Five Weeks in London | The Most Influential City in Europe

- 025 -
2023/09/23 - 2023/11/01
Western Printers: maps.app.goo.gl/RAdH6kSUuH3AE...
They were awesome!
Just watch the video, everything you need to know is in there.
IG: Empalagation
TikTok: Empalagation
0:00 Onwards, to London!
0:36 The Gate London
1:25 Mish Mash
2:02 Proper British Stuff
2:35 Tower of London
5:07 Tower Bridge and the Thames
6:12 Greenwich
6:28 Complaining About Museums
7:43 Cutty Sark
7:59 British Museum
10:36 Canary Wharf
11:05 Borough Market
13:13 Arg vs Wales
14:04 Buckingham Palace
14:36 Regent's Canal
15:36 Stickers!
15:57 Friends!
16:41 Mercato Mayfair
17:13 Tate Britain and JMW Turner
17:53 Wonderful Mati
19:18 Mayflower
19:31 Mayflower Pub
19:52 Rumble in the Jungle Rematch
21:40 London is Just Too Awesome

[@scottbarry62]

To correct another false impression, the Thames river is not filthy like you acted. It's one of the cleanest rivers in the world but looks ugly brown because the tides and currents are so strong in the river that it churns up the river bottom silt. But there is a lot of wildlife flourishing in the river including porpoises and seals.

[@stevev2492]

Thames Water has pumped human waste into the Greater London area of the River Thames for 1,914 hours since the start of 2024 - equivalent to 79 days

[@scottbarry62]

@@stevev2492 What??? Really? Why???

[@cyrus2728]

Cos sending all the money to shareholders instead of infrastructure and know they bankcrupt.

[@MsCheesemonster13]

It was one of the cleanest rivers, but this is sadly no longer true.

[@scottbarry62]

@@MsCheesemonster13 that's what someone said here. That's horrible. What about all the wildlife?

[@gordonsmith8899]

You're quite free to have an opinion but ALL museums have international collections - Berlin, Paris, New York have huge collections of 'borrowed' material. A great deal of what we now see in our museums would probable no longer exist had it not been removed and conserved. When Lord Elgin purchased the surviving Parthenon marbles from the Turkish administrators, they were being systematically burned to make lime. If he hadn't bought them it's highly probable they would have been destroyed.

[@stirlingmoss9637]

Don't ever touch the polluted Thames. Yuck. Now wash your hands

[@stevev2492]

Whatever the history it would be nice to give it back.

[@gordonsmith8899]

@@stirlingmoss9637 The Thames is much cleaner than many other rivers across the world.

[@gordonsmith8899]

@@stevev2492 Drop a letter to the Louvre in Paris Steve - Ask the French to return the reported "hundreds of cart loads" of art treasures looted from Italy by Francis I in the early 16th century and again later, by Napoleon.

[@archiebald4717]

The Elgin Marbles were purchased by Lord Elgin. If they had been left in place, they would have been burned to make lime mortar.

[@gdok6088]

Thanks for this great video - a lively, well edited, interesting, amusing and enjoyable romp through some of the almost endless things that London has to offer. I've spent time in lots of cities around the world and London never fails to knock my socks off every time. I think you could spend a lifetime in London and still not see and experience everything it has to offer.

[@Empalagation]

🤣 My thoughts exactly!! Thank you for the great comment!

[@gigteevee6118]

You did a nice variety, London’s pretty infinite, so every visit counts! I’m a born Londoner of 50+yrs and still find joy discovering new parts of the city I’ve never seen!

[@Empalagation]

It truly is a fantastic city! Thank you very much for the comment!

[@barnabaswetton4619]

I am so watching it to the end. Great and easy youtube viewing. I am from London myself but now live in Denmark, so glad you enjoyed my home city

[@Empalagation]

We had an absolutely amazing time! Hope to make it back there soon. Thank you for the lovely comment!

