Initial Observations

My first observations of London occurred on the journey from airport to the Royal National Hotel. I was in a bus, so I noticed how different the road system and streets particularly caught my eye.

First of all, I had to get used to the cars driving on the wrong side of the road, (which they seem to compensate by also having their steering wheels on the wrong side of the car). Vehicles in London are much more round, with oblong curves replacing a slightly sleeker look in America. Even the boxier of cars, like buses have distinct round edges. License plates appear to have random letters and numbers; there’s not a single vanity plate in sight. Front plates are white, and back plates are yellow.

Everywhere you go the place is littered with signs. From helpful Tube stops, to the equally handy “Look Left” written on the streets, London makes it easier on tourists and locals alike, though it does look a bit cluttered sometimes. The one sign I haven’t seen yet are speed limit signs, but Jesse’s book says that there are understood standards for certain types of areas. For example, in town, it is 30mph. And yes, they use miles per hour for some reason.

America’s buildings along the roads are overrun with billboards and advertisements. London’s primary form of advertising relies on the sides of the heavily prevalent and efficient bus system. Tall double-decker busses have plenty of space for showing off the latest play, movie, or business for a singular, attractive ad. Longer double-busses have much more horizontal space for their graphics. It is a refreshing change from home; If it weren’t for some of the most expensive stores in the world hiding overpriced fashion pieces on the inside of Victorian buildings, one would almost think that this is a decidedly less consumer-driven culture than ours. It’s also refreshing, so that the buildings are able to shine on their own.

The architecture of the buildings are amazing here, and are what really make up London’s charm. I would say that most of the older buildings look dirty (like many in Chicago); but it isn’t as simple as that. They are all weathered, worn, and historic. Ivy climbs up some of the countryside homes, while old roman-columned buildings are anything but new and pristine. I’m sure I will write more about the architecture as the trip goes on.

Early morning London saw the classic hazy-blue filter of Hollywood movies, but the warm sun poked out later in the day, making me regret the lack of sunglasses. When I saw warm sun, I mean it – it was a welcome feeling in this cold city. A deep cold that layers can only prevent for so long prevents this from being the perfect tourist destination. People on even the most moderate of budgets can appreciate the beautiful sights of the city for free. In this town, it seems as if everyone is a tourist. Much more so than Chicago, it seems as if only 1 in 6 actually live here.