Visited: January 2018
It's cold, dark and rainy (or snowy) in January in London - what's not to love?! Yes that does suck but it keeps most of the tourists away.
I never thought I would move somewhere with worse winter weather than Toronto. Certainly many places do have worse weather than Toronto but if I was to move I wouldn't have thought I'd pick a spot with worse weather. Nonetheless I believe London's winter to be worse. Before you snap back with no way hear me out!
Yes London's winter is 'warmer' having many days where it's +5-10 degrees in January and February vs Toronto's average high of 0 or so, London is much darker and drearier. Being further North, London has much shorter days in the winter - the sun sets as early as 3:45 pm and feels like it's setting even earlier since it is so low in the sky. Sometimes it seems like the sun barely rises above the horizon. It also rains and is often cloudy making it seem even darker.
It is sunny very often in the winter in Toronto
Toronto by contrast does have more snow and it is colder, but once you get a warm coat and good boots, you do have the benefit of many more sunny days and at least an extra hour of sunlight most days. In fact given it's position relative to the timezone boundaries and being further south, the worst day of the year the sun only sets around 4:45 pm. An additional benefit it Toronto's buildings and homes are better insulated hence you can warm up quickly but just stepping inside as they kept a deep warm to them.
One last thing about Toronto - you can fly south in 3-4 hours and end up on a warm beach in any of 20 countries or so. I don't believe that's possible from London.
I'm sure we can all debate the pros and cons of these and which is least bad, but so far I think I'm heading home for winter in Toronto! I do comment on looking forward to returning to London in January for warmer weather, but that's before I knew its true colours (white and grey)!
This is not the point of this blog post - the point is to talk about getting a London Pass on discount in January and seeing the sights when the tourists are away!
Any way, here's a recap of my January 2018 adventures in London:
January in London
After a bit of a hiatus during busy November and December's I’ve been inspired to tour London and make some notes again. Anything to get out for some entertainment during the dark days of winter.
Having spent an enjoyable but snowy and freezing cold at times two weeks in Toronto I was happy to come back to London. Looking forward to London weather is not something one does I’m told, but those doing the telling I suspect have not spent much time in minus 20 weather.
Some photos, clockwise from top left: Windsor Castle, view from The Monument, The HMS Belfast, and a view from St Paul's Cathedral.
Temperatures here range between 0 (and cloudy) up to 7-8 (and cloudy) and even sometimes a balmy 10-12 (and cloudy). London - even being north of Toronto by a lot and north of Calgary by a little - manages to stay somewhat warm due to warm currents, air masses and other such naturally occurring events (such as tube rage which boils one’s blood and heats the city from underground).
However being so far north, London in January is very dark. When I left London the sun would set at 3:50pm. When I returned it was setting just before 4pm. In early January it's as if the Sun doesn't climb above the Thames - one of few benefits of living south of the river.
Somewhat good to see though the light is rapidly trying to return. Now we might see light as late as 4:50 and by the end of Feb it will be up passed 6pm. By June the sun rises at 4:30am. Sadly a waste as no one gets up then not even the most ambitious roosters. It is truly a city that could use a two hour time shift in the summer.
More photos clockwise from top left: The Royal Albert Hall, Westminster Abbey, monarch lineage, Stamford Bridge, view from The Tower Bridge Experience, and War Propaganda at the Churchill War Rooms
In the meantime I bought a London Pass which gives access to many sights (photos above). If you're planning on staying in London for more than a few days and you will see a sight or two a day it's a good deal especially in January when they drop the price and there are fewer tourists. A quick recap of what I saw (spoiler alert - don't read below in case you want to self discover!):
St. Paul's Cathedral (9/10) - Rebuilt in the place of Old St Paul's after the fire of London - famously designed by Christopher Wren (who is buried there along with Admiral Nelson and the Duke of Wellington). The Prince of Wales was married here. You can also climb up 3 levels or down 1 level. Great views from atop.
Westminster Abbey (8.5/10) - Originally started in 1065 by Edward the Confessor (2nd last Saxon King of England). In 1066 William of Normandy successful invaded England. No one has done that since. The Abbey has hosted many Royal weddings and is where every Monarch since Willian I has been coronated. Many monarchs are also buried there.
Golden Bus Tour (6/10) - not really worth it unless you've never been to London before. The tour is slowed at times by central London traffic.
London Bridge Experience (4/10) - (+bonus The Tombs) - Half history tour, half haunted scare show (especially the Tombs)
The Shard (6/10) - Up the elevator to the 68th floor with access to two viewing decks. Tallest building in Europe with great views, however if you're been to St. Paul's you may not need to see this one. Perhaps the CN Tower has spoiled me.
Royal Albert Hall Tour (8/10) - A tour around the hall including a view into the Royal social room, Royal box (photo above - I know what you're thinking, it looks like a theatre box, except it's Royal) and a lot of history about Victoria's and Albert's love of the arts and education (hence all the museums and education buildings in the area).
Chelsea Stadium Tour (6.5/10) - A bit bland, although you do get to see the press rooms, get onto the side of the pitch and I did find out about the general sale of tickets for a FA cup game. Usually one cannot buy tickets as a member of the general public - but with this juicy tip a picked up a few for Sunday's game.
Winston Churchill War Rooms (8/10) - Where Churchill and his cabinet met regularly just off Whitehall and ran most of the British WW2 effort from. It's now both a view into the rooms and a Churchill museum.
Kensington Palace (7/10) - The current home of William and Kate. A view into the state apartments used by King's and Queen's and an exhibit on Diana's fashion. Most notable for where Victoria was born, where she met Albert, and where she signed the document making her Queen when her uncle William IV died in 1837.
Monument (6/10) - A monument by none other than Christopher Wren to commemorate the great fire of London which started in Sept 1666 in Pudding Lane. It's 202 ft tall - which is also the distance between it and where the fire started. You climb a lot of steps and get a nice view.
Tower Bridge Tour (7.5/10) - Walk along the top of Tower Bridge (the one many think is London bridge). Lots of great views and facts about the bridge and bridges in general for bridgophiles. Additionally you get to see the engine room which runs the draw bridge.
HMS Belfast (7/10) - If you've seen a warship before this one isn't going to blow your mind, but still some interesting exhibits about WW2, the ship and you get to see most of the decks with some good explanations about each section. Also you're on the Thames which is a bonus!
Windsor & Castle (9.5/10) - I would suggest this is a must see. 1 hour from the center of London. You get to see the town, the Castle with state apartments + you get to see St George Chapel which is where the last 3 monarch's are laid to rest. Windsor Castle is what the Queen says is her true home. Meghan and Harry will marry there in May 2018.
BONUS I managed to see a Chelsea game! - 3-0 Chelsea over Newcastle in the FA Cup.
BONUS BONUS - We saw Michael Caine at dinner one night a couple weeks ago. Our dinner companion got a photo with him subtly as he was leaving the restaurant as apparently he's not keen on too much attention in public. Which reminded me that there are only two things in the world Michael Caine can't stand: "Those intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ882QYzr-M
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