the others =)
London Lights: Me sitting outside Westminster Abbey and Big Ben!
I Wish!! Me holding the FA Cup inside Wembley Stadium!
Wonderful Wimbledon! Me standing at the bottom of Henman Hill and in front of Court 1!
Leaving Sunderland was one thing but knowing I now had a week to spend in arguably the biggest tourist city in the world was another. However, although I quickly became sick of the tourists that walked the streets of London Town (denying that I was in fact just as much of a tourist as they were); this was the first time in four months I felt like I was at home. Putting aside the fact that unlike me, they all seem to be forgetting the letter 'T' in their everyday language; I took joy in the way: the common language used is in fact English (go figure!), they all drive and walk on the right side of the road which is the left and I was staying with two genuinely nice Australian people.
Luckily for me, I found a roof over my head in Surbiton (about 20 minutes out from London’s’ city centre) with Amy and Justin Byrne - sister and brother-in-law to a mate of mine back home. They found me at Heathrow Airport on Monday, the 5th of April, early afternoon. It was good to see them again. Last time I saw these guys was at their engagement party way back in 2006 if I remember correctly, and they had been living in London since they officially tied the knot a year later. We spent the afternoon in the beautiful suburb of Richmond - only about 10 minutes away. We walked through a park that stretched miles on end, stopped by a bar beside the River Thames and caught up on recent times. The weather was a little chilly but fine and with a hint of spring in the air, the surrounding greenery was immaculate.
London is such a massive city - you don't realise until you actually get there. I really had no idea where to start and what I really wanted to do. Amy was kind enough to write me a list of the so called 'tourist attractions' and how to get there on the 'Tube' (London's world famous underground subway). The Tube is so convenient and so popular that I was waiting for one at around 6pm one day. It was so busy; I had to wait for three to go by before I could actually squeeze on. Luckily, they come like every three minutes. Amy’s’ list was just what I needed but knew that for the amount of time I would spend in London, I would need double that to see and do it all! However, I felt satisfied with what I saw by the end of it and will be back to see more for sure.
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Day 2 began at around 10am. I knew with Amy and Justin working, the onus was on me to get up and see what I wanted, instead of wasting the day at home or in bed! A perfect spring day saw me arrive into Waterloo station right next to the London Eye. I wasn't sure of the weather for the next few days so along with the novelty of the giant 424m round Ferris wheel standing right next to me; I had to go on it today. I decided to take the River Cruise/London Eye combo and my experience began with a 4D short film of the festivities surrounding the Eye. That was quite entertaining if I say so myself. Next, I jumped on the boat to take a river cruise down the famous River Thames. Along the way, I saw:
- Big Ben
- Westminster Abbey (actually this place was happening because it was the day the British government had called the election)
- MI5
- MI6 (our tourist guide believes there is a tunnel under the river that connects the two together)
- The London Eye
- Many red double-decker buses
- The National Theatre
- One of England's oldest pubs (possibly even Europe's)
- St. Paul’s' Cathedral
- The Monument
- City of London School (This is where Daniel Radcliffe went to school)
- Shakespeare Globe
- London Bridge (a lot of people think the Tower Bridge is the London Bridge but it's not)
- Tower Bridge (is currently being re-painted for the Queen as a present for the 2012 Olympic Games)
- The Tower of London
- The Millennium Bridge (This is the one that almost fell down during a special event to open the bridge and therefore millions had to be spent on it to fix it. Apparently it was so bad that some people crossing the bridge at the time succumbed to motion sickness and had to be taken to hospital!
