2026LON Part 6: Docklands, London Stadium, Holland Park, British Museum, Leake St, Brixton/Borough Market (& More)

With just seven days to tour London on my own on my recent work trip, this post will look at a few more places that I visited. Unfortunately, many of the places I visited turned out to be museums where I probably shouldn’t share photos of the actual treasures inside as those photos are for “private use only”, but there were also plenty of places I visited where it seems appropriate to share.

The last post ended with me in Greenwich. To get there, I had the fortune of riding the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), so perhaps it’s time to ride my way back up the line.

Docklands

The Docklands area is a completely different face of London. Getting off at Canary Wharf DLR station, I exited into Cabot Square Plaza.

It seems many of the locals like to sit around the fountain and have a bite to eat. But just looking around – gone are the stonework buildings of the rest of London. Instead, this represents the “modern” London – built upon former dock lands. This was a bit more like the other cities I’ve been to, although the scale was still a bit small.

Looking overhead, there would be the occasional plane flying overhead leaving a contrail behind. The Docklands are the home of London City Airport, the airport that’s the closest to the city. It doesn’t seem to be all that big of an airport – only regional and EU flights seem to come in and out of there. Nevertheless, there’s no shortage of waterways here.

I’ve never seen these before. Round restaurant boats that supposedly you can drive up and down the waterway? Apparently, they are run by Skuna. Despite the name, apparently one member of the party is given Captain’s duties and cannot have alcohol. So say goodbye to that schooner of beer! Given the weather, it’s great that they have a plastic dome, but a round shape isn’t exactly my first choice when it comes to directional control or efficiency. I sure hope that dome isn’t keeping in any carbon monoxide …

A shot looking up the waterway towards the DLR line. West India Quay station is on the left, and Canary Wharf DLR station on the right just out-of-shot. The closest distance between two stations on the DLR, if I’m not mistaken.

I was here to visit the London Museum Docklands – free to enter and a decent exhibition showing how the docklands area has changed over time, how policy and politicians helped and hindered its growth and (for a transport enthusiast) even a bit on the DLR including exhibits of old Docklander tickets. It sort of explained why the trains themselves were a bit older than I was expecting, for a self-driving system.

London Stadium

Seeing I was already on the DLR, I decided to catch it through to Pudding Mill Lane stop. This is the stop closest to the ABBA Voyage attraction, but also, the closest to the London Stadium, home of the 2012 Olympics.

The area nearby certainly didn’t look very much developed nor friendly. There was plenty of graffiti, some of which overlapped the wayfinding signage. While this would be the closest station to the stadium, the interesting part is that it was closed throughout the Olympic games. I wonder if that was a crowd control measure, to avoid the DLR from becoming overloaded, as it was pretty cramped even just riding it on an ordinary day. I suspect most people might have used Stratford instead, which is a major transport interchange.

Another variant of bon appetit, it would seem … from a person of culture, presumably. Sorry, but it seems even the brain-rot internet subculture starts to take effect on you after a while … but aside from that, there’s not that much merit to what amounts to a few tags on a wall. We’ll visit some real art a bit later.

But for now, I’ve managed to visit London Stadium, or actually, the bridge across from it, to take a photo. It would seem there was an athletics event happening on the grounds just outside and a stranger then started accusing me of taking perverted photos of random people’s children. But c’mon … even I have standards! Needless to say, the stadium itself was underwhelming in scale. It just looked so much smaller than it appeared on TV. I was going to do a walk around to an entrance and then walk into the park, but given the events that were on … I decided to give that a miss.

Walking to the location was not quite ideal either. It seems there’s some works on redeveloping the area for easier access, so there were temporary fences and closed roads along the way.

Leake Street Arches

Speaking of graffiti, the Leake Street Arches is a famous destination for just that. I caught the bus into Waterloo just to come by – without realising what was on offer.

At first, from the outside, it looks like a pedestrian subway …

Inside, it turned out to be a vibrant canvas that was truly well-used, with barely a blank spot left behind. The artwork was fresh and topical – St. Patrick’s Day had just passed.

Some of the artwork is provoking, or at least attempts to be, with bright colours and sharp contrasts. It’s amazing to think all this was done by people skilled in using, of all instruments, a rattle-can.

I enjoyed the “meta” self-referential nature of some of the works. It seemed that while much of the area was “open” for an artist to “challenge”, there were some protected works behind perspex to preserve them. The lighting seemed to be specially installed to better highlight the works.

