Last two day s in London
Sunday 21st and Monday 22nd September
A bit of a tourist for my last couple of days, London is so full of them! It would be unusual to hear the English language, unless spoken by an American or Australian.
First up was the Royal Albert Hall, I walked there, only a 30 minute stroll through Kensington gardens, down a path I don’t usually take. The leaves are only beginning to turn colour but there are quite a few brown ones on the ground, another lovely day but a bit cooler.
As always I was a bit early so wondered down a gated path called the flower walk
Mostly shade loving plants, not many flowers left, but pretty all the same then I came across this sign.
A step or two further on, or next minute I was surrounded by the little beasties!
The Prince Albert Memorial is just opposite the hall, i must admit it is very impressive close up.
We started our tour in the entrance that Queen Victoria used when the hall opened, they spoke about how they were to use the money raised from the Great Exhibition to build the Royal Albert Hall and his memorial in the Arts Precinct, dreamed of by the Prince and others and often called Albertopolis, includes the Musuems, Colleges of Art and Music. The National Gallery is not included as in the day, Kensington was outside of London!
In the auditorium itself, very red from carpets,seats to the lighting. The boxes we were in were bought as a way of raising money to build the theatre, as most of the exhibition funds was spent on the fancy Memorial over the road, the are on a 999 year lease, so still owned by the families who can attend 60% of the concerts, otherwise tickets are put into ballots. We were right next door to the Royal box which is twice the size of the others, and is decked out with fancy drapery if they are attending.
There was to be a kids performance that night with song and dance with a theme of what is wrong with the world. No surprises who they are concerned about.
We went to see the stair that the royals use now, and there retiring room, where they wait until everything is ready to welcome the King etc.
They have a particularly gaudy colour scheme above the picture rail and on the ceiling above the William Morris wallpaper. Apparently, when I commented it was to show what colours were available at the time of the theatres construction, I think it was a bit of a mistake, but most people were looking at the photos of all the monarchs and consorts since Victoria around the walls, they don’t have Charles and Camilla yet, they will have to rehang them all when they arrive so they can fit in
Up to the gallery we get a view of the pipe organ that has 999 pipes ranging from about 60 centimetres in girth to a pipe as big as your small finger nail
We could also seethe Flying saucers that were added in the 60’s to Help with the acoustics, originally they had and echo when it was built. It was a bit of an engineering feat though, at the time it was the worlds largest unsupported dome and just sits in a groove made for it, can’t remember whether it weighs 600 or 6000 tons but it can also hold the weight of 100 tons whether it be Donald and his mates, or trapeze artists. The sound system was updated in 2018 with the help of Eric Clapton who has performed there many times!
It was an interesting tour would have liked a bit more time to look at the photos of performing artists around the walls of the corridors. Did get a shot of this guy though and his many necked guitar.
And then of course the star of the show, oops no audience, but still claimed the stage! Actually it was a shot in front of the green screen for a bit of fun, I have some originals ready to gift someone - hahaha! Did meet an elderly mother and her daughter on the tour from Hamilton, so had a drink and a bite to eat with them before going our separate ways.
My way was to the Natural History Museum, just a block over from the hall. Some interesting architecture on the way.
Wandered around the museum for an hour or so, great displays on Volcanos tectonic plates and Earthquakes, there was a button to press if you ever experienced an earthquake - only pressed it once!
Tuesday - and I’m off o Westminster Abbey, was thinking of Kensington Palace but that is closed I should have gone there instead of the Natural History museum, but never mind.
Coming out of the tube station was amused by this. It’s very true!
Came out by Houses of Parliament, Big Ben Looking at it’s best in the morning sunshine
No surprises I was early again, so sat in the park beside the parliament buildings from a little while in the sunshine
The Abbey itself was full of bloody tourists, but nevertheless was very interesting, also a bit of a jumble of tombs, sculptures and plaques.
Hard to give an idea of the height whilst still cutting out the head s of those bloody tourists!
The ceiling of the entrance into the Quire.
The Lady Chapel - lovely intricate ceiling and banners.
There are tombs for Mary Queen of Scots, Henry 5th Henry 7th and his wife, but not Henry 8th. Edward 3rd, Richard 2nd.
Then it was to poets corner and a floor full of authors and poets, and the odd actor.
You wouldn’t believe how many times people would stand on plaques I wanted to photograph and then a lady in a wheel chair came and parked on top and started writing in a book!
the chapel house with Britains oldest door crafted in 1050.
And wall paintings from C 1400
Through the cloisters and corridors towards the exit had some interesting plaques and well
That was all I could manage for the day, I’ve got blisters on one foot so back to hotel to rest up for my train trip tomorrow to Norwich and my time with cousins Ronda!
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