When we arrived back to the shore, I lined up for the Eye. I thought I was at a theme park in school holidays. Thankfully, it carries 800 passengers per revolution so the line moves quite quickly. A full revolution takes about 30 minutes to complete which is just the right amount of time because there is so much to see - apparently you can see around 40km. This is one city that just keeps on going! As you sit/stand in the capsule to a height of 135 metres; the view becomes ever so amazing. Apart from all the things I just mentioned that I saw on the river cruise, the London Eye allowed me to get a glimpse of many additional landmarks such as:
- Buckingham Palace
- Greens Park
- St. James Park
- Trafalgar Square
- Hyde Park
- Canary Wharf (London's Business District)
- Londons' Southbank
- P.S. I'm sure I saw lots of other things as well; the fact is I wasn't aware of them as yet!
When my Ferris wheel ride was over, I took a stroll down London's Southbank - almost as good as Melbourne's! With many street performers and cafes, there was stuff happening everywhere. You can't miss the skate park under the National Theatre - all the graffiti and jumps etc. really added a piece of culture to the city itself.
I next found myself in Convent Garden where I briskly walked through the markets whilst holding my backpack extremely tight at all times. I was warned by Amy and Justin to be wary of pick-pocketers in Convent Garden, as they seem to swarm on people in amongst the crowds enjoying the many street performers. I managed to find one of these street performers - it was hard not to miss him! A funny looking Greek man with a crowd of about 300 watching his every move. He was quite good but like all street performers; not good enough to earn my money =P
I then walked to Leicester Square where you will find many half-price ticket booths for the many theatre shows in West End. You can go to one of these booths on the day of the show and get an amazing price however I soon learnt that the perks of being a student wins again - even in Londons' West End! I walked past so many theatres during the week including:
- Phantom of the Opera @ Her Majesty's Theatre - has been here for the past 24 years...making it the longest show at one theatre ever!
- Wicked @ Apollo Victoria Theatre
- Billy Elliot @ Victoria Palace Theatre
- Jersey Boys @ Prince Edward Theatre
- Avenue Q @ Wyndhams' Theatre
- Priscilla: Queen of the Dessert @ Palace Theatre
- The Lion King @ Lyceum Theatre
- and many more...
Trafalgar Square was next on the list. I was so amazed to go there because it would always be the property I would buy when I played Monopoly. I didn’t realise though that it’s just a massive courtyard with a big statue in the middle and the ‘National Art Gallery’ at the rear. At least I can say I have been there now!
From the square I walked through St. James Park to the gates of Buckingham Palace. I told you I had a date with the Queen… The walk through the park was really beautiful with so much greenery surrounding you and some amazing flora. There were even deck chairs that you could hire to enjoy the best of London’s’ natural beauty. One thing that got me though (and I had been warned) was the squirrels! These little guys were everywhere and they were not afraid of any passerby. When I arrived at the palace, it felt like I was underdressed or something. Buckingham Palace is amazing! Although I was not able to go inside, it stands in a world of its own looking onto St. James Park with the city centre in the background. The front yard is simply just driveway with guards (and yes these guys are as serious as they are made out to be) circling the terrace, but outside the gates stands a massive roundabout surrounded by four garden beds which are all exactly the same on the other side of the road. As they say, “Fit for a Queen!”
After a bit more looking around, slowly wandering back towards Waterloo Station, I received a message from a friend who I had recently met in Helsinki. I knew she was back in London and told her I would love to meet up. Amazingly, the second day I was there, she contacted me to meet her and another friend I had met back in Finland for dinner that night. It was so cool to hang out with them again – especially after I had been wandering the streets of London by myself the whole day. Travelling alone is probably recommended because you can do exactly what you want to do; however, you do start to miss the company pretty quickly. The girls took me to a Chinese dim-sim restaurant right on the waterfront. Once again, delicious food in an amazing setting. We then took a stroll back to Leicester Square to visit one of the best ice-cream places in the world. It’s an American ice-cream restaurant known as ‘Häagen-Dazs’. I’m not going to describe it because it had to be seen to be believed and plus you’ll probably start drooling all over your computer screen!