Some of the works had beauty within them …

… while others were inspiring because of their scale and location. Don’t forget to look up – the ceilings are lined with paint too.

There are occasional side-rooms which sort of reminded me of a train carriage. It seems a lot of people pass by just to admire the work. Even though there is work of a high skill level, it would seem that some of the less-skilled “taggers” still occasionally will “modify” and “add” to an existing work of art, not always improving it sadly.

Another piece that was on the ceiling … and perhaps one that some visitors didn’t even notice was there.

Along the main tunnel, it seems that the walls are almost divided up into “bays”. One artwork simply meets the next at an edge … or blends into it sometimes.

Those light fixtures definitely won’t work with all the paint they’re covered with. But this bear caught my eye – that silver paint is very reflective – it’s probably quite expensive paint?

The obligatory “Make Love, Not War” message, but in a world of colour, a more monochromic artwork stands out purely because it’s unique. Beyond that, the shading is very nice, as is the reflection and “glint” of light in the eye, all on a very unusual corner piece where the tunnel narrows.

Where do I redeem my free Gaza? Indeed, there is a war going on, so some of the messages are a bit political. Of course, there’s not so much in the way of artwork, mainly just scribbles on the floor. After all, paint on the floor would obstruct pedestrian flow. But it would seem the majority of visitors were taking their time, taking photos and videos on their phones to commemorate their visit. I definitely think this is a step up from Hosier Lane and Union Lane in Melbourne.

Here’s a few greyscale faces, seemingly from the same artist, all human but also exaggerated in some way. It cannot be denied that this is art – even if I was given time to practice, I somehow doubt I could do this. It’s not just the skill of controlling the paint, but simply an ability to draw where I would fail …

Thankfully, there are slightly simpler forms of art too. This one stood out to me – there’s a double-helix in there! Nerdy art, perhaps? Still can’t be sure what it’s supposed to say? Josie?

There’s even some artistic light fixtures in the far end of the tunnel. There seems to be a cafe or something, but it wasn’t open when I visited.

I suppose such rebellious subcultures do have a habit of amplifying messages of independence – it is a shame that such statements may not be understood in the way it was originally intended.

The one that comes to mind is “do your own research,” which has now come to be “misused” when the phrase is attached to poorly-done research on misinformation that perpetuates more disinformation under the guise of independent research. It is through this sort of thought that it becomes apparent to me just how the modern world is about “controlling the narrative,” not just the information, because not all people can come to sensible conclusions when faced with just the data and increasingly, people just want a black-and-white answer in a world of greys and changing knowledge. In the same way, “deprogram yourself” may well be a good thing to have in mind (i.e. think of other possibilities), but it isn’t the same as say, reprogramming yourself as a conspiracy theorist …

Even the entrance at the far-side of the tunnel does not escape the spray-painting treatment. As much as I had doubts about the safety and appeal of visiting Leake St., it turned out to be an unexpected highlight of my trip. There even seemed to be some police patrols of the area too, which seemed to turn a blind eye to those setting up equipment and beginning their spray for the day. As long as the spray doesn’t cause an overabundance of fumes, I suppose …

Imperial War Museum

I managed to give the Imperial War Museum a visit too. They’re a bit south of Waterloo station, so I hopped onto a bus and went to Kennington Road / Imperial War Museum (Stop S). Just across the road was a quaint estate.

We often complain of copy-and-paste buildings and bland architecture, but this oddly-enough is also very “regular” in appearance. I definitely don’t despise regularity at all – in fact, it makes for quite the pretty-looking estate.

But here, I was approached by a slightly shaken up old man. He asked me for directions to the local library. He said that he had just been robbed of his wallet and he didn’t know the way or have any means to get there except by foot. Being a cautious traveller, I immediately presumed this was a pick-pocketing scheme and looked around but didn’t see anything untoward. With all my pockets sealed, I started a quick search on Google Maps and told him the rough location when another senior citizen came by and offered to help him out. Throughout the exchange, I was scanning the surroundings … absolutely nothing was untoward.

In the end, I can only presume (in good faith) that the old man was either telling the truth or had some sort of disease that might have caused disorientation or loss of his wallet. Nevertheless, it was heartbreaking to think of it – if true, it would suggest that the social issues in London were real and pickpockets did operate, but also that they might be preying on the local elderly. A truly despicable thought and one that shook me somewhat.

