The Motherland...
After a year of adventures in Canada our visas ran out. Rather devastated and not ready to return home we decided on a change of scenery and flew to London, England.
Living in London is a rite of passage for many young Aussies. A chance to live overseas and explore Europe at the same time. Like many, we headed to London thinking we'd be there a year of so and ended up leaving 5 years later...
We arrived late April 2006, just as summer and the 2006 World Cup was kicking off - brilliant!
London, England
A new home sweet home...
Because we’d spent a year in Canada living in a van and a ski resort, we were beyond broke when we arrived in London. We also knew no one we could stay with, so we spent the first month in a shared hostel dorm room in Shepherds Bush sorting out jobs and a place to live. We ate dinner between 2pm and 4pm when the hostel had their 2-4-1 meal deal on!
Eventually we chose Clapham in south-west London as our new home. About 15 minutes from the city and right on the edge of Clapham Common. Living with 3 others in a big share house, it would be fun and games and turned out to be one of the best decisions we've ever made. Dane scored work as a PM and I scored an amazing gig with the BBC.
Clapham High Street...
I love this photo. The fun begins in our house in Clapham...
Clapham in all her glory. The view from our loft.
LONDON LIFE...
Despite the sometimes dodgy weather, there is always something on in London. It has an amazing music scene, an even more incredible drinking scene and a colourful history. What we found is that whatever you're interested in, you'll find it in London.
We've had many a crazy night out in London… but here are some of our favourite London to do's:
- Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club - an amazing night of jazz in Soho.
- Gordon's Wine Bar - London's oldest wine bar, it's built underground right near Embankment.
- Royal Ascot Races - held each June, cracker day.
- Pretty much any gig at Brixton's Carling Academy
- Drinks at the Boathouse - Putney.
- Lazy Sundays in Clapham Common.
- Cable wakeboarding near Heathrow.
- Borough Markets - amazing food markets each Saturday morning near London Bridge.
- Shakespeare at the Globe theatre right on the Southbank.
- Spitalfields market - a Sunday market with all sorts of vintage clothing followed by a curry in Brick Lane.
- All you can eat sushi at a tiny place called Hi Sushi in Soho.
Seems to be an eating/drinking trend in there… any other suggestions?
Here are some of our favourite London pics...
Sarah soaks up Clapham Common.
A quintessentially English scene - cricket and tea at a graveyard just outside Kew Gardens, Richmond.
Frivolities at the famous Ascot Races...
More frivolities after Ascot... attempting some Michael Jackson moves!
Got any other London suggestions?
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Hello and thanks for the opportunity to read and post on your blog.
ReplyDeleteI’ve just posted an article related to travel tips for seniors on my blog and I thought maybe you’d be interested in reading it. Here is short preview of some of the areas I covered:
- Prefer a backpack on wheels instead of a suitcase, you could pull it behind you when your back hurts or you are exhausted.
- Consider checking your bag in with the airlines, because it would become an unnecessary burden to be dragged all over the airport or the city if you are going to have a short visit.
- You could stay outside the city, in a hostel maybe, because it is cheaper, less crowded and the air is much fresher, but you have to walk or use the transport more, to get in the city or to the station.
- Most museums, some concert halls, railways, airlines, bus lines, ferry and shipping lines have a discount policy for seniors.
- Electronic devices are useful but sometimes they can give you a lot of headaches. You could help yourself with a micro-tape recorder to record your notes. It would be easier than to write and you would put them down on paper later, to share your notes with your family.
- If you bring a camera with you to keep the beautiful images alive along the time then make sure you know how to handle it or you might fail to record them not only on that camera but also in your eyes.
For more resources on how to travel to Europe you are welcome to visit my blog, where you can also get acces to some excellent maps of London and London hotels, together with information on restaurants adn rent a car services.
Best regards,
Michael R.