London, the West End, and a chap named Lee Mead
Dec 2nd, 2014, 11:53 AM
#21
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Ah, I just checked - I thought London Walks did a tour of the area annhig mentioned, and they do. It's called The Inns of Court. I almost did it but now I'm glad I can save it for a summer trip - and combine it with lunch in Middle Temple Hall!
Dec 2nd, 2014, 12:55 PM
#22
Don't miss the Inner Temple gardens [open between about noon and 3pm in summer] and the Temple church where many Knights Templar are buried.
and if you get there early [or late] enough, or in winter again, try to spot the lamp lighter going round extinguishing or lighting the gas lamps - there aren't many places where that still happens.
The RCJ [Royal Courts of Justice] or "over the road" to give it its unofficial title [as in "where are you today?", "oh, I'm over the road"] is also worth a peek. It's mock gothic pile but none the worse for that; security is rather heavier than in my day but once you're in, you can wander round at will, peering into the courts and going in to listen in most courts, if there's room. The Criminal appeal courts on the first floor at the back on the right can be quite interesting if you hit a good day. [the lists are all on the boards by the entrance and there is an information desk]. There is also an exhibition of legal clothing which is quite fun.
If you go out the back, you exit onto Carey Street [though to be the origin of the phrase on Queer Street as it was the entrance to the Bankruptcy court] and thence to Lincoln's Inn which is also very atmospheric. the Silver Vaults are up Chancery lane on the right - another thread dealt with those.
I think that there are also 2 good museums near here [you won't be that surprised to know I haven't been!] - the Soane museum and the Museum of the Royal college of Surgeons both in Lincoln's Inn Fields.
there - that should be enough for a day!
and if you get there early [or late] enough, or in winter again, try to spot the lamp lighter going round extinguishing or lighting the gas lamps - there aren't many places where that still happens.
The RCJ [Royal Courts of Justice] or "over the road" to give it its unofficial title [as in "where are you today?", "oh, I'm over the road"] is also worth a peek. It's mock gothic pile but none the worse for that; security is rather heavier than in my day but once you're in, you can wander round at will, peering into the courts and going in to listen in most courts, if there's room. The Criminal appeal courts on the first floor at the back on the right can be quite interesting if you hit a good day. [the lists are all on the boards by the entrance and there is an information desk]. There is also an exhibition of legal clothing which is quite fun.
If you go out the back, you exit onto Carey Street [though to be the origin of the phrase on Queer Street as it was the entrance to the Bankruptcy court] and thence to Lincoln's Inn which is also very atmospheric. the Silver Vaults are up Chancery lane on the right - another thread dealt with those.
I think that there are also 2 good museums near here [you won't be that surprised to know I haven't been!] - the Soane museum and the Museum of the Royal college of Surgeons both in Lincoln's Inn Fields.
there - that should be enough for a day!
Dec 2nd, 2014, 01:55 PM
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Well, gosh, you just reminded me that one of those days (Monday or Tuesday) I also visited the Courtauld Gallery, which is down that general direction on the Strand. 
Thank you, annhig. I do love finding "other" places in London, although I never seem to run out of things to do. I'll definitely keep this for future reference.
I did another amazing London Walk - the best one I have ever been on - and it included an area where they light the gas lamps, although we were too early to see it. I'll have more about that when I finish this later this evening.
Thank you, annhig. I do love finding "other" places in London, although I never seem to run out of things to do. I'll definitely keep this for future reference.
I did another amazing London Walk - the best one I have ever been on - and it included an area where they light the gas lamps, although we were too early to see it. I'll have more about that when I finish this later this evening.
Dec 2nd, 2014, 02:15 PM
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Great trip report. Sounds like you covered a lot of ground!
I'm a fan of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder original and NOT the remake), so it's always interesting to hear where people come down between the two. No one seems to like both, that's for sure
Also, thanks for the link to the walks website. I'm in London a lot for work, so it looks like a cool resource which I will check out next time I'm there
Have fun!
I'm a fan of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder original and NOT the remake), so it's always interesting to hear where people come down between the two. No one seems to like both, that's for sure
Also, thanks for the link to the walks website. I'm in London a lot for work, so it looks like a cool resource which I will check out next time I'm there
Have fun!
