Some days in London are less about sightseeing and more about surviving small inconveniences with tea and patience.
Getting to the British Library
Took the Underground from Plaistow to St Pancras Station.
The network was unstable; my Olafly eSIM stayed stuck on EDGE speed.
Only Google Maps barely worked, but I eventually reached the British Library.
Follow the station signs that read “British Library” — exit to street level, turn right, cross the signal, and the building appears on your right.
The exterior is simple, red-brick and low.
Security includes a metal detector; if it beeps, staff inspect your bag manually.
Inside stands a massive glass tower of books—impressive yet understated.
The overall feel: huge, but quiet.
Inside & Café Situation
The library opens at 11:00 a.m.
I arrived at 11:30, and every seat was already taken.
If you want to work here, come right at opening time.
So, I moved to the café inside.
Ordered a pain au chocolat and a coffee—total £8 (about ¥1,600).
Crisp pastry, rich chocolate, strong acidic roast coffee—taste 10/10, cost 2/10.
Seats were scarce, but the atmosphere was multicultural:
students, researchers, and locals of all backgrounds—London’s quiet diversity on display.
Afternoon: Tesco & A Mug for Tea Time
At 1:30 p.m., my iPad keyboard battery died, and I didn’t bring a power bank.
Gave up on work and stopped by Tesco on the way back.
Bought a mug for £1.5, one of the “essentials for living in London.”
Simple design, durable, and cheaper than expected.
Evening: Trifle & Yorkshire Tea
At the flat, the breaker tripped when I used the oven—typical old-building surprise.
After resetting it, I reheated leftover chips and chicken around 5 p.m.—a meal without a clear category.
Dessert was Tesco’s Strawberry Trifle (600g).
Better layered than most parfaits, soft sponge, sweet custard, and light cream.
Paired perfectly with Yorkshire Tea, which I drank straight.
Milk would’ve dulled the dessert’s sweetness, so skipping it was right.
Saved one-third for tomorrow.
British desserts are heavy on sugar, but balanced with tea, they somehow make sense.
Summary
Bad signal, no seats, high prices, a tripped breaker—
and yet, tea made it all fine again.
London teaches you to slow down, sip, and accept the chaos.
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