A continuation of a trip which started on Sept 10.
Canterbury - 9/10-11 (here)
Brighton. 9/13-14
Portsmouth. 9/15
Beth 9/15-17
It took over 3,5 (instead of 2.5) hours to drive from Beth back East to London due to more road work diversions... Driving through the charming England country side was a bit of consolation
Amazingly the weather during this week's visit was spectacularly warm with clear sunny sky which was conducive for long out doors walks.
Walking Tour of Covent Garden
We visited Covent Garden Market many times before but this was the first with
a guided London tour company.
was given by a company:
named "London Walks" we used many times on previous visits to London and highly recommend.
The gentrified West End Market, once home to the world-famous fruit and vegetable retail market, experienced many renovation cycles, since the 16 C . Its appearance from the 1850 declined and came back into a popular shopping and tourist site, with the
Royal Opera House on location.
A plaque in memory of the Donkeys , which labored in the Market for many centuries
The local church at the Market square, which we also visited for the first time, is fondly known as the "Back front Church" as its lavish front door facing the market, is actually only a facade to its inside's end, while the real used entrance is through the back .
St Paul Church on Bedford Street at Covenant Garden was commissioned by the 4th Earl of Bedford in 1631, He was the one who developed the entire Market area, to create "houses and buildings fit for the habitations of Gentlemen and men of ability".
The church is also nicknamed "the actors' church" by a long association with the theater community, particularly in the West End.
Plaques in honor of :
Vivien Leigh, 1913 – 1967
Terence Rattingan -1911 –1977 Dramatist
Charlie Chaplin - 1889 –1977, filmmaker
Noel Coward, 1899 – 1973 Play write
are hang on the inside of the church's walls
Maiden Lane - Covent Garden
The short street runs one street up and parallel to the Strand, from Bedford Street in the west through St Martin's Lane. and to Southampton Street in the east.
The tour guide told us, though it is not mentioned else where, that the street's name is taken from the English world midden - refuse heap. .and that the street was once, where the trash of the Vegetable Market used to be thrown into.
The painter J. M. W. Turner was born in the street in 1775
Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church is also located hidden on the Maiden Lane street.
Built in 1874 in English Gothic style, as an act of reparation for sins against the Blessed Sacrament during the Reformation.
It was the first Catholic church opened when the religion was aloud to be practiced again in the country, side by side to the church of England
The church features in Graham Greene’s novel "The End of the Affair"
The famous restaurant Rules is as well
at Maiden lane. 34-35, +44 20 7836 5314
It is the oldest in town, and has been operating since 1798, serving classic British food (especially game) in Edwardian surrounds (more History)
We ate at he restaurant's main downstairs hall, many times on our previous visits. But this times, the guide took the group upstairs to the special private rooms, named after known dignitaries who frequented the place during its long past
The John Betjeman Room
The English poet, writer, and broadcaster. Sir John Betjeman (1906 – 1984) was Poet Laureate from 1972 , a journalist , a much-loved figure on British television, as well as
a founding member of The Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture, He helped also to save Rules from demolition
Graham Greene Room
The English writer and journalist Graham Greene (1904 – 1991) who was regarded by many as one of the leading novelists of the 20th C, was another frequent visitor to the restaurant. A collection of his small alcohol bottles also featured in a film is decorating the room designated to his name
Gordon's Wine Bar
Right by the Victoria Embankment Gardens (1874) on the north side of the River Thames and near the Embankment tube station, a long line of people queued up for the popular London's oldest Gordon's Wine Bar since 1890
address: 47 Villiers St
The family owned bar is in the basement of an old building. which is a crepuscular, subterranean cave carved from bedrock and is its main hall. lit by candle light .
The original license for the place is said to date back to the 14th century, when King Edward III granted Arthur Gordon the freedom to sell wine anywhere in London
It has been frequented by the likes of, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh.
On my several wondering in Central London , I arrived to this upmarket chic residential area, between Regent and Hyde Parks, which transmits a village feel, and is centered on indie boutiques smart restaurants. lots of small cafes, and independent shops. world-class art gallery, an internationally renowned concert hall, and few museums.
Marylebone High Street.
Both sides of this main neighborhood's street are lined with fashionable shops, cafes and restaurants.
This quiet and peaceful part of the city, is a place of culture, where there are best hotels and boutique guest houses are found
The Wallace Collection has a world-class display of art from the 18th and 19th Centuries., set in a 19th C mansion.
The Wigmore Hall is one of London’s premier concert venues for classical music. Its intimate hall also hosts lunchtime and evening concerts
The Royal Academy of Music is one of London’s major music schools
The original Madame Tussauds waxwork museum is located on the edge of Marylebone
Wigmore Hall Royal Music Academy. Madam Tussauds
on 22b Baker Street
This is the first world museum dedicated to a fictional literary character - famous detective Sherlock Holmes.
