Danielle in London

After SHINE, I would usually head over to South-East London to Walworth Academy near Elephant and Castle. Here I would tutor a year 11 boy, helping him prepare for his GCSEs. Although it was challenging tutoring one on one because of the responsibility to be as useful as possible, I ended-up developing a great dynamic/relationship with the student I was assigned to and actually really enjoyed his humor. I'm confident he will do well on his English exam as he seems bright and confident. 

Thank you LDN for getting me into house music 🎶 (at Coronet Theatre)

I am glad to say I FINALLY walked across the millennium bride facing St. Paul’s cathedral that leads you to the City of London. It is such an iconic part of London (with such a scenic view of the Thames as well), I don’t know how I let myself get away with not doing this for so long. We had spent a pleasant afternoon soaking in the “truly modern art” at the Tate before enjoying a meal at London’s incredibly popular pizza chain, Pizza Express. As it was Guy Fawkes day, we also managed to catch a few moments of the fireworks from the bridge as well. The southbank is well worth a visit. A few days later, we went to the Southbank Centre to take a look at the incredibly captivating and emotion-provoking photojournalism pieces that were on display there.

I really do appreciate the architectural beauty and quintessentially English-feel of the Georgian townhouses on Bedford Square. The area is certainly perfect for our academic centre because of its scholarly Bloomsbury associations.

As I decided to spend half of my fall break in London to make the most of my semester here, I have spent my break doing some things I always have wanted to do but never got around to. One day I took the bus to Bermondsey in south London to check out one of the few remaining iconic Banksy pieces in the city. Banksy really has a knack for capturing youth culture, as well as socio-political issues of the county, and presenting them in an interesting and insightful way. The bus ride to and from the Banksy piece also gave me further insight into London, with all its eclectic characters and architecture. Listening to the chatter of the school children with their unique funny slang, and looking out the window of the double-decker bus is also quite pleasant. My favorite part of a London bus ride is when the bus passes one of the many bridges that takes you from one side of the Thames to the other, as you get a wonderful panoramic view of the city, with all it’s cultural landmarks and beauty.

Today we went for brunch in Covent Garden. The restaurant we went to had a homey, kitschy atmosphere as the place is decorated with shelves of their jam, honey, cookies, teapots… Covent Garden is a charming area of London that has a European feel, with its cobblestoned lanes and pastel colored shop houses. Even the high street shops and commercialized brands take on a boutique-feel in this neighborhood of London. The main piazza is lively with choir singers and market stalls. You can find cute bakeries, cafes and restaurants, or even hand-crafted or hand-tailored goods in the area. It is certainly a “lovely” place to spend an afternoon strolling around.

Sunday #Brunch in Covent Garden 😊🍴☕

Yay first proper Banksy sighting #Banksy #Bermondsey #SE1 #LDN #haringdog

It's so scenic by the Thames #stpauls #milleniumbridge #southbank #london 💙

So many steps but worth it #paris (at Basilique du Sacré-Cœur)

#sacrecoeur views #paris (at Basilique du Sacré-Cœur)

#eiffletower #paris #originalphoto #nottouristyatall

#bricklane #streetart

Crazy building #london #pub #architecture (at Tottenham Court Road)

3 hour #Hardwell set 💙#edm last minute decision (at O2 Academy Brixton)

Last night #hardwell killing it #raving (at O2 Academy Brixton)

Sunday afternoon #tea (at Greenwich)