After mentally preparing myself for the five miles that lie ahead, I swipe out of my dorm, plug my headphones into my ears, and pick up my pace to a swift jog. It’s a chilly Thursday afternoon in London, and it seems as if it must have drizzled for a bit just moments before the start of my run. Careful not to slip, I turn right, and right again, heading south down Drury Lane, on the eastern boundary of London’s Covent Garden area, known as the home of the Muffin Man in the popular nursery rhyme.
As I head down Drury Lane, I notice a variety of storefronts. Two of these are tourist shops, boasting varieties of postcards on sale for 99 pence and thin scarves emblazoned with the Union Jack. The variety of cuisine never fails to surprise me as I pass Mexican, Spanish, French, Indian, and Japanese restaurants. I also note the people gathering with their friends outside of the local pubs, pints in hand. The laughter and conversation emanating from the pubs fill the surrounding streets with a jovial energy. Trying to focus on exercising instead of eating, I also observe the theaters around me. I see the New London Theater, which is currently home to “School of Rock the Musical,” and the Aldwych Theater, which hosts “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.”
Then, I turn left and approach my institution for the year, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). I watch students chat and grab coffee and sandwiches at LSE’s café, Garrick. As I wait to cross towards Arundel Street, I glance right and notice the beautiful façade of the Australian High Commission. Double-decker buses and classic black cabs speed by, their wheels skimming the curb. Once the green man signals me to continue running, I head towards the River Thames (which I quickly learned upon my arrival to London is pronounced “Tems”). Veering right after Temple Station, I continue along Victoria Embankment, which borders the river.
The view at this point completely takes my breath away. To my left is the tallest structure in London, the Shard, surrounded by other buildings in Canary Wharf and the City of London Financial District. To my right are the Waterloo, Hungerford, Golden Jubilee, and Westminster Bridges, in addition to the instantly recognizable London Eye and Elizabeth Tower, which is often referred to as Big Ben. As I run towards the Houses of Parliament, I cannot help but gaze at the sights unfurling before me. Though I have viewed these buildings many times, the power of their stately beauty will never fade.
On Victoria Embankment, I also pass several historical monuments that speak to the history of the city. Cleopatra’s needle, flanked by two faux-Egyptian sphinxes, was presented to the United Kingdom in commemoration of victories at the Battle of Alexandria in 1801. The Royal Air Force Memorial honors those who risked their lives during World War I and World War II. The Battle of Britain Monument is a paneled granite sculpture commemorating military personnel lost in this battle during World War II. I am overwhelmed by Britain’s long history and patriotic remembrance of those who sacrificed themselves for their country.
As I reach the halfway point of my run, on the other side if the Westminster Bridge, I turn around and speed back towards Big Ben. I am immediately overcome with how fortunate I am to call this city my home for a year. London is stunning, multicultural, cosmopolitan, historic, and simply iconic.
