Recently in general Category

Queen's House in Greenwich is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site at Greenwich, and it was constructed in the early 1600s as a resort for the kings and queens. The Old Royal Naval College, located in front of the house and facing the Thames, was built by Christopher Wren with the specification to not block the view from Queen's House. Today, the house is a museum to visit and contains paintings and items from maritime importance of the British Empire. It was built on the grounds of Greenwich Palace, which was a favourite of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. The house has many paintings in its collection from Gainsborough and Hogarth, and the painted ceilings, internal hall, and spiral staircase are also features to see.

I actually visited Queen's House last spring, but I never got around to posting my photographs of it. There was a free audio guide to listen to which told the highlights of some of the work in the collection. A few months after my visit, I went to Moor Park Mansion, which is built on the same style and reminded me of this house.

Queen's House is free to visit but should be booked in advance.

I remember when "Avenue Q" was shown in the theatre in London from 2006 until 2010, but I never saw it. As it has recently come back for its 20th anniversary show, I decided to get tickets to see it. Unfortunately for me, this was the week of the tube strike at the end of April, so I went to work that day as the tube strikes did not start until mid-day, and I wanted to make sure that I was able to get there.

I had a little time to kill, so I went to the cocktail bar across the street before going to the theatre to have another cocktail and some pretzels. 

The story takes place in New York City with the puppet characters and the human counterparts interacting on stage. It is an adult version of "Sesame Street" with difficult themes of racism and homosexuality and to find purpose.

I will admit that I struggled to get into the show because I was worried about how I would get back home due to the strikes on public transport; trains were explicitly not running to my location, but after an hour walk, I was able to get one of the national rails to a station and walk for another fourty-five minutes to get home. This made a super long day, and unfortunately, I did struggle a bit to enjoy the show. I think I would have enjoyed it much more had it not been for tube strike issues, and I perhaps should have seen the cost of a hotel.

The Battersea River Walk Market is a summer market that started a few years ago and has returned this summer. The market takes place on Sunday mornings until 4:00 in the afternoon during the spring and summer months, and visitors can buy from a range of different foods. I checked out the market in April.

Cookies, sausage rolls, Scotch eggs, olives, cheese, meat jerky, bread, pastry, nuts, shortbread, and alcohol were all on offer to purchase.

I purchased a couple of items - cookies from Midnight Pantry. I had the Earl Grey and Taro, and they recommended the pepper and chocolate. I was not so keen on the chocolate one, but the Earl Grey one was very delicious.

I also bought a Dubai chocolate cake and milk chocolate chip cookie from another seller who was selling cookies inside the lower ground floor of Battersea Power Station and also at the River Walk Market. It was also delicious.

The final market takes place at the end of August, but this market seems to return each Sunday for the summer months at Battersea.

A friend and I went to enjoy bottomless brunch at Pizza Pilgrims in Liverpool Street last weekend. We had bottomless pizzas and margaritas (with the option of Pornstar Martinis and mocktails). I love the spicy margarita drink, so this was a "must visit' bottomless brunch for me. The brunch included different pizzas, cocktails, and a dessert and lasted for ninety minutes.

Pizza Pilgrims in Liverpool Street is located between Liverpool Street and Bank stations below Tower 42.

It was a humid day, and we had mocktails and the margaritas to start with a margarita pizza.

I was celebrating my birthday early. They also served a selection of dips with the pizza, but these were mayonnaise-based, and I don't like mayonnaise.

We received the following pizzas: margherita, hot honey double pepperoni, nduja, mushroom and truffle, and marinara.

We had a couple of Proseccos.

Because it was my birthday, they brought a tray of tiramisu out. I don't care for this dessert as it tastes like coffee, but they sang to me and had candles.

I enjoyed the bottomless pizzas and spicy margaritas at Pizza Pilgrims. There was only one other table celebrating with bruch with us.

I went to see "The Producers" last month at Garrick Theatre, just around the corner from Trafalgar Square. I was not sure what to expect as I did not read up on the plot beforehand. The story is about two men who want to produce a production. A washed-up theatre producer meets an accountant to produce a play, but they want to produce a play that will flop for tax reasons, after getting others to fund their show. The story takes place in the late 1940s or early 1950s and contains a lot of humour around the Germans in the 1940s.

