London Low-down
Thursday 23 October - I, along with 12 other English Literature students, Miss McCosh and Miss McLaughlin set out to London at around 6pm. We arrived at our hotel shortly before 10 o‘clock that night. After leaving our cases and belongings in The Royal National Hotel, all of us headed out to get something to eat in China Town (we were spoilt for choice). There, everyone tucked into food like sweet and sour chicken, spicy noodles, duck and other Chinese delicacies. From here we returned to our hotel and recharged our batteries for the next day.
On the next day after everyone had had their breakfast, we set out for the Globe Theatre - a reconstruction of Shakespeare‘s very own. The journey to our destination involved many underground tube trains - which I must say, are not for the claustrophobic! At the Globe (which overlooked the River Thames), we received a tour and discovered how plays were performed then and now. In addition to this, we found out that seating arrangements were classified in association with your social status. Along with the exhibition here, I think we‘ll all agree that we learnt something useful. Soon after, we had lunch in a café.
We all returned to the hotel and got ready for the big night. Planet Hollywood was our first stop where we indulged in Hamburgers and Fries, not forgetting the chocolate ice-cream that followed. No one left anything - better than the burgers back home.
Phantom of the Opera in her majesty‘s theatre, it was phenomenal! Everyone loved the special effects and realistic ness of the entire play. The actors were amazing and we all agreed that we would definitely see a play there again. This was certainly a night to remember (in particular Natalie Calder who discovered she can no longer walk in her five inch stiletto heels). Miss McCosh and Miss McLaughlin then lead us around some of the shops that we were to visit the next day. After plenty of walking (and moaning from Natalie), another day had passed and we were to be rested for our final day in London.
Saturday 25 October - our final day. At around eleven o‘clock, we took more underground tubes and visited Buckingham Palace. The Queen was in at the time but when Miss McCosh gave her a call we were dismayed to hear that she was unavailable. After a nice stroll around the area, we hit the shops! Harrods was immense. So many different departments and outrageous prices, we couldn‘t believe it. £32,000 for a fur coat! They didn‘t have my size - what a pity! We then visited Camden Market and plodded around the shops there, whilst being entertained by singers and jokers on the streets.
After having lunch, most of us were just getting used to the hustle and bustle of London, when it was time to leave. We got our suitcases from the hotel, checked out and were on the route to Belfast. More tubes and trains followed and before we knew it, we were in London Stansted boarding our flight back home. Our 50 minute flight ’flew‘ in and as quick as we knew it, the rain was pelting down and we had landed!
