The Mound has become a bit of a laughing stock. Only a temporary installation, The Mound (by Marble Arch tube station) opened in July, and shut two days later for a short time because it ‘wasn’t quite ready’! People joked about it. Having paid to visit, some said it was London’s worst attraction. When it finally re-opened it became free to visit, and beneath it was a light show, which most people visiting said was the best part of it. Finally, the whole project was way over budget. Was this the best way for the City of Westminster to spend its money? Well, when a friend and I were trying to decide where to go for our day out, I said, ‘how about The Mound?’ So, we went.
Right off, I’ll say we had a lovely time. We walked through three parks – St James’s, Green and Hyde Park – to get there. Had we taken the tube we would have missed changing of the guard and a military band rehearsing. London always has something going on and constantly surprises me. When we were close to Hyde Park, two guys asked where The Mound was. I explained we had to get across the next big roadway, and the entrance to Hyde Park was ‘that big white arch over there.’ The Mound was on the other side of the park. We said we were going there and wished them luck. Later, when we stopped on the edge of Hyde Park/Marble Arch we sat down for lunch and found the guys had been following us so as not to get lost! We laughed about it and later saw them on the top of The Mound.
Our first impression of The Mound was not great. It looked patchworked together. But it was free to enter and, having seen the light show on TV, I was looking forward to seeing that.
The views from the top were OK, but to be honest, it wasn’t spectacular. Nevertheless, we could make out some landmarks and information boards were plentiful and history facts were interesting.
Going down, again we saw the mass of scaffolding to make this installation. I was fascinated by this. To me this was the great work of art! It was also funny to see the trees in pots with their trunks going through the roof – the roof reminding me of our attic with its roofing felt!
We then entered the light show. Wow! I’d seen one of these installations as part of an art walk last year. But this was spellbinding. Some of these changed colour and there were a few videos. Everything was mesmerising. It’s so dark down there you are almost bumping into people. Luckily, it wasn’t crowded. We both agreed that the light show was the best thing about this installation.
The Mound is due to be dismantled in January 2022. We were both glad we’d been to see it, and the walk back was just as nice as before. Was it the best use of the Council’s money? No. But it was there and I am not one to refuse to see something once it’s been built. I still like to experience these things for myself.
Here are a few other impressions of London that day.
My London+ 