London - Travel Begins at Home!

In all but name, my lifestyle break has started. Officially, I leave on 3rd September for my year away, but unofficially, I will also be visiting different parts of the UK before I go. This week, Darrell and I spent three days in London, touring the capital and enjoying a thoroughly relaxing time. As is usual with me these days, I tried to spend as little money as possible, choosing a hotel outside the capital, near Hangar Lane on the North Circular. This probably wasn't the wisest choice if I am honest, but with me keeping all my cash for an adventure filled twelve months, I wanted to keep this planned trip as cheap possible.

We stayed at The Travelodge in Wembley, not a place I have stayed in before and probably somewhere I would never stay in again. The room was basic, and due to its position, overlooking the busy North Circular, it was noisy; having to keep the window shut, during a heat wave, in a room without air conditioning, also had its own problems. It was difficult sleeping at night because of the heat, and I was just thankful to leave each day.

After a hearty cooked breakfast, which was actually the best part of the stay, giving us unlimited use of the buffet each morning, we took the twenty-minute underground ride into  central London from Hangar Lane tube station, a fifteen-minute walk away. This isn't a part of London I know well, and it isn't a place I have stayed near in the past, but it is still cheap and central enough, to explore the capital with relative ease, without spending an absolute fortune. I certainly can't complain at paying £144.00 for a two night stay, with unlimited breakfast; I just won't be as frugal in the future, cost isn't everything!

We left the hotel just before rush hour, alighting the tube at Marble Arch. Taking a rather leisurely walk along Park Lane, we made our way towards Buckingham Palace. The weather was cool and there was very little traffic or people about. For once, it was a pleasurable experience, walking around London's streets, unlike the chaos in the past.

There were very few tourists around the Palace when we got there, so there was no fighting to get the best view. I am always amazed by just how small Buckingham Palace is in reality. With the area immediately in front of the gates more or less pedestrianised, it did allow us a bit of time to sit, chill and take in our surroundings. Compared to just a few years ago, there is less traffic on the roads, and that can only be a good thing; even the air smells cleaner and that is saying something.

From the Palace we made our way to St Paul's, where was spent an hour admiring the stunning architecture and enormous dome on top of the great building, second only in size to the Vatican. I have never seen the cathedral up close before, so for me this was a real treat, a memory I will take with me on my travels around the World.

After St Paul's, Darrell and I made our way down Fleet Street and The Strand, passing the Royal Courts of Justice and Australia House. The last time I visited Australia House was in 1997 when I got my Holiday Work Visa, spending several months down under in Perth. This is a place that has many memories for me and of course Darrell. I have no doubt it will be a building we visit in the future equally, being a part of London we both know very well.

London wouldn't be London if we didn't spend some time in our favourite part of the Capital, Covent Garden. We spent a short while walking around the market, where we bought some hats, an essential for any visit to Australia. By now my feet were starting to ache, so we made a pit stop at the Punch and Judy Public House and had a couple of beers, sitting quietly listening to an opera singer at the back of the arches. Covent Garden is always a joy and never fails to impress. I could spend all day there, sitting, people watching and just enjoying the sights and sounds of this vibrant, cosmopolitan area.

Suitably refreshed, we continued to the Urban Meadow Café in Hyde Park, for afternoon tea and a bottle of Prosecco. My Aunt had bought me the experience for my Birthday this year, and I was looking forward to just sitting and taking some time out. This was a beautiful establishment with wonderfully attentive staff, who went out of their way to make us feel welcome. We spent a thoroughly enjoyable few hours talking, chatting, and discussing plans for our Lifestyle break. This was just what we both needed, having been unable to spend quality time with one another for many months; it is a day I will always remember, and I will certainly be back to visit the café again.

It was an afternoon of nostalgia, as Darrell and I made our way around Camden and Soho. Lunch was at my favourite restaurant, Pizza Express, which makes the best pizzas outside of Italy. Disappointingly, it was a rather rushed affair at this busy Soho establishment. The staff were not as friendly as they are in other places, and I would never choose to eat there again. However, we went for a wonder into the heart of Soho and had a welcome pint or two in the Admiral Duncan, away from the crowded pizzeria. This is an area I haven't explored often enough, preferring to visit London's more historic sights. Luckily, with more time on our hands, we were able to stay for a while, spending longer than we would have otherwise done. Sitting out, looking across Piccadilly Circus, I was struck by the surrounding energy. This colourful part of the capital is a truly awe-inspiring place, an area that makes one feel glad to be alive.

...and finally to end the day - we walked to Westminster in the heart of the city. This is one of my favourite parts of London, especially because of my love of politics. It is great to see the Elizabeth Tower looking splendid after its renovation, and you just can't help but fall in love with this truly Victorian part of London. Always a 'go to' destination, I am just happy to dip in and out when I can, soaking up the atmosphere and doing what tourists do, take lots of photos and make even more memories.

After a good night's sleep, for me at least, Darrell and I took a river cruise from The London Eye to Greenwich, stopping along the way at the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the City of London. The cruise itself was a genuinely eye-opening experience. The commentary from those on board was honest, truthful and not from any official guide book. I was struck by the passion shown when explaining how London was no longer a place for true Londoners, having been driven out by the high cost of property in the capital.

The astronomical sums involved in purchasing even a small flat on The Thames was just bind boggling. I felt like I understood the difficulties experienced by Londoners at the end of the tour, and was really upset at the lack of affordable housing for those who really need it. The gentrification of traditional districts was turning the capital into a social blight, with many homes not even lived in, bought by investors for a quick profit. While homelessness rises and costs spiral out of control, whole neighbourhoods are closed to you and me, futuristic ghost towns, unlived in and uncared for.

The river cruise took me to areas of London I haven't seen before. Disembarking at The Tower of London, We were both able to see this historic prison up close. Walking around its perimeter was like walking back in time, yet a short distance away is The heart of the City of London itself. Modern glass tower blocks and skyscrapers sit, awkwardly at times, next to historic buildings hundreds of years old. The contrast between the old and new is stark. For a person like me who has a keen interest in architecture, I was thrilled to see the vast array of modern and new construction on display. At times brutal, the many styles and techniques seem to work well in the main, in a city so heavily bombed after World War II. I was amazed and surprised at an area I've never visited before, but glad I had taken the time to explore a side of London, not everyone has time to see, especially those of us born and bred on these islands!

The final leg of our London adventure took us to the 'village' of Greenwich and the Cutty Sark. This isn't a place I've been to before, and although I loved its charming, almost whimsical style, I wouldn't make a point of venturing this far up the river again. There was very little to do here, and it was yet another overpriced part of London I would avoid.

My bank account was certainly lighter after this three day visit to the capital, but it was something I felt I had to do before my year-long trip abroad. Wherever we roam, The United Kingdom will always remain home; with London at its heart, it is a place every Brit should visit. In many ways it felt like I was saying farewell to the city for now, and I am happy to have recalled some fantastic memories from past visits. This vast metropolis has changed much over the years, but it is still the grand old place I first visited in 1982 on a trip to the Natural History Museum at school. It still shares the dreams and aspirations I have, even at 51 years old, as I continue to forge my way through life, surrounded by friends and loved ones, who make up the patchwork of creation, London represents in all its forms. Farewell London, I'll be back, of that you can be sure!