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  1. Ride Burlington Arcade's Magic Carpet

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      Burlington Arcade

     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.

  2. The Secrets of Twinings Tea Shop

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    Twinings

    The charming entrance 

    Twinings tea shop is tucked away on the Strand directly opposite the imposing Royal Courts of Justice. The shop frontage is only as wide as its doorway and reputedly the smallest shop front in London. Above the door are statues of a golden lion and two Chinamen, a reminder of the origins of tea.

  3. What is the Curiously Named Punishment Parade?

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    Dismounting Ceremony

     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.

  4. Exploring the RAF Museum London

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    RAF Museum - Milestones of Flight

     Blériot XI in the Milestones of Flight Gallery - named after Louis Blériot, the first person to cross the English Channel in an aeroplane

    Although I have often travelled past it I had to admit that until recently I had never visited the RAF Museum in Hendon. The first thing that hit me when I arrived was the sheer scale of the place, it is massive housing over 100 aircraft housed within five galleries. The display is impressive and varied, there really is something for everyone and you don't need to be an enthusiast to spend a few enjoyable hours there.

  5. A Big Blue Bird has landed in Trafalgar Square & Who is on the Other Three Plinths?

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    Trafalgar Square - 4th Plinth

    “Hahn/ Cock” by Katharina Fritsch (2013) 

    Earlier this week “Hahn/ Cock” by the German born sculptor Katharina Fritsch was unveiled on Trafalgar Square's 4th Plinth. The sculpture depicts a domestic farmyard cockerel in a vivid ultramarine blue. Made of Fibre glass and reinforced polyester resin it stands at 4.72 m/ 15f 5" high.

  7. Exploring the Delights of Ely House at "The Age of Elegance: Treasures from the 18th Century Town House" Exhibition

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    Ely House

    This is the final week for visiting The Age of Elegance: Treasures from the 18th Century Town House exhibition at Ely House in Mayfair. The elegant former palace of the Bishops of Ely was designed by the renowned architect Robert Taylor in 1770s and provides the perfect setting for the most exquisite display of fine paintings and furniture. The exhibition transport you back to the eighteen century in a series of rooms with its stunning display. All the pieces are for sale and come with a luxury price tag. Here are a few photos of the opulent rooms.

  8. Sculpture in the City 2013

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    City of London Sculpture 2013

     Love by Robert Indiana

    The City of London Corporation has a long standing tradition of providing, maintaining & encouraging publicly accessible statues, fountains & memorials.

    The City of London's free annual outdoor sculpture exhibition is now in it's third year.  

    This year there are nine art installations from some of the world’s most high-profile artists.

    The current sculptures will be located in the City of London until May 2014.

  9. The Royal Mews: More than just Posh Stables

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    Royal Mews

    Mail Coach

    The Royal Mews provides road transport for The Queen and members of the Royal Family. It houses an impressive collection of historic carriages and motor vehicles. It is a busy, working stables which was very evident when I visited earlier this week with friends Yannick Pucci and Fran Pickering as one of the first things we saw was the departure of the daily messenger Brougham, the royal mail coach that has been collecting and delivering post between Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace since 1843.

  10. Stepping Back in Time just off Kensington High Street into Victorian London

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    18 Stafford Terrace

     18 Stafford Terrace is indistinguishable from its neighbouring stucco fronted houses apart from its unusual window box

    Earlier this week I enjoyed a complementary tour of 18 Stafford Terrace, a remarkably well preserved late Victorian townhouse. It’s located on a quiet road just moments from busy Kensington High Street. It's one in a row a terraced classical styled properties dating from the 1870s and consists of five floors including basement and attic. The house, was previously known as Linley Sambourne House after its most famous resident Edward Linley Sambourne, the Punch cartoonist.

    All admissions to 18 Stafford Terrace are by guided tours only. On the day I visited Shirley was our guide and her knowledge and enthusiasm made for a very enjoyable visit. The tour started in the servants’ quarters in the basement where we watched an introductory film show about the house and its former occupants. On leaving the basement we viewed the remainder of the house which is a Victorian time capsule.