[@TheClunkingFist]

Mati is correct. My wife & I lived there for over 4 years. We returned to New Zealand to raise our family. After 20 years, we are nearly ready to return to London for a second stint.

[@Empalagation]

Always worth a revisit! Can't wait for the day when we get to go to New Zealand! The change in time zone makes it difficult for us and our work schedules, but one day hopefully!

[@AM-dz2sh]

I cried when you summed it up... To me London, Lisbon, Buenos Aires are my Top 3. I have a few cities in Asia and Africa that I feel bad for not including.. as they are AMAZING, and may well slot in many people's top 3... but LONDON.. MY.GOD. It is just ever changing in such a magical way - OLD/NEW . vs CULTURE/STUBBORNESS . FREE MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, POP UPs vs OLD/QUAINT/QUIET vs NEW/MODERN/LOUD vs GREEN, LEAFY & SUBURBAN vs CRAMPED/INTENSE/CREATIVE/URBAN.. what do you want??? Because it has it all.. or are you like us Londoners... and just want it ALL??!!!!!!!!

[@Empalagation]

I couldn't have said it better! That's the perfect description of London. We're going to be in Lisbon much later on this year which we're very much looking forward to, so that should be fun! I'm glad I made you cry as well! 🤣 I try my best to draw out emotions with these mini movies, hopefully they get better!

[@scottbarry62]

It's the greatest city in the world.

[@davidfussell5735]

Loving your videos mate

[@Empalagation]

Thank you very much! I appreciate it!

[@keithwilliams2218]

Great vlog guys, there’s plenty to keep the viewers interested, loved the narration too. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@Empalagation]

Our pleasure, thank you for the great comment!

[@KhurshidsChannel]

Nice video. Thank you for sharing.

[@Empalagation]

Thank you for your nice comment!

[@eezZzee]

That video was amazing. It was funny, it was interesting and it was lovely. Thank you Empalagation.. I wuv this channel!.

[@Empalagation]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@redsquirrel1086]

The Thames is a tidal river. That's why it is that colour.

[@brian9731]

I completely agree with you about Canary Wharf - it's a hideous, soulless, inorganic place. If you want history mixed with your big modern architecture, walk around the original City of London, the quare mile to the North and West of the Tower of London.

[@Empalagation]

Oh yes, we loved the City of London! We did a free walking tour of the area back in 2019 and loved the history and hidden gems. We did a bit more exploration in 2023, but sadly didn't include any of it in this video.

[@wrs10]

Canary - canis (Latin for dog) - Isle of Dogs. And the wharf did specialise in trade from the Canary Isles

[@antvyanka1]

Ah cool, didn't know that

[@pauldonnelly4661]

Everything in London is an icon !

[@andycooke6231]

I quite agree, I was born in Greenwich and loved the Maritime Museum but last time I visited I was so disappointed to find much of it had been sweeped aside to make room for the cafe and kids spaces the Neptune Hall used to contain a collection of fascinating items, later that was replaced by a paddle tug but now there is very little to see. The museum is also much smaller, the large building to the left used to house many marvellous ships models.

[@bigconchie]

Thank you for the lovely video. I'm London born and bred, and I really enjoyed your take on the place. It would be trite of me to say there's other things you could have covered. Of course that's true, but you gave a great flavour (that's how we've decided to we spell it) of the things you touched on. This is the first video of yours I've watched, but it won't be the last. You made me laugh, you had me more interested in things I already knew, and you left me wanting more. I'll be checking out your other videos for sure. I hope you guys continue to have fun, wherever you are.

[@Empalagation]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Hopefully I can keep more coming in the next few weeks

[@raymondporter2094]

You do make exceedingly good videos.

[@Empalagation]

Thank you very much!

[@paulallaker8450]

As a Brit I enjoying viewing my country through other people's eyes. Really hope you enjoyed your stay. I have to say I watch a lot of travel vlog channels and your presentation style is very unique so I hope you stick to this format. Have a great weekend. 👊🏻 🇬🇧🤝🏻🇦🇷

[@Empalagation]

We had an amazing time! So much so that we keep wanting to return for a longer stay, something to keep in mind at any rate. Until then, we have too many other places to see first! Thank you so much for the lovely comment! Very much appreciated!

