Do you ever just wake up and wish you were somewhere else? Not because where you have woken up is awful, just because there’s another place pulling you. This is something I experience a lot! Sometimes it’s a deserted beach or a tranquil loch. But more often than not, the place calling me has a London postcode.
Several people have asked me, confused, why I'm so drawn to London, the city I fondly refer to as my Happy Place. Let me tell you…
When I step out of Kings Cross Station and am met with sirens, buildings, throngs of people, buses. I feel my chest loosen in the same way that it does when I spend time by the sea. I appreciate that for many people, a bustling, noisy city is the last destination they would consider for a relaxing escape. They might be more drawn to tranquil countryside, mountains, beaches or spas. I also find peace in these places. But when I need to really switch off, London is the answer. I step out of that station and disappear into the crowds, anonymous and content, knowing I have a couple of days ahead to wander and think.
I’m a great believer in creating a life you don’t need an escape from. During my teaching career this was not the case. I lived for the school holidays. All my colleagues knew I was the girl to ask how many days were left of each term. Back then (and it still feels strange to refer to my teaching days as “back then”) I really needed those holidays because of the respite it gave me from a job I was unhappy in. The first couple of weeks of the summer holidays were the only time I felt I could really live the kind of life I wanted.
In those days I discovered that London was a place that could provide the escape I desperately needed. The buzz of the place, the pace and the variety were such a departure from my suburban life. I found I was able to switch off and not think about work. London never failed to offer something to distract me.
Life is very different now. It has it’s challenges but I genuinely feel lucky every single day that I am now able to focus on creating a life I love. However, I still feel the need for those London trips. The difference is that I’ve now made them a feature of the life I love rather than an escape from life. Maurice Philogene talks of letting the extraordinary become the ordinary and that’s what I’ve managed to do with London. Earlier visits were extraordinary - most things were new to me and I indulged in nice hotels, treating myself in shops and splashing out on meals and foodie treats. In making London part of my ordinary life, some of these things feature less. Ordinary requires a more budget friendly approach! I’m no longer interested in shopping, I eat on a budget rather than as though I’m on holiday and I sleep in a Travelodge.
It’s not that I don’t crave the little breaks most of us do now and again from housework, school runs, cooking. I love that London gives me a wee break from these things but it does so much more for me. The city has captured my heart and become an important part of my self-care.
Why London?
London has been a constant, if not regular, in my life, filled with cherished memories. My earliest recollection is standing just outside Hyde Park at four years old. My parents, with a new toy camera, introduced me to the magic of London's iconic landmarks—a palace, a vibrant bridge, and guards on their horseback. Little did I know, this spark would ignite a lifelong obsession.
My parents indulged me in two or three further visits during my childhood, allowing me to begin to appreciate just how much this vast city had to offer. University years brought a new chapter of London adventures, this time with my then-boyfriend, now husband, James. My cousin Rob, recently relocated from Australia, was our intrepid guide. Rob led us on and off tubes, walked us round the massive parks and introduced us to the vibrant chaos of Camden Market. As he guided us through the colourful streets of the real London, away from the usual touristy sightseeing spots, I was mesmerised by the stunning buildings, the smells coming from the vast and varied selection of eateries and the fascinating mix of cultures. If you had asked me after those trips to describe London in one word it would have been exhilarating.
As newlyweds we had a couple more trips where we enjoyed boutique hotels, romantic strolls in Hyde Park, posh restaurants and West End shows. Those were our carefree days, embracing youth, love, and the thrill of endless possibilities.
When our children came along we replicated the trips of my childhood, staying with my brother and the London based Swede he had fallen in love with (who is now my sister in-law). I wanted our kids to experience the thrill of the city and they were excited (as was I!) to visit the landmarks they had recently seen in the movies Paddington and Nativity. They took in the views from the London Eye and ice skated underneath it. They saw the houses of parliament and posed like the guards outside Buckingham Palace. The Queen was even kind enough to do a drive by.
As the kids got a bit older I began to venture down on my own with them, usually en-route to visit my brother and sister in-law. We took advantage of the parks and museums, so much bigger than Scotland had to offer and felt quite brave navigating the buses and trains by ourselves. I loved sharing the magic of London's iconic locations, pointing out buses destined for Monopoly board addresses. In that sense, going to this amazing city is almost like meeting a celebrity.