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Day three I had the house to myself and therefore began it with a sleep in. When I finally found some motivation to go explore the much more that London has to offer, Justin told me about this Aussie shop that sells lots of Aussie imported foods and touristy stuff. It was actually really cool, but not surprisingly; very expensive! The first thing I noticed when I walked into the door was the Villi’s Pies! This was big for me as well because I hadn’t seen Villi’s since I was last in S.A. As I walked further inside, I saw the wonders of Sanitarium WeetBix, Froot Loops, Wagon Wheels, White Knights, Cottee's Cordial, Aeroplane Jelly, Clinkers, Raspberry Bullets, Maggi 2-minute Noodles and of course Vegemite – none of this Marmite rubbish!
I then traveled over to Harrods – London’s pristine, upper class department store. I didn’t realise how posh it was before I got there until Justin asked me when I arrived home, “Did you buy something for your mum? You got to get something for her from Harrods!” Well, technically I did…a shopping bag that says ‘Harrods’ on it! The store itself stands about seven floors high with each level a different category of goods. Harrods settle for nothing less than the best in terms of brands so expect to find a selection of Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Calvin Klein and the like. A highlight for me whilst inside Harrods was the sighting of Arsenal’s full back Bacary Sagna. He was shopping for men’s clothing. Working at Rebel Sport, I was used to famous sports stars (mostly AFL players) coming into work and possibly serving them but that’s nothing compared to seeing an English Premier League player out and about! After enjoying a ‘take-away’ sandwich roll which had to be eaten outside since there was no allocated seating for eating in and a massive ice-cream sundae which cost me a mint but was well worth it, I noticed that whilst walking around Harrods on the outside, there were many window displays set up to advertise the products inside. It reminded me very much of the ‘Myer Windows’ but slightly less cooler and for advertising; not sight seeing.
A stroll through Hyde Park was next on the agenda, where I was expecting a lot more squirrels. Apparently this one was the one to go to for the squirrels but I realised that no matter what park you go to in London – you’re guaranteed to find a squirrel! I walked around the river that cuts the park in two and then went to visit Princess Diana’s memorial, which was very beautiful. The path I followed led me to the Science Museum – what felt like the only free attraction I visited! Seriously, just a word of warning; nothing’s ever free in London!! Once I arrived, I managed to get a quick glance of what it was like before it shut in the next 15 minutes. I was quite impressed with what it had to offer so if I had more time, I would certainly go back.
On the way back to the train station, I walked through Greens Park (right outside Buckingham Palace) and I was amazed at the amount of Daffodils that had sprouted from the ground. I then took a left turn and headed to the hottest properties in Monopoly – Mayfair and Parklane. There, I found an Australian War Memorial, directly opposite from a New Zealand War Memorial.
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Day four, I went to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. It began at 11am – the time that I arrived. I was wondering the night before if I should arrive early incase there would be a lot of people; I should have listened to my instincts. When I eventually found a place to locate myself to get a picture of what was happening; I couldn’t believe the amount of people. I thought the Queen was actually going to come out! There must have been at least 3000 people there. It was cool to see the guards change over. The new guards entered in with horses as well as some on foot, did some sort of march (remember, I couldn’t really see much) and then I assume they took their positions. The old guards did some sort of march outside the palace in the courtyard and then paraded out the gates and past the centre roundabout and down the road. Yes, I did get to see the guards with the famous big, black fluffy hats but they were the ones playing the instruments in the band.