[@Ayne-ny4em]

Good vlog. Our history is insane

[@Empalagation]

Yes it is, it's a crazy rollercoaster of a ride, but also some of the richest history we have as a civilization! Thank you for the comment!

[@CollectiveWest1]

Good video, maybe helped by you having 5 weeks for your visit. I have lived here most of my life and still find new things - partly because it is changing (not always in good ways, but sometimes in good ways). Canary Wharf is indeed used as a film set a lot (as are many other places in London). Something had to replace the old docks and at least it has green spaces and little traffic. I agree with you about the trend in museums to being audiovisual 'experiences' rather than using original objects (we all love dinosaur skeletons) and being informative. The problem with trying too hard to be fashionable and up to date is that you soon become out of date, It has not ruined all museums yet though. Turner is one of my favourite artists - he was from an ordinary background but ahead of his time and innovative. Timothy Spall starred in a good film about him. That spice shop in Borough Market excellent - good choice.

[@tonyeden2944]

Thanks.A very good vjdeo.

[@Empalagation]

Thank you!

[@Ayne-ny4em]

Our history is insane 😊

[@jimm8682]

Messi Messi……Yes London is an amazing city indeed……and if it was not so expensive we would go and live there for a while (. 3/4 months) Buenos Aires on the other hand you can do for far less, even discovering the entire country for less $$, but let’s not get confused ….London is amazing, specially with friends or family, we also love Paris and Madrid. 😊

[@Empalagation]

Very true! But we've been living in Buenos Aires for the past 18 years, so we've done that quite a lot! 🤣 It also feels strange to make "travel videos" of our hometown, but maybe we should for people that haven't been there yet. Thank you for the great comment!

[@hubertegg]

London is a very very tiny part of the uk. There is so much else to see.

[@Empalagation]

We'll get around to a bit more eventually!

[@tonyeden2944]

The previous comment was that London was great. True, but this short video was able to show only a tiny fraction of London. The City of London is just one square mile, very small and historic, and it is seamlessly surrounded by all the other parts such as Westminster where the Parliament is. You are looking at two thousand years of history. A huge MUST is go outside of London and see one of the most beautiful countries in the world, small by international standards but then I am so biased having been born in Yorkshire. Yes, the UK is a must.

[@Empalagation]

We'll get around to it all eventually, some day, hopefully! My grandfather was from East Yorkshire, more specifically Hornsea, so we'll definitely have to go visit there at some point in time!

[@raymondporter2094]

​If there's some Yorkshire in you, ​@@Empalagation, you're one of the Chosen. The old East Riding of Yorkshire (Beverley, Hull and, yes, Hornsea) is great but God's particular favourite is North Yorkshire. Leyburn, Hawes, Bedale, Kettlewell, Pickering, Helmsley, Goathland, Whitby and York itself - more than enough for you to get busy in. And the beers (Timmy Taylor's, Theakston's, Black Sheep and the craft breweries like those at Helmsley and Cropton) and food (obviously the inevitable Yorkshire Puddings, Whitby Fish & Chips or Scampi & chips) are the best. Maybe next year...?

[@Empalagation]

@@raymondporter2094 hahaha, that's a healthy list, maybe 2025-2026 for sure. Too many countries in the world, and too many cities in each country to get *everything* done 🤣

[@allanheslop4493]

Did we borrow it . When ever I’ve been in another country I buy things . Back in the brits went abroad and bought things , locals benefited, all good 👍

[@Nutrient-Gold]

What a dumb comment. He was being sarcastic. Learn History before making you come across as a fool. The British empire raped and pillaged alot of the World and bought it back. Smh.

[@TheCornishCockney]

My hometown. ❤️

[@Empalagation]

And a great town at that!

