Off the northern coast of France, surrounded by the sea, is a series of islands. Their capital retains its ancient Roman name and, despite a healthy democratic tradition, is still ruled by a monarchy whose guardians wear red suits and traditional furry hats. London is an incredibly attractive city. It is filled with double-decker buses that move along beautiful, clean streets where brightly coloured shop fronts house cheerful pubs. London is telephone boxes, umbrellas, giant imperial iron lions, the Queen, bookshops, fish and chips!
London's Trafalgar Square has always been a place for public art, and currently has a controversial sculpture of a thumb (7 metres long) called 'Really Good', symbolising optimism, positivity and the best for Londoners. Trafalgar Square has a number of colourful street performers. Next up is Big Ben, then Westminster Abbey. Of particular note is Buckingham Palace, home to the actual Queen of the actual United Kingdom. You can tell she's home by the flag flying. In front is the Queen's Guard, who keep the general public out.
Head to St. James Park to play with the ducks and squirrels. The ducks mostly ignore anyone who crosses their path, but the squirrels are not afraid of people because they love to take nuts from your hand. The park is visited by everyone from tourists to businessmen and church groups to enjoy the rare sunshine and picnic.
For shopping or lunch, head to Cadman Market, which is laid out much like Istanbul’s bazaar. Most bazaars around the world are labyrinthine messes, but London’s is a charming collection of well-decorated stalls and friendly vendors whose stalls are filled with street food. London is a wild mix of cultures when it comes to food, with kimchi burritos, churros and curry burgers on the menu, and more. You can buy your favourites and retire to the sunny terrace on the upper level of the market, where you can watch the people scurrying in and out. Sipping strawberry lime cider and snacking on tiny Dutch pancakes covered in Nutella is a joy.
The local pubs are amazing. Some have been in England since the Aztec empire fell. For lunch, try the Flip n' Dip restaurant on Clapham Commons. It's usually packed with rowdy party-goers on a Saturday, but the food is delicious. The Flip n' Dip sandwich is a beef burger with cheese and au jus.
The British Museum, like the Tate Modern, is free. The British Museum has all the wonderful things that the empire took from the rest of the world during an era when plunder and theft were very popular. The most interesting thing is that the British Museum offers in its leaflets a curious propaganda - a pamphlet about how it is good and right to leave friezes and sculptures in Britain, and not to send them back, for example, to Athens, as the Greek government wishes.
The free Tate Modern gallery is a museum of modern art that displays some of the most famous works in the collection, from Kandinsky, Matisse, Picasso, but all united by an emphasis on colour. Each title to the art asks explicit questions to the viewer – why did the artist use these colours here and how did you respond?
An essential London exploration is Brick Lane, the heart of London’s Bangladeshi community. It is here that the contemporary street art scene is based, giving artists like Banksy a home. Every side street and wall has been decorated many times, from full-scale murals of gorillas and storks to landscapes and historical figures. Brick Lane is like walking through a comic strip, worthy of a smile.
