London 2022
2/9/22. Hampton Palace. We took an underground, that
was mostly overground, to Wimbledon then a train to Hampton. This was Henry VIII palace. Another joining palace was built by William III in the 18th C. There was an antique car show on and many unusual and expensive offerings. There was so much to see and take in it was quite tiring. We had booked a river boat back to Westminster but this was cancelled so we had to train back.
was mostly overground, to Wimbledon then a train to Hampton. This was Henry VIII palace. Another joining palace was built by William III in the 18th C. There was an antique car show on and many unusual and expensive offerings. There was so much to see and take in it was quite tiring. We had booked a river boat back to Westminster but this was cancelled so we had to train back.
1/9/22 We did the tourist thing and went to Madame Tussaud’s. I had to look at most of the name plates for the celebs as I had no idea of who they were. They all appeared too small. I don’t know why. I can see why Peter Jackson made the ones in Gallipoli oversized, much more impact. I was glad they no longer have the “chamber of horrors”, I guess that is to sanitise it for families. The part about how they make the Effigies was interesting but one wonders if the have heard of scanning and 3d printing!
We were close to Queen Mary’s garden in Regents Park where I had a Cumberland sausage sandwich, a very English lunch. The rose gardens were in full bloom, this was about the only garden we saw watered as there is a shortage in London.
Then we went to the London Eye which was very popular and a great piece of engineering.
We spent a couple of hours at the London Transport 
Museum in the old Covent Garden flower market building. I enjoyed the old trams and the early underground trains and finding out about the history of the underground.
Museum in the old Covent Garden flower market building. I enjoyed the old trams and the early underground trains and finding out about the history of the underground.
We had a meal in Brasserie Blanc. Then went to a play at the Duchess Theatre, it was a comedy “The Play that Goes Wrong”. Mainly slapstick and very funny.
31/8/22 Walked around Hyde park after breakfast. Such a great space it is hard to believe you are still in a huge city.
Walked to Science museum. There was a new exhibit on space craft with many original artefacts but the original Stephenson Rocket had gone back to York.
So much to see though. We left after lunch and went back to the National Gallery. We saw the many paintings we did not see yesterday and I got to look at the two turners again. We ate out tonight at Coco Momo just up the road.
Walked to Science museum. There was a new exhibit on space craft with many original artefacts but the original Stephenson Rocket had gone back to York.
So much to see though. We left after lunch and went back to the National Gallery. We saw the many paintings we did not see yesterday and I got to look at the two turners again. We ate out tonight at Coco Momo just up the road.
30/8/22 Westminster Abbey. This is part church and part museum. It belongs to the Queen not the Church of England if that masked sense. Lots of Kings and 
queens are buried here. Ralph Vaughan Williams ashes are here which is interesting as he wasn’t a church goer
queens are buried here. Ralph Vaughan Williams ashes are here which is interesting as he wasn’t a church goer
We had a ticket to the queens jubilee rooms which are worth visiting for their artefacts of the life of the Abbey.
We walked to Sanctuary where we had a mini pie and a beer then to Trafalgar Square via St James Park and the National gallery. We liked the impressionists and especially the Turners. The other time I came to London I had not done my homework and thought the turner paintings were mainly in the Tate Britain, they are, but the National Gallery reserved 7 of them for themselves. They happen to be the most famous! Today I got to see them. 
29/8/22. We visited the British museum. It was good to be back after our visit in 2019. I was able to enjoy it 
more not being so overwhelmed by the treasurers this time. I especially liked sketching the large sculptures. We were home by 2pm and watched a movie and had a rest. We have learnt that we need a break in the afternoon.
more not being so overwhelmed by the treasurers this time. I especially liked sketching the large sculptures. We were home by 2pm and watched a movie and had a rest. We have learnt that we need a break in the afternoon.
28/8/22 Today we took a tour to Canterbury Cathedral via Leeds Castle and returned home via Dover Greenwich and a river boat. The Cathedral was huge with dozens of chapels dedicated to saints or patrons. Many older kings were buried here.
Leeds castle is medieval but renovated many times and the last time was at the start of the 20 century as a county home for the rich.
27/8/22 We visited the Tate Modern on the Southbank. I enjoyed seeing again the huge painting by Paul Delvaux “Sleeping Venus” 1944 which I last saw in 2017 in Auckland Art Gallery. It has such power. I also was excited by an installation “Babel” by the Brazilian Artist Cildo Meireles Consisting of hundreds of operating radios in a 5 metre high tower. The building that houses the art gallery was a power station and is very stunning. We walked along the Thames and had lunch where I sketched the Southwark bridge with the The Fenchurch Building (The Walkie-Talkie) in the background It really is curved Afterward we went to Southwark Cathedral where John A T Robinson was an assistant bishop. He wrote “Honest to God” (1963) a book where he wrote about how one could be a Christian without having to believe all the doctrines of the church Dad had the book which I read as a teenager but I don’t remember ever discussing with him. There was an art installation behind the altar but I did not find out about it.
On the way home e visited the local church St stephens gloucester which was TSEliots church for his last 40 years. We talked with the vicar who told us about the special high Anglican character of the church.
In the evening we went to the Garrick Theatre to see the musical “Drifter’s Girl” about Faye Treadwell who managed and promoted the group through lineup changes and law suits. The story worked well around the group’s hits.
26/8/22. We went to the Natural History Museum, just 10 minutes walk from Kensington where we stayed. It was closed the first time I had an opportunity to visit in 2019. This time we got in and spent a few hours there. The dinosaur exhibit was the best I am likely to see. I enjoyed the rocks and minerals organised by their chemistry and got to see real lapis lazuli from Afghanistan. 
posted by Brian Edgar @ August 25, 2022
