After traveling on a flight from Los Angeles for 11 hours, I arrived in the outskirts of London. Although I was tired, I was ready to explore the famous capital of the United Kingdom. Throughout our four days in London, my friends and I traversed a large area of land. Walking is always the best way to see a city and we immersed ourselves in the hustle and bustle of London on foot. We saw many of London’s famous sites, from Hyde Park to Big Ben to the Globe Theater. The Great Buckingham palace, adorned with gold and shielded by wrought iron points, was breathtakingly beautiful. Its towering columns, glass windows, and four story frame had so much detail!
In this photo, I am sitting in front of the famous Big Ben Clock Tower. It’s located at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London. In the photo the right, you can see The Great Buckingham Palace’s beautiful fountain. In this circle, many people stop to admire and photograph the fountain.
Since London is a major capital of finance, the city streets are always crowded. When wandering down corridors, you’ll see men in suits, women in dresses, and other pedestrians collide as they rush to work. In regards to infrastructure, London’s architecture is a mixture of gothic, classical, and modern. Its cobblestone streets are designed for high volumes of people and the city has many pedestrian bridges. London also has a plethora of parks for all types of people to gather. As I walked, I saw young children playing with kites and elderly couples on the park benches.
Neal’s Yard is always a great place to visit. This center has a ton of skincare shops, clothing boutiques, and delicious food! There’s lots of vegan and vegetarian options for those who are interested. 26 Grains is a great option with smoothies, overnight oats, and dairy-free desserts!
London is walkable yet industrial. The city may be grey and gloomy, but hidden pops of color keep the city lively. Small mom & pop shops, bouquets of flowers, and colorful walkways breathe life into the city’s old streets. The food is also delicious – rich pasta, fresh seafood, tender meats, freshly baked loaves of bread – and never short in supply! Liberty London is a designer department store that sells luxury fabrics, designer clothing, homewares and beauty products! The interior of the shop is gorgeous and features rows upon rows of designer wares that can satisfy any clothing craving. Liberty London features the world’s biggest fashion brands.
Harrods is a luxury department store that is located in Knightsbridge, London. Harrods’ motto is Omnia Omnibus Ubique, which is Latin for “all things for all people, everywhere.” The shop has 330 departments that cater to up to 300,000 visitors per day. It’s a beautiful set-up and definitely worth a look! There’s plenty to explore as basically everything you can imagine is sold in this 5-acre store.
Shops, Restaurants, & Sites
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Lyceum Tavern
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Buckingham Palace
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Caravan
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26 Grains
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Neal’s Yard
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Harrods
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Brasserie Max
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Pride
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Leicester Square
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Liberty London
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Churchill Arms
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Drury Tea & Coffee
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Italian Gardens
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Pret’s
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SoHo
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The Sherlock Holmes
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Trafalgar Square
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Big Ben
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Gabriel’s Wharf
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Shakespeare’s Globe
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London Bridge
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Nicholson’s
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Western Eye Hospital
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Hair by Fairy
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134 Bond Street
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Barrafina
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South Molton Street
London is an amazing city to visit as there’s so much to see and do. I love the pedestrian-friendly layout and would love to have the opportunity to live or work there one day! If you have been or want to go to London, let me know what you think of the city in the comments below!
XO, Kim
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