From hustle to tranquility, London has it all

Yesterday we went sightseeing again before watching football on Sunday and flying home on Monday.

Today's plan was to take walks through Camden Market, Hyde Park, and Notting Hill. But before heading to the trendy and bustling Camden, we had to make a stop at Platform 9 3/4. As Harry Potter fans, we had to visit King's Cross Station, where the Hogwarts Express departs 😍. Besides a half luggage cart sticking out of a wall, a sign above it saying Platform 9 3/4, and an infinitely long line of people wanting to take a photo with it, there is a Harry Potter fan shop 😍. Despite being overcrowded, I managed to find some items in a quiet corner while my husband had internet access. And of course, I found what I was looking for 🙂 a hat and a cup, which naturally turned into a pen and notepad 😊. With a happy wife and a happy husband (once we were outside), we made our way to the next hustle and bustle. Camden Market consists of several markets and is a major attraction. In addition to second-hand designer and non-designer clothing, you can buy antiques and furniture here, as well as indulge in delicious treats. Camden and its markets are quirky and colorful, far away from today's mainstream vibe. Finally, we saw some punks again, who are also threatened with extinction. The facades of the houses were not only brightly painted but also adorned with shoes or dragons. Despite some Turkish bazaar-like stands, we weren't bothered or harassed. But that might also be because the whole of London was at these markets, and there was no room for anyone to approach us. It was incredibly crowded! Still, strolling through the alleys and stalls was fun. Towards the end, it got a bit quieter, and we got some food from two very different stands. Patrick got something sweet after the hearty meal and treated himself to Spanish churros with caramel sauce.

From there, we took the train to Hyde Park and walked through it until we reached Kensington Palace. Hyde Park is a dream 💚💛❤️ a green oasis in the restless city of London. Personally, I like it a bit more than Central Park in New York, but it may be because I get to see Hyde Park in my favorite season...the trees with their autumn colors, the colorful leaves on the green grass, and the many squirrels searching for food 🍂🌳🍁🐿. I think I wrote something similar yesterday ☺️ sorry, but I just love this time of year 🙋🏻

Leaving Hyde Park at Kensington Palace, you quickly reach the Notting Hill district. This neighborhood became famous thanks to the movie of the same name and has since become a (even more) popular residential area and a trendy tourist attraction. You can find many small shops and cafes there, where we took a coffee break. From there, we walked along Portobello Road, which leads into the Portobello Market. I have no idea what's special there. With so many markets around, as a tourist, you definitely lose track at some point 😆. Eventually, we turned to escape the tourist flow and walked through the streets of Notting Hill, admiring the pretty, well-maintained houses that are just like the ones in the movie. I don't even want to know how high the property prices are here. 🙈 There were already some impressive houses behind a gate, not just in the driveway.

After a nice stroll through the quiet streets, we went back to Leicester Square in the evening to grab a bite at Pizza Hut.

And after walking 16km that day, we were relieved to finally be able to rest our legs in the hotel. 🙂