“Did you know I once went on a date with Simba?”Matthieu has probably heard that sentence far too many times. Ever since Sébastien lived in New York, he has loved telling the story of how he went on a date with one of the actors who played Simba in The Lion King on Broadway. So when we decide to head to London to finally see the musical ourselves, the story makes another appearance. More than once, naturally. Matthieu could probably recite the whole thing by heart by now, but that certainly doesn't stop Sébastien from telling it again.
It's early March and we're flying to London, one of our favourite European capitals. We love the city's energy, its neighbourhoods that each seem to have their own personality, and the feeling that there's always something new to discover. We keep coming back for the musicals, the gay bars in Soho, the markets and simply the pleasure of wandering around. This time, the sun is shining, making our long walks even better. After landing, we head to our Leonardo hotel near Tower Bridge to drop off our bags. There's no time to waste: we're straight back out to explore.
First stop, Carnaby Street in the heart of Soho, one of those places we return to every time. With decorations hanging above the street, quirky shops, colourful façades and lively side streets, it's made for wandering. We drift between shops, browse the windows and enjoy being back in that London atmosphere we love so much. With the sun still out, we soon decide it's time for our first drink. We spend the rest of the evening among the neighbourhood's restaurants and arcades before having dinner at Fatt Pundit, which specialises in Indo-Chinese cuisine, a Kolkata-born combination of Chinese cooking techniques and Indian spices. The food is excellent, although the service is remarkably brisk. We've barely finished eating when it becomes clear that our table is needed for the next customers. Not somewhere to linger over dinner, but we thoroughly enjoy the meal.
Besides, we have a very good reason not to hang around: The Lion King is waiting. It's the main reason we planned this London trip. The show is performed at the Lyceum Theatre, a beautiful West End venue that has been home exclusively to The Lion King since 1999. Once we see the scale of the production, it's easy to understand why. Everything seems designed around the show, from the spectacular sets and elaborate stage machinery to the way the performance spills beyond the stage itself.
We obviously know the animated film and its songs, but we've never seen the stage adaptation. Within minutes, we understand why it's been such a success for so many years. The costumes, puppets, sets and performers' movements bring the animals to life in a fascinating way. What impresses us most is the creativity of the staging, which turns simple shapes and materials into wonderfully expressive characters. The music, lighting and energy of the cast do the rest. We leave delighted, feeling as though we've rediscovered a story we thought we knew by heart. And, of course, Sébastien can't resist bringing up his New York anecdote one last time.
After the show, we head back to Soho, our favourite part of London for a night out. We start at Comptons of Soho, a historic gay bar that's always buzzing, before exploring the nearby streets. We also return to the Duke of Wellington, one of our favourite bars in the area. We love its friendly atmosphere, how easily people strike up conversations and that sense of returning to somewhere familiar, even though we only visit London a few times a year. The one downside is that some places close much earlier than we'd like. Still, we make the most of the evening before heading back to the hotel.
The next day starts in Camden Town, another neighbourhood we never get tired of. It may be very touristy, but we love its eccentric spirit, extravagant shopfronts, street art and endless little shops where you could spend hours. We wander through the streets and around Camden Market, stop for coffee and pastries, then carry on browsing the stalls. There's always something to look at, an unlikely shop to discover or a façade worth photographing. That mix of creativity, chaos and energy is exactly what makes Camden so appealing. We take our time, enjoy the sunshine and even squeeze in a little aperitif before leaving.
Next, we decide to cycle across part of London to Portobello Road and Notting Hill, two places we love just as much, but for completely different reasons. The mood changes here: pastel-coloured houses line the streets, small shops sit alongside antique stalls and the markets tempt us to rummage. We love walking along Portobello Road, looking at old objects, discovering tiny shops and sometimes slipping away from the busiest streets to admire the colourful houses. We're not especially big fans of the film Notting Hill, but we can certainly see why the neighbourhood became so famous. Against the blue sky, the façades look even prettier, and we spend much of the afternoon walking without checking the time.
Towards the end of the day, we stop for two Aperol Spritzes, a habit we seem unable to shake wherever we travel. Then it's back to Soho for our last night in London. We return to the Duke of Wellington before trying a few other bars nearby. We also stop at Simmons Oxford Street, a relaxed bar where we have a few drinks and take some pictures in a photo booth to remember the evening. This is exactly the kind of London night we love: starting somewhere familiar, going with the flow and ending up discovering somewhere new. The hours fly by and, as usual, we would happily have stayed out longer.
But our trip is already coming to an end. It's time to collect our things and head to the airport. We haven't tried to tick off every landmark or fill every hour of our itinerary. We've simply come back to enjoy our favourite neighbourhoods, see The Lion King and soak up the London energy that always makes us want to return.
As for Matthieu, at least there's one thing to look forward to: now that we've seen The Lion King, maybe Sébastien won't need to tell his Simba story anymore. Then again, we wouldn't bet on it.