Royal Windsor, England

One place I’ve never visited is the Royal town of Windsor in Berkshire where one of the Queen’s homes – Windsor Castle – is now a major tourist attraction.
Windsor Castle is not just a Royal show-palace though. This is very much a working palace, used frequently by HM The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family. In actual fact it is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the whole world, having been used for over 900 years by British sovereigns.

Alongside the Castle is St Georges Chapel which is also open to the public. In recent years this has become something of a venue for Royal weddings – a fashion that was started by Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999 and was followed by Princess Anne’s son, Peter Phillips and his Canadian bride, Autumn Kelly earlier this year. However, most famous was the blessing by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2005 of the marriage between Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker-Bowles. Earlier that day they had a civil ceremony at Windsor Registry Office which also witnessed the civil ceremony of Sir Elton John and David Furnish that same year.

Recent persistent rumours have hinted that if Prince William marries his long-term girlfriend, Kate Middleton (both pictured right), the ceremony may also take place at St Georges Chapel, Windsor. However, as second in line to the Throne and a future Monarch, it is more likely his marriage ceremony will take place in one of the larger Cathedrals in London such as St Paul’s Cathedral (the venue of his father’s first marriage to Will’s mother Princess Diana) or Westminster Abbey.

Another famous sight in Windsor is Eton College, the school attended by so many famous luminaries. Prince William and his brother Prince Harry both attended Eton and it is probably for that reason so many tourists are interested in taking a guided tour around the illustrious grounds!

Windsor is only about half an hour from central London on mainline trains and is probably worth spending a day visiting the Castle and its famous Royal Art Collection as well as St Georges Chapel and Eton College. It’s certainly seems the perfect place for Royal followers and those interested in British Royal history.

Windsor Castle Adult Entry: £14.20

Eton College Tour Adult Entry: £5.00

Holders of the London Pass can visit all the above attractions free of charge and those with transport included can travel free to Windsor on overhead trains using their London Pass travel card.

Midsummer Christmas Madness

What is red and white striped, has a white beard and can be found in Knightsbridge on the 5th August? Father Christmas!
Confused? It’s hardly surprising with 4 ½ months til Christmas but, yes, Father Christmas made his 2008 debut at Harrods today! Dressed in a Victorian-style bathing suit and posing in front of an eight tonne sand sculpture of his sleigh and reindeer, Father Christmas officially opened Christmas World at Harrods! The World’s most famous and glamorous department store has waved goodbye to summer and is looking ahead to the festive season with not a hint of embarrassment or shame! Personally, I find it all rather disturbing!

However, Father Christmas is not hanging around just yet – according to official reports, he interrupted his summer holiday in Blackpool today to launch the Christmas display – but will return to Harrods on Saturday 1st November where he will be resident in his Grotto until Christmas Eve. The exceedingly popular Christmas Grotto Experience is free of charge but must be booked in advance. Tickets are available on-line from the 21st August and are subject to availability. This year Harrods are celebrating a century of Father Christmas at the store (1908-2008) with an extra special Christmas Parade entitled “Once Upon A Time Parade” on November 1st. I am, of course, giving you super-advance warning here but it seems that planning Christmas can never come early enough at Harrods!!! The event starts at 8am outside the store and arrives in Basil Street at around 8.30am with characters from Cinderella, Mrs Christmas and the main man who will then take up residence in his grotto on the 4th floor.

Enough about Christmas now!!!

Harrods is the ultimate shopping experience and also a must-see for tourists and London visitors alike. I guess it is as much a sightseeing attraction as it is a luxury department store. So if you are combining some shopping with your sightseeing then don’t forget to take advantage of the special offers you receive with the London Pass. If you spend £25 or more in Harrods lower ground floor then you will receive an exclusive free gift when you present your London Pass. If you fancy a bite to eat in the opulent surroundings of the Harrods 4th floor Georgian Restaurant then you will be offered a free glass of wine or fresh juice with your lunch if you have a London Pass.

With other London Pass attractions nearby including Kensington Palace and the Royal Albert Hall, it is a great place to visit and indulge in some luxury retail therapy! But, with 141 days left to buy your Christmas goodies there isn't an immediate rush to get to Christmas World - there are more than 300 other departments to explore at Harrods first!

Hiding From The London Weather

If you have been in London over the last week or so you will probably be fed up with the weather! It has either been too hot to do anything or too wet to go anywhere! I have given you a few ideas for outdoor events when the weather is fine, but what about when the clouds appear and the rain comes down? Well, London has plenty of options for wet weather activities so don’t be put off by the lack of sunshine.

