I can’t believe there are only 3 weeks left of the semester! It has flown by so fast and surprisingly, I’m not ready to leave! London has been an amazing experience for me personally. I’ve learned so much about the city; London is nothing of what I imagined it to be. This city is a melting pot of deep history and culture. There are so many dimensions of London that I have seen and many more that I have yet to experience. In my sociology class, “The Social Dynamics of London”, we read and discussed a poem called “The London Breed” by Benjamin Zephaniah, a Londoner of Trinidadian origin who writes about the multiculturalism of London in a deep and accurate sense in his poem, describing the people, the food the history, and even the controversies, oppression, and daily struggles and successes in the life of a Londoner. In all, he describes the Londoner, having a different kind of “London Breed”. The people and the origins, history and culture of London are a complex melting pot that makes it such a unique place (Poem available at the end).
By far my favorite cities have been Camden Town (my home) and Brixton. These cities are filled with culture and history and depict the multicultural dimension of London. Camden Town, where I stay, is known for its quirky atmosphere, street art, music, punk culture and Amy Winehouse. You can find nice clubs and pubs in this town and a plethora of places to eat. I got to the Camden Market almost every morning just to get freshly squeezed orange juice for the day. There’s so much food to choose from at the market and I hope to try everything I can before I go back home. Brixton village is another market with the best Caribbean food which Brixton is known for due to its Caribbean roots. Brixton, (also home to David Bowie), contains its ethnic food as well as clothes, vintage markets, and music that reflect its roots as well. When in London, I recommend visiting these two places to get a taste of a different dimension of London outside the traditional British culture.
As I do, here are some places I recommend visiting in each city as a guide:
Camden Town
- Camden Market (Food, Clothes, Art, and More)
- Poppies Fish & Chips (Restaurant)
- Koko ( Club)
- ZSL London Zoo
- Pubs
- Street Art
Brixton
- Brixton Village (Food, Clothing, Art, and More)
- Black Cultural Archives (History)
- Brockwell Park (Nature scenery)
- Refill Eaterie (Caribbean food shop open 24 hours)
Of course, there’s so much more to see, eat and experience in these two towns so don’t limit yourself! Do what you want to do and make the best out of your study abroad experience. When in London or traveling anywhere- find the hidden gems, learn about the culture and dig deep into the history. This makes your traveling and time abroad more meaningful and helps you to immerse yourself into the different dimensions of your study abroad location.
Poem by Benjamin Zephaniah: