One-day trip, Eastern holiday

During the last Eastern holiday, I had a chance to visit London differently. This was a one-day trip so I had to manage my time accurately so I reserved a bus ticket for early morning and started my journey at 6'clock. Around 9, I was in London, Victoria Coach Station which is located in the centre of this mega city.



Firstly, I planned to visit a neighbourhood (North Finchley) in the northern part of London, because I heard that most of the Iranian people are living there and I was looking for Iranian restaurants and markets so I had to use the underground which is the cheapest way to reach far destinations in a busy day. I was there at around 11 after spending 2 hours shopping at supermarkets, I chose Sima's Grill Food for launch. The foods were exactly like those which I tried in my country with original recipes.



After that, I decided to visit Harrods Shopping Mall, a luxury place in London. I'm a huge fan of super sports cars, which can be seen frequently in Harrods Street but it's not the main reason that I wanted to see them there, The Harrods building is unbelievably beautiful so it's worth seeing. I decided to take bus and seat in the second level to spice up my journey. After passing a 1 hour-way, I reached Harrods street, a quite busy place with lots of sports cars' exhaust sound and London's luxurious lifestyle.



About the Harrods building, a meticulous refurbishment programme on the historic facades of one of London’s most iconic buildings has just completed its first stage, combining heritage restoration with 21st-century technology. Make Architects has been coordinating and collaborating with a team of specialist contractors and craftsman from the UK and Europe to reinstate and restore the original architecture around the façade, centering on the main entrances, selected windows and the iconic green awnings.                                         


Using archive information, Make’s ongoing work reinstates and restores the original features of the Edwardian Baroque and interwar Beaux-Art style architecture while ensuring functionality marries that with a modern luxury department store and contemporary brand requirements. Remodelling of the main entrances and surrounding windows on Brompton Road reinstates the grandeur and ornate design of the Edwardian Baroque period, which features curved entrance windows, detailed historic timber doors and hand-laid mosaic flooring. Lost tracery detailing has also been reinstated above the doors, with dedicated lighting to maximise the improved window height and sense of scale.




On Hans Crescent and Basil Street, Make has restored the filigree detailing above the windows and reinstated an historic solid canopy in front of the Grand Entrance Hall 5 on Hans Crescent, featuring glazed soffits and cove lighting, to mark the store’s main entrance. New awnings reflective of the Victorian-style awnings complete the facades. Designed in ‘Harrods green’ with a gold-leaf logo, these respect the original design intent for the building while allowing in more light and greater visibility. New technology has been installed that automates their extension and retraction to coincide with the store’s opening and closing and allows for cleaning and weather conditions.




Planning consent has been granted for the restoration of the remaining windows and entrances along Hans Crescent, as well as for a new retail kiosk as part of a wider landscaping plan by Harrods and the neighbouring The Knightsbridge Estate to provide more legibility and coherence to the street. The elegant glass and bronze kiosk and associated public realm improvements will build on the street’s current character and historic narrative, realising its full potential as a public space. The kiosk will be the focal point of the plans, bringing colour, animation and seasonal variation and drawing pedestrians down the full length of the street as they exit Knightsbridge Tube Station. Source by Make Architects.

aasarchitecture.com


Then I walked to Buckingham Palace, that was really different from what I ever seen on the TV, The house which forms the architectural core of the present palace was built for the first Duke of Buckingham and Normanby in 1703 to the design of William Winde. The style chosen was of a large, three-floored central block with two smaller flanking service wings.



After that, I went to the Piccadilly Circus , a real vibrant street with lots of movie teaters and busy bars can be seen there. Firstly I noticed a man with a large size speaker. People were gathering around the man to start a street dance.



Then I was looking around and suddenly I found my heaven, a three-story building which belongs to LEGO.   



My favourite toy from when I was a child till now but I had only 2 hours to return to Victoria's Station so I took a fast look from LEGO centre and used underground to come back to the bus station. 




Although it wasn't a long trip, I could manage my trip successfully and visit all places that I want.

                                                                      


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