London’s major museums are world famous but there are a few hidden gems dotted around the capital that you may find equally as fascinating. The centrally located Cartoon Museum in Little Russell Street opened just two years ago and is home to an incredible collection of British cartoons, comic art and caricatures from the 18th century to modern day. At the moment there is a special exhibition celebrating 70 years of the Beano and Dandy comics. Throughout August the Cartoon Museum are holding comic master classes and workshops which are free to children. Adults visiting the museum can also join in for free and, with the London Pass, that means free entrance and free fun for all!
Tues-Sat 10.30am-5.30pm Sun 12pm-5pm
Always closed Monday
Adults: £4.00 or free with London Pass

Down the river in Greenwich there are a couple of places worth visiting even though the famous Cutty Sark is still being repaired and renovated. Take a City Cruises* boat from either Westminster or Tower Piers and visit the famous National Maritime Museum (above left). The world’s largest maritime museum is home to over 2 million seafaring objects and also a fabulous ship simulator. Nearby are the Royal Observatory and the Greenwich Meridian Line where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere!
Open 7 days a week 10am-5pm.
London Pass holders receive a free souvenir guide.

While you are in Greenwich, you can also visit the unique Fan Museum which is housed in a Grade II listed early 18th Century building. Not only can you view more than 4000 intricate hand fans, discover their purpose and function throughout history but you can also take a walk around the Japanese Garden of tranquillity afterwards.
Tues-Sat 11am – 5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm. Open Bank Holiday Mondays.
London Pass holders receive a free souvenir visitor’s guide.

Greenwich is a good place to spend the day while the weather is so changeable. With a mix of indoor and outdoor attractions and places of interest, this historically Royal area is well worth a visit. The birthplace of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I, Greenwich has been a World Heritage Site since 1997.

* City Cruises run regular boat services between Westminster Pier and Tower Pier to Greenwich. London Pass holders are entitled to a free River Red Rover ticket (worth £10.50), enabling unlimited travel throughout the day. Hop on and off where and when you like along the River Thames route.

London For Kids

I am not a parent but with the long summer holidays there are plenty of parents who are tearing their hair out trying to keep their kids entertained. One of my nephews celebrates his 12th birthday next month (12 going on 20!) and, rather than give him a present which will undoubtedly be disregarded soon after the event, I have decided to take him to London for the day.

He has visited quite a few attractions in London already including the London Eye, the Tower of London and the Globe Theatre so I have turned to the London Pass website for a few ideas. They have a suggested itinerary for children which includes the popular Namco Station at County Hall. But for a boy who lives near to the amusement arcades of Southend-on-Sea (a popular seaside town in Essex) this would not be particularly special. I’m also not sure he’d be too enamoured by the Royal Mews or the Firepower Royal Artillery Museum. BUT… I do think he’d enjoy London Zoo and I’ve no doubt that he’d love the Chelsea Football Club Stadium Tour. He is a big football (soccer) fan and, although he supports Tottenham Hotspur, what keen young footballer wouldn’t want to visit the changing rooms and walk down the tunnel of a world famous premiership team?

Among the other ideas are the Cartoon Museum and Pollock’s Toy Museum which I will probably visit myself at some point but I think my rather grown-up nephew is just a bit too “cool” for these! Give him another 10 years and he’ll probably appreciate them just as enthusiastically as he would have done a couple of years ago!

I will continue to look through the London Pass attractions to plan the perfect itinerary for this birthday treat but Chelsea FC is a definite and London Zoo will also be included. I think he would also enjoy a canal boat trip (I would too!) but I need to get the maps out and see how practical my choices are. I don’t want to spend half the day travelling on public transport but want to make sure he has a day to remember. I’ll keep you informed!

Open Air Activites In London

London is a really super place to be in the summer months and, despite good weather not being guaranteed, open air events are really popular.

The Open Air Theatre at Regents Park (left) is currently showing performances of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Nights Dream, Twelfth Night and Romeo & Juliet as well as the classical musical Gigi. Performance times vary but are throughout the day and evening with ticket prices from £10 upwards.

Sunday evenings in August will feature musical entertainment at Regents Park Open Air Theatre. The series of Sunday concerts culminates on September 7th with a concert from the original tribute act – The Bootleg Beatles.

There are two operas left this season at Holland Park; Ponchielli’s La Gioconda and Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta which will be preceded by a dance performance set to the music of Igor Stravinsky. Ticket prices range from £10 to £52 and there are a limited number of free tickets for 9-18 year olds.