Marylebone’s Farmer’s market takes place every Sunday from 10am to 2pm
At the Burlington House -On Piccadilly
This is a place I never miss to frequent, on the many visits made to London
The impressive building on Piccadilly in Mayfair, was originally a private English Baroque and then Neo Palladian mansion owned by the Earls of Burlington.
It was significantly expanded in the mid-19th C, after being purchased by the British government. Today, the Royal Academy + 5 learned societies occupy much of the building
Michael Craig-Martin exhibit at
Royal academy of Arts (RA)
Open-Sept 21th- Dec 10th/2024
Sir Michael Craig-Martin CBE RA is an Irish-born (1941) contemporary conceptual artist and painter. known for fostering and adopting the Young British Artists, many of whom he taught, . He is an emeritus Professor of Fine Art at Goldsmiths.
He is a key figure in British art, and one of the most influential artists and teachers of his generation. In 1973, he exhibited the seminal piece An Oak Tree.The work was bought by the National Gallery of Australia in 1977, and the Tate gallery has an artist's copy.
I relate much more to the current delightful vivid body of work of his, exhibited at the Ra and consisting of sculpture, installation, painting, drawing, prints and digital works, and elements fused from pop, minimalism and conceptual art.
I manged to view the exhibit when it just opened (9/21st) on our last stay day in London Shown in the RA Main Galleries the artists' colorful assumable is a retrospective of his 60-year career. consisting of paintings of everyday objects – from corkscrews and umbrellas to laptops and smartphones. and new immersive luminary digital work
Royal Astronomical Society (RAS)
While visiting at the Burlington House,
I noticed a queued line of people by the Royal Astronomical Society wing of the building. in early morning hours.
They were waiting, I learnt, for the Open House event tour given for free to the public, once a year allowing a view of the treasures inside this society's rooms
The RAS moved to the Burlington building 1874.
Apparently, once a year, on the weekend of second and third week of September various structures, buildings and societies, are on view OPEN to the Public. for free
So we were lucky to enter the Astronomical Society wing
This glass window which is an abstract interpretation of Astronomy and Geophysics, is showing spiral cosmic, and contains a motto of the RAS -
"Quickuid Nitet Contandum" - "Whatever Shines should to be Observed"
The window designed and produced in
2007 by Sally Scott.
Manuscripts on display at the beautiful RAS library room
Caroline Heschel 1780-1848 Gallileo Galilei 1564-1642. John Herschel 1792-1871
Comet discovered in 1786 Sketches of the Moon. Recording of Sun spots
From the Cosmic Theater to Earthly Imaginary Theatrical performances
Theater Seen.
On the way to London county Hall where the play "Witness of Persecution" was preformed. crossing the river on the Hungerfortd bridge and walking through the Jubilee Gardens on the South Bank, exposed us to the following Themes river scenes
This court case criminally, a very good drama , was staged inside the remarkable London County Hall in the heart of London's South bank by Westminster Bridge
London City County Hall Building
Set during the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, when Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists (BUF) marched into London’s East End to stir up anti-Jewish sentiment. the play tells how he was blocked by a group including working-class Jews, Irish dockers and Communists, who all united to insist that Mosley’s cohort ‘shall not pass’..
Tina -Musical
Zoe Birkett - a British singer and musical theater performer stars in the title role of Tina Turner in the hit musical Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theater in London.
Zoe Brikett gave an amazing performance as Tina in the musical we saw
"Fawlty Towers" at the Apollo
Nearly 50 years since it first hit UK TV screens, the ‘greatest British sitcom of all time’ (Radio Times) is now a brand-new stage play, adapted by comedy legend John Cleese and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger.
Starring Adam Jackson-Smith as the inimitable Basil, Anna-Jane Casey as the iconic Sybil, and Paul Nicholas as the bumbling Major,
The cast take on the iconic characters at Torquay’s most chaotic hotel – Fawlty Towers,
a classic hilarious comedy, in which we lough a lot.
Meeting Friends
At Covent Garden with Sandra and Frank.
The Wolseley Mayfair with Deborah and Nick
Tamarind of Mayfair Restaurant
20 Queen St
This upscale Indian food restaurant opened a great terrace after the Corona years
Sael - at St James market
1 St James's Market , 020 7993 3251
This new British culinary establishment just opened this month.
Jason Atherton one of London's most famous chefs and restaurateur. opened this added place to his culinary empire.
His flagship restaurant Pollen Street Social gained a Michelin Star in 2011, its opening year
Sael -named after the old English word that signifies season, time and occasion.
a tribute to English heritage.
St James's Market is quickly earning a reputation as one of London's top dining hot-spots.
A hub of contemporary world finest cuisine and iconic brands,. From Aquavit to Smeg, and from Showcase to The Beau Brummell.
Staying again at:
Great location on 21 Piccadilly, Used to be the Meridian, but not any longer as good.
Bye Bye London
SHANA TOVA
Wishing your family and Israel a calmer, sweeter and rejuvenated Jewish new Year
To be Continued....
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