[@estebanyardin8630]

Buena un abrazo Nick.

[@Empalagation]

Gracias genio! Abrazo!

[@ao2104]

Hi I came across your video by accident. I am planning a trip in 2025 Mid Aug to Sept for London and then 1 week in Edinburgh, I would like to know the names of the hotel you stayed at in London and Edinburgh. Probably a link to the hotels. I want to spend 12 days in London and 8 days in Edinburgh. Taking the train from London to Edinburgh and then fly back to Toronto. Thanks in advance

[@Empalagation]

Hello! We booked both our Edinburgh and London aparthotels through a company/website called SilverDoor ( www.silverdoor.com/ ) We were in contact with them through email for a few days and they gave us a wide array of options, and from what I understand they book places in their name for you through accounts or memberships they have with hotels and lodgings in a ton of cities, and you end up getting a better rate through them and their memberships than if you were to book the same thing on your own, which was phenomenal for us. The aparthotel in Edinburgh: maps.app.goo.gl/JhScm6uoeuZgPzDf8 The aparthotel in London: maps.app.goo.gl/as5b5VbFPDMjMWeX6 While accommodations are pretty expensive in the UK, we specifically got these places so that we could cook home made meals and wash our own clothes, so that we could more or less keep our day to day budget in check. Hope this helps!

[@ao2104]

@@Empalagation Thanks, much appreciated, yes I like places with access to a kitchen also. True about prices.

[@user-xl3ye3sn1q]

Good how those native Americans gifted their land to the Yanks, maybe he forgot that part?

[@Empalagation]

Not sure what Americans have to do with this entire video, but maybe you forgot who Americans even were before 1776? How's that for a laugh?

[@Stand663]

@@EmpalagationThe British didn’t fight the Native American tribes . The British fought Europeans, the French and the Spanish, who were their global enemies at the time. The British battled the French and Dutch in North America and Spanish in the South and Caribbean, eventually defeating them and setting up the original 13 territorial colonial outpost.

[@user-xl3ye3sn1q]

@@Empalagation I know who the Americans were before, civilised.

[@Empalagation]

@@user-xl3ye3sn1q Ah! A sense of humor! My best guess is that it was inactive 3 days ago?

[@TheClunkingFist]

"A 42 year old man wants to see dinosaurs" 42 year olds pay more taxes than 5 year olds, so what gives. (Okay: I KNOW you're not a UK taxpayer. But one day you could be, no?)

[@Empalagation]

One never knows! Maybe one day. For now just trying to move around as much as possible, but who knows where we decide to call home 10 years from now.

[@lynnewilson2348]

Go to Oxford museum if you want real dinosaurs

[@Empalagation]

Yes!!!! Excellent, thank you! We'll be in Oxford later on this year. ❤️

[@mq9298]

@@Empalagation The Pitt Rivers is its name. The Ashmolean is also fab

[@keith1222]

" The Most Influential City in Europe" Don 't you mean, the World?

[@Empalagation]

I would have LOVED to make that the title (because I'm a little bit biased), but there are way too many arguments that can be made for a lot of other cities around the planet. Tokyo, New York, Shanghai, to name a few, are all amazing places with immensely rich culture and high degrees of economic and social importance. I felt it best to not get into the potential disaster that is the "most influential city in the world" debate, as it only leads to internet arguments and nothing else. There is, however, no way anyone on the planet can argue that it ISN'T the most influential city in Europe, hence the decision.

[@normanwallace7658]

Dino who used to be in the main hall is now on tour at the main cities around the UK on show for a few months at each stopover?the Elgin Marbles were purchaced from the greeks who were going to grind them up to make lime for Cements, Canary Wharf is named after the Islands who's produce was unloaded their nothing to do with little featherd birds that sing in their cages ??

[@Empalagation]

Vwoosh, vwoosh, vwoosh!

