Back on the bus to visit Covent Garden and surrounds. Ten kilometres of walking in a fairly small area, so I must have done lots of backtracking! The bus didn't go where the map said it would (what a surprise) so I 'overshot' Covent Garden, but as it turns out the stop where I left was quite near a huge bookshop I'd planned to visit later in the day. I was able to pick up some Penguin Cookery Postcards that I have been after for years, plus a Captain Kirk bookmark. Big win!
Back to the Market, a lovely old building with several interesting shops in it. But first, the statutory phone booth photo outside!
This was Hotel Chocolat, a fabulous shop where I spent a bit of time and money! It was downstairs in what looked like old storage vaults or bunkers. If I had to I could be hunkered down in here with the products.
Pollocks Toy Theatres are one of or the remaining makers of fold out theatres. All beautifully made and intricate. Had a few other interesting pop up cards etc as well.
Mind you you had to climb stairs to get there, but the walls were entertaining too.
Then a visit to the London Transport Museum. Not planned, but it was right near the Market. As it turned out, it was really interesting, lots of informative displays over 3 floors about the progression from horse-drawn public transport to the modern age of buses and trains, with retired equipment on display. Especially of interest was the recreation of the Regency sedan chairs and hansom cabs that I read about, so now I can picture them.
It's in what was the London Flower market for many years, so a nice building in its own right.
But the toilets are modern, the back walls of the stalls have been painted with the pattern of the train upholstery, and the wash basins are pretty weird:
I probably could have spent another hour or so there but time was ticking! Next on my list was to find the Seven Dials. In the Regency books this was an area of London containing the Rookeries, the worst slums. There were seven roads built off a central axis to maximise the 'windows' taxes.
Not that you would know they were Rookeries now, very flash area even with a Magnum icecream flagship store. But you can see from the bottom photo how the alleyways off the main streets would have been crowded together.
Due to the Transport museum I ran out of time to do more than a quick lap around the National Portrait Gallery. As it turns out it was much smaller than I expected, didn't find much to inspire me. I did like the large mosaic floors on each level though.
It was interesting that the portrait that held pride of place on its own in the entry way was of Ed Sheeran. One way to get the people in I guess.
Time to wander towards home, a few pics here and there of landmarks.
St Martin in the Field church.
Trafalgar Square. I promise it's there behind the fencing, the portaloos and the large video screen for playing opera. So basically it was closed!
Nelson's Column.
Admiralty Arch
Why was I mucking around loading the phone booth photo outside the market? I hit the mother-lode, FIVE of them!
Finally off to another huge bookstore where I had ordered an Alistair Maclean book I have been chasing for years. It came in as promised and it's not going in the baggage! While I was there I saw this cute little penguin and thought it might be a souvenir.
After all, the pieces are less than a quarter the size of a thumbnail, what could possibly go wrong? Then I saw the price and put it straight back.
Tomorrow I hope to go to Notting Hill to the Portobello Road market. I'm sure it will be so busy I will come home again after half an hour (not good with crowds!) but we'll see.
Back to the Market, a lovely old building with several interesting shops in it. But first, the statutory phone booth photo outside!
This was Hotel Chocolat, a fabulous shop where I spent a bit of time and money! It was downstairs in what looked like old storage vaults or bunkers. If I had to I could be hunkered down in here with the products.
Pollocks Toy Theatres are one of or the remaining makers of fold out theatres. All beautifully made and intricate. Had a few other interesting pop up cards etc as well.
Then a visit to the London Transport Museum. Not planned, but it was right near the Market. As it turned out, it was really interesting, lots of informative displays over 3 floors about the progression from horse-drawn public transport to the modern age of buses and trains, with retired equipment on display. Especially of interest was the recreation of the Regency sedan chairs and hansom cabs that I read about, so now I can picture them.
It's in what was the London Flower market for many years, so a nice building in its own right.
But the toilets are modern, the back walls of the stalls have been painted with the pattern of the train upholstery, and the wash basins are pretty weird:
I probably could have spent another hour or so there but time was ticking! Next on my list was to find the Seven Dials. In the Regency books this was an area of London containing the Rookeries, the worst slums. There were seven roads built off a central axis to maximise the 'windows' taxes.
Not that you would know they were Rookeries now, very flash area even with a Magnum icecream flagship store. But you can see from the bottom photo how the alleyways off the main streets would have been crowded together.
It was interesting that the portrait that held pride of place on its own in the entry way was of Ed Sheeran. One way to get the people in I guess.
Time to wander towards home, a few pics here and there of landmarks.
St Martin in the Field church.
Trafalgar Square. I promise it's there behind the fencing, the portaloos and the large video screen for playing opera. So basically it was closed!
Nelson's Column.
Admiralty Arch
Why was I mucking around loading the phone booth photo outside the market? I hit the mother-lode, FIVE of them!
Finally off to another huge bookstore where I had ordered an Alistair Maclean book I have been chasing for years. It came in as promised and it's not going in the baggage! While I was there I saw this cute little penguin and thought it might be a souvenir.
Tomorrow I hope to go to Notting Hill to the Portobello Road market. I'm sure it will be so busy I will come home again after half an hour (not good with crowds!) but we'll see.
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