Every Sunday, Bayswater Road is transformed into the ultimate open air art exhibition. Displayed against the railings of Kensington Gardens (Hyde Park), the work of more than 250 artists is a sight to behold. This is a weekly event regardless of weather and gives you an opportunity to meet the artists behind the art and buy pieces at studio prices. Whether you visit to buy or to browse this 50 year old show/market is must-see when you are in London.

With the warm weather in London at the moment you may just fancy chilling out and cooling off. Open air swimming pools, known as Lidos, are just the ticket if you fancy a dip and you can even find some in central London. One of the most famous is the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park where people have sunbathed, swum and played for over 100 years. There is also a kid’s paddling pool and deck chairs can be rented for a small fee. The serpentine is open daily from 10am - 6pm until the end of September and costs £4 for adults and £1 for children under 16 who must be accompanied by an adult.

Tourist Walk In London 5

After a lovely organic fruit juice or two, it was time to bid goodbye to my companion and set off on the final short stage of my tourist walk in London. I am not a great lover of walking but, with sightseeing stops throughout the day, it had turned out to be a really enjoyable experience.

I walked out of St James’s Park with Horse Guards Parade in front of me; turned left into Horse Guards Road and up to The Mall. I turned right with the Institute of Contemporary Arts on my left and the famous Admiralty Arch straight ahead. Passing through the arches, I arrived in Trafalgar Square – possibly one of the most legendary London sights, famous for its Lions (statues, not real ones!), Nelson’s Column (above left), the fountains and scenes of celebration and demonstration over the years. It also used to be famous for its thousands of pigeons but last year a law was passed banning the feeding of birds in the area. There are now relatively few pigeons in Trafalgar Square and that age-old obsession of allowing birds to perch on your arms and head is no more!

It was now 8pm and the sun was low in the sky behind me as I wandered up the Strand to catch my bus to Liverpool Street. I was exhausted but buzzing with all that I’d seen and done. Even for someone who has lived and worked in London, visiting all these famous tourist spots and seeing world famous sights is pretty exciting. Having bought a great value two day London Pass, my only regret was having to travel all the way home and back again the next day… oh for a luxury hotel room somewhere in central London!


London Pass available from www.londonpass.com
Special offer available until 21st July:
Adult 2 Day pass reduced to £46 (usual price £49)

Tourist Walk In London 4

Having visited the Guards Museum I continued along Birdcage Walk which runs parallel to St James’s Park. Walking close by the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, past Parliament Square, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament and made my way towards the Westminster Pier. I bought a sandwich and a drink and joined the short queue for tickets at the City Cruises kiosk. Although I have previously done the Westminster to Tower Bridge leg of the River Thames tour, I had decided after a lot of walking and sightseeing it would be fun to go all the way down to Greenwich and back again.

On City Cruise boats, the live commentary is done by a crew member. These are not trained tour guides and they do not have a set script but on this particular day, the guy whose name I forget, was excellent. His commentary was informative and funny but, sadly, some of his jokes went over the head of the largely non-English speaking tourists. Although I am now pretty familiar with this stretch of the river I found out some new and interesting facts along the way. For instance, I didn’t know that Waterloo Bridge is also known as “Ladies Bridge” as it was built primarily by women during the Second World War; the rise and fall of the Thames can be as great as 25 feet; the stunning blue glass building on the north side of the river is home to the Shanghai Bank (above right); Somerset House, once the records office (Hatch ‘em, match ‘em, despatch ‘em!), is now home to the Courtauld Art Gallery and an ice rink in winter; the original Billingsgate Fish Market building (above left) has wonderfully quirky weather veins shaped like fish!

I love these little snippets of information about places and sights we often take for granted in London. The River Thames remains a hive of activity and each building on the banks, be it old or new, has a tale to tell or a unique point of interest. Unfortunately, I hadn’t realised quite how long it would take to Greenwich and back to Westminster (the full round trip takes approximately 3 hours) and, knowing I was meeting a friend in St James’s Park at 6pm, I hopped off at the Tower of London in a slight panic. Greenwich would have to wait for another day. I joined another boat, with a different crew member commentating in a completely different style but equally entertaining and enlightening.

On arrival at Westminster Pier I walked back towards St James’s Park for my rendezvous at “Inn The Park”. This wonderful restaurant in the heart of the park is a beautiful place to enjoy a drink on a summers evening in London. Surrounded by flora and fauna and overlooking the lake, it is a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of London. This would have been the perfect way to end my day of walking and sightseeing in London but I had just one more walk to complete my typical tourist trail before going home.


