London, A City To Revisit

A post by Lizet from A Wander Food World

Lizet is a sustainable travel blogger and travel agent. Liz shares tips on sustainable travel and can put together a beautiful sustainable trip by train or bus for you. Anywhere in the world, but with an expertise in European rail travel.

The very first time I visited London I was 17 years old and in high school. I remember we were mostly bummed about the fact that the drinking age in the UK was 18 and we weren’t allowed into the pub, but it ended up being an amazing first glimpse of London. Little did I know back then that it would become a place I would revisit over and over. But London is just one of those cities. One that’s always alive and ever-changing. No matter how many times you visit, it will never be the same.

A different take at every visit

So, as I said, during my first visit, I was in high school. It was a school trip, so aside from us not being able to go to the pub, we also had a schedule to keep. Museums to visit that we weren’t interested in back then, which resulted in attempts to run off. Which, of course, resulted in us getting massively lost and in trouble for being back late. I like to think I grew out of my rebellious youth. But then again, I never grew into liking museums, so I’d probably still run off if you’d try to take me.

Luckily, London had so much more to offer than museums. Of course, this first trip was one of the highlights. Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Greenwich, we’ve seen it all. Abbey Road wasn’t on the schedule, but we made it a priority. And oh, let’s not forget about Hamleys. Yes, I count that as a highlight. Imagine being 17 during the era of Harry Potter movies and there’s a Hamleys. That was literal heaven on earth.

So, I had seen everything in that first short trip. Checked and done, you might think. But no, not with London. London will have a grip on you, it will keep you wanting to go back and explore more. And there was plenty more to see.

The city beyond its highlights

Honestly, London got even better when I stepped away from the highlights. As much as I still adore its skyline, that’s not what makes me come back to London. It’s the markets that are open 7 days a week. It’s the food options, from cheap street food to fancy restaurants, to hip new places. And of course, it’s the never-ending theatre. I’m not used to shows going on and on. I’m used to having a few months to visit before the run ends. Likely to never come back. Don’t have money to catch it whilst it’s still showing? Then it’s your loss. But not in London! In London, you can go whenever it suits you.

And that’s what we did. My 3rd trip was to see The Lion King. For some reason, we had the videotape (yes, I’m that old) in English instead of Dutch. As you know, these kinds of movies have a lot of cute songs. The musical in The Netherlands had translated these songs, just like in the original movie. But what’s the fun in watching a musical when you don’t know the songs? We learnt them in English. So, why not go to London to see the show?

And so, we did. And it was amazing, and I would do it again. I love this artistic side of London. Even if you don’t have a specific show you want to see, just buy a cheap ticket for anything really and it will be thebest money you’ve ever spent.

So, I keep coming back

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been to London. It’s just such an easy location to get to from The Netherlands. There are day trips (which I do NOT recommend), fast trains, boats and short flights (which, as a sustainable travel blogger, I also do not recommend). Or, if you’re willing to drive on the wrong side of the road, you can drive up there. 

I think I’m on 5 visits and I’ve had every possible trip you could think of. The solo trip with parties and new friends, the theatre trip, the day trip with a massively delayed bus, the school trip and the trip with my parents. All would give a completely different view of this massive, lively city. You’d assume that after that, you’d have seen everything there is.

But you’re wrong. There were many years in between trips 4 and 5 and I hardly recognised it when I came back. So much had changed. (Except for the theatre shows, of course, they were still running.) And I’m convinced that this will keep happening. That every single time I visit this city, it will be new and different. With old and familiar features, of course, that will slightly make it feel like coming home. But it will always be exciting and interesting.

Indulge in this lively city

So, are you in London or coming to London and waiting to have that amazing experience? Then you’re in the right place. If one person knows how to find the cool new spots, the amazing restaurants, and the most amazing shows to see, it’s Tanya. Click through this website for her honest reviews on everything London has to offer and enjoy. And enjoy again during your next visit. And again, the time after that… 😉 

Photo Credit: The Lion King Production Image | Tower Bridge @glamglitzlondon