The whole trip was not just historical tours and monuments, although that would be fine with me. One of my best friends lives in London so she took us out and showed us what the real London is like. This mostly involved pubs. We went to what can be described as the prettiest pub in London, The Churchill Arms. I don’t think this picture even does it justice just how pretty the flowers were cascading down the building. The inside has carpeted floors and comfortable armchairs, it kind of feels like a friend’s living room. However, very expectantly, there in the back is a Thai restaurant in the back. Apparently, according to my friend, this is quite common. We didn’t sample any Thai food but we did have a pint. There was a rugby match on so the pub was crowded and rather than people pushing and shoving to get the bar, everyone waited their turn and even stopped watching the match to chat with us and recommend a good pint. Then we took our drinks outside because apparently drinking on the sidewalk is not just legal, it’s encouraged!
Later that day, we stopped at another pub for a “Sunday Roast”. In New York City, on Sundays, many people partake in “Boozy Brunches” so I assume this is the London equivalent, however, it is much more civilized. We went to the pub with my friend and a few of her new friends from London and they taught us all about Sunday Roast etiquette. We had a few pints and devoured our roasts. Then we traveled on to another pub because rugby was on, and when in London!
The pub culture is really fascinating because it is so opposite what bars are like in the States in my opinion. Although the vibe is much more tame, I wouldn’t call it boring or stuffy at all. The people are polite and welcoming and I wouldn’t mind spending my Sunday like this every week!
The Always Hungry Wanderer 