Day 2: London - Regents Park, QM, Leicester Square

Woke up at 3am to very, very bad dark eye circles. I'm usually adaptable to jet lag but then I didn't get proper the night before. By 5am, it was already light outside my window. Summers are lovely for the long day light hours.

Breakfast was from 8 to 9am. I had a hearty breakfast. The Hall looked to be the same, except they changed the chairs, and the old popular Cadbury hot chocolate machine is now gone. In its place is a new coffee machine and I fumbled over how to use it. A nice and polite lad then explained I had to get a special coin over the serving counter, and he put in his coin for me instead. 

I had a quick tour of the Hall after breakfast. The former 'common room' on each level has since been converted into students' room (just like my new ensuite room) and instead, all communal rooms are now located at the basement. Seems like the Hall had an overhaul and many things and facilities are new, including the lift! (which still doesn't go to 4th floor). The old lift was so slow and creak like an old man and we used to take the stairs as it was much quicker and we didn't have the patience for creaky old lifts.

I left the Hall and made way to Euston Square station for Baker Street to Regents Park. I was surprised to find that the station entrance has been renovated. In the past, it was just a smallish nondescript entrance at the corner. I used to occasionally take the Hammersmith line from this station to commute to College. 

En-route to Euston Sq. station - UCL Bloomsbury

Topped up 10 quid at the top-up machines and got on the Metropolitan line to Baker Street. The  new trains are now bigger and more spacious compared to the old ones such as those on Central Line.  

I took the Madam Tussaud direction towards the York Gates. Throngs of tourists and super long queues at Madam Tussaud was still the norm. I came to Royal Academy of Music (RAM) and was surprised to find that there is a gift shop. I never knew or was aware about it! I skipped in happily and did some browsing but nothing on sale. Things are just too expensive in London. Bought a RAM T-shirt, a RAM mug, and a luggage tag in the end. Well, it is likely I will never make it to RAM in my lifetime (always always wanted to enter a conservatoire such as RAM or RCM!) so I will have to make do with an RAM tee and shamelessly pretend I went there ;)

One of the many tacky souvenir shops found in London

Regents Park is still the Happy Place it used to be. On many a Sunday morning during College days, I would come here for a leisurely stroll with a book to read. I missed all the happy feathery friends here! 

My favourite rose species is called "Remember Me". I even wrote a song about it :) It's still lovely but isn't blooming much. The fountain at the Open Air amphitheater somehow looks different. I think they polished the sculptures and changed some of the landscaping.

 

I left Regents Park and took the Hammersmith line to Mile End next to visit my old College. It was nice just walking the grounds and reminded me how I used to spend my days here. I had the privilege to learn from some of the best lecturers and professors and I never regretted coming here. 

Doorway to secret lecture rooms in the basement

My old department

After some leisurely meandering, I left the College and took the Stephney Green route to Covent Gardens. 

The Covent Gardens tourist trap is still buzzing with life as always. Nearly bought more tea at Whittard decided against it in the end. 

Busker at Covent Garden - She's 'floating' in the air!

Strolling on, I reached Leicester Square. The Square appears to be undergoing some reformation. The gardens in the square was closed off when I last visited 2.5 years ago, only to find nothing has changed except that the fence is now new with snazzy design. The fence seems to be of a lower height though, and I thought the Police wanted to keep vagrants off the gardens at night? Hmmmm....

One of the many theatre ticket booths in Leicester Square

Trocadero was also closed for more renovations. Initially, I though my favourite Haagen Daz restaurant was also closed for renovation too but it's still business as usual. 

I spent the rest of the day strolling around Soho (Chinatown) and then walking up Charing Cross road towards Tottenham Court Road. The many second hand bookstores along Charing Cross road were still provide good and cheap reads, but alas there was no good buy. The large Blackwell opposite Foyles has now closed and will be relocated to High Holborn in September. At Foyles, it is also newly renovated with a modern contemporary look. The collection of music books and sheet music is still excellent but again, there were no good buys. Disappointing! 

Newly renovated Foyles

The area around Tottenham Court road station is still a big construction mess. I think they are still building a new plaza and additional station exits. I also learnt that there will be a new Underground line that will pass through Tottenham Court road station. 

I ended the day shopping at the Primark on Oxford Street. Bought two largest T-shirts for boys - one for only 85p, and they fit me perfectly! 

Arrived back at the Hall and was tired out by 8pm....