A London Vacation

[Mathos]

We decided last week to take a bit of a break,
London came to mind.


We took one of those Virgin High Speed Trains
down to Euston from Preston.





They don't hang about either.

A little over two hours and we were in the Capital.




Full English breakfast on the way down, included in
the 1st Class fare deal, as much tea, coffee,
fruit juice or water as you could handle.


The food was excellent, china plates, cups, Sheffield Cutlery.

As good as any hotel. Service was exceptional.



Nice to spend a few days there too.

We had a recommendation for the Cavendish Hotel, Mayfair;- just a ten minute stroll from Piccadilly





Piccadilly St James Hotel London, Mayfair Hotel London, 4 Star ...

1. Hotels in Mayfair London. Official website of The Cavendish London Hotel Piccadilly St James hotel central London. The Cavendish London is a luxury 4 star ...
   Piccadilly St James Hotel London, Mayfair Hotel London, 4 Star London Hotel, Hotel London - Cached - Similar
   Special Offers
   Photo Gallery
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We were not disappointed.




We enjoyed the break, Flobo wanted to visit Buckingham Palace, we
certainly enjoyed the same.


We found a great place to take some photographs from.



I'll spend some time writing up and putting
plenty of photographs on board through the week.


Got a lot of catching up to do with my work load as well.

More than worth it though.

[Mathos]

An outstanding City.





The History in general is in a league of its own.


Plenty of ways to relax and enjoy.




We had some outstanding meals.


You never know what you might come across
on The Thames either.



Or flying in the sky above.




Seemed to be a plane above us, every time we looked up.


Don't go striking any matches there young man..





Now that's what you call a gun.

[Mathos]

We had a tour of The Royal Mews.

Absolutely outstanding as well.




The floors above the stable areas are all living accommodation
for the staff in the main.


Speaking with one of the ladies who was employed there,
she did advise me that the same were exceptionally nice
throughout.

Mews in the better parts of London are worth a fortune.


This will give you an idea.



EATON ROW, SW1





Asking price £6,950,000

• 4 double bedrooms
• dining room
• gym & spa area

• 4 en-suite bathrooms
• study
• 2 cloakrooms

• reception room
• kitchen
• garage & private parking

This link is quite an eye opener.

Mews houses, cottages and property for sale in central London ...
Mews house, cottage and flat property sales in South Kensington, Paddington/Bayswater, Marylebone, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill, Maida Vale, ...
Central London mews property for sale and to let : Lurot Brandsales - Cached - Similar



I was quite amazes at the current property prices in general.


London is well and truly capable of standing
on it's own two feet in the world.

[Mathos]

The Royal Mews has a collection of 'Royal Coaches' Landaus,
Rolls Royce's and more besides.




Impressive to say the least.

These carriages especially are priceless.

The Rolls was outstanding.




The Phantom 1V is the most exclusive Rolls Royce ever built.

Eighteen were made between 1950 and 1956.

Only sixteen of the same have survived.

This is an exceptional link.

Rolls-Royce - Royal Rolls-Royce's
Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Mulliner Park Ward Limousine,
1978, #PGH101. The Queen's State and private motor
cars are housed in the Royal Mews. ...
www.rolls-royce.150m.com/royal/indexen.html - Cached - Similar

[Mathos]

Both me and Flobo were amazed at how brilliant all of the vehicles
and coaches were presented.




It's quite special to witness such well maintained and presented beauty.




Sensational things were around the corner.

[Mathos]

This was mind blowing.

The Gold State Coach

There's a fair bit to write about regarding this beauty.

I'll be busy later in the week.


It really is an outstanding piece of craftsmanship.

I cannot think of anything else in this category being comparable.

Quite amazing.

[Mathos]

The Gold Coach itself weighs in at an astonishing four tons.

It's twenty four feet long, eight feed wide and twelve feet high.

The horses that pull this beauty are especially trained,
the coach only moves along at a walking pace.




During it's resting time in The Royal Mews,
the whole body of the coach is
supported on correctly placed axle stands.

General maintenance, ie cleaning etc is carried out
on a regular basis by professionals.

When in road use (last time being for HM The Queens Silver Jubilee
on the 7th June 1977) a postilion rides a horse in each pair,
while a groom walks at each horses head, a brakeman walks behind.

This is a good and interesting link,
excellent post-card type photographs with
encouraging information.


Pictures and Postcards from London, England - Romania Web Collection
Gold State Coach made for George III in 1762
has been used for every Coronation since. ...
The Sovereigns Escort of the Household Cavalry
ride at the rear. ...
www.aboutromania.com/london20.html - Cached



As you can see from my photographs the general creativity and art is
above and beyond any comparison.


