August 28, 2020

OBERWERTH ON TOUR - LONDON CALLING!

LONDON CALLING! - 5 DAYS IN LONDON

Fortunately, this year has given us favorable public holidays, which are ideally suited to use a long weekend and explore foreign cities. This is what our colleague Jörg (sales) thought and flew to London without further ado - with him, his Fujifilm X-T2. Of course he also had one of his Oberwerth bags with him. His choice for the city trip: FREIBURG and RHINE.

We asked Jörg to tell us a little bit about his short trip. Here are his very personal tips for the English capital:

DAY 1 - THE ARRIVAL

Cologne, Terminal 2. The plane is on time, the weather is good - we're ready to go! Almost 2 hours later we land gently at Stansted Airport in north London. Typically English we are politely with a “Good evening. Have you had a pleasant flight? ”. Admittedly, the connection between Stansted Airport and the city center is rather modest, but with a little planning in advance, everything works out fine. We decided on the "Stansted Express" and reached our destination just 50 minutes later: Liverpool Street Station. Welcome to London!

Since we didn't arrive at our hotel until shortly before midnight, we just turned around the block and familiarized ourselves with the area. Then we went to bed, because the next day should be exhausting.

DAY 2 - A WALK ACROSS LONDON

Our hotel was on Liverpool Street, centrally located in the financial district of London. From here you can easily explore the city on foot in 3-4 hours. So we let ourselves drift.

Our first goal: Borough Market. Borough Market, running south and parallel to the Temse, makes the heart, or rather the stomach, beat faster. All kinds of culinary delicacies have been on the market since the 13th century. Today it is popular with tourists and Londoners alike and is definitely worth a visit. Whether street food or delicatessen, whether sweet or savory, every visitor will find something for their taste here.

Strengthened and totally overwhelmed by the innumerable dishes on the Borough Market, we strolled along the Temse in the direction of Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately, Big Ben was "packed", but we could watch a typical spectacle at the palace. As a tourist you only know it from films, but the traditional guards are something very special in real life. How unreal are you standing in front of the palace gates and connecting the historical charm of the monarchy with the modern and fast-paced London of 2018 through your presence alone. That is also very interesting Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Walk.

Buckingham Palace is located between parks and surrounded by green spaces - whether St. James Park, Green Park or the extensive Hyde Park - here you can switch off from the stress of the city. The always accurate planting, as one would expect from an English garden, is particularly impressive. Through Hyde Park you get to the directly connected one Kensington Garden at its western end is the Kensington Palace is located. The palace is still partly inhabited by the English royal family.

After a piece of cake and a cup of coffee, we headed back towards Temse and past London’s most modern landmark - the London Eye. If you have enough time, you can certainly catch a great view of the city. The almost 2 hour waiting time and € 35 entrance fee were too long for us.

DAY 3 - HOP ON, HOP OFF WHEREVER YOU WANT

They are also recommended Hop on, hop off Buses. These are actually in all European capitals. They usually run on 2-3 fixed routes across the central city center. Admittedly, a tour by bus is not exactly cheap, but if you use the principle as a means of transport (hop on, hop off), the ticket pays off. You pass the most important sights and can spontaneously get on and off wherever you want. In London 4 different tours are offered per provider. If you choose a provider, you can take part in all tours with one ticket.

Accordingly, you can quickly get to any of the city's hot spots. We were lucky that we were in London for the weekend, because on Sundays the city offers a unique highlight and a must-visit for every tourist. At the Speakers Corner At the northern exit of Hyde Park there is a lot going on every Sunday: From denouncing current grievances, to religious messages, to crazy nonsense. Everyone has the right to their opinion, and this is made known to the listening audience at the Speakers Corner. Probably unique in the world and immensely fascinating.

Another highlight is the district Notting Hill. The colorful house facades and flower-adorned front gardens are beautiful and invite you to stroll. If you are in the area, you should definitely do it Portobello Road Market pay a visit. All kinds of clothes, antiques and food can be found in the market. The hustle and bustle is more interesting than the goods.

After Notting Hill, we finished the day off Westminster Abbey a visit. The church does not belong to any diocese, but is a separate church of the British royal family. The kings of England are traditionally crowned here. Brief advance warning: A waiting time of 2 hours should definitely be planned. But it's worth it! The magnificent church houses the graves of Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking, among others - a special honor, since normally only nobles and monarchs are buried in Westminster Abbey.

DAY 4 - A DAY IN THE NAME OF CONSUMPTION

So far it has been neglected here, but of course you can also shop in London! Let's start on the Piccadilly Circus and work ahead: The circus owes its name to the round shape that is reminiscent of a ring. From Piccadilly Circus, streets flow in all directions. The square serves as an absolute hub in London's West End. But now for shopping: Of course, in addition to the typical shops that can be found in almost every city center, there are a few shops that really stand out. Therefore, I am only referring to my highlights here, which are a sight for me alone.

If you leave Piccadilly Circus east on Coventry Street, you will arrive in a few meters China Town. In short: another world that you don't have to describe, but experience. Immediately adjacent to China Town is the Lego Mega Store and M & Ms World. Even if you don't want to buy anything, both stores are absolutely impressive. You feel transported back to your childhood and after a short time overwhelmed by the bright colors.

Heading back towards Piccadilly Circus and taking the western exit onto Regent Street, you automatically walk to an even more impressive store: Hamleys. Hamleys is the oldest toy shop in the world and offers everything that makes children happy on 6 floors - and also one or two adults. There is nothing that is not there. Singing salespeople, play areas, costumes, and and and. An absolute must for every visit to London and an unforgettable experience.

DAY 5 - BACK TO GERMANY

After 4 days of sightseeing in London, on the 5th day only the way home was on the agenda. But not without saying goodbye to England. The absolute MUST for every Englang trip, a portion of fish & chips!

CONCLUSION

London is definitely worth a visit and it will certainly not be the last time to see me. The city is so diverse that I don't even begin to feel like I've seen it all. The international flair, the many cultures, the traditional royal family and the modern architecture - London is a cosmopolitan city and offers a feeling that in Germany, if at all, perhaps best reached through Berlin. If you have ever thought about visiting, I can only call out: “What are you waiting for? London calling! "

But since this report should come to an end, I'll just let a few pictures speak for themselves :)