Quiet and Classical London

The kind of beauty that never tires you is the classical and quiet atmosphere of London.

The beauty of some cities is falling in love at first sight, such as the beauty of Paris, Florence, and Barcelona.

Some cities’ beauty is a piece of ice that refuses to thaw. They really show their beauty when you see them the second or third time. Their secret perfume wafts, and their hidden grace is indeed luxurious. Their reserved character needs you to feel gradually.

Yes, London is this style.

Uncle Feng’s travel is always closely associated with films, and for me, Notting Hill is a film with the most typical London culture.

The film’s plots are not what I really like, for many scenes are a little bit too stereotypical. For example, the hero and heroine meet each other because of one cup of fruit juice is overturned, their “dates” fail time after time as a routine, and scenes are like this.

What I like is the London that the film shows, such as the balcony where they try to read the dialog by heart, and behind them is the street view of Notting Hill. During one night, they climb over the railing and enter the mansion of an aristocrat, and London seems to become a village, full of quietness; and the small bookshop, which looks messy but is really welcoming.

After the heroine leaves, the hero lives in the Portobello Road Market alone for a long time, and the liveliness of the market more reflects the disappointment of the hero. At the time in the scene, it is snowing. The smartest feature of the film is it accurately captures the character of Britons, the humor, which always makes you laugh but is never over expressed.

Portobello Road Market, Notting Hill

So, let the different London travel begin with the Portobello Road Market. This can be counted as the most lively and most special weekend market in London. The market is unexpectedly large, and you can nearly find everything you want. But many people are like me, and have no interest in the market itself, but wish to merge into the mainstream of people, listen to the music, and feel the reserved character of the city bit by bit.

Many shops here carry a vintage charm. Look at these items! Haven’t you thought of Holmes?

The silver-haired old lady is as classical as a lady who walks out of an oil painting or a film. Her stall is filled with classical little items. I stayed at her stall for quite a while, but she never looked at me once. In fact, her attention was not on the stall.

Tin toy troops from the the old man.

The coming and going pedestrians dressed in different styles.

The most standard activity of hanging around in the market is eating while walking.

The artists in the Portobello Road Market are all excellent. This man looks artistically gloomy.

This man looks artistically sad.

Kensington

If I could live in London for a while, I would choose two places: Notting Hill and the vicinity of Kensington.

Kensington Palace was the residence where Diana, Princess of Wales, once lived. Some parts of it are open to the public, including the room where Queen Victoria was baptized, and the exhibition at which the imperial court costumes collected since 1760 are displayed. Of course, the most impressive is the luxurious costume which Diana, Princess of Wales, once wore and the small cards sent by those who respected her.

If you still think that London is in the fog, please forget about it, for it is a story that has passed. If you think that London has no fog, that’s also wrong! In the past, it was smog, but now it is the real fog, the light mist that the island country features.

Near Kensington Palace, the mist near the lakes and woods is quiet and beautiful, and very difficult for you to see through. In the winter’s cold air, it makes me think of the sunshine-like smile of the beautiful lady who has passed away but whose life is difficult to guess like the candle flame in the wind. It is like the fog of London, which looks beautiful but is difficult for you to see through.

In the dusk of summer near Kensington Palace, people take strolls, exercise, or just sit down... In fact, the sunshine of London’s summer is rich, and is not as weak as you think.

In the spring of Kensington, cherry blossoms are flourishing.

The red building near the flourishing cherry blossoms is the renowned Royal Albert Hall. Since I have watched several musicals at the west end, watching a concert at the Royal Albert Hall has long been my wish.

If you have watched the video of Adele’s concert, you will surely understand the magic of the music hall.

Located in South Kensington, the Natural History Museum, London is the largest natural history museum in Europe, having collected about 40 million pieces of animal, plant, rock and other kinds of specimens. The central hall is the Modern Life Science Exhibition Hall, where cubic sights and exhibition booths are the tools used to introduce the Theory of Evolution (Darwinism) and anthropology.

You can also neglect those grotesque animal and plant specimens, and just admire the luxurious buildings. The magic scene is like Harry Potter very much. So, all fans of Harry Potter, don’t you think this is not the filming location of the film?

A monkey statue on the pillar.

Compared with the bustling British Museum, this place best defines the classical and quiet character of London. Isn’t it nostalgic when you sit down to read a book under the skeleton of a pterosaur?

Primrose Hill

Speaking of the quietest place in London, there is no place better than the Primrose Hill on the northern side of Regent’s Park.

Each spring, this high land is covered with primrose flowers, and so it was named Primrose Hill. Looking down at London from the hill, the skyline is extremely beautiful, and the serene atmosphere is the special village style of London.

Even the little girls playing on the street are also full of this special grace.

In his article Detached Thoughts on Books and Reading, Charles Lamb recalled the interesting tales when he read the book Palmela on the Primrose Hill. Herzen the thinker also spent a solitary but meaningful period of time on the Primrose Hill. That’s why this hill is always in soaked the atmosphere of literature and art.

Warner Bros Studio

If you are a fan of Harry Potter, you cannot miss the Warner Bros Studio. Now common Muggles can also enter Hogwarts of Harry Potter. Touring the studio for three hours was like entering the film itself. The Great Hall was once one of the most representative filming locations inside Hogwarts.

The magic creature exhibition section was also an interesting place to visit. The Harry Potter film series has created about 100 kinds of magic species, including Basilisk, Buckbeak and Nagini, which were all created by this studio.

Gringotts’ goblins such as Griphook, Aunt Marge’s costume, Dobby, Aragog, Hippogriff, Zonko's Joke Shop, Puking Pastille... You can find everything related to the films in the studio. Parents who visit London with their kids should be cautious now, because the magic products inside the shop are not cheap!

At last, let me put on a cloak, and take a special photo on a broom.

Address: Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Hertfordshire WD25 7LR

Opening time: The preset time is the correct time for you to enter the studio; and no entry on Christmas or during holidays. Please visit the official website to consult or make an appointment.

Official website: http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/