12 years on: return to the Great Britain (Part 3 - London)

Saturday, 7 June

Took a coach from Oxford to London. Heavy traffic on M40. Passed Hillingdon, a Zone 6 tube station in the west. Bought oyster card, left our luggage in the Morton Hotel near the Russell Square tube station and went to Piccadilly Circus. Saw the Piccadilly Lights, property of Land Securities. Lost in Waterstones. Discovered the London branch of the Bank of East Asia, right next to the Chinatown, on the Shaftesbury Avenue - is the naming of Shaftesbury PLC, an investment trust focusing on the West End, somehow related? Pilgrim to the entrance of Ronnie Scott's (which was full). Watched a boring England v Honduras game in Soho and tasted the London Pride (which I suspect is anything but).

Sunday, 8 June

Ran to the Old Vic to buy Clarence Darrow tickets but no luck. Guided by an old boy and wandered around the Portobello Road, Notting Hill. Saw the George Orwell blue plate. Had a beer under sun near the orange coffee van. Glimpsed the ads at Marsh & Parsons and had a feel of the property prices in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Discovered the Victoria and Albert Museum, which we had skipped 12 years ago due to museum fatigue. Shops on Sloane Street closed before 6 on Sunday. Just past the Harrods and enjoyed a really good violin/cello performance near the Knightsbridge tube station. Went to the Canary Wharf, a ghost town on a Sunday evening, and the headquarter of HSBC. Had dinner at Burger and Lobster Knightsbridge.

Monday, 9 June

Headed to the Bank of East Asia London branch for account opening but to no avail, apparently because of my marriage visa. Looked for 84 Charing Cross Road only to discover that it was occupied by Pizza Hut. Walked along the Floral Street and Covent Garden, the largest landlord of which is the dually-listed Capco. Stopped at the London School of Economics. Heard an appeal to the Master of the Rolls' court at the Royal Courts of Justice. Visited the Twinings Strand Shop & Museum, followed by an old Child & Co branch of RBS in 1 Fleet Street, the origins of British newspapers. Had lunch at The Tipperary, dubbed first Irish pub outside Ireland. Walked to the City of London. Had wanted to hear a criminal trial at the Old Bailey but was told by the officer there that as part of the anti-terrorism measures people carrying mobile phones were not allowed enter the courts. Passed the St Paul's Cathedral. Took the tube from the Bank (named after the Bank of England) to Russell Square. Saw a plaque commemorating the attack on the train from Russell Square to King's Cross St. Pancras on 7 July 2005. Asked the staff at HSBC (right under Morton) whether I could open an account and was told that unless one lived, studied or worked in the UK he could not open an HSBC account, with the possible exception of Premier customers. Read books in Waterstones.

E was shopping in Bicester Village (in translation: outlet) in Oxfordshire.

Watched 1984 at Playhouse Theatre near the Embankment tube station.

Tuesday, 10 June

Went to the shop of Charles Dickens Museum, strolled in Bloomsbury, Camden. Took a picture outside the Senate House of the University of London, for the first time and 8 years after graduation (and it seems that the Senate House inspired George Orwell's creation of the Ministry of Truth!) Headed to the City again for the property at 27 Lovat Lane next to the Monument tube station, the first London property we saw. Centrally located in the middle of "Walkie-Talkie" (again a Land Securities / Canary Wharf development) and The Shard, home to Shangri-La. Crossed the London Bridge, bought lunch at Borough Market and ate lunch outside Southwark Cathedral.