London, you are my number one now (replacing Paris)
 

This is not quite a trip report, but I just had to share how wonderful and beautiful London was to me, the second time around. This was a quick trip in the summer, as opposed to a much colder winter trip before. What I loved the most where the parks and gardens and the well-dressed intelligent people everywhere. Please excuse my exulted enthusiasm, but I am such a novice compared to janisj and other knowledgeable experts here.

We stayed in Primrose Hill, close to Camden Town, and I absolutely loved Regent's Park and the Primrose Hill area. I am really fighting the urge to buy another ticket to London, especially since Virgin Atlantic ads keep following me on the interwebs.

Thanks Adventurer. This autumn we will make our third visit to London, having been to Paris three times. Last time in Paris, I said "we've seen enough of Paris," and that's something I don't think we could ever say about London.

. What I loved the most where the parks and gardens and the well-dressed intelligent people everywhere>

did you talk to them all? For how long to judge their level of intelligence? Do you find Parisians dull - speaking the language helps I guess.

I once walked down Primrose Hill to central London -great views up there.

Yes London's parks are nice and there are few if any 'stay of the grass' signs.

If you say there were 'well-dressed people everywhere' - what do you mean by well dressed? Curious.

Gald you had a great time!

Pal, it means they were only wearing scarves around their necks MOST of the time since it was in Summer.

We visited Paris in April for 2 weeks ( 30+ time) ;I returned from a week London a few days ago
( about 7th time ,after several years ).
I found central London tight, grey ,full of new -mostly unattractive - buildings (especially on
the south bank of the river)
Of course, there are some lovely parks, beautiful upscale residential areas , good restaurants , excellent galleries and museums , usual
designers' stores along Bond street, etc
. I am not sure where all those " well dressed
intelligent people " are.
Not riding the crowded tube for sure.

What? You missed both 10 Downing and Buckingham Palace?

I just happened to see a number of very fashion-conscious and professional people during my stay. Perhaps, it was because i wasn't staying at a hotel, but rather in a high-rent residential area (crashing with friends). I spotted a couple of fascinators, plus several well-dressed yet eccentric gentlemen, including a Saville Row tailor, who has a very flamboyant style.

How do you know they were intelligent - judge a person on their attire?

I know that one does not always and necessarily equate to the other, but a deliberate way of expressing your inner world tells me of ambition and aspirations. I also believe that there are plenty of intelligent people who look like slobs. I live in Seattle, where wrinkled jeans and sweatshirts are a uniform for very bright software engineers and other techy types.

I was in Paris 2 weeks ago and I'll never go back in the summer time, it was just an absolute zoo.

I've been up to the top of the Eiffel Tower a few times before, but my son has not so I had to endure a 4 hour wait to get to the top

The Louvre was slightly better, I had to wait 2 hours to get in and once inside every part of it was packed and hot, so after 30 mins I gave up and left my wife and son to wander around themselves.

The traffic is horrendous and the lack of respect for the rules of the road and the dangers of crossing them takes some getting used to (virtually every car has dents in the side of them)

The architecture in Paris is stunning and I find the people friendly, I do speak french which helps but even my wife and son who do not never encountered a problem.

I'll go back to Paris but it won't be for a while and it will definitely not be in the summer

London was also wall to wall people especially on the weekend.

Fortunately, I visited in the past (and saw most of the tourist attractions) so I was
able to enjoy my stay.

The last time I was in Paris in July (2014) the city was crowded, but again, I did not attempt to visit any of the tourist " musts"

I find the major museums in London much more manageable crowd wise than most in Paris. Which seems weird since many are free and one would expect them to be more crowded.

And the for-pay sites (Tower of London, Hampton Court, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's, Cabinet War Rooms, etc) while crowded are nothing as frantic as Versailles or the Louvre.

I think London just seems less crowded because it is sooooooo large and major sites are spread over a MUCH wider area. In Paris, except for Versailles and Sacré Cœur most are pretty close together.

I was in Paris from Sunday afternoon thru to the Thursday, so I managed to miss the weekend crowds ;)

I think one of the problems is that Paris has always been very popular but now it has a very large source of new tourists from China and I think the 'must sees' are really struggling to handle the numbers

I agree Janisj, I've never found any of the museums such as the British Museum anywhere near as busy as the Louvre, there were hundreds of people around the Mona Lisa trying to take photos with the staff making no attempt at controlling the movement of people or how many they allow into the room. The corridors, the halls, the staircases were just jammed with people and the lines outside were still around 500 metres long even by mid afternoon, with only an hour or 2 left to view things

Surprised that fascinators are associated with dressing well -- or intelligence! -- but it's a long time since I've been in Seattle.

I'm really glad you enjoyed yourself and I hope you come back again.

Glad you enjoyed our city - I love it too!

You mentioned Virgin Airlines. I checked putting in some flight information from LAX to London in July and August and also December (which is when I'd like to go) and the flights were well over $2000 round trip. That seems high to me. I flew a year ago to London (I think it was British Air) and it was about $900 + round trip.

I grew up in poverty, in a third-world country, with a deficit of anything beautiful, so my aesthetics are influenced by an attraction to elegance and beauty. I now work in Renton, WA, so being in London really nurtured my soul, however superficial it is.

London is also my favorite city.

I love London also 2016adventurer and could never get tired of it. I also love looking at well dressed people and there is nothing wrong with that. Not superficial at all, we humans are visual creatures and there is something to be said for making an effort when you leave your house.
I live in a pretty casual place too and some people are downright slobs.

"my aesthetics are influenced by an attraction to elegance and beauty. I now work in Renton, WA, so being in London really nurtured my soul, however superficial it is."

Nothing wrong with that, but if you took a tube a few times or walked outside the upscale/ business ( ?) part of London, your soul might have been a bit less well " nurtured".

This is cheating of the most blatant kind. Forgive him Paris, it's just an affair. Sooner or later, he will come crawling back.

nanbee, I am flying roundtrip Ontario Airport (California, not Canada) - Heathrow for $638 in (obviously) coach next month using American Airlines. Connecting in Dallas. I could have gotten a cheaper fare out of LAX but I live in the desert and ONT is closer to home.

For August there have been some incredible deals from LAX, too.

Virgin was having $500 round trip airfare for October.

>>I love London also 2016adventurer and could never get tired of it. I also love looking at well dressed people and there is nothing wrong with that. <<

Does this mean I'll have to start smartening myself up? Sunday best every day?

Nanbee, check out the hopper app.
We just bought tickets, round trip from Lax to Rome for $445

PatrickLondon - I assumed they were referring to us with that comment ;)

<does this mean I'll have to start smartening myself up? Sunday best every day>
I'll let you know when I'm coming to town next PatrickLondon so you can do a wardrobe overhaul. ;)

OK. But I don't suit a fascinator.

But...but , what can one do about the " intelligent" part of the OP's description of
Londoners ?
Well- dress is only the beginning....

You guys are hilarious!

>>But...but , what can one do about the " intelligent" part of the OP's description of Londoners ?<<

Well, some of us are trying to keep up the tone. Innit.

Well Patrick I am sure you are fascinating enough without one.

>>Well Patrick I am sure you are fascinating enough without one.<<

He is :)

I noticed that fascinators were banned from the Royal Enclosure at Ascot - so definitely out if my wardrobe . . .

Fascinators aren't my thing, more of a hat person if anything, albeit not one of those crazy race going hats with pheasants and such hanging off them.

I don't know...I think I could carry off a fascinator with a bird cage on it...or maybe a bunch of fruit or something....

Not easy to manage the full Carmen Miranda look on the tube, in the rush hour.

Hmmm...yes, that would be an issue!