2 months, 2 kids, 2 continents (technically)

[Pushka]

We’re staying with a friend in Clapham. So, in need of a gentle activity after what had turned into a bit of a late night last night, we headed to nearby Battersea to check out the renovation of Battersea Power Station. I remember from our time living here the many, many failed proposals to restore and regenerate the site and I’m kind of amazed that one of them actually got off the ground. The apartments open in September and there’s still a bit of building work going on around, but the site looks nearly finished. Considering this place was falling apart 10 years ago, they’ve done a great job of the renovation.

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We headed for Prospect Place, a brand new playground that we had to ourselves.

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Grabbed lunch at one of the restaurants and then the kids went to play on the deckchairs that line the grassy area by the river.

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23 degrees, according to my weather app, and yes for the benefit of everyone commenting on London’s absolute inability to cope with weather, I can report multiple sightings of blokes with their tops off sunbathing.

I canna believe the Scots in Inverness in short sleeves and shorts (or kilts) while we're wearing scarves, beanies, gloves and puffer jackets.

Your kids would be loving the warm weather there. Looks wonderful.

 

[VPS]

I canna believe the Scots in Inverness in short sleeves and shorts (or kilts) while we're wearing scarves, beanies, gloves and puffer jackets.

Your kids would be loving the warm weather there. Looks wonderful.

I’m with the Scots

 

[kookaburra75]

I canna believe the Scots in Inverness in short sleeves and shorts (or kilts) while we're wearing scarves, beanies, gloves and puffer jackets.

Your kids would be loving the warm weather there. Looks wonderful.

I worked in Aberdeen in the 80's, when we came back off the rigs the locals asked if we wanted to go swimming on the weekends at the local "beaches". While they look nice, the North Sea was only 2 deg C tops. Not swimming weather.

 

[MattA]

As I mentioned, we had booked the Harry Potter Studio tour. Birthday present for a very excited 8yo.

The studios are located in Leavesden, just inside the M25. Watford Junction is the nearest station.

We caught the overground from Clapham Junction near where we’re staying. Nice views as we rolled over the Thames on another sunny day:



Our tour wasn’t until 1:30, so we decided to eat in Watford first. We had brunch at a very styled-for-Instagram place called the Florist. Lovely.








Suitably refuelled, we headed back to the station to catch the free shuttle bus to the studios.

 

[MattA]

I’m not a huge fan of HP tbh (we were mainly there for 8yo) but I thought the tour was excellent: absolutely loads of original sets, props, costumes etc all at the studio lot where they filmed all 8 movies.

There’s a lot to see. We took 3.5 hours all up and I think you could easily spend longer. Definitely recommended if you have any interest at all in the film series.

 

[MattA]

 

[VPS]

As I mentioned, we had booked the Harry Potter Studio tour. Birthday present for a very excited 8yo.

The studios are located in Leavesden, just inside the M25. Watford Junction is the nearest station.

We caught the overground from Clapham Junction near where we’re staying. Nice views as we rolled over the Thames on another sunny day:

View attachment 281394

Our tour wasn’t until 1:30, so we decided to eat in Watford first. We had brunch at a very styled-for-Instagram place called the Florist. Lovely.

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Suitably refuelled, we headed back to the station to catch the free shuttle bus to the studios.

the food looks instragrammable as well (who would have understood that word a few years ago. Enjoying this trip

 

[MattA]

Enjoying this trip

Thanks! So are we!

 

[VPS]

the good looks instragrammable as well (who would have understood that word a few years ago. Enjoying this trip

I meant food not good. DOH

 

[MattA]

Like a Brit-abroad in the Costa del Sol tucking into a full English breakfast, sometimes we just have to hunt down Aussie-style coffee wherever we might be in the world. We’re really spoiled in Melbourne. Coffee in London is generally terrible. Either weak machine filter coffee, or something equally bad from one of the ubiquitous chains (Costa et al).

Thankfully there are a few pockets of Australia dotted around the place. One of them that we keep coming back to is Birdhouse on St John’s Hill: Login • Instagram



The food’s good too. I had the baked eggs.

 

[RooFlyer]

Battersea to check out the renovation of Battersea Power Station. I remember from our time living here the many, many failed proposals to restore and regenerate the site and I’m kind of amazed that one of them actually got off the ground. The apartments open in September and there’s still a bit of building work going on around, but the site looks nearly finished. Considering this place was falling apart 10 years ago, they’ve done a great job of the renovation.