[@meglomania2001]

I've lived about 40 miles from London all my life.57 years. I avoid the place. Too expensive and overcrowded. There are far better places to visit in the UK

[@Empalagation]

Do you have any recommendations? We'll be traveling around the UK in the future and would appreciate any and all suggestions!

[@TheCornishCockney]

@@Empalagation Cornwall,The Cotswolds,Peak district,Lake district,South Downs,The Chilterns,Yorkshire Dales,the Black Country,Kent,Wales,Scotland and many many more. London is great (I’m a native now in Cornwall) but there are so many places of beauty throughout these special islands of ours.

[@Empalagation]

@@TheCornishCockney Excellent list, an ambitious one if we want to travel the whole world one day, but an excellent one nonetheless. One of my grandfathers was from Devon, not quite Cornwall, but heading down that way, so we'll definitely have to head down there at some point!

[@Diamondmine212]

Of course being American perhaps you don’t know museums in other major cities also have ‘ borrowed’ item too. 🤔. Check it out, you’ll be surprised. ! 🤨

[@Empalagation]

Who said I was American?

[@scottbarry62]

Just fyi, you did not see big ben. You saw the Elizabeth Tower. Big Ben is the nickname of the largest of the five Bells inside the Elizabeth tower. It's the one that Chimes the hours.

[@antvyanka1]

The Brits "borrowed" a looooot of things 😂😂

[@PeKris795]

Muy amigos de lo ajeno....

[@Empalagation]

Bbbborrrrrowwwed

[@PeKris795]

@@Empalagation Indeeeeeed....

[@wrs10]

And occasionally paid for.

[@glenmiller272]

Given to us by 'grateful' nations don't you know😅

[@jamesrowe3606]

No, you didn't see Big Ben this time. You saw the Elizabeth Tower which contains it.

[@Empalagation]

Awesome, thank you so much for the information!

[@jamesrowe3606]

@@Empalagation No problem. It might be the most common misapprehension of US tourists, that and mistaking Tower Bridge for the ugly concrete monolith that is London Bridge.

[@Empalagation]

@@jamesrowe3606 A common misapprehension of people watching these videos is thinking I'm from the US as well! People develop accents based on the environment in which they grow up, not by nationality.

[@jamesrowe3606]

@@EmpalagationOK. I didn't say you were though.

[@PatrickKelly-lz3pv]

I have lived in England for 76 years and not once have i ever heard any one call the clock tower The Elizabeth Tower every news outlet including the BBC call the tower Big Ben so how do you expect tourists to know its correct title, and despite zealots like you who thrive on pointing out that Big Ben is not the name of the clock tower it will continue to be called Big Ben.

[@anthonyferris8912]

Like Americans er 'borrowed ' their entire country...😀

[@Empalagation]

Why do people keep bringing up Americans?

[@anthonyferris8912]

@@Empalagation Probably for a similar reason people bring up the ‘British Empire borrowing stuff’…it’s all fun and an easy target.

[@Empalagation]

@@anthonyferris8912 No but, why specifically Americans? I'm curious

[@anthonyferris8912]

@@Empalagation i covered it.

[@Empalagation]

@@anthonyferris8912 I see, okay thank you! 🤣

[@unclecryto2057]

Correction - “WAS the most influential city in Europe”

[@StimParavane]

Diversity hire Beefeater.

[@rosemarielee7775]

You only get to be a beefeater after a solid military career.

[@StimParavane]

@@rosemarielee7775 Probably office work.

[@tmarritt]

She would have had to serve at least 22 years in the armed forces, a former Warrant Officer, class 1 or 2, (or the equivalent rank in other services). That means active service. What's your service history? Perhaps don't make assumptions you absolute arse.

[@StimParavane]

@@tmarritt I doubt it very much. We all know there are different standards for women in the armed services. It's a pathetic fake equality.

[@TheCornishCockney]

Vegan beefeaters,there must be one or two. You can imagine the conversations at the vegan fest What do you do for a living? I’m a beefeater 😁

[@knolselderij]

london is not so influential in europe at all. to state it is,is a bit silly