London Travelogue

Earlier this month – Wednesday the 11th through Sunday the 15th – I went to London. Here’s a rundown of some of the stuff I did.

Wednesday

I landed and dropped off my bag at my hotel in Spitalfields. From there I walked to Camden, mostly along the Regent’s Canal. I crossed two new bridges on the way, by foot: Espérance Bridge and Camden Lock Bridge. I had lunch at a Nando’s in Camden, which they told me had just opened up that week. I walked around the Camden market and got bored with it pretty quick, so continues south and headed back to my hotel from Euston Station.

After checking into the hotel, I ended up watching The Playboy of the Western World at the National Theatre. It was more understandable than I was worried it might be, and funny. I ended up walking back to the hotel that night, with my phone dying because I’d forgotten to charge it since my flight.

Thursday

Didn’t do a ton – lazy morning, walked around in the afternoon near Borough Market and went to a pub for lunch. I ended up getting tickets to go see Deep Azure in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe, and it was amazing. Truly one of the best things I’ve seen live. I doubt there were any bad seats for the performance, but mine seemed amazing, just next to the vom where I was right near a lot of the high-energy entrances and exits.

Friday

I went to Holland Park and the Leighton House in the afternoon, and at 4 went to Blanche Improv to take a drop-in improv workshop. That was super fun – the workshop was with the founder and A.D., Lelda, and was a small fun thoughtful drop-in. After the drop-in I went and had dinner nearby to the theater, and then went back to see some of the house team shows there. Then I headed back to the hotel for a bit, , walked around Spitalfields and Shoreditch, and went out for drinks a few places near the hotel.

Saturday

I went to the Tate – the Rothko room is back! That was exciting. Then I had lunch at the restaurant there, with the amazing view looking onto St. Paul’s and City of London. After that I went for a long walk to Chelsea. I crossed three bridges during the walk – Westminster Bridge, Albert Bridge, and Battersea Bridge. I am sure I’d been on the the Westminster Bridge before, but it wasn’t on my list so I added it. The other two were new. I wandered around Chelsea and tried to go to Saatchi Gallery but it was just closing by the time I got there. I sat on a bench just outside and saw a couple there get engaged at the restaurant nextdoor.

Later my work colleague, who was visiting as well, added to me to a dinner reservation at the Wigmore in Marleybone and I had a nice long walk up there to meet her and her friend.

Sunday

Sunday was pretty uneventful – woke up, grabbed coffee, and of course got a farewell Nando’s for lunch, right near my hotel. I headed back to the airport and my flight was only delayed thirty minutes or so because of weather.