It's sensational.



The coach is gilded featuring original painted panels by Giovanni Cipriani with
rich gilded sculpture including three cherubs on the roof and four Triton's, one at each corner.


It really is a magnificent work of art from end to end.



The above information was very interesting.

The few horses we caught sight of in The Mews were amazing.

They don't want them to be disturbed by camera flash and noise of course, but I did manage one reasonable safe shot from behind and slightly over the stable barrier.




A beautiful specimen.


Some gorgeous areas just outside the Palace as well.



St James's Park.


Splendid.

[Mathos]

London was quite busy as well.




Plenty of tourists about.

[natalie8]

Great stuff again, Mathos. My husband will be going to London for a contract from October-July for the Olympics. I'm planning on going for a couple of weeks in November. I know it will be cold and damp, but hey, that's life. I'll start a thread closer to the time, then post pics.

[Mathos]

^Cheers Natalie, nice to hear that, London should be qute nice in November.

Keep well wrapped up and enjoy the massive variations in life.

Your thread will be a bonus.


"Thanks for the Green Natalie, really appreciated.~"

[Mathos]

The River Thames is a very interesting River.




The numerous development along both banks
has really surprised me.

There are some amazing improvements
with outstanding property in general.

HMS Belfast is a very interesting part of our recent history,
plus being a tourist attraction of distinction.



It's presently having some maintenance carried out, it's a very attractive
and large Battle-Ship.

This is a good link:-

HMS Belfast :: Virtual Tours
Welcome to the web version of the
HMS Belfast Virtual Tour, which was
originally designed for a kiosk.
The kiosk was installed on the actual ship herself at ...
HMS Belfast :: Virtual Tours - Cached - Similar




We did the tour many years back,
if we had been gifted with more time
on this trip we would have gone on board again.

Maybe Natalie can give it a twirl?

[Mathos]

The Tower of London is another sensational place to visit.


As you can see, cleaning and maintenance work is
presently being undertaken.

Again, not on this trip, but both Flobo and myself can vouch for it being
a well worthwhile place to explore.

It's steeped in outstanding history.

The enormous Ravens in the grounds of The Tower are also part of history.


We even have a Raven Master to tend the birds.

He is of course one of The Yeomen Warders.



Great informative link here.


History of the Tower of London
Visit this site dedicated to providing information about
History of the Tower of London.Fast and accurate
details about History of the Tower of London.
Castles history-of-tower-of-london.htm - Cached - Similar

[Mathos]

Many of the new developments still retain
the appearance of a working wharf.




Retaining character akin to the above is quite priceless.

Brilliant architecture and building throughout.


These apartments of course fetch tremendous sums of money.




The Penthouse (top three floors on the building on the right above) presently on sale in the region of :-

"Six Million Pounds"


Interesting to note, you could use this lock link to the canal by The Thames
and carry on by boat to Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds at 4mph by some splendid stretches of water-way.




There are certainly no shortages of visitors from
European Countries.




We were told that numerous
River Boat traffic comes across
from Holland.





That might have just accounted for Hans!




There are so many variations in life.

Some great variation in water craft above.

Amazing what we came across on The Thames.



No doubt The Harbour Master is kept very busy.



River Police as well.

There were plenty of these craft up and down the Thames.



There be a great deal to look after.

[Mathos]

These Clippers were quite popular on The River.





Well advertised by Nat West.


It's obviously become big business nowadays.

Days Out Guide - Thames Clippers - 2FOR1
Fastest Fleet on the River, Thames Clippers
operates a service through the heart of London
departing piers every 20mins.
Our River Roamer tickets allow ...
Days Out Guide - Thames Clippers - 2FOR1 -
Cached - Similar



We noticed a popular speed boat service for tourists.

They were obviously busy, we passed several.





There's always room for optional plus variation in travel.


London Rib Voyages - Boarding Gate 1, The London Eye Millennium ...
25 Feb 2010 ... Your guide to London Rib Voyages -
Boarding Gate 1, The London Eye Millennium Pier,
Westminster London SE1 7PB +44 (0) 207 928 8933.
London Rib Voyages - Boarding Gate 1,
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Tippedlondon-rib-voyages -
Cached - Similar



Plenty of enjoyment to be had on the river alone.

[Mathos]

I'll do a few posts on land next visit.

This is a phenomenal and at the same time
a very emotional place.


Brits amongst the readers especially will be well intimate with our
outstanding cenotaph on Whitehall.

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

So very, very special.