I left Buckingham Palace with a sense of achievement. I knew that I would probably never meet Her Majesty but I felt like I had now gotten as close as I could. From actual royalty, I ventured forward to football royalty – Wembley Stadium (the ‘home of football’ as well as London’s music scene)! I arrived with the intention of taking a tour and I’m so glad I did. I hadn’t realised that the stadium had been recently re-opened a few years back (2007) and that I had now seen it in its full entirety. The redevelopment saw an additional 8,000 seats by lowering the pitch a further four metres than the previous pitch and a few extra rows were added to the top. It was immaculate. The picture perfect pitch with the divided squares, the perfectly aligned red seats with stand out blue ones to read ‘Wembley’ at either end and the famous arch that stands over the top which is there not only for the look but acts as a crucial support structure to the stadium. From high in the third tier; we walked through the corridors of Wembley Stadium and saw England manager, Fabio Capello. We ventured into the media room, walked past the referee’s room and dreamt in the players changing rooms. As I looked at the English strips hanging on the coat hangers at names such as Rooney, Gerard, Terry, Lampard and Beckham; I could only dream of having Smith up there one day. However, this was never going to happen. We lined up just outside the players rooms, divided into two teams (West Ham and Leeds United) as if we were about to step out onto centre stage for a 90-minute football match. With ambient noise as if to say 90,000 fans had filled the stadium, we marched out almost onto the pitch. Of course we weren’t allowed on, as this was the most sacred grass in football history. From ground level, I could see the dugout (where the coaches and substitutes sit) right behind me, the royal box and the past winners of the F.A. Cup. Of course, I found Manchester United! We then walked up to the second tier to have a photo with the cup itself (well, a replica anyway) and that was that! A day in the life of a football superstar!
However, the night was still young and I had a show to see in the famous London West End. I met up once again with my Helsinki-Londoner friends and their mates where we waited to see ‘Avenue Q’. I was absolutely amazed at the price of my ticket – 20 Pounds!! Like I said before, you can get them half price at the Leicester Square booths on the day of the show but if you’re a student and buy the tickets at the theatre, well I can definitely say they look after you. And these weren’t rubbish seats either; this was prime! Approximately eight rows from the front, in the middle of the stalls; what more could you ask for!? Before the show, we went for drinks in Soho – the ‘gay’ district of London. Paying more attention to our drinks than the time, we found ourselves taking our seats right as the show started. It was amazing! I had originally wanted to see it with my sister in Melbourne but had missed out so I was so glad that I hadn’t missed it in London. The extremely rude puppets made me laugh so much and now that I’ve seen it; I highly recommend it to anyone within the age bracket of 18 and 30! If you’re under 18; it’s far too rude for you and if you’re over 30…well, same reason!!
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The following day I went from football royalty back to royalty in its purest form. I went to visit Hampton Court Palace – the residence of King Henry VIII. Not far in the opposite direction to town from Amy and Justin’s’ place, I arrived there with about four hours up my sleeve. By the end, I could have stayed another four. There was so much to see; so much history – actually too much for one day in the life of a 20 year old male. Throughout the day, you could follow a day in the life of King Henry. They had actors in costumes playing the day when the King married Catherine the Great. It was very cool to watch but I cracked up laughing when the guard would come past and say, “Bow for the King”, “King Henry is passing” and old ladies would actually bow on one knee! Everything was in pristine condition with the furniture as it was, the paintings explicitly detailed and the gardens carved into a perfect formation. Like I said, it was well worth it but you seriously could have spent the whole day. I highly recommend the earphones as the man in the speakers explains each room as you walk into it. If you’re into English history, I highly recommend this place as one to go check out yourself!
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Day 10 was my last day to do anything in London before I travelled back to Helsinki the following afternoon. Therefore, I began very early at the home of the most famous pieces of grass in the whole world: Wimbledon Tennis Club. With the intentions of taking a tour of the grounds that holds one of the best Grand Slams of tennis, I prepared myself with a bit of shopping beforehand. I started the tour at 12pm and we began at one of the many outside courts. That was nothing compared to Court 1 in which we saw next. We were told that this is ‘the second most famous piece of grass in the world!’ This is the second most major court at Wimbledon and 11,000 thousand people. The grass on the courts has to be seen to be believed. Along the border of the main courts you will find an electric fence. This is to keep the foxes out in the off-season. We then went to see ‘Henman Hill’ or what is now becoming known as ‘Murray Mountain’. This is where fans famously sit during the tournament to watch their heroes on the big screen. Obviously, we could not walk on any of the grass but I was amazed that we could not even step foot on this. Throughout the entire tour, we had a security guard bring up the rear to make sure no one touched the grass. Apparently, it’s quite precious! At the top of ‘Henman Hill’ or whatever you want to call it; there is a fabulous view of Wimbledon Park, the surrounding suburbs and the city of London in the background. There is an apartment block that resides directly behind this lookout and would have to be the prime location to watch the tennis during the tournament. We were told however, that the police force hire out the top floor during the tournament for obvious reasons – those residents must get paid a mint!
