Mind the Gap!

This warning will be familiar to anyone who has used the London Underground, the oldest underground railway in the world. However, since its opening in 1863 the network has changed almost completely. The first passengers were transported in steam-powered trains instead of the electric trains we know today. This meant that tunnels had to be close to the surface and have many openings for the steam to escape. Bit by bit, the old steam trains were replaced by electricity-powered trains, more and deeper tunnels were built and lines were extended far into the suburbs of London.

The constant network changes also meant that many stations were closed, relocated or used for different purposes. During the Second World War, for example, some stations served as air raid shelters during bomb attacks. An underground branch leading to a station called Aldwych in Westminster was closed and used to store precious items from the British Museum.

Even though it is called “Underground”, only 45% of all the rails are actually underground. If you want to visit the deepest point of the Underground, go to Hampstead, which runs down to more than 58 metres – nothing for people suffering from claustrophobia! Another useless fact: Smoking on the tube was allowed until 1987, when a fire broke out due to a discarded match in King’s Cross station, killing 31 people. 

 

The next time you feel like complaining about cramped carriages or slow connections, think about the beginnings of the “Tube” and be thankful for non-smoking regulations, lifts and carriages more modern than this “padded cell” without windows:

I love London

Over the last one or two weeks there were a lot of hellos and goodbyes - many people left, but new ones arrived, and I did not have the time to write a new blog post. I also spent one weekend in London with my roommate, and I want to tell you about this wonderful weekend and my new favourite spot in London, Camden Market:

Saturday was mainly spent on travelling to London. We took the National Express bus because it was only half the price compared to the train, but it also took twice as long. We wanted to go directly to our hotel, but unfortunately the tube we were in was stuck because of a broken signal. It was a slightly disturbing experience, and unfortunately only the beginning of a streak of bad luck regarding public transport.

Two hours too late, we finally arrived at the Warner Brother studios outside of London - after a very relaxed train assistant had charged us £4.50 for who knows what...I am not the biggest Harry Potter fan, but the studios were very interesting because they offer an insight into the world of movie-making. It was astonishing to see how many of the sets had been built in real life instead of being computer-generated, and how many hours of work there are behind each and every one of them. After browsing through the souvenir shop, we cancelled our plans of going to a club because we were both too tired and wanted to rest our feet.

The next day we set out for Camden Market - and public transport messed up our plans once again. First, we stopped inside a tunnel a second time, but luckily only for a short time because we had to let another train pass. Then we could not change to the line we had planned because its trains did not stop at that particular station on that particular day...

After finally escaping the maze of the London Underground, we were greeted by a crowd of people bustling through the streets in Camden. The shopkeepers were only just setting up their displays for the day, but the place was already crowded with tourists and locals alike. It is very tempting to buy something at the next best stand, but I advise you to stroll further and always try to negotiate - eventually you will find what you like at a reasonable price. The market unbelievably big, so many only follow the main road in order not to get lost. They definitely miss out on something! In the very last corner of the market, we found a tiny shop that sells home-made mini cupcakes that looked almost too beautiful to eat. All the sales huts and many walls around Camden Market are covered in artistic graffiti that are far from being vandalism. Do not miss the part called Horse Market, where the architecture is wonderful and you can find many stands that sell exotic dishes at a low price.

If you come to London, the Camden Market is a must-see, not only if you like shopping. Take your time to stroll through this lively and multicultural place and dare to step away from the main street in order to explore its hidden treasures.