My two weeks in the big smoke 🚂

My thoughts about London as a strictly non-Londoner...

I’ve always loved London. The shops, the museums, the big striking buildings. Growing up, we often visited the capital, with it being one of the only cities that’s relatively easy to get to by train from Norwich. I suppose then, I have always had a romanticised view of London: shopping under Oxford Street’s twinkling Christmas lights, grand West End theatre shows, and visiting Dippy the Dinosaur at his Natural History Museum home. To me, the big red London buses were endearing; a symbol of London’s grandeur rather than a source of stress and frustration.

For a while, I toyed with the idea of going to university in London but ended up at Loughborough University, the feel of which couldn’t be further from the bright lights of London. Don’t get me wrong, I had the absolute best time, but for anybody who knows of this small Midlands town sandwiched between Nottingham and Leicester, it’s in a world of its own. Its main (arguably only) nightclub is hidden behind some wheelie bins and has burnt down twice. That didn’t stop us from having some of the best times, though – tales which deserve a newsletter edition of their own. Because I didn’t end up experiencing student life in London, the allure of the big city has always remained.

I’m not a ‘natural’ Londoner. I never have been. I've always loved the hustle and bustle but have been dragged along rather than bounced along with it. Once, when I was chaotically attempting to purchase a meal deal at the self-service checkouts at Liverpool Street Station’s Boots (self-scanning was a relatively recent phenomenon at this point), the shop assistant looked at me pityingly and said: ‘Aw, you’re not a Londoner, are you?’ I’ve always felt it’s an ‘Us and Them’ situation. You must earn your place as a true Londoner, and I had fallen at the first hurdle by going to battle with a Boots self-service checkout – and losing.

So, when I spent two weeks staying and working in London at the end of November, it was time to prove to myself that I could be a Londoner. Even if only for a fortnight.

First stop: Boots. I swiped my sandwiches through with no issues at all. I had redeemed myself on the self-checkout front. The next step was overcoming my fear of London’s intimidating transport system, namely the underground. Not only did I have to navigate the squiggly maps independently, I had to do so under time pressure. Arriving late to a new workplace was not an option.

But do you know what? It’s not as tricky as it looks. It takes a bloody age to get from one place to another (I hate to think how many hours are lost commuting each year), but it’s not difficult, as such. And it’s fun (at the start, anyway) to watch the world go by. Unfortunately, I didn’t spot Bill Nighy reading on the tube, but there’s always next time.

Me channelling main character energy at Chancery Lane station

Like with many things, I was just overthinking. I had such a lovely time and still hope to move there longer term for work. Some of my public transport experiences were pretty grim, but I felt accomplished by the end. It’s a reminder to be proud of the small wins – even if that’s just successfully getting from one place to another (and not falling through the insanely large gap on the Piccadilly line at Waterloo).

In the meantime, here are some of my observations/thoughts from spending two weeks in London as a non-Londoner.

1. Why do people run for trains even when there is literally no chance of catching them? Like, babe, it’s already moving. But, at the same time, I also admire the effort and inner grit. Go get 'em Usain Bolt.

2. I cannot comprehend the fact I paid £7.20 for a pint. All I did for the next few days was ask people to guess how much I paid for a pint. I feel like the key to wise pub spending in London is to be more adventurous with your beverage choices. For instance, a glass of mulled wine and mince pie was £7. Although, the mince pie was thimble-sized.

This pic doesn’t do the tiny mince pie justice - the glass was also v small (we were at a pub quiz, hence the questionable photo on the left)

3. Returning to the underground, I saw one man drop his water bottle on the track. Watched it roll in slow motion until it toppled over the edge. I then watched as he peered over the side, contemplating trying to retrieve it for way longer than he should have. Not to be all Londoner, but he definitely wasn’t a Londoner.

4. Still on the topic of transport, why don’t people take their rucksacks off on the train/tube. I can barely breathe as it is and my lungs are being further compressed by your DofE style backpack.

5. Also, I know you’ve had an early morning. We all have. But please take two minutes to brush your teeth, because when there’s about 100 people crammed into a carriage designed for less than half that, you can really notice who hasn’t.

6. Also 2.0, barely anybody talks on the train/tube. It’s actually really quite dystopian when everyone is plugged into their headphones staring blankly downwards.

7. I’m extremely impressed by the people that sprint up escalators, particularly when laden with luggage. It should be an Olympic sport.

8. Sorry, I can’t stop talking about transport. But, wow, the Piccadilly line is so quaint. Very tired, but quaint. It’s giving Victorian chic. I can lowkey imagine Burberry hiring it out for an edgy ad campaign. Give it a bit of a makeover, and the carriages will emanate ‘Iconic British Luxury’ in no time.

9. Don’t go to Oxford Street on a late November evening, even if it’s a random Thursday. I could barely move in the crowds – it felt like I was being pulled along by a current. However, I still managed to have a pootle around Uniqlo and pick up this gorgeous scarf from the recent Anya Hindmarch collaboration. Pink and red is my favourite colour combo this season.

Loved this whole collection!

10. I can’t believe the number of people on their phones while walking on some of London’s busiest streets. Not only were they severely holding up walking traffic, but what about all the recent phone thefts? I kind of wanted to do a little social experiment where I swiped it off them as a warning, but I also didn’t fancy getting arrested.

11. Dogs are more fashionable in London.

London's pups spotted serving Christmas chic

12. I’ve decided my dream is to take a ride on one of those fluffy, sparkly tuk tuks. Once I’m tearing down the West End in one of those, I’ll really feel like I’ve made it.

Santa’s sleigh took a detour to Leicester Square

Here’s to tuk tuks, tubes, and London life lessons.

Until next time,

H x