A refreshing view of London by a 10 years old Finn

I just had a chat with family and my niece who turned 10 this week shared her impressions on their visit to London.

The best ever thing was a "Harry Potter experience", done in studios just outside of London with the actors explaining the rules on video (my niece is old enough to talk about Tom Felton rather than Draco Malfoy) and the fact that visitors who had their birthday were enlisted in opening the grand doors to the dining hall.

I think this kind of tourist attractions are awfully well done in this country.

Double decker buses were enjoyed, and rare sweets formerly unknown to Finnish girlkind (jelly babies) stocked up to be shared with friends back home.

British Museum was also appreciated very much, I had sternly told my brother in advance to just to scoot straight into the Egyptology department and not to make a day of wandering about it as a 10 years old will not manage it. Tutankhamon and stuff were overshadowed by a real, naturally mummified person who even had eyelids

But in general, my niece agreed that it is a very different experience to see things for real rather than in books or online.

Harrods was skipped (I told them it's a must- seeing the kind of toys gazumpillionare sheiks buy for their kids is a revelation) but a shopping haven was found- Primark!

Apparently gifts to friends- dilemmas are now sorted for years to come with Primarkian glories

Gourmet wise, the hotel breakfast was a hit, imagine- jam on toast for breakfast! My brother tried some full English but resorted to cereals after some cold sausages with Heinz beans.

The best ever restaurant experience was a heritage British stalwart, Wagamama's.

In general, the trip was a success and I have to again re-write my own impressions and just step back and let the new generation write their own.

(And they did visit Waterstones bookshop which I believe is a very important part of Britishness, and liked it a lot. Next time I'll take my niece to Alnwick Barter Books to see the model railway running above the books )

 

I have never been to Wagamama's - none round here!
If there is one country that seems to have got it right, it's Finland.