London is renowned for its grey skies and drizzly weather. Our ride from the Hatton Cross underground tube station to the Westfield Mall on a very cool day in March, was very uninspiring.
Pulling out of the cold and cheerless station.
Even on a sunny day, the view from the train windows isn’t exactly sparkling, but on this day, the sky was a very pale grey, and promised rain.
The houses are so close to the railway line, but I suppose one must get used to the noise after living there for a while.
Many of these Victorian three storey houses have been converted into flats. Property prices in England are really crazy nowadays, and a five-bedroom terrace house in the greater London area, can cost about £2 million, with a one room studio apartment around £200,000. It’s not surprising that there’s been a rise in the number of ‘stay-at-home’ grown up children, and that the two family home is the fastest-growing type of household in the UK.
Almost at our destination, here are more windows, and also, as an added bonus, a peek at some very British chimney pots.
To see more entries and the windows that Dawn has for Thursday’s Lingering Windows, visit Dawn’s blog.
Nice views. I always like the train but then I never have HAD to ride it, it’s always been for pleasure and short excursions.
Thanks, Dawn. Me too. 🙂
I’m not a fan of dreary gloomy days but, once in while, it’s nice to see some photos of it so as to appreciate the bright sunshine. ~~~~ : – )
I so agree with you, Issy. We survived though. 🙂
Goes to show there is blog fodder in the dreariest of scenarios 😀 I quite like shot no.3…grey skies and all!
Absolutely true, Madhu. Nothing can be discounted. 😀
bhe certo, nulla a che vedere con il nostro magnifico sole italiano he, he!
Absolutely right, Ventis. The same with our South African sunshine. 🙂
Still ‘differen’ enough to make it interesting.
Thanks, Col. 🙂
It may look dreary but it made me remember my recent visit to London and my fondness of the town 🙂 I have heard about the prices of housing – what a shame.
Thanks, Paula. Yes, London is always interesting to visit, and of course the train ride was only the least fun part. The rest of the day was great, in spite of the weather. 🙂
Brings back memories. I used to spend a lot of time in those trains when I lived in London for a year
Thanks for the visit, Vahagn. The train system works so well there.
Thanks for the ride …. I love your thinking behind this post and your images – just get the camera out and the trip will be a lot more interesting. London Underground is the best in the world – it’s really hard to get lost … so well signed.
You’re welcome, Viveka. I’m sure I’d manage to get lost if I wasn’t with hubby. 🙂
Sylvia, if you can read English .. you will not get lost in London Underground – I got lost in NYC and Berlin .. no route maps .. no information – nothing. But I always find my way home *laughing.
I’ve never been to London, but hear the weather is often overcast and dreary. When Londoners come here they seemed overwhelmed by the space and the constant blue sky (which is probably why a lot of them stay!) 😀 Even though the weather is dreary in the photos, I still like the architecture of the houses 😉
Yes, I think Australia is very like South Africa, but more so, especially with the open spaces. Many South Africans have emigrated to your country, and love it. 🙂
They may be grey skies but the pics are interesting with the London Underground symbol. That would be the overground London Underground!
Thanks, Carol. Glad you enjoyed my train trip.
Obviously not Chamber of Commerce photos, but they tell a story, just the same. Nicely done sylvia
Thanks so much, Ron. These pics certainly wouldn’t attract the tourists. 😀
Seem to remember the people looked just as dreary 😦
Dreary and weary. 😦
Reminds me of all those train journeys I used to take as a child between Ipswich and Liverpool Street station to visit my dad. However, the journey to London from here in Somerset is beautiful countryside (until you get closer to London of course!) The sunshine helps, of which we’ve had a lot lately, but today is raining although I’m not complaining. Nothing like a full water-butt for watering the hanging baskets later! 😉
Today is grey and raining here too. We haven’t had any rain for as long as I can remember, so it’s very welcome. 🙂
🙂
Not very inspiring & yes, dreary I agree Sylvia ! There does always seem to be a point arriving by train into London when one thinks .. hmm glad I’m not living here … usually through a dirty smudged rain smeared window
I trust the arrival at the Westfield Mall put a smile on your face 🙂
Absolutely, Poppy. The Westfield Mall is quite wonderful. It put a smile on my face, delicious food in my tum, and a considerable dent in my credit card. 😀
Well … there had to be some recompense 😀
not much we can do about the weather, doesn’t mean we have to like it though… 🙂 I like to see the photos regardless of the weather as I’ve never been there!
Thanks, Heather. Don’t let my photos put you off going to London. Just try to choose better weather. 🙂
No worries…the weather definitely wouldn’t stop me from visiting! 🙂 we can’t do anything about the weather so must enjoy regardless…
I think the tube shields the weather but less fun seeing surrounding. The style of the houses is good though.