Halfway through the tour, we visited the press centre. I couldn’t help myself by sitting in the would-be players chair when facing the media after a match. Realistically, I can’t see myself ever sitting in this chair again but I could see myself in the other chairs asking questions to the upcoming tennis star who will eventually sit in that chair. After walking through the corporate area and seeing the honour roll of champions the tour guide took us to Centre Court. It was great to see the new roof that had only been used a couple of times since it first began operation in 2009. According to the tour guide, this was ‘the most famous piece of grass in the world’! The court was immaculate. Centre Court 15,000 thousand people, the royal box and comfy chairs. We had to sit in the media benches as the public seats were covered for protection. However, I felt at home.
In the off-season you will see tennis folk using the outside courts. In true Wimbledon fashion, they will be dressed in white and they will have paid thousands of pounds to become Wimbledon members.
Before I left Wimbledon Park, I walked through the museum. I was able to see things like Roger Federer’s previous outfit, the actual trophies, the fact that Andy Murray is sponsored by Fred Perry and the quote that stands above the door to the entrance of Centre Court. It reads as follows: “If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same” Hmmmm….
Also, if you ever wondered what is across the road from the tennis club; it’s a golf club!
As I finished up at Wimbledon, I discovered that the day was still young. This gave me time to attempt to tick some of the things off that I hadn’t yet seen. I went back into town and wandered over to St. Paul’s Cathedral - a truly amazing building but extremely expensive to go in and look. Outside was enough for a travelling student. I then climbed 311 stairs to the top of the Monument, which provided you with a spectacular view of the city of London. When I arrived back down the bottom, I decided to take the short walk over to the Tower of London. Needing three hours, which I did not have to get my moneys worth; this too was enough to see from the outside. However, looking back – I wish I had another day to spend that three hours and look inside.
The third last thing I wanted to do was to go down ‘shopping central’ in London – also known as Oxford and Regent Street. Even for a Saturday afternoon, the people were everywhere. It was like Chadstone on Christmas Eve all over again! If you’re into sports then both the Nike and Adidas stores are a must see but there was one store that I was really there for. My Helsinki-Londoner friends had told me that when I arrived, I must go and now I know why. It is called ‘Primark’ – a department store where everything is so cheap! It’s so cheap and so popular that they have to employ crowd control staff for the checkout line. The checkout line itself stands 300 metres long and looks like an airport check in line. Luckily they have about 15 registers so the line moves along pretty quickly.
The second last thing I wanted to do, particularly for the sake of my sister was to find the Royal Opera House. After walking 30 minutes around in circles, I eventually found it just to take a picture. It was cool…I guess?!
Therefore, this brought me to my final landmark: Piccadilly Circus. Described as a mini New York Times square, you’re surrounded by flashing lights, advertisement screens, traffic, street noise and ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum’.
My trip had not yet ended though. I was still in for one big farewell with Aak (the London girl who I had met in Helsinki) and her friends. I found them in a restaurant in Richmond where we ate and drank and ate and drank. We then drank some more at a nearby bar…
And that was that! London…full of tourists just like me =)!
P.S. You can see all my pictures from the Motherland by clinking on the link above! Actually, that's the just the first album but feel free to navigate through the others =)
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Particularly for us poor slobs stuck in Oz!
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