Lili in London (Part 1)

Trafalgar Square

I'm back in the US, so it's trip report time!  I've decided to split up my London posts into 2 sections, much like the city itself has the West End and the East End, since I feel like the two sides and their sites are super different.  First will be the West End, where I was staying for two weeks. 

Rainy view from my temporary home

Having a friend living in the city allowed me to see just about everything, and on my first day alone we saw a ton of major sights. 

 

Big Ben & Parliament

 Westminster Abbey

 

The London Eye

Buckingham Palace & Queen's Gardens

I enjoyed the area around Parliament because I love to see political types, I'm weird that way.  I just get excited being around the diplomatic suits and wondering what their offices look like, plus they always have such busy energies about them like they're constantly in a rush, it just sparks my imagination.  

Next on the list was the Victoria and Albert Museum which reminded me a lot of New York's Met Museum.  There was a lot in London that I couldn't help but compare to New York, especially in the West End, I just find them to be very similar.  The East End feels totally different and "old London" to me, but the West End has the same modern working city vibe as much of Manhattan.  Anyway, the V+A had some interesting art pieces and a nice selection of old furniture which is something I LOVE.  Antique pieces are just a passion of mine, I love the plush fabrics and dark wood, I would love to have my own collection one day!

 

 

 

I also went to the British Museum, (a place I have wanted to visit since I was a kid) for their Egypt collection. 

 

The Rosetta Stone

Stone Guardian

Finally, there's the Sherlock Holmes Pub and National Portrait Gallery.  I did these on 2 different days, but the photo of Trafalgar Square above is from the night I went to the Sherlock Holmes.  I caught the square at a really pretty sunset time and there weren't that many people, it felt so calm and pretty!  I actually did the National Portrait Gallery on my last day in London, and all the interior photos are from that day

The Sherlock Holmes Pub

 

Those were my West End adventures, my next post will be on the area's nightlife!