Walkabout in London
Aimless wandering and 10-mile walks with no plans or destination are a great way to experience a city's true character.
Walkabout is a term dating back to the old days in Australia when native Aboriginals employed at cattle stations would return to their traditional life in the off-season. Many would disappear on unexplained absences as part of what was said to be a “nomadic predisposition to wander aimlessly.”
I’m not Aboriginal, but I love wandering with no destination or purpose.
Going on a walkabout is my favorite thing to do in bit cities and a great way to have an urban adventure. While museums, traditional sites, and tourist attractions are a great place to start, they typically offer a one-sided and curated view of a city. You really get to learn about a city and experience its heart and soul when you hit the streets. You travel by public transportation, explore residential areas, and meet locals going about their everyday business.
In nearly forty countries of travel over the past twenty years, it’s often the little things that linger in my memory.
I never know where I’m going or what I’ll encounter. I just relinquish myself to the city and let it reveal itself. I’ve gone on walkabouts in Bangkok, Mexico City, Lima, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Bogota, Naples, Havana, Managua, and more. Some walkabouts covered a few miles over the course of a couple of hours, while others covered 18 miles and had me returning at 1 a.m. in the back of a taxi.
Islington and Residential London
Most recently, I went on a walkabout in London.
I made my five-day home at an Airbnb in the Islington neighborhood. It was a nine-story apartment complex filled with middle-class Londoners of all ages and backgrounds. Staying in a residential area gave me an authentic taste of London, and it was a hell of a lot cheaper than staying at a tourist hotel in Westminster.
I hit a few corner pubs and strolled the main boulevard some afternoons. I worked at a neighborhood co-working spot in the mornings while sipping tea and meeting a few locals. I picked up groceries at a local store and had to seek out a computer shop to buy a new cable for my laptop. Things like this seem trivial, but they’re an interesting part of the authentic experience.
My flat in Islington was quite far from Westminster, but that was fine with me, given my penchant for wandering aimlessly. It just meant more time exploring the subway and riding all those double-decker buses. The London Underground opened in 1863 and is the oldest underground railway in the world. Today, the system handles up to 5 million passenger trips per day.
Brick Lane and Shoreditch
I stumbled upon Brick Lane and Shoreditch more by chance than by planning. I had wandered a mile from my flat when I pulled up Google Maps to discover that I was not far from the area. Brick Lane area is home to a vibrant street art scene and features a large Indian and Bangladeshi community.
Oxford
The area around Oxford Street and Picadilly Circus is quite touristy and noted for the best shopping in London. However, it’s also a great place for strolling and people-watching.
Pub Stops
Certainly, no walkabout would be complete without beer stops. I love neighborhood bars and the thrill of just opening a door with no idea what’s inside. Over the years, this has occasionally led me to some sketchy places. However, I stopped in nearly a dozen pubs in London, and all were quite friendly.
Chinatown
Bordering Soho and Theatreland, London’s Chinatown is quite picturesque at night. The area is home to excellent Cantonese restaurants and features a sizable Chinese population.
Some Signs
I found some interesting signs strolling around. I tried to leave one building and went to the first floor, only to find out that the firstfloor was the second floor and “Floor -1” was ground level.
Bridges
There are 35 bridges in London that cross the Thames River. I didn’t even see half of them, and somehow, I missed the Tower Bridge.
Westminster and the Tourist Stuff
I’m not big into traditional tourist sites, but that doesn’t mean I don’t visit them. I made the obligatory stroll through Westminster to check out Big Bend and Buckingham Palace.
Laughs and the The Last Tuesday Society
One night, I strolled out to the Bill Murray Club o catch a comedy show with several British comedians. I also ventured out to Hackney to check out The Last Tuesday Society, one of London’s most bizarre bars.
Football Hooligans
While riding the underground back to Islington on evening, the subway got more packed as I headed East. I decided to get off at the Arsenal station and found myself in the middle of football madness. It would have been an amazing experience to go to the game, but it was sold out.
Random Stuff
Honestly, I didn’t find the food in England to be that good. I never made dining plans; I just ate where I ended up, including a few pub meals of fish and chips. However, London also had a sizeable Indian community with many Indian restaurants serving excellent butter chicken.
Like many big cities, London isn’t something you can fully digest in just a week. I’ve at least scratched the surface and will be back someday.