The Lights of London
With people’s increasing awareness of the environment, not to mention the cost and unreliability of future energy supplies, I wonder how much longer cities like London will be able to use energy in the form of unnecessary illuminations. So, before the lights start flickering, let’s enjoy these spectacles while we can.
The music I’ve chosen for this post is by Sade, one of my favourite female singers of all time. In this song, called Pearls, she sings about the harshness of life in Africa, and although she was born in Nigeria, Sade was brought up in Essex before moving to London.
Is it any wonder that so many migrants want to come to London for a better life? – but for many, those brand-new shoes will hurt every bit as much as they did in Africa – no matter how many lights are still twinkling down onto those streets paved with gold.
GALLERY 1 (LANDSCAPE IMAGES)
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- County Hall
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- The Palace of Westminster
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- Westminster Abbey
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- Picadilly Circus
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- Leicester Square
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- Thetare Royal, The Haymarket
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- Regent Street
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- Regent Street
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- New Bond Street
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- Cartier’s in Bond Street
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- Oxford Street
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- The Queen’s Walk
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- St Paul’s Cathedral
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- London Bridge and The Shard
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- London Bridge City
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- HMS Belfast
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- The View Upriver from The Shard
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- The View Downriver from The Shard
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- The Tower of London
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- Tower Bridge
GALLERY 2 (PORTRAIT IMAGES)
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- The London Eye
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- Westminster Abbey
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- Westminster Abbey
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- The Old County Fire Office, Regent Street
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- The Royal Arcade, Bond Street
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- Carnaby Street
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- Oxford Street
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- Soho
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- Shaftesbury Avenue
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- The Lloyd’s Building
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- The Willis Building
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- Tower 42
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- The Cheesegrater
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- The Gherkin
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- The Walkie Talkie
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- The Shard
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- Tower Bridge
POSTED – DECEMBER 2021
Originally posted 2021-12-29 17:06:24.
What a visual feast.
Just got back into the blogsphere after the Christmas break and then heading straight into last jobs on the house before getting the agents in… although I get tomorrow off because it’s my birthday! 😉 But what a superb gallery of lights to come back to. London really does know how to put on a show, although as you say, in terms of environment, I can’t help but feel a twinge of eco concern when I see those views up and downriver from the Shard. That’s a lot of energy being used. Love your closing paragraph, by the way – made my skin tingle. And you’ve chosen a beautiful song to accompany your typically exemplary photography. Happy New Year, Malc. 🙂
Happy New Year to you as well Alli. Thank you as always for your lovely comments, and I hope you have a wonderful birthday tomorrow. I for one will be raising a glass to a lovely lady 😊
Oh bless you, thanks Malc. Cheers, and here’s to hopefully a much better 2022. 🙂
I’ll certainly drink to that 🙂
…Hic! 😉
That’s a fine set of images, Malc. I especially like that moody one of Westminster Abbey but the city looks grand at night.
Thanks Jo. I’m glad you enjoyed them. It’s a bit different to the days of the gas lamps.
Back in my era!
Fantastic images Malc, you should be justifiably proud of yourself for getting them, they really are fabulous. Happy New Year to you and yours, I hope it’s a good one for you 🙂
Ah! Thank you Eunice. You really are too kind, but I’m really pleased that you enjoyed them. Thank you also for your New Year greetings. The same goes to you and your loved ones too of course 😊
In a difficult year, I’ve been grateful for your extraordinary friendship, Malc.
Thank you. And cheers to new beginnings!🍾🎉🍾
Thank you Luisa. Friendship is a two way thing, and apart from learning so much from your extraordinary knowledge, I’ve gained a valuable new friend 🥂
💫 🎆🎉 💝
See? You’ve even got a better vocabulary in emojis too 😊
I love your photos, Malc
I was living in London, around Christmas time almost fifty years ago, but the memories, the lights and the happiness are still so alive in my heart 💖💖💖
Your comment has made doing this post worthwhile alone Luisa. 💙 💙
You are too kind! 💗🌺💗
I mean it Luisa. Honestly! 🙂
💗💗💗
Beautiful and impressive photography Malc. The lights of London are amazing! And Sade is amazing as well, always loved her music.
I’ll take that as 2 thumbs up then Francesc 🙂
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Beautiful pictures, Malc. Some of these look like Christmas decorations, others year round.
Absolutely! The best decorations are at Christmas of course, but there are lights burning all year round
I have mixed emotions about that type of light pollution. Beauty vs. safety
I’m glad that I’ve got your thoughts on this Pat. I’m definitely not a killjoy, but i do think that society has to make re-adjustments if we don’t want to tackle the real problem.