Since I found a job at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund I moved to London. On of my collegues from Nijmegen still had friends in London and I first rented a room in Lewisham, south east below the Thames. Since I liked the place, I was within walking distance from Greenwich and Blackheat as well as public transport to central Londen, I decided to look arounbd for a small apartment. I bought a small one-bed on Belmont Hill, very close to Lewisham Shopping Centre and Blackheath village. I worked at Lincolns Inn Fields (Holborn) which was about 45 minutes door-to-door.

Although Lewisham itself doesn’t have a lot to offer in terms of culture, it is an old working class neighbourhood, there are plenty of things to do. Blackheath is a nice villgae with lots of trendy bars and restaurants, and the heath itself is kind of impressive because it’s a huge open space where you don’t expect it in the middle of London. A little bit further to the river Thames is Greenwich Park with the observatory and the 0-meridian, and gives a great view over the Thames and the city centre. From the Cutty Sark, you can take the foot tunnel (more than a 100 years old) to the north of the river and the docklands with the City’s business centre. A nice Sunday trip.

I had a good social life in Lewisham, often centered around a pub. The good thing about english oub culture is that it starts early and there is virtually no upper age limit and you can meet people from all walks of life. There is enough to do in and around lewisham, but Charing Cross is quite close if you prefer the centre. Since I worked in the centre, I often had a spare hour to visit Covent Garden and Oxford Street. Public transport is essential in Londen and quite good although the roling stock is quite dated, leaving to many delays in the undergorund. Also rush hour train traffic can be challenging, I often was glad I could get into the train. A seat was mostly out of question, but the delays were the most annoying. Since the stations London Bridge, Tower Bridge and Charing Cross were extrmely busy with trains arriving every minute or so, one single stalled train was a recipe for long delays.

I will always have good memories of London. I met my wife at the Yates’s on Lewisham High Street and our first child was born in Lewisham hospital and I still regularly meet friends from there.