And I think a branch of the new Elizabeth line goes right by it.

 

[craven morehead]

Long-time lurker, occasional poster, first-time trip reporter…

My wife and I, along with our two kids, are Europe bound this evening on a trip that was planned in 2019, booked for 2020, cancelled, rebooked for 2021 and finally rescheduled to 2022.

We both have long service leave, so we will spend two months away all up, in the UK, France and Spain, with a few nights in Singapore on the way back to break up the journey. We'll be visiting friends and family and revisiting old haunts (I'm from the UK originally; my wife is from Australia but we met in London and lived there together for 8 years before moving to Melbourne). Coming back at the end of July we fly out of BCN, partly because we love the city, but also for the old trick of avoiding UK APD by not flying premium longhaul out of the UK. Well over AU$1k saved in taxes covered LCC flights for the 4 of us to BCN and half our accommodation costs there, which seemed like a good deal to me.

But tonight we start with MEL - SIN - MAN in SQ J. Saver redemptions. Locked in almost a year ago when bookings for these dates opened. At the time we didn’t even know if we’d be able to travel, or if we’d be testing or have to quarantine.

But here we are. Cook has been booked. Fair to say I’m quite excited. Let’s go…

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Congratulations on having a crack at your first TR. Looking forward to following your adventures

 

[rginoz]

And I think a branch of the new Elizabeth line goes right by it.

Michael Portillo's SBS tv show about Great British Railway Journeys last Tuesday evening (14 June) had him visiting the Battersea Power Station redevelopment site and the then unopened Elizabeth line. I thought it was very informative and I'll definitely make an effort to do my own visit there when I'm next in London.

 

[MattA]

And I think a branch of the new Elizabeth line goes right by it.

I think it’s an extension of the Northern Line, actually. The developers partially contributed to the cost. Also notable for the fact that it’s called “Battersea Power Station station”.

I am planning to engineer a reason to travel on the bit of the Elizabeth line that is open while we are here. Just have to figure out how to convince my wife it’s the quickest way to get somewhere we need to be…

 

[OATEK]

I think it’s an extension of the Northern Line, actually. The developers partially contributed to the cost. Also notable for the fact that it’s called “Battersea Power Station station”.

I am planning to engineer a reason to travel on the bit of the Elizabeth line that is open while we are here. Just have to figure out how to convince my wife it’s the quickest way to get somewhere we need to be…

Yes, Battersea is served by a branch of the Northern Line from Kennington (eg The Oval).

The Elizabeth Line will be a real boon for getting from East London across to Heathrow, and we aim to use it in Aug/Sep. Enjoying the virtual tour with you and yours.

 

[Pushka]

And I think a branch of the new Elizabeth line goes right by it.

 

[MattA]

So we survived the very hot 30+ degree London day on Friday. I googled “splash park London” and that led us to Elephant Springs, a park in one of the new developments around Elephant & Castle, a short bus ride + Northern Line away: Introducing Elephant Springs | Elephant Park

Nice space with plenty of shade, a bit of sand and running water for the children to splash around in.



Bookended our visit with pizzas, and later gelato, at the restaurant over the road.

Two very tired children by the end of the day.

Oh and just as I was telling our 3yo “well, actually, there aren’t *really* any elephants here”, I was proven wrong:

 

[MattA]

Saturday, and the weather has turned.

Heatwave over. Muggy for the first part of the day, and then “Hmm. I think shorts were a mistake” weather later on.

A bit of general sightseeing; first challenge hit when our bus terminated early: road closed ahead.

We walked up past Westminster and the modest protest that had blocked the route.



Distinct lack of amusing signs, sadly: “get your Johnson out of our democracy” excepted.



Rainbow corgis in Victoria Embankment:



Covent Garden is still very Jubilee-flag heavy.



As is Oxford Street.

 

[MattA]

Another Sunday. Another pub roast lunch.

This week, we ate at a lovely old pub called The Drapers Arms in the leafy back streets of gentrified Islington.

Another cracker.



(That’s a sharing serve, by the way, not insane portion sizes; easily enough for 3 adults).

 

[drron]

Another Sunday. Another pub roast lunch.

This week, we ate at a lovely old pub called The Drapers Arms in the leafy back streets of gentrified Islington.

Another cracker.

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(That’s a sharing serve, by the way, not insane portion sizes; easily enough for 3 adults).

But there are only 2 Yorkshire puddings. the third person misses out!