I recommend this show as it had an element of humour and a historical (but still relevant) story.

I recently enjoyed afternoon tea at St. James' Hotel and Club in Mayfair. The afternoon tea is themed "The Masterpiece" based upon the artwork from famous artists, and little pastries of these "Masterpieces" were created in edible form. The hotel is located near Green Park and not far from the Royal Academy of Arts, which is possibly the inspiration for the theme. The pastries are inspired by the works of Damien Hirst, René Magritte, Vincent van Gogh, and Salvador Dalí.

Finally, we had a little bit of sun to enjoy the afternoon tea. It's starting to look more like spring, and I enjoyed the special touch of blooms decorating the front of the hotel.

I ordered the Darjeeling afternoon tea. The sandwiches included the following, and they also cater for vegtarians and other dietary requirements: ham and plum chutney, smoked salmon on rye, egg mayonnaise and watercress, and cheddar and green tomato chutney.

The pastries included a coconut-flavoured "Spot Painting" inspired by Hirst, apple mousse inspired by Magritte's "The Son of Man", pistachio, raspberry and lemon choux inspired by Van Gogh's "Sunflowers", and a dark chocolate and cherry pastry inspired by Dali. My favourite was the coconut or apple mousse.

Following the pastries, I enjoyed scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

I absolutely love afternoon tea, and the start of spring is a perfect time to indulge.

The blooming azaleas in Richmond Park has been on my London "to do" list for over a decade now, and I finally got to se them on Sunday when they are at their peak bloom. Richmond Park contains a an area known as Isabella Plantation, and this was created in the Victorian 1830s and known for the blooms in April and May. The little part of garden (40 acres) has small ponds and streams with azaleas, rhododendrons, and magnolias. There were also several little spots with bluebells.

To get to Isabella Plantation, I walked from Norbiton train station through Richmond Park. There are some very old oak trees in the park, and I saw a fox in broad daylight.

Upon entering Isabella Plantation, I saw patches of beautiful bluebells.

There are several acres of the azalea blooms in different colours, and I went to explore them and to explore the ponds.

Richmond Park is one of the royal parks in London.

This is an absolutely beautiful little area of London. I visited on a Sunday afternoon. It was busy, but it was manageable as there are several acres of woodland and azalea blooms, but I imagine that it can get busy at peak times.

CityStack is a membership that aims to support independent pubs and to discover new venues. Members purchase a pack for 25.00 pounds, and they can visit ten pubs out of a list of more than seventy pubs across London and get ten pounds off when they spend twenty pounds. This means that visiting three pubs will pay for the membership itself. I received this gift at an event a little over a year ago and used it last year. I had two packets to use. This packet specified that visitors must trade or stamp a coaster for the pub discount, and I visited all ten pubs, even the three of them that were very much out of my way. 

The Dog and Bell - Deptford

This pub is a bit out of the way. I spent more than 40.00 here in order to use two vouchers, and I had a glass of wine, two gin and tonics, a delicious Sunday roast, and a lemon tart dessert. The pub is large with a lot of seating inside and out, and it is pleasant inside with a quirky traditional pub decor. The pub hosts events throughout the year, such as a pickle festival. I went in late September on a Sunday and enjoyed the roast chicken, vegetables, and a rather large Yorkshire pudding. I would return here.

Skehan's - Nunhead

Skehan's is a family-owned and run Irish pub; the owners are from Ireland and Thailand respectfully, and both cultures thrive with the food and drink. The pub serves delicious Thai cuisine. I spent over fourty pounds here on a couple of gin and tonics and a bottle of white wine. The food had to be paid for separately and not with the voucher. I also enjoyed seeing a local cat that seems to be a regular at the pub, and the pub is situated on a hill with views over London's skyline. I would return for the delicious food.

