London Isn't What I Expected
My First Impressions Visiting London, England
As a child, I had the privilege of traveling through Europe -- born in Germany, living in Italy, and visiting other countries with my family. Those early experiences shaped how I experienced the world and, even now, remind me how much travel can expand your perspective.
But since the age of 9 years old, I have been stateside with my only "foreign experience" being a couple of hours visit to our northern neighbor Canada. I haven't really gotten to experience other cultures as an adult.
Luckily, I got an opportunity to visit London, England for a business trip and will be extending it a couple more weeks to visit a few more countries. Here are my first thoughts and impressions of the first stop -- London, England.
Arriving in London
Arriving in London around 11AM gave me my first taste of a very lively city. London Heathrow was buzzing with activity and so was the Underground railway. Heathrow, as well as the rest of London, is very well connected by train and I quickly got to experience my first commute on "the Tube" as we rode it towards Liverpool Street Station.
My first experience with the English railway system was a crash course in figuring out how to navigate and pay to use it -- turns out you just have to tap your credit card instead of purchasing a ticket at the digital kiosks.
The railway was crowded with people leaving the airport, commuting to work or simply navigating the city. Liverpool Station was just as crowded with thousands of people scurrying in every direction. It seemed like everyone in London takes this railway -- it would not be long before I figured out why.
Once we were picked up from the train station, our Uber driver took to the roads. Chaos is the best word I can think of to describe the streets of London. Besides the obvious of driving on the left side of the road, I was surprised to see just how narrow the streets were. Many times, I thought the driver must have been driving down a one-way road, only to see other cars ducking into open parking spots to allow us to pass.
It's as if all the locals just accepted the chaos and embraced it.
Culture Shock
Contrary to thirty years of media portrayals, London was much more multicultural than I expected. I saw very few people who met the British archetype commonly seen in U.S. media potrayals of the country and while London is only a small part of England, it definetely felt like a much more culturally diverse city than what I was previously told.
Life seemed to be chaotic while also moving more slowly. Meals and moments were meant to be enjoyed (no rush). People were always kind and helpful. For the most part, I could sense a bit of British pride in everyone I engaged with.
The lifestyle in London was quite different from home. More people rode bikes and walked as part of their commute. Generally, most people seemed to care about things like energy usage and pollution when choosing their method of transportation. In my hotel, the lights only worked when I inserted the room key into a slot near the door — a clever way to conserve energy and one more reminder I wasn’t in the U.S.
Small things you're unlikely to notice unless, like me, you're visiting from abroad. The rooms are also a bit smaller than what you would typically get in the U.S. Even things like a tea pot in the room instead of a coffee maker were signs I was not in America anymore.
Old World Meets New
London feels much older than anything you will find in the United States. The buildings, the roads and even the traditions all feel like they have been around for quite some time.
A ship in the no longer used canals at Tobacco Dock in London.
While much of London has skyscrapers and newer construction, many of the buildings and homes feel historic. Townhomes and brownstones clearly were not built this century. The streets and canals were clearly not built in recent years. These small details gave parts of the city character and personality. Places like Liverpool Street Station and the Tobacco Dock let you feel the age of the city.
In most places, there is a distict demarcation point where you will see a change from the modern and historic parts of the city. When it comes to the newer aspects of the city, they never clash with the old. Buildings in areas like the Financial District are situated closely to historic areas like The Tower of London and Tower Bridge, yet it never detracts from the aesthetic.
First Reflections on London
London may be chaotic, but it has undeniable charm. My first impression is that London has much more personality than many cities I have visited in the past. The blend of modern and traditional architecture gives the city a unique personality. And the people have the personality to match.
