• About
  • Contact Me
  • Disclosure

accentBritain

~ a romance with art and all things British

accentBritain

Category Archives: London

Seasons, Hyde Park

07 Saturday Dec 2019

Posted by pat in Art, England, London, paintings, sketching, Travel, Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

fall, Hyde Park, trees

Whenever I return to England, there are more than a few places that I want to return to again and again.  High on that list is Hyde Park, on the edge of Notting Hill and Kensington in London.

I’ve gotten to know many of the paths, and love blending in with a morning stroll. Inside the Bayswater Gate, down Broad Walk, and near the hotel we often stay at, there is a magnificent tree that draws my attention no matter what season.

But at the end of autumn when the leaves change and fall…it is magnificent.

I often wonder who will wander beneath it.  In this painting, I have placed a young woman pushing a stroller, which I actually referenced from another photo I took in the Bath Botanical Gardens.

I wanted to make the point of future generations being able to enjoy this same vista. She fit in perfectly.

Once the drama of light and dark is worked out, then to the color. It looks a mess at this stage, but it’s how I work out my palette.

And then it is just layer after layer, building up the detail, keeping the mood. I painted the mother’s coat red to draw the eye to her so she could compete with the magnificent foliage of the tree.

And finally, after weeks of painting, a few stray leaves blowing in the wind to add life and motion to the scene.

“Season’s End (Hyde Park)”, 30 x 24″, oil

English Inspiration

10 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, Bath, Burnham-on-Crouch, Cornwall, Cornwall, England, Gardens, Grasmere, Lake District, Lake District, London, paintings, sketching, The New Forest, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

≈ 1 Comment

We’ve just returned from three weeks in the UK, our first visit in 3 years.  For Mike, it was a whirlwind tour of meeting up with friends and family, trying to catch up with all the news and rehash old stories. I love that part of these trips, but for me, my goal was searching for enough painting resources and inspiration to sustain me in to the future.

These trips give me the space and freshness that I rely on for months in my studio work.  Often I revisit my photos years later, and find a new vision that I hadn’t seen before. There is something about having the time to explore an unfamiliar environment, away from the daily routine.  You see things in a different way. Connections are made, insights discovered.

Whether on country strolls, or museum visits in the cities, it re-charges me for months to come.  This time I took close to 500 photos! But often I just walked and breathed in the images.

We started in Kent, in the Southeast corner of Great Britain and found a great bolt hole between Dover and Canterbury.  It was a beautiful resort, the Broome Park Hotel. Although promoted as a “Golf Resort and Wedding Venue” tucked in to the countryside, I found glorious walks in the early morning across the surrounding fields with no one else around except the birds and sheep. We had a “lodge” on the grounds with two bedrooms a living room and a washer and dryer!  A real bonus for European travel.  And we could walk to the pub in the main manor house at night along the fields for dinner. It was a mid-week bargain, and we could catch up on sleep.

Revived, we found time for a wonderful visit with family in Essex,

and joined up with old sailing mates at the Southampton Boat Show.

And then it was back to the countryside – The New Forest and the Montagu Arms.  The wild horses roam the streets in this unenclosed pastureland, heathland and forest, both in the countryside and through the towns and villages. On one of our very first trips to England together, Mike took me to The New Forest as a special treat, and I still love it.  Perfect weather that first week also helped. Mid-70s and sunny!  Could this really be September in England?

A quick stop at one of my favorite spots, Bath, then we were on our way to Cornwall and St. Ives, a north coast town that is now home to Tate St. Ives Art Museum. It was a challenge to park in the hilly, seaside town and make it down cobblestone streets with luggage in tow to our Inn, The Lifeboat. But when we got there it was worth the challenge. Reception told us it is a right of passage to deal with parking and luggage in St. Ives.  We succeeded, barely, but the reward was a room facing the sea right on the front.

We loved it here.  It was filled with galleries and art for me, and boats and pubs for Mike. It is a huge haven for artists with The Tate in the center of it all.  The exhibitions at the museum focus on the history of many local artists who came here during WWII to escape the bombings in London, and ended up starting a fresh new art colony. The tradition continues with studios tucked everywhere, many of them open during this autumn “Arts Week”.


Mike found a fabulous place in the backstreets of St.Ives, “Olives”, and we did a “lunch” of scones and cake and tea that was to die for. There were winding roads all through the town filled with many surprises, and we often just wandered, seeing where the twisted narrow roads would take us. It was a joy to explore, always looking for a new sea view for dinner.

