Trip to the UK, Part Two
January 29, 2009 | Filed under Travel
What I tried to do with my written journal entries during my trip was to write them in a guidebook style, like what you might find in a Lonely Planet guide for budget travellers. So keep in mind that whatever is written in the entries regarding my trip, is written by someone with certain tastes, habits, likes, and dislikes – what works for me, mightn’t necessarily work for you.
Astor Quest Hostel – Hyde Park
The hostel itself is superbly located in the center of the Hyde Park/Bayswater districts – solid, respectable, and wealthy districts without any sign of a darker underbelly. Thus, they’re an excellent option for a single female traveller, as it’s obviously better to be safe than sorry. The security was quite good at the hostel itself – with 24 hour reception, you can be sure that there’s always someone around to keep an eye on what’s happening.
The beds were surprisingly good – solid and sturdy metal frames (no squeaking bedsprings) with firm mattresses that were perhaps a couple of inches narrower than a standard single bed. Linen was clean and free of charge (no towels though, so bring your own!). The bathrooms are impressively clean, hygienic, and fragrant. My 8-bed dorm room had an ensuite bathroom, and there are also extra toilets and showers elsewhere in the hostel. There’s free breakfast available, and though it’s only cereal and toast, it’s breakfast nonetheless and free for the budget traveller.
All-in-all, I’d suggest the Astor Quest for the single young backpacker with: 1) not much luggage (depending on which room you’re in, there’s up to six flights of stairs and no elevators); 2) a penchant for cleanliness, security, and comfort; 3) a small enough budget to enjoy a free, plain, breakfast; 4) no intention to use anything more complicated than a microwave in the miniscule kitchen; 5) familiarity with the London Underground, or who is comfortable walking half an hour through Hyde Park to get to tourist sites like Buckingham Palace.
It’s good accommodation for a great price, despite their inability to spell correctly.
Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
I knew it was big, having seen it on maps of the city, but I wasn’t prepared for exactly how big it was. I had envisioned it to be roughly the same size as the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, when in actuality it’s more like three times the size, with lots more to see and do. You can breathe the history in the air, with commemorative statues dotted throughout, a short path to the Albert Memorial, and within fifteen minutes of three different royal residences, the Park has something for everyone.
My visit to the gardens was early in the morning – from 8am to 10am as I was keen to start my first day in London as soon as possible. As a result, it seemed as though half of London was out and about in the park – joggers exercising, suits cutting across to get to work, dogwalkers letting their pets run free, kids running around on the grass. Every possible demographic was represented, even in the dead of winter, so I can only imagine what the gardens are like in spring with flowers blooming and leaves on the currently naked trees.
The Round Pond was teeming with wildlife (swans, geese, etc.), and though both it and the Serpentine were half-frozen over (yeah, that’s a dog walking on the frozen Serpentine in the photo!), I could see some visage of the majesty of their appearance in the summer. On the whole, I can only imagine that the park and gardens are best visited on a weekend in the warmer months, rather than in the grimmer winter months.
Buckingham Palace – Changing of the Guard
While the palace itself is simply stunning, the changing of the guard is simply too crowded to be enjoyable. People line up, five rows deep against the gates to see the ceremony, but in the end, all they manage to get is a whole lot of excellent photos of the back of people’s heads. If you want a front row seat, you’d better start lining up two hours beforehand – thus it’s only worth it if you have more than a couple of days in London. Otherwise, you’d be better off spending those two hours at other attractions.
The Queen Victoria memorial at the front of Buckingham Palace is an excellent place for a photo opportunity at less congested times of the day – both of the memorial itself, and for a wider view of Buckingham Palace as well.
The exclusivity of the palace is half the reason for its popularity – unlike its lesser cousins Kensington Palace, St. James’s Palace and Hampton Court Palace which are open for regular tourist hours year round, Buckingham Palace is only open for two months in the summer when the Queen is not at home. Even then, it’s only a few select rooms that are open, and the majesty of these rooms are often shielded by scaffolding as repairs are being carried out.
Otherwise, there are a few evening guided tours during the year, but spaces are limited (really limited, the one I went on only had nine people), and you will have to pay a ridiculous amount. I ended up paying about $150AUD for a single ticket. It was worth it in that the grandeur of the rooms was simply astonishing, and the tour guides really can explain things that you can’t experience on a self-guided tour. Would I go on it again? Probably not. Once is enough, but once was worth it.
9 Responses to Trip to the UK, Part Two
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It’s really interesting to get a different view point on it, makes you think of London in a different light, even if liked before anyway. Loving the style of writing, guidebook with a more personal touch.
Charlie on January 29, 2009 #
Loving this guidebook style! I suddenly feel the urge to go to Hyde Park.
Alexandra on January 29, 2009 #
The park/garden sounds amazing. I want to go!
Lol @ kithcen.
Kaylee on January 29, 2009 #
I really do want to visit London. I did once when I was at school, but that was just going to Earl’s Court for a science exhibition.
Sarah on January 30, 2009 #
When I went to Hyde Park, it was approximately 7am on a Saturday morning (my friends and I got straight off the plane, dumped our stuff in our hotel, and went off to explore rightaway) and the only other people we saw were joggers and such. Oh, and swans. Lots of swans…
Manda on January 30, 2009 #
WOW I never imagined people would be that fanatical about the changing of the guards. Are these locals or tourists? :o
Vera on January 31, 2009 #
Hyde Park is one of my favourite places in London. It’s absolutely beautiful in the summer months. Especially that little rose garden. Smells just like turkish delight (surprise surprise) ;D
I have a set on my Flickr with some photos from Hyde Park in March, namely the Princess Diana fountain, rose garden and Serpentine as well as some of the surrounding memorials – http://www.flickr.com/photos/k4chii/sets/72157605063627543/
Macca on February 1, 2009 #
Sorry, that was May not March. :P
Macca on February 1, 2009 #
I agree with you. We were in London for 6 days in early May. Hyde park was my favorite park in all of London (all the big parks are just beautiful though).
I have never seen so many Westie’s in one place as in the parks in London (of which I have a Westie). There was lots of people out jogging, walking, taking the dogs out and babies in prams.
There are some beautiful blooming trees on the back side of Hyde park on the way to the back of Kensington Palace. I still have been unable to find the name of the trees. Does anyone happen to know the name of them??
Carrie on July 2, 2009 #