Today was a day for another walking tour - we started at Bond Street tube station and walked through the area where the Barretts of Wimpole Street lived. We passed 50 Wimpole Street where Elizabeth Barrett Browning lived and was courted by Robert Browning, and stopped at St. Mary's Parish Church, where they were married in a secret ceremony on September 12, 1846. We stopped in the crypt cafe there and had an early lunch. Then we walked on through Regent Park - what a lovely spot - we saw swans, ducks, and even herons! The squirrels were very tame and came right up to us asking for food.
Then we walked on down Baker Street and passed 221B Baker, where Sherlock Holmes lived. We stopped at the museum, but it seemed very schlocky, so we didn't go through.... But we got a feel for the area and saw what Conan Doyle must have seen when writing his stories.
We were pretty tired by then, and I was sure it was about 2:30 so we decided to go on to the Lanesborough hotel for afternoon tea. When we arrived and asked to be seated for tea, we found that it was actually only just 2 now, (when I thought it must be at least 3 by now) and they don't start seating for tea until 3:30 and were fully booked for the first sitting, so we decided to stop for a drink in the bar instead.
The bar here is absolutely gorgeous, and they charge accordingly. We unwittingly decided that we'd each have a gin and tonic, as we were very warm, having walked quite a long way in the tube tunnels with our heavy coats on. So we enjoyed an hour in the mahogany-clad bar and sipped our drinks. As we left and paid the bill, we discovered that we'd paid $40 for 2 small drinks! We may have been saved by not being able to have tea! :D
We were still dead tired, so came home and collapsed on the beds for a couple of hours. Then, decided we'd better get up and move, or we'd not sleep all night.
We headed out for Marks and Spencer to pick up something to bring to the Sampler Guild meeting tomorrow, as it's a "bring a plate" affair, which I think is like our pot luck lunches!
Then we tried a new neighborhood restaurant - a Greek restaurant that is recommended by our landlady. It was terrific - we had souvlaki and a nice bottle of wine. Very delicious and reasonably priced! Home again, and time for bed, as I have to get up early to get to Rayner's Lane in the morning for the guild meeting!
4 comments:
Hi Julie -- I've had a delightful time catching up on all your adventures. I guess you have just been to the Marks & Sparks (Spensers) on High Street Kensington? For future reference what is the name of the Greek restaurant?
If you have time you must go to the Soane Museum on Lincoln's Inn Field. Take note of the Joseph Gandy paintings there. My husband wrote the book on Gandy published last spring.
Hello to Linda at TSG for me.
Joanne
Joanne, again. We had an English guest at Thanksgiving dinner who also lives in your neighborhood. Thinking of it made me remember to recommend Geales restaurant, just behind the Nottinghill Cinema for upscale (no pun intended) and delicious fish & chips. Also Jules right near cinema, just beyond the tube entrance for delicious and inexpensive rotisserie chicken, haricots verts and pommes dauphinois.
Julie,
Tell everyone at the meeting hello from us here at home tomorrow. Oh wait, That's right I am in your pocket:-) How i forget after being in the dark so long. Lift me out to say hello tomorrow!
Tell them we are enjoying our birthday buddy exchange and hope they will all join us next Fall for the seminar.
Have a great time
Becky
Hello, Joanne - oh, good - you can tell me what pommes dauphinois are - we were looking at the menu at Jules last night and wondering...
The greek restaurant is Costas Grill and is on Hillgate - right beside Costas Fish Restaurant which is a takeaway place. We looked in at Geales one night, but for some reason, it didn't call us in as the Costas Grill did...just our mood, most likely, as it's highly recommended by our landlady.
We were at the M&S Simply Food on Notting Hill Gate. We've also been down Kensington Church Street to the Valerie's there - we were looking for a non-smoking place - have since found a few that at least do keep their smoking and non-smoking sections separate enough that you are not choking.
We're having a ball - I'll be seeing Linda today at the TSG meeting - will say hello.
And to the little miss in my pocket - not to worry - I've been letting you have the crumbs haven't I? You'll get a little turn at the meeting too - I'll bring you out so you can see the show and share...
Julie
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