2 months, 2 kids, 2 continents (technically)

[MattA]

We’re heading for the Tower so the boat takes us past Westminster, the Eye, Tate Modern, the Globe, London Bridge etc.

 

[MattA]

Tower Bridge is opening as we approach.



Not for us of course. It’s to let this cruise ship through:



We’re here for a wander round the Tower.

 

[MattA]

Bit of a line to see the Crown Jewels:





The line continues inside the building as you shuffle past some panels explaining some of the history.

No photos or Nokia 3310s inside, sadly.



I’m amused by some of the text in the exhibition: “… the East India Company took the Koh-i-Noor diamond in the 19th Century …” Oh they just “took” it did they? I suppose it was just laying around and no one really wanted it… Koh-i-Noor - Wikipedia

Eventually we make it to the vault where the jewels are stored. I’d been here many years ago, prior to the re-presentation of the jewels in 2012 (“brought to you by De Beers”) but pleased to see they’ve kept the little travelator that takes you past the case with most of the crowns.

The Queen’s crown is right at the end in its own special case. It’s surprisingly small—she must have quite a tiny head—but as sparkly as you would expect.

After a bit more of a wander around we are out for some lunch from one of the stalls on the banks of the river. We have Halloumi and falafel wraps from these guys. Delicious.



And not a bad view from here:



After that we dash to the Tube to head to a friends’ place for some beers and a BBQ.

 

[MattA]

Another hot day in London. We kick off with breakfast at Timmy Green near Victoria. It’s another Aussie cafe (needed some decent coffee). LOCATIONS — DAISY | GREEN

Service was somewhat haphazard (e.g., food arrives without cutlery and have to ask two different people before someone brought some…) but the coffee was good and the kids shared the pancakes so they were happy with that.



From there a short walk to the palace. Lizzie wasn’t home.

 

[MattA]

Meeting friends out in Richmond in the afternoon, but we were a little early so stopped for a refresher at The Prince’s Head on Richmond Green, which is where they film a lot of the exterior scenes for Ted Lasso.





Everyone in front of me ordering at the bar is American. Must be good for business.

There’s a small collection of memorabilia inside.



Our friends who live in Richmond tell us that filming there for S3 wrapped up about a month or so ago.

 

[VPS]

Meeting friends out in Richmond in the afternoon, but we were a little early so stopped for a refresher at The Prince’s Head on Richmond Green, which is where they film a lot of the exterior scenes for Ted Lasso.

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Everyone in front of me ordering at the bar is American. Must be good for business.

There’s a small collection of memorabilia inside.

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Our friends who live in Richmond tell us that filming there for S3 wrapped up about a month or so ago.

And there’s a lovely jeweller down that lane that I can’t wait to get back to for some more earrings

 

[MattA]

In other news, Novotel Waterloo finally sorted out our wifi issues. Ended up emailing the general manager directly and suddenly find ourselves upgraded to an Executive Room with working internet, about twice the space, and loads more chocolates. A good outcome, but it shouldn’t really have taken 3 days to get here. Particularly frustrating in that this room was ready for us last night but when we got back and asked at the front desk they told us the wifi had been fixed. By the time I worked out it was not we had already put the kids to bed.

 

[MattA]

It’s still hot in London. Not as sunny today, but quite sticky/humid. As previously commented, London is not built for heat. I’m finding the buses—especially the new Routemasters that Boris brought in when he was mayor—particularly unpleasant.

Speaking of the almost ex-PM, our morning wander took us past Number 10.



And on to check on Nelson and throw a coin in the fountain.



A cherry on top of the fourth plinth…



On to Soho, where I made a small Britpop pilgrimage: first we happened to walk past Bar Italia, which is namechecked in a song by Sheffield band Pulp:

And then, realising I was just around the corner, I popped up to the corner of Berwick and D’Arblay Streets, which is the location for the cover photo of the Oasis album What’s The Story Morning Glory. Couldn’t quite get the angle right without getting run over, and it’s changed a bit in the last 27 years, but it’s definitely the spot:

 

[MattA]

It was getting too hot after that. Time to divide and conquer. Left my wife out shopping on Oxford St while I took the kids back to the hotel for some downtime and aircon.

