Blogs from Holborn, Greater London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

As instructed by London Literary Walking guide, I started the course from Embankment station. I walked through small alleyways, gone past Embankment Gardens, the building where Samuel Pepsy used to live and the building has been used for Royal Society of Arts before reaching main street, Strand. As expected, Union Jack flags were hanged between buildings on Strand. I found a very interesting shop, i.e. Stanley Gibson, the specialist stamp & coin shop and popped in. There were huge variety types of stamps with Royal family members, Commonwealth countries stamps and stamp albums and valuable coins. All the staff were wearing formal dress code, blazers and formal trousers and ties. I used to have someone who was very fond of Royal family and could have bought some for her, but she’s not here anymore. I bought ... read more

I've been waiting for a big reason to get involve din this blog again and it's turned up. I'm preparing to take another year out of work for travelling: but not the backpacking type. I've quit my job to become a student. I'm applying to study for a Master's degree in Latin American Studies at the University of London, starting September 2011. Note there that I've quit my job but I am still applying for the course. Which means I have no place yet and I'm taking a bit of a leap of faith. I don't finish work until end of May so I've got two more pay packets to enjoy before I become unemployed. I'll then have three months of said unemployment to play with before I start studenthood - that's if I get in. ... read more

I thought of this blog title when I saw the musical Love Never Dies on my first evening in London. I feel this way about London and is one of my favourite cities in the world to visit. I was in London at the end of July and a month later I was back! The purpose of the trip is to spend a day in Brighton (See )and check out The Royal Pavilion. It worked out cheaper if I travelled to Brighton from London than from Leeds. On the Sunday, I spent a day in London before catching my train home to Leeds. I was staying very near St Paul's Cathedral and Paternoster Square in the YHA Hostel. The hostel was adequate and got a my own room for only 25 GBP per night which was ... read more

Maybe it’s because I’m not a Londoner, that I love London so. I grew up in Sussex just an hour away from the capital, but the journey on the train was always so expensive that the only opportunities I had to experience life in the big city were when my parents would take me to watch sport. My Dad and I used to lose our voices singing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" at the Twickenham rugby 'Sevens' each spring, and bring fleeces and flasks to watch cricket at Lord's or the Oval every summer. My Mum took me to the Olympia horse show in the Christmas holidays. Until I was fifteen I must have thought that the city was just a collection of sports grounds. The real London is still a mystery to me. I look forward ... read more

My brother Paul and I had an early start to the day (early by holiday standards at least). We headed off across London Bridge at 9am with what seemed like a procession of thousands heading into the City. We were meeting Paul's P.A Denise, her husband Dave and her Aussie friend "Mouse". I will be first to admit I had no idea who John Soane was prior to my arrival in London this week. When my brother recommended a visit to the Museum I asked "Who is John Soane?" Having visited the Museum I now think that Soane (one of England's greatest architects) would have to be one of England's most interesting characters and prolific collectors of artefacts. This museum would be one of my favourite places in London to visit. The weather today was cold ... read more