Regular readers will know that, living in a busy household, makes us enjoy the odd couple of nights away. And just two months on from our Welsh road trip, we were ready for another mini adventure and on route to London.

With our usual partners in crime, the Besties, we had decided to explore a different part of town, booking into a small hotel in Southwark.

Our visits are always fairly filled with events, but this one seemed particularly jam packed. When I found myself three days before departure, booking in another show, I was starting to think I’d also need to pack my running shoes 🏃‍♀️

Southwark

Our hotel was conveniently situated just a two minute walk from Southwark tube station which was absolutely perfect. The tube did only service the jubilee line, but once your in that subterranean world you can change between lines and zip around easily to anywhere in London.

The first thing we noticed when we exited the tube station was a pub 👍 so once we’d dropped our bags and freshened up, the next stop was naturally back to the pub 🍻 . What an interesting find, situated opposite the historic home of British boxing, this small but perfectly formed pub was incredibly proud of its history, with photos of the men who’d boxed at The Ring and went on to become World, European and British Champions adorning the walls. It’s also attached to a Thai restaurant, who will deliver to your pub table (although we didn’t partake). The boxing ring is sadly no longer there after being destroyed in a bombing raid during Ww2, with the site now being an office block, so the pub is a great reminder of the history.

Our thirsts quench, we were just a short walk away from the river and took a wander in the warm autum afternoon along the banks, discovering new sights in Waterloo, by Charing Cross and along South Bank, marvelling at some of the magnificent buildings and gardens our glorious capital shows off so wonderfully. We came across a beautiful street, still maintaining its heritage, with old fashioned street lights, lovely sash windows and front doors that are a little bit crooked in their frames. But best of all for the hubby a collection of old cars lining the street.

Fabulous way to spend an afternoon and work up an appetite 

Tower of London

Our evening treat was a trip to the theatre, but the Bestie had discovered there was to be evening light shows at the Tower of London. Therefore our walk to the theatre took us via Bermondsey to see the Christmas decorations at Hays Galleria, across Tower Bridge and onto the Tower.

The light show was free to all, so we weren’t expecting too much, . . . . . But oh my goodness it was amazing. The twenty minute show was projected onto the outer wall of the Tower, depicting various times through history, from dinosaurs running across the wall, to archers firing arrows, together with images of beautiful flowers blooming before our eyes and hallowe’en cobwebs dancing across. Despite the drizzle there was a huge crowd and an enormous cheer and clapping in appreciation as the show drew to a close.

We still had time before the theatre to wander through Leicester Square and take in the lights in Piccadilly Circus. I’m not the biggest fan of Christmas, but the lights in London are gorgeous and does help me get into the spirit of the season. 🎄🤶

Moulin rouge

We arrived a little early at the theatre, but that meant we could get to the bar before the masses arrived. For some reason us ladies had to have our gins in plastic glasses, although the men were allowed glasses for their rum 🤷‍♀️. Maybe I looked like I might throw the glass in disgust at the price. I know I have to expect to pay a little extra in London, but £56 for four drinks (ok they were doubles) took my breath away.

Shock over we took our seats and had to make the drink last all evening 🤣. When booking the tickets we had also been surprised at how much prices had risen, so we opted for Grand Circle seats. We were quite high up, but from the third row we had a great view at a more reasonable rate.

Having not seen the film I had read a little of the story, but I wasn’t expecting, 10 minutes before the start to see several scantily clad men, strutting provocatively across the stage 😳.

But as the curtain rose, at least we were prepared for what the show would offer. Unlike a lot of musicals there is a strong and at times sad storyline. It was absolutely brilliant. The singing, the dancing, the costumes, the story telling and the set were all so so good. Even in the cheaper seats, we were entertained from start to finish.

Highly recommend 

As we tumbled out of the theatre, we took a walk to see the angels in Regency Street, and the decorations of Carnaby Street. Such fun with their take on old fashioned paper chains a cuddly snowman flying high above us.

What a wonderful first day

Victoria and Albert Museum 

The hubby had long been talking about a visit to the museum, having never been before. As we were staying closer by on this visit, now was the ideal time to go. Getting off the tube at South Kensington we were directed on an underground walk, which took us straight to one of the entrances of the museum. Great idea, avoiding the traffic and the weather, had it been bad.

 

I hadn’t realised the museum was quite so vast. Not only was it an incredible building, it is absolutely full with artefacts, from jewellery, to stoneware, clothing to statues, remnants of buildings to glassware.

