Camden Town & Covent Garden #MarinaTravels

Neal's Yard

Nothing beats a beautiful afternoon spent wandering in London. Didn't they say a bad day in London is still better than a good day anywhere else? Well, having spent some time in this gorgeous, historic city, I can indeed confirm all the nice things they say about this place are true.
Today as the city of Taipei, where I currently reside is once again in a gloomy, rainy state, I'd like to continue to reminisce about my days in London and talk about some of the most visited spots in the UK capital - Covent Garden, Camden, and SoHo District among others. These places are cool and unique in their own ways and hopefully, after reading my blog you can rest assured that your trip to England will be nothing but special!

Camden Town

Camden Town & Camden Market

Regent's Canal

The vibe in Camden is quite similar to that of Shoreditch. There are vendors on the streets, cool clothing shops and interesting cafes on every corner you turn. The colors of graffiti arts and out-there shop signs are vibrant and something blinding. But I loved everything I saw. Do expect to encounter a lot of tourists in Camden especially on weekends. In my case, I don't really mind the crowd, I quite enjoyed the people. And If you are looking to buy some souvenirs at a fairly reasonable price, my experience is to get it here at Camden other than at Oxford Street.

Macaroon vendors in Camden Market

Camden Market is a collection of several retail markets collectively known as Camden Market or Camden Lock. It is one of the most famously visited markets in London. You can find a variety of different product sold at the market such as vintage clothes, hand-made crafts to fast food. Just the food alone at the market has so many to choose from, it was enough to make my head spin! It is quite a nice place to spend an afternoon with friends here, grab some food and find a place to sit, overlooking the Camden Lock. Just remember if you mind the crowd, get there early so you can save a spot in the sitting area in the market! 

Camden Lock

Campbell's Canal Café

In front of Campbell's Canal Cafe

Campbell's Canal Cafe is one little surprise I had when visiting Camden with my friend. I was recommended by my friend to give this place a try. This is a health-conscious, vegan cafe with funky, modern design, a bunch of cool dishes and desserts. It is right by the canal, you can order a coffee and sit by the window see, enjoy the music and the beautiful view. I absolutely loved the place and would without a doubt go back.

Camden Town Tube Station

Covent Garden, Neal's Yard and SoHo

 After my visit to Camden, I hopped on the tube and wandered to the Covent Garden area. I was not looking to find a famous tourist spot or a particular shop really. I just wanted to immerse myself in the London atmosphere. I spotted an Urban Outfitter on Seven Dials, after a brief shopping I then headed to Covent Garden for a little while, took a few photos on Carnaby Street and China Town before making my final stop at Neal's Yard.

The Covent Garden Area

Although I did not actually do anything or have anything specific to recommend you guys, I would say just wandering around the Covent Garden area is a beautiful adventure itself. It is quite an expensive neighborhood and I am here to tell you, you are going to feel super satisfied just by looking at all the unique shops, flower vendors, and high-end stores. 

Carnaby Street

Carnaby Street is the iconic pedestrians shopping street and a one-time epicenter of the 1960s counterculture scene according to Google, if you love taking aesthetic pictures of colorful buildings, window shopping and discovering hip new clothing brands, you've got to give this place a visit!

Neal's Yard is possibly one of the best places in London. Named after the 17th-century developer Thomas Neale, Neal's Yard one contains several modern health food cafes, retailers such as the Neal's Yard Remedies and Neal's Yard Dairy. Being just a small alley in Covent Garden, it certainly has a lot to offer. I was mostly attracted to its colorful and alternative building design and the aesthetic of it all!