Last week London called. I answered. A quick two hour jaunt via the Eurostar, and there I was.
This city that has always felt like home. Perhaps it’s the dynamic energy felt amidst the international air, much like NYC and certainly something I miss living within the calm and frenchness of Paris. The trip was one of business, as I’m currently working on a new hand-printed London Collection of handbags (where better to conduct market research?), had several shops and showrooms to meet, and equally one of pleasure. Many friends to catch up, exchanging a bottle of red for a pint of cider.
Home became close to Baker Street with a dear friend, Regents Park just minutes away.
I could not avoid central London…
What clever advertising! (Love the classic London cabs, preferably black.)
A walk around Sloane Square and into the world of eggs & Saatchi…
On my last morning I was given a tour of the colorfully posh Primrose Hill.
A walk along the canal beneath London skies, to Camden…
And back again from one world into another.
My trip happily ended in London’s evolving East, Shoreditch.
London has also called Andi of Misadventures with Andi, who just took a gastronomic tour with Context Travel… who knew what a foodie city this was!
Thanks for the tour! Hopefully London will be calling my number, soon!
Both Paris and London will be calling… stay by the phone!
It’s no Paris… but you can’t deny that London charm…
Reading your post makes me want to go back there asap 😉 That Primrose bakery looks lovely, did you try their pastries ?
It’s funny to see that Paris can be perceived as a calm city, as we often complain about how hectic it is compared to the rest of France. But I guess, it’s definitely quieter than a place like London or NYC.
I didn’t make it to the Primrose bakery on this trip (though found it so charming) but did try a lovely French/Japanese cafe called Lanka. I recommend!
As for the calm of Paris, I guess it’s all relative to what we’re used to. I don’t mind the chaos of cities like NYC or London. A mix of calm and chaos would be ideal.
I wish London would call me. I’d answer! Your picture of Regent Park was particularly pretty.
Thanks Liza! Hope you can make it to London soon, and Paris 🙂
LOL @ Sweet Freak up there. She sure is smitten with her Paris. 😉 I happened to be thinking as I looked at all the terrific photos just how much London looks like Paris in many ways, truly kind-of “sister cities” not unlike how Dickens interwove them. There sure are echoes of each city in one another. It’s interesting for me to notice those similarities now that I have been in Paris almost four years, but not to London in, *gulp*, 28. Well, not counting four years ago when I went straight from Heathrow to St Pancras by taxi to catch the Eurostar to Paris.
I’d love to go explore again having looked at these pictures and make some further comparisons for myself!
I’m really excited to read about London handbags. I think they will be as terrific if not more so than the Paris ones!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
xx
Karin
Karin, you really must take a trip to London soon. It’s changed SO much since you were last there. Great energy and such an international vibe in the air. The greatest contrast I find between London and Paris is that while it maintains it’s historic charm it’s still moving towards modernity, something that Paris is lacking, at least in my opinion. But at the same time this is what makes Paris so unique and ‘timeless’.
Ack! I am just completing all my blog reading and just got to the post! Thanks so much for the shout out. I can’t believe we missed each other by only a few days. My trip was only my second one ever to London, and despite being there for work and not seeing too much, I had a fantastic time. I don’t quite know how to explain it, Paris has my heart, but after 3-4 days I need a break. After 6 days in London I was ready to continue and really quite keen to really explore a lot more than what I have seen already. I am thinking of trying to get there in December on the way to Paris for Christmas. There is so much to explore, but it doesn’t quite feel as stressful as Paris or NYC. Can’t explain it!
Andi, I had no idea you were not well acquainted with London! This is surely one of my favorite cities (I studied there many years ago) and had I not moved to Paris or stayed in NYC, London is where I would have made my home. At least for some time. It possesses an international flair, a balance of old and new, it’s replete with culture, and has many contrasting neighborhoods to explore. Two of my favorites are Mayfair and Shoreditch. And I quite like the pub culture! (For a few days anyway.)
Hope you make it back soon!
I love Shoreditch! Thanks for the whirl around London!
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I haven’t been to London in about 11 years, and still your pictures took me back in a way most films and tv shows never do. I’ll admit, rural England, Cornwall, and the towns just outside London always appealed to me more, probably because I’m used to the bustle of cities like London so the outskirts are more interesting to me. But like many great cities, there are corners and nooks of London that are so removed from the more traveled roads and it’s in those little areas that you can often find the magic places that touch you. Like you with the little courtyards of the Marais, n’est-ce pas?
I *need* to get to London…stat!
Lovely pics! I’ll be there tomorrow after a quick jaunt on the Eurostar fr Paris..
why do I always go to the same old places…lots of new ideas here.
did you by any chance get to see the Hockney?
cheers Carolg
Hope you are having a wonderful time in London, exploring new haunts… I didn’t have a chance to get to the Royal Academy to see Hockney but will on my next trip.
Now you have gotten me even more excited! I’ll be in London for the first time in two weeks. I hope I can squeeze in all the wonderful sites in just a few short days 😉
You will LOVE London Annette! Take in as much as possible and enjoy! Let me know your thoughts upon return!
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