City Cruises run between Westminster Pier and Greenwich Pier seven days a week. The first boat from Westminster to Tower Pier and Greenwich is at 9.40am. The last boat departs Waterloo for Tower Pier at 9pm.
River Red Rover ticket enables you to hop on and hop off at any stop throughout the day
Adult: £10.50

London Pass holders are entitled to a free River Red Rover Ticket without further payment.

Free Music In London

This month is free music month at the Scoop. Located in front of City Hall on the south bank of the River Thames, the amphitheatre has been temporary home to a number of events over the last couple of months with free theatre productions and film screenings. Now it is the turn of music with a little dancing thrown in for good measure!

Today, at 12.30pm, there is a Salsa dance workshop and demonstration. Latin moves are the order of the day and top Salsa band, Conjunto Sabroso, help get your hips swinging and toes tapping with their South American sounds.

Tonight at 6.30pm, Conjunto Sabroso return with the current salsa dance world champions - John Vasquez and Judy Aguilar from Columbia. Ola Latina present this evening of entertainment and, after the highly anticipated salsa demonstration, you are encouraged to join the salsa spectacular and dance the night away!

Tomorrow (Thursday 10th) is Calypso Day! At 12.30pm there is a Calypso dance workshop with Antonio Susinni and then, at 6.30pm, Sunnie Dae And Her Hot Kats take the floor. A mixture of rare plantation blues and Caribbean folk music will quickly have you up dancing and, in traditional style, there will be some audience participation with “call and response” singing. A great evening for all the family!

On Friday, it is the turn of London-based band “We Used To Make Things” at 12.30pm. This unusually named band comprises six men and one woman who perform a mix of original pop music with a wide range of influences. This feel-good band are sure to get you in the right mood for the weekend!

At 6.30pm the All Stars Collective entertain the Scoop audience with, as yet, unannounced Special Guests. This group of musicians have worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry including George Michael, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Amy Winehouse, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Jennifer Lopez and Westlife to name but a few. Now they step out of the shadow of these superstars and bring you an evening of original and exciting material.

Tourist Walk In London 3

After graduating from Music College I accepted a part-time job at a Royal office in Buckingham Gate. Therefore my knowledge of the area proved useful when I couldn’t take the straight forward route to the Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews. I walked the familiar path to the nearest pub where my leaving “do” had taken place, down a couple of small, quaint Olde London streets and arrived by the Buckingham Palace gift shop (not your average tourist souvenirs!) directly opposite the Royal Mews. A quick glance down Buckingham Gate confirmed that the road was still blocked and access to the Queen’s Gallery was prohibited. So I went into the Royal Mews, using my London Pass for the third time that day.

According to the lady in the ticket office, the road had been blocked off since 7.30 that morning after a delivery lorry tipped over when leaving Buckingham Palace. They had been told the Queen’s Gallery would be opened about an hour late but, since then, had heard no more. As it was now lunch time it seemed as though this accident was being treated more like a security alert but, thankfully, the Royal Mews was open for business as usual.

An hour later I left the Royal Mews hoping that the Queen’s Gallery would now be open but the road was still out of bounds with yet more police men and women. It was a shame but I re-traced my steps and headed for Birdcage Walk and the Wellington Barracks, home to the Guards Museum. There was quite a crowd gathered around the railings in front of the Barracks enjoying the wonderful sounds of the regiment band. As I approached, the band were rehearsing but, even to my musical ears, I couldn’t hear any mistakes being made in their wonderful rendition of “Bread Of Heaven” (I’m sure this is not the correct title but, for the life of me, I cannot think of the hymn’s proper name!) but every few bars, they stopped and started again. Chances are that it was the complicated choreography that needed to be repeated over and over. Still, it looked and sounded fabulous to me! The impromptu audience of tourists, holiday makers and sightseers were clearly thrilled and applauded enthusiastically! There is something very special about regimental bands and the British Armed Forces certainly know how to do it properly!

Having spent an enjoyable half hour watching and listening to this free military pageant, I moved on to the Guards Museum with a spring in my step!


The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace is open March – October, 11am-4pm
Adult Entry: £7.50

The Queen’s Gallery is open is open daily from 10am to 5.30pm
Adult Entry: £8.50

The Guards Museum is open daily from 10am to 4pm
Adult Entry: £3

All of the above sightseeing attractions are included with the London Pass and entrance is free for pass holders.

