17 May – Thursday
Time to leave Ireland for England and three nights in London. The flight to London was without mishap and we eventually arrived, via the Underground, at the Westpoint Hotel, Paddington. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a very good start to our stay here. Our room (which was booked over six months ago) was in the basement and had a window which looked at a dirty brick wall about 5 feet away. This was only discovered after taking about 15 minutes to find our room as the receptionist told us to take the wrong lift and a cleaner took us all over the hotel trying to find this room in the bowels of the hotel. So it was back to reception to have a small grizzle and we were promptly given another room on the second floor which had a window overlooking the leafy street.
Met Les’ nephew, Justin, for a drink and dinner – a great evening catching up with Justin and a great meal at a small Italian restaurant nearby.
18 May – Friday
A day for sore feet! Started out bright and early on a most brilliant day – clear blue skies and warm, definitely t-shirt and sunscreen weather. A walk through Kensington Gardens to visit Peter Pan and the Diana Memorial Fountain, before walking to the Albert Memorial. A television company were filming an episode of “Spooks” on the steps of the Memorial while we were there – lots of vans full of equipment and people standing about and we actually watched them film three men walk down the steps! Then it was to Kensington Palace and a tour of Princess Margaret’s apartment and a look at some of Diana’s dresses, as well as a large number of the Palace rooms.
Back to the Underground and to Trafalgar Square, a walk along the Embankment, across the Thames and back to the Houses of Parliament, Churchill’s War Cabinet Rooms, Downing Street and the Horse Guards before a limp up The Mall to Buckingham Palace.
The weather was so nice that all the deck chairs were out in all the parks and there seemed to be so many more people about. The pushchairs (strollers) were out in force as well, many with a parasol attached to protect the infant from “the sun.”
19 May – Saturday
Our final day in London started out bright and sunny but soon changed to cloudy and cool. Another long day on the feet which started with a boat ride down the Thames to Greenwich – the river has a tidal fall of 7.5 metres and the tide was out! The change in the buildings between the city and the east end is very noticeable, as the east end was virtually demolished by bombing during the war and has been rebuilt. Greenwich had a real “village” feel to it, with lots of markets (Les bought a copy of Rutherforde’s London just to add 5 kg to his luggage!) and plenty of eating places. Of course, the main reason for visiting Greenwich is to visit the Royal Observatory and, together with many, many other people, stand either side of the meridian line. The Observatory also happens to be built on the top of a HILL, about the only hill in London. More walking (and sighting another squirrel) to the Maritime Museum and the chance to make whirlpools and waves and well as view the many exhibits, including Nelson. Unfortunately, the Cutty Sark is being renovated and hidden behind high hoardings.
Back to London and Paddington via Canary Island – how this has changed since the time of hulks and transportation. Now it is all modern buildings and shopping malls, courtesy of Margaret Thatcher. The FA Cup Final was on at Wembly this afternoon and there was a very large police presence at the station where most spectators would change trains. At least, we assumed all the police were there because of the football!
We will certainly not miss the London plane trees, which are shedding pollen at the moment – very hard on the eyes. Another little intrigue has been why this hotel has hot water connected to the toilet cisterns!!!
Time to leave Ireland for England and three nights in London. The flight to London was without mishap and we eventually arrived, via the Underground, at the Westpoint Hotel, Paddington. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a very good start to our stay here. Our room (which was booked over six months ago) was in the basement and had a window which looked at a dirty brick wall about 5 feet away. This was only discovered after taking about 15 minutes to find our room as the receptionist told us to take the wrong lift and a cleaner took us all over the hotel trying to find this room in the bowels of the hotel. So it was back to reception to have a small grizzle and we were promptly given another room on the second floor which had a window overlooking the leafy street.
Met Les’ nephew, Justin, for a drink and dinner – a great evening catching up with Justin and a great meal at a small Italian restaurant nearby.
18 May – Friday
A day for sore feet! Started out bright and early on a most brilliant day – clear blue skies and warm, definitely t-shirt and sunscreen weather. A walk through Kensington Gardens to visit Peter Pan and the Diana Memorial Fountain, before walking to the Albert Memorial. A television company were filming an episode of “Spooks” on the steps of the Memorial while we were there – lots of vans full of equipment and people standing about and we actually watched them film three men walk down the steps! Then it was to Kensington Palace and a tour of Princess Margaret’s apartment and a look at some of Diana’s dresses, as well as a large number of the Palace rooms.
Back to the Underground and to Trafalgar Square, a walk along the Embankment, across the Thames and back to the Houses of Parliament, Churchill’s War Cabinet Rooms, Downing Street and the Horse Guards before a limp up The Mall to Buckingham Palace.
The weather was so nice that all the deck chairs were out in all the parks and there seemed to be so many more people about. The pushchairs (strollers) were out in force as well, many with a parasol attached to protect the infant from “the sun.”
19 May – Saturday
Our final day in London started out bright and sunny but soon changed to cloudy and cool. Another long day on the feet which started with a boat ride down the Thames to Greenwich – the river has a tidal fall of 7.5 metres and the tide was out! The change in the buildings between the city and the east end is very noticeable, as the east end was virtually demolished by bombing during the war and has been rebuilt. Greenwich had a real “village” feel to it, with lots of markets (Les bought a copy of Rutherforde’s London just to add 5 kg to his luggage!) and plenty of eating places. Of course, the main reason for visiting Greenwich is to visit the Royal Observatory and, together with many, many other people, stand either side of the meridian line. The Observatory also happens to be built on the top of a HILL, about the only hill in London. More walking (and sighting another squirrel) to the Maritime Museum and the chance to make whirlpools and waves and well as view the many exhibits, including Nelson. Unfortunately, the Cutty Sark is being renovated and hidden behind high hoardings.
Back to London and Paddington via Canary Island – how this has changed since the time of hulks and transportation. Now it is all modern buildings and shopping malls, courtesy of Margaret Thatcher. The FA Cup Final was on at Wembly this afternoon and there was a very large police presence at the station where most spectators would change trains. At least, we assumed all the police were there because of the football!
We will certainly not miss the London plane trees, which are shedding pollen at the moment – very hard on the eyes. Another little intrigue has been why this hotel has hot water connected to the toilet cisterns!!!
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