Regina Arriola’s Travel Diary: 168 Hours in London

Seven days in London is not nearly enough.  London is a cutting edge city that delivers originality and has an astonishing number of places to satisfy the artistic eye. Between the Barbican, Tate Modern, Design Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Somerset House amongst others, it is virtually impossible to visit every one of the exceptional museums in the city. Luckily, I was able to visit most of these places, in addition to some fantastic restaurants, stores, and a lounge or two.

In addition to Somerset House and The Victoria and Albert Museum, I was also able to visit the Tate Modern museum, and was completely blown away. What an impressive collection of artwork! From Warhol to Roy Lichtenstein, the galleries are filled with such iconic artists that are hailed across the world.  The Tate Modern is also featuring an exhibition of the work of Miro, a Catalan artist, as well as a feature film by Pere Portabella. The Tate Modern is at the very top of my list of must-see spots in London, especially if you are a contemporary art enthusiast.

Some of the other places I visited in London that I recommend for travelers are the W hotel which recently opened in Leicester Square, Yoyo’s, the super-hipster lounge in Notting Hill, and a few fantastic vintage stores on Notting Hill’s Portobello road. I was able to find some very rare pieces here, like an amazing weekender bag, made in Morocco. I also picked up some great finds at London’s annual designer sample sale in Chelsea. I highly suggest stopping by this sale, for those in the area, as you may be able to snag threads from designers like Maison Martin Margiela and Viktor and Rolf.

Finally, the most enjoyable time spent in London was watching my surroundings, examining the street fashion, and taking in the city. I find that fashion in London is more of a way of life than an industry, and that the people have a sense of style that is truly uninhibited. Fashion is a form of art in London that further emphasizes the English culture as one that is timeless, sophisticated, and innovative.

Here are some photos taken during my time in London, Enjoy!

The rest are photos taken of some of the artwork at the Tate Modern:

I urge everyone to fit this lovely city into future travel plans… It is most definitely worth the trip. Next stop, Milan!

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