Currently on the train, heading to visit a friend of my mother's that lives just outside of London. Thought this would be a good time to blog for a bit, though I'm not sure when this post will actually go up.
London has been really great start to the trip. A bit colder than I expected, but the worst of the weather hit while I was on the train heading out of the
Airport so walking around has been nice.
As I mentioned in my last post, I spent most of my first day in London at the Victoria and Albert museum. The building itself is gorgeous, and makes a beautiful backdrop for all of the exhibits, especially some of their more modern installations like the massive glass sculpture/chandelier in the middle of the main atrium. I highly recommend the courtyard cafe, where I cooled my feet in the fountain after a long day of walking, and also the restaurant. There are these three absolutely gorgeous dining rooms that were apparently the first museum restaurant in the world, where you can enjoy a full meal or just tea and drinks. Sadly, they were out of scones when I got there, but I had a delicious piece of carrot cake with my Earl gray tea. I figure I'll go all out with the high tea thing in Bath.
After that, I walked back accross the park to Oxford street, to look at some of the shops and to pick up something for a friend at Selfridge's. I walked back to Victoria station and then to my hotel from there, which was scenic, at parts takin me along the mall and past Buckingham palace, but ultimately I'll advised, as it was dark, the shops were closed and it took almost an hour. Made it back safe though - the security presence in London is quite high, with lots of police officers on patrol.
More about my hotel - I'm staying at Vandon House, a little hotel near Victoria station. It serves as residence for students from the university of Iowa here in London on exchange, but also functions as a public hotel year round. For the location and price, Id definitely recommend it. The smallest single rooms, like mine, don't have their own bathroom but the shared facilities are good - essentially you get this gigantic bathroom with tub and shower to yourself, and I've never had to wait. Theres also a complimentary breakfast, which is basic, but a good start to the day. There is a bit of the noise issue though. I had a room in the front ofthe hotel, which has a nice view of the street, and at night you could hear people from a nearby bar late into the night, exacerbated no doubt by the fact that I left my window open for a breeze.
Today was quite full of sightseeing. Learned my lesson and bought a daypass for the tube - quite good value, since it was combined with my ticket out to Beaconsfield to visit my mom's friend. Started off with a visit to the Tate Modern, where among other things I saw one of Monet's waterlilies.
On my way out of the museum I walked along the Thames, stopping enroute at the Globe theater and at borough markets near London Bridge. The markets were something of a surprise - soo much good food on offer, especially on the end of the markets nearest to London Bridge station, that I wish I hadn't had lunch somewhere else previously.
After that, hopped back on the tube to go to King's Cross to see platform 9 and 3/4 - oddly no longer between platforms 9 and 10, and overall not that impressive. Just a picture of a brick wall in front of the station with half a baggage cart sticking out of it.
Last sightseeing stop of the day, and I suppose of London, was visiting the Sherlock Holmes museum on baker street - not at 221b, which I think was swallowed by an apartment complex, but still kinda cool. Essentially it's a building done up to look like Sherlock Holme's house, if he were real, with all sorts of neat details from the books. There were also opportunities to pose wearing deer stalker caps and holding a pipe, which was fun. Another cool bit is the letter they have that were written to Sherlock Holmes. Apparently lots of people do, kinda like for Santa. If anyone considers going, be sure to buy tickets in the shop next door before joining the line. I didn't and almost had problems, but luckily the group behind me didn't know either, so held my spot when some of us went to buy tickets.
And that's pretty much it for London. Just dinner in Beaconsfield tonight, then an early morning connection tomorrow from Victoria Station near my hotel to Paddington where I catch the train to Bath.
No comments:
Post a Comment