Knowing my Uncle will be visiting for an extended stay in a few weeks, I decided to try something different on Sunday and booked the MegaBus into London. It's a relatively new service--a doubledecker that runs every two or three hours from Oxford to London (and back). You have to book online beforehand and it's no frills, but cheap; my return fare was �4.50, about $9.00. It leaves Oxford from the ice skating rink by my house, so it couldn't be more convenient, and only takes about 90 minutes into Baker Street. I was up at 6:30 to get the 7:30 bus. I was one of only two riders to start, so I had the front seat on top & was able to greet the dawn. I wanted to get down there early enough to make one of the famous walking tours; this particularly morning I took the tube up to Hampstead for the first walk of the day:

Old Hampstead Village Our setting is London's most picturesque neighbourhood...a perfectly preserved Georgian village crowning the top of a handsome hill and garnished with the capital's most elegant old world promenade, a medley of cobble-stone lanes, pretty cottages, surprising turnings, and unsurpassed views. As for our cast of characters...well it's every bit as beguiling as our setting, ranging from the highwayman Dick Turpin to the painter Constable to the poet Keats; from Freud and D.H. Lawrence to Sting and Boy George; from Elizabeth Taylor and Emma Thompson to Rex Harrison, Peter O'Toole and Jeremy Irons. And for good measure, there's London's most villagey atmosphere and magnificent Hampstead Heath, the capital's best-loved park.

The guide was an older gentleman, Charles, who we later found out used to be a television producer (The Goons) for the BBC. A native of the area, he was full of humorous anecdotes. Unlike the last walk I went on, the weather was bright and sunny and cool but not cold, so the 35 of us thoroughly enjoyed strolling on the Heath. After the walk, I grabbed some lunch and then took the tube down to the river. I had been meaning to visit the Tate Modern for some time (but could never drum up interest from anyone with whom I was traveling) so now was the perfect opportunity. I was unfortunately disappointed. Other than the Turbine Room, I was not impressed and in fact I was a bit put off by the crowds and the museum's illogical layout. I only spent about 30 minutes there. I walked across the river past St. Paul's and got lost in Barbican land. I should know better; I've been caught in the maze of 1960s-style blocks of flats, concrete walkways and immobile barriers before. I don't think anyone lives here; there certainly aren't any pubs, restaurants or shops, at least that I could see. The signage is 3rd rate as well. Grumble. I had dinner at a cafe and then took the 6:30 MegaBus back to Oxford. I was well and truly tired out by then, but I'm glad I went; there's no reason to take advantage of the service more often. I just wish someone had done my laundry for me while I was away.
4:20:00 PM