Every time I go to a new city my first instinct, along with many others, is to go to the center. City centers and downtowns are associated with bustling street tourist attractions and good food. When I first got to London, I would always go to the center of London, often referred to as central. Central had all the shops, there was endless food, packed streets and iconic locations such as Tower Bridge. While Central was amazing and a place all tourists must visit, it surprisingly got old quickly. The food was very expensive, pickpockets filled the street and it was overall very overwhelming. Furthermore, my university was a 30-minute commute to Central which was often very tiring.
I started to feel conflicted because I wanted to enjoy London but I didn’t want to go to Central as much. So what I started to do was explore East London, which is where my university is. I am so glad I did because I fell in love with East London. My favorite areas were Aldgate East, Spitalfields and Liverpool Street. The food is divine but affordable, there are cute little shops on every corner and it is always lively but never busy. Once I realized how much this area had to offer, I could not resist spending all my time there. One of my favorite spots is right outside Spitalfields Market. There is an area with greenery but also also abundant seating which makes it the perfect spot to eat food and people watch. I often found myself going there to clear my head.
As my time in London wraps up, I can confidently say that the Aldgate East/Liverpool Street/Spitalfields area is my favorite part of London. While the Center may have more history and nicer buildings, it doesn’t feel as homey as East London. I think that everyone who travels to London should make the effort to explore outside of Central because London is so much more than just that. Although I am excited to come home, East London will always have a special place in my heart.
Reshma Chandy
GW England - Queen Mary University of London
Spring 2024
Columbian College of Arts & Sciences
Economics Major