Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Instagramming London

Thank goodness for social media: it can cause the most desperate wanderlust, certainly, but it can also soothe the soul when you're yearning for faraway homes and reaching for nearly forgotten memories.  At the moment, I'm not really invested in exploring new lands so I don't follow many travel bloggers, but I do follow a good number of women who live in London and I've realized that my favorite accounts are created by expats.

I so miss those two contradictory feelings of nonchalance and gratitude held concurrently by most expats; when you're lucky enough to live (and, often, to have fought to live) in a foreign country, you find yourself frustrated by your daily commute while simultaneously awestruck that your journey to and from work takes you across the Thames or past Parliament.  There's almost always an element of wonder in your usual routine when you're an expat, and I love being reminded what that feels like through my favorite expat Instagrammers in London.  Here are my top three:

Bethie / Elizabeth Hungerford - from Seattle to DC to London


Amanda / Rhyme and Ribbons - from New Mexico to London


Miss B / A Girl A Style - from Australia to London and Cambridge


Of course, you can be English and still see London with fresh eyes - I love how Flora, who grew up in Staffordshire, experiences her chosen city, and I'm tempted to book another shoot with Tarah, our wedding photographer, every time she posts a new photo.  It's just so magical to experience London as they do!  I can't wait to be back there in August, whipping out my phone to take my own snaps as I mutter obscenities at the hordes of tourists blocking my view.

Any other London-based Instagrammers I should know about, dear readers?  Help me prepare for my upcoming visit to my second home - it's been nearly a year since I was last there!  It's a bit masochistic, yes, but I do love getting lost in the memories.

11 comments:

  1. Thank for the inclusion! I also love Bethie's instagram account and now I have a new one to stalk as I didn't know about A Girl A Style. Annndddd perhaps we can arrange a meet-up when you're here in August? :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I submit @hellohackney and @takecourageblog to the mix. Would be lovely to have a meet-up while you're here!

    C

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have never been to London [or even out of the country], & I have to say, this post pushes me even closer to finally purchasing a ticket. I'm going to check out the instagram accounts you've mentioned - perhaps they will add even more to my desire to venture over there!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ah! Thank you for the mention, my dear! Hope you have a great trip back over here in August. We'll try to lay on some sunshine for you...

    ReplyDelete
  5. ooh I used to read Take Courage! thanks for the reminder - and I'll definitely check out @hellohackney. and I was horribly not following YOU but that's fixed now :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. well, I apologize to your wallet but to your soul I say GO FOR IT!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've never spent a New Year in London - only Suffolk! one day...

    ReplyDelete
  8. of COURSE! I don't think I follow you on Twitter so I couldn't include you in the shout-out - what's your handle?

    ReplyDelete
  9. oh man, I want Briony's life! looks so glam but she obviously works hard too - and her WARDROBE! plus, you know, London and Cambridge :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. and YES I will holler as soon as I know which bits of the trip will be London and which will be Suffolk!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am @accidentalldnr on Twitter! You can find me here...https://twitter.com/AccidentalLDNr

    ReplyDelete

I love reading your thoughts and suggestions! Please do leave a comment so we can get to know each other better.