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London September

Above: Scenes synonymous of London. First the band of the Scots Guard lead out the troops, from Wellington Barracks, who are about to take up duty as guards to the Sovereign at Buckingham Palace. The second shows a member of the Household Cavalry on guard at the entrance to the Royal Estate. And finally the scene wouldn't be complete without one of the river. Showing the long since mothballed HMS Belfast, with along side the Brazilian training ship "Brazil" visiting London as part of its role in training the Brazilian navy's officer corps. In the foreground ferries at Tower wharf, loading ever more tourist for a river view of the capital city and towering in the background the magnificent Shard building.

Saturday 23rd September

Thanks to Joanne we arrived safe and in good time to catch our train to London. I had worked on the information supplied by Trainline that this was a direct service to the capital, but not to be, on the day we were to make three stops before arriving at St Pancras International. On our arrival at St P, we popped across the road outside the impressive station frontage to have a meal at the less impressive Burger King opposite. After our meal, we returned to the station to catch the underground train to Vauxhall, where we changed to the National Network for the train to Wandsworth, where we are staying. Sadly on our arrival at Wansworth Town station the journey from there to the hotel was too much for Pam, who is still suffering from the operations to her feet. Worst still is the thought that we have got to do this work twice a day and on top of what other working we have to do once in London. Didnt eat in the hotel, far too expensive,, so ventured out into the shopping centre, which is directly opposite the hotel. Tried to go to the cinema, but fully booked up for the film we wanted to see.

Sunday 24th September

Awoke after a great nights sleep to lovely weather outside. We tried to eat breakfast at F&B but security gates not fully open, so we decided to go straight into London to eat there. To save walking to the station we opted to catch the bus at the rear of the shopping centre, only a short walk, which would take us to Clapham Junction station, with only minimal walking involved, once off the bus, to catch the train to Victoria. From Victoria we caught the tube to Tower Hill for our two planned visits for the day of The Tower and Tower Bridge.

We both feel that we have visited the Tower of London before and deduced on the train coming into London that that must have been on our visit to the Capital back in 1966 when we came and stayed as a very young couple with Pams aunt and uncle, Mary & John. The visit to the Tower was as if for the first time, brilliant. The crown jewels amazing sight to see and the history surrounding the buildings fascinating, especially the fact that it was once home to a zoo or as it was called then a menagerie. We had lunch a short walk from the Tower at Wetherspoons. Nice meal as usual, nothing special, but warm and edible. After a leisurely lunch we set off on the short walk to Tower Bridge, for our first visit inside this marvellous edifice. Another brilliant experience, to be standing on the very top gangways looking out over the river and the views both east and west, amazing. The glass floors and ceiling making for a wonderful experience. We sent an electronic postcard of ourselves inside the tower to Ben. Same journey in reverse back to the hotel to which we arrived back around 4:30

For pictures and comments click the following link The Tower of London

For pictures and comments click the following link Tower Bridge

Monday 25th September

Not so good weather wise today, overcast and the occasional drizzly shower. Went to Sainsburys cafe, which was located litterally in the same building as the hotel, infact we think our room was directly above. Caught a different bus today but with the same destination of Clapham Junction, where again we caught the train to Victoria and the same underground line at Victoria but today alighting at St James Park station. From here we had four visits planned, which we managed three, as the Banqueting Hall venue, normally open to the public, was closed this day as there was a special function on. Sad as I would like to have seen inside this spectacular building. First stop was the Guards Museum, which was just a short walk from the station. On our approach to Wellington barracks where the museum is housed we heard a band warming up, so to speak, and I realised that they were the escort for the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, it was just after 11 and the guard changing ceromony takes place at 11:30. So I dashed on ahead and managed to get the band and the guard marching out of the barracks towards the Palace, on a short video

The Guards museum was very interesting, sadly no pictures allowed and worse no booklet available to purchase. Could have spent ages looking at the numerous displays, detailing the history of the five divisions, Coldstream, Grenadiers, Scottish, Irish and the Welsh. In addition several interesting displays relating to their respective Commanders in Chief, members of the royal family. Equally interesting was the Guards Toy Shop, which contained a vast collection of model figures, to purchase, representing, soldiers from around the world and through the various periods of history. Very realistic models at correspondingly high prices.

Our next visit was to the Cabinet War Rooms and the Churchill exibition, located just off Horse Guards Parade deep below the city. Another brilliant location, with rooms set out very much as they would have been during WW2. In addition to the rooms is a marvellous history of one of the greatest men to ever serve this country, Sir Winston Churchill. Well worth the visit and again as with the Guards Museum , we could have spent longer looking, but for the need to cram as many visits in to our day as possible. Next stop lunch at Wetherspoons, again, this time the establishment on Whitehall, close to Trafalgar Square.

