Little Venice, London

I strolled through Bethnal Green, in London's East End, to check out its vibrant and eclectic cultural scene. The Paradise Row Railway Arches is a great location, where the old railway arches have been converted into trendy cafes, bakeries, breweries, or other commercial businesses. Cool bars pumping lively music into the night can be found in this industrial-looking location. Another vibrant spot is Columbia Road, lined with unique retail stores, which on a Sunday, comes to life as it bursts with a colourful flower market.

If I was to tell you I am about to visit 221B Baker Street, would you know where I am going? Any die-hard fan of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, created by Arthur Conan Doyle, would most likely recognise the address immediately. Lucky for me, the address is actual, and I had the pleasure of visiting the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Although the address sits between numbers 237 and 241, permission was acquired to bear the number 221B. The four-storey Georgian townhouse, once a boarding house, is set up to resemble the fictional residence of Sherlock and his partner Dr. Watson. Guides in period costumes led me through the authentic Victorian rooms filled with artifacts and memorabilia related to Sherlock, including his famous deerstalker hat and pipe.

Filled with delight after visiting Sherlock's home, my next destination was the Lord's Cricket Ground, the headquarters of Britain's primary summer sport. It was founded by Thomas Lord, a professional cricketer who, in 1814, relocated his ground to the current location in St John's Wood. One of the most famous matches played at Lord's was in 1884 between England and Australia. However, two years earlier, the two fierce competitors faced off at The Oval, with Australia winning for the first time on English soil. Four days later, a British sporting newspaper declared, "English cricket had died, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia". A year later, The English captain Ivo Bligh was about to tour Australia and vowed to win back the ashes. A group of Aussie women, unable to contain their sense of humour, presented him with an urn holding the remains of a burnt cricket bail, and the legend of The Ashes began. 

Since 1927 the urn has been on display at Lord's, leaving England to tour Australia only twice. An actual trophy for The Ashes Test Series was commissioned in the 1990s in an urn shape made from Waterford Crystal. Despite the rivalry, the two teams have a lot of mutual respect. It was best summed up by former Australian captain Steve Waugh "You don't win the Ashes, you just get to hold them for a while".

Satisfied with my day's explorations, I stopped in Little Venice, a charming and picturesque spot known for its narrow canals and the lovely narrowboats that line the waterways. As the name suggests, the location is named after Venice, the famous canal city in Italy. Little Venice is at the junction of Regent's Canal and the Grand Union Canal. The narrowboats plying these waters are used as homes, offices, and even restaurants. A fun experience is the Puppet Theatre Barge, which puts on shows year-round on a floating barge. I could imagine a peaceful and relaxing cruise along the canals, taking in the scenery, travelling at my own pace, and stopping wherever I like. Even a short escape from the hustle and bustle of the city would be an ideal getaway.

Since I don't have the luxury for a getaway, I'll settle for a cuppa at a café operating from a narrowboat docked on the canal.