London, UK: September 2010

There is a song called “I left my heart in San Francisco” but I am going to say here that I left my heart in London! I never imagined that I would one day visit this vibrant city. London was a part of my UK trip and I spent two days and a half here. It is inevitably saying that London is one of the most expensive cities in the world and it is true but there are a lot of free stuff you can enjoy and the city is so lovely and romantic. Just put on good walking shoes and prepare to walk a lot. London awaits you to experience her beauty. I didn’t plan much for this trip but really put my trust on my good friend who lives in Manchester and invited me to visit the UK. Such an awesome friend! But I did some research in the Internet (www.visitlondon.com) of what I would like to see so it saved me time. Okie! Come with me and let see what we can do in this city in two days and a half.

We took a Virgin train (www.virgintrains.co.uk) from Manchester to London. The trips usually takes around two hours in a super fast train. For the train ticket, don’t ever mistakenly buy it at the station because it is going to cost you a fortune. Buy the ticket in advance for a good deal. The train arrived at Euston Station and then we took Underground or Tube (www.tfl.gov.uk) from King’s Cross/St. Pancras Station to our hostel in Bayswater. It was my first time in London and to experience the oldest underground system in the world! I looked at the Underground map that looked like a spider web and suddenly got little headache. But believe me, it is well organized and very easy to understand, just give it some time and make sure you take the right line and direction. I didn’t get lost at all using the Tube. I found it super easy and convenient mode of transportation. We purchased a day pass for zone 1 which you can travel with public transportation unlimited in one day within the zone. The hostel (www.hostelworld.com) we booked is in Bayswater area which is close to Hyde Park and it is easy to get around. Whenever I travel to big cities, I like to stay in hostel not only it is cheap but also the interesting people you meet. After having checked in to our hostel, we headed to one of the landmarks in the city- The London Eye. We took a Circle line to Westminster Station. It was a stunning view when you stepped out from the station and you saw the giant wheels London Eye in front of you. We crossed the Westminster Bridge and headed to purchase our tickets to the Wheels. The ride takes around 20 minutes and you can see the view over the River Thames. We went out at the sunset to picture London at dusk. After that we took a beautiful walk along the Thames to the Millennium Bridge. The Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian bridge crossing the River Thames with the famous Tate Modern at the southern end and St. Paul’s Cathedral at the other end. If you cross the bridge at night from the southern end and you will get the amazing sight of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Next morning, we visited the Buckingham Palace and watched the change of the guards. It is surely a must if you come to London. After that we walked through St.James’s Park to the Horse Guards House, then walked along the Parliament Street and dropped by at the famous house at 10 at Downing Street. I was lucky enough to get a bright and sunny day in London! My flat ballet shoes served their purpose well. We kept walking to the Parliament Square and enjoyed the sight of Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. At the Westminster Abbey, there is an admission fee but it is surely worth a visit. The birth of the Westminster Abbey is rooted back more than a thousand years. It is where Kings and Queens of UK are crowned. Once you are there, don’t forget to visit St. Magaret’s Church which stands between the Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.

My afternoon excitement awaited silently. We headed to the British Museum where a mummy’s lover like me would be satisfied. I was excited to see mummies! The admission is free and this is what I so loved about London. There are many free museums you can visit and I did visit two museums in this trip. I could really spend my whole day here if we had time but the door closed at 5.30 pm and we had to leave. On the way back to the hostel, we decided to take a bus along the Oxford Street. It was a torturing trip for a shopaholic like me because there are millions shops along the street!!! Just name it- M&S, Selfridges, John Lewis, Debenhams, HMV, House of Fraser, Primark and many more! After crucifying myself to the bus seat, we entered Bayswater Road and Hyde Park. We jumped off the bus at Lancaster Gate and wondered in Hyde Park/Kensington Garden. The weather was getting colder so we just kept walking toward the Kensington Palace where Princess Diana resided. The sight of the Palace looking over the Round Pond at sunset was peaceful and beautiful.

Our third day in London was not so pleasant since we got to experience the British weather. It rained nonstop from morning until afternoon but the show must go on. We visited a must-to-see place on my list. After breakfast, we took a Circle line to Tower Hill and there it was... the Tower of London. We got a good deal here for buy 1 get 1 free promotion which we got by traveling by Virgin train to London. If you read English history or watch the TV series “The Tudors”, you probably have heard about the Tower. The Tower of London was founded almost a thousand years ago by Williams the Conqueror of the Normans. The Tower has been a palace and fortress and is the home of the Crown Jewels of the UK. Our last afternoon was spent carefully, we went to the National Gallery. The Nationally Gallery is a home of finest collections of the Western paintings. I was so thrilled to see “Madonna of the Rocks by Leonardo Da Vinci”! The admission here again is free but donations are welcome. In front of the National Gallery is the Trafalgar Square with the famous Nelson’s Column in the centre of the square.It is also used for public gatherings like the New Year’s celebration in London. The last place I visited in London before catching a coach back to Manchester is a must visit... Harrods at Knightsbridge!

London, I love you!