Bermondsey was a very working class, old school London area, with families living in the area for generations tied to working at the docks, which closed in the 70s/80. I can’t believe how gentrified it has become in the last 20 years
Hey Mike when you left the fish n chip shop and crossed rhe road to look down at the inlet of water off the thames (tems) that was once a river called the Neckinger and back in the day it was one of the most sketchy parts of London, it wa also where Charles dickens based the character 'Bill Sykes' in the Oliver Twist novel.
There are lots of less hectic parts of central London. You just need to get off the main thoroughfares. For example, Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia, Mayfair, Belgravia, Marylebone, St. John’s Wood, Chelsea, Holland Park. Even when you get into the back streets of Kensington and Knightsbridge you’ll be in charming, quiet neighbourhoods.
I would suggest that anywhere east of Liverpool Street would be considered East London, getting into Shoreditch, Stepney, Hackney, and Whitechapel. A tip for you, when you eat in, at a Starbucks, Greggs or any other food outlet, it is considered a service and you should be charged an extra 20% VAT tax on your purchase. It may not always happen, but they should. I wouldn't call those warehouses beautiful. Interesting and a great example of utilising old and new without their destruction, but not beautiful. Still, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I was thinking, using the bus is the best way of seeing London. You can't beat it.
@@Mikeintown There is no VAT on food until you eat in. Then it becomes a service and liable. Crazy. That is why they often ask, takeaway or eat in. I just found out that if you ask for your food to be heated, even if to be taken away, it is liable for VAT, even if unheated it wasn’t previously.
Bermondsey was a very working class, old school London area, with families living in the area for generations tied to working at the docks, which closed in the 70s/80. I can’t believe how gentrified it has become in the last 20 years
Hey Mike when you left the fish n chip shop and crossed rhe road to look down at the inlet of water off the thames (tems) that was once a river called the Neckinger and back in the day it was one of the most sketchy parts of London, it wa also where Charles dickens based the character 'Bill Sykes' in the Oliver Twist novel.
@@Mickman007 Oh, good to know. Thanks 😊
Tems, not Tames
There are lots of less hectic parts of central London. You just need to get off the main thoroughfares. For example, Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia, Mayfair, Belgravia, Marylebone, St. John’s Wood, Chelsea, Holland Park. Even when you get into the back streets of Kensington and Knightsbridge you’ll be in charming, quiet neighbourhoods.
You should visit Camden market in Camden Town on a Saturday or Sunday and you should also try hampstead, it’s just a mile or so away from Camden
An American getting the London experience by going to Starbucks - priceless - Shad Thames is not derived from Saint - look it up
I would suggest that anywhere east of Liverpool Street would be considered East London, getting into Shoreditch, Stepney, Hackney, and Whitechapel. A tip for you, when you eat in, at a Starbucks, Greggs or any other food outlet, it is considered a service and you should be charged an extra 20% VAT tax on your purchase. It may not always happen, but they should. I wouldn't call those warehouses beautiful. Interesting and a great example of utilising old and new without their destruction, but not beautiful. Still, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I was thinking, using the bus is the best way of seeing London. You can't beat it.
Okay, makes sense. I didn’t know about the VAT being different. Yes, double decker bus is the way to go!
@@Mikeintown There is no VAT on food until you eat in. Then it becomes a service and liable. Crazy. That is why they often ask, takeaway or eat in. I just found out that if you ask for your food to be heated, even if to be taken away, it is liable for VAT, even if unheated it wasn’t previously.
On fish n chips I mostly have curry sauce.
Its just Tower Bridge...not THE Tower Bridge.
No, we dont have Ranch Dressing. Or Buffalo Wings. Salt and vinegar on your chips.
We do have ranch dressing. You can get it in Morrisons :D