London Lush

It was my dream to visit this city some day. Didn’t realize it would come true so soon. Covering over a thousand square kilometers with almost 8 million people, it’s hard to know where to start exploring a mega-metropolis such as London. Taken as a whole, the city seems brash, noisy and impenetrable. But when you break it down, borough by borough, the real character shines through. From East End market traders on Roman Road, the oldest trade route in Britain, to the oh-so-chic (and expensive) fashions of Chelsea, every area – even every street, has its own story to tell.

I spent more than twenty days here and I still feel it wasn’t enough for me to see everything that I wanted to. Well that just gives me another reason to visit this frenzied city one more time.

It was my cousin’s time to say “I do” to her beloved sweetheart, so there I was with my bags packed all set travel to London to celebrate this beautiful occasion. After we got over the wedding hangover, it was our time to head out. The Tube (the Subways) in London is one of the world’s best public transportation system. Carry a map along and you can reach every borough without any hustle. We decided to spend a few days exploring all the typical places that one would on their first visit to London. Our first stop was Baker Street (Watson!!). Everything is pretty much accessible from here. Hyde Park, Green Park to Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square – the square is massive and right in the center of the city. Downing Street (Prime Minister’s Office), Westminster’s Abby, Big Ben and London Eye all of it in one frame. It’s gorgeous! The London Bridge and the Shard (tallest building in London) are just a few stops away. This was most of the touristy stuff that we saw. Rather than taking the bus tour, its much better to walk and experience every location and feel the aura of it.

London and no shopping? That’s impossible! No matter what your budget is, London got you covered. Check out the big stores like TopShop and H&M on Oxford Street and Regent Street that will help you look chic for your entire trip. Selfridges, Primark are more approachable amongst the departmental stores with economical clothing (economical in London is still expensive I feel, well I was just broke after my trip!). On the other spectrum, check out the high end luxurious stores like Harrods lurking around gazing through Burberry, Stella McCartney amongst the others.

The Royal city is also known for its markets (so ironical!), each specializing in something different and unique. Camden Market for everything from Gothic fashion to fried bananas. Borough Market, the oldest in the city, sells gourmet food while Old Spitalfields Market sells lots of handmade and designed clothing and gifts. Check out Portobello Road for antiques and trinkets and don’t forget about the Brick Lane vintage boutiques where you might find a vintage Barbour jacket or that record you’ve been searching for.

London weather I tell you! One second the sky is clear and the next second it starts raining and becomes too gloomy and dull. But the city vibe lives up to it, which pretty much attracted me the most! You better carry enough stock of clothes to suit all types of weather changes. Well in this pretty city I am sure you all want to look pretty too!