A whirlwind adventure filled with mishaps, discoveries, and the unexpected

• Becoming a tourist
• Brixton
• London Tower Bridge and more
• London Day 2
• Ticket whoopsy
• Walk to Brixton (round 2)

Becoming a tourist

With sunlight (if thats what you call it in the UK) breaking and jet lagged bodies slowly rising to match, signalling the start of the London adventure. Today’s agenda? A long awaited reunion with our friend Will, now residing in Brixton, London, to catch up and collect our BRP cards (residence permit). Following our meet-up, we aimed to tackle some iconic tourist sights: The Shard, London Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London and an aimless wander spread through it all, which I have come to dub “aimless wandering.” It’s a fantastic way to soak in the city’s vibe and stumble upon hidden gems along the way.

With no bags to weigh us down but our trusty crossbody belts to accompany us, we made our way to Kings Cross station, encountering fewer crowds than the previous day, thanks to the more civilized hour of around 10 am. Once again relying on the Citymapper app, we effortlessly located the correct train and followed the apps directions like seasoned commuters. Boarding the train felt smoother this time, our confidence up by our previous experience.

However, our journey to Brixton proved longer than anticipated due to track problems, resulting in a series of frustrating micro-delays which aded up over the journey. One unexpected aspect was the heat and humidity inside the underground train, even with just a few scattered passengers. Amidst this discomfort, the ads plastered across the train managed to crack a smile from me—a small moment of relief in an otherwise sweaty commute.

Brixton

Stepping off the train in Brixton felt like entering a different world compared to Camden, London, where we were staying. The atmosphere here was distinctly older, with a rich cultural diversity evident among the people bustling about. And then there were the Lime bikes, oh the Lime bikes, they were just everywhere leaving me to ponder whether their abundance reflected high usage or perhaps the opposite?

Apologies for the lack of images during this leg of the journey; navigating through the crowds and absorbing the new surroundings without getting absorbed into the masses of people, left little time for photography as I adjusted to the beat of Brixton.

Heres the one picture I did take of a whole lot of nothing in Brixton

After meeting up with our mate Will, we made our way to the post office to collect our BRP cards. With cards in hand it confirmed that the E-Gate had done its job, ensuring we weren’t becoming illegal immigrants… at least not yet… (hopefully not accidentally foreshadowing there).

With Will leading the way, we strolled through the streets of Brixton to his flat. An interesting sight greeted us, a lovely black cab parked outside, but something was off… oh yeah the back window had been smashed. Nevertheless, after a tour of Will’s lovely flat and a good couple hours of yarning, we headed out for lunch.

Given the option between the spooky, scary route and the safer, lame path, we naturally opted for the first option. This decision led us down an extremely run down street where we encountered some rather intimidating characters. Matt and I exchanged a glance that screamed “maybe not our best choice” as a burly shirtless man, adorned with a military-style vest and several gold chains, sauntered by with his companion. Fortunately, they veered off before reaching us.

Eventually, we arrived at a vibrant market, bustling with colour and diverse shops. Will recommended a burger joint, and boy, were those burgers worth it! With Will heading off to work, Matt and I found ourselves navigating our way back to the station, the “boring” route turned out to be anything but. Brixton proved to be an intriguing place, especially when overhearing conversations about “chasing the dragon” amongst other eye opening conversations.

London Tower Bridge and more

Train journey secured, we arrived at London Bridge station, ready to explore some iconic sights (more images on my Instagram: ruralladabroad). First stop: Tower Bridge and its surroundings. One word: busy. Scratch that, London in general is busy. A more fitting term would be “humming,” because with all the people there is a certain energy, (one crying out for sun) one of places to be people to see.

Tower bridge and the surrounding area as you can see in the photos, is magnificent, majestic and diverts attention from the dirty, murky river Thames. A leisurely stroll along the Thames on the Shard side offers relaxation, with the riverfront providing stunning views of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and the central London skyline. On both sides in-fact, the view back is equally breathtaking, particularly for architecture enthusiasts.

The bridge itself is a must-see, serving as a gateway to the historic London Tower. In classic London fashion, where the old meets the new, the Shards glass, steel and glory proudly on display amidst the traditional skyline, a testament to the city’s blend of old and new. For this images speak louder then words so rub your eyes and focus up now because below is some beauty for them (with jet lagged images) (also also captions not working so another fun game for you).

As darkness crept in, we knew it was time to call it a day and head back to the hotel. From the majestic Tower of London we zombie walked our way to the plain of Bank train station, it was quite the visual shift, to say the least. And let me paint you a picture of our underground train journey back to Kings Cross: picture a can of sardines opened up, now throw in the soundtrack of someone’s podcast blaring from their AirPods Centimeters away from your ear. Yep, that’s pretty much how it went down.

But hey, after that cramped commute, a shower and some much needed shut-eye were in order. Trust me, we needed all the rest we could get before diving into another day of adventure in London. So, grab yourself some snacks or bookmark this page for later, because we’re diving right back in! No time to waste in this city, I’m throwing you straight in.

London Day 2

Do I like walking? Well, if you don’t, you’re in for a treat (or a torture session) with what we had in store for this day! With the sun making a rare appearance, we seized the opportunity to hit up some major landmarks. After strolling through quaint neighborhoods and admiring the seamless blend of old and new architecture, we finally reached Leicester Square.

Now, Leicester Square might seem like just another square, but this one had a surprise in store: an M&M store! And when I say store, I mean multiple levels of pure M&M goodness. We dove right in, surrounded by the different colours of M&M’s and endless merchandise. Now, you might be wondering how we decided which M&M colors to buy (or maybe not, but let’s roll with it). Well, they had this scanner that supposedly tells you your M&M colour personality. Me well i’m super exciting with cream, so thats that, we shall leave that there. Oh, also met M&M the rapper with photographic proof.

