SLIDER

Blue skies and West End shows in London

It was my 31st on Sunday, and to celebrate I spent 2 nights in London. I arrived on Monday afternoon and dropped my luggage off at my hotel. I stayed at Ruby Lucy in Waterloo - my first time staying south of the river - and it was a beautiful hotel. Modern, fresh, and full of character.

The area was lovely too, very convivial with lots of bars and restaurants. It made me feel safe as a solo traveller. In the week there's a food market along Lower Marsh which smells heavenly.


I loved the view from the 4th floor of the skyscrapers in Elephant & Castle.

I highly recommend the hotel - not only is it in an excellent location, I think the bed was the comfiest I've ever slept it. The mattress and pillows especially felt as if they were tailored to me.


After I dropped my luggage off, I hopped on the Northern line and into Leicester Square. I dropped a roll of film off at Snappy Snaps and proceeded to do some shopping around the area. Obviously I have to visit Knoops for an ice chocolate as is tradition. Come rain or shine, I shall have an iced chocolate.

Later that afternoon, I ordered dinner at Honest Burgers using Click + Collect, so I strolled over to The Cut and picked myself up a juicy cheeseburger and some of their rosemary salted fries. I loved seeing The Old Vic and the National Theatre Archive on my walk down. I would love to visit the Archive one day, it's free but by appointment only.


The Old Vic is currently staging a production of Oedipus with Rami Malek and Indira Varma. I would've loved to have seen it, but I had tickets to something else...

I returned to my hotel room, stripped down to my pants and a t-shirt, and ate my burger in bed. Is there anything finer?


Tuesday morning I set off towards Leicester Square again to pick up my film. The photos turned out quite nice, however there is a line running through each photo - it's faint, but once you see it you can't unsee it. Not sure if it's a film error or a camera error, so we'll see next time I get some photos developed. You can see some of the photos on my photography Tumblr here.

I spent a little time in the Covent Garden area, then moved onto Oxford Street. I was in a clothes-shopping mood which is uncommon for me in London only because I rarely leave myself enough space in my suitcase to bring it all back. I bought a really nice green sweatshirt from GAP - more than I would usually pay, but it ticked a lot of boxes for me.

After spending the morning and early afternoon shopping, I headed back to my hotel. I've been having trouble with my shoulder (I think it plagues me when I'm stressed) so I had a nice, relaxing hot shower, dried my hair, and had a nap before heading back out again. I was off to see Much Ado About Nothing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane! I always like to fit in a nap before a show because they finish way past my bedtime, heh.


I left the hotel again at around 4:30pm. I wanted to be close to the theatre, so again, I jumped on the Northern line to Leicester Square. I spent a good hour just in the Pret on Cranbourn Street people watching from the window. On my way to the theatre, I nipped into Glossier and bought a back-up Wowder.

The show was utterly surreal, dazzling, hilarious, sharp, flashy, and fabulous. I'd give it a 100/10. It was everything I never knew I needed in a Shakespeare play. I left feeling like I'd just experienced a fever dream (but in the best way possible). I got a taxi home and collapsed into bed.


Wednesday morning I packed up and left my room fairly early. I'd booked a Stasher point near Kings Cross and wanted to dump my luggage and have a few hours to explore before getting the train home.

After dropping my suitcase off, I got the tube to Holborn to have an early lunch at My Old Dutch. I had a GF pancake with ham, scrambled egg, and cheese - it was just what the doctor ordered. I then walked up Bloomsbury Street and headed towards Russell Square to have a little sit down in the sunshine.

I really lucked out with the weather. Absolutely perfect blue skies, sun, and mild temperatures.


A sweet cluster of crocuses.


At about 1pm I jumped onto the Piccadilly Line back to Kings Cross to collect my luggage and kill 40 minutes until my train was due. I popped into Postmark and bought a little A7 notebook which I'm thinking I might use as a gratitude journal.

Shockingly, my train was on time! I watched episode two of The Politician's Husband and soon enough I was home.

No comments

Post a Comment

© Devotedly, Kate. • Theme by Maira G.