London in the Fall
- Highlander
- City Center Square
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London in the Fall
I had an opportunity to spend a couple of days in London over the weekend. In that short amount of time, we concentrated on a few things that we haven't already done (we've been there numerous times, all before I owned a digital camera). On this trip, we concentrated on the shopping along Oxford Street, and visiting Soho, Picadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and Convent Gardens, all within easy walking distance. We also spent a morning in Greenwich, well worth it, and visited a few selected museums such as the Imperial War Museum, the Royal Observatory, Victoria and Albert Museum and the Tate Modern. Also spent a day in Oxford but that's another thread I'll put together later.
We actually drove down to London from the north (something Brits almost never do) and stayed in an outlying community, relying on a commuter train ride into the city and subways within the city. The half hour long commuter train ride and return plus a day pass for the subway costs only 7£ per person, well worth it. Driving into London is insane and it was cheaper to stay outside of the city and train in than pay the exorbitant prices in London for a mediocre hotel room (2 rooms, as we are a family of 4).
Anyway...
These shots are starting around the big department stores on Oxford in Central London and moving SE towards Picadilly Circus and Soho. That's basically the heart of the London shopping and social scene. After that, it was dark so no pictures of Leicester Sq or Covent Gardens. The night shots came out pretty well due to the brightness of the lights in Picadilly Circus.
Next day, we were out at Greenwich which is a distinct node on the east side of London with a lot of historical interest. Only recently was Greenwich attached to the rest of Central London via the tube but it is still a bit of a pain to get to. The DLR line also goes through Canary wharf which is a modern office development just north of the Thames. It is actually more interesting than the pictures taken from afar would suggest as it's interlaced with dockland canals and the train takes an elevated course through the development giving nice vantage points. Unfortunately, the train was so crowded, I could not get my camera in operation so I settled for some photos from across the Thames in the Greenwich area.
Greenwich
The old Naval Acadamy:
Dining rooms in the acadamy (currently used by local universities and rented out for weddings etc...)
Views of the Canary Wharf development from the Royal Observatory
0 Longitude (the Prime Meridian) Running down the wall and underneath the girl in the photo.
London has a number of excellent museums. The most interesting will depend on personal taste and interest but I highly recommend the Imperial War Museum, the British Museum (not visited on this trip) and the Natural History Museum (ditto). I also visited the Victoria and Albert Museum on this trip for the first time and it was a pleasant surprise. Here are a few Museum shots.
The Natural History Museum. Did not visit on this trip but it's right next to the V&A museum so I got this shot of the exterior. In my opinion, it's one of the most beautiful buildings in the world inside and out.
Victoria and Albert Museum. This place was a pleasant surprise. Could have spent a day in there easily but we were limited to a couple of hours.
Imperial War Museum. Great Museum which has some hardware but just as focused on the personal experience/tragedy of war. Poignent Holocoust exhibit but no pictures allowed.
A famous department store on Brompton Road just east of the V&A Museum. Nice architecture.
Finished off our trip with a visit to the highly acclaimed but, in my opinion, disappointing Tate Modern on the south bank of the Thames. Excellent setting just south of St. Paul's Cathedral but a very stark museum in a defunct powerplant with modern art on the cutting edge (sometimes a bit over the edge).
Views from just outside the Tate Modern taken north towards Central London. Nice riverwalk from the museum to Waterloo Bridge and the London Eye. Had to set the camera on some tilted surfaces because of the lack of a tripod which explains the slanted images.
St. Paul's Cathedral and the Millenium Bridge
Enjoy
We actually drove down to London from the north (something Brits almost never do) and stayed in an outlying community, relying on a commuter train ride into the city and subways within the city. The half hour long commuter train ride and return plus a day pass for the subway costs only 7£ per person, well worth it. Driving into London is insane and it was cheaper to stay outside of the city and train in than pay the exorbitant prices in London for a mediocre hotel room (2 rooms, as we are a family of 4).
Anyway...
These shots are starting around the big department stores on Oxford in Central London and moving SE towards Picadilly Circus and Soho. That's basically the heart of the London shopping and social scene. After that, it was dark so no pictures of Leicester Sq or Covent Gardens. The night shots came out pretty well due to the brightness of the lights in Picadilly Circus.
Next day, we were out at Greenwich which is a distinct node on the east side of London with a lot of historical interest. Only recently was Greenwich attached to the rest of Central London via the tube but it is still a bit of a pain to get to. The DLR line also goes through Canary wharf which is a modern office development just north of the Thames. It is actually more interesting than the pictures taken from afar would suggest as it's interlaced with dockland canals and the train takes an elevated course through the development giving nice vantage points. Unfortunately, the train was so crowded, I could not get my camera in operation so I settled for some photos from across the Thames in the Greenwich area.
Greenwich
The old Naval Acadamy:
Dining rooms in the acadamy (currently used by local universities and rented out for weddings etc...)
Views of the Canary Wharf development from the Royal Observatory
0 Longitude (the Prime Meridian) Running down the wall and underneath the girl in the photo.
London has a number of excellent museums. The most interesting will depend on personal taste and interest but I highly recommend the Imperial War Museum, the British Museum (not visited on this trip) and the Natural History Museum (ditto). I also visited the Victoria and Albert Museum on this trip for the first time and it was a pleasant surprise. Here are a few Museum shots.