That being said, the Imperial War Museum was a pretty decent visit that I would recommend. Spread across several floors, grouped by various themes, there were a few eye-catching propaganda posters and plenty of physical artifacts. The museum was moderately crowded, but not uncomfortably so.

Brixton Market/Village

Since I was in the Lambeth area on buses anyway, I decided to continue my journey to Brixton Market.

“We’re gonna rock down to Electric Avenue …” – Eddy Grant

Yes, in case you were wondering, it is this Electric Avenue that Eddy Grant was referring to in the hit song that makes reference to the 1981 Brixton Riots, although little rioting actually happened on this particular street. But an interesting piece of history is that this was the first market in London to be lit by electricity.

The road leading up to the market was quite wide, but the weather was making a turn for the worst, being quite windy and starting up an occasional drizzle. Some of the vendors in the middle quickly reached to cover up their stock.

The area is definitely one that is frequented more by certain ethnic groups such as African and Jamaicans, thus the groceries for sale also include some produce that is specific to their cuisine.

Connected to the market is Brixton Village, which is a bit like a covered mall with shops either side. Inside, it is brightly coloured.

Vendors have their produce on display in a small-scale, almost like a small community farm. The spring onions just say “offer”, so I suppose there is some haggling to be had – it’s still a “real” market in that sense.

The map of the village has an interesting tag-line – “You cannot design a Brixton. It takes life and community and millions of stories.” Hmm. Stories.

Well, I guess given the history, things don’t look too bad but the cost of living in London still seems like a big issue even if I’m not living there.

Out of the “village” and onto the road. I’ve got to say, whoever did this graffiti on the bridge certainly loves eggs. And why not? They’re tasty and nutritious. But to publicly declare it this way is new to me.

The Atlantic building seems like it’s seen better days. Boarded up with graffiti, with a sign saying “to let/for sale”. I wonder if such places get bought – it seems like I’m in the wrong end of town (and I probably am). Brixton is one of those places which defy the “crime banana” – it may be on the edge but it’s historically known for street/knife crime.

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Back into the village, I pass a shop with a large hanging Osaka-branded CFL, with the tubes contorted into a rough “bulb-like” shape. I’ve never seen one like this in use in the open! Probably 50-75W or so, judging from the size, but I can’t be sure.

It seems the locals are definitely not shy about their identity. But as much as life is difficult, it seems there’s only so much you can do about prices when you’re running a business. I’m not sure if locals would find the prices expensive, but as a foreigner, it does feel expensive – as an “optimal”-seeking person, it just feels wrong.

That’s enough of Brixton for now – I survived my trip, so it’s back onto a bus back to the hotel … this time, from the side of Lambeth Town Hall.

Holland Park

It was time to give a local attraction a visit – Holland Park. This time, instead of walking up from Earls’ Court, I’d be entering from the Holland Park tube stop.

The neighbourhood was similarly neat, bright and home to the unimaginably wealthy.

It’s a short walk to the entrance to Holland Park.

My main highlight? Seeing plenty of squirrels. Aren’t they cute! They rummage around on the ground and dart around back and forth with an impressive level of agility.

There seems to be a family or community of squirrels – some younger and more audacious ones, as well as older ones who are more conservative, spending time observing at a distance rather than foraging near the walkways. Thankfully, I had my zoom lens with me.

The statue of Lord Holland, near the ruins of Holland House. Unfortunately, in the form of a statue, one cannot preserve their dignity and instead, it seems Lord Holland is at the mercy of the fowl in the region not to further soil the statue …

I got visited by a beautiful small bird while taking a rest on a park bench. I have no idea about the species of bird in the area but this one stood still for a while before hiding back in the bushes.

There was some event running at the time I visited and they set up a series of temporary lavatories. The wooden supports, however, was a bit questionable. Is this the forbidden Jenga?

The Design Museum

Located within the park is the Design Museum, incidentally, the location of the event that I came to support for work.

The sign may appear plain …

… but the building itself has a very unique shape with some free exhibits on the top floor and some paid feature exhibits underground. The free exhibits were definitely a nice walk-through – Design, Maker, User was a nice reminder of just how many tech products we recognise for their good design.

The British Museum

This is the big one – the truly “must visit” location, The British Museum. The museum is free to visit, but you need to book ahead of time or risk not being able to enter or getting stuck in a long queue. I caught a tube train to Tottenham Court Road station and walked there – it is relatively close-by.

Walking in through the main entrance, the atrium was very impressive and striking. It seems many of the museums have a bit of a sky-light feature. The maps have a suggested price on them – while many ignorant tourists took them without donating, I used my phone instead, just to be a little more ecological.