Our feet then led us to Trafalgar Square, a beautiful square, do not miss this one if you are there. Bordering this square is the Canadian Embassy (sorry) and the National Gallery to name a couple of fine wine buildings.

Speaking of the National Gallery, it’s worth noting that entry is free. And if you’re into art, this is the place to be. Inside, you’ll find a treasure trove of masterpieces, including works by the likes of Michelangelo (no, not the ninja turtle, unfortunately) and Leonardo da Vinci. Some of these pieces were never quite completed, adding an extra layer of intrigue to your visit. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it! (see below).

Are you a fan of the royal family? Well, I’m not particularly, but I still found Buckingham Palace fascinating. We teleported here along with hundreds of other tourists, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone royal. Even if you don’t spot one of those elusive royals, the sheer scale of the palace is breathtaking. The mix of gold, stone, and steel creates a striking sight, even for someone like me who isn’t particularly interested in royalty. Plus, there are some great photo opportunities outside the gates if you’re inclined that way.

Next, let’s take a detour from the chronological order of our visit, but trust me, there’s a good reason for it. Let’s talk about churches. Personally, I love visiting them because they showcase such diverse architecture. During our time in London, we visited two noteworthy ones: Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.

First up was Westminster Cathedral, and while its exterior may not be as striking as Westminster Abbey’s, it was free to enter. Once inside, I was absolutely blown away by its interior. The craftsmanship and artistry on display were truly breathtaking. Words don’t quite do it justice, so I’ll let the images speak for themselves. As for Westminster Abbey, we admired its exterior but opted not to enter due to the admission fee. Still, just seeing it from the outside was worth it.

After counting our blessings outside Westminister Abbey, we couldn’t help but notice the iconic landmarks nearby: Big Ben and Westminster Palace. It’s a true tourist hotspot, and for good reason. Not only are these sites great for photo opportunities, but simply being in their presence is awe-inspiring. The sheer size and historical significance of these buildings are truly remarkable, especially when you consider their age. I’d highly recommend adding these to your must-see list while in London. Plus, they’re conveniently located near each other, making it easy to explore them all in one go.

Ticket whoopsy

After a lot more walking around and discovering some nearby sights (I won’t bore you with the details as I’ve probably done enough of that already), I’ll leave them for you to uncover. There’s something magical about stumbling upon hidden gems, and I want you to experience that same excitement. Aimless walking can lead to some unexpected discoveries, so I highly endorse it as a way to explore.

With our energy replenished after a late lunch, we were ready for more adventures. We decided it was time to tackle Waterloo train station, getting ourselves familiar with it before our journey to Winchester tomorrow…

The sheer size of the station and the crowds bustling everywhere is enough to throw you off balance, and when you add in the task of figuring out the platforms and trains, it becomes even more daunting. Thankfully, neither of us actually fell over, but after struggling to decipher the train schedules for some time, we decided to take a seat. It was then that Matt, upon closer inspection of our tickets, made a startling discovery – they were completely useless for the next day. Yes, we had made our first major whoopsy. Despite double and triple-checking the dates before purchasing the tickets back in NZ, somehow we managed to select the wrong day, and our intended train had already departed that morning.

Sitting there in the train station, we were grateful that we had decided to check our tickets a day early (recommend to always do), but we were also incredibly perplexed and frustrated. However, as the saying goes, “it is what it is”…

Silver linings do exist kinda… Despite the initial frustration and disappointment of our transportation mishap, we managed to find a silver lining in the situation. Our revised plan involved taking a bus from London to Bristol and then catching a train back to Bath. While this meant having to skip Winchester and Stonehenge, it turned out to be a more cost-effective option in the long run.

The original plan would have posed logistical challenges and incurred additional expenses for transportation and luggage transfer from Winchester to Stonehenge and then to Bath. By adjusting our itinerary, we not only saved money but also left these destinations open for future exploration. So, while it wasn’t the ideal outcome, it certainly wasn’t all bad, and it just means we have more to look forward to in our future travels.

Walk to Brixton (round 2)

With our plans for tomorrow sorted, the evening called for a meet up with Will for a night out at the pub. Despite the darkness creeping in, our spirits remained high as we continued our walking bus. Following the path along the opposite side of the River Thames to Big Ben, we were treated to a unique perspective of the iconic landmark as we made our way towards Brixton.

As we meandered through the streets, our wandering led us to stumble upon some intriguing sights that only aimless exploration can unveil. Among these discoveries was a chicken takeaway shop called Roosters Spot. While the service may not have been the friendliest (a common occurrence in some parts of the UK), the food spoke volumes. Judging solely on the deliciousness of our meal, the verdict for this hidden gem was nothing but positive. It’s moments like these that confirm the joys of random discovery while exploring on foot.

Re fuelled with 91 chicken in the tanks, we finally reached Will’s place, having racked up an impressive 27 Kilometers for the day. After another delightful catch-up session, we made our way to the pub. True to form, our first encounter was with another Kiwi, sparking a round of good-natured banter and stories.

With moving to another pub came more tales, and before we knew it, it was time to bid farewell and catch the Subway home (no, not the sandwich) before it ceased operations for the night. Another day filled with unexpected adventures and chance encounters drew to a close, leaving us with memories to cherish and stories to recount.

With every moment seized and lessons learned, it was time to call it a night, recharge, and prepare for our next adventure: Bath. But not before a slight detour to Bristol, because what’s a journey without a few unexpected twists and turns?

Ps. More photos on my Instagram (check story highlights too) and the photos get better from here as my excuse is less jet lag. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.