Europe Explored » jewel in the crown https://europeexplored.com Travel through the most beautiful places in Europe Sun, 08 Sep 2013 13:36:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 Moving to London? Here are Four of the Finest Neighbourhoods https://europeexplored.com/2012/09/16/moving-to-london-here-are-four-of-the-finest-neighbourhoods/ https://europeexplored.com/2012/09/16/moving-to-london-here-are-four-of-the-finest-neighbourhoods/#comments Sun, 16 Sep 2012 21:05:57 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=11342 If you mention London to people from outside the city, the chances are they will think of wide avenues lined with historic buildings and all within a stone’s throw of the River Thames. It perhaps goes without saying that this is only a small picture of a large urban sprawl that is home to a […]

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]]> If you mention London to people from outside the city, the chances are they will think of wide avenues lined with historic buildings and all within a stone’s throw of the River Thames. It perhaps goes without saying that this is only a small picture of a large urban sprawl that is home to a vast number of neighbourhoods that contain buildings and streets of all shapes and sizes, not to mention a cosmopolitan cross-section of residents.

Wandsworth, London, England, UK
Wandsworth, London, England, UK by Herry Lawford

There is a steady influx of newcomers to the city every year, including a sizable proportion of new residents who are planning to make London their new home. If you’re thinking of joining them, here are four neighbourhoods that are well worthy of inspection. They are located in four very different parts of the metropolis, and each one of them has its very own individual character.

Wandsworth

Located relatively close to the centre of London, the south-western suburb of Wandsworth is an attractive neighbourhood that has managed to retain something of a village feel to it. The area that lies closest to the river is home to some extremely swish (and expensive) houses and flats, so there may be parts which are only affordable to some. There are also some close-knit communities consisting of narrow streets in which everyone seems to know everyone else – one of the many charms of the borough.

Hackney

Hackney, London, UKA jewel in the crown of the famous East End, Hackney is one of those rare places which are genuinely loved by many of its residents. This area is, and always has been, a veritable melting pot of communities from various parts of the world, and it’s this congregation of cultures which gives it a wonderfully bohemian feel. East London has always been known for its celebration of diversity, and in Hackney this is evident everywhere.

Photo of Hackney, London, UK by Ewan Munro

St John’s Wood

St John’s Wood, London, UKLeafy, dignified and elegant, the north-western suburb of St John’s Wood offers residents a quiet and relatively tranquil existence amid wide avenues and beautiful parkland. There’s something wonderfully continental about the neighbourhood, and the existence of a recognisable café culture among the pavement eateries merely adds to the atmosphere. For commuters, the fact that the centre of London is only a short tube ride away adds to the convenience.

Photo of St John’s Wood, London, UK by Xakaxunknownx

Chiswick

One of those neighbourhoods that feature a healthy mix of residents from all walks of life, Chiswick is popular with locals and visitors alike. In the area around Chiswick Bridge, you’ll find plenty of people enjoying walks along the edge of the Thames on a summer afternoon, and many more making the most of the hospitality offered by the various pubs that are located throughout the neighbourhood.

David Showell was born and brought up in London and still lives in the south-east of England. He works for https://www.carrentals.co.uk/.

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]]> https://europeexplored.com/2012/09/16/moving-to-london-here-are-four-of-the-finest-neighbourhoods/feed/ 0 The Best Museums in Berlin | Germany https://europeexplored.com/2012/05/19/the-best-museums-in-berlin-germany/ https://europeexplored.com/2012/05/19/the-best-museums-in-berlin-germany/#comments Sat, 19 May 2012 12:37:35 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=7764 You don’t hear much about Berlin unless you live in Berlin itself. It doesn’t shout about being a great city, even though it has some of the richest and most varied cultures in Europe and beyond. Berlin never jumps out at you as the ideal holiday destination, but here are some reasons why it should. […]

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]]> You don’t hear much about Berlin unless you live in Berlin itself. It doesn’t shout about being a great city, even though it has some of the richest and most varied cultures in Europe and beyond. Berlin never jumps out at you as the ideal holiday destination, but here are some reasons why it should. And we’re merely scratching the surface here as we look at some of the museums that this fine city has to offer.

Museum Island, Berlin, Germany
Berliner Dom Museum Island, Berlin, Germany / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Beny Shlevich

We can never get away from the fact that Berlin is in central Europe, therefore you are not going to be tanning it up on any beaches (even though it is landlocked, it does have a man-made beach!) or sipping cocktails in the sun all of the time, so it’s worthwhile noting the numerous excellent museums that the city has to offer. There is something for everyone, be it art, architecture, music or the history of the city itself.

There aren’t many cities in the world that can boast a place called Museum Island, but Berlin certainly can and it houses five of them. Situated in the middle of the Spree River, the island is home to the Altes and Neues (Old and New) museums, a national gallery and the Bode museum, which displays an excellent sculpture collection amongst other fine art. The jewel in the crown however, is the Pergamon Museum which shows off huge reconstructions – some life size – of different architecture of the last 3,000 years. It is truly a sight to behold.

Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin, Germany
Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin, Germany / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by dalbera

If you like your art more pop than classical, then a good place to visit is the Hamburger Bahnhof. Set in a disused railway station, this huge space is home to works of some of the greatest contemporary artists including Warhol, Lichtenstein amongst many others. Fans of Joseph Beuys will be especially happy, as an entire wing of the gallery is taken up with some of his rarer works.

If the moving image is more your thing, then the Kinemathek museum – just off the Potsdamer Platz – should be your first stop. Everything from scripts to props is available to see, from the beginnings of German cinema, through the Weimar era and the war propaganda up to the present day.

Even if you’re not a fan of the New York punk legends The Ramones, you will be amazed at the expanse of the collection on show at this museum dedicated to Joey, Dee Dee and the boys. Crudely basing the museum frontage on the famous CBGB’s club in New York, owner-curator Flo Hayler started his collection with a couple of pin badges and a ticket stub after seeing the band live in the city a generation ago, and now the museum is filled with all things Ramone.

Ben Gallivan is a well-travelled Welshman with an appreciation for the finer things in life, including museums, music, and currywurst. He writes for One80 Hostel in central Berlin.


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