Earlier in the TR I raved about the visits I made as part of London's first annual Craft Week last May. If anyone will be in London next spring ( May 3-7 2016) you may be interested to take advantage of the wonderful range of inexpensive, tours, openings and events. I've finally posted a blog on the visits I made to the workshops at Asprey and Garrard as well as to a Nicola Tassie's ceramics studio in Shoreditch. I highly recommend the event for anyone interested in arts and crafts.

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2015/...week-2015.html

lovely idea, WTB, i'd never even heard of the London Craft week so thanks for posting about it.

Glad to see that you got a goody bag too!

Last year was the first year but it's a great event.

They have a large fair of curated craft works and the tours include a really wide range of things. I signed up for an extended tour of the conservation at the British Library but unfortunately it was cancelled at the last moment.

The focus was rather too much on the luxury producers but hopefully as it get going it will focus on individual artists rather than the "houses" but I suppose they need them for the sponsorship. I was however surprised there wasn't a stronger tie in with the Design Museum and or the V&A.

For anyone who is interested in the quirky or off beat I've just written a blog post on the Hungarian Museum which is across Lincoln Inn Field from the Sir John Soane in London. Housed in the Royal College of Surgeons this is a museum of anatomy and it's a fascinating place with free entrance. This is where you should go to see Winston Churchill's false teeth and Charles Babbage's brain, who could resist!

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

London has an enormous number of small medical museums and one could spend several days immersed in the fascinating history of medicine. I still have to visit the Wellcome Collection, the Old Operating Theater and a number of other sites. Incidentally, the blog post includes a link to several self guided medical history walks.

UGHHH, I hate spellcheck.

It is of course the Hunterian Museum not the Hungarian Museum, lol!

Just thought that I would add another exhibition to the list, for people in London this autumn - it's of the work of EH Shephard, best known for his illustrations of Winne the Pooh:

http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-b...ustrators-war/

looks fascinating - the gallery is just behind King's Cross. Should I make it to the capital before Christmas, it's top of my list of things to see.

You have the life! Bookmarking your report...

Flygirl I hope it's useful info. I'm very grateful for the opportunities I've had, in particular to the lovely people who rent our home when we're away and make all these jaunts feasible!

Annhig, I was interested to see you mentioning a place behind Kings Cross. I have to say that whole area is well worth exploring. We went there after a long walk along the canal. There's a lot of nice public space and on a warm day people are gathered to meet friends, have a glass of wine and picnic near the water. I think it's also the area with that nice new public swimming pool, which I meant to try but never got around to.

Inspiring! Thanks for posting and sharing.

WTB, when I worked in London, getting on for 20 years ago now, the area round King's Cross had a completely different reputation.

Indeed one of my colleagues, now retired, recalls that when he approached his bank manager for a mortgage to buy a house in that area he was warned against making such a risky investment in a run down area.

not so risky now!

Glad you enjoyed it Kleeblat!

Annhig - too funny about the mortgage! I know exactly the reputation you mean, I remember it from the 1980s. I was really astounded by the whole redevelopment .

Wow! What an enriching and inspiring read. Went through the entire thread in an evening. Your forum profile name is quite apt. A life well travelled is a life well lived.

I am getting a last minute opportunity to base myself in London for couple of weeks next month on a break. This thread has given me so much to explore, and look forward to. Thanks.

rtwin80days - thanks so much for your generous remarks. I'm really heartened to hear it was useful.

I've been working on a post on free things to see and do in London, there are lots of resources and ideas including:

Walking Tours - in person and downloadable
Events - Lectures and Music
Museums, Galleries and Historic Sites - Hopefully this goes beyond the ones you already know!


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

Hope it's helpful!

Oh, yes, welltraveled. Very nice, and way beyond what I already knew. I'm forwarding to my daughter.

Thank you!

So glad it was useful and "free" is always good!

Here's another free tour/museum, the FreeMason's Hall in central London.

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2015/...london_26.html

It's a fascinting place, the architecture and art deco design is well worth seeing. The offer free daily tours and free entrance to the museum. Further information can be found on the blog...

Hi again WTB,

I really enjoyed your blog about FREE MASONS' HALL. Thanks for the info about their tour times. I may very well pop in when I return to London next June.

Funny, when I was growing up in a very Boston Irish Catholic home, the Mason were looked on with suspicion and distain. It would be interesting to know what their membership is among the younger generation - so many organizations have trouble attracting new participants.

Great pics too...

HI Lateday, I think you'd enjoy it, Thursdaysd went not that long ago and found it interesting too. It is fascinating to hear about the Masons, though the whole thing is rather a propaganda visit though there's nothing wrong with them putting their best foot forward. Incidentally my Irish Catholic mother had the same feeling you grew up with, it dates to an old Papal edict I believe.

I think that they've opened up to counter any negative ideas and because now (like many other fraternal organizations) they need younger members. They really are very welcoming and they do a great deal of charitable work, though a percentage of it benefits their members.

Thanks for the reply and you liked the blogpost!

Hi again WTB,

Indeed, we have a fabulous Masonic Museum nearby in Lexington, MA. You know "the shot heard round the world" etc. It combines Scottish Masonic Rite with American history, particularly of the colonial period.

http://www.monh.org/
I once took a group of 7th graders there, combined with a trip to nearby Concord bridge "where it all began."

Also, as Halloween approaches we might reference Poe's scary story "The Cask of Amontillado" which has a play on Masonic imagery.