One of my favourite books is “Down and Out in Paris and London” by George Orwell, and I’m thrilled to be able to say I’ve now been to both cities; and by the time we arrived at Heathrow Airport on this leg of the trip, we had officially come full circle. We started our trip with a quick stopover in London on our way to Malta, and had now arrived back to spend a few days sightseeing before our final trip over the pond to Vancouver. On our first arrival I got a quick glimpse of how expensive London is, but the next few days would firmly anchor that impression.
We had booked a hotel in Hayes Village near Heathrow Airport, right next to the Hayes & Harlington Train Station. This was the perfect choice because it allowed us easy access into London everyday, and it’s a short train ride back to the airport on the day of our departure. Luckily, the hotel room was more like a small apartment, so we took advantage of the nearby grocery store and stocked up for our stay.
After a wonderful night sleep we headed out the next day to do some walking around in downtown London. The city is everything you would expect, it is a bustling, modern metropolis. The public transit is fantastic, and you can get anywhere you want to without a lot of effort. The challenge is deciding what you want to see and do. The history and antiquities in London are amazing, but you need a strategy. The admission to historic sites is expensive, and you could spend months here and not even scratch the surface of what the city has to offer. With that in mind, we had a game plan and decided to get off the train near to Westminster Abbey and begin our exploring from there.
After a short stroll through the Parliament Square Garden, and a meander through a heated Brexit protest, we made our way to the entrance at Westminster Abbey. The Gothic Cathedral which was originally constructed in the first century AD is stunningly beautiful inside and out. The Abbey is most famous for being used as the venue for most royal coronations, weddings and funerals, it is also where notable British citizens are buried or commemorated. I actually found this quite surprising, because the walls and floors are adorned with tombs, effigies, and commemorations of important historical figures; I was a little shocked to see Stephen Hawking’s floor plaque, not that he doesn’t deserve it, I just didn’t realize they’re still using it for this purpose today. Let’s just say, it’s a who’s who of British historical influence. I also underestimated how much time is required to tour the Abbey, we spend a good half a day there, but I found myself rushing near the end; there’s just so much to see.
From the Abbey we made our way towards Buckingham Palace, and Hyde Park. If you’re going to be in London, and have limited time, these two places must be on your list. I’m not a huge fan of the monarchy, but you can’t deny that Buckingham Palace is an impressive building. The grounds are beautiful, and you can’t help but feel how imposing this building is, especially considering it was the seat of global power for the Empire on whom the sun never set.
Hyde Park is a short walk from the palace, and it is an immaculately kept public garden, with man made lakes, rose gardens and rolling greens. Very beautiful, and the benches are a welcomed relief after a long day of walking. However, right before we entered the park, I needed to use the little boys room, and found one near the train station. As is the case in most of Europe you need to pay to get through the washroom turnstiles, and let’s just say I was in a hurry. I passed a woman on the way to the underground restroom, and tried to put my quid into the machine but it kept getting spit out. I graciously let the lady go ahead of me, and quickly got back to trying to get my coin to work. Patience is not my virtue, so I finally gave up and jumped the turnstile, used the facility, and it was only when I was washing my hands did I notice that in my hurry I had chosen the hop the turnstile into the women’s washroom….let’s just say my exit was as quick as my entrance. Luckily, Hyde Park is huge so after grabbing the family we made ourselves scarce.
The train ride back to Hayes was a nice way to relax at the end of a long day, and enjoy the scenery as it rolled by through the windows. After a quick dinner and early night we were up the next day and heading back downtown. This time, we were headed for the Tower of London. Initially constructed in the 11th century, this fortress lies along the River Thames, and gets its name from the White Tower at the centre of the complex. It’s an impressive fortification that has two ringed walls separated by a moat. I found it very reminiscent of how we visualize castles in our imagination and in popular culture. The Tower of London is most synonymous with being a brutal prison where inmates were tortured, brutalized and executed; but at one time or another it also a served as a home for the Royal Mint, munitions storage and even a Royal Menagerie. This is also where the crown jewels are stored, and the exhibit for them is very impressive. The jewels are displayed in rooms that are actual safes, and visitors are transported on moving conveyor belts around the display cases; it’s actually pretty cool. My advice is plan to spent a whole day here. There is so much to see, especially if you want to explore the Tower Bridge at the same time; it’s absolutely worth the visit.
For the few days we were in London we also made it a point to have lunch at local pubs. If you’re going to visit the U.K. you have to enjoy their rich history of pub culture, and of course, the pub food that they are most famous for. There’s nothing better than a pint of beer and some fish & chips, or a meat pie accompanied by some “mushy peas”, served in an atmosphere of wooden floors, dark panelled walls, and a bar finished with brass rails and taps. This style of pub is replicated all over the world, but like many things, nothing beats the authentic experience. I certainly tried a variety of beers while I was there, but I made it a point to have a few Doom Bar’s along the way. If you get that reference, then you’re a true Robert Galbraith (a.k.a. J.K. Rowling) fan.
From London we made the final trip over the Atlantic, back to Vancouver, and north to Whitehorse ending an exciting and very epic trip; but there was a pleasant surprise still to come. While in Hayes Village we had spent some time chatting with the ticket attendants where we bought our train tickets every day. One of the ladies asked where we were from and told us she had visited Whitehorse several times because she has family who moved here. She even told us their street name and ironically they live just a few streets over. We’ve been back from our trip a few months now, and two weeks ago our door bell rang, and there she was. She came to visit family on a last minute trip and popped over the say a quick hello. That is one of the many joys of travelling, you get to meet amazing people from all over and it makes you realize just how small the world really is.