Not so far off for this year either.

[Mathos]

After the tour of Buckingham Palace
(which was really good) we were steered
out into the gardens at the rear
cameras were permitted from here on.




It's an extremely beautiful place inside especially.

Then again, so it should be.

Flobo bought a large book with all the information
in plus some exceptionally nice photographs.

Well if you could take your own, you wouldn't buy the book...would you !


There's a fold away café in the palace grounds.



Somebody kept looking through the window at the top here.




Might have been doing a head count or making sure no body pinched a cup!

I did...


Well it's our heritage on show here.

Anyhow the cup was a cardboard one... No big deal.



I had a Greek Salad..




Flobo went for a fancy lemon tart of some description.




They were both nice and tasty.


Flobo absolutely loved being there.

[Mathos]

You can see by the lawn markings,
the summer afternoon garden tents
etc had just been removed.



Her Majesty only allows the Palace to be viewed
by the public whilst she takes her summer holiday.

This year on The Hebridean Princess, and Balmoral.

Two great places to be.




The Palace shop is conveniently located to
intercept the punters on their way out.

It works of course.


Must say, the Palace gardens are outstanding.




Sensational.

[Mathos]

It's like a beautiful park, I was really impressed with the garden lake and surrounding trees, bushes and plants.





I rather think anyone looking at these photographs can appreciate just what a beautiful setting it really is.




I could enjoy a few days simply taking it all in around here.

[Mathos]

This was a really nice gents outfitters.

Jermyn Street or thereabouts from memory.




Quality all round and plenty of variation.




I like these specialist outfitters.

You can always find something totally different,
the quality is perfect.

This was nice:-




A poached Dorset Lobster salad with shellfish and a brandy dressing.

Note the pansies too. Very tasty..

Sensational starter.


I followed it through with a really nice Devon Rose pan fried chicken
breast, plus wild mushrooms, peas, plus a rare Wicks Manor smoked ham.
The puff pastry pie addition as small as it was was really tasty.

After the photograph, I added a couple of nice new potato's, the meal was perfect.




It's special dining in this format.

Outstanding cuisine.

[Mathos]

Flobo had a very tasty Summer Salad.



She followed this with a roast pork offering with
plenty of additional support, asparagus, sauté potato's
new potato's with an assortment of vegetables tucked into the
lower sections, finely diced, perfectly cooked.



Doesn't that look perfect.

[Mathos]

Some nice breakfasts.

The usual large selection of fruits, yogurts, fruit juices,
tea or coffee. Fresh Milk or even sparkling or still water.

Every cereal you could possibly imagine.

Porridge, Kippers, Smoked Haddock with poached eggs
and all the additional supporting attributes.


Smoked salmon with scrambled eggs etc etc.


At the end of the day, you know just one morning
you ain't going to leave the table without sampling
a real tasty and much appreciated 'English Breakfast'





'You know it makes sense.'

Mop the juices up with a selection of best buttered toast,
then sample the finest honey you ever tasted on the
final round or two.


The bread was really nice.

[Mathos]

The rooms at The Cavendish were on the small side,
but all the same very nice.

A very comfortable bed.

Air con and all the mod cons!






Nice bathroom, again a little on the small side but
suited all the needs.

Flobo likes these 'stand alone fancy sinks'





Spotlessly clean throughout, beautifully presented.



Nice shower and roomy cubicle.


Decent storage space for a few days, mini-bar
a flash TV with plenty of channel's to pick from if
you so desired.



Jack Straw even popped in for a while.

[Mathos]

There was a really nice small type of garden at Whitehall.





Simply known as The Whitehall Gardens.

I rather think it is special for folk who have an affinity with the
wars we have been involved with, might just want to relax a
wee while in places of this nature.




A lot of good men are represented here.

[Mathos]

Had this particular shop been open
(it was quite late in the evening when we came across it)
I would have ventured inside out of curiosity.




There was an amazing variety of very expensive goodies on display.


A 250g tin of Prunier Caviar for instance £325..00 or thereabouts.

Caviar House & Prunier – Creators of fine gastronomy
In our online store you will find an excellent selection of various types of caviar,
our exquisite Balik salmon cut and prepared in different ways, ...
www.caviarhouse-prunier.com/ - Cached

The above link is well worth taking your time over.

Smoked salmon delivered to your door;-

Balik Fillet Tsar Nikolaj No 1 only £230..00.

Check it out.

[Mathos]

This was through another late night shop window.


A real work of art.




Nicely named.

THE TROJAN HORSE

Fitting.

I rather think that would cost a few cans of caviar....and more besides.