Wanderlust: London

Hello again everyone. I hope you’re all having a wonderful day and staying positive.

This is the first in my new series called Wanderlust, where I talk about all of the places in the world that I would love to visit. And the first place on the list is London.

I have already been to London several times in the past (as mentioned in previous posts) but I would love to go back and see more of it. Here are 10 reasons why I want to visit our nation’s capital again in the future.

Ever since it first opened in 1923, Wembley stadium has been seen as the home of English football. Over nearly 80 years, the Twin Towers of the original stadium became an icon for football fans all around the world, and hosted many famous events over its history. Amongst these, five European Cup finals, the Live Aid concert in 1985, and of course the famous World Cup Final of 1966, won by England on their own turf.

It closed in 2000 to be demolished and replaced with a stadium for the 21^st century. 7 years later, the New Wembley stadium opened. Since then, the archway has become the new symbol of Wembley and of English football, and I think it is absolutely stunning. This is a landmark I have as of yet only been past or seen from afar on my trips to the capital but one day I hope to be able to actually visit this great place.

A soaring tower of glass which shimmers in the sunlight, I think the Shard is a really elegant example of modern architecture. For me, it symbolises that London is transforming into a modern city, as a hub for finance and trade, and now its new buildings are changing the skyline for the better. Ever since it opened as Europe’s tallest building in 2012, I have wanted to go and see this bright and beautiful new landmark and hope one day to be able to do so.

3 – Shopping

Let’s not forget that London has long been an attraction for shoppers from every corner of the globe. Some of the world’s most famous stores can be found in this city. Although prices may be high, it is well worth a trip to see such icons of retail as Selfridge’s, Harrods, Whittards, and of course, the many shops that make up one of the most famous shopping streets in the world – Oxford Street.

4 – History

Although London is transforming into a modern city with its new buildings and huge investment, we should still remember that this city has a long history dating back to Roman times, and has seen a lot in that time. Incredibly, despite the huge changes it has seen, some of the oldest buildings can be seen right in the heart of the city having survived it all. Below are some examples.

5 - Westminster Abbey

This abbey sits right in the heart of the political heart of the United Kingdom, just yards from the Houses of Parliament. It is the burial place of many of the most famous Britons in history, including, amongst others:

-        Charles Dickens

-        Sir Isaac Newton

-        Charles Darwin

-        Rudyard Kipling

-        Queen Elizabeth I

In addition to this, it has been the venue for many famous royal weddings over the years, and is the place where the monarch is crowned.

And, of course, on top of all these reasons to visit, it is a very beautiful example of Gothic architecture.

6 – Tower of London

Situated on the banks of the River Thames, the Tower of London is home to the world famous Crown Jewels, and has had many a famous prisoner in its millennium of history. It has such a rich history, having been a castle, a royal residence, a prison, and even a zoo! Now it is an incredible landmark in the heart of London which attracts thousands of visitors a year. If you have the opportunity, I suggest you go because I myself would love to!

Tower Bridge is beautiful. It was built in the 1880’s and provides a vital connection between the North and South Banks of the Thames. The middle section lifts up to allow boats to pass through - believe it or not, there is a story about a bus driver who jumped the bridge as it was raising!

8 – The London Underground

The London Underground system is a marvel of engineering. Beneath the historic streets of this ancient city, there is this subterranean network of tunnels carved out over the last century and a half whilst the city kept going above ground. When you think that there is in effect an entire second city below the main streets of London and there are thousands of people travelling on this system, it is incredible. I mean, just look at the map and how many stations there are, and to think that this all exists underground blows my mind!

9 – Diversity

I have said it before and I will say it again, diversity is such a positive thing!

This city has residents and visitors from all over the world, who speak hundreds of languages, come from all backgrounds, and bring a wide range of cultures. They are from all religions, all genders, all sexualities, and they all contribute to the beautiful diversity of this incredible city. I find the sharing of cultures and knowledge to be such a refreshing and educational experience and it is one of those things that makes this city, and the UK as a whole, such an incredible place to be.

10 – Resilience

I needed to include this, given recent events that have hit this fine city.

This year, two terrorist attacks have struck London (and of course, we should not forget what happened in Manchester either) at Westminster and London Bridge. But, what makes me most proud of London is that in spite of this, the city has not stopped. It carried on, as it did during the Blitz, as it did when the IRA attacked it, as it did after 7/7. No matter what is thrown at London, it remains STRONG. It keeps going. It is resilient. We should all take pride in the fact that the people of London have always picked themselves up in times of hardship and that for this reason, the haters will never beat it.

So, that was the first in my Wanderlust series.

As ever, I would love to know what you all thought of this post, and hear about the places you want to visit. You can get in touch via my social media links which are on the left-hand side of the screen, and I look forward to hearing from you all.

Until next time, keep positive, keep smiling, and above all, keep believing!