London's West End... Shake Shack, Kings Arms & Leicester Square!

After spending two days in Gerrards Cross, I was ready for the lights of London! The first day had been all about submitting my Chinese visa application for my then fast approaching flight back to the Middle Kingdom! With the sun making a disappearing act, it was time to board another Bank bound DLR train towards the West End! For sure, London loved me right back! 

Bouncing from East to West didn't take me all that long, telling you the truth I had those directions on-point. Taking the DLR from Greenwich to Bank, I changed onto the Central Line to make Tottenham Court Road ebb ever closer! I had a show to catch that evening, stepping out onto Tottenham Court Road felt correct! London's West End told me that I was going to be fine, clocking that modernised Red London bus had me feeling like I was almost home! Sure, I am a Londoner by birth and nobody will ever take that away from me! That royally named Underground line had me making observations because 'Elizabeth' had took her sweet time! The escalator had me on the right path, I already knew what I wanted to eat! London needed to listen real quick to me, I had sure fired plans to see both servings of West and East Ends of the city, Miss London needed to have some chill! Free from paperwork and legality, London was mine to devour! Shake Shack? Yes, I wanted to upgrade that high street burger chain! Super-size that, L! 

Ordering practically everything on the menu, my bank balance was about to have a fit because I was spending that cheque up! That double cheeseburger needed to get in my belly, seriously I needed that hot dog without any shame felt! A Fudge-rovia? That 'Fitzrovia' named chocolatey fudge ice cream combination was ordered with the quickness, part of the profit from that sweet treat went to charity. I'm kind like that! Are you for real? Yes! I was sure that I ordered some fries but seriously I had enough on that tray! A milkshake? Yes, with the name 'shake' in the title, it was a no-brainer! Regardless, I enjoyed every single bite and sip during that taste test moment! London's Tottenham Court Road had me feeling real, refueled and ready for more, I kept things moving! Shake Shake took nearly all of my money but I wasn't mad because it was truly delicious for a burger joint! She's international! Oh, I need to find another Shake Shack now that I am in China, I might have to stay the night in Shanghai for a serving! I wanted a pint!

My Pandemic location had not served any Gay venues, making the most of that West End location in London, I wanted a drink! Choosing the Kings Arms on Poland Street was the one, I had ideally wanted to spend either a Friday or Saturday night in London but I worked with that weeknight arrangement. I knew what I wanted, ordering a pint of lager had to be done, I wanted to enjoy that drink because I could! Making the most of that location, I had clocked this venue on Instagram after the Lockdown, that visa trip simply needed to take in a drink at that 'Bear Bar!' For me it wasn't about getting smashed, I had many things on that evening with a theatre show ticket booked but a cheeky drink in a 'safe space' felt very correct. Birmingham's Gay scene hasn't appealed to me since I left that city back in 2014 but London is the city of everything, there's always a venue present for us! I wasn't going to regret anything in the morning because I didn't want to be in any other bed! Honestly speaking it felt great to be at the Kings Arms! Yes! 

Walking into the night, I allowed Apple Maps to direct me along those West End streets as the evening turned into something later. I returned to the Kings Arms after my theatre show for another cheeky pint because I wanted to make up for it not being a boozy one! I even saw 'Just May' from 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Season 4' taking a few fan photos after her bingo set. I had to make a decision whether to spend the whole night at the Kings Arms or carry on with my theatre plans. You know London wasn't trying to break my soul but she did make me choose and that I wanted the best of both worlds! No regrets, the Kings Arms allowed the evening to have a start and end point with that Central Line station towards Bank located near to that Gay pub. 'Just May' looked great, I am sure her bingo set was a rip roaring success but I had another queen to appreciate! Telling the truth, those two drinks had me feeling everything was right with the world. Keeping things on the right track, I made my way towards Theatreland quickly! LDN!

Chinatown had me paying attention to those Mandarin signs and Chinese New Year decorations, I knew that my life would soon take me closer to the truth! Meaning I would be able to trade that overseas slice of Chinese life for the real McCoy! Feeling thankful, I made my way directly through those Soho streets with Leicester Square on my intended path! The night was young but the January early darkness had put London under a blanket of night pretty early on, I wasn't mad about that development! I sopped in every single second of that Leicester Square as if it was gravy, obviously London was the biscuit! Biscuit as in the American version! Get it right! Clocking the Odeon took me right back to one of those London visits during my childhood, remembering through the crazy times painted a different picture in adulthood. Rewriting my own book, I was allowed to proof read that London chapter for myself! I still had some time before my show, I wasn't in any rush! Shame the weather was in a rush to rain down on me! No!

London did not need to 'cut me loose', I was having a lot of fun getting to know this shady bitch once again! My evening had so far been amazing, taking in the same sights through different eyes had me feeling even more appreciative for that visa trip finally happening! I clocked the famous 'William Shakespeare' in the round as I explored London's Leicester Square. I had no idea that 'Shakespeare' even had his own statue in that West End location, you can take away my British Citizenship even though it is my birthright! Miss London didn't care, leaving the lights on for me, I had her 'West End' surveyed from a distance. No film premiers took place that evening, London knew I needed to see that square without any barriers in place! From my 'Shake Shack' meal to my swift pints at the 'Kings Arms', London allowed me to love every moment! Why so sentimental? I was just happy to be out of the house, for real! London's West End kept it short, she kept it sweet but above all, I loved it all! Ready for my show, my theatre was super nearby! 

West End Wendy! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure