Five Best Experiences in London
1. Shopping with Mum
Retail therapy is a great opportunity for mother-daughter bonding. I enjoyed walking around the major shopping belts with my mum, and just getting a glimpse of daily life on the busy arteries of London's major streets.
We picked up most of our buys along Oxford Street, however I really liked wandering around these two places in particular: Neal's Yard (above) and Camden Lock. The former is a little square tucked away from the main road. The place is a violent riot of colours when you enter, with young Londoners milling about and sitting on the public benches. It's a pleasure to walk around this rather bohemian area. Grab a bite while you're at it - there is a fun selection of cafes within the yard serving a mixture of cuisines.
I think the Camden Town area is a must for anyone with a remote interest in fashion and shopping. Camden Market (Buck Street) is similar to Bugis Village with its loud flashy signage and youthful fashion, but Camden Lock Market appealed to me more. It sits prettily near Regent's Canal (pictured above), and houses a wide assortment of merchandise encompassing prints, clothes, accessories, furniture, and of course, an international spread of street food. The canal is also lined with a host of trendy F&B outlets ranging from cavernous pubs to mod-looking Japanese restaurants. I imagine the place would be very vibrant in the evening.2. Getting Cultured for the Price of Nothing
The cityscape of London is nowhere as picturesque as Paris or even some parts of Edinburgh. However, it is unparalleled in the sheer number of cultural institutions which are free and accessible to all. As Stephanie says, there's always something to do in London, and you can be entertained for close to nothing on a lazy weekend.
Free galleries and museums abound in London, including big-wigs like the British Museum (pictured above) and the Natural History Museum. A tip if you're racking your brains for souvenirs in London: forget the Union Jack fridge magnets and 'I LOVE LONDON' tee-shirts - I apologize if this sounds snobbish, but my philosophy is that apart from edibles, cheap souvenirs always wind up as tacky dust-collectors or ill-fitting Pajamas. Save the earth's resources (and your own) and invest in good gifts which the receiver is more likely to appreciate. If you concur, I'd suggest heading straight for the museum giftshops/bookstores. The merchandise I've seen is excellent, and usually encompasses more than in-house publications. The Natural History Museum in particular is great if you're shopping for kids - all sorts of knick-knacks, which are not only delightful but educational. You can't argue with that! I also liked the photography books which the Natural History giftstore had - excellent quality photographs of wildlife in artsy, coffee table-ish books. Of course, these gifts are admittedly a little pricey - not for those relatives you secretly don't like too much!
But giftstores aside, my favourite museum was the Victoria and Albert (V&A) pictured below. It is quite a gem, and I really enjoyed sampling their vast and eclectic collection which included rooms dedicated to fashion, textiles and theatre amongst other things. There was even a special exhibition on Hats going on when I visited, complete with museum staff walking around in the most outlandish and hilarious hats ever! Spent a fun and engaging time there. And yes, the giftstore is heaven-on-earth.
3. Tea for Two
I like supermarket shopping with my boyfriend, and I think he would've gone wild in Harrods. The selection is impeccable, ranging from antique furniture to quality groceries. The food halls in particular are gorgeously decorated, and the teas and chocolates are popular gift items.
But while you're in one of these ultra posh departmental stores, rest your shopping-weary legs in one of their ubiquitous tea-rooms and give yourself a treat. Apart from their fragrant brews, don't miss the famous macaroons at Laduree Cafe in Harrods. The Fountain restaurant in Fortnum and Mason also serves up an excellent plate of scones complete with jam and clotted cream (pictured below). For myself, I ordered the Sticky Date Toffee pudding which was excellent, although I think Marmalade Pantry's version is actually as good.
4. Picnicing in Hyde Park
Strictly a good-weather activity. When I returned to London after my sojourn in France, Stephanie and I spontaneously decided to have a picnic in Hyde Park! The park itself is lovely, especially when the sun's out. Also, there are usually a variety of interesting characters who will keep you occupied; these include inquisitive squirrels who will eat out of your hand, and the occassional break-dancing troupe which decides to debut their moves on the green - yes, we experienced both when picnicing there. What did I tell you about free entertainment in London? 5. Eating Out in London
This gets a mention simply because it was such a welcome change from 3 months of dining hall food. English food is nothing to shout about, and I would say that it is cetainly overwhelmed by the sheer diversity of international cuisines all jostling for your attention in London. The choice is really quite staggering. Chinese, Indian and Italian food are obvious finds, but there's also Malaysian, Eastern European and Korean food to suit even the most selective of tastebuds. Of course whether or not the food meets up to your expectations is a different matter, but the variety itself is a good and promising start! Thanks to Mum, Dad, Suresh and Stephanie for treating my tastebuds to Dimsum, U-don, Kimchi soup, Chinese Roast duck, Portuguese-style chicken, Tea cakes and Thali amongst other things! And of course, who could forget that excellent grilled sea bass in the Italian restaurant - thanks for letting me pinch off your plate daddy!
Not-too-good Experiences in London
1. Tower of London
Expensive and not all that exciting for me. However, redeemed by the Yeoman Warden tours which are exceedingly entertaining.
2. The Metro
Generally quite efficient when its working, however we experienced many line closures when there, especially over the weekend. Always set off earlier for your destination lest you wind up stranded in a station where service has been interrupted or delayed suddenly.
3. Football Fans
Loud, noisy, boorish and generally drunk. They sing annoying songs as well. Avoid them at all costs.
4. The Crush of People
Found in all Tube stations at peak hour, and on Sundays along Oxford Street. The crowds are massive, pushy and jostling. London is definitely a city that lives on the fast (and hectic) lane, and they aren't very tolerant of tourists who mill around aimlessly on the streets obstructing pedestrian flow. Avoid standing on the wrong side of escalators lest you receive rude glances from impatient office workers rushing to work - you'll be reminded in no uncertain terms to keep to the right.
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