I do so love the streets of London. It seems that no matter where I look, there is something to delight my heart and stir a sense of recognition, of names and places oft read about but never seen.
When I return to London (fingers crossed!!), I’m going to set aside one whole day just to peruse English bookshops like this beauty.
My friend Katy and I had such fun looking in windows and dreaming of long, lazy days with nothing to do but drink copious amounts of tea and read for hours on end.
After a whole morning of wandering, Katy and I were famished and popped into a tiny cafe for scrumptious salads and fabulous people-watching.
I loved seeing the various fashions (so different from the streets of Italy and Amsterdam), delighting in the eclectic mix of posh business wear bustling alongside punk street garb and traditional Indian saris.
After lunch we strolled through exquisitely beautiful Hyde Park.
I love this expansive stretch of lush green lawns, curving pathways, and wonderful old trees that dropped armfuls of leaves perfect for crunching through.
There’s something about London in Autumn that makes my heart flutter.
We emerged onto a busy street crowed with shiny London cabs that made me grin. It’s such a lovely thing to find your imaginings of a place come to life.
We joined sparse crowds ogling Buckingham Palace, watching the beaver-hatted guards march back and forth.
Soon it was time to step out of the cold and tuck into a real English tea.
Katy found the perfect spot and soon we were visiting happily as we sipped cups of strong and creamy Earl Grey tea and nibbled our way through hot-buttered scones slathered with jam.
Twas a dream come true for me.
Thoroughly warmed and satiated, we bundled up and headed to Piccadilly Circus to see what we could see.
Do you have a quintessential English experience that you’ve always dreamed of fulfilling?
Fantastic!
Thanks so much, Dawn! 🙂 It’s great to meet you 🙂
It has not been since the 1970’s that I was actually in the city of London and not just the airport.Your photo essay makes me want to return, especially with the Olympics on every channel.
I wonder how much it’s changed since you were there, Val 🙂 How fun it will be for you when you get to return. 🙂
I LOVE all these pictures, Krista! You look so happy 🙂
Thank you so much, Tiffany! 🙂 I was VERY happy to be in such a great city with such a dear friend. 🙂
Vanja and I were in London for 10 days 2 years ago – beautiful photographs you have taken! Incredible! What lens do you use most of the time for these kinds of photos, Krista? Borough Market and Neil’s Yard Dairy were definitely highlights for me in London as was Harrod’s food floor.
Ten whole days in London sounds SO wonderful, Valerie. 🙂 I’m afraid I don’t have any sort of lens. I just use a Nikon CoolPix point and shoot. 🙂
http://goo.gl/d0yI5
We went to the Cotswolds for our honeymoon and spent the week at a beautiful old mansion that had been converted to a B&B. It was actually the setting for a few scenes in a Masterpiece Theater version of Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Anyhoo…I’ve been to the UK twice but never seen *London* actually and would really like to go back and do the whole London thing. Someday…
Oh how fun, Jenny 🙂 I’ve never been to the Cotswolds and can’t wait to return to England to explore it. 🙂
Sigh, this makes me miss England so much, and all my friends there. You’d love the bookshops in Oxford Krista, I spent about 4 days straight just browsing them.
Ohhh, bookshops in Oxford sound like my idea of a little bit of heaven, Hila. 🙂
Gorgeous photos Krista, and you look so pretty… love all of the bright colors you are wearing, looks great on you! I really can’t wait to take a trip back to London, we’ve been dreaming of it for a long time.
Oh thank you, Tuula. 🙂 Those colors are so cheery they make me happy wearing them. 🙂
So many delightful places in London to explore. I still haven’t had a chance to explore all the neighbourhoods. Notting Hill is next on my list when we make another trip back there. We live so close now!
You ARE so close, Andrea! 🙂 I’d love to see Notting Hill as well. There are so many more places to see!! 🙂
Hi K. there is a song from the 70’s that i love , the words are – ” let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of london, i’ll show you somethin that will make you change your mind “. it is a sentimental tune that brings back childhood memorys of happiness. that is special
Awww, I love that, Neil! 🙂 So glad you have such happy memories. 🙂
I would love to spend a day in that bookstore and then ramble through Hyde Park…lovely!
Oh wouldn’t it be FUN to meet up in London and do that one day, Joanne?! 🙂
I keep watching the Olympics for all the wrong reasons: I’m just hoping to catch glimpses of London:)
I know what you mean, Corine!! I was so excited to watch the women’s marathon because we got to see so much of the city. 🙂
I don’t love London but these photos are fantastic.
London in the Autumn is special, isn’t it?? I sometimes forget what a beautiful, energising city I live in!
Great pics! I still haven’t been to London, which for an Australian seems terrible…