London is huge. It’s 607 square miles. To put that in perspective, New York City is 304.6 square miles—London is almost double the amount New York City which is the largest city in the United States. I am only here until mid-December which doesn’t give me nearly as much time as I need to explore London. There are so many little hidden spots within London that are more than just the touristy areas like the South Bank or Oxford St. Here are a few places that I have enjoyed going to while studying abroad in London!
18 Stafford Terrace, Kensington, London, UK.
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| Linley Sambourne House |
If you’re looking for a place that will take you back in time, 18 Stafford Terrace is your place to go! This hidden gem is one of the best places to go to take you back to the late 19th century. They offer a variety of tours—one is even a costumed tour! You will learn a lot about the historical society that was amidst this part of high society London.
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| The art of letter writing |
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| Living in High Society |
The Monocle: 18 Chiltern St, Marylebone, London W1U 7QA
London offers a lot of fine dining places, but if you are looking for a little, quiet café with amazing lattes, Japanese-inspired food, and an amazing ambiance, this place offers just what you are looking for. The staff is incredibly friendly and usually even remember who you are! One down side is that there is no wifi, but that's okay, especially when the food is the best and very affordable. Another thing that is a plus is the fact that this place is also right by campus (about a 5-minute walk)!
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| Lovely Architecture |
St. Dunstan's in the East: Dunstan's Hill, London EC3R 5DD
Finding a pocket of beauty isn’t that easy in London, especially with many industrialized buildings and the regular cityscape. What is amazing about London though, is that you can find little areas dedicated to just the natural beauty. St. Dunstan’s in the East is actually a little church that is right by Tower Bridge and all the touristy attractions, but many don’t really know about it. Although it’s not really a highlight of the city, it should be. The church’s garden is absolutely astonishing and although it’s heading towards winter—the shear beauty of the gardens still emanate throughout which offers a serene atmosphere.
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| Park bench |
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| Serene Ivy |
There are thousands of places to go in London--it’s practically endless--and these places are definitely worth it! They are all so different and unique to themselves, it makes it difficult to find places that are like them!
Michelle M. is a Fall 2016 CEA MOJO in London, England. She is currently a junior studying cinema art & science, concentrating in directing and post-production and minoring in photography at Columbia College Chicago.