Category: Child Friendly

1. St Antholin Lost London - Selfridges Christmas Window Depicts how London Could have Looked (Part II)

   Posted on 8:00am Thursday 12th Dec 2013

    

    St Antholin Church, on the far left, recreated in gingerbread in Selfridges Lost London window

   Recently I blogged about Selfridge's delightful Lost London window, which recreates buildings that have been lost or were never built in the capital. I was most delighted to see that St Antholin Budge Row was included, as it is one of my favourite lost churches in the City of London.

   The gingerbread model depicts what was considered to be one of the finest of the City Churches designed by Christopher Wren. The church stood from 1678 until 1874. Like all the Lost Churches, it has a fascinating history and with a bit of detective work I have been able to visit the parts of the church that still survive.

2. The Delightful Geffrye Museum's Christmas Past Exhibition

   Posted on 9:00am Monday 9th Dec 2013

   

   In the 1630s room the table is laid out with sweet dishes 

   Updated with 2013 opening times

   One of my favourite places to visit in London is the Geffrye Museum, located in former eighteenth century almshouses. The Museum is named after Sir Robert Geffrye, a former Lord Mayor of the City of London, at whose bequest the almshouses were built. The Geffrye features eleven period rooms which reflect the styles and fashions of the English middle classes from 1600s to the present day.

   It is worth visiting at any time of the year but it is at its most magical during its annual Christmas Past exhibition when the rooms are transformed and decorated as they would have been for their era. The rooms are laid out sequentially with the earlier rooms tending to have just very simple evergreen decoration.

3. Christmas Decorations in Covent Garden

   Posted on 7:10am Wednesday 20th Nov 2013

   

   The amazing view of Covent Garden from the Royal Opera House's terrace

   Last night had a fabulous night seeing the ballet at the Royal Opera House with friends Fran, Yannick and Katy . On the way back the the tube we walked through Covent Garden Piazza and enjoyed the beautiful Christmas decorations. I hope you enjoy the photos.

4. Lost London - Selfridges Christmas Window Depicts how London Could have Looked (Part I)

   Posted on 6:00pm Tuesday 12th Nov 2013

   

   Destination Christmas is announced from above the main entrance by the Queen of Time 

   When Harry Gordon Selfridge opened his store on Oxford Street in 1909 his innovative marketing strategies created the ultimate shopping experience combining glamour, education, fun and entertainment. Fast forwarding over one hundred years and Selfridges Christmas window displays are still charming its customers.

5. Brick City - Iconic Landmarks in Lego

   Posted on 7:30am Tuesday 29th Oct 2013

   

    St Pancras International Station - the backdrop of the white walls make the model's details really stand out

   One of my favourite things in London this year so far was seeing the charming miniature scale Lego version of St Pancras International Station made by Warren Elsmore, which was on display back in May at Waterstones Piccadilly. It was the perfect treat for me as it combined my love of Lego and architecture.

   I was therefore delighted to discover that the model is on display again in London at "Brick City" at the arts depot until Saturday 2 November 2013. This small, free exhibition includes other iconic landmarks from London and around the world all made from Lego. It is featured by the Family Arts Festival as just one of the fun events taking place during the half term school 

6. A Little Trick & Plenty of Treats with Halloween Afternoon Tea at the Ampersand Hotel

   Posted on 8:30am Sunday 27th Oct 2013

   

   Spooky, atmospheric fog - a fun start to the special Halloween afternoon tea  - Photo by kind permission of Emma

   Yesterday I spent a delightful afternoon enjoying a double birthday celebration with some of my favourite twitter friends – Emma, Davide, Katie, Fran and Yannick. I had visited the Ampersand Hotel earlier this year and was delighted to discover that at the moment they are offering a special Halloween themed afternoon tea, which is available only until Sunday 3rd November 2013.

7. Centre of the Cell - What's Inside this Colourful Building

   Posted on 6:00am Friday 4th Oct 2013

    

   The entrance to Centre of the Cell is located in the smaller of two blocks

   Tucked away only a couple of minutes from the busy Whitechapel Road is Centre of the Cell, a medical and science based educational centre which uses the latest interactive technology to create a fun learning environment.

   Centre of the Cell is located in the Blizard Insistute, named after Sir William Blizard, a distinguished surgeon at The London Hospital and one of the College's founders.

   It’s one of the most colourful and slightly outrageous buildings in East London.

8. Grahame-White Watch Office - Exploring the RAF Museum London Part II

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 10th Sep 2013

   

    The original wooden cantilevered staircase - note the carved decoration on the newel post (the vertical post at the bottom of the banister)

   Last week I made a return visit to the RAF Museum London this time introducing its delights to my friends @ypldn, @franpickering and @kathrynsdaniels. During our visit we were shown around the Grahame-White Watch Office by one of the museum's volunteers.

   The office which was built in 1915 was part of the Grahame-White factory, the UK's first purpose-built aircraft factory. It was located at the time on the London Aerodrome in Hendon. During World War I the site was used by the military and after that by the RAF until it closed in 1987. Both the factory and Watch Office were later dismantled and re-constructed on its present site. A clip of “Brick By Brick: Rebuilding Our Past” a television documentary featuring Dan Cruickshank showing the restoration of the buildings can be seen here.

9. Ride Burlington Arcade's Magic Carpet

   Posted on 10:45pm Wednesday 28th Aug 2013

    

    Burlington Arcade from the Burlington Gardens entrance - Note on the right hand side the Beadle wearing a top hat

   One of the pleasures of visiting London is constantly discovering new unexpected things. This week Julie Chandler and I met up to visit the Richard Rogers Inside Out exhibition at the Royal Academy. We were directed at the ticket desk to walk through Burlington Arcade to get to the exhibition hall. As we're both Westminster Guides we're very familar with the Arcade but we were delighted to discover that a new carpet been fitted with a rather unique and interesting design.

10. What is the Curiously Named Punishment Parade?

    Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 13th Aug 2013

    

     The Blues and Royals at the Dismounting Ceremony -  recognisable in their blue tunics and red plumed helmets

    The Changing of the Guards ceremony is one of great displays of British pageantry. However it’s extremely popular, so why not avoid the crowds and as an alternative check out the lesser known but equally photogentic Punishment Parade? 

    The Dismounting Ceremony, to give it its official title, takes place daily at 4pm within the courtyard of Horse Guards. The tradition dates back to 1894 when it is said that Queen Victoria arrived one day without warning to find that her guards had failed to turn out when her carriage went passed, as they were drinking and gambling in the middle of the afternoon instead of guarding her palace.  She then gave orders that the guards should be inspected daily for the next one hundred years. The tradition continues to this day although the timescale for this has passed.

    There are two monuted guards at the entrance to Horse Guards every day from 10am to 4pm. The guards on duty belong to either the Lifeguards or the Blues and Royals, two of the most senior regiments in the British Army which make up the Household Cavalry.