A Perfect London Day

We have one day in London.  How shall we spend it?

 

Breakfast at a classic London 'caff'.  There are many, but we ended up finding Sid's on Lamb's Conduit Street around back of Great Ormond St. Hospital. A quiet street, a metal table, friendly staff, middling coffee and a splendiforous sandwich. 

Then off to take in the temporary exhibit at the British Library: "Writing Britain: Wastelands to Wonderlands". Original drafts and manuscripts grouped in sections such as: Rural Dreams, Wild Places, Industrial & Cityscapes.  Edmund Spencer near Thomas Hardy, George Elliot to JK Rowling, Chaucer to AA Milne, Tolkein to John Keats, William Blake to JG Ballard, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to Kazuo Ishiguro and more and more.  Almost too many riches - two hours passed in a blur.  Well, there goes our lunch plans.  Never mind. It was worth it.

We took the tube to Embankment Station and walked over the Hungerford Bridge to the South Bank.  Then to pick up our tickets to the matinee performance of "The Last of the Haussmans".  A new play, but a great cast and at the National Theatre so it can't be too bad. 

Cocktails and appetizers with a good friend at an old favourite, the Archduke Wine Bar. Amazing this place is still here.  It brings back lots of memories.  I'm glad I can remember it at all, given the number of bottles we used to pack away!

Back over the Hungerford bridge - goodbye St. Pauls.  Goodbye Thames River.  Goodbye Gherkin, Shard, and Eye.

We took the long way, past Trafalgar Square and the Mall with its new starched British Flags tied with stiff gold braid for the Jubilee, the Olympics and the Paralympics. Goodbye Haymarket, goodbye Jermyn Street, goodbye Fortnums.

Now at the Gielgud Theatre in time for the evening performance.  We decided to go for "Chariots of Fire", a new play of an old movie.  The reviews were good and it seemed like a nice underline for our summer 2012.  It was. 

Back through Soho and Chinatown.  Goodbye Wong Kei, goodbye Leicester Square, goodbye Raymonds Revue Bar, now closed.  Ah, such happy memories of Madame Jo Jo!

Back on the tube to Balham under a full moon and a firm bed.

Adieu London.  Until next time.


Food at the caff - Martin's favourite spot in London




The Theatre - Jennifer's favourite spot in London