London – Page 2 – My London+

HAPPY NEW YEAR

We are still within the Christmas season, so I thought I’d start with a rousing rendition of Carol of the Bells by a favourite boys’ choir of mine, Libera.

So, Happy New Year to you. I hope Christmas Day was a good one for you. We all had colds hanging on, though mine was improved by then. My son spent Boxing Day in bed and hubby wasn’t great either. But the New Year is here now. The days are gradually lengthening, and as my dad used to say, “spring is just round the corner.”

We’ve had some pretty wet days, so I had to choose carefully a day to go out. With the trains on overtime bans there are less of them and then they are crowded. So, I took the bus, well two in fact, to Vauxhall where my youngest son lives to drop off a letter and have a cuppa. It made for an interesting journey which took me on a route I didn’t know. I grabbed myself a front seat on the top deck like a tourist (the buses were less busy, thankfully) and enjoyed the views.

Wandsworth

US Embassy from the top deck of the bus

Coming into Vauxhall (still so much building work going on there)

St Ann and All Saints, Vauxhall tucked away in the middle of new apartments

Once in Vauxhall, I had a little wander before setting off to see my son, who lives close to Lambeth Bridge.

Atlas? Outside some fine apartments overlooking the River Thames. Lots of reflection.

Looking towards Vauxhall Bridge

Across the water is Tate Britain (with the columns)

Looking towards Lambeth Bridge and Westminster

If you would like to know more about London’s Bridges, here is a nice little article with a map. I have walked both sides of the Thames over the years and seen all these bridges, and crossed a fair few of them.

Just after Christmas, I took a walk around a local park on a bright sunny day and took a few photos.

You can see that I like the way light plays through the trees. And talking of trees, I was sad to learn that the Hardy Tree (near St Pancras) fell a few days ago. I was lucky enough to see it earlier last year. It certainly took me long enough to visit it, so I’m thankful I finally made the effort. You can read about it here. Somewhere in my blog posts you can also read about my visit to the Hardy Tree.

It’s a lovely day out there today, so maybe I should venture forth and discover! See you next time.

Africa Fashion at the V&A

I had an unexpected trip to London on the 10th December. A friend asked if I’d like to go to the Africa Fashion exhibition at the V&A with her, as the friend who originally was going with her was unwell.

The exhibition was colourful and interesting and spanned the mid-20th century to the present day through textiles, music, photography and video.

Kente cloth comes from Ghana

I found that prints could be political, but also tribal, as well as influenced by colonialism. There were prints here with Dutch influence. I am a member of a Christian organisation known as The Mother’s Union, founded in Winchester back in the 1876, but the organisation now has global outreach and members. The members in Africa soon began designing a ‘uniform’. Just have a look at this blog page and the photos to see what I mean. In the UK we don’t have this. The nearest we get is a scarf or t-shirt from the merchandising shop in London, or if a representative goes on a visit to Africa, they might be presented with a dress to bring home. At talks, a member will bring one along if she has one. Of course, the African congregations living in London really know how to dress up! I love the colourfulness of them. It means so much to them to wear these dresses.

That is a little aside, but the textiles on show, reminded me of this and the pride Africans have in their designs and wearing them.

The images I have chosen to show here are mainly my personal favourites. The one above has a lovely line to it, and I love the colours.

Designed for the LGTBQI+ community

I hope you enjoyed your whistle-stop tour of African textiles with me. As we were leaving the V&A there was this rather lovely exhibit (see below), The Christmas Tree by Korean, Miss Sohee. Read about it here.

Nest Monday will be Boxing Day, so I won’t be posting then. Instead, I shall try and post something festive on Christmas Eve. Whatever you are doing this Christmas, have a lovely time.

Covent Garden Christmas

Covent Garden – sleigh and trees. You can have your photo taken in the sleigh.

I needed to buy a present from the shop at The London Transport Museum, so it was a good excuse to enjoy the delights of Covent Garden. I’d heard there were flurries of snow on the hour too. The snow was a little disappointing, but hey, it was fun.

Inside Covent Garden

We mustn’t forget the history of Covent Garden

One of the streets off Covent Garden

Of course, Covent Garden is well known for its street entertainers. Here is a little clip from one of them.

The flurries of snow came from a balcony. I took two videos to try and get the best shot of this deluge!

After leaving Covent Garden we decided to walk to Leicester Square tube, but we missed it, so we carried on walking back to Waterloo Station. At least we got to see other pretty lights.

