2nd August
By Tilly Jones
Content Editor
©Tilly Jones
London Eye at night, view across the Thames
Coming back home to an island from a trip to Central London can feel very odd, it's like falling out of a plane; I didn't know when I was going to hit the ground.
London is a funny place, considering we live in a crisis following on the Cost of Living, it seemed there was money left, right and centre.
I live a lifestyle called Penny Watching. When the cheaper option runs out of stock, I go without or come back another day and don't buy the expensive one regardless...
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"IN LONDON, EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT, AND THAT MEANS ANYONE CAN FIT IN."
PADDINGTON BEAR
The purpose of the trip was for my little sister, 14 year old Amélie Jones, who completed a week's Summer School at Central School of Ballet to aid her training and offer insight to the training offered there. This will make her more worldly when seeking out higher education prospects.
Her next step is to consider a place she has been offered at King's International Ballet Academy, Leicester. Read about her journey by clicking her fundraising post below.
...Visiting London felt very peculiar to me as I was treating myself a bit more than usual to feel the vibes of tourism. Money seems to fly about around here which is why I find it super weird that homelessness is still a massive issue, I walked along streets and bridges simply feeling disappointed I wasn't rich enough to spare anything; I am reluctant to spare change because the homeless I passed appeared to have spent every last penny on alcohol or drugs, as my eyes have observed. If I was filthy rich then a £10 note here and there wouldn't chip the bank. The Whitehall buildings are so large; detailed spectacles of architecture that cover entire streets, I imagine buildings that size could offer plenty of shelter. Plus, the large sums of money being flown around on game show TV programmes could be sensibly distributed to people in need. Is it just me that can't make out the sense?
Where I live I feel more and more underwhelmed as each month passes as to where local's taxes are spent. Most buildings, including offices look like they're about to collapse, we have zero reputable high street shopping, nowhere nice to spend the day without the 'okay seeming' attractions costing a cheeky fortune and the buildings that have collapsed do not get dealt with which is hazardous to people and the environment. I could go on but I would like to highlight my London trip instead.
©Tilly Jones
Piccadilly Circus Billboards
LONDON BY DAY
There are many sights to see which are incredible, from the tall, magnificent architecture of the Westminster buildings and famous landmarks to the shopping and even the transport links. I felt in a different world, consider the word upgraded.
Walking approximately 14k a day whilst my sister was completing Ballet training kept my mum and I very busy, we never ran out of things to see and do. Staying at the Southwark Premier Inn made it very convenient to access Central School of Ballet, The Southbank Centre (hosting much entertainment), Trafalgar Square, Westminster, The Palace, Theatres, Shopping in Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Chinatown and much more over that side of Waterloo Bridge. On the opposing side, we could access Borough Market, London Bridge and Gracechurch Shopping on foot.
The journey to Camden Market and the Apollo Victoria Theatre, for our trip to see Wicked, consisted of both the Underground service and buses. Overall, I am incredibly impressed with the transport links; the speed and efficiency of the Underground alongside the value and eco-led direction of buses.
A few key highlights from my days in Central London would have to be:
Chinatown and the cultural refreshment pit stops (Pick n Mix Chinese Food boxes, Bubble Teas, Bubble Waffles and Bakery treats)
The Changing of the Guard (the band played Call Me, Blondie)
Seeing Wicked, the Matinee (starring Nicola Rose Espallardo as Elphaba and Helen Woolf as Glinda)
©Tilly Jones
Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre
I couldn't recommend watching the show enough and the cast are very talented. Such big songs filling the space and creating brilliant ambience. Watching it at the Apollo was an upgraded experience than when I had seen it at The Mayflower, Southampton.
Shopping in Covent Garden, Camden Market, Leicester Square and out London Bridge way via Borough Market.
Something far out of my ordinary was during a walk through Mayfair, it made me feel poor so I decided to window shop instead, embracing my Primark and Matalan High Street attire.
My final key highlight would have to be sitting down on a free deckchair to eat our packed lunch in community spaces such as St James's Park to people watch, it is especially amusing to see those of business attire walk around just as casually as those not.
Browse my gallery for more photos of my time away.
{ Preview }
©Tilly Jones
Browsing at Chicchetti, Piccadilly Circus
LONDON BY NIGHT
As much as my beaming heart loved London by day, London by night is a huge step up.
If you visit the image gallery and scroll down, you'll find a section that looks like this.
I captured images using my DSLR camera and my phone during this trip to make myself really live my tourist fantasy.
My favourite part about London's nightlife was the street entertainment and the lit up scenery...
{ Preview }
©Tilly Jones
Nearing the end of my London week we managed to bag 'on the day' cheap tickets to an evening show of Mary Poppins the Musical which was incredible.
Starring Zizi Strallen as the Practically Perfect lady, Mary Poppins herself and Louis Gaunt as Bert the evening was one to remember and a joy to be in the audience of.
Alike Wicked, I couldn't recommend watching the show enough and the cast are very talented. The theatre was gorgeous and the production team should be well commended for pulling off the fast scene changes and effects. Very well done!
©Tilly Jones
Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre
...Seeing the Southbank Skate Space enthusiasts engage their skills and the variety of buskers that brightened up life each night we passed was simply magical. Also along Southbank was a restaurant I had never been in, Giraffe, where I gave their Korean Chicken dish a try, which was lovely by the way and visited the Pizza Express, near The Royal Festival Hall. I couldn't have loved my stay more, though most of our meals were packed lunches and budget baguettes from Tesco's in typical Jones family style to top off my tourist feeling.
©Tilly Jones
During my week there was so much going on and I visited places I was familiar with and places I hadn't been. Now I can say I have!
The thing about London, I discovered is that you can go again and again and still find hidden nooks and crannies that you can only stumble across when you get lost. Google Maps was handy but we sometimes enjoyed being lost as we found random streets such as the Frozen Alleyway.
Would I go to Central London again?
In a heartbeat. The buzz of the street's nightlife was something I will miss and I was very lucky to have saved up some summer spending money to make my tourist adventure complete.
Not forgetting the purpose of our trip, I kindly ask you to take a look at Amélie's Ballet School Dream Fundraiser and share or donate if you can. She is a girl who works very hard and has never wanted anything so badly, stopping at nothing to achieve her goals.
Signing off, write again
Tilly Jones
Comments