 

 

Its a bit of a maze to find your way around, but our first port of call was an exhibition of costumes from musicals. Such a clever exhibition, beautiful costumes on display, interspersed with songs from the various shows and snippets of the scripts coming over the speakers, drawing you back into your theatre seats and immersing you in the stories.

There were some of our favourites Six, Moulin Rouge, and Wicked. Others that we’d like to see, Matilda and War Horse. And a few that we’d not heard of and might be tempted to see.

We wandered through a vast collection of jewellery, containing brooches, rings, tiaras, necklaces and surprising face masks. It wasn’t the men’s favourite part, but the Bestie and I marvelled at few of the pieces.

Through the atrium with a magnificent glass sculpture suspended from the ceiling, and into, another men’s favourite, a journey through time of fashion.

We were up stairs and downstairs weaving in and out of exhibits, stoneware, wooden doors, tombs and a complete marble structure from Italy.

Around the corner stood the remains of a wooden building that had survived the fire of London together with photos of the time and then on into an interactive exhibition of British sitcoms and comedy sketches. As we watched archive films we could listen via telephone to the script. Dads Army and Spitting Image among the collection. Not very PC, but they still made us chuckle.

Four hours of wonderful sights brimming with information from bygone eras, yet we had still only scratched the surface, but we had had our fill for the day, and a stroll through Knightsbridge with a look in Harrod’s was next on the agenda. Harrod’s is an amazing store, but way out of my pensioners price bracket. I was a tad scared to touch anything in case it broke and I’d have to pay 🤣🤣🤣

So we exited and headed back to the Theatre District for a little refreshment in China Town.

Cheers 🍻 

The day was still young and we had a dinner date at a unique restaurant. Inamo in Covent Garden seemed like it would fulfil my desire to try sushi. However just in case I didn’t enjoy it the restaurant also served Asian tapas.

It was unique in the sense that the table was also the menu and each of us could choose the food we’d like to try by tapping on the interactive table. Then the food just kept arriving and . . . . . . we just kept tapping. We ordered most of what was on the menu, at least once 🤣. I’m not sure the sushi was of the best standard, but it was nice to try and the Asian tapas was delicious.

All in all an unusual, but tasty experience and an hour and a half later we were rolling out the door, in need of a walk before our next booking.

La Clique

We didn’t have to walk too far back to Leicester Square, so as we had a bit of time we took look around the Christmas Market huts. Lots of glittering ornaments, chocolates and hot drinks. The smells were amazing and the lights around the huts and hanging from the trees above sparkled against the dark night sky.

 

La Clique was the last minute booking, just three days before our trip. It was advertised as Circus, Cabaret and Comedy, so sounded like a lot of fun.

There were no allocated seats, so we joined the queue early to try to get a good view. As we entered through the cabin door, the space surprisingly opened out into a big top, and we were ushered to some seats third row back to the side of the stage, and a pretty good view.

The lights dimmed and the cabaret begin. A beautiful young lady, dancing with rather large feathers. A little provocative, but very elegant a bit like Moulin Rouge.

We hadn’t realised that there would be adult content, neither obviously had the couple with a young child who promptly left the arena 🤦‍♀️

We though were thoroughly entertained, with trapeze artists spinning high in the tent, one hanging from a huge hoop and another dressed as Jesus thrilling us with his acrobatics on a huge cross.

A young singer filling the big top with her amazing voice, entertaining us as the stage equipment was cleared.

The comedy came in the form of a Where’s Wally character on a unicycle 🤪. Amazing balance as he undressed with the aid of a member of the audience. Absolutely hilarious 😂

Then we moved to the bizarre as a semi naked young lady arrived on stage, wearing a popcorn maker on her head ( you had to be there), smothered herself in butter and began hula hooping as popcorn burst from her head 🤷‍♀️

During the interval, we tried to digest what we’d just seen, whilst a bath tub arrived on stage and was connected to a water supply.

Take two, our feather dancer returned and filled the bath with water and bubbles and to the delight of the men, stripped down to take a bath. There’s not a lot more I can say about that, apart from she had a gorgeous figure!

Our singer performed beautifully again, whilst the bath was removed and the stage dried.

Wheres Wally still on his unicycle pulled another member of the audience up on stage to assist with his act. The poor man was made to jump up to retrieve a biscuit, being dangled from a fishing rod, with his mouth. Totally mad but so funny.

More trapeze artists spun around above our heads at such a speed it made us dizzy. The two of them intertwining their bodies as they twisted and dangled from the trapeze.