St Martin’s area, near Trafalgar Square

At Charing Cross station there was a rather lovely tree. I don’t know, no videos for ages and then four come along at the same time!

Walking down toward Embankment tube station

From the walkway at Charing Cross to Hungerford Bridge

Crossing the Thames with an almost full moon – photo doesn’t do it justice, but I only had my mobile with me.

South Bank with The Royal Festival Hall to the right

At South Bank

The Christmas tree at Waterloo station

Well, I hope that’s got you into the Christmas mood! Until next time, stay warm (it snowed here last night!)

Regent’s Park walk

Taken from Primrose Hill on a misty morning

It wasn’t the nicest day for a walk, but sometimes my free days don’t coincide with one! I did know that due to the mist, I’d have to take my bridge camera to cope with a view from Primrose Hill. I’d failed to recharge the battery and only one line remained, but hey, sometimes you have to take chances. In the end, I got four or five photos out of it, and the ones I wanted. Phew!

I’d borrowed a book from the library entitled Walking London: 30 Original Walks in and Around London by Andrew Duncan. I used it for part of the walk I took in Kensington last week. The walks are easy to follow (even for me!) and take you off the beaten track to the back streets where there are some interesting finds, things I would probably not find on my own.

The walk is three and half miles long (walking time about one and a half hours) and begins at Chalk Farm underground station (Northern Line). Coming out of the station, I crossed the road and headed up Bridge Approach. Here I crossed the bridge over the underground. I crossed the road at the end and walked up Regent’s Park Road, where there are some rather nice shops. I nearly got distracted by a book shop (as ever!). The road leads to Primrose Hill, and I followed the path to the top where the above photo was taken.

The bridge over the underground

The shops in Regen’s Park Road

A man of interest

Walking up Primrose Hill

Another view from the top of Primrose Hill

I retraced my steps a little and then took the first path right and walked to the end of the park (there are toilets here) and crossed the road and took a right over the bridge. Looking down, there was Regent’s Canal.

Regent’s Canal

Another view from the bridge

I realised that I have only walked through Regent’s Park when visiting London Zoo. There is so much else to see.

Into Regent’s Park

I remember this drinking fountain. After that it was all new.

Don’t these trees look gorgeous even on a damp, misty day?

Following the path around the playing fields, I finally came to the lake full of birds of all descriptions.

Canada geese

I love this view. See those buildings? They are described as pepperpots. They are in Sussex Place.

I love all the little bridges in the park. This one eventually leads to the children’s boating lake.

Majestic Heron!

Nothing like a splash of autumn colour

London Central Mosque

I found this lovely cafe overlooking the lake and decorated in the style of Queen Mary’s Gardens (part of Regent’s Park and yet to visit on this walk). The stop was most welcome. A chance for a hot drink and a warm up.

Through the window

The work of John Nash, whose buildings can be seen also close to Trafalgar Square.

Holme House

Another bridge

Holme Green Bandstand. On 20th July 1982, the bandstand was the target of a terrorist attack by the IRA. Seven bandsmen were killed and a further 24 injured during a concert by the band of the Royal Green Jackets. Eight members of the public, who were watching the performance, were also taken to hospital with injuries sustained in the bombing.

Nice to see some colour still

The Sunken Garden, Queen Mary’s Gardens

Walking past the Open Air Theatre, you come to these gardens.

The fountain

Queen Mary’s Gardens

Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens

Now out of the gates I was heading towards some of the back streets of Regent’s Park, and what a surprise I got!

The terraces come with their own private gardens (right)

Just stunning

Walking between one stunning terrace to another, yet still opposite Regent’s Park

I’m almost at the end of the walk now.

Down an alleyway of Peto Place where you can see the Royal College of Physicians in the background.

The BT Tower shrouded in mist

The walk in the book ends at Regent’s Park station, but as I was opposite Great Portland Street, I decided to travel back from here. This was a most interesting and lovely walk, but it was nice to get warm again as the cold had seemed to get right into me by then. I hope you have enjoyed this walk too.

Richmond to Kingston Thames Path Walk

Richmond

On a dreary day, I made my way to Richmond. Initially, I was going to view the recent statue of Virginia Woolf overlooking the riverside. Virginia (part of the Bloomsbury Group) and her husband lived in Richmond for ten years and set up the Hogarth Press. I wasn’t sure where the statue was, but I found a photo online and asked my son, who used to work in Richmond, where it was. Virginia was well camouflaged set in several rows of benches overlooking the River Thames.

