London Day

Rain, wind, wild weather is how the day started. Getting into London required first a bus, (it was so wet, we took the first one), next the Overground train at Hampstead, changed to King's Cross, then the Piccadilly line to Russell Square and a walk to the British Museum. A lot of people decided to go indoors today so there was quite the lineup at the museum. Norm looking a bit wet. 

 We went to the top floor with fewer people and viewed British Watercolours from 1850-1950. There was also an excellent exhibit of North American west coast First Nations right next to the watercolours. By then it was time for tea.

 Only 10 pounds......

The British Museum has closed in the courtyard making it an impressive entrance. 

 

Walking through London streets is a busy, crazy, maze of people and cars going every which way. We tried to find a favourite restaurant from last time we were here at the Seven Dials, Food for Thought. Unfortunately closed due to high rents. But we did find the spot.  

 

Seven Dials has seven narrow streets all coming together here, and the tower in the centre -- dedicated in 1989 by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, not sure why -- actually tells time on sunny days as the shadow moves around the circle. Not today Why anyone would drive in London is beyond me.

 

We made it to Trafalgar Square. On the fourth plinth is "Really Good" by David Shrigley, a seven-metre-high bronze sculpture of a hand giving a big thumbs up sign, which the artist hopes will become a self-fulfilling prophecy of positivity. No, it's not a reference to Donald Trump.

 

And of course Nelson on top. 

 

And St. Martin's in the Fields, for Lucy.

 

Next the British Portrait Gallery. This is on the floor as you enter. Looks like NG to me...

 

 Here is Robert Baden-Powell the founder of the Scouts organization. Yellow Bunny looking on.

Time for a late lunch/early dinner at the Ship Pub in Soho. Yes we shared a meal. Plates are huge and more than one can eat. But extra onion rings are good. 

 

 One last stop for pastry desserts - carrot cake and a rhubarb strawberry crumble at Pain Quotidien.

 We took a different underground stop home,  getting off at Hanpstead and walking through Hampstead Heath Park. A beautiful green space in the city. In between rain storms we could see the city several kilometres away.

 And then rains came again.