London vs Bratislava

By Erik Redli - Writer/Blogger for Retox

Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com

Tower of London and Bratislava Castle.

Find London in Bratislava

Many of grown up Slovaks come to live in Bratislava, a capital which manages to stand out well and above an average city. The migrating Slovaks seek better employment opportunities but also the treats of cultural and cosmopolitan life the capital of Slovakia offers.

My calling was slightly different. I had spent over a year in London before I moved to Bratislava. Now, after several months in the city on Danube river, I am discovering parallels between London and Bratislava. The good old times bygone encourage people to benchmark everything; even the pizza I’ve just eaten tasted like the pizzas I used to buy in London…

Bratislava Castle vs Tower of London

Every European city needs a castle. When I ask the locals what would they show a visitor in Bratislava, most of them would start with the castle (pictured top right) and afterwards they would meditate about the other sights in a nearest pub. The stone castle was constructed during the reign of King Stephan in the 11th century when Bratislava became one of the centres of the Hungarian Kingdom. At the same time, William the Conqueror built the rectangular Tower of London (pictured top left). Later both treasured up the crown jewels and were reconstructed to the present form in the 18-19th century.

Trnavské mýto and Piccadilly Circus (Coca Cola, hub)

Piccadilly Circus is a road junction centred around a fountain, connecting Regent Street with The Piccadilly. It is the access point to the nearby shops, theatres in the West End and Leicester Square, and the hotels down the Piccadilly lane and Green Park. One of the last Cinnabons is to be found at Trocadero accessible from Piccadilly, the smell of which is identical to the fresh cinnamon rolls from a Fornetti stall under Trnavské mýto.

Trnavské mýto is an important traffic hub in Bratislava. The building of the former marketplace has a big bottle of coke on the top. Sort of reminds me of the Coca Cola commercials running on the big screen at Piccadilly Circus.

Cocacola ads; Trnavské mýto in Bratislava and Piccadilly Circus in London

Fake vs Authentic

We have many authentic things here in Bratislava, traditional Slovak restaurants, Scottish Pub, Irish pubs. Yet we also have many fakes that just add to the authenticity. We have a small chain of coffee shops and their associated colour and logo resembles Starbucks. Also, we have a Rock cafe. Reportedly, there were plans to open a Hard Rock Cafe in Bratislava, but like most of the prospective projects in London and Bratislava, it was put on hold.

Greentree - a Starbucks equivalent (left), Hard Rock Cafe equivalent (centre) and Lochness Scottish Pub (right) in Bratislava.

Aupark and Westfield Stratford City

Aupark and Westfield shopping centres.

I used to be actually quite annoyed by the overcrowded shopping centre in Stratford, London. Although there are several shopping malls in Bratislava, Aupark in Petržalka is similar in terms of the brands and outline to Westfield, although in essence all the shopping centres are the same, especially on the last Saturday before Christmas. Another big shopping centre in Bratislava is Eurovea, the pinnacle structure resembles the City Hall in London.

Eurovea in Bratislava and the City Hall in London.

Presidential Palace and Buckingham Palace

Bratislava is full of palaces, like London. However, we do not have so many parks to lie down on the green grass in the middle of the day. (- Some people lie down after the grass...) Presidential Palace was built in the 18th century in rococo style. Central house of the Buckingham Palace was built in the early 18th century. Both palaces are the official residence of the head of state – the Queen or the President.

Presidential Palace in Bratislava (left), Buckingham Palace in London (right).

Street along Danube and Park Lane

Nábrežie Ludvíka Svobodu and Park Lane.

Nábrežie Ludvíka Svobodu – embankment along the river Danube is hemmed by many brand hotels and fancy shops. It reminds me of the Park Lane near Hyde Park. Actually, there is the Sad Janka Kráľa park just across the Danube. I’ve never been there, maybe I will find there people lying on the grass. You can get to the park across one of the Bratislava’s bridges. The most famous is the SNP Bridge with UFO restaurant on the top. If we live to see Olympics in Bratislava, the rings will be hanging from the UFO.

London Bridge (left), SNP Bridge (right).

McDonalds and nightlife

In London, you come across the most popular fast-food joint on almost every corner. Although there are fewer of the restaurants in Bratislava, they are strategically well placed at most frequented places. After cinema or theatre, many people head for some fast food and so do the folks starved-out at the local discos and night bars.

McDonals and nightlife.

There are many more things the two cities have in common. If you spotted some while walking to work or on a trip in either of the cities, just share them in the comments below.