The Sights and Stories of London: A Review

With rickety cobblestone streets sprawling with ancient brick buildings and cozy cafés, London has a simultaneously homey and expansive feel. The city is an icon of an intertwined balance of history and modernity, and the Spelling Bee cast and crew spent Monday meandering the exhilarating maze of London. From morning till evening, we had the honor of sharing an intimate look into the culture and fun unique to London, from exciting bike tours to shopping along the streets of Soho.

London is a city full of history. Despite only spending a day and a half here, we already learned so much about the places and people that make up this city, from prominent royal figures from years past to the humble architects of famous landmarks. Biking along the cobbled streets and taking in the scenic views of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and more, around a third of the group toured the city on wheels. We even saw the royal colorguard pass the street leading to Buckingham Palace, clad in gleaming red and gold suits and bearskin caps.

In the afternoon, we got to tour Shakespeare’s Globe, a unique experience that taught us the backstories of the architecture and culture of the theater. With the building’s open, circular shape, everyone from all levels and angles is able to see what is going on on the stage. The architecture even mirrors the inside of a guitar, producing impressive acoustics, even in an outdoor space. The tour guide also explained how the floor and ceiling trap doors are often utilized to signify characters from hell and heaven, allowing viewers to infer whom in the play they should trust.

Some tour groups witnessed professional actors in action during their rehearsal of Shakespeare’s comedy “As You Like It,” performed centuries later in the very theater built for his shows. Watching the actors experiment with physicality and vocal choices, adjusting to the acoustics and settling into the body of the Globe, we felt a sense of wonder and inspiration.

As late afternoon approaches, a walk through the city greets us with Covent Garden in West End, one of the many luxurious shopping centers of London. We find ourselves oohing and aahing at the stalls of various crafts and trinkets lining the streets, drawn in by the scents of freshly baked cookies and expensive perfumes. Out in the open square, street performers attract eager crowds with their theatrics.

To close off our day in London, the full cast reconvened for the first show of our trip: Back to the Future, the Musical. Based on the prominent movie series, the production showcased stunning special effects and complex technical stunts that left us raving about the show long after it finished. We had an amazing time in London, and we’re so excited to see what Edinburgh has in store for us!

Warmly,

Shareen and Selina