Virginia Woolf overlooking the river

Nice view

And yes, I did sit next to her! The temptation was too much.

I then set off along the Thames Path in the direction of Kingston I have walked this section before, but not in this direction and not in one go. I remember back then I thought it was too far. Ha, ha! I’ve walked a lot further in one go now, but those were my early days of walking.

By Richmond Bridge

Loved this quirky Three Pigeons insect hotel

It was nice to find some flowers still blooming along the path, though don’t ask me to name them!

The plaque below on the obelisk itself says: Thames Conservancy; Lower Limit, 1900.

Teddington Lock, where the famous Monty Python ‘fish slapping dance’ scene was filmed back in 1971. See below.

If you look at this photo, you can still see the building where the filming took place. Behind it is now the riverside is built up with lots of apartments on the Teddington side.

Getting close to Kingston now.

Autumn is really here now

Apologies if I’ve posted this photo before. This has often been my stopping point when walking from the other direction.

Egyptian ducks

Turks Boatyard. See this article to learn more about Turks boatbuilding.

Arrival. Christmas is coming. This is taken by Kingston Bridge (the railway bridge can be seen in the distance)

Kingston Christmas Market

I bought this from a little stall on the riverside. It was unmaned and had an ‘honesty box’. Everything was being sold in aid of the local Scout group. I couldn’t resist this!

A concert and a walk in Kensington Gardens

Royal Albert Hall, London

There was a lot of excitement last Tuesday as a friend and I headed towards The Royal Albert Hall for Peter Frampton’s farewell tour. In 2019 he was diagnosed with Inclusion-Body Myositis, a degenerate muscle disease. These days he isn’t so mobile and walks with a stick. He knew that eventually he might not be able to play guitar again, so he began planning his farewell tour.

My friend and I have been fans of his since the days he joined The Herd. We had his pictures on our bedroom walls! He was the baby-faced member of the band, but he was only 16 and our heart-throbs! This was a concert not to be missed.

We booked into a hotel in Earls Court, which was a good move as the concert didn’t end until 11pm. After an early dinner, we headed out for the 20 minute walk to the Royal Albert Hall. Our seats were high up in the gods which was a bit scary at first. The support band Cardinal Black were excellent and sang five songs before the main event. And what an event. Helped on to the stage, Peter Frampton sat down to play his set – a two and half set at that, including an encore.

Support band – Cardinal Black

The stage is set

My mobile can’t cope with photos with lots of spotlights, so there are only a few photos that turned out in the not-too-bad category. So apologies for the standard. Peter Frampton was brilliant and it was good to hear those old songs again, like Baby I Love Your Way, The Lodger, All I Want to Be (is by your side) and Do You Feel Like We Do, perhaps my favourite of the night.

Apologies for blurry photo

After the encore

We went back to our hotel with Peter Frampton songs in our heads and they have been going through my head ever since. I believe there is to be a film of the concert available at some stage, so I’ll be watching for that.

Before returning home the following day, we had a walk in Kensington Gardens (opposite the concert hall). It was a lovely November day and so warm.

The Albert Memorial, Kensington Gardens

Kensington Palace behind

Peter Pan

An ice cream van with a difference

Before we parted, we went into The Swan near Lancaster Gate tube station for a cuppa and reflected on what a lovely short break we’d had.

Lovely fireplace in The Swan pub and restaurant

The Arts and Craft Church

Holy Trinity, Sloane Square was given the name ‘Arts & Crafts Movement’ by Sir John Betjeman. It really is a splendid church. Quite unusual and houses a stained glass window by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris & Company. So, of course I had to visit!

The building work began in 1888 on the site given by the Earl of Cadogan. He also financed the building and its furnishings, designed by J D Sedding. Sedding died before the church was completed and his assistant Henry Wilson carried through the work as the architect intended.

Holy Trinity has many stained glass windows, but the one I had come especially come to see was the east window – the one of Burne-Jones and William Morris. It is the window first seen as you walk in as it is behind the altar. To the right is an information board with a description of all the panels in the window.

It was lovely to see the busts of William Morris and John Ruskin as sort of bookends over the case containing the frontal altar cloth designed by John Sedding.

East Window by Edward Burne-Jones & William Morris & Co.

