England Day 19: London Day 2: The London Eye, The Tower Bridge, and Oxford Street (Absolute Vintage round 2)

         Our second day in London was much less crazy and stressful than Day 1. We started off the day at the London Eye, which, contrary to popular belief, only took about 20 mins to get through the lineup. The crazy admission charge was pretty much worth it, as we slowly rose to the pinnacle viewpoint on the rotating ferris wheel, overlooking the whole of London. You could see tiny cars and winding streets and amazing architecture and Buckingham Palace, even the gold statue outside the castle that I remembered from when I was a child.

     After the Eye, we took the tube and walked to the Tower Bridge along the Thames. It was more blue than I remember it, the striking colour beautifully modern against the anciently beautiful architecture. We crossed the bridge and took the tube to Bond Street, from which we did a spot of shopping on Oxford Street.

 

         After hitting the main shops like Forever 21, H&M (where I bought a lovely deep magenta skirt and some hair bows), Primark, UO, River Island, etc, I forced my weary mum and brother to traipse down the street with me to Absolute Vintage Boutique, the boutique version of the amazing vintage store I had been to on Brick Lane. I actually bought some things this time: an awesome vintage brown leather satchel-style bag, and a thick red and black plaid flannel. I left my ipod on the counter and had to mad panic rush back to the store, thank god it was still there.

We arrived back to Maidenhead exhausted and complete. The next day was a quiet one having a picnic in the park and saying goodbyes, so the next post will skip ahead to... PARIS!!!
Love always,
Coral

England Day 18: Markets, Covent Garden, and Hyde Park

Three of my favourite London passtimes.

The first thing on our agenda for our First Day in London (Sunday the 25th), was to hit up Brick Lane Market and the husband's favourite vintage store: Absolute Vintage. After getting quite lost on the tube and getting directions from a super friendly family, we walked up the escalator of Liverpool Street Station to the wonder that is Brick Lane. I say Brick Lane meaning the neighbourhood, not the lane itself. It's like Gastown mixed with Commercial Drive mixed with NYC. It's gritty, it's artsy, it's old architecture and young people. So we wandered around trying to find Brick Lane Market, and by pleasant surprise, ended up at its sister market, Petticoat Lane Market.

I really truly wish I had more photos of this beautiful, winding market, and that I had stopped to actually buy things, but we were in too much of a rush to stop and smell the proverbial roses, so I was left wanting more. I'll surely return soon.

Following our walk through the lanes of this market, we FINALLY, after what felt like FOREVER, found Brick Lane itself. It was beautiful, and I was winded by my absolute love for the place, the people who walked its streets, the food, and of course, the shops. We located Absolute Vintage, and again, I wish I had more photos of it, but it was, to put it lightly, the best vintage shop I've ever been in. Rows upon neverending rows of leather shoes were lined up beneath racks upon racks of vintage tops, flannels, trousers, skirts, dresses... everything. Above the clothes and displays of accessories such as silk scarves and wool hats, leather bags hung on the wall and on hangers almost to the ceiling. They were butter-soft leather and every shade of brown, black, and cream amongst the bright reds and blues and other colours.

After Absolute, we grabbed lunch at a food cart outside Sunday UpMarket, our last market stop. This market was amazing, indoors and full of every kind of good you could need from a market. I bought some lovely handmade bunting for my Parisian bedroom.

After Brick Lane, we hopped back on the tube and headed to Covent Garden. I would have loved to spend more time there, but due to the hours passing to quick to catch up to, we just walked along a few streets and got tea at a cool little Indian place. Oh yeah, and a statue invited my mum to erm- admire his silver?

 

Hyde Park was beautiful as always, and a nice break from the city. I absolutely love this place.

Love always,

Coral