Category: London

All good things come to an end and so do trips and visits to the family in London. Has been wonderful to spend time with everyone and especially with the grandsons. Today’s outing was to a Google kids party with the boys dressed up and looking magnificent as the Gruffalo and the Mouse. Awesome costumes and cutest models!Had a quick stroll into Hyde park after lunch and then afternoon tea at Ottolenghi’s in Belgravia. Beautiful food from a great Israeli chef, restaurant owner and cookery writer.  Very posh area and I tried to pretend the driver in the Rolls parked by the curb was my personal driver.

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The weather over the last few days has been superb – London showing off as we depart for NZ.

A fine old day for a stroll around Kew Royal Botanic Gardens.

Lots to see with autumn colours, beautiful vistas, the lake, old glasshouses, a great treetop walk, good indoor and outdoor childrens’ playground and of course the many displays and plantings grouped together (like the Holly Walk originally laid out in 1874). We probably only saw a half of the gardens.

Micah enjoyed searching for clues in a specially set up children’s experience related to deadly and disgusting plants. He also got a Venus Fly Trap plant now called Kew.

The boys also enjoyed  the Xstrata treetop walkway, Micah climbed all the stairs up (98 steps) and back, and Benji just loved running along the platform. There were great views out of the Kew Gardens.

Photos of Kew Gardens visit

Quick trip to Sevenoaks this morning – bit of family nostalgia. Sevenoaks is a market and commuter town 20ish miles from Central London and where the Browns were last known to have lived in the UK. Went via the Dartford Crossing, a major road crossing of the Thames – bit congested but mostly seemed to be due to the toll booths – 2×2 lane tunnels go north with  4 lane cable stayed southbound bridge. Found a nice spot for lunch in Sevenoaks village.

Reasonably expensive property here. Most notable landmark is Knole Park home of the Sackville family (Dukes of Dorset). A very impressive stately mansion.

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Some trivia for the record – have been oaks in Knole Park for a very long time. In 1902 seven oak trees planted adjacent to the Vine Cricket Club to celebrate coronation of King Edward VII. Only one remains, but other oaks of various ages around. The Vine Cricket Ground is one of the oldest cricket venues in England. It was given to the town of Sevenoaks in 1773 by John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset (1745 – 1799) and owner of Knole House, where the ground is sited. The land was thought previously to have been used as a vineyard for the Archbishops of Canterbury (hence the name). Of interest to me, given we have “peppercorn” rentals at work, the Vine Cricket Club must pay Sevenoaks Town Council a rent of 2 peppercorns per year – one for the ground and one for the pavilion, the archetypal peppercorn rent. They, in turn, must pay Lord Sackville (if asked) one cricket ball on 21 July each year. The club is notable for being the first place in England where cricket was played with three stumps rather than two. 

 

Saturday family trip to Borough Market in Southwark, Central London – one of the oldest fruit, vegetable and fish markets in London City located at the south end of London Bridge. Gorgeous old buildings- art deco style. Very busy place, standing room only on our visit. Yum food stalls amongst the trading stalls and vibrant atmosphere. We ate our lunch in the grounds of the adjacent Southwark Cathedral.

Wandered afterwards – along Bankside, past The Golden Hinde II, The Globe Theatre and Tate Modern, over the Millenium Bridge to St Paul’s, and around other parts of The City of London – along Fleet Street (very quiet cause not a business day) and The Strand ending up in Covent Gardens for gelato!

The City of London (capital C) or “the Square Mile” is an independent city and self governed area right in the middle of the metropolis that is commonly known as London City. The City of London local authority, The City of London Corporation, is unique and has amongst other things its own police authority. Had not quite made these distinctions on previous visits here! The City of London and 32 other boroughs including the adjacent City of Westminster now comprise what we commonly refer to as London city metropolitan area. Just to complicate things, the City of London Corporation looks after the City of London and also has other responsibilities outside of the Square Mile.

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Another nice wander earlier this week in Richmond Park with successful deer spotting close-up. Nearly missed it so close in the grass beside the trail. Deer cull starts next week so might be harder to find some of these guys and won’t see some at all!

Fun times and lots of walks with the family which seem to gravitate to the coffee shop en route or end up there for coffee, pretzels and a babychino. For Matt’s birthday (15th ) we also had a nice lunch at the marketplace. For some it was dumplings but others had the best-est pies ever! Scrummy light pastry and delicious fillings – nicest is chicken and fennel. Micah and I made a birthday cake for Matt. Lots of fun and it tasted yummy too.

 

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PS. Nice dinner out too for birthday celebrations at The Wharf, Teddington Lock.

So good to be with our London family. Over the last three days we have:

*revisited Kingston Village – checked out the revamped market, vege stall envy – such a fabulous selection and enjoyed a good flat white with fresh pretzels. Coffee loyalty card gives us a free coffee after 4 purchases – great deal. Nice walk along part of the Thames with lovely autumn colours just appearing.

*walked north along the Thames to Teddington Lock. Lots of activity on the water but no boats through the lock while we were there. The houseboats on the Thames are certainly a very mixed bag! Some of the houses on the other hand are very nice indeed. The Thames is only tidal as far as Richmond before the lock. Interesting that 100 little craft were rallied from here at the end of WW2 to rescue soldiers from Dunkirk.

Photos Kingston Village and Thames to Teddington   and     London Outing

* had a great outing today to East London. Yummy lunch at Brick Lane Markets – so much delicious looking food to choose from. This is the Bangladeshi area of London. Then to the Old Spitalfield Markets – fabulous shopping, regretfully the coat I fell in love with was not the right size. Headed back to Trafalgar Square aiming for Diwali Festival but way too crowded so off to Westminster Abbey. Have not been closer up on previous visits to London so delighted to be able to pop in to part of Evensong – contemplate the surroundings and listen to the organ and music.

One night in London enroute to Copenhagen. Great flight with bonus views of the Northern Lights. Pretty stunning views of various lightscapes. An unplanned tick off the bucket list.
Lovely to see the grandsons and the “new” house. A bit closer to the village now – quick walk there after breakfast to sort the vodafone card.
London wildlife visited this morning- a fox on the roof of the garden shed and a squirrel with a very bushy tail just off the deck.

Just time for Poppa to have a play in the sandpit with the boys  and  Nan to read some stories and look at photos with Micah.