Princess of Wales - Primrose Hill

Another gem is the Princess of Wales in Primrose Hill, which I visited last August. The pub has a wonderful gin selection, so I had a couple of gin and tonics, spicy margarita, chicken kebab, and brownie. I spent over fourty pounds here and enjoyed the gin especially. The pub has a lower level with street art in a "garden". I would return for the delicious gin selection.

Highbury Barn - Highbury and Islington

This pub is near where I first lived and worked when I moved to London, although I never actually walked up this direction to my knowledge. I spent over fourty pounds here on a passionfruit martini, glass of wine, chicken burger, and sticky toffee pudding. I visited the pub in October last year.

Horn of Plenty - Stepney Green

This east London pub seems to be popular with locals and students and hosts pub quizzes. I visited in early October and spent fourty pounds on drinks - cocktails, wine, and gin and tonics. The pub did not serve its own food when I visited, but I was able to have a pizza delivered (cost not included with the voucher).

Crown and Shuttle - Shoreditch

I have visited this pub before with colleagues when I used to work in the area. Apparently, it used to be a gentleman's club before it became a pub, and the pub serves a lot of different beers and always had a "hipster" vibe common with most venues in the area. I spent fourty pounds here on wine and gin and tonic and a cocktail as well as a vegetarian sandwich (panini) and chips.

The Gladstone Arms - Borough

This family-owned and run pub is popular for its Anglo-Indian food, and the food really is delicious. Live music and quizzes are hosted here, and the pub seems to have built its own community. I spent fourty pounds here on a curry pie (the English pie with an Indian twist), and it was delicious. I would return here for the delicious food.

Hansom Cab - Kensington

This west London pub was once owned by Piers Morgan and is owned by two brothers. The pub is known for its beer selection; it's a shame I dislike beer. I spent over fourty pounds on cocktails and food. There is a nice cocktail list here, and the food was tasty. I had a chicken burger and chips. I would visit again.

The Bow Bells - Bow / Mile End

This east London pub is family-owned and a typical example of an east end pub and has large televisions broadcasting sports. The decor is "homely" with old photographs on the walls, and with the bright orange frontag, the pub is not easy to miss. This pub seems to be popular with the locals. I visited it in late August last year and spent over fourty pounds on gin and tonic and food. I had the chicken burger and chips. I found the pub to be a pleasant space, although I did have to wait awhile for the food.

Hawke - Hackney

The pub is located very near to Victoria Park and seems to be popular with the community. Service was friendly, and I was shown a lot of different and unique gins, which I tried. I spent one voucher here and also ordered the food - basically a chicken schnitzel. 

I enjoyed trying these pubs and found a few gems. I also purchased another couple of voucher packs to explore more pubs or to return to some of the ones I liked. The new vouchers allow you to visit any pubs in the list of independent participating pubs across London. I visited all of these pubs in this post last year.

In March, I had an evening out to see the theatre performance of "Cabaret" at The Playhouse (Kit Kat Club) next to Embankment station. This was my first visit to this theatre, and the story is about an American man who goes to visit Berlin in order to write a book in the backdrop of the late 1930s. There, he meets a woman working in a club, and the story has political undertones of the start of the build-up to World War II. I did not know what the story was about before I visited, and I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it. 

The entrance to the theatre was through the basement, which made it seem that you were entering a club. I received a shot of alcohol on entry (as did everyone), and I watched the entertainers dance around the different areas inside the club. I ordered a special drink at the bar, which was topped with champagne.

The music and dancing happened whilst waiting for the show to begin, and visitors could watch in the threatre itself or in one of the communal or bar areas. I loved that they did that so that the audience could feel immersed in a 1930s club. The theatre is a little bit different in that the stage is in the middle of the room with views on all the sides, but everyone got a good view no matter where they were sat as the stage did move as well.

I really recommend this show as I enjoyed it.

Earlier this month, I visited Vnilla to try their banana pudding dessert. The cafe is located between Covent Garden and Holborn, and I decided to have a quick afternoon snack. They serve two flavours in the cafe: traditional banana pudding and a monthly special. This month, it was banana pudding with dates, served with candied dates on top. The pudding comes in one size in a cup, but it can be stored in th fridge as it is quite filling.

The creators were inspired by desserts in New York City and created this brand in London.