London is a city that I have encountered twice, once in history class, and once with my own two eyes. Over the textbook, the first version felt distant: just names, dates, fires, kings—an outline of a place more than the place itself. But walking the streets of London has made it a new place entirely for me.

I remember arriving on yet another cloudy day on a Saturday morning, trying to picture a city that has existed for thousands of years. For eight days, I participated in the arduous task of walking virtually all over the city,  in which I encountered historical landmarks from all different eras–spanning from ancient history to contemporary history. As you read, I’ll take you all across space, and time (literally!) in one of the world’s most famous cities.

First Stop: Ancient History 

The City of London dates back thousands of years, with no history lacking at any point. As I traversed the city, two specific historical monuments immediately caught my eye. First, the London Wall.

While initially looking unassuming, it has immense historical and cultural influence. The London Wall was a defensive wall built by the Romans around the city of Londinium (early London) in the late 2nd or early 3rd century C.E. It was specifically designed to protect the city from invasions and raids. At one point, the wall was around two miles long, spanning from what is now Tower Hill in the east to Blackfriars in the west, shaping the layout of London for centuries. Portions of the wall still stand today, as one of the many ancient historical monuments that still have a presence in the city to this day.

Following this trend of ancient history brought me to one of the world’s oldest prisons, the Clink. Created in the 12th century, this morbid establishment initially fell into the domain of the Lord Bishop of Winchester and became notorious for its harsh prison conditions, where debtors, dissenters from religion, and prostitutes were dumped into tiny filthy cells. Being cramped, torturing inmates, and extorting them for anything and everything was what made the Clink life almost unbearable for anyone who was locked inside. The prison was razed in the late 18th century, but the very mention of the word ‘clink’ still sends shivers down the spine—a haunting reminder of ancient London’s grim past.

Second Stop. Medieval to Early Modern London

As we traverse our way to more modern features of London, a few things come to mind before the iconic clock in central London “Big Ben.” Contrary to public sentiment, the tower is properly known as the Elizabeth Tower. Big Ben refers to the Great Bell housed inside the tower. Regarded as the most valuable of England’s clock towers, with a soaring height of 96.3 meters, the clock finished construction in 1859. It is right next to the parliament building, giving even more prestige to the area as a whole. For locals and tourists alike, Big Ben is more than just a symbol of time; it is the very essence of the nation’s being.

As we get closer to the London of today, we can see a clear trend of the city increasing in wealth. I noticed this firsthand during my trip, as the presence of incredibly prestigious car brands such as Lamborghini, and Rolls Royce were ubiquitous, showcasing the city’s astonishing affluence. Yet, as I wandered the city, the enduring legacy of colonialism and exploitation stayed in the center of my mind. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the British were able to take in almost incomprehensible amounts of wealth, as a result of this exploitation, allowing them to build structures such as the one above. While this architecture is indeed beautiful,  at times it made me queasy to look at because of the exploitation that it so deeply relied on.

Even during times when the British were presumably on the right side of history, their actions were often complimented by self-interest, which is exactly what I got to see in the Imperial War Museum, which showcased much of the History of World War I and World War II. For example, the main reason that the British allied with the French during World War II was to protect their colonies from being taken over by Germany, which of course relied on exploitation and greed. Additionally, the Museum contained many elements that romanticized the idea of an empire that relied on the exploitation of those deemed uncivilized, exemplified by the quote from the the British declared ruler of India in the museum, “As long as we Rule India, we are the greatest power in the world. If we lose it, we shall drop straight away to a third-rate power.”

Third Stop. Medieval to Early Modern London

While much of London’s famous history comes from a time that is very distant to many of us, much of what I saw (to my surprise) was very contemporary. Throughout the city, there were several blue plaques honoring famous figures such as John Lennon, and Bob Marley–usually at places of significance to them such as their music studio or where they once lived.

Specifically, there were two main modern attractions that stood out to me, one typical, and the other less so.

First, Abbey Road, which is arguably one of the most recognizable streets of London, Abbey Road owes its fame to the worldwide recognition it gained through the Beatles album cover, shot in 1969 outside Abbey Road Studios. Apart from the Beatles, Abbey Road Studios is known the world over for laying down tracks for artists like Pink Floyd, Adele, and others.

Second, over time I came to admire much of the abstract Graffiti art throughout London. London’s graffiti scene is rich, vibrant, and ever-evolving-from underground street art to celebrated works of art by esteemed artists. Top among those that garner attention is Banksy, the much-celebrated mysterious street artist who left striking, politically charged, and satirical works across the city–turning public walls into galleries of social commentary. East London’s Brick Lane (which I visited many times) is considered highly by many to be a wonderful display of abstract art. Graffiti, therefore, not only colors up the London city spaces, but also reflects its multifarious culture, politics, and social issues; thus it, as an abstract medium of expression, is integral to the identity of London.

I am glad that I experienced London. As someone who obsesses over history, I took in every second of London that I could, and I am glad that I did.  While much of the history was ugly, I am happy that I took the time to educate myself on it. From the stunning buildings and iconic locations, London is without a doubt one of the most consequential cities in the world.

“As you read, I’ll take you all across space, and time (literally!) in one of the world’s most famous cities.”