Lily has been out in the big city, for a weekend in Waterloo. She loved her stay… “Compared to the Derbyshire countryside that I’m used to, it was a nerve-racking experience being in the city at all! But as we sat on the peaceful hill surrounded by likeminded people, I was reminded of home.”
Last Friday night two friends and I travelled to London for a night’s stay in a delightful Hostel, nestled in the heart of Waterloo in London. The location is superb, with all the vital facilities close by- laundrettes, a huge selection of cafés, pubs and many quirky little independent shops and restaurants. If you are looking to experience all the touristy things in the city, the Walrus Hostel at Waterloo is an ideal place to stay. In just 10 minutes you can walk to Westminster Bridge, which is close to the London Eye, as well as London Dungeon and many other attractions.
That evening we decided to travel to Peckham to visit a friend, I was looking forward to seeing the area through her eyes. She took us on a short walk to Telegraph Hill, where we had a few cold beers and watched the sunset – the skyline slowly illuminating in front of us. It was so great to catch up with her and really get a feel for the community. Compared to the Derbyshire countryside that I’m used to, it was a nerve-racking experience being in the city at all! But as we sat on the peaceful hill surrounded by likeminded people, I was reminded of home. It always surprises me coming to London and seeing so many green spaces nestled within the busy city life.
Later that evening, we headed back to the hostel after a Jamaican takeaway and a quick apartment tour. We then hit the bar for some more (great value!) drinks and good chats. We met a few others staying at the hostel who were great company, as well as customers just visiting the bar. As the night drew to a close it was refreshing to know that our beds were but a few floors above us, readily made up and comfortable. With this in mind, we were eventually able to head off to bed on wobbly legs.
The next day, after getting some food from the nearby Co-op, we further explored the area around the hostel. We left the hostel after breakfast, said goodbye to the staff, and headed out into the pedestrianised streets. It was a very hot day so we stuck to the shady side of the street and wandered down to the park, passing many exciting looking restaurants and cafés. We stopped at one called The Travel Café, in which living pot plants and cacti covered the surfaces and travelled up the walls! It was a lovely place to drop by and get a coffee.
For our lunch, we stopped at another café in the park before ambling over to the bank of the Thames. Here we were proper tourists – getting the old cameras out for some obligatory snaps of the London Eye. We didn’t go into any of the big places such as the Dungeons or the new Shrek’s Adventure, however we did take a ferry trip down the river to explore some more parts of London.
In conclusion, I had a wonderful time in London. The hostel was comfortable and friendly, as well as perfectly placed for my London adventure. I was able to learn so much about the community in my short time there.
