Cactus Language Blog

Cactus Opinion: London (by Germaine Broadbent)

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Languages Abroad, Cactus Staff Opinion, English, Language Courses UK

Germaine Broadbent, Director of Sales, gives us her thoughts on London

London, steeped in history with a Queen whose family have lived there since the 1600s. Although it is often the West End, Soho, pubs, clubs, shops and traffic that hit the senses hard, possibly it is the contrasts of this city that draw in the visitors. Along with the Monarchy, it’s long history, the architecture and the formality that still exists here in our capital, there is still the anarchic presence of punks (even if it is mainly to entertain the tourists) hanging around Soho and Covent Garden.

London produces controversial artists such as Tracy Emin and Damian Hurst, with their and many other Modernist works on show in establishments such as Tate Modern, along with some of the most traditional and historical works of art in the world today, to be seen for FREE in the National Gallery (after you have taken a photo of the lions in Trafalgar Square!).

One can party hard in this city of red buses, in a way that only the English seem to have perfected. The clubs and pubs of Brixton, Soho & the East End – whether the licensing laws are on the side of the hedonist or not – will help you to have your own adventure in this city and yet there are so many beautiful parks and places of solitude in London too.

You can ride a horse along the gravel paths of Hyde Park or lose yourself in the unmanicured piece of countryside of Hampstead Heath – all within Zones 1 and 2 of the city. On Hampstead Heath you can really get away from it all, both emotionally and physically – you will hear birds, walk through long grass, see no paths and not have sky scrapers towering above you. Come to the village of London…what? Visit Barnes with its pond of ducks, country pub and Wildlife and Wetlands Centre and ONE street of local shops or go to Primrose Hill, favoured by A list celebrities such as Noel Gallagher and Kate Moss with the white washed houses, gardens with flowers and a small selection of country pubs.

So much to see and do and so little time…fast and furious or peaceful and calm, entertain your kids or bring your sweetheart..London – you’ve got to go there to experience it. You’ve got to find out for yourself. Take a bundle of cash and find the bits you like, find the bits you hate…talk to it’s people, talk to it’s visitors and make your mark on this BIG capital city of such a relatively small, yet glorious Kingdom…

Tags:Covent Garden, English, london, soho, Trafalgar Square, West End