Music, Art and Science In London

10 years ago this week I graduated from the Royal College of Music (pictured left). It only feels like last year yet, at the same time, it is a lifetime ago. I spent four years at this auspicious music conservatoire and graduated with a respectable honours degree although I had never planned to continue my education in this way.

Nestled behind the Royal Albert Hall (pictured right from the door of the RCM) in Prince Consort Road, the RCM is celebrating its 125th Birthday this year and continues to be one of Europe’s top conservatoires with gifted students from around the world training for a career in professional music.

In September last year, Professor Robert Winston was appointed Chairman of the RCM council. The appointment of a scientist at a music college has raised a few eyebrows but it conforms to the original intention of Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert. His vision was to create an area devoted to the arts and sciences which was nicknamed “Albertopolis”. South Kensington is indeed home to major science and arts institutions: Royal College of Music, Imperial College, Royal Albert Hall, Royal College of Art, Royal Geographical Society, Science Museum, Natural History Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum. These eight original institutions today work even more closely than anticipated and are known collectively as the Exhibition Road Cultural Group.

A new collaboration between the RCM and the V&A has recently begun and will be experienced by the public in 2009 when the museum’s new Medieval and Renaissance galleries open. A Listening Gallery will pair specific objects on display with pieces of music through audiovisual points throughout the gallery as well as live performances.

A more immediate partnership is that of the RCM and the Royal Albert Hall Promenade concert series this summer. The college will host the new Proms Plus series with pre-Prom events every day during the season from 18th July to 13th September. The events will include workshops, interviews, literary talks and film screenings which will all be held at the RCM’s Britten Theatre.

Throughout the academic year the Royal College of Music opens its doors to the public for master classes, workshops, recitals and operas. Many of these events are free of charge and, most importantly, are a chance to see the music stars of the future.

The Royal Albert Hall tours are available Thursday to Tuesday from 10.30am to 3.30pm.
Adult Entry Fee: £8
London Pass holders can take a Royal Albert Hall tour free of charge and also visit the nearby Kensington Palace without further payment

Tourist Walk In London 2

I probably should have started this particular day of sightseeing at Buckingham Palace. The Changing of the Guard takes place every day at 11.30am from April to July (on alternate days the rest of the year). This is understandably a really popular ceremony for tourists with all the pomp and pageantry that the British are famed for! Having said that, I have never seen the Guard Mounting (the official ceremonial title) so I really should have gone to the Palace first. Oh well, there’ll be other opportunities.

Coming out of Green Park, I did what I always do when I am near Buckingham Palace: I checked the flagpole! Ever since I was a child it has excited me to know that the Queen is home when I’m passing by! I was in luck this day as the Royal Standard was flying at full mast. When the Queen is elsewhere no flag flies above the Palace.

I hung around to one side in the vain hope that Her Majesty might just appear. I have only seen her once as a young child when she visited my home town and my mum helped push me up a lamppost to get a glimpse of our Monarch. But this was not the day for another sighting unfortunately!

I walked by the beautiful golden Canada Gate (right) separating Green Park from the Queens Gardens and admired the beautiful Victoria Memorial. Buckingham Palace is looking a little on the grubby side these days but the Victoria Memorial looks shiny and new, making me wonder if it has been cleaned recently.

With my back to the Palace I took my life in my hands to get some photos of the Mall, resplendently decorated with Union Flags. I continued across the Mall to the Memorial Gardens and the edge of St James’s Park. This was the opposite end of the Park from where I had seen the pelicans recently but the view across the lake was equally beautiful.

Preparing to cross the road towards Buckingham Gate where I once worked, I noticed a plaque on the pavement indicating the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk. I know nothing about this walk but will investigate so that I can follow it later on this summer. Recently I had also noticed a Jubilee Walkway plaque but forgot about it so I need to do a little Royal walk research I think.

Heading towards the other side of Buckingham Palace I was stopped dead in my tracks by blue flashing lights. Police cars and officers were blocking the road and diverting traffic and pedestrians away from the very road that I wanted to walk up. I interrogated the nearest police officer who informed me that there had been an accident and I couldn’t pass through the blockade to get to the Queen’s Gallery and Royal Mews. Potential disaster!

Not one to be deterred by a road accident I took the long route around in the hope that I would find the Royal premises unaffected by the cordons.

Tourist Walk In London 1

Last week was pretty good weather-wise in London so I took the opportunity to carry out my own walking and sightseeing itinerary which included some of the most popular London tourist attractions.

For the time being, I won’t go into detail about the individual places I visited but will share with you my route and the things I saw. I had planned my path in advance and thoroughly enjoyed my typical tourist trail even though some of the attractions were not really my cup of tea!

