No matter how cliché it sounds, I would still like to start this blog by stating that London is one of the best cities in the world. Don't worry if shopping is not your thing. It wasn't on my check-list either. Although London does get tourists from all across the world flocking its designer & high street stores.. but this city has so much more to offer. One can literally spend the entire vacation within the miles and miles of treasures that the museums house.
I started my roller coaster ride through the city's tubes & buses from Oxford Street. It was a rainy evening and the sky still had the last glimmers of blue. As I walked through the streets I could immediately feel the vibe that this city emits. A myriad mix of races & cultures set against the backdrop of British architecture, gives London its uniqueness. No race is a minority. No culture unaccepted. No music noise. No smile unattended.
My days were spent walking through the galleries of the Victoria Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum, mesmerised. From the renaissance to performing arts, the VAM is heaven for art & design lovers. I got a chance to trip out in the David Attenborough Studio in the Darwin Centre and also got my regular dose of red wine in the many cafes that line Kensington Street.
The weekend was dressed up in all its finery. The rain had taken a breather and the sun was out in its glory. Flea markets popped up with antiques, food, street acts and a melange of knick knacks. Primrose Hill, Camden Town, Portobello & South Bank are a must do if you land up in London for a weekend.
I had found myself an AIR BNB in Notting Hill and that was quintessential London... so British ... just like in the movies :-)
7 days & 7 nights went by in a zone where every moment seemed to be presented with an opportunity. An opportunity to try out something new, meet someone interesting, see something extraordinary. A city which inspired me to rush and grab everything and at the same time slowed me down as the cider fizzed away, resting on my table.