London, England
I stepped off the plane in Luton, marking England as my 11th country! I’ve always wanted to visit London, and I have friends who are very passionate about the city, so I was eager to explore for myself. I was also staying at another Onefam hostel, Onefam Waterloo, so I knew I was in for a good time! The next few days were filled with bustling markets, delicious food and beer, and of course some amazing sights and nightlife!
When you go to London you have to go and see all the iconic landmarks. Big Ben and Westminsters Abbey, the Royal Palace, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, the London Cathedral and the many markets. It’s just something you have to do! There’s tons of history in London, and it was really cool to finally be able to see these iconic landmarks in person and explore the city.
My favorite part of my trip was definitely exploring Brick Lane and Camden Market. Brick Lane was filled with amazing street art and vintage shops! It was so cool to wonder through the streets exploring the art and eating at the markets. The joke about British people having horrible food is funny because it’s absolutely true. I mean really, who eats peas with fish and chips or beans with toast? Anyways, the food is amazing because it’s a collection of countries from around the world. I had some Sri Lankan food from the market at Brick Lane and it changed my life; so delicious! I ate so many different foods from around the world while in London, so although their national food isn’t the best, there’s dozens of delicious options around.
Camden Market was an experience in itself. From exploring the famous rave store Cyberdog to wondering the many shops and trying different international dishes; it was really cool to wonder. Of course I had to get some delicious Thai food while I was there too! Camden is a really unique neighborhood full of a lot of interesting characters. From street preachers to street artists, and street performers to alternative rockers, it was really a sight to see. Crazy busy, but totally worth a day trip to explore everything Camden Town has to offer.
Another popular place to explore is the British Museum, home to artifacts from all over the world. Every corner of the world is represented in this giant museum, and it was a really cool opportunity to see some mummies, beautiful sculptures, and even original works by Michelangelo. Although the museum was full of interesting artifacts it was absolutely packed! I have never seen so many people in a museum before in my life, and at times it was really overwhelming. Nonetheless, it was a cool experience! Just be sure to book tickets ahead of time or you’ll have to walk to the back of the museum and wait a while in the free access line.
London was such a cool city to walk around, but it’s also massive! Every neighborhood has something different to offer. From cozy pubs serving local beers and delicious fish and chips, to tunnels filled with street art and skateboarders. It’s truly a city with every type of personality, nationality, and history both past and modern. The Pineapple was my favorite pub I went to in London. It was just a few blocks away from my hostel and was a super friendly local place to have a pint and watch a match. The Graffiti Tunnel on Leake Street was another one of my favorite spots to admire some local street art. They also have a couple bars in the tunnel and there’s even an actual Banksy there too which was so cool to see! They even protected it with plastic so no one could paint over it. By far one of the coolest spots in London without the crowds.
There is so much nightlife to choose from in London. Live music, underground raves, and dance clubs; truly something for everyone. We went to so many different places when I was staying at One Fam, and to be honest, I have no recollection of what those places were… However, if you’re looking for great nightlife Soho is the place you want to look! There are so many fun bars and clubs to choose from, and if you’re in a social hostel they’ll always know the best spots!
London is such a huge city with so much to offer. I know what I experienced in the few days I was there was just a taste of this amazing city. I see why so many of my friends love this city. It will definitely not be my last trip to London, and I look forward to visiting again one day to visit friends and discover even more. Until next time London!