Thanks, YC. Those tube stations are cold and windy.
The top photo reminds me of my limited time on the tube. After three days of admiring the system and that map showing passengers the stations, my eyes wandered across to a sign which, in part, read; “if you see an unidentified an un attended parcel or package…notify conductor….do not pull emergency…” It was 1976 and my Irish ‘relatives’ were not happy with the Brits. Probably still not!
Glad I brought back memories for you. I think that advice would still apply, but maybe not so much with regard to the Irish.
Somehow your fog strikes me as a bit more depressing than what we get here. 😦
Well it certainly doesn’t photograph as well. 😕
Some of those suburby views are depressing even on a sunny day, Ad. But if you had the spiffiest house you wouldn’t have the railroad at the bottom of the garden, would you? 🙂
Well, I suppose one can’t have everything. Jo. 🙂
If not for the rain, one would not appreciate the sun???? We need rain badly. Let’s swap weather for a few weeks????
Very true, Cindy. We haven’t had any rain here in my part of South Africa, for many weeks. In fact, I can’t remember the last time.
Well the good thing is that there’s no smoking everywhere near the train tracks? 😀
Oh yes, and it’s very strictly enforced. 🙂
i remember march can be cool and rainy in london 🙂 what a nice way of photographing windows, Sylvia! amazing how much these victorian flats costs have gone up!
Thanks, Lola. Glad you enjoyed these pics. 🙂
Ahh, I don’t go to London without good reason but it isn’t all bad or always dreary! Property prices are awful and that applies to the west country as well, it’s hard for local young people to afford to buy homes, especially as people want to move down from London to beautiful Devon!
Yes, I know, Gilly. The weather can be glorious sometimes. Just not when we happen to be there. 🙂
From a window to look at those other windows:) great idea. Thanks, Lakshmi
Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed. 🙂
I can’t be without greenery and sun for very long. The dreariness you describe makes me feel appreciative for my surroundings. 🙂
Me too, Lynne.
London does put the “D” in dreary sometimes, but I still find it an exciting place to be no matter the weather. The sunny days are the bonus, but even that doesn’t ease the pain of the cost of real estate!
Thanks, Elisa. Yes, London can be quite exhilarating on fine days. I can take it in small doses, but couldn’t live there, even if I could afford the prices.
Almost as bright and cheery a Seattle..;-)
Yes, especially when the sun doesn’t shine. I remember that movie, ‘Sleepless in Seattle’. It rained the whole time. 😦
It sure wont see me buying a property there… considering our exchange rate… wow…
Me too. Our rands would go nowhere. 🙂
The prices are astounding. Definitely fit a dreary day in London.
I agree, Sue. 🙂
Every time I get a tad ‘homesick’- a misnomer considering I have lived in SA more years than in the UK – it is pictures such as these, AD, that make me count my blessings:
Wall to Wall blue in the middle of winter!
And Wimbledon is almost upon us so the Brits are guaranteed rain! 😉
Me too. Blue sky in England is something to be celebrated. 🙂
Dreary days just bring a different view. 🙂
They certainly do. I’m hoping it will be nice when we pass through there in September. 🙂
Well, I’m British and haven’t visited London for the last 20 years! It’s far too noisy, smelly and overcrowded for me. That being said, the last time I went there was to the City of London to an early music concert on a Sunday afternoon. Now that was fun as there was hardly a soul about, it being mostly offices there, and it was a lovely sunny day. The architecture is quite splendid, too, when you get to see it without people blocking your view.
Oh yes, I so agree, Sarah. London has beautiful architecture, and on a sunny day. the parks are wonderful. 🙂
On the nail AD :-). In fairness, the weather has been lovely for weeks and it does make a difference. (Khayelitsha’s not much fun either).
Thankfully, I don’t have to live in Khayelitsha, but I bet the house prices there are quite reasonable. 🙂 Happy for you that you’ve had some fine summer weather.
It is not the weather it is the dirty windows,, ha, ha! nice one. 😉
Thanks, Gerry. Yes, of course you must be right. 🙂
Hmm the Underground (overground) east from Hatton Cross.. My Dad grew up in Hounslow and I have fond memories of traveling the Piccadilly line during visits with my grandparents. Very different then of course. I remember trips to Heathrow, as my grandad worked there, trips to central London and the museums. Thanks for a reminder of such lovely times Sylvia. The sun was always shining when I traveled the line of course. 😉
Well, naturally, Adrian. The sun was also always shining when I was a child in England. 🙂 I’m sure Hounslow has changed an awful lots since your grandparents lived there.
Depressing actually?
Isn’t it just? 😦