My first trip to London this year was an extremely pleasant surprise on. I tend to travel more to scenic parks than to big cities. While I wanted to see all the sights in London, being in London was deemed a necessary evil to be near our desired destinations.
Then we discovered we could leave our hotel and walk to a nearby pub and tour the London Eye. Then we crossed Westminster Bridge to see Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. So much to see was an easy walk from our hotel.
Two Underground stations waited nearby to reach those attractions further away, but so much joy can be found in walking around London. We reach Trafalgar Square to find it overrun by fans anxious to see the world premiere of the latest Harry Potter film. We bypass one charming but crowded pub and walk down the block to find an equally charming pub available for lunch. Every step brings a new discovery or adventure.
We enjoy a peaceful stroll through St. James Park on our way to Buckingham Palace. We pass through quaint shops on our way to the Tower of London. Our joy is not just in our destination, but the journey to each destination.
After leaving the British National Museum, I decide to walk back to our hotel. I pass through quiet neighborhoods, quaint shops, and bustling bars with people spilling into the street. The roads are narrow but busy, with combining small town storefronts with big city traffic.
London feels different than American big cities. There is the traffic, and commuters rushing from Underground stations to get to work. But the central region lacks the skyscrapers populating even mid-sized American cities. London has grown out rather than up. The resultant effect strings innumerable neighborhoods together into a large metropolis, connected by a well-functioning Underground system.
I went to London knowing I would enjoy the tourist attractions, and they lived up to their billing, with the below links providing more details. But my biggest positive surprise was London the city. Each neighborhood remains English while displaying its own personality. If there were not so much to see and do in London, I could easily spend a week simply exploring its varied neighborhoods. My first trip to London impressed me so much I can all but guarantee that it will not be my last.