Travel Journal - London 2024 - Day 1 - Exploring Covent Garden (Sept 5, 2024)
After landing at Heathrow (LHR), I found my way to the Picadilly Line tube that would take me all the way into downtown London to Covent Garden where my hotel was located.
Tube map of the Picadilly Line from Heathrow to Covent Garden
I've never seen escalators so long/tall - 5 stories I think this one was!
View from my hotel room at Radisson Blu - Mercer Street - right at Seven-Dials
After getting settled at my hotel, I wandered around Covent Garden and area. Here's some photos from my wander!
"I want to buy some CHEEESE!" (in my best Monty Python accent from the famous Cheese Shop sketch)
Then over to Seven-Dials Market...
The Cheese Bar! We need one of these in Calgary!
The Cheese Bar in Seven-Dials Market is GENIUS!!!
A very large banana in Seven Dials market.
View from the 2nd floor of Seven Dials Market.
The Crown & Anchor pub beside my hotel...it was ALWAYS busy.
Ah yes, my university day shoes!
My dad's street. Miss you Dad.
Covent Garden Tube Station panorama.
Love the creative storefront! I didn't need any jewelry though.
Popped back to the hotel briefly. This is the view of the Crown & Anchor from my hotel. Always busy!
Then over to Neal's Court! Loved all the bright colours!
Then... DINNER! Needed to get some fish & chips for my first dinner in London, so I went to the "oldest" fish & chips shop - Rock & Sole Plaice
Had a lovely dinner here outside at their sidewalk patio. I tried SKATE for the first time. It was delicious!! but very different from your usual fish & chips. Lots of cartilage to work around, but the meat of the skate is so delicious and delicate!
Then after dinner, wandered around the theatre district a bit.
The monument at Seven Dials...my "home landmark".
Continuing my wanderings, I discovered "OUTERNET"! This was an amazing light / video art installation where all the walls & ceilings of the rooms were covered in massive LED video screens, with some of the most beautiful creative large-scale computer animations I've ever seen. This would be my first of a few visits to the OUTERNET rooms.
After experiencing OUTERNET for a little while, I continued my wanderings in the light drizzle...
Only in London would you find a multi-generational Umbrella store!
These pedi-cabs were all over the place....usually blaring disco/club music!
