Harlaxton Day 8: Last day in London!

The day that I simultaneously dreaded, and was thrilled for, ever since I landed in England a week before. I was thrilled because it was our last day in London! From here, we would go on to stay in Harlaxton Manor and see even more of the amazing country that is England. On the other hand, I dreaded it because, well, it was our last day in London. From exploring the city with help from the tube, to seeing iconic landmarks, to eating some of the best food I’ve ever had, the week had been a truly spectacular experience, and I was not ready for it to end so soon.

In honor of our last day, I wanted to go out with a bang and do as much as one could in one day. The weather had a different plan as the 101o forecast was expected to break the record for the single hottest day in the nation’s history, but I was not about to let that deter me from seeing more of the city I’ve enjoyed so much.

Because of the heat in our typical classroom, we had class at the expansive British Museum, where I conferenced with my professors about an upcoming essay that had been assigned. After leaving the museum, my group headed to the Camden Town markets because no trip to London is complete without hitting the markets at least once.

From there, we took the tube to Buckingham Palace, which is even more breathtaking in person. The beautiful architecture, the adorned gates, the gold-plated statue in front of the palace all left me in awe. I didn’t get to see any of the royal family (which I knew was a long shot to begin with, but you never know) but that didn’t make it any less of an experience.

While we were at the palace, we made plans to see Tower Bridge. Unfortunately, we confused it with London Bridge and ended up seeing Tower Bridge from far in the distance at London Bridge (oops!). But there was no time to correct this mistake as it was time to meet up with the rest of my classmates at the Globe Theatre for a showing of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s dream!

The play was amazing, hilarious, everything you would want and more! It took the classic Shakespearean comedy and put some humorous modern twists on it, making it very entertaining and engaging.

By the time the play had concluded, it was late, and most restaurants were closed, except for some fast food chains. Thus, we ended the night with a mighty feast of the most British food one could eat: McDonald’s!

As I write this, I am sitting on the coach that is taking us to Harlaxton Manor (which is where we will be staying for the remainder of this trip), looking back at this past week’s memories and eager for the next two weeks. My biggest take away from this? London town truly is an amazing place filled with rich culture and history, and I cannot wait to return here someday.

Usman