Dec 2nd, 2014, 02:17 PM
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LCB,and another interesting venue when you are in that neighborhood is the DR. JOHNSON HOUSE, he of the great dictionary fame. It's a charmingly restored residence.
http://www.drjohnsonshouse.org/
Missing London tonight... (sigh)
http://www.drjohnsonshouse.org/
Missing London tonight... (sigh)
Dec 2nd, 2014, 05:20 PM
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lateday, I always miss London. I would live there in a heartbeat if I could take my grandkids with me.
Friday was another day on my own and so time for another London Walks tour - this time "The Old Palace Quarter" - the Palace being St. James' of course. It begins in Green Park and takes you through many nooks and "hidden" places in this very posh part of the city, with bits of history and just plain 'story' to go with it. It was far and away the best walk I have been on - and I have done quite a few through the years.
Another dinner and a lovely evening chez J.
Saturday, J and I set out on a mission. I dearly love English cheddar and there is a fantastic cheese shop on a street just along the Borough Market called Neal's Yard Dairy. I love walking into a cheese shop nearly as much as I love a winery - the smell!! I remember a Parisian tour guide telling Rick Steves it smells like "the feet of angels". Just smells yummy to me.
Since it was Saturday, and we got a bit turned around (got off at the wrong stop), we arrived at a madhouse at the market. We quickly found Neal's Yard and I headed straight to the cheddar section, tried a few different ones, chose two, and the lovely Canadian behind the counter cut two slabs of each that fit perfectly in my plastic containers. The need for plastic containers will be obvious in a bit.
By the way, I see on their website that they also have a store in Covent Garden. Good to know for next time.
J and I must have been tired because we kept getting our transportation wires crossed this day. We were trying to get to Waterloo station (which was maybe two stops from where we got on) and ended getting off one stop too soon, so had a nice long walk to Waterloo and over the Waterloo bridge to the Strand.
However, can you believe that this was the first time I have actually walked any of the many bridges crossing the Thames?? Well, it was. And I picked a pretty grey day to do it. But it was quite fun and would have been more so if we hadn't been a bit tired and quite a bit hungry.
We made our trek to the Strand and walked toward Charing Cross, stopping at a Pret a Manger along the way for a sandwich and coffee for lunch.
A word to the powers that be at Pret a Manger: May we please have some of these in So Cal? But only if we can also have the cheddar and pickle sandwich. Yum! (Can you tell I am a cheese lover?) So far they are in NY, Boston, Chicago and DC so I do have hope.
Our reason for Charing Cross was actually the Charing Cross Theatre - a small theatre on Villers Street that backs up to the station so that you can actually hear the trains go by at certain points during the performance. Talk about atmosphere. (And now you can see why I needed the cheese in plastic containers.)
The matinee we were seeing was "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris" - a musical revue of the songs of Jacques Brel with an overall theme of love, war, youth, age, life, death - the important stuff. I found it especially poignant at this time of year with its general theme of post war disillusionment followed by hope springing eternal. Four main characters, two of whom were exceptionally good, Eve Polycarpou as the older woman and Daniel Boys as the younger man.
Daniel was also a contestant on Any Dream Will Do, proving once again that it all comes back to Lee Mead.
Anyway, loved the show, loved the venue, loved Daniel. I had seen him perform several years ago at a small cabaret-style venue in L.A. and he was chuffed when I had a chance to tell him that after the show.
Home afterwards for dinner and a fairly early night as Sunday would be another travel day to Clacton-on-Sea.
Friday was another day on my own and so time for another London Walks tour - this time "The Old Palace Quarter" - the Palace being St. James' of course. It begins in Green Park and takes you through many nooks and "hidden" places in this very posh part of the city, with bits of history and just plain 'story' to go with it. It was far and away the best walk I have been on - and I have done quite a few through the years.
Another dinner and a lovely evening chez J.
Saturday, J and I set out on a mission. I dearly love English cheddar and there is a fantastic cheese shop on a street just along the Borough Market called Neal's Yard Dairy. I love walking into a cheese shop nearly as much as I love a winery - the smell!! I remember a Parisian tour guide telling Rick Steves it smells like "the feet of angels". Just smells yummy to me.
