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The Wonderpass is now open. The Marylebone subway, next to Baker Street Tube Station, has been transformed to showcase the area's colourful history and its cultural attractions. In 2014 Baker Street Quarter Partnership, who commissioned the project, approached me to research the timeline for the Wonderpass. When it opened in January 2016, I was very proud to visit and see the results of my research on display.
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Nurse Edith Cavell was executed on 12th October 1915, during World War I, for assisting over 200 allied soldiers escape occupied Belgium. There is an annual public wreath laying ceremony that takes place at her memorial, in London, on the anniversary of her death. This year's ceremony, organised by the Cavell Nurses' Trust, will be extra special as it will mark the centenary of her death. It will be held on Monday 12th October at 10.30am and is free to attend.
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On a recent visit to the newly opened Picturehouse Central in the Trocadero Centre, I was delighted to discover this captivating Arthurian themed frieze. After the film I took a few photos, which wasn’t easy, as I was on a moving escalator, but I managed to capture all ten panels.
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Entrance Hall
Eltham Palace is best known today for its sumptuous art deco interiors created in the 1930s - 1940s when Stephen and Virginia Courthauld resided there. The house however has an amazing history, from medieval manor house and Tudor royal palace to the Courtaulds, which is covered my original blog post.
Last month I made a long overdue return visit to as this year they have opened five more rooms and this blog is going to focus on its art deco interiors, although at the time this style would have been referred to Moderne, as the term art deco wasn't coined until 1960s. If you think the Entrance Hall looks amazing wait till you see the bathroom. Warning there are rather a lot of photos.
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Bettys has just introduced the new Lady Betty Afternoon Tea and earlier this week I visited their elegant Belmont Room in York to partake of this. For anyone unfamilar with this small chain of delightful tea rooms in Yorkshire you may like to read my original blog post Bettys is Brilliant.
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The Goring is the hotel where in 2011, Catherine Middleton and her family stayed the night before her marriage to Prince William. The other week I visited for afternoon tea with @DawnCorleone which is featured seperately in my Scones of the Month blog. When I entered their Front Hall, I was immediately impressed with their beautiful wallpaper, so much so that when we left the restaurant we went to have a closer look. The Goring's Facebook page states that "The Goring's Front Hall is a destination in itself". DawnC was staying there, as a guest, so was able to tell me more about it, thanks Dawn, and I loved it so much I felt I just had to blog about it.
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Quetzalcoatl III by Aubrey Williams
No Colour Bar: Black British Art in Action 1960-1990 has just opened at the Guildhall Art Gallery and is on until Sunday 24th January 2016. Last week I enjoyed a private view before it was open to the public. The exhibition is a celebration of contemporary artists and has an array of amazing and beautiful art.
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Bedford Park in Chiswick, West London is a rather special place, it has the distinction of being the first Garden Suburb. It optimises the best of suburban living, with tree lined streets, attractive houses and community facilities, all within a short commute to central London. The Bedford Park Festival is held annually in June and offers a variety of events including musical performances, talks, children’s activities and exhibitions.
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Sanderson Hotel
I do love my afternoon teas, but I have to say the Sanderson’s Mad Hatter’s Tea has been one of my favourites as it really shone out for me for being so original and quirky. When I featured their scones in my Scones of the Month I felt that was only told part of the story and it deserved its own blog post so here it is. Enjoy!
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Sanderson Hotel
This month has seen me partaking of more scone eating with like minded friends and includes one of the most charming afternoon teas ever, the Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at the Sanderson, a cream tea in an art gallery restaurant, scones in my favourite department store and a fabulous, affordable afternoon tea directly on Leicester Square itself.