Global Road Trippers: LONDON, ENGLAND

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

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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.