Following another huge breakfast (Chris couldn't finish seconds today) we set off for Saville Rowe via Regent street. No. 3 was Beatles Apple headquarters. It looks pretty uninhabited now. The door was boarded up and the flowers in the window box were dying.
Walked back to Trafalgar Square and went into the National Portrait Gallery saw William Shakespeare but not Jane Austen. After lunch we crossed over Hungerford Bridge to the south side. We followed the river to the Tate Modern where we saw some Picassos and Pollocks. We got lost looking for the rebuilt Globe which seems impossible as it's alongside the river but the streets went weird behind the Tate Modern. Got there eventually and got to the see Southwark Cathedral. Got a few photos and followed the narrow lanes, past the Clink museum on to London Bridge. We crossed the bridge for views of Tower Bridge.
Enough walking for one day, we caught the tube back from Monument.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Day 11 16/11/08 Whitehall
Had a full English breakfast as it was included. Chris had two embarrassingly large helpings.
This morning we walked to Waterloo Bridge and then Covent Garden. Just walked through because it was too early for anything to be open. From there we continued to Piccadilly Circus where I bought a tacky yet cool union jack umbrella. Next we returned to Trafalgar Square and went in to the National Gallery. We covered the entire gallery in 2 hours which must be some kind of record.
In the afternoon we went to the Tate Britain. It was only after we left that I realised i hadn't seen David Hockney's "Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy" which was on my to do list. I don't know where it would have been as i thought we saw everything. It's a portrait of Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell and their cat. I checked google to make sure i had the right gallery which i did. We walked back via Westminster Cathedral. We went inside and I told Chris to make a donation as he's catholic (well, used to be)and they seem to be crying out for money. I learnt that it costs 50 pounds a day to train a priest!
In the evening we went to a pub around the corner and i can't remember its name. We passed by Downing Street on the way.
I tried to see a Waterloo Sunset but it was too cloudy to see what Ray Davies was on about. I'm sure in the right light it's spectacular!
This morning we walked to Waterloo Bridge and then Covent Garden. Just walked through because it was too early for anything to be open. From there we continued to Piccadilly Circus where I bought a tacky yet cool union jack umbrella. Next we returned to Trafalgar Square and went in to the National Gallery. We covered the entire gallery in 2 hours which must be some kind of record.
In the afternoon we went to the Tate Britain. It was only after we left that I realised i hadn't seen David Hockney's "Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy" which was on my to do list. I don't know where it would have been as i thought we saw everything. It's a portrait of Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell and their cat. I checked google to make sure i had the right gallery which i did. We walked back via Westminster Cathedral. We went inside and I told Chris to make a donation as he's catholic (well, used to be)and they seem to be crying out for money. I learnt that it costs 50 pounds a day to train a priest!
In the evening we went to a pub around the corner and i can't remember its name. We passed by Downing Street on the way.
I tried to see a Waterloo Sunset but it was too cloudy to see what Ray Davies was on about. I'm sure in the right light it's spectacular!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Day 10 15/4 Edinburgh - Whitehall
Walked to the New Town and found some of the 44 Scotland Street landmarks, including Scotland Street and the Cumberland bar.
Went to the Museum of Edinburgh and the People's Story museum which was great. The story of Greyfriar's Bobby is so sweet and moving, it brought a tear to my eye.
Bought a pair of kilt socks for 2 pounds. They're lovely and warm and I had run out of clean socks. Our laundry situation is going to become dire if we don't do some washing soon.
Left Waverley Station at 11.30. Tried to get a photo of Alexander Palace from the train but it was too fast. Chris took some photos of Newcastle, our home town's namesake.
Got on the wrong tube at Kings Cross - Northern line via Old street instead of via Tottenham Court Road. Changed at Monument and went back and still got to our hotel before 5. The Royal Horseguards is very posh which always embarrasses me. We were offered a London Eye view room for an extra 25 pounds but declined. Once installed in our room we headed straight out as this is photo-opportunity central.
