Bostonblondie226

Welltraveled, what a great thread! I am planning a possible trip to London/UK in the fall and this is all very helpful! Thanks!

welltraveledbrit

I have so much to catch up on on my blog so there will be lots about London over there for months.

Glad to hear it's a useful thread, thanks for the encouragement!

Bostonblondie226

Looking forward to more! I have a friend who just came back from London and had some really cool pictures of the Columbia Road Flower Market and the Shoreditch Street Art scene. Would love to hear any thoughts on either of those too!

MissPrism

The Columbia Road flower market is where you can still find genuine cockneys. The patter is very good just before the market closes and they are selling flowers cheaply to get rid of them.

latedaytraveler

WTB,

Thanks for the suggestion about the LEIGHTON HOUSE MUSEUM – will keep for future reference.

“… then took a bus to Kings College on the Strand for a very enjoyable lecture on THE IRISH IN LONDON.” Oh, I would love to have heard that – maybe I can find it on youtube.

“The walking tour was entitled "The Triumph of the Bourgeoisie" and followed the development and expansion of Kensington in the Nineteenth century.” Maybe I missed something – was this an escorted tour of the neighbor?

Also want to visit the Carlyle Museum – so much to do.
You mentioned, “… perhaps when I get home I'll write up a quick summary with lots of links.” Yes, that would be a great service to those of us who don’t have the amount of time that you folks do in London.

WTB, just wanted to mention that last week (just returned from Dublin) I did a great tour of the W. B. Yeats permanent exhibit at the National Library of Ireland. Emphasis was placed on WILLIAM MORRIS’S relationship with Yeats as a designer of many of the poet’s volumes. I enjoyed your description above of Morris’s home in Walthamstow. Small world, eh?

Thanks again for all the info…

welltraveledbrit

Bostonblondie I agree with Miss Prism the Columbia Flower market is a scene, particularly on the later side. Our flat is five minutes away and I go quite frequently, I brought my mother who is in her late seventies and there was a lot of amusing patter with the lads on the stalls about whether she was looking for a younger boyfriend! If only she had been able to hear it above the din. Sometimes there are buskers and trendy, hipster types dancing in the street. My mother was transfixed by young women with their hair dyed grey, "why do they do that." she asked.

It is however very very crowded and consequently I found it hard to take pictures. The market would combine well with a tour of street art. There's a lot so great stuff. In fact I've had to limit myself to how much I intstagram as my feed will become nothing but street art. Currently I'm liking stuff by a French woman artist Zabou. It's right throughout Shoreditch, in the areas surrounding Bricklane and also along the Hackney Rd and up round the Haxton a OverGround and Haggerston. It's worth going on a street Art tour, there are several.

Latedaytraveler - Glad the thread is still interesting and giving you ideas. I'm interested to hear about the WB Yeats exhibit at the Nat Lib in Dublin. I do love when all the connections between historical figures comes together.it's startling how often I go to Dublin and how little I see beyond family! My mother lives in a Blackrock so it's easy for me to get into town it's just about making the time.

The walking tour was from the Time Out Walking Tours of London book, I can't remember if it was vol 1 or 2. I'll check when I get back to London. Right now I'm back in California unexpectedly for a funeral. Frankly this morning the thread is a welcome distraction.

welltraveledbrit

Back from our unexpected trip to California, we were there less than 48 hours. I had a blog post on ELTHAM PALACE scheduled to pot today which was convenient. Here's the link, as you can see Eltham is a fascinating place. I can't think of an Art Deco interior like it in London but do let me know if there's one I should visit..

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2015/...at-eltham.html

Latedaytraveler the Kensington walk, "The Triumph of the Bourgeoisie" that I mentioned is from London Walks Vol 1 by Time Out. I particularly like their walking guides as each walk is by a different person so you get quite a diversity in terms of focus and interest. They have quite a few famous authors, arts types and journos and I've enjoyed the perspectives.

I'm running out of time in London just as the better weather is taking hold!

thursdaysd

So sorry about the unexpected trip.

Thanks for the Eltham Palace info. I am a big Art Nouveau fan, but I have friends who are into Art Deco - will have to go and take photos for them - although yours are great - I'll send them the link.

annhig

Thursdaysd - did you know that there is an Art Deco house in Penzance? [no, not many people do!] it's called the Egyptian House and it's at the top of Chapel street in the middle of the town. I was lucky enough to be going past one day when they opened it to the public [you can rent it from the Landmark Trust for hols] and had a fascinating hour or so exploring it.

WTB - sorry you had to interrupt your trip, especially because of a bereavement. Weather here is mixed - in fact less good than it's been for the last couple of weeks.

what have you got planned for the rest of your stay?

welltraveledbrit

Thanks thursday and annig,
Bereavement is always hard. Anyway I'm a great believer in healthy distraction so that's what's on the docket. I'm hoping to make it to the McQeen exhibit and the RA Summer show. We are really running out of time. I have three days in Dublin next week dealing with mater who is in fact a delight. So it will be lots of relatives.

We missed our tickets to Everyman at the National so I'm hoping possibly to catch that, depending on when it's next playing. We also missed a dinner at Le Manoir aux Quarter Saison with the sibling but what can you do, we will have to reschedule for another trip there's no cramming it in this time.

I also had to let go of tickets that were part of the Festival of Architecture, believe it or not a Tour of Peckham, yes the only question is can you have a tour of Peckham without referencing De Boy, sorry references probably only Brits will get!