Finally, we went down to the south side of Cornwall to visit and catch up with more family, and rediscover one of our favorite spots, Charlestown. I actually drove that day from St. Ives to Charlestown on those teeny tiny roads, roundabouts, and confusing lanes through the Cornish country. But we made it without a scratch!

The weather was changing, and fierce winds blew us along our walks from our Inn down the lane to the sea.

We then headed up the west side of England in the rain, across Bodmin Moor

and after a stop in the Cotswolds at a familiar site…The Hare and Hounds…

we were off to the north and The Lake District.

We had four days in the Wordsworth Inn in Grasmere and although the weather finally turned showery and cloudy after over a week of sunshine (very un-British) we didn’t mind. It’s the grey country, after all. And it’s what makes everything so lush and green.

I had brought my rain coat and “brollie” and managed to walk every day, visiting old haunts and discovering new inspiration.

After the best break ever, we headed back down south through Cambridge, home of one of my favorite art museums, The Fitzwilliam, and a room with a view of the punts on the River Cam.

Then on to visit friends at Burnham-on-Crouch, Mike’s old sailing hub,

and finally the last 5 days in London.  Phew!

London meant The National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, and The Royal Academy.

We did Notting Hill, Piccadilly, Kensington and Hyde Park…and I even took a rainy afternoon to see a matineee of “Downton Abbey”.  What could be more appropriate.

We even managed to fit in Sunday Roast with friends in the center of London.

Finally Heathrow, and home! To paint…where to even begin?

Now starts the time of looking for connections, sorting through images, thinking of patterns and context of not just the visual images but also the stories that connect us all.  The depth and underlying currents are just as important to me as the visual beauty of our world. Country lanes and city streets with the background sounds of Brexit on the news.  I am already looking forward to the studio season.

Poppies

29 Tuesday Jul 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, London, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Blood-Swept Lands and Seas of Red, Tower of London. Poppies, World War I

There is an incredible art installation going in at the dry moat of The Tower of London to commemorate the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 and the allied victims who fell in that global conflict.

enhanced-buzz-wide-24922-1406629099-6

The ceramic artist who conceived the project is Paul Cummins, and the title of the piece is “Blood-Swept Lands and Seas of Red”.

1406472291951_wps_3_A_cascade_of_Poppies_take

More than 800,000 ceramic poppies will be placed by over 8,000 volunteers from across the UK over the next three months with a formal beginning August 5th. The last of the ceramic blooms will be symbolically placed in the field on November 11, Armistice Day.

1406472285821_wps_2_A_moat_of_Poppies_takes_s

The flowers will have a life even after the exhibition at The Tower. The poppies are actually being sold to the public with proceeds going to six service charities in the United Kingdom, including the Royal British Legion.

Tall-poppy

The field of poppies will grow over the remainder of the summer and autumn and become massive–888,246 to be exact.  So many lives commemorated in such a visual way.

Greenwich and the Meridian Line

10 Tuesday Jun 2014

Posted by pat in entertainment, History, London, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Greenwich, Maritime Museum, The Greenwich Observatory, The Meridian Line, The Old Royal Naval College

On our first day staying in London together last year, My Beloved Brit and I decided to explore Greenwich where the Naval College, The Observatory, The National Maritime Museum and the Meridian Line are.

Kate, The Duchess of Cambridge, attended a breakfast reception there this morning at the National Maritime Museum to meet a number of people supporting the bid to launch a British team in the America’s Cup. I thought this made it an appropriate time to revisit our visit to this incredible site.

As we came off the train and in to Greenwich, we saw bustling town on the edge of the Thames. Photo by me.

As we came off the train and in to Greenwich, we saw bustling town on the edge of the Thames. Photo by me.

Walking down the street towards the Thames, we saw the masts of the Cutty Sark rising above the shoreline.

The masts of the Cutty Sark now on dry land on the edge of Greenwich. Photo by me.

The masts of the Cutty Sark now on dry land on the edge of Greenwich. Photo by me.

We bypassed the ship tour and headed over to The Old Royal Naval College. Very impressive.  It is across the Thames from London and Canary Wharf.

The Old Royal Naval College. Photo by me.

The Old Royal Naval College. Photo by me.

We went through the chapel on the grounds of the college, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The chapel is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, both of whom have connections to the sea. The chapel is filled with naval symbols.

The Chapel at The Old Royal Naval College. Photo by me.

The Chapel at The Old Royal Naval College. Photo by me.

