curiouswombat | Checking in...

Just checking in, to say that I had an excellent time with some excellent people at Writerconuk in Coventry, and am now having a few days with D-d in London.

We are staying close to the Natural History Museum, in a rather nice hotel. Last night, as I'd just travelled down from Coventry and D-d had been at a wedding on Saturday, flown in on Sunday morning and met up with her friend from uni before coming to the hotel, we ate in the hotel - and were truly stuffed.

This morning we had a light breakfast and then walked over to Kensington Palace - we had free tickets from our hotel - and it was excellent. Apart from the usual exhibits there was a special one of clothes belonging to The Queen, Princess Margaret, and Dead Di. There will be pictures....

D-d decided to explore Kensington Gardens - I decided to spend a little time in the Natural History Museum, especially to see the portrait of Alfred Russell Wallace who is now given his rightful place beside Darwin. But there was almost a 1 hour queue to get in - so I'm afraid I didn't bother!

We are going to have afternoon tea in a few minutes and then pause, briefly, before walking to the Royal Albert Hall to see 2 proms - prom number 39, Holst, Nishat Khan, and Vaughn Williams, and then prom 40 - the Six Music prom, featuring Cerys Matthews, Laura Marling, and The Stranglers.

I'll report back.... but it might not be until Wednesday, as tomorrow's plan looks to be The Churchill Rooms, The Banqueting House (where Charles First was beheaded) - and we are going to the theatre to see Matilde.

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Sounds like a very enjoyable plan. Have fun! I'm sure you will.

It has been a very good plan... proms were really good, as has been everything today - but I am very tired!

Pfft natural history museum. Go to the V&A! Assuming your feet can take it, mind. Sounds like a packed programme, especially if you're as sleepy as I feel today...

I might well go to the V&A on Thursday - but I had promised to go and look at the picture they have put up in the NHM to Russell Wallace...

We have been fitting a lot in, but it has been very interesting. But, yes, I am rather tired.

Queues are the bane of the summer in London....

Sounds like a fun time will be had :D

Fortunately we have avoided the queues everywhere else! And yes - we are having a really good, if busy, time.

*waves*

*waves back*... from the heart of Kensington.

I've never seen a queue at the Natural History Museum. Is there some sort of special exhibit going on or is it just summer and tourist city there? But you were next door to the V&A! I love that place more than any other in London.
:)
The Banqueting House is very interesting and they give a good guided tour. Enjoy!

Now you've made me long to be in London again which I will be soon enough.

I'm glad you had a good time at Writerconuk.

I was surprised by the queue - there is a dinosaur exhibition on, but it seemed to also just be a function of it being summer and full of tourists.

I might go to the V&A - but they don't have the recently hung portrait of Alfred Russell Wallace which was what I was going to see at the NHM, as they have finally acknowledged his place alongside Darwin in history, and hung him there in memory as well.

There was a masque at the Banqueting House which was interesting - and I would recommend their undercroft café for coffee and cake!

We love London, but have not been there in 23 years. Actually we have not been on your side of the pond in the same number of years.

I hope that you will report on writerconuk.

I wonder if you would see much change if you came back to visit? My own feeling is that London is actually cleaner!

I will write up writerconuk maybe this evening - but otherwise at the weekend when I get home.

I see you had a great time at Writerconuk, and are having a blast with D-d in London. Enjoy!

When I'm in London, I usually stay at the same hotel, a very nice one too which is also close to the Natural History Museum. I like staying in South Kensington.

We are at the Radisson Vanderbilt; it is very nice - and I got quite a good deal on it...!

I love getting those good deals. They make my day. I stay at The Gore.

I made a point of going to the Natural History Museum when I was in London a bunch of years ago. I just loved it. The building alone is amazing.

It is a wonderful place. If the queues are smaller tomorrow I might go back.

Have a great time! The Banqueting House is stunning, and the War Rooms are fascinating and bizarre (these days I'd probably expect the Doctor or a Dalek to appear round a corner...)

Gosh, I haven't been to a Prom for years. Were you in the arena or did you have proper-posh-seats?

The Banqueting House is beautiful. D-d was most interested because of the Charles 1st execution, but we were drawn in to a masque and had a very good time.

The war-rooms kept us occupied for about 3 hours - even without the Doctor or daleks.

And we were up in the Gods at the Prom - so not standing, but not in the posh seats either! And both concerts were good, although very different.

I have brief notes for the one day diary community so will actually write it up properly.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-23694990

Looks interesting.

I am jealous of your Proms - haven't got my act together sufficiently to see even one.

I'm not sure if I'll get to York this year - but they are bound to display it at the Manx Museum eventually!

And it was really good to get to the Proms.

Bojojr and Bumberjean have decided to vacation in London next. The biggest problem they are facing is how to cull down their wishlist to something doable!

Oh yes - very hard work. I reckon almost everything museum-wise that says 'will take approx. 2 hours' you need to leave 3 hours for or you really can't see it properly. And I reckon it is probably better to see less things properly than to see lots of things so quickly that you really didn't get much out of it apart from ticking it off as seen - if you see what I mean.

So, for example, the V&A is fabulous - but decide which bits you are interested in, and look at them, rather than trying to cover every inch of floor space!

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A reason to visit York after London

Re: A reason to visit York after London

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