Kensal Green Cemetery

As part of my goal to see more of London before I leave in June, I recently visited the Kensal Green Cemetery near my flat. When I say near my flat, I literally mean a five- minute walk down the road. Despite living in the same place for the last year and a half, I just hadn't had time to take to stroll London's first garden cemetery. Kensal Green is also one of the last of seven magnificent cemeteries in London. 

Kensal Green Cemetery was opened in 1833 and takes up 72 acres of land. It borders the Grand Union Canal. Kensal Green is a distinctive cemetery as noted by many writers and historians for the various memorials that you pass as you stroll the grounds. I certainly noticed that right away- there was no one section for the grandiose mausoleums. The cemetery is still used today as I saw many recent stone markers. 

There is also an  Anglican Chapel and a Reformers' Memorial on the grounds. 

The cemetery is the resting ground for many famous people. The inventor of Pears soap, the founder of W.H. Smith Bookstore, Winston Churchill's daughter, and many famous actors and singers of their day. A few famous cremations have also occurred on the grounds including Joe Stummer's. 

I didn't get to spend too much time visiting the Cemetery as it was starting to rain, but it is full of history. Seeing the grand designs of the graves and mausoleums is worth a visit in and of itself! 

Have you visited Kensal Green Cemetery? 

Weekly Recap

Before I begin my weekly recap, let's just take a moment and celebrate (again!) Syracuse's victory over Duke last night!! I was at a MPA party and had to withdraw to the corner for the ending of the game. My tension and stress of the game might have scarred my friends that aren't used to the stress of college basketball. (Sorry all!). It was a great way to start the new rivalry! 

This week was much more mellow than the first few weeks of the term. Nothing too major in terms of assignments due. My capstone group met with our client this week to get a grasp of how they perceived out interim report. We got a a lot of great, constructive feedback which will be helpful moving forward for the final due in March. 

On Thursday, I went and met with a Pi Phi at the Sloane Club who is hopefully moving to England. She pledged during the 1960s, and it was awesome to just sit and discuss our college days together. Lifelong friendship, indeed! 

Friday morning, I helped out SU Abroad by assisting chaperoning study abroad students on a tour of Fuller's Brewery (post to come about the tour)! 

Fuller's Brewery

Friday evening, the MPA Student Association elections were held. How has it already been a year since the last ones? Time is just flying by! My dear friend, Alyssa, won the chair position for the next year! Afterwards, we all headed to a pub nearby campus for a few drinks!

With the newly elected MPASA Chair

Yesterday, I felt I was on the go non-stop. 

I started the down wandering the gardens of St. Paul's.

St. Paul's 

From there, I walked to an open air shopping mall to grab brunch with two friends I met through the Local Levo group. We tried out the Bread Kitchen which was amazing food wise and had a great atmosphere.

Inside of the Bread Kitchen

Brunch me, please!

Grabbing cupcakes for later, I headed home to do some laundry and answer emails before going out to Wahaca in Shepard's Bush for dinner! I met up with my friend, Maggie, her wife, and a few of their friends. Maggie is on the Executive Board for the Pi Phi Alumnae Club with me! 

And, last night ended with going to a MPA party. The theme this week? Tropical! 

BG and me 

Tropical goodness

Today, Alyssa and I grabbed brunch before wandering down Portobello Road. After she headed to campus to get some work done, I finally went and walked around Kensal Green Cemetery (more on that to come).

It was a great week of balancing academics, a social life, and being a tourist.

How was your week? 

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood...

Obviously, I should have done a neighborhood post last semester. I often found myself taking photos of things in Ladbroke Grove/Notting Hill, but never seemed to post them into a coherent blog about where I live. Of course, there were my numerous trips to Portobello Road, and the time that I did the Notting Hill, the Movie, walking tour. 

Anyways, since I arrived back in London a few days prior to the new term starting, I figured that a quick jaunt around snapping some photos was a perfect way to spend an afternoon. I actually keep finding info out about where I live all the time.

Nido Notting Hill

For those who don't know, I live in private student accommodation in Ladbroke Grove/Notting Hill area. It's been a great place to live so far- all inclusive, security, gym on site, and my own studio! It's situated right along the Grand Union Canal which is linked to all of the other canals in London (Little Venice, etc.). 

My building is on a side street off of Kensal Road. Kensal Road has quite the history of change. The neighborhood has gone through a lot of revitalization in the past 30 years or so following a "rough" period post WWII. Nevertheless, it's turned itself around. Time Out recently published an article about the area that you can check out here: Kensal Road. 

The road is now home to the Dock restaurants, the HQ for Innocent (yummy smoothies!), and a lot of smaller shops that have recently opened. And yes, if you read the article, it appears we have a few celebrities in the neighborhood. Time to get the cameras out in case I see them!

About a five minute walk from me is a jumbo Sainsbury's where I normally get my groceries for the week. I say jumbo because it takes me a good hour to do a real good shopping trip for how much they carry in addition to food.

I live past the Ladbroke Grove Tube Station. I haven't really checked out that part of the neighborhood except for the fact it's right near where Portobello Road is! It's got a tube station that has both the Hammersmith and City lines and the Circle line. Not the most ideal lines to get places, but it is helpful sometimes.

To get to Ladbroke Grove and beyond, especially when I'm on my way to class, I have three main bus options. The 52, 452, and 23 are my busses that I continuously take. They all run the same path up until 23 heads straight into Queensway rather than Notting Hill Gate. The only good thing besides the long journey with route 23 is that it stops right outside of LSE. With 52 and 452, I generally take them up to Notting Hill Gate and get on the Central Line.  It's nice to have the three bus options because sometimes in the morning they are a bit crowded with school children!

The area around the Notting Hill Gate tube station is home to my daily activities. I generally come home from class via the tube and then grab the bus back down to where I live.  There are a few other grocery stores that are up along the main road which I go to if I am in a jam or want to change up a routine. Among the stores in Notting Hill are a few celebrity restaurants such as Recipease by Jamie Oliver which is also a food store.  And yes, if you are wondering, there are two Starbucks which I frequent quite  a lot.

I've enjoyed living in Notting Hill/Ladbroke Grove these past few months, and I look forward to the next seven months as well. There is always something to do here from the market to the history to the people watching from inside a cafe. There is never a dull moment!