Then walked through the portico…

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

…to the Painted Hall.  Incredibly beautiful. It is often described as the finest dining hall in Europe, and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor.  It was originally intended for the naval veterans who lived here at the Royal Hospital for Seamen, but was later used for the National Gallery of Naval Art. As of 1939, it was used for dining by the officers of the Royal Naval College, and many grand banquets. The paintings by Sir James Thornhill pay tribute to British maritime power.

The Painted Hall. Photo by me.

The Painted Hall. Photo by me.

Lord Nelson was very attached to the College, and you can see references to him everywhere.

Lord Nelson Photo by me.

Lord Nelson Photo by me.

We cut back through the edge of Greenwich to head over to the Maritime Museum.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

I knew this was something My Beloved Brit would love.  The whole complex at Greenwich Park was wonderful.

The Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Photo by me

The Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Photo by me

The entrance just screamed boating, naval tradition, and the sea.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

When we saw this information, we knew it was going to be a good morning.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

We spent time looking at exhibits on Nelson, arctic convoys during WWII, and all sorts of seafaring memorabilia and displays.

Figure Heads in the museum. Photo by me.

Figure Heads in the museum. Photo by me.

After a time, we went outside and sat down trying to decide whether or not to hike the hill to the Royal Observatory and the Meridian Line.

The Naval College and the Thames behind us. Photo by me.

The Naval College and the Thames behind us. Photo by me.

The Observatory at the top of the hill in front of us. Photo by me.

The Observatory at the top of the hill in front of us. Photo by me.

The views were worth the climb.

The view from The Observatory. Photo by me.

The view from The Observatory. That’s the Royal Naval College down the hill. Photo by me.

The Royal Observatory Greenwich is home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian of the World–Longitude 0. On one side is the Eastern Hemisphere, and on the other the West, just as the equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres. Every place on earth is measured in terms of its distance east or west from the Greenwich Meridian. The Observatory is also home to London’s only planetarium, the Harrison timekeepers and the UK’s largest refracting telescope.

The City of London in the distance. Photo by me.

The City of London in the distance. Photo by me.

After a full morning we decided to head back to London on the Thames by boat.

We take off from the Greenwich dock. Photo by me.

We take off from the Greenwich dock with The Naval College behind us. Photo by me.

It was about a forty-five minute ride back to the Embankment in London Center.

Past Canary Wharf and East London. Photo by me.

Past Canary Wharf and East London. Photo by me.

under the Tower Bridge. Photo by me.

Under the Tower Bridge. Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Leaving The Tower on London behind. Photo by me.

Photo by me.

St. Paul’s in the background. Photo by me.

IMG_9619

The new Shard on the South Bank. Photo by me.

IMG_9624

Another way to see the river. Our ferry was not nearly so flash. Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Leaving the east end of the Thames River behind. Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Finally. Docking at the Embankment stop. Photo by me.

What a great morning.  The weather was gorgeous, the company entertaining…it couldn’t have been a better day.  After a trip on The Underground back to our room, we decided it was a full day. And a wonderful one.

Heading back to the hotel from the Picadilly underground. Photo by me.

Heading back to the hotel from the Piccadilly underground. Photo by me.

Our biggest challenge of the late afternoon was to decide where to eat.  I love London.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belgravia, Chelsea and Sloane Square

10 Saturday May 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, Food, London, Travel, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Belgravia, Chelsea, Duke of York Square, Saatchi Gallery, Sloane Square

Last summer, I walked from Victoria Station through Belgravia towards Chelsea one morning, two new neighborhoods which I really had never visited before.

Great take-out from this lovely Italian Deli right up the road from Victoria Station. Photo by me

Great take-out from this lovely Italian Deli Le Bottega right up the road from Victoria Station. Photo by me

It was lovely, and I understand why the area is a popular place to live, shop and stroll.

The shops turned decidedly upscale. Photo by me

The shops turned decidedly upscale as I turned in to Belgravia. Photo by me

As soon as you head up Eccleston Street, behind the station, towards Belgravia, the scene transform from a gritty train station neighborhood to lovely shops and tree-lined streets.

This shop offered pink champagne and cupcakes. Delightful. Photo by me

This shop offered pink champagne and cupcakes. Delightful. Photo by me

IMG_9295 There are rows of lovely townhouses around green squares like this row at Eaton Square.

Photo by me

Photo by me

Soon I was entering Chelsea.

The beautiful red brick of the Chelsea neighborhood. Photo by me

The beautiful