Pages

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Time Was I Was Fascinated with London

There are places you visit, and then there are places that stay with you. London is one of the latter. I was only there for a brief time, a few years ago now, but the memories are as vivid today as if I’d just stepped off a red double-decker bus. And every so often, usually when I'm scrolling through a travel show or a movie flashes a familiar street, a deep pang of nostalgia hits me. I miss it. I think the feeling comes from the sheer overwhelmingness of the city.

 You're never going to see it all, and that’s part of the magic. Every corner you turn reveals something new: a tiny, crooked pub tucked away on a cobbled street, a grand, stately home that's now a museum, or a vibrant street art mural brightening up a brick wall. It’s a city of a million hidden worlds, and I feel like I only got to scratch the surface. I remember the feeling of getting lost in the winding streets of Notting Hill, the pastel houses a perfect backdrop for a dreamy afternoon. I can still picture the bustling energy of Borough Market, the smells of sizzling food and fresh coffee mingling in the air. 

The hushed reverence of Westminster Abbey, the awe-inspiring view from the top of the London Eye, the simple joy of grabbing a pint at a local pub and feeling, for a moment, like a true Londoner. But it’s not just the famous landmarks I miss. It's the small moments, the ones that make a city feel alive. The friendly "mind the gap" announcement on the Tube, the unexpected burst of sunshine on a notoriously cloudy day, and the effortless way the old and the new coexist everywhere you look. London has a soul that's both ancient and entirely modern, and it's that contrast that I find so captivating. 

 They say "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." And while I wouldn't say I'm tired of my life, there's a part of me that is forever longing to be back there. To hear the city's hum, to feel the cool air on my face as I cross the Thames, and to discover another one of its endless secrets. I may have only visited once, but London left an indelible mark. It’s the city I think of when I need to feel inspired, the place I dream of returning to, and the memory I cling to when a little bit of wanderlust starts to set in. One day, I'll go back and see all the things I missed. 

But until then, London remains a beautiful, bittersweet memory that I'll keep re-visiting in my mind.

No comments: