WIP Wednesdays -'Tour' of London (Patreon)

Greetings! Here's a sneak peek into what's to come in 'Beauty and the Brit'! This writing was fun because I literally 'drove' through London with Paige via Google Maps street view and got to relive my own memories of walking (or bussing or taking a train) by many of these locations myself when I lived in this vibrant city! (PS the hotel they end up at is one I worked a couple of hospitality shifts for and it's very pretty! Check it out!) Also, if you want a visual, just start your Google Maps street view tour around the Chiswick roundabout and follow the story directions along ;)

-Britt xoxo

As Martin drove through the city towards downtown London, Paige’s eyes grew wider and wider with each new thing she saw. He took the M4 at first and she marvelled at the large glass buildings of the car dealerships, the hotels and largely sized advertisements along the route. Then he got off the motorway and headed through the Chiswick roundabout onto the A205 towards Kew. Paige marvelled at the brick buildings that housed storefronts and people’s homes as they drove along. It was so quaint, beautiful and different and yet there was a bit of familiarity in the sense that there were similar setups of shopfronts back home though not with brick and white trim. It wasn’t long before Martin crossed Kew Bridge and Paige got a look at The Thames which here looked like any other river. She chuckled to herself at the humbling thought.

As they completed the bridge Paige saw the white and black Tudor style building to her right and she smiled wondering if it were a cottage or store or what it could be but they moved on so quickly she couldn’t quite tell.

They went along another minute or two more before the driver had turned down a street to the right and continued on down the road which had one lane in either direction. Paige suspected he was taking her down a sort of residential scenic route and she wasn’t about to complain.

“What’s that large brick wall for?” she questioned -noticing it immediately as they carried on.

“I was about to point it out,” he admitted, “That there to our right-hand side is Kew Gardens. It’s truly lovely in there; they’ve got all sorts of plants and flowers and greenhouses and so forth. And to your interest is Kew Palace, though it probably looks different to what you’d think a palace is like. But, all the same well worth a look if you’re into Georgian history,” he told her.

“I’ll make note!” she agreed, pulling out her small notebook and pencilling it quickly -not wanting to miss any sights she might catch along the drive.

Luckily she did catch sight to her left of a quaint building that said TEAS at the top with the words The Original Maids of Honour. It appealed to her immediately and she pencilled that down too. Tea in a cute tea shop across from a garden? Yes please!

Martin drove on with various twists and turns through mostly residential until they crossed Chiswick Bridge and he led them to Chiswick House and Gardens which he pointed out as another point of interest if she wanted to escape the tourist-side of London and wanted a bit of relaxing scenery and interesting architecture. 

He then carried on and got onto the A4 where Paige could tell they were starting to head more central and away from the residential. Her breath was caught a few times but particularly when they passed a large church of some sort on the left side. “It’s called St. Paul’s Hammersmith,” he explained, “That’s the area we’re in now: Hammersmith. And this is called the ‘Flyover’!”

“That’s so neat!” She grinned as she took in even more details around her. They passed a large glass building that looked slightly like a fat ship (appropriately titled ‘The Ark’) and several other pretty buildings before Martin announced they were now in South Kensington and within seconds Paige gasped at the sight of a huge building that at first resembled a palace then parliament in her mind.

“Natural History Museum!” he announced.

Paige had a hard time believing that was a museum! 

“There’s Natural History and the Science Museum,” he went on, “Then up ahead is the Victoria and Albert Museum! The V&A!”

“Just incredible,” Paige breathed out as they passed everything and she gazed in awe.

They carried on into Knightsbridge where Paige marvelled at the London Oratory and then gasped and grinned when she recognized Harrod’s Department Store.

“Hyde Park is off to our left. I wish I could take you up as there is also Kensington Palace up there but unfortunately we need to collect your friend from The Athenaeum Hotel now,” he announced with regret.

“Oh it’s no worries!” Paige exclaimed. “Please carry on, don’t mind me! Even little store fronts are fascinating enough for me don’t worry! I’ll have plenty of time to explore! Thank you so much for the tour already!” she expressed.