The Natural History Museum. Did not visit on this trip but it's right next to the V&A museum so I got this shot of the exterior. In my opinion, it's one of the most beautiful buildings in the world inside and out.
Victoria and Albert Museum. This place was a pleasant surprise. Could have spent a day in there easily but we were limited to a couple of hours.
Imperial War Museum. Great Museum which has some hardware but just as focused on the personal experience/tragedy of war. Poignent Holocoust exhibit but no pictures allowed.
A famous department store on Brompton Road just east of the V&A Museum. Nice architecture.
Finished off our trip with a visit to the highly acclaimed but, in my opinion, disappointing Tate Modern on the south bank of the Thames. Excellent setting just south of St. Paul's Cathedral but a very stark museum in a defunct powerplant with modern art on the cutting edge (sometimes a bit over the edge).
Views from just outside the Tate Modern taken north towards Central London. Nice riverwalk from the museum to Waterloo Bridge and the London Eye. Had to set the camera on some tilted surfaces because of the lack of a tripod which explains the slanted images.
St. Paul's Cathedral and the Millenium Bridge
Enjoy
Last edited by Highlander on Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Beermo
- Penntower
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Re: London in the Fall
great pics. hopefully you'll take more at all the places you visit and/or live at. i would love to see more pics of the kingdom.
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Veritas Nihilum Vincet.
- Highlander
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Re: London in the Fall
Thanks. I've been overwhelmed by work over the past year so have had less time to post these threads than in the past. I'll put out a thread of other British cities a bit later. To be honest, the UK is not my favorite place in Europe to travel but I'm here and it's relatively inexpensive so I find my way around best I can.Beermo wrote: great pics. hopefully you'll take more at all the places you visit and/or live at. i would love to see more pics of the kingdom.
- Roanoker
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Re: London in the Fall
Beautiful pictures! What a treat to join you. Thanks much!
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- ComandanteCero
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Re: London in the Fall
great pictures, thanks for sharing! It would be awesome to be within driving distance of a world class city like London.
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Think on the Regional scale.
- dangerboy
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Re: London in the Fall
Great photos. I second the recommendation for the Imperial War Museum. I'm not a huge fan of military history, but this museum was excellent. And of course the British Museum is a must-see for the encyclopedic coverage of all human history.
Where did you stay? Lodging in London is insane. I have stayed with friends in the past, but most recently got stuck at a quite icky hostel. So becoming a temporary commuter on the next visit is actually appealing.
Where did you stay? Lodging in London is insane. I have stayed with friends in the past, but most recently got stuck at a quite icky hostel. So becoming a temporary commuter on the next visit is actually appealing.
- AllThingsKC
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- Highlander
- City Center Square
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Re: London in the Fall
Lodging is really expensive in London. There are some cheap hotels in the Paddington area but they don't offer much. I'm going there on business in a couple of weeks and spending 186£ for a single room near Covent Garden. On this trip we stayed in Guildford southwest of London (50£ per double). Because I had a car, I wanted a place without major traffic problems and on a train line into town; Guildford fit the bill. Only 7£ to get into and around the city. Windsor is also a good option but a bit pricier. Uxbridge would also be OK because it's on the Picadilly line and close to Heathrow.dangerboy wrote: Great photos. I second the recommendation for the Imperial War Museum. I'm not a huge fan of military history, but this museum was excellent. And of course the British Museum is a must-see for the encyclopedic coverage of all human history.
Where did you stay? Lodging in London is insane. I have stayed with friends in the past, but most recently got stuck at a quite icky hostel. So becoming a temporary commuter on the next visit is actually appealing.
- KCFutbol
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Re: London in the Fall
No pictures of the New Wembley, Stamford Bridge, Craven Cottage, White Hart Lane, The Emeriates, or Upton Park?
- Midtownkid
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Re: London in the Fall
CITY, heheAllThingsKC wrote: London is such an awesome country!
- grovester
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Re: London in the Fall
Wow, pushing 20 years since I've been, the folks lived there for a bit, Cottage Station? tube stop. Covent Garden was very nice, also Hyde Park and the British Museum. I remember there being a London Museum as well. BOG MAN! The theater was a high point, saw "Me and My Girl" and "Return to the Forbidden Planet". Nothing like a real G&T at intermission. We went during the fall also, fares were dirt cheap for some reason. Glad I didn't have to deal with the lodging issue.
- Angel
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Re: London in the Fall
Great pics! I love London and would like to go back in the next year. Every time I go, I never manage to make it everywhere I want to go. Carnaby Street is where I saw my first Lush store and fell in love.
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Re: London in the Fall
October of '07. Not very great photos, and I missed shots of Dempsey and Bocanegra (who you can barely see in one), but Craven Cottage is a neat stadium. I hope the Wizards do something similar based on this simple concept, only more modern.KCFutbol wrote: No pictures of the New Wembley, Stamford Bridge, Craven Cottage, White Hart Lane, The Emeriates, or Upton Park?
Last edited by bobbyhawks on Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.