Since it was Saturday, and we got a bit turned around (got off at the wrong stop), we arrived at a madhouse at the market. We quickly found Neal's Yard and I headed straight to the cheddar section, tried a few different ones, chose two, and the lovely Canadian behind the counter cut two slabs of each that fit perfectly in my plastic containers. The need for plastic containers will be obvious in a bit.
By the way, I see on their website that they also have a store in Covent Garden. Good to know for next time.
J and I must have been tired because we kept getting our transportation wires crossed this day. We were trying to get to Waterloo station (which was maybe two stops from where we got on) and ended getting off one stop too soon, so had a nice long walk to Waterloo and over the Waterloo bridge to the Strand.
However, can you believe that this was the first time I have actually walked any of the many bridges crossing the Thames?? Well, it was. And I picked a pretty grey day to do it.
But it was quite fun and would have been more so if we hadn't been a bit tired and quite a bit hungry.We made our trek to the Strand and walked toward Charing Cross, stopping at a Pret a Manger along the way for a sandwich and coffee for lunch.
A word to the powers that be at Pret a Manger: May we please have some of these in So Cal? But only if we can also have the cheddar and pickle sandwich. Yum! (Can you tell I am a cheese lover?) So far they are in NY, Boston, Chicago and DC so I do have hope.
Our reason for Charing Cross was actually the Charing Cross Theatre - a small theatre on Villers Street that backs up to the station so that you can actually hear the trains go by at certain points during the performance. Talk about atmosphere.
(And now you can see why I needed the cheese in plastic containers.)The matinee we were seeing was "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris" - a musical revue of the songs of Jacques Brel with an overall theme of love, war, youth, age, life, death - the important stuff.
I found it especially poignant at this time of year with its general theme of post war disillusionment followed by hope springing eternal. Four main characters, two of whom were exceptionally good, Eve Polycarpou as the older woman and Daniel Boys as the younger man.Daniel was also a contestant on Any Dream Will Do, proving once again that it all comes back to Lee Mead.
Anyway, loved the show, loved the venue, loved Daniel. I had seen him perform several years ago at a small cabaret-style venue in L.A. and he was chuffed when I had a chance to tell him that after the show.Home afterwards for dinner and a fairly early night as Sunday would be another travel day to Clacton-on-Sea.
Dec 2nd, 2014, 08:05 PM
#28
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Neals Yard Dairy is one of my favourite Cheese shops. I love the sight of the huge round cylinders of cheese in the window, sitting on the wooden shelves, aging and crusting in a range of soft palette colours. Also like the blue/black striped aproned staff who cheerfully shave or cut off shards and wedges of your favourite selections. I took lots of pictures of that shop and its contents so remember it well.
Last visit, I was with a group of friends lunching at the Market, and similarly bought a variety of delicious and stinky cheese from the Yard, which we enjoyed later that night as part of a late night picnic. This was in the living room of the friend who was hosting 9 of us ex-classmates from 33 years ago from London, France and Canada in her Islington house. It was quite some fun, lol.
Enjoying your TR very much.
Last visit, I was with a group of friends lunching at the Market, and similarly bought a variety of delicious and stinky cheese from the Yard, which we enjoyed later that night as part of a late night picnic. This was in the living room of the friend who was hosting 9 of us ex-classmates from 33 years ago from London, France and Canada in her Islington house. It was quite some fun, lol.
Enjoying your TR very much.
Dec 3rd, 2014, 01:28 AM
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MATHIEU, what a nice memory of that cheese shop in London and sharing your bounty with friends later. You always have a positive spin...
CLS and ANNHIG, remembering back I had several lunches at that Pret a Manger on the Strand. Food always fresh. Reminds me of a restaurant chain we have around Boston called Au Bon Pain.
Great trip report.
CLS and ANNHIG, remembering back I had several lunches at that Pret a Manger on the Strand. Food always fresh. Reminds me of a restaurant chain we have around Boston called Au Bon Pain.
Great trip report.
Dec 3rd, 2014, 06:33 AM
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I always learn something new when I read a London trip report!
Fortnum and Mason ship a box for 30 quid!