Saw London Eye, Westminster Bridge, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey. Walked on to Buckingham Palace and Victoria monument then followed the Mall to Trafalgar Square. Had sushi at Embankment station before getting back to the room in time for Eastenders. I'm becoming addicted again like i was at school. trying to figure out what Phil Hunter from the Bill is doing on Eastenders. No doubt he is about to be killed off on the Bill in Australia.
Went to the Museum of Edinburgh and the People's Story museum which was great. The story of Greyfriar's Bobby is so sweet and moving, it brought a tear to my eye.
Bought a pair of kilt socks for 2 pounds. They're lovely and warm and I had run out of clean socks. Our laundry situation is going to become dire if we don't do some washing soon.
Left Waverley Station at 11.30. Tried to get a photo of Alexander Palace from the train but it was too fast. Chris took some photos of Newcastle, our home town's namesake.
Got on the wrong tube at Kings Cross - Northern line via Old street instead of via Tottenham Court Road. Changed at Monument and went back and still got to our hotel before 5. The Royal Horseguards is very posh which always embarrasses me. We were offered a London Eye view room for an extra 25 pounds but declined. Once installed in our room we headed straight out as this is photo-opportunity central.
Saw London Eye, Westminster Bridge, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey. Walked on to Buckingham Palace and Victoria monument then followed the Mall to Trafalgar Square. Had sushi at Embankment station before getting back to the room in time for Eastenders. I'm becoming addicted again like i was at school. trying to figure out what Phil Hunter from the Bill is doing on Eastenders. No doubt he is about to be killed off on the Bill in Australia.
Day 9 14/4 Edinburgh
My dad's birthday today. Tried to phone but couldn't get through.
Walked in the other direction down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace and then up Calton Hill for big views of Edinburgh. Walked back via Princes Street. Had a look at Jenners, meant to be the world's oldest department store.
Chris had a huge yorkshire pudding with sausage, peas and mash for lunch.
Had a look at the City Art Gallery for contemporary art and then the National galleries. Later in the afternoon we had a look at the writer's museum and the museum of scotland. There's lots of other museums to see but i fear we will run out of time to see them all.
Chinese buffet for dinner. I hate all you can eat because i never get my money's worth!
Walked in the other direction down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace and then up Calton Hill for big views of Edinburgh. Walked back via Princes Street. Had a look at Jenners, meant to be the world's oldest department store.
Chris had a huge yorkshire pudding with sausage, peas and mash for lunch.
Had a look at the City Art Gallery for contemporary art and then the National galleries. Later in the afternoon we had a look at the writer's museum and the museum of scotland. There's lots of other museums to see but i fear we will run out of time to see them all.
Chinese buffet for dinner. I hate all you can eat because i never get my money's worth!
Day 8 13/4 Edinburgh
Caught the 9 o'clock train from Kings Cross to Edinburgh. We had reserved seats but found ourselves sitting opposite a Scottish man with a cold who hadn't reserved but obviously didn't mind staring at us for the 5 hour journey. Chris and I found somewhere else to sit. We passed through York, Durham, Newcastle.
Our hotel very close to Waverley station. Huge room, massive bathroom but not as sumptuous as our little paddington home. Walked along the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle. Incredibly long queues of people but we didn't join them, just got some pix outside.
Had dinner at "The Filling Station". Lovely Irish waiter. Chris asked for a good Scottish beer and was told he was in the wrong place for that. I had a yummy calzone.
They had a story on sky news tonight that Mark Speight, a children's show presenter was found dead at Paddington station this morning which is spooky since we started our journey there. i have googled him and found out his fiancee died of an overdose in January and he was in a fragile state so sounds pretty sad.
Our hotel very close to Waverley station. Huge room, massive bathroom but not as sumptuous as our little paddington home. Walked along the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle. Incredibly long queues of people but we didn't join them, just got some pix outside.
Had dinner at "The Filling Station". Lovely Irish waiter. Chris asked for a good Scottish beer and was told he was in the wrong place for that. I had a yummy calzone.
