Last week I went to London for the first time. In fact, it is my first trip to Europe as well.
London is the capital of England and the most populous city in the UK. It was founded by Romans actually.
Day 1:
My flight was from Chicago to Heathrow. I got down at the airport around 10 am. The entire city is beautifully connected by various modes of transportation.
I was staying close to British Library, which is close to King's Cross station. It is connected directly from Heathrow by Piccadilly [blue] line.
I got my UK Sim card [Lebara] and with 3GB of data, I was confident to visit all the places with Google's assistance :)
I tried Airbnb for the first time. I met my host Marco at the front of the Euston station and went to the place around 2:30/3pm.
I was tired, so after taking a nap for 2/3 hours I went out.
I caught a city-line [yellow] train from King's Cross station and ended up at Tower Hill. From here you can watch Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. I walked on the bridge and then suddenly a loud siren went off and I ran to the other side. Guards closed both sides of the bridge. I still did not know what's going on.
Then after 5 min, I realized bridge was opening and that was an interesting thing to watch.
I walked on the riverside road also known as "The Queen's walk". I passed the Shakespeare's globe [from which Kolkata's globe theater's name came I think], London bridge, Southwark bridge, Millennium bridge, Blackfriars bridge, Waterloo bridge, Golden Jubilee bridge [ in this order from east to west]. Finally, I ended up at Westminster bridge. I also saw London eye from there. There was a big rally going on - a protest for "black lives matter". They were saying "hands down, don't shoot". Police were there. It was the just under the Big Ben and parliament house.
I came back home around 10:30.
Day2:
Started the day with 3.5 hrs at British museum [walked there through Russell square]. I ate lunch at La Roma Bella (little food). I walked to Russell square station and took the train to Green Park [Victoria line, light blue]. I took a walk through the green park to Buckingham Palace. After that, again I walked through the green park to reach the Hyde park corner. Then I took Kensington road to go to see the Royal Albert Hall. Next, I took bus #9 to green park and then Jubilee line [Gray] to Baker Street. I wanted to enter Lord's Cricket ground but they did not allow me to enter as there was a match scheduled next day (Pak-Eng). 221B Baker Street - Sherlock Holmes's house was my next destination.
Oh, I also saw Westminster Abby, Church next to it and British Parliament in between lunch and Buckingham Palace.
I came back to my place. Dinner was Chicken Jalfrezi at the Rocket with mango chatni and papad.
Day3:
The whole day went into the meeting with followed by an awesome dinner.
Day4:
I took a sightseeing tour (conducted by Evansevans) of Windsor castle, the city of Bath, Stonehenge with Reese and David [driver]. Initially, I was picked up by their shuttle service near Hotel Pullman [Emily and an Indian driver].
Day5:
Tried to do a whole day city tour by myself. I started with British library. Musical archive collection was mind-blowing there. From there I went to the James park. and walked again towards Buckingham palace hoping to see Change of guards but it was too crowded to see anything. Next, I walked to the Marble Arch and witnessed a protest from two groups - EDL (English defensive league] and a group of anti-racism. After that, I went to Oxford street and saw all the big buildings. Next, I saw the BBC building. and walked to Piccadilly circus [ more like times square], Trafalgar square. I went to Big Ben and Westminster pier to catch a boat to Greenwich. This town was really pretty. Walked through the tunnel to cross river Thames. I had a chance to listen to some blues singer on the street. Then I took a walk to the Royal Observatory and saw the Meridian line. I came back to Bank by DLR line [upper rail]. I walked to St. Pauls Cathedral and had dinner at Cafe Rouge.
At night 10:30 pm I left for Heathrow as I had my flight on Sunday 8:30 am.
dinner places:
Tue: Fish-n-Chips near Tower of London
Wed: The Rocket
Thr: Gilgamesh, Horse Stable Market, The Stables Market
Fri: The Rocket
Sat: Cafe Rouge
London is the capital of England and the most populous city in the UK. It was founded by Romans actually.
Day 1:
My flight was from Chicago to Heathrow. I got down at the airport around 10 am. The entire city is beautifully connected by various modes of transportation.
I was staying close to British Library, which is close to King's Cross station. It is connected directly from Heathrow by Piccadilly [blue] line.
I got my UK Sim card [Lebara] and with 3GB of data, I was confident to visit all the places with Google's assistance :)
I tried Airbnb for the first time. I met my host Marco at the front of the Euston station and went to the place around 2:30/3pm.
I was tired, so after taking a nap for 2/3 hours I went out.
I caught a city-line [yellow] train from King's Cross station and ended up at Tower Hill. From here you can watch Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. I walked on the bridge and then suddenly a loud siren went off and I ran to the other side. Guards closed both sides of the bridge. I still did not know what's going on.
Then after 5 min, I realized bridge was opening and that was an interesting thing to watch.
I walked on the riverside road also known as "The Queen's walk". I passed the Shakespeare's globe [from which Kolkata's globe theater's name came I think], London bridge, Southwark bridge, Millennium bridge, Blackfriars bridge, Waterloo bridge, Golden Jubilee bridge [ in this order from east to west]. Finally, I ended up at Westminster bridge. I also saw London eye from there. There was a big rally going on - a protest for "black lives matter". They were saying "hands down, don't shoot". Police were there. It was the just under the Big Ben and parliament house.
I came back home around 10:30.
Day2:
Started the day with 3.5 hrs at British museum [walked there through Russell square]. I ate lunch at La Roma Bella (little food). I walked to Russell square station and took the train to Green Park [Victoria line, light blue]. I took a walk through the green park to Buckingham Palace. After that, again I walked through the green park to reach the Hyde park corner. Then I took Kensington road to go to see the Royal Albert Hall. Next, I took bus #9 to green park and then Jubilee line [Gray] to Baker Street. I wanted to enter Lord's Cricket ground but they did not allow me to enter as there was a match scheduled next day (Pak-Eng). 221B Baker Street - Sherlock Holmes's house was my next destination.
Oh, I also saw Westminster Abby, Church next to it and British Parliament in between lunch and Buckingham Palace.
I came back to my place. Dinner was Chicken Jalfrezi at the Rocket with mango chatni and papad.
Day3:
The whole day went into the meeting with followed by an awesome dinner.
Day4:
I took a sightseeing tour (conducted by Evansevans) of Windsor castle, the city of Bath, Stonehenge with Reese and David [driver]. Initially, I was picked up by their shuttle service near Hotel Pullman [Emily and an Indian driver].
Day5:
Tried to do a whole day city tour by myself. I started with British library. Musical archive collection was mind-blowing there. From there I went to the James park. and walked again towards Buckingham palace hoping to see Change of guards but it was too crowded to see anything. Next, I walked to the Marble Arch and witnessed a protest from two groups - EDL (English defensive league] and a group of anti-racism. After that, I went to Oxford street and saw all the big buildings. Next, I saw the BBC building. and walked to Piccadilly circus [ more like times square], Trafalgar square. I went to Big Ben and Westminster pier to catch a boat to Greenwich. This town was really pretty. Walked through the tunnel to cross river Thames. I had a chance to listen to some blues singer on the street. Then I took a walk to the Royal Observatory and saw the Meridian line. I came back to Bank by DLR line [upper rail]. I walked to St. Pauls Cathedral and had dinner at Cafe Rouge.
At night 10:30 pm I left for Heathrow as I had my flight on Sunday 8:30 am.
dinner places:
Tue: Fish-n-Chips near Tower of London
Wed: The Rocket
Thr: Gilgamesh, Horse Stable Market, The Stables Market
Fri: The Rocket
Sat: Cafe Rouge
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