Jamie was less keen on cities as he got older and this was when Vaila and I began our girls’ trips. Just as I had been as a teenager, the teenage Vaila was captivated by the shopping opportunities. No trip to London is complete for her without some retail therapy around Regent Street, Carnaby Street and Covent Garden. We’re also partial to some window shopping on the exclusive Bond Street. In terms of shopping, London offers the opportunity to step inside several shops which she would otherwise only be able to access online. On each trip we aim to spend time in our favourite spots (the aforementioned shopping areas) while also exploring a new area on each visit. The challenge with this has been that most places we have explored become favourite places! On these precious mother-daughter trips we have spent time in exploring the pastel coloured streets of Notting Hill (yes we did all the film spot spotting - it’s one of my favourite movies!), Kensington, Chelsea and Battersea. With each trip I’ve become less reliant on my trusty Citymapper app to guide us around and now love the feeling of just walking in the general direction of where I want to end up, taking in the sights as I walk. There is ALWAYS something interesting to gaze at.
As well as my trips with Vaila, over the past few years I have spent time in London with my mum, my cousins and with some of my best friends. Imagine my utter delight when ABBA announced London as the location of their ABBA Voyage show! This mind-blowing concert alone has justified three trips to the city.
In the year that our family circumstances changed, I have to admit London became a sanctuary for me. I felt like I was allowed back out into the world for a couple of precious days. London, with its relentless pace and endless distractions offered a much-needed respite from the overwhelming challenges at home.
So here I am four decades after my first glimpse of London. My daughter has described me as having “a very committed relationship” with the city. I have now made it part of my life and although visits are less frequent than I’d like, the city holds a permanent place in my heart, a constant source of inspiration and anticipation. There’s an illustration of London landmarks on my vision board and a savings pot in my bank app dedicated to saving for my next visit.
Part of the draw is undeniably that it allows me to spend time with some of my best friends who are happy to stomp miles and miles exploring with me. Although time to myself was never something I craved before, I do feel the need for it these days so have also begun to embrace some time in London all by myself. I can wander aimlessly across the city, thinking my own uninterrupted thoughts and deciding at each crossroads which direction I’ll take next. Last time I was there I took myself for another visit to Notting Hill and walked through Portobello Market where one of the stall holders was kind enough to be playing the Notting Hill soundtrack for me. There’s something special about finding yourself walking the streets you’ve seen so many times in movies and tread by stars such as Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts and…Paddington Bear.
As I’ve ventured further I’ve been captivated by charming neighbourhoods including Primrose Hill, home to many celebrities and a beautiful street of pretty cafes and independent shops. Then on through the leafy, affluent residential streets to Hampstead Heath, via yet more pleasant eateries and shops, for an impressive view of the city. These areas have become a regular haunt now.
Another frequently visited spot is St James’ Park and while meandering through there this summer I found a shady spot under an old tree and indulged in some people watching. If I had closed my eyes it would have been impossible to say what country I was in, all around me was a chorus of different languages. The majority of people seemed to be tourists enjoying the array of flowers and watching ducks and swans glide across the pond. I could see people reading, families picnicking, couples canoodling, workers escaping for their lunch break. Despite being in the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities, it provides a truly relaxed atmosphere. I thought of that question I've been asked about why I love London and in that moment, surrounded by a mix of nationalities, I realised that one of the things London can offer me is the feeling of being abroad, something I adore and hadn't been able to do for several years. Within that one city I can experience excitement, variety and discovery as well as peace and relaxation. As my relationship with the city has grown, it can now even offer some comforting familiarity.
The changes I’ve made in my life have allowed me to start spending time in London a bit more often. While I’ve stated that this is now a part of my life, that doesn’t take away the immense feeling of gratitude. A dreary Monday last November spent mooching around Chelsea with my friend was one of my “pinch me” moments. I had never believed that my life could include joining in with the London lifestyle - not all the time but enough of the time. They say variety is the spice of life and London, with its infinite variety, has become the spice that enriches my life.
I’ve noticed the difference in me is that while I once gazed at those multi-million-pound homes with longing, imagining what it must be like to live the London lifestyle; now, I simply appreciate the spectacle. A couple of days immersed in the city's glamour is all I need to recharge. I can then quite happily jump back on a plane or train and head home to my family, appreciative of the balance between my London adventures and the comfort of my everyday life; a life I no longer feel the need to escape from.
Where's your happy place? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below. And if you're a London aficionado, I'm always grateful for tips and suggestions!
The anonymity within the hustle and bustle of busy London sounds very appealing. For me, I’d have to replace the humm of the city with the buzz of the bees as I immerse myself in nature to find my happy place. I really enjoyed reading why London calls to you.
What a gorgeous testament to being able to find joy and hold onto it. I loved reading about finding a life you don’t need a vacation from.
Right now my happy place, is cozy in bed with my blog open and a show on knowing the kids are cozy and tucked in bed. Simple, but that’s the phase of life we are in and I am okay with that.