There was interesting decoration around the top of wall by the chapel. The chapel itself is quite dark, but has a lovely stained glass window of St Michael and Gabriel.

Certainly a very interesting church to walk around. While I was there, a group of dancers were rehearsing for an up-and-coming performance. There was also a Christmas shop for ‘Good Causes’ so I bought my first pack of Christmas cards, advent candle and an advent calendar!

Holy Trinity features in the book London’s 100 Best Churches by Leigh Hatts. I’ve visited only sixteen of them so far! The church is just a short walk away from Sloane Square tube station.

Cutty Sark and Greenwich

I cannot believe I have lived in London all these years, yet this was my first time visiting the Cutty Sark. What an interesting ship.

Built in Dunbarton, Scotland in 1869, specifically for the China tea trade, it set sail from London in February 1870 for Shanghai loaded with wine, beer, spirits and manufactured goods. The Cutty Sark arrived there in May, where it took on board 1,305,212 lbs of tea and headed back to London. It arrived in October. Later, when steam ships took over the tea trade, the Cutty Sark had to find other cargo, including jute and later wool from Australia.

You can read the history of this fascinating ship here.

The white part of the ship is the original

Note the hanging drinks holders! (Captain’s personal loo at the back where the white tiles are)

Figureheads from other shops in the cafe downstairs underneath the Cutty Sark

After a cuppa and snack in the cafe, we headed into Greenwich Park and up the hill for the view.

Belson’s ship which I think was once on the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square (outside the Maritime Museum)

The Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park

We came back into central London on the Uber Boat from Greenwich Pier to Westminster. This was great fun.

This was a lovely day, and we were lucky because there were no crowds. I think we timed it well. Schools had just returned after the summer break so too early for school trips, and it was a Monday.

There’s lots of information on board and you even have a chance to steer your own ship from Australia back to London on an interactive map. Both my friend and ended up shipwrecked within a short space of time! It was great fun though.

Kingston to Hampton Court Thames Path walk

This is a walk I know well. I’ve walked it with family when the kids were small, and I’ve walked it with friends. Sometimes my eldest son accompanies me now, and sometimes I walk it alone. This time I was alone.

I’ve been having problems with my right foot for some time now, and I have self-diagnosed it as metatarsalgia. A couple of friends know about these things too, and my symptoms fit. I’ve bought some special pads to relieve the pressure on my foot, and a short walk was what I needed to see if it worked. The pad is a little fiddly to position right, but once right, it does help. I enjoy my walking too much to stop!

I’ve written a post about this walk before, I know, but I never tire of this stretch. Light changes like the seasons. It was good to see some green coming back after all the hot weather we’ve had.

To the right of the other path is Home Park, always worth a walk through too. Often you see deer here.

I thought I would visit the gardens at Hampton Court Palace, but since Covid they charge around £20, whereas before Covid it was free to walk around the gardens. I had intended to use the cafe, but I’m not paying £20 just to go in. Their loss. Instead, I found a lovely cafe opposite Hampton Court station, and sat outside with a gorgeous veggie/vegan lunch.

Hampton Court Bridge looking towards Molesey Lock

Lunch! Tortilla with spicy beans and avocardo

The walk was successful and the metatarsal pad worked. I think I’m back in business! There are too many walks out there I want to do to give in.

Clapham Common

This isn’t a part of London I know really (SW4), yet I pass through it on the tube sometimes, and often through the main line station of Clapham Junction. However, I’d heard of a shop in Clapham called The Hive Honey Shop and I thought it was about time I visited. Unfortunately, the shop has moved its business online, but I didn’t know that when I set off from Clapham Junction station.

The shop used to be in Northcote Road, a long road leading from St John’s Hill, Clapham. The road boasts lots of independent shops and was quite a surprise to me.

My second destination was Clapham Common. I was hoping by then for a cafe as it was a warm day and all the walking was making me thirsty.

We have had some rain at last, and the grass is beginning to recover with a few patches of green. Unfortunately, the trees are suffering from stress and we are now in what is known as a false autumn. Trees are shedding their leaves early. They are brown and brittle.

Clapham itself is quite spread out and boasts three tube stations on the Northern Line. The common has a Victorian bandstand and a modern cafe with those all important toilets! You can read the history of the common here where J M W Turner painted a view across the common between 1800 and 1805.

The cafe made a good stopping place for a cup of tea and a sit down. In fact, I sat on the bench in memory of Jeremy Brett, the actor best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Homes.