Thank you for reading part 1. Here is part 2 and 5 more of the many reasons I love living in London!
The Bookshops
I was given a book for Christmas titled ‘Book Lovers London’. This book has reliably informed me there are over 300 bookshops across the capitol. London is brimming with bookshops and a browse around any of them would be the second ingredient to my favourite day in London. Central London is home to the contemporary Foyles on Charing Cross Road, the huge Waterstones in Piccadilly, and of course Hatchard’s, London’s oldest book seller It is also home to an incredible array of independent and second hand bookstores. Bloomsbury and Charing Cross Road are perhaps most well known for their streets paved with book shops, but venture to any borough of London and their will almost always be a bookstore waiting to be discovered.
The River Thames
I am always drawn to water and London is a city built along a great expanse of water. The River Thames has been one of London’s main highways since the middle ages. A walk along side it can provide you with some of the pretties houses to oogle. A boat ride on it gives a perspective of London not seen in any other way and standing on any of the bridges which span it, is a fabulous way to get a sense of the scale of the city. It is not just the river, it is all that goes along side it. The dockland areas to explore, the river side pubs and restaurants, and those pretty stretches in my part of West London which are lovely for a quiet walk . All of these a part of the ebb and flow of both the river and the city.
The Tube
I love the tube. I know it can be over crowded and unbearably hot in summer, and currently is clearly not the most sensible place to be unless using it for essential journeys, but it really is a wonderful thing. I think the tube map is a thing of beauty and the connection the underground system provides from one part of London to the other is a fabulous thing. The ease and speed with which I can travel from my home in West London to Central London is something I probably don’t value enough. I appreciate south of the river it may not be so great, but for everywhere else it is a marvel!
The Vast Array of Small Villages Within the City
London is a city filled with villages. Having grown up in a village I appreciate this. Each area has its own character and individuality. Different areas will have different and diverse cultures making them unique and exciting. This can be helpful if feeling overwhelmed by the scale or size of the metropolis. Wherever you are in London you can find somewhere which feels like home.
The Ease With Which to Escape
And finally; escaping London is easy. However much I may l love it, and I’m sure you have realised by now, I really do. Sometimes escape is needed. Big skies, fresher air, and the sea are all easy to reach from London. The rail network, the motorway system and the airports makes proximity to all corners of the UK and far beyond achievable.
London is in my veins. I love to venture out to the country and to the sea, but I’m always happy to come back. I can’t imagine ever tiring of this complex, frustrating, beautiful city that is home.
