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Collection by Aaron Britt

A London Ramble

At the tail end of my Scottish excursion last month, I got a chance to visit London. It was my first time in the city and man was I floored. I loved it to bits and can't wait to go back. Here's a little slideshow of a walk I took with a pair of pals who graciously let me stay with them, as well as a sneak peak of a house you should not be too surprised to see in the pages of Dwell before too long. Hope you enjoy my walk. I was bowled over!

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Clearly my friends (with his back to the camera and in the scarf) are taken with it too.
Clearly my friends (with his back to the camera and in the scarf) are taken with it too.
Here's a view of one of the jutting forms from the back. Quite sleek and new. London, unlike Edinburgh, which I'd been spending time in earlier in the week, seems to have little trouble slapping their cutting-edge design down next to the old stuff. Perhaps that's part of why walking around it feels far more vibrant.
Here's a view of one of the jutting forms from the back. Quite sleek and new. London, unlike Edinburgh, which I'd been spending time in earlier in the week, seems to have little trouble slapping their cutting-edge design down next to the old stuff. Perhaps that's part of why walking around it feels far more vibrant.
Here's another shot of the Information Center with St. Paul's towering over it. I like how low it is by comparison. Competitive architecture, especially in the face of some centuries-old marvel, is rarely attractive.
Here's another shot of the Information Center with St. Paul's towering over it. I like how low it is by comparison. Competitive architecture, especially in the face of some centuries-old marvel, is rarely attractive.
Here's the famed Gherkin! Rather cool, that.
Here's the famed Gherkin! Rather cool, that.
Granted, I only made it through a couple neighborhoods, but this view from one of the terraces at the Tate Modern was amongst the nicest I saw. St. Paul's Cathedral looms large, as does Sir Norman Foster's Millennium Bridge.
Granted, I only made it through a couple neighborhoods, but this view from one of the terraces at the Tate Modern was amongst the nicest I saw. St. Paul's Cathedral looms large, as does Sir Norman Foster's Millennium Bridge.
Another snap of the Millennium Bridge from the terrace at the Tate Modern. Loads of people walking across. Totally amazing!
Another snap of the Millennium Bridge from the terrace at the Tate Modern. Loads of people walking across. Totally amazing!
The line was too long to wait on, but I rather liked the London Eye. Rather a novel addition to the skyline, and a far sight better than the observation wheel they have in Melbourne, Australia, which broke down weeks after opening.
The line was too long to wait on, but I rather liked the London Eye. Rather a novel addition to the skyline, and a far sight better than the observation wheel they have in Melbourne, Australia, which broke down weeks after opening.
Here's me mugging on Westminster Bridge. It was my first time to London and I must have looked like some wide-eyed toddler taking it all in.
Here's me mugging on Westminster Bridge. It was my first time to London and I must have looked like some wide-eyed toddler taking it all in.
Another from Westminster Bridge, this time with Westminster Palace behind me and my pal in tow.
Another from Westminster Bridge, this time with Westminster Palace behind me and my pal in tow.
As part of our walk we happened past the Bridge of Aspiration, a skybridge in Covent Garden that connects the Royal Ballet School to the Royal Opera House. The accordion design rests above Floral Street and was designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects.
As part of our walk we happened past the Bridge of Aspiration, a skybridge in Covent Garden that connects the Royal Ballet School to the Royal Opera House. The accordion design rests above Floral Street and was designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects.
Here's the exterior of the house I went to go visit while in London. It looks rather like a Fulham terrace house from the early 1900s, which is what it is, but the renovation from the rear is quite impressive. Keep your eyes on the magazine for more on this project.
Here's the exterior of the house I went to go visit while in London. It looks rather like a Fulham terrace house from the early 1900s, which is what it is, but the renovation from the rear is quite impressive. Keep your eyes on the magazine for more on this project.
The Fulham Football Club grounds were between the Parson's Green home where I stayed and the house I went to visit. The stadium is right on the Thames and nestled nicely into a residential neighborhood. Ah to walk out the door and wander down to catch a soccer match. This statue is of Fulham great Johnny Haynes. American Clint Dempsey is the star now. We'll see how Clint fares in the World Cup.
The Fulham Football Club grounds were between the Parson's Green home where I stayed and the house I went to visit. The stadium is right on the Thames and nestled nicely into a residential neighborhood. Ah to walk out the door and wander down to catch a soccer match. This statue is of Fulham great Johnny Haynes. American Clint Dempsey is the star now. We'll see how Clint fares in the World Cup.
My friends live on this very charming lane in Parson's Green. I love the wisteria growing on some of the facades. It was all so very English. Including the marauding Chelsea fans out in force that weekend to celebrate their side taking the Premiership and the FA Cup. Louts, the lot of them!
My friends live on this very charming lane in Parson's Green. I love the wisteria growing on some of the facades. It was all so very English. Including the marauding Chelsea fans out in force that weekend to celebrate their side taking the Premiership and the FA Cup. Louts, the lot of them!
I had a quick morning jaunt around the East End before I headed back to the States. This is the Folk shop just off Brick Lane. Nice bag and shoes for sure. Creative Director Kyle Blue and I are both big Folk fans.
I had a quick morning jaunt around the East End before I headed back to the States. This is the Folk shop just off Brick Lane. Nice bag and shoes for sure. Creative Director Kyle Blue and I are both big Folk fans.