I started off at Hyde Park Corner, one of the busiest traffic intersections in central London. I am still haunted by the memory of breaking down in my dad’s car here many years ago – I had borrowed the car with the promise that I wouldn’t drive it into London! I took some photos of the wonderfully ornate gates marking the entrance to Hyde Park and then walked around to Apsley House, home of the Duke of Wellington in the 19th Century. Then across the road to Wellington Arch - one of London’s most well known landmarks with its magnificent sculpture entitled “Peace descending on the Chariot of War” (below).

When planning my itinerary I had a choice of walking across Hyde Park to Kensington Palace or Green Park to Buckingham Palace. On this occasion, I chose the latter as, universally, it is probably more recognisable as the Queen’s London home. Diana’s home will be saved for another time.

Walking through Green Park I was amazed at the number of joggers and runners using the footpath but was disappointed not to see any horse riders using the special bridle paths. I think that most riders must exercise their horses in the early morning. Green Park lived up to its name that day and was looking positively glorious in its greenness! I strolled along at quite a sedate pace enjoying the intermittent sunshine on my way to Buckingham Palace.




Apsley House and Wellington Arch are open Wednesday to Sunday 11am-5pm.

Apsley House Adult Entry: £5.50

Wellington Arch Adult Entry: £3.30

London Pass holders get free entry to both attractions.

Bali Memorial, London

Following on from the Fiona Banner Full Stops outside City Hall, I discovered another spherical piece worth mentioning. I’m not sure that one should describe a memorial sculpture as an art work but it is difficult to label it otherwise.

The Bali Memorial is a few metres away from Horse Guards Parade at the bottom of Clive Steps and commemorates the victims of the 2002 bombings.

The marble globe is engraved with 202 doves representing the victims of the blast, The curved stone wall behind lists the names and ages of all those who lost their lives including 28 Britons.

It was officially opened on the fourth anniversary of the terrorist attack by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in a ceremony attended by survivors, relatives of the victims and representatives from the 21 nations who lost citizens.

The 1.5 metre memorial globe is the work of artists Garry Breeze and Martin Cook and took nine months to complete. The inscription surrounding the base of the globe reads “YOU WERE ROBBED OF LIFE YOUR SPIRIT ENRICHES OURS”.

If you are visiting the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms or are in the area of St James’s Park, take a few moments to visit this permanent memorial. It is a simple yet poignant reminder.

Picture Perfect Park

The weather in London is still somewhat changeable at the moment but, generally, this is a lovely time of year to visit the city. There are many more green areas than you would imagine in London with tree lined roads and beautiful, vast stretches of parkland.

When I lived in London I was fortunate to be only a short walk away from Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. I didn’t make the most of the Royal Parks but on a sunny weekend it was a lovely place to escape to. Even surrounded by groups playing ball games and families enjoying the open space with relish, Hyde Park had a serenity which belied its location in central London. For a while I also worked close to Buckingham Palace and would, occasionally, take a stroll through St James’s Park on my way home.

Last week, I revisited St James’s Park briefly and joined the clusters of tourists and workers eating their lunch in the sunshine. It was a lovely half hour sitting near the lake, only disturbed by a couple of squirrels (pictured right) who fancied sharing my lunch! Birdkeepers Cottage (also known as Duck Island Cottage) is a quaint feature of the area with a wonderful garden of wild flowers. Having been home to a number of bird keepers at St. James’s Park since the early 19th Century, this picturesque cottage is now the office of the London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust.

The lake is famed for its wide range of birdlife. Strangely, when I looked around I did not see anything as mundane as a duck (!) but I got dangerously close to a swan who was, thankfully, preoccupied with his/her cleaning regime! Across the other side of the lake I caught sight of the exotic pelicans that are fed fresh fish at 2.30pm every day.

London is an incredibly bustling city which never appears to stand still but, after a fleeting pit stop in St James’s Park, I felt refreshed and ready to fight through the crowds surrounding the Houses of Parliament! Making my way towards the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, I came face to face with a couple of army tanks heading to Horse Guards Parade. Ordinarily, I would have been too flustered to take a photo but the calming effect of lunch in the park turned me into Miss Methodical and I managed a couple of snaps to contrast with the tranquil wildlife shots.

London is a wonderfully diverse city and the Royal Parks are significant contributors to the multiplicity. If you are visiting London, live or work there, then take a little time to enjoy one of the parks and put the calm back into your day.

