No - we haven't actually gone to the theatre yet - maybe later this week or early next week. Now that we know where the TKTS booth is in Leicester Square, we'll have to try our luck. But this morning, we headed off to the Old Vic Theatre - for a backstage tour. We "turned up" at the Stage Door at 11:30 a.m., and met the backstage manager, Ned - who gave us an hour's tour and the full history of this fascinating old theatre. I knew it as the place where the National Theatre did Shakespeare - people like Olivier and Gielgud. But it's a 200 year old building with a very rich history! Well worth it if you ever find yourself in London - there were just three of us on the tour, so we got a wonderful, private tour! 
After the tour, we bid Ned good-bye and headed off to Covent Garden to try our luck at the Theatre Museum (it had been closed when we were there before, as it was a Monday). Today, we waltzed in and were treated to quite a large number of exhibits, including one on the Redgrave acting dynasty. We also sat in theatre seats and saw many excerpts from plays in the West End - most from a couple of years ago, but interesting to see! We whiled away another hour and a half there - looking at all the interesting exhibits, from miniature stage sets to actual costumes from historic performances.
Next, we rushed back to the tube for a last trip to find Brown's Hotel. I'd been reading about this hotel - supposed to be "the best afternoon tea in London". It will have to go some to beat the Dorchester! We found the lovely old hotel in Mayfair - and headed into the beautifully appointed room - sumptuous!
We were ushered to our table, and ordered our teas (Splending Oolong for me, and Brown's Afternoon Blend for Vern). A lovely three-tiered tray is brought with wonderful sandwiches on the bottom tier, scones on the top and several cakes and tarts in the middle. A generous helping of clotted cream and strawberry jam with the scones, of course. The sandwiches were terrific - and a second helping was brought - and a third offered! More scones were also offered, and after we'd started to make some headway into the cakes, a trolley was brought around to offer more cake - a wonderful cream/sponge cake or a fruit-cake. We sampled the sponge...
We left two hours later absolutely sated. As we ate and chatted, a pianist played old standards - we had a lovely afternoon listening to him "tickle the ivories". About 5 p.m., we pulled ourselves away and trundled home again - today found us on the tube for four separate trips - quite a busy day, but at a lovely pace!
Tomorrow, we head off to Oxford again, enroute to Witney to see the antique samplers!
See you tomorrow evening!
2 comments:
It sounds as if you had quite a day and are well fortified to take on the journey to Whitney Antiques and all of those tempting samplers. We will all be waiting to read your report on that special place.
Pat
Well I was able to taste the crumbs of those tea treats that fell into your pocket! What a day, I loved the voice of the tour guide, he was loud enough for me to hear quite well from your pocket.
Now tomorrow please let me have a peak out of your pocket at those samplers!!!!! Please, I just cannot wait to see them all. Remember no gloves on top of my head tomorrow!
Becky:-)
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