After lunch we took a short walk, which did get stretched out a bit, as I tried to locate the Banqueting Hall, our next planned visit. It was located according to the London Pass guide on Whitehall Palace Road, to which we duly walked, only to be unable to find the location. Having nearly reached the end of the road, I asked a commisionaire at the entrance to one of the private members clubs for directions, to be told to return to Whitehall, from where we had just come. We ended up on Whitehall facing the entrance to Horse Guards Parade, with the Hall opposite. Thankfully we had only walked a short distance, in a circle to be exact, as the building was closed. Fortunately our next planned visit was to the Household Cavalry Museum, whose entrance was on Horse Guards Parade. Another interesting museum, but sparse in content, compared to that of the guards, still interesting, especially as parts of the full dress uniforms were available for people to wear. Interesting was the weight of the metal breast and back plate wornon ceremonial occasions. Some weight to carry as an individual, especially on a hot summers day on duty.

Back to the hotel, reverse journey again, for sandwiches, brought on our way back to the hotel, to eat in the comfort of our hotel room.

For pictures and comments click the following link Cabinet War Room & Churchill Exhibition

For pictures and comments click the following link Household Cavalry Museum

Tuesday 26th September

Thanks to the Internet and Pams iPad, I had been able to find out that we could catch a bus from outside of the hotel all the way virtually to our next planned visit. So after breakfast, again at Sainsburys, we caught the number 28 to within 300 yards of Kensington Palace. A Royal resident, home to the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and the Duke & Duchess of Kent, to name just a few. A building, as a royal residence, as an interesting history. It was the home of Queen Vistoria, prior to her becoming queen, and much is made of this fact. You can visit the room in which she was born and witness first hand various artices and events pertaining to her. The parts of the house that are on display reflect the opulence of this Royal accomodation.

We had lunch, sandwiches and coffee, within the Palace cafe, prior to walking through the park to our next destination, The Royal Albert Hall. This was to be Pams first visit to the venue, my second as I can vaguely recall being here with Joanne, for what I think was an Osmond concert, some many years back.

We joined one of the behind the scenes tours and luck would have it had what turned out to be the best guide possible in Millie. Full of enthusiasm and knowledge, she made the tour magical. We were allowed to sit in the box next to the Royal box and take photos. We were then allowed inside the room in which the Queen is entertained, when on the one occasion, each year, she makes her visit.Next stop up in the gods, the highest public access point, to get the most amazing views of the fabulous auditorium. There was rehearsals taken place, during our tour, for a concert that evening bt Wilko Johnson, ex Dr Feelgood and even in the Gods the sound was brilliant, so good are the accoustics within the hall. An amazing place. A bit of a walk to catch the bus straight back to the hotel, which didn't help Pams feet, but saved us in the long run from having to catch the underground, train and bus.

For pictures and comments click the following link Kensington Palace

For pictures and comments click the following link The Royal Albert Hall

Wednesday 27th September

I had decided , to save Pams feet, that we would catch the bus all the way to Victoria Station, from there on the tube to St Pancras, thus reducing the walking to a minimum. We caught the bus virtually outside the hotel and started our journey only to be in the midst of traffic chaos, caused by an incident closer to London on Chelsea Bridge, which made our progress one of stop - start, with more stop than start. As more and more people got off the bus and started to walk we decided to do likewise as we neared Battersea and joined a number of fellow passengers making our way to Battersea Station. No sooner had we got off the bus, the traffic eased and the bus shot past us and sped off into the distance! It was a steady plod to the station where we caught the train into Victoria. A station we last used, and extensively, back in 1966 when we commuted in and out of Battersea, where we were staying, with Mary & John. We eventually arrived at St Pancras/ Kings Cross and made our way, once more, to a Wetherspoons, for lunch, well breakfast actually. We only had a toasted teacake at Sainsburys before catching the bus. We caught our 14:15 train back to Nottingham, getting ourselves comfortable in our reserved seats for the journey - arriving 3 minutes ahead of schedule back into Notts.

An enjoyabe break, but sadly to much for Pams feet, as she has definitely not fully recovered. Interesting visits and all free,as was the travel, into and out of the city by train and underground, thanks to the London Pass tickets that Pam won through WI. Sadly that didnt include accomodation, which despite our hotel being some way out of the centre of London, still cost us more than we would have liked to pay, but was the best value deal that I could obtain. To be more central would have cost considerably more. There were many firsts, despite the number of times that we have been to London either on our own or with Ben or Jacob. A first inside Tower bridge, The Guards and Household Cavalry museums, a first at the Cabinet War rooms, as was both Kensington Palace and the Royal Abert Hall. Sadly Pam although enjoying the visits, will remember it as much for the discomfort of her feet. I tried to minimise walking by using public transport, and by grouping neighbouring attractions together on the same day, but even by doing that still involves a degree of walking, no more so than when using the underground.

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