Soft Reflections from London

October 5th — Sipping lavender tea and crumbling lemon curd biscuits, I'm quietly back in London again.

Mayhem Ball Calling

London had been calling me for a while, but the real reason we went was Lady Gaga. Her Mayhem Ball concert was the spark that finally turned "someday" into "let's go."

And perhaps it was fate, because the city greeted us not with autumn winds,
but with a soft, lingering summer breeze. The air was warm, gentle — as if London had decided to hold onto the season a little longer, just for us.

The concert itself was out of this world. I still don't have the right words for it.
The lights, the sound, her presence — it all felt almost unreal.
Even now, I can't quite believe I've seen her live. It wasn't just a show, it was something cosmic,
a reminder of what pure, fearless artistry can do to your heart. 

Her music has carried me through some of my hardest times. Reminding me to keep going, to dance through the pain, to believe that even in chaos, beauty still exists. 

A City That Took My Breath Away

I didn't expect to fall in love so deeply, not just with the city, but with how I felt in it. Four days weren't nearly enough for London; it feels like the kind of city that asks for months — maybe even a lifetime — to truly see and feel every corner. 

London took my breath away in the quietest ways. Every street, every corner, every detail in its architecture felt like a piece of poetry carved in stone.

I caught myself stopping mid-walk just to look up. Everywhere I turned, history and beauty stood side by side — calm, unbothered, timeless.

Red brick houses stood shoulder to shoulder, black cars slid past like polished shadows, and doors painted in every color imaginable waited quietly, almost shyly, so close to the street.

I wanted to peek through the windows, just to catch a glimpse of how Londoners sip their morning tea and read their paper in the soft light. 

Afternoon Tea Among Old Books

One afternoon, we had tea at The Library at County Hall, surrounded by shelves of old books and the soft hum of quiet conversation. It felt like time had slowed down — like I'd stepped right into an old romantic novel, or perhaps become a little bit of Nancy Drew myself, lost among the pages and porcelain teacups.

All the while, I could see Big Ben standing tall through the window and the gentle flow of the Thames just beyond, a view so timeless it felt almost unreal. 

Tiny pastries, perfect scones, delicate sandwiches, everything looked like it belonged in a storybook. 

I won't lie — I felt slightly sick afterward (too much cream, too much sweetness, not enough water), but even that couldn't ruin the moment.

It was one of those rare afternoons where you remember exactly what peace tastes like.

Safe in the City

And then there were the small, ordinary moments, like walking down Oxford Street with a vanilla latte in hand, talking about life and love with my friend, realizing how safe I felt, even in a city that never really stops moving.

As a small city girl, I was nervous about taking the Underground at first, but after that very first ride, I realized how easy — even comforting — it actually was.
Even there, beneath the streets, I felt safe. 

That feeling truly surprised me. There was a softness beneath all the chaos, as if London had quietly decided to let me belong.

A Gentle Goodbye

When I left, I didn't feel the usual sadness. Just gratitude — for beauty, for laughter, for the way some places remind you who you are when you're far from home.

And even though we didn't see much, it still feels like I experienced so much.
Sometimes just walking the streets, looking up at the buildings, and breathing in the rhythm of a place is enough. That's what makes travel feel alive to me. 

London didn't just give me memories. It gave me calm, and the comforting thought that I haven't seen even half of it yet.

That means I still have a reason to return, again and again, to a city that somehow already feels like home. 

Do you have a city you've fallen in love with for absolutely no reason? A place that felt like home the moment you arrived? I'd love to hear about it.

Join the conversation and follow along for more soft London moments and reflections on Instagram @selflavie. 🩷

Soft hugs,
Selflavie