Free Gardening Advice In London

My free London event suggestion this week is slightly unusual. The Imperial War Museum, The Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms and The Royal Parks of London have all joined forces to recreate a wartime campaign.

The original Dig For Victory campaign encouraged ordinary people during the Second World War to grow their own vegetables to help combat fresh food shortages.
Concerns about eating healthily and getting exercise are still relevant today and so, with this in mind, Second World War and modern day allotments have been developed side by side in St James’s Park. The project explores the ideas of healthy eating, gardening and growing vegetables both in wartime and today.

Tomorrow is the third and final “Sustainability Sunday” being held at the allotment with this week’s subject being “How does your garden grow?”. There will be a variety of experts from the Royal Parks on hand to answer all your horticultural questions between 11am and 4pm. This activity is free and suitable for all the family.

The allotment can also be visited every day between 10am and 5pm and the project is accompanied by a special display at the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms.

To find the St James’s Park Dig For Victory allotment, follow the signs from the Churchill Museum in King Charles Street, SW1.

Big Black Blobs

In front of City Hall on the south bank of the River Thames, dotted around the amphitheatre, are some mysterious big black blobs. Too big to sit on, too big to jump over and too big to hug, I wondered if they had a purpose. Maybe they represented something significant in this newly regenerated area? Or maybe somebody just thought they were pretty (they’re not!).

I inspected a little more closely, curious to find out more about these “things” and what they were doing at the More London site. Surprisingly, a lot of tourists were taking photos of the big black blobs and I began to wonder if these were, in fact, significant works of art by a famous artist which I ignorantly knew nothing about. I found a small plaque (right) but was none the wiser.

So I have done my research. There was not any “further information” on the website as promised on the plaque so it took me a while to find out more about the Full Stops by Fiona Banner.
These giant full stops are sculptured in bronze and each represents a full stop from different font types. The following explanation makes basic sense:
“For More London, the forms selected are chosen to mirror the surrounding architecture of the development, the new GLA building and Tower Bridge. The sculptures cause one to pause, stop, carry on.”
I’m afraid the artist lost me with this next quote though!
“The sculptures create an abstract encounter with language. The Full Stops function as abstract sculptures with or without their reference to language and punctuation.”

They may not be colourful or self-explanatory but the Full Stops add a little texture to the area and are a talking point among visitors. I prefer my name for them though!

The Telectroscope

Yesterday I tried to explain to my Mum what the Telectroscope is all about. She had been away when it hit the headlines but I assumed she had seen something about it in a newspaper or on the news. The conversation went something like this:
Mum - “What did you do in London last week?”
Me – “Oh, I saw that Telectroscope thing”
Mum – “That Telec what?”
Me – “You know, that Victorian thing where you can wave to people in New York”
Mum – “I have no idea what you are talking about… do you want a drink?”

And that was that! A couple of martinis later and I attempted a full explanation of how the Telectroscope works. As I explained about the tunnel that had finally been completed between London and New York and how, with the help of many mirrors and a little bit of magic, we were able to silently communicate with our friends across the pond my Mum did not look impressed. I told her how a Victorian inventor had started it but had gone mad and never finished so his great grandson had re-started the tunnel project and finished it more or less single handed. At this point she started nodding slowly – just as she has done when I was telling wild stories as a kid. She wasn’t convinced.

Frankly, I was pitching my story to the wrong audience. Had I told one of my young nephews about the Telectroscope they would have been enthralled by the tale of extraordinary engineering feats resulting in a huge tunnel going all the way from here to there. They would have loved the idea of such a wacky invention and insisted on going straight to London to make faces and do silly dances for their American counterparts! Unfortunately for me, none of the said nephews were on hand to impress and enchant so I spoke no more about the Telectroscope.

However, this morning I spoke to my 13 year old nephew on the phone. He has just started shaving. He is at that awkward stage – he is cocky but still wants a cuddle; he knows it all but has it all to learn. I decided to tell him about the Telectroscope and ask if he wanted to go and visit it next weekend before it disappeared as quickly as it arrived. He listened silently while I described the contraption and explained about the tunnel. He started laughing. Then he responded very slowly and deliberately as though I was some kind of idiot: “There… isn’t… a… tunnel. There…are…no…mirrors. It…is…a…webcam…”
“You don’t want to see it then” I replied. “No thanks” he said. What does he know? He’s only a kid!

But if you want to see it and wave or write notes to visitors at the Brooklyn Bridge then get yourself along to the Scoop, by City Hall. If your children haven’t reached the cynical (or knowledgeable) stage, they will love this magic tunnel with its madcap machine. In London we are charged just £1 for a few minutes of silent interaction (though annoyingly, in New York they get their fun for free).
If your kids ask who Tiscali is then tell them he helped dig the long tunnel under the Atlantic!

