London Eye

I explored the final stretch of my journey in London, where historical landmarks met modern skyscrapers and quirky hidden gems. 

I began in Notting Hill, where the Blue Door from the romantic comedy movie featuring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts is located. Nearby is the Churchill Arms, a pub with pots of flowers hanging from its exterior facade setting off a kaleidoscopic burst of colors.

The Kensington Palace and its gardens, including the Sunken Garden created in memory of Princess Diana, are a short distance away. 

The palace is the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Prince William and Kate Middleton), formerly home to Princess Diana and Queen Victoria.

Adjacent to the palace is Hyde Park, one of the largest parks in London, featuring a large Serpentine Lake and Speaker's Corner. Buckingham Palace, the monarch's London residence and administrative headquarters, is accessible through the Wellington Arch. The palace is the location for official events and Changing of the Guard ceremonies.

10 Downing Street, home of every British Prime Minister since 1735, is across from St James Park, surrounded by significant landmarks such as the Churchill War Rooms, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and Whitehall. The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square houses over 2,000 paintings, including the works of da Vinci and Rembrandt as well as Van Gogh’s famous “Sunflowers”. Adjacent to the gallery is St Martin's Lane, a historic street dotted with theatres, notably the London Coliseum.

The British Museum has a collection of over 8 million artifacts covering human history from the beginning to the present day. One of the most remarkable objects in its possession is the Rosetta Stone. It is an ancient stone slab inscribed with three versions of a text in ancient Greek, hieroglyphics, and Demotic (the latter two are ancient Egyptian writing systems). The Rosetta Stone was the key to unlocking the secrets of the hieroglyphs by using the Greek text to decipher it.

Parched for a drink, I looked for the secret bar called The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town, hidden behind a retro fridge door inside The Breakfast Club restaurant.

The City of London, also known as the "Square Mile," is the centre for large financial institutions and has autonomy over many aspects of its governance and services. It features modern skyscrapers like the bullet-shaped Gherkin tower and Lloyd's avant-garde steel and glass construction with its services and circulation system outside the building.

The medieval Tower of London was a royal palace turned fortress and prison that now houses the Crown Jewels. Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife, was beheaded here after being accused of adultery and treason. This is also a great place to see the Beefeaters. Dressed in Tudor-era uniforms, they are the Tower of London’s guardians, responsible for safeguarding the Crown Jewels. They also give guided tours and perform ceremonial duties on the British monarchy's behalf.

As I crossed the Tower Bridge over the River Thames, I admired its beautiful architecture. It was completed in 1894 as a bridge that could open up, allowing larger ships to pass through. Its distinctive blue and white color scheme was chosen to match the Tower of London.

Beside the river was Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, a replica of the 16th century original playhouse, an open-air amphitheatre with three levels of seating arranged in a circular shape around the stage. The thatched roof and lime plaster façade give it an authentically Elizabethan appearance.

Finally, I took a gentle spin on the London Eye for a spectacular view of London's skyline. Initially meant to be a temporary attraction at the turn of the 21st century, this giant ferris wheel has proved so popular that it has become a permanent fixture and iconic landmark.

London is a vibrant and diverse city characterised by traditional and modern architecture, endless entertainment venues, world-class museums, galleries, and canals filled with houseboats adding to the city's charm. With its many parks and gardens, London is one of the greenest cities in the world, and the River Thames just flows quietly through the city's heart.

Farewell for now.