Day One: London Calling

I guess I’m back to travel blogging, after never finishing my Korean trip blog and not having a working laptop for last year’s Japanese adventure. Of course, now that I am full time adulting, these blog posts will go up after my return so as to keep my exact whereabouts a mystery. 

In 2019, I had booked on a whim a return flight to London, having always wanted to visit the “motherland” but then a lucrative job offer came which required my relocation to the other side of Australia and with no leave, less money than I’d like and a new job (so no annual leave) – I had to cancel those flights. 

But here I am, five years later! I had originally anticipated warmer weather, with it being summer and all up here. Fortunately, I had read the weather reports and found the Perth mornings to be warmer than the maximum of London. So, I’ve packed for winter.

I took the direct flight from Perth to London, which was delightful 17 hours and 20 minutes. QANTAS actually were quite good, with us economy class passengers getting an in-flight sleep kit of an eye mask, toothbrush, tooth paste and ear plugs (which were a godsend when the toddlers got hyperactive because they don’t understand the jetlag they need to pre-plan for.) I slept well on the flight. My Fitbit said I got 5 hours, but I’m sure I got more. I woke up just in time to see us fly straight over Budapest which was very cool.

Budapest as seen from the air

Landing in London, the weather actually isn’t too bad. I have noticed the locals wear jumpers and jeans even in June, so maybe that’s why our business attire is so warm in Australia (traditions!). Still, I didn’t feel like a lunatic with my jumper on. Indoors is fine though, not overheated like European buildings in winter, but also not cooled (as if they might think the current 17 degrees is too hot to exist in.)

I spent my first few hours in London sitting at Heathrow airport, booking the last tours in that I could and figuring out what my day would look like. This was primarily because my accommodation didn’t open its door until 9am. Getting out of Heathrow was a challenge. Whilst the London Underground stations look remarkably similar to the stations of Sydney’s City Circle, finding how to actually get to the platform for the Piccadilly line at Heathrow required a few questions to very helpful staff. It’s obviously a common problem, because they’re positioned there ready to help the moment someone looks even the slightest bit perplexed.

Is this the Piccadilly line or City Circle?

My accommodation is at St Monica House, a charming Bed and Breakfast run by some very helpful, chatty and kind nuns. After getting the house tour, I quickly put all my technology on charge and had a shower to freshen up, ready to take on the day

No firm plans for the morning, so after an hour or so settling in and organising myself, I caught the underground to Trafalgar Square. Much to my disappointment, the MLB is putting on a Trafalgar Takeover fan festival, so you can’t see the fountains or get up close to Nelson’s column right now. Added it back onto my list for another time, when hopefully America will have cleared out.

Say Hi to Nelson on his column

Today also happened to be the Colonel’s Review for Trooping the Colour. Whilst I was in the area, I wandered to the Mall to watch the parade. By the time I got there, most of the Mall was about three people deep and I wanted to actually see – so I sacrificed actually being on the parade route for being front row just behind where they turn the corner. It didn’t make for great photos, but I got a fantastic view. It was an incredible show of expense, thinking about the cost of maintaining a troop of that many soldiers, horses, carriages and guns. There were so many people marching together you could hear their footfall even from the distance I was. One guard who was stationed at the corner before the parade was having trouble with his horse who was just not in the mood. It just goes to show that no matter how much breeding and training you put into an animal, if it doesn’t want to, it just will not.

They're supposed to be looking to the right together, but that lighter bay does whatever he wants

After the parade, I headed to St-Martin’s-in-the-Field for their Café in the Crypt, a location that had come recommended to me via my mother (she has her networks.) A very unique location for a dining experience, underground, brick-vaulted church crypt with gravestones in the flooring. There was a lot of choice in food – I decided my first meal should be quintessentially British so I opted for fish and chips (with peas!) I wouldn’t call the food groundbreaking, but it was definitely good value for money (I could have shared with a friend for sure) and I left satisfied.

My food photography needs works - but here's the very subtle entrance to the crypt

My first booked tour was of UK Parliament, so to get there I walked from Trafalgar Square. I was very disappointed to discover that Downing Street is completely blocked off, but I imagine other than security concerns, if it was just a house on a street, the Prime Minister would struggle to exit from everyone taking selfies on their doorstep. Unsurprisingly, given the election and the state of politics right now, there were also a number of protest events going on in the area.

As close as I can get to 10 Downing Street

All along the road were various war memorials (London loves a good statue/monument) but this one was artistically interesting

UK Parliament as a building is spectacular. The original Westminster Hall was built in Medieval times, the 1300s, and it has been expanded upon in layers every since, notably by Queen Victoria and rebuilt when damaged by fires and also bombs. It was fascinating to see all of the artworks throughout the building and hear of their (awfully familiar sounding) traditions. It was really interesting to learn some of the differences between UK and Australian Parliament, such as division counting occurring in halls (an aye and a noe chamber each side of the House of Commons) and that because of King Charles I’s acts and the resulting Civil War, the Monarch cannot even enter the House of Commons (let alone sack them!). 

If you look very closely here you can see some renovations being undertaken, skillfully camouflaged against the building

 

We weren't told anything about this statue, which is odd considering how influential the Civil War was in the formation of modern parliamentary traditions

We couldn't take photos inside Parliament, but the medieval Westminster Hall, with its oak roof that uses mortise and tenon joints instead of nails, was free game

One fact I did ask about was how the divisions are called in Parliament. As you may/may not know, in Australia when a division is called, lights flash on the clocks and bells ring for four minutes, which was allegedly determined by asking the eldest, slowest MP at the time to run from the further office to the chamber, arguing that if he could get there in time, anyone could. According to my tour guide today, in the UK the bells ring twice as long, eight minutes, which is supposed to be how long it takes to run from Trafalgar Square to Parliament (although I think you’d have to be pretty quick now.)

I stopped by my accommodation to refresh/refuel before heading out to the Lambeth Country Show. That’s right – in London suburbia there’s a free entry Ag Show. And it was really interesting to go to. Agricultural Shows always reflect the community in which they exist and it was fascinating to see a Show from a different country entirely.

The Lambeth Country Show was very typical of urban shows, with a strong emphasis on local
markets, food stall and entertainment. What was really unique was the Latino and Caribbean
influence, particularly noticeable in the musicians on all of the stages. The main stage was like
something you would see at a festival and could be heard from around the Showground. It was incredible.

I got artsy with my sheep pics. They were such well-behaved models.

Do you have food?

I was only in attendance for the last two hours of the day, so missed out on some of the program. But from what I could see, it was very well attended across all demographics. From an agricultural perspective, there was a heavy focus on sheep – both on display in their Best in Show pavilion and also through the exceptionally entertaining sheering education display. I’ve never seen sheep dance before, but their handler had them tapping their toes to enthusiastic applause from the whole crowd. It truly was a delight.

The sheep dance in the UK

So, with a quick drop by Tesco's for something small for dinner, that concludes day one in the UK.Time for some well-deserved shut-eye before continuing onward to a very exciting day two.

I know, I know, another sheep photo - but look it's golden hour at 9pm here. The sun never sets! This place is madness