The Telectroscope will be there until next Sunday (15th) and is open 24 hours a day.

The Other Side Of London

I found news reports of “revellers” on the underground at the weekend really quite disturbing. It all seemed so senseless with echoes of the bad old days of football hooliganism. It looked like many at the “last tube booze-up” were only there to cause trouble and the organisers clearly hadn’t thought through the consequences of their suggestions. Unfortunately, it puts London in such a bad light across the world. London is a great place to live, work and visit and it is a shame that more of the good is not reported across world media.

The day before the boozy tube disruptions, I visited London as part of my Ding Dong rediscovery and saw the other side, the much more pleasant side, of London. Over the last few months I have walked along the south bank of the River Thames a couple of times but only as a means to get from one place to another. I have been guilty of ignoring my surroundings whilst concentrating on getting from A to B, so missing some of the new and rather exciting features on that side of the river.

Being half-term holiday, there were a lot of people milling around, enjoying the sunshine and the sights. I sat down on the steps near City Hall among tourists, workers and families and the atmosphere was reminiscent of the Spanish Steps in Rome. Admittedly there were only two steps to choose from here but the air of excitement was palpable. It was truly refreshing!

Walking passed City Hall towards London’s latest temporary attraction, The Telectroscope, I noticed a sunken amphitheatre. I cannot believe I didn’t notice this before! The Scoop (great name!) is an open air performance space offering FREE events throughout the summer months (hmmm… it is raining again as I write this!). A poster advertised free performances of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” over the weekend which I can imagine does not go down well with the Globe Theatre a few minutes walk away but how wonderful for everyone else!

A little research has revealed that the Scoop really does provide a wide variety of free events for anyone and everyone.
Until the end of September, fitness classes will be held at the Scoop every Wednesday from 7.30am-8.30am. Promising to get you going for the day, classes are suitable for all abilities and fitness levels. Arrive early as numbers are limited and will be run on a first come first served basis.
June is the month of free films at the Scoop starting with “Chicago” tomorrow and then a different movie every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30pm until the end of the month.
July is free music month with a fabulous line up of famous and up and coming artists to entertain you at lunch time and in the early evening.
August and the beginning of September is free theatre time with two contrasting shows being performed 5 nights a week.

The Scoop seating capacity is 800 and seats are allocated on a first come first serve basis. Barbeque food and a bar will be available so it is worth getting there early to guarantee a seat and enjoy the unique atmosphere.

I will definitely take advantage of some of these free events from More London and will invest in an extra comfy cushion to sit on!
As an example of a community project on a grand scale, you don’t get much better than this. The Scoop proves that London has much to offer its people and its visitors without expecting something in return! I shall see what the reality is like but I think the Scoop is well on the way to getting a Ding Dong award from me. Don’t you just love a freebie?!

Ship Ahoy In London

Last week, I braved the hordes of school children on half-term holiday and set off for another day of Ding Dong discovery in London. I am becoming rather familiar with the major sights along the River Thames but familiarity does not always breed contempt; I am actually growing incredibly fond of this area. It was a slightly overcast day when I arrived but the sun soon broke through the clouds and summer was most definitely in the air.

I left the bus outside the Tower of London with the express intention of taking photos of the latest temporary London sight; the Azamara Journey luxury cruise liner. I had read a couple of newspaper reports on Thursday stating that the World’s largest cruise ship would be moored by Tower Bridge for two nights and thought it could make quite an interesting blog post. Cruise liners are not a particularly common sight along the River Thames so armed with my camera I was quite excited at the prospect of seeing this new (launched last year) and huge ship.

Well, here are my pictures. Are you disappointed? Yes, I was too! I have been lucky enough to go on a few cruise ships in my life time and, to me, this looked no better than a cross-Channel ferry! It certainly didn’t look brand spanking new and, although one can’t always tell size from a distance, I couldn’t imagine it was the largest cruise liner in the world.

So last night, when I uploaded my pictures I did a little cross referencing with photos of the Azamara Journey ship and I am now 99% certain that I did not photograph the World’s largest cruise liner! I don’t know what it is or why it is there- for all I know it could be a giant fishing boat! I can only assume that the Azamara Journey continued its journey onto France early on Friday morning! Hey ho!

Unfortunately this wasn’t the only disappointment I incurred on Friday but there are some good things to report too! As usual, all will be revealed eventually!