One year in London
I know I sound like a broken record, but holy geeze, where is the time going?
On July 30th of last year, we stepped off the plane fresh from Hong Kong, and landed in frigid London.
I remember thinking how crazy it was for the temperature to be in the 60’s at the end of July! But, that’s London, and actually something I’ve learned to love about where we live.
Since then, we moved into our flat, had a baby 51 days later, and began settling in to our new “normal”.
A year later, we still feel like we’re settling a bit more than we should, but slowly things are coming together. Having a baby basically right after we arrived made it nearly impossible to properly nest, which is something I still feel like I’m doing, even now that Emerson is almost one. Maybe when she’s a toddler, I’ll finally feel like I’m ready, ha.
Living in London has been a fun experience. But as I said above, it still feels like we’re settling, which often makes me feel like I’m just visiting, or simply a guest in a big city, rather than this being our home. Our first six months were spent trying to figure out how to be parents, so we were couped up a lot. Then winter came which meant more cabin fever. In between there, we traveled a bit, and made a few trips back to the US. Living closer to the states has been nice as we’ve seen a lot more family in the last year than when we lived in Hong Kong.
Now that summer is here we are LOVING the weather, and doing our best to get outside every chance we can. Each weekend, we try to pick a new neighborhood to explore (check out our day in Hampstead) so we no longer feel like traveling tourists.
London is a charming, quaint city that feels like both a chic metropolis and small village, like the one you see in the Holiday.
I often get asked which city I like living in more, London or Hong Kong, and depending on the day, my answer is different. I thought it would be fun to compare the two, based on the experiences I have had in the last couple years. If you’ve got more to add to either list, please feel free to share!
London
What I like:
There’s nothing quite like a London summer! The temps are generally in the mid-to-low 70’s with limited humidity, making it pretty amazing to be outside. Additionally, the sun doesn’t set until after 9 pm! There are also no mosquitoes in the UK, so not worrying about being bitten is really nice.
The pub culture is very inviting, friendly and comforting. It seems to be all about gathering and intimate socializing. Even though winter days can be depressing at times (see below) I LOVE finding a cozy pub to have a traditional Sunday roast. It has very quickly become one of my favorite meals. And there’s something about eating it during winter that makes it even more meaningful.
The architecture all over London is something to behold. Unlike new and modern Hong Kong, London’s historical buildings and and alleyways are old-world gorgeous. Something out of the Dickens era, and I love that. It’s like every Disney movie I watched as a kid (Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks {Portobello Road shout out!}, 101 Dalmatians, etc.) but in real life.
There are SO many parks in London. Going out for a run, breathing in the fresh air, and having tons of space to just live is one of my favorite things.
What is ‘meh’:
Getting anywhere in London can be a logistical nightmare. And it takes AGES, even when taking taking public transit. A couple weeks ago we wanted to check out Greenwich, which was about an hour via the tube with all the changes (this didn’t include walking time). Sometimes it doesn’t even feel worth it. I’m not complaining that an hour is too long, it’s just compiled with everything else transportation related in London. And don’t even get me started on the traffic - the surge in construction all over the city means that 1 hour tube ride would be about a 1.5-hour Uber ride.
That said, public transportation (i.e. the tube) is sometimes late, unpredictable (as in someone will come over the loud speaker and share that your train is suddenly switching tracks and no longer going where you think, so you have to get off and wait for the next one) and grotesquely hot underground. The buses are great though!
There doesn’t seem to be the same energy pumping through the city as Hong Kong. Each neighborhood has it’s own vibe, which is cool, however it makes the city feel disconnected at times.
A London winter, although not very cold (woohoo!) can be quite depressing. The sun sets around 2 pm, and doesn’t come up until around 7 am. I remember finding it so bizarre when the street lights came on at 3 pm.
Hong Kong
What I like:
I’ve always said that Hong Kong has a certain electricity to it. A certain vibe and energy that is difficult to describe. The East meets West immersion means your daily life brings such unique experiences that I truly feel you can’t get living anywhere else.
Hiking; did you know Hong Kong has so many scenic trails?
World class transportation. It can feel like you’re packed in like sardines at times, but it’s safe and clean, and always on time.
I think the biggest part about living in Hong Kong that I took for granted was how safe it is. Crime is very low. And I never ONCE was catcalled, yelled at or felt like I was being followed. A different story to London.
What is ‘meh’:
Contrary to a London summer, a Hong Kong summer is akin to hell on earth. You’re looking at 100-degree temps and torrential downpours almost daily.
It’s very crowded.
The air quality is crap
That said, some days that certain “electricity” I mentioned above can just be too overwhelming. It’s sensory overload. And depending on your personality, it can suck the life right out of you.
There are tons more to add to each list, but those are just a few I throw out when asked.
Overall, our experience in London has been nice. We live at a much slower pace than before, which I feel London is a great city to do that in. We continue to love our neighborhood, and have acclimated well to our immediate surroundings. I always consider myself “acclimated” when I’ve found the following places:
Hair salon (most important first)
Nail salon
Dry cleaners
Gym (I’ve been going to a really cool gym that I love)
Safe running routes
Go-to brunch spots / coffee shop
Go-to local pub (still working on finding the one we love most!)
Grocery store
ATM / Banking
If you remember, we also live right off of Portobello Road, so walking through the market has been a weekly occurrence for Emerson and I. It absolutely never gets old to me.
As far as myself, I’ve managed to find a lacrosse team to play with (I played in the states and in Hong Kong), and we practice on Tuesdays down in Kings Cross, St. Pancras (where the famous 9 & 3/4, Harry Potter platform is). And for the last few weeks, Emerson and I have been attending a “mommy and me” yoga and music class.
The adventure continues, friends! One year down. Thanks for joining me on the ride.