Popcorn lady reappeared, now without the headdress, but also still without her top 🤷‍♀️This time was a more elegant performance as she juggled umbrellas with her feet. Incredibly clever as she increased from a single prop to four, spinning them and tossing them in the air. Brilliant.

Oh and let’s not forget the male, I can only describe them as pole dancers, climbing the huge pole up into the rafters, then dropping so fast, stopping only inches from the stage. Doing acrobatics, holding on with their hands, their feet at 90 degrees from the pole or holding on with just one foot. In the words of Craig Revel Horwood . . . . . . A-m-a-z-i-n-g 😲

I can only describe the show as extraordinary, but thoroughly entertaining. Great find from the Bestie, such a fun filled evening.

Seeing Auschwitz 

For my 60th birthday, almost 2 years ago now 😳, we had planned to visit Krakow. Of course Covid19 put paid to that, along with all our other plans.

As part of that trip we also intended to visit Auschwitz and Birkenau. A second attempt earlier this year was also thwarted by the war in Ukraine.

Although a visit is still on our agenda it has for the moment, been put on hold.

When I saw the Seeing Auschwitz exhibition advertised in London during our trip, it was therefore a must do.

Our final morning was spent back in Kensington visiting this amazing exhibition. It was so in-depth and so moving, it still brings tears to my eyes. It tells the story from the eyes of the Jewish captives, in pictures, film and audio, so vividly that it deserves its very own post, so will reappear in a post in the very near future.

Royal Albert Hall

We took a stroll as we reflected on what we’d just seen, discussing how moving it had been and how the World should never be allowed to forget. As we chatted we headed towards the Royal Albert Hall.

We’ve visited several times to admire the building outside and the ostentatious Albert Memorial opposite, but we’ve never been inside.

Stepping inside the foyer there was a tour about to start, so we jumped on board. The men weren’t initially overly bothered but tagged along 🙄

As our guide took us deeper into the building and its remarkable history, we all became more and more intrigued.

The brainchild of Prince Albert, the building was to be a part of his vision for a vast area of culture, history, science exhibitions and museums which would be free to all.

The buildings include the V&A, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Central Hall of Arts and Sciences. The vast area which houses these buildings became known as Albertopolis.

Sadly Prince Albert died before he could see his vision complete. When the Central Hall was opened some 10 years after his death, the still grieving Queen Victoria renamed it the Royal Albert Hall.

We found our way into the tiny Royal reception room, the walls filled with portraits of the Kings and Queens who had enjoyed entertainment from the Royal Box across the corridor. Evidently King Charles 111 had entertained guests there just a few days previously.

In the auditorium an orchestra were rehearsing for the evenings showing of the latest Bond movie, which they were accompanying. We sat in one of the boxes for a short while enjoying the space and marvelling at the architecture as our guide told us more of its history.

 

The auditorium space is very adaptable, with removable seats, a retractable stage and loading bays beneath. Our guide told us how it had been filled with 56,000 litres of water when it hosted a performance of the opera Madama Butterfly. Wow 😮

Until the 1960’s the domed glass ceiling used to cause an echo from the stage. Various attempts were made to try to stop the rebounding which were unsuccessful. In the late 60’s some fibreglass discs, affectionately known as “the mushrooms” were hung from the ceiling which resolved the issue. And they still hang there today.

 

So many famous artists have performed at the Albert Hall, together with boxing matches, orchestral performances, Cirque du Soleill and of course The Proms. Photos of performances are proudly displayed on the walls of the many corridors.

We climbed higher to a reception room which holds an Elton John piano. Being in bright red it is quite unusual, but sits on a low stage surrounded by huge light filled windows ready to be played. Being led out to the top gallery, which is standing only during performances, we were incredibly high, but still had a fabulous view of the stage. The whole building gives great views of every performance, whatever your price range.

There are reminders of its Royal heritage on every wall and every staircase. The decoration is extremely opulent but beautifully maintained. The grand entrance houses two sweeping staircases, with on one side Queen Victoria and on the other Prince Albert, both looking down on all who enter.

As our hour and a half tour ended, we were reminded of the many people who had performed at this most iconic of venues, by a huge mural and spent some time trying to spot some of the now famous faces.

Gosh, for an impromptu decision, what a fascinating, historical tour to end our trip.

What an amazing couple of days, filled with fun, entertainment and history.

Although it had been a jam packed itinerary, with a little bit of planning, it hadn’t been at all rushed and I thankfully didn’t need my running shoes.

Thank you London, for revealing a few more of your hidden gems.