Although I have lived in London for nearly five years, I’m still in awe of what it has to offer. It’s an incredible city for sure, and I like to sometimes sit down and scroll through the camera roll on my phone to remind myself how lucky I am to live here. From green spaces to wildlife, historical landmarks to modern skyscrapers, free-to-enter festivals in the heart of the city and train connections allowing the best of day trips. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the beauty of London in my eyes – late spring and early summer 2024 edition.
WWT London Wetland Centre
In April, I finally visited the WWT London Wetland Centre. I had known about its existence for years, since I spotted it on Google Maps, but there was never a good time to visit it until now. This hidden gem in west London is home to dozens of species of birds and provides great opportunities for birdwatching, as well as peaceful walks. There are also resident otters, and you can observe their feeding session with an educational talk. A great place to visit! You can read more about my time at WWT London Wetland Centre here.
Plant Festival at Chelsea Physic Garden
The Chelsea Physic Garden is another little gem in the heart London that I’ve known about for years, but never had a chance to visit. This April, there was an open day with a plant festival, and it was the perfect opportunity to check out this small botanical garden. I had a chance to join a guided tour and learnt about the history of Chelsea Physic Garden and its role in teaching generations of physicians. It was interesting to see toxic plants side by side with similar-looking medicinal herbs. During the plant festival, there were also stalls with products by small businesses, and I bought some of the best mint chocolates. Yum! You can read more about my visit at Chelsea Physic Garden here.
Tulips in Victoria Embankment Gardens
One day, whilst walking around Westminster, I came across this beautiful oasis. Victoria Embankment Gardens, placed just across the river from the London Eye, drew my attention with the ocean of colourful tulips. I must have walked past that place so many times in the past, but never in the tulip season. It reminded me that London is full of surprises, even after you’ve lived there for a while. Stunning!
London Eye and Big Ben
When you think of London, chances are that the first things that come to your mind are the Big Ben or the London Eye. Two famous landmarks, located just a short walk apart. If you want to catch them both in a photo, try taking some shots from the Hungerford Bridge! Although simple, this photo is one of my favourites. And don’t be put off by the colour of the Thames! Sure, I wouldn’t exactly call it the cleanest of all rivers, but the brown hue comes largely from strong currents lifting the sand from the river bed.
The Shard viewed from London Bridge station
This is another one of my favourite shots. I managed to take it when I got off a train at London Bridge station. Whilst on the platform, I looked up and saw the mighty Shard, in full glory, lightened by the final rays of an evening sun. Beautiful!
Three Mills and Cormorants
In contrast to the glass skyscrapers, London is also full of old, low-rise, brick buildings. This view of the Three Mills in East London is like a journey back in time. And whilst I was walking along one of the canals in that area, I spotted some cormorants drying their wings – quite a common sight in London, but it surprises me every time to this day. These large, stunning creatures look so out of place in urban areas – but I’m glad I get to see them!
Italian Gardens, Kensington
Italian Gardens, located at the edge of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, are one of my favourite places in central London. Beautifully maintained, the gardens are stunning all year round, but it’s always great to see them explode in colours when days get warmer. A true oasis in the heart of London, and a great spot to relax and enjoy the surroundings. You can read more about Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens in this post.
Peacock in Holland Park
Holland Park, located in a posh area in west London, is home to a couple of majestic peacocks. It always cracks me up to see dozens of people with their cameras pointed at the bird, who doesn’t give a… feather about the crowd. So of course, I joined in! The peacock didn’t choose to display its colourful tail in full glory, but I still managed to take a few nice shots. If you want to learn more about Holland Park, check out this blog post.
Chelsea In Bloom, Belgravia In Bloom
At the end of May, Chelsea and Belgravia – posh areas in West London – blossomed in colourful flowers. The blooming festival brought dozens of impressive floral displays to the storefronts, pavements and squares. I enjoyed a stroll around the adorned streets one Saturday morning, and was thoroughly impressed! Can’t wait for next year’s edition. You can see some of the structures I’ve seen in this post.
Lambeth Country Show 2024
At the beginning of June, my absolute favourite annual event in London’s calendar returned. The mighty Lambeth Country Show celebrated its 50th edition in Brockwell Park. This year, I spent two days there, to have enough time to enjoy all of the attractions. I saw sheep shearing and a Lamb National (imagine horse racing, but with lambs). I queued for 45 minutes to see this year’s vegetable sculptures, and it was totally worth it. I enjoyed a birds of pray display, ate ice cream and street food, and – like every year – had a great time. You can learn more about London’s Lambeth Country Show here.
Trip to Salisbury
Apart from enjoying London this quarter, I also had a chance to go on a few day trips. The one to Salisbury was one of my favourite daytrips in the UK so far. The city has a charming centre, a couple of museums, and a stunning cathedral with the highest spire of all UK cathedrals. The highlight of my trip was the bell tower tour – a 90 minute guided session, led by a passionate host who shared his impressive knowledge with the group. You can read more about my trip to Salisbury here.
Trip to Brighton
Speaking of daytrips from London, one of Londoners’ favourite destinations is Brighton. I’ve had a chance to visit that seaside resort many times, but there was one tourist attraction I hadn’t visited until recently – the Sea Life Brighton aquarium. I loved seeing a feeding session of sea turtles and enjoyed strolling through the corridors of what’s supposed to be the world’s oldest aquarium. I also had a relaxing walk on the Brighton Palace Pier and along the beach. A day well spent! You can read more about my time in Brighton in this post.
Hike from Folkestone to Dover – take 2!
In May, I had a second take at hiking from Flokestone to Dover, along the southeast coast of England. My previous attempt didn’t play out as expected, as I ended up walking most of the way at beach level, rather than on top of the cliffs. This time, I managed to find the correct route and had a great hike between the two towns, with stunning views. Second time lucky! I’m yet to describe that adventure on this blog, so watch this space.
Trip to Chelmsford – National Flower Show
In May, I also had a short trip to Chelmsford – a city just east of London – which hosted the National Flower Show. I had a great time admiring the displays in Hylands House, and enjoyed shopping for unique gifts from small businesses. I also visited Chelmsford Cathedral, where a Saturday crafts fair took place. If you want to read more about my time at the National Flower Show, click here.
And that summarises my adventures in and around London in the second quarter of 2024! As you can see, you can never be bored in this city. I hope you enjoyed seeing London in my photos as much as I did. And if you want to know what I get up to in the following months, make sure to follow this blog!
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