The day I visited, the library was open for viewing, so I could grab a shot of the insides of the middle of the museum.

A view of the atrium from the upper floor. The museum was absolutely packed with visitors. I counted plenty of school groups, alongside warnings that sketching and other activities would be restricted in certain rooms due to the anticipated traffic. Rooms related to Egyptian mummies seemed to be the most in-demand on the day. Likewise, with so many tourists around, some were less considerate of others, resulting in a lot of pushing and jostling.

There is plenty to see – you could easily spend a day here, but it probably wouldn’t be a comfortable day. Rather than obsess with photos, I decided to spend more effort visiting the artifacts with just my eyes – seeing the literal Rosetta Stone, an Astrolabe, the Portland Vase and fragments of stonework from different cultures.

There was a whole wing dedicated to Parthenon sculptures from Greece … while much of it in sandstone seemingly has not endured all that well, the scale of having a complete wall of sculptures was impressive. However, if you do find your legs weary – as I did – you’ll find it hard to grab a seat. The place was so packed and there were even small private tours being run as well (although I’m not sure if the museum approves), alongside the officially provided tours.

The British Library

While I’m here, it’s worth taking a trip to The British Library where a number of literary treasures are stored. Free to enter, it’s surprisingly busy at opening, with a queue that stretches around the building. Entrance happens quickly and the inside is surprisingly large. It seems a lot of people like to hang around to study and there’s even some business entrepreneurial support offered too.

My main reason for visiting was just to see one of the few preserved copies of the Magna Carta, considered to be a foundation of democracy and law. I did manage to stitch a decent panorama of it, but I’d rather not post that in case I get into trouble. It is under a glass cabinet with plenty of guards watching over it and while photography is allowed, the guards continually remind guests not to lean on or touch the glass, etc.

Borough Market

While roaming around, I found myself on the other side of London Bridge from the Monument, so it was time to take a walk around Borough Market.

This is probably the most famous market, although there is also Camden Market and Portobello Road Market (which I didn’t happen to make it to). This market seemed to be an interesting mix of old …

… and new – this glass-house is also part of the sprawling market.

The market seems to have its values set in “unusual form, quality and source” with a focus on positive impact. As a result, it’s probably not going to be affordable …

The market is filled with small stalls and mostly sell food. I visited a little later in the day – I can imagine it being quite busy during lunchtimes …

… but the core of the market seemed quite busy and warnings about pickpockets blared over the PA system. Quite a few of these visitors are part of tourist groups, moving slowly and clogging up the walkways. I have the feeling it’s a bit more of a tourist-trap than it is a genuine market.

Indeed, there are imported items, but the prices aren’t exactly affordable.

At least you get to watch things being cooked in front of you. The visual and olfactory stimulus definitely helps attract crowds … even though I was hungry, I wasn’t able to stomach the prices.

At another shop nearby, I saw a salt-beef on rye sandwich for GBP10.50 (or AUD21). The sausage roll was GBP6 (or AUD12). It seemed a bit pricey – but I did try a Greggs sausage roll and was thoroughly unimpressed, so … perhaps this would be better. I didn’t feel it was worth finding out though.

But it seems some locals love their pets enough to buy some skewered prime meat cut and feed it to them piece-by-piece. To think, that dog eats better than me!

Perhaps it’s just my mistaken impression that markets were supposed to be competitive place with good prices and plenty of options … many of these markets are more a collection of odd small businesses which aren’t seeking to compete or haggle.

The market, from a different corner, looks completely different. Perhaps a good testament to how the market has stood the test of time and the many changes that have happened in the surrounding area.

Conclusion

In this post, I’ve managed to make my way to a few more of those must-see London attractions. While London is an expensive city to live in, many attractions are also quite expensive. But there’s plenty of free stuff to do and see, as I’ve shown. Often times, it’s more a case of “passing by” and admiring … sometimes it’s not what you expect to be impressive that turns out to be the highlight (e.g. Leake St). Other times, the big attractions can be disappointing, in part because of overtourism. But as a tourist myself, I don’t see myself having any more right to getting a clean shot of anything as any other tourist … so I’m happy to record things in my mind and obsess less about getting “the perfect shot”.

But my week is nearing its end – the next post will be the final post of my travels, which covers a few more attractions I managed to make my way to. But don’t worry – there will be a bonus post after that (no prizes for guessing what that one is going to be about).