On the way back we walked along the river from Westminster Bridge along to Lambeth Bridge. There’s a Covid memorial on the wall of St Thomas’s hospital which I found quite moving. Each of the hearts has a message for someone who passed away. It goes on for almost the entire distance between the two bridges.





Also it is directly opposite the Houses of Parliament, which may or may not be coincidental.

 

[MattA]

After dinner, my turn. Wife at hotel with the kids, I went to do a quick late night shop.

Also, finding myself at Tottenham Court Road, I got the Elizabeth Line a couple of stops, just because (then came back again).

The stations and trains are very nice.

 

[MattA]

London Eye as I headed back to the hotel:

 

[OATEK]

Thanks for the updates on the Elizabeth Line, and the various pics. I have heard on the grapevine that the Boris buses are going to follow the bendy-buses out of London. Hard to find any locals that like them. Looking forward to our visit next month.

 

[Telemachus]

I’ve definitely tried to speak French whenever I could. But that’s because I wanted to. I’ve got enough to get by in most tourist situations, and there’s always Google Translate if you don’t know a key word.

About half of the time the other person switches to English, which is kind of frustrating when you want to practice, but I think they’re genuinely trying to be nice/helpful.

With only a few minor exceptions everyone we’ve encountered has been friendly and not at all like the stereotype suggests.

Is that because I’ve made an effort to speak French? A post-COVID honeymoon period? The fact that we’ve mostly had two cute little people with us? Or that French people aren’t really as rude to foreigners as the cliché suggests?

Who knows. All I can say is if you want to go, you should. We’ve had an amazing time and I’m sure you will too. As others have said, I think a well placed Bonjour and Merci goes a long way!

Very much enjoying your entertaining TR and have bookmarked a few places/tips for future reference: thank you.

Just picking up on the language/nationality thing in France which struck a chord with me. I have reasonable French so (like you) make an effort which is generally well received. The first few days in a Francophone country can be hard work, though, when lack of practice means that the cogs turn in one’s brain, the rust gets ground off painfully, and there is the frustration of running into a vocab brick wall when a perfectly mainstream word in French just can’t be retrieved instantly from the memory banks.

I’ve played the Aussie card too and, while it does work it saddens me (as a dual AU/UK citizen) to find it prudent to game French stereotypes concerning Brits and Aussies. On last trip to France (post-Brexit but pre-Covid) I had a good French conversation with a stranger, in which I confessed my UK origins but expressed strong disapproval of Brexit and associated thinking. The message that by no means all Brits are anti-French/European went down well and my interlocutor commented that French attitudes to the UK also cover a broad spectrum. Haven’t seen sufficient data yet to conclude that French views have become more hostile since Brexit though it frankly wouldn’t be surprising.

 

[MattA]

Thanks for the updates on the Elizabeth Line, and the various pics. I have heard on the grapevine that the Boris buses are going to follow the bendy-buses out of London. Hard to find any locals that like them. Looking forward to our visit next month.

They’re a really terrible design. Poor accessibility and as I say every one we’ve caught has been stiflingly hot (they only have these tiny windows so there’s no breeze, and if they have aircon it doesn’t work).

 

[MattA]

Morning coffee with a view…



Then a stroll along the river to Westminster tube.

 

[MattA]

Heading for South Ken museums, but first brunch. I had the Melbourne Shakshuka:



Nice spot…



Natural History Museum.



Wandered around for a bit but it was quite hot, half of the dino hall was closed, and very busy.







So we made an exit and headed for Kensington High Street. Passed the Albert Hall on the way.

 

[MattA]

After the shops we were heading west to catch another friend for an afternoon bbq. Love that they still use the old indicator boards at Earl’s Court…



And Southfields is still wearing its Wimbledon colours…

 

[OATEK]

After the shops we were heading west to catch another friend for an afternoon bbq. Love that they still use the old indicator boards at Earl’s Court…

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And Southfields is still wearing its Wimbledon colours…

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My daughter lived at Southfields back around 2007-8, and it surprised me that it was "the" station for Wimbledon.

 

[parsonstrish]

Absolutely brilliant tr, will be sorry when your holiday finishes.

 

[Quickstatus]

tiny head

The Royal family are not exactly the brightest of the bunch. Several theories

Koh-i-Noor

Interesting the British annexations of the past - in this case the Punjab have generally been seen to be acceptable.