A decade ago, I didn’t really think London was for me.  I lived there for a while, but it made me realise that I was more a rural than an urban boy.  And even as I write this sat on a train watching the lambs in the fields on my way from a day in London, I reminisce on why I chose to move out.

But being there today reminds me of a few things I really miss about London:

• Outdoor eateries: London isn’t world-famous for street food, but there are plenty of options.  Working near Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell today I had a choice of curries, middle-eastern, African and various European street vendors, and half the enjoyment is walking down the strip, seeing, hearing and smelling the food.  Although they aren’t on every street corner in London, they are much more prevalent in London than elsewhere in the UK – in Bristol we only tend to see them at festivals and other special occasions.
• Food markets: I’d love to, but I’ve not been to Smithfields or Billingsgate markets early in the day to see the meat and fish trading, though I’m sure it’s a real experience.  But on the retail side, I love Borough Market (during the week when it isn’t too busy).  Loads of food options, exciting meats and seafood, and specialist stalls – every time I go I come back with an ingredient I have never come across before.
• Specialist shops: In Bristol, we have a few specialist stores.  A few choices of Chinese / Southeast Asian supermarkets, Indian / Southern Asian, and a growing number of small east European shops.  But in London you can get pretty much anything.  Want some niche ingredients for that Mongolian dish you wanted to try?  I bet you could find them there.  Want some obscure liquor you heard about on that travel programme you watched?  Try Jerries on the corner of Wardour and Old Compton streets.  If you want something exotic, you could travel the world, or in most cases do a bit of research and buy it in London.
• Restaurants: When my wife and I lived in London, we were recent graduates and had very little disposable income.  Eating out was a rare treat.  Now, though not with unlimited funds, we are able to eat out a lot more than we could then.  Where we live is fine, and we have a lot of options – but in London you have so much.  If you want a food type, you’ll find it.  If you want cheap / no-frills, you’ll still find good options.  You want fine dining?  You have your choice of Michelin starred and AA rosette establishments pretty much within walking distance of one another.
• Public transport: And what about getting home after an evening out after a few drinks?  Londoners may complain about the tube, but when you don’t have a decent public transport network, you realise London doesn’t have it so bad!

[Photo by JustABoy]