Otherwise we want to take a walk around Kings Cross, hopefully make it out to the Chelsea Physic Garden and maybe Kew. I had hoped to make it out to several of the historic houses in Richmond but that might be dropped. I need to plan a trip to Helsinki and Berlin in the meantime!

Tonight we walked down the Regents Canal to fight the jet lag passing the Kingsland Road and heading towards Islington. There's quite a lot of life on that section of the canal and there are several places to stop for something to eat and or drink. We stopped at The Proud Archivist for a drink with a lovely view of the canal and a small jazz duo playing.

http://www.theproudarchivist.co.uk

The other day we went to another place fairly nearby in Haggerston Tonkotsu East which I really recommend, great ramen and I had a noodle salad I really enjoyed, all quite hip and under the arches. We ended up here when the wait at a nearby space ( http://berberandq.com) was far too long, anything more than 5 minutes is too long for me but they said it would be an hours which is just madness as far as i'm concerned. Apparently Tonkotsu has a place at Selfridges too!

http://www.tonkotsu.co.uk

There's lots more to explore in Haggerston but this is what we've seen so far.

northie

Love the Physic garden - the first time we went there it was closed - on a Saturday?
The 2nd time - we did the tour - really worthwhile and explains the garden beautifully .Tickled pink to see the Wollemi Pine - very spindly specimen . It's a newly discovered tree from Australia and unusual.

annhig

I also had to let go of tickets that were part of the Festival of Architecture, believe it or not a Tour of Peckham, yes the only question is can you have a tour of Peckham without referencing Del Boy, sorry references probably only Brits will get!>>

lol, WTB - the caped crusader rides again! Do Del Boy and Rodney make it across the pond? trouble is I think they'd need subtitles.

Yet another place I've never made it to - the Chelsea Physic Garden - one day!

welltraveledbrit

I don't know if Del Boy and Rodney have made it across the pond, I don't have cable tv but maybe they are on BBC America...?

Northie, thanks for the heads up on the Chelsea Physic Garden's odd opening hours. I will try to check them before I head over there, that is if I make it.

So today I didn't do any of the things I mentioned above but I did see something I had on my list. It was another fabulous Art Deco building, the FREEMASON’S HALL which is the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England.

http://www.freemasonry.london.museum/tours/

It was great because they offer guided tours several times a day which take you right into the building which is quite fascinating. The imagery, tile work, mosaics and decorative details are really amazing. The building is right on the edge of Covent Garden and I'd passed it many time so it was great to go in. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in architecture.

welltraveledbrit

I forgot to add that the tour and museum are free and that tours are offered Mon-Fri 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm. Booking is not necessary. On Saturday they offer tours but these should be booked in advance.

LCBoniti

Sorry, but another hijack -

I'm in London now and want to let annhig know that we had lunch at Middle Temple Hall yesterday and it was fab! Such a beautiful place and an amazing experience. My friend (who lives here) did not know about his and was duly impressed.

Thank you so much. We had a lovely day - and the food was great as well!

I will have to catch up with all you have been doing, wtb. How wonderful to have so much time to explore wherever your interests take you.

welltraveledbrit

LC, glad to hear you arrived safely and are enjoying yourself. I'm meeting my brother at one of the law libraries this afternoon!

I'm leaving Dublin today but have just posted on a visit and walk I took from and to The Johnson House. It was interesting to learn more about Johnson's dictionary and the London of his age.

Though the museum is rather limited, somehow along with the monthly walk (they organize) tit did a great job of invoking the spirit of Johnson, his wit and intellect. Luckily, to paraphrase Johnson I am neither tired of London or of life!

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2015/...se-london.html

latedaytraveler

Hi again WTB,

I really enjoyed your blog about your visit to the SAMUEL JOHNSON HOUSE. I find the rooms quite serene. The walk sounds good too. Great pics too.

Before my last trip to London I read SAMUEL JOHNSON by Joseph Wood Krutch, an old chestnut, really delightful. Johnson had a tremendous influence on his age.

welltraveledbrit

Thanks latedaytraveler, I really appreciate your comment on the blog post, I was quite pleased with that one, I was hoping it would make people feel like they'd been along on the day out too.Over the years I've been trying to find a "voice" on my blog which is harder than it looks when you've been trained to write as an academic!

After visiting the house I'd certainly like to know more about Johnson and his circle which does seem to be very wide. We ran into references to him again at Kenwood House.

Today it was fabulously hot and we walked back from dinner along the Regents Canal from Kings Cross to Bethnal Green. Though the canal is covered over for a section in Islington, it's still a fun route and we recognized where we were from a walk we did in the area a week or two ago. It's a nice feeling to see places fitting together slowly as we start to get to know the city.

MmePerdu

Thank you for the link to your pictures of Johnson's House. It looks like a place I'll have to visit. And of the Temple Church where I have an ancestor to visit in the round end. I love the building and its location and I'm especially fond, for some reason, of the simple hanging light fixtures inside.

MmePerdu

Regarding the lights I mentioned - it appears it's all changed since I was there last, all gussied up and the lighting now "designed". One would have hoped that a medieval church would be spared such attentions, but apparently nothing is sacred.

http://www.enlightermagazine.com/pro...ighting-design

It does show some hanging ones, not unlike those I mentioned and they may be the ones, although I think, in a different location. Or maybe it's just so changed I don't recognize the location.