I was born & grew up in London: lived there till 1963. Much better in many ways now than in my youth. I used to think buildings like St Martin's in the Fields, the National Gallery, and structures like Nelson's Column, were actually made of black stone. They are all cleaned up now, and the Clean Air Acts ensure they stay that way and the real colour of the marble and stonework can be seen. So it's in that way a pleasure to go back from time to time. By coach, tho; it's not just the driving around that's impossible, it's the parking. And to think I used to drive to work from Hampstead to Peckham, round Marble Arch every morning!

~Michael~