London: Memory Lane

'. . . Something about the UK always draws me back. My 6th visit to alluring London and my first since returning from living (or should I say dossing) there, this 3 night stopover was all about nostalgia . . .'

Flying over the center of London with Qatar Airways and past the River Thames, the London Eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace.

I love spotting these little guys running around everywhere. We don't have squirrels in Australia.

London turning out some notorious wintery weather for the first full day of my trip.

​Considering the overall purpose for this trip was to be a bridesmaid in Portugal, I probably should have continued travelling through to Lisbon, although, something about the UK always draws me back. My 6th visit to alluring London and my first since returning from living (or should I say dossing) there, this 3 night stopover was all about nostalgia. Firstly, 2 nights in Weybridge spent catching up with my bride-to-be best friend, Elise and one traditional night staying in the beautifully eclectic, Camden Town.
  
Undoubtedly the most rewarding part of heading to the UK is getting to catch up with my best friend. Having moved overseas 5 years ago, visiting Elise has been the main reason I have stopped past the UK so many times in recent years. After meeting at the airport and driving back to her new house in Weybridge we spent the entire night catching up over multiple bottles of wine and talking about the upcoming wedding in Portugal.
  
Waking to a dreary, grey and rainy day, our heads rather heavy, we head out in the Jeep (with its glorious heated seats) and set off for a mini trip down memory lane, through Putney past Fawe Park Mansion and then onto Fulham where I managed to convince Elise to exit the warm cave of the car and head into the Slug (of all places) once again with me for a drink.
  
No doubt, if you're an Australian expat and you've lived somewhere near Fulham, you've been to the Slug, whether you wanted to go or not, whether you admit to being there or not, you've been there! You probably had a little too much to drink there or needed to drink a little too much in order to go there, however, you've been, and although this drinks session wasn’t starting at Elk drinking £3 mojitos, and it wouldn’t be ending with purchasing ceremonial Fulham Fried Chicken, a quick drink for old times sake was still in order. (We ordered the white wine as the moment wasn't calling for a schmaltzy Jäger bomb or a champagne as Elise so poshly requested, making me laugh - a choice that in hindsight, for the Slug, was never going to be a good one).
  
Stepping it up a fair few notches after a rather painful drink on memory lane we drove across to Mayfair for cocktails and an unbelievable dinner at Hakkasan. The cocktails here are incredible and the food is delicious. I couldn't help myself with their lychee signature cocktail 'the Hakka' and the dim sum at Hakkasan Mayfair was excellent, in particular, the duck which I tried for the first time and really enjoyed.
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With rain still falling outside, we subsequently dashed back to the car and started the drive back to Weybridge where we continued on with the previous nights' conversation. The next day called for one last UK lunch with Elise at the Hand & Spear in Weybridge before heading onward to Camden. It feels amazing to be back in London again.
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Hakkasan Mayfair - hakkasan.com 
The Slug at Fulham - theslugatfulham.co.uk
​Hand & Spear - handandspear.co.uk 
Elk - elkbar.com

Elise and I outside of the Slug in Fulham. Many drunken nights were spent at the Slug in late 2013.

So much hilarity happened behind the red door of Fawe Park Mansion. The house where Elise used to live and I used to doss in Putney, London.

The large Tim Burtonesque trees lining some of the streets around Fulham. (Also spotted in Camden.)

Some beautiful weather the morning of heading to Camden.

The Hand & Spear in Weybridge.

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