Walking down the South Bank

I can’t think of a better way to spend a sunny afternoon than walking down the South Bank, a stunning riverside stretch and an eclectic area that is the cultural heart of the city and home to London's most iconic attractions, theatres, arts and design-led venues.  You can start your journey either in Waterloo or London Bridge station and have lunch at the Borough Market, a renowned food market that captures the best of the British culinary history. It is open for lunch Monday to Friday (10 am to 3 pm) and the full market opens daily until 5pm.

After a tasty meal you can walk along the Thames and explore the South Bank, an area with unique examples of architecture such as the South Bank Lion or the Oxo Tower. The area is buzzing with things to see and do like free events, music, film, exhibitions, dance, theatre, debates, festivals and all sorts of family fun.
 

 

A piece of history in every corner

All around London you can find blue plaques commemorating the link between notable figures of the past and the buildings in which they lived and worked. You will be surprised the huge amount of artists, scientists, philosophers and personalities that had significance in the history of the city. They belong to the London's blue plaques scheme, founded in 1866, and run by the Royal Society of Arts, the London County Council, the Greater London Council and the English Heritage.

Right next to my house I found the plaque of Mahatma Gandhi, the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India. Gandhi lived in London between 1888 and 1891 to study law at University College London. In this amazing city, a young Gandhi got the education that enable him to lead India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world.

 

 

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”

- Mahatma Gandhi -

Secret spots: Saint Paul’s Cathedral

Saint Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most famous and most recognizable sights of London, originally founded in AD 604 in honor of Paul the Apostle, the present church dates from the late 17th century. It is the most beloved building for the Londoners and important services held at St Paul's include the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill or, most recently, the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Di.

Right next to the cathedral you can find a secret spot for an amazing sightseeing:  the top floor of the One New Change. This building, design by the architect Jean Nouvel, is the only Shopping Centre in the City of London since October 2010. 

Monday Madness

One of the best things of living in London is being able to go out every night of the week. This is great for people like me, who work in the hospitality industry, and have to work most of the weekends. Mondays were always my favourite day to go out with my good friend Maziyah, we had a lot of fun starting the night at Temple’s Walkabout following by Heaven in Charing Cross. For those who have a low budget, these places are the perfect venue for a fun night out. Is full of Spaniards, Italians and Brazilians, and it’s probably the place that reminds me the most to a Spanish party style.

 

 

"Dance like nobody is watching

Love like you’ve never been hurt

Sing like nobody is listening

Live like is heaven on hearth"
- Mark Twain -
 

Saturdays at Portobello Market

This is one of my favourite markets in town and the one I visited the most. I still remember how amazing was shopping in this vintage market the first time I visited to London in 2009 and how I felt the first time I walk through once I moved to Notting Hill, my first home in the city back in 2010. I lived in the neighbourhood nearly a year and I really enjoyed the huge amount of restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs in the area. Even though most of them are posh and expensive, you can find good bargains like The Coronet Cinema on Mondays for only £3.50.

The best way is start the tour at Notting Hill Gate and finish at Ladbroke Groove. Halfway of the market you can treat yourself a sweet bite in the popular Hummingbird bakery, my friend Carmen favourite cupcakes. But If you want to avoid crowded places, you can enjoy a proper cup of coffee or a Mediterranean cuisine meal in Caffé Respiro, right in Kensington Park Road.

For beer lovers you’ve got plenty of pubs all along Portobello Road, but girls you can’t miss a pint of strawberry beer at ThePrince Albert. Great pub with a beer garden for smokers right next to the station.

 

Definetly one of the things I will miss the most of London is the saturdays at Portobello Market.

Welcome to The Countdown Diaries

Hi everyone! Welcome to The Countdown Diaries, a daily report of my last six moths in London, so far the most amazing city I've ever lived in. Every post will be dedicated to these things that I will miss about London and it will help me to close this chapter of my life. It all began the 4th of july 2010 and a lot has happened since then...