Harlaxton Day 6: Wellcome Collection, British Library, and more!

Heading out in the morning from our residence hall, we bypassed our usual classroom in favor of more explorative ventures at the Wellcome Collection and the British Library. Wellcome featured exhibitions on the history of magic and collections of artifacts related to human health. On display was Darwin’s walking stick, Napoleon’s toothbrush, and even an Ecuadorian shrunken head.

The British Library had some of the most important pieces in the island’s long history, including Jane Austen’s desk, lyric workings by John Lennon, and the Magna Carta. Getting to see these legendary pieces was definitely not something I will forget and a great educational use our class time while in London.

Afterward, we were off to explore London ourselves by heading south towards the Thames. Now, no visit to England would be complete without some scrumptious minced beef pies, so we stopped at a local shop, and the pies were so tasty that my friends and I questioned why there weren’t just as prevalent in the States. Nevertheless, we made it to the river and got to walk around must-see London spots like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Tower of London. Hopping across the iconic Tower Bridge, we cooled off by heading to the Borough Market, where vendors were selling local meats, cheeses, and pastries all under the shade of the train tracks above.

Taking a quick break at our dorms, we decided to set out for dinner. One of the best things to do in London is simply set out in a direction and wait for something to catch your eye in the big city. After walking around, our group finally decided to try some authentic ramen. Needless to say, it was much more complex and flavorful than what most kids who live on a college campus are familiar with. After another eventful and jam-packed day, we wound down with our new nightly tradition. First, a visit to the 24-hour Tesco (Britain’s much-condensed equivalent to Walmart) for Jaffa Cakes and then our residence hall’s own Foosball table for air conditioning and healthy competition. With 13 miles walked, this day certainly was one where we made the most of our time seeing what makes London such an incredible city.

-Lorenzo