They had a story on sky news tonight that Mark Speight, a children's show presenter was found dead at Paddington station this morning which is spooky since we started our journey there. i have googled him and found out his fiancee died of an overdose in January and he was in a fragile state so sounds pretty sad.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Day 7 12/4 Paddington
Caught the tube to Hampstead and covered a fraction of the Heath. Went up to Parliament Hill for some views of the city. There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been written about this "park".
Walked back to the High St and had an Earl Grey and chocolate croissant at Carluccio's Cafe with all the well-heeled locals.
From there we went to St Paul's Cathedral. We didn't go in. Walking up hundreds of stairs was not an option at this point. The exterior was spectacular enough. Also caught a glimpse of Mary-le-bow in the distance and fleet street.
Later that day we went back to Bayswater, only 5 minutes from the hotel. Had a look at Whiteley's shopping centre and then on to Westbourne Park Road and Celia Birtwell's shop. Sadly it wasn't open Saturday but got some photos with my Celia umbrella (it was pouring by now) in front of the shop. Next door is Rosa's, a restaurant popular with the Notting Hill set and such people as Kate Moss and Stella McCartney (who has dined there with her dad). I was surprised by the plastic table cloths.
walkd back to the hotel which smells like jonquils when you walk in. it's something they use to mop the floors with. i've got to get some of that stuff. Tonight is our last night in Paddington.
Walked back to the High St and had an Earl Grey and chocolate croissant at Carluccio's Cafe with all the well-heeled locals.
From there we went to St Paul's Cathedral. We didn't go in. Walking up hundreds of stairs was not an option at this point. The exterior was spectacular enough. Also caught a glimpse of Mary-le-bow in the distance and fleet street.
Later that day we went back to Bayswater, only 5 minutes from the hotel. Had a look at Whiteley's shopping centre and then on to Westbourne Park Road and Celia Birtwell's shop. Sadly it wasn't open Saturday but got some photos with my Celia umbrella (it was pouring by now) in front of the shop. Next door is Rosa's, a restaurant popular with the Notting Hill set and such people as Kate Moss and Stella McCartney (who has dined there with her dad). I was surprised by the plastic table cloths.
walkd back to the hotel which smells like jonquils when you walk in. it's something they use to mop the floors with. i've got to get some of that stuff. Tonight is our last night in Paddington.
Day 6 11/4 Paddington
Woke up absolutely aching at about 4 am (jetlag getting gradually better). Eventually my joints unstiffened and by the time I got up was back to normal. Got our Oyster cards and got the tube from Lancaster Gate to Oxford Circus. A bit colder today but not too bad. Went back to Topshop and bought a coat for Scotland (Navy blue trench coat). Next went to Liberty then Carnaby St and looked in on the Palladium. Returned to Oxford Street and walked on to the British Museum. Saw Ancient Epypt, Assiria ans some of the European collections.
Had lunch at Subway Tottenham Court Road. When we came out it was hailing. Caught the tube home and the sun was out again.
In the afternoon caught the tube to St John's wood and Abbey Road. It must have been a quiet time because there weren't the crowds I had read about which was good because we got lots of photos of the crossing and wrote my message on the fence. It was quite a moving experience after seeing all that footage of the boys walking up and down those front steps.
Went to the Pride of Paddington that night where Chris had a pint and I had a frangelico. Chris had to point to the bottle for the bar guy as he had no idea what it was. Had dinner on Craven Road and managed to stay up till 9pm!!
Had lunch at Subway Tottenham Court Road. When we came out it was hailing. Caught the tube home and the sun was out again.
In the afternoon caught the tube to St John's wood and Abbey Road. It must have been a quiet time because there weren't the crowds I had read about which was good because we got lots of photos of the crossing and wrote my message on the fence. It was quite a moving experience after seeing all that footage of the boys walking up and down those front steps.
Went to the Pride of Paddington that night where Chris had a pint and I had a frangelico. Chris had to point to the bottle for the bar guy as he had no idea what it was. Had dinner on Craven Road and managed to stay up till 9pm!!
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