London is often regarded as 'a city of many villages'; one of these is Kensington, to where our London office has recently moved. Above: click to enlarge the photo; just look at the colourful flowers in bloom outside the Churchill Arms. A sight unimaginable in wintery Warsaw!
London's real character is to be found away from the main streets with their fast food outlets and franchises that could be just anywhere in the UK. Take a turn into any side street and the urban pace of life slows down somewhat. Those double yellow lines spoil the visual ambience somewhat.
Left: High Street Kensington, lovely mid-19th C. architecture.Below: evening, Kensington Church Street; almost every shop along this street, from Notting Hill Gate to the north to High Street Kensington to the south sells antiques or fine art.
You somehow captured something essentially London"ish" in these photos. Sure has lovely parts -- back streets, especially in Chelsea, unrepeated anywhere in the world that I know of. But...I gave it another go in the 90's for a few years (having previously considered my self a "native" almost), and then scarpered off with great relief back to the desert, where I belong.
ReplyDeleteAh, the Churchill Arms. Isn't that the pub that plays the great man's speeches in the WC to the accompaniment of "air raid sirens"?
ReplyDeleteThe next time I'm over in London, I shall visit - just up the road a piece from our offices - and report back.
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