The Pulse of London and the Stillness of Clare

Striking a balance between the cityscape and the countryside

I live in London, close to the city, on the East side. For all of the grey: the buildings, the skies, the pavements, London is vibrant with people. It is a big brew of international cultures rubbing shoulders and rich with cuisine from all over the world. You can just as easily get Turkish or Lebanese kebab from a street vendor or Jamaican Jerk chicken or patties, or Indian dosa or samosa, as you can a full English breakfast or jellied eels. When I first moved here, I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the place. London city center is a hub of movement bursting with entertainment from the glitzy West-End theaters to the art galleries around Trafalgar square. The Thames flows through it all and standing on Blackfriars bridge you can get a glimpse of the historical, modern and contemporary architecture that paints the skyline of the city. You can see St Paul’s cathedral, a staple of seventeenth century Baroque, The National Theatre as its’ Brutalist brilliance blares among the buildings, The Globe Theater–a reconstruction of the 1599 building–stands out as the only building left in London with a thatch roof. Thatch roofs were outlawed in London after the great fire of 1666. Over my year here, I have developed an affection for London that I didn’t think was possible on my arrival.

The Moon Above Whitechapel, taken on a Lime bike (2024)

I’m in a long-distance relationship. My boyfriend lives in Ireland and though we’re not oceans apart, the Irish sea still divides us. Luckily for me, he lives in the beautiful county of Clare. It’s easy for me to fly to Shannon from London to visit him and when we’re driving through the beautiful green hills, I look out onto the lakes that decorate the rural landscape. The scenery, in such stark contrast to London, is tranquil, quiet and unmoving. You can step outside the house for a walk and see no one, the closest shop is a ten minute drive away and you’re never too far from a fresh water source. It’s hard not to think about moving here every time I visit. There’s something the countryside has that the city simply cannot, a horizon line. It’s impossible to see through the buildings to see the sun setting, whereas in Clare, the rising and the setting of the sun is something to behold. London is relatively flat and aside from the parks, very grey and it can be difficult to find a nice walk for exercise or leisurely purposes, although it’s easy to encounter a run club in most parks on the evenings and weekends.

View of Lough Derg from Moylussa, County Clare (2025)

In Clare, you can walk for miles and miles along a winding and hilly back road that, while simultaneously being submerged in a beautiful landscape, is definitely a workout for your legs. The river Shannon cuts through Clare like the Thames cuts through London, both big and bold rivers that supply large amounts of water to the people in the surrounding areas. London was built around the Thames by the Romans in the first century AD and Limerick built by the Vikings in the ninth century is the biggest settlement built around the Shannon. We owe a lot to these rivers, as vital sources that support life, but supporting drastically different lifestyles.

I hate to compare two places that are so quintessentially different, it’s like comparing apples and pears, I feel immense gratitude for having the opportunity to experience both sides of the earth’s coin. Having access to the hustle and bustle of lively London and the serene, calmness of county Clare strikes a balance within me. I can see myself retreating to the hills of Ireland in days to come but nowadays,

I’m not completely finished with London life.