I also watched Lee Mead in Any Dream will do on TV. Loved his rendition of Paint it Black.
Yes, we could do with a Pret or two over here. I love their salads.
Thanks for writing!
Fortnum and Mason ship a box for 30 quid!
I also watched Lee Mead in Any Dream will do on TV. Loved his rendition of Paint it Black.
Yes, we could do with a Pret or two over here. I love their salads.
Thanks for writing!
Dec 3rd, 2014, 06:52 AM
#33
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Mathieu - love that! Thank you for sharing. Experiences like that make a place live.
Nice to hear of the Pret love.
Saturday morning packing for our overnight trip. J and I are giddy as teenagers . . . well, that is nothing new. We usually are.
J's hubs drove us to a station that would be convenient to making our way to Liverpool Street where we caught a train to Clacton - the end of the line, it turns out. While purchasing our tickets, we ran into two friends, F and R, who would ride the way with us - in fact, as we boarded, we found that many Lee Mead fans would be taking this same train. Party!
It was about a two hour trip to the sea - which apparently is the North Sea, although if that is not right, please correct me. However, unfortunately, this would be a rainy trip by the time we arrived in Clacton, causing the four of us to take a £6 taxi from the station to the Travelodge. After a bit of a fresh-up, we headed to the pier to have something to eat.
It's too bad it was rainy - I'd love to see the arcade and pier in better weather - as well as stick my feet in the North Sea. Not even tempted this day, however.
We had our Sunday roast at a restaurant that had previously been a Wetherspoon's. Changed hands, but same food. Not the best, but it was warm and filling and they had wine. And in the rain, without knowing the area, we had no desire to look for anything better. Plus, it was close to the Travelodge.
After returning to the hotel and beautifying ourselves (ha!), we took a taxi to the theatre (didn't want to show up drenched). We were among the first there, the door was still locked, but we were rewarded with a glimpse and a wave from Lee as he finished a pre-show chat with his band and guest, Amanda Henderson, in the bar.
This concert was probably the best Lee has ever done. The local crowd was a bit rowdy and he responded to their liveliness with wit and charm - and an inspired performance. It was just he and Amanda on this night, and that was perfect. He even tried out a new song (John Legend's "All of Me"), which was beautiful. I did have a chance to say goodbye at the stage door afterward as he stood in the rain to greet the fans who waited for him.
A group of us then walked to the same Wetherspoon's-with-a-different-name for an after-show drink and lovely chat. It was a perfect ending to my Lee-time on this trip. I'm always a bit melancholy because I never know for sure if I will make it back to see Lee again, but somehow I always do.
The next day, Monday, was a train ride back to London, relaxing at home with J and her hubs, and then I left on Tuesday.
Just a couple of notes about my return:
1. I always use a local car service for my return to LHR. I can't remember the name but will post it as soon as I hear from J. They are about £10 less expensive than justairports. I have never used them from LHR simply because justairports are so reliable and I have never wanted to take the chance. But they have always gotten me to Heathrow on time, even when it has been at the height of morning traffic.
2. I lucked out on the return flight. There were so few people traveling, practically everyone could have an entire row for themselves. I could have moved to the three seat middle, but was quite happy with my two seats. Otherwise, very uneventful - just long - and the softest landing I have ever had in an airplane.
Thank you for following along with me and tolerating my Mead-madness. I love London and I hope it shows in this trip report.
Nice to hear of the Pret love.
Saturday morning packing for our overnight trip. J and I are giddy as teenagers . . . well, that is nothing new. We usually are.
J's hubs drove us to a station that would be convenient to making our way to Liverpool Street where we caught a train to Clacton - the end of the line, it turns out. While purchasing our tickets, we ran into two friends, F and R, who would ride the way with us - in fact, as we boarded, we found that many Lee Mead fans would be taking this same train. Party!
It was about a two hour trip to the sea - which apparently is the North Sea, although if that is not right, please correct me. However, unfortunately, this would be a rainy trip by the time we arrived in Clacton, causing the four of us to take a £6 taxi from the station to the Travelodge. After a bit of a fresh-up, we headed to the pier to have something to eat.
It's too bad it was rainy - I'd love to see the arcade and pier in better weather - as well as stick my feet in the North Sea. Not even tempted this day, however.
We had our Sunday roast at a restaurant that had previously been a Wetherspoon's. Changed hands, but same food. Not the best, but it was warm and filling and they had wine. And in the rain, without knowing the area, we had no desire to look for anything better. Plus, it was close to the Travelodge.
After returning to the hotel and beautifying ourselves (ha!), we took a taxi to the theatre (didn't want to show up drenched). We were among the first there, the door was still locked, but we were rewarded with a glimpse and a wave from Lee as he finished a pre-show chat with his band and guest, Amanda Henderson, in the bar.
This concert was probably the best Lee has ever done. The local crowd was a bit rowdy and he responded to their liveliness with wit and charm - and an inspired performance. It was just he and Amanda on this night, and that was perfect. He even tried out a new song (John Legend's "All of Me"), which was beautiful. I did have a chance to say goodbye at the stage door afterward as he stood in the rain to greet the fans who waited for him.
A group of us then walked to the same Wetherspoon's-with-a-different-name for an after-show drink and lovely chat. It was a perfect ending to my Lee-time on this trip. I'm always a bit melancholy because I never know for sure if I will make it back to see Lee again, but somehow I always do.
The next day, Monday, was a train ride back to London, relaxing at home with J and her hubs, and then I left on Tuesday.
Just a couple of notes about my return:
1. I always use a local car service for my return to LHR. I can't remember the name but will post it as soon as I hear from J. They are about £10 less expensive than justairports. I have never used them from LHR simply because justairports are so reliable and I have never wanted to take the chance. But they have always gotten me to Heathrow on time, even when it has been at the height of morning traffic.
2. I lucked out on the return flight. There were so few people traveling, practically everyone could have an entire row for themselves. I could have moved to the three seat middle, but was quite happy with my two seats. Otherwise, very uneventful - just long - and the softest landing I have ever had in an airplane.
Thank you for following along with me and tolerating my Mead-madness.
I love London and I hope it shows in this trip report.
Dec 3rd, 2014, 01:21 PM
#34
J's hubs drove us to a station that would be convenient to making our way to Liverpool Street where we caught a train to Clacton - the end of the line, it turns out>>
no kidding. Clacton. oh my ears and whiskers, you must have it bad. Mead-madness indeed.
mind you, there won't be many of your friends back home who will have heard of it, let alone been there, so you can pretend that it is the last word in chic and sophistication.
no kidding. Clacton. oh my ears and whiskers, you must have it bad. Mead-madness indeed.
mind you, there won't be many of your friends back home who will have heard of it, let alone been there, so you can pretend that it is the last word in chic and sophistication.
Dec 3rd, 2014, 01:41 PM
#35
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LOL - annhig, when we were at the Jacques Brel show, we were sat at a table with another couple. When J told the man that we were going to Clacton, he said "What kind of friend are you??" And to me "Don't let her take you there!!"
I <i>thought</i> he was joking.
I still don't really get it, but I wasn't there long enough and had my mind on other things . . .
I <i>thought</i> he was joking.
I still don't really get it, but I wasn't there long enough and had my mind on other things . . .
Dec 4th, 2014, 04:00 AM
#36
LCB - Clacton was where families from the east end of London [a very poor area] used to take their holidays, if they took one at all. It is therefore synonymous with the lower end of the entertainment industry - in fact it's not somewhere that I would have thought hosted shows for the likes of Lee Mead, but the venue is probably cheap!
Dec 4th, 2014, 06:50 AM
#37
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The venue is one of those classic older theatres that are so lovely - West Cliff Theatre. Staffed by community volunteers who care about keeping it alive and functioning. Lighting and sound were beautifully done.
We had a similar venue last year on the Isle of Wight - Shanklin Theatre - also staffed by community volunteers. I think it is wonderful that communities care so much about their local theatre and work together to keep it going.
Lee is an Essex boy (Southend) so it was close to home for him.
We had a similar venue last year on the Isle of Wight - Shanklin Theatre - also staffed by community volunteers. I think it is wonderful that communities care so much about their local theatre and work together to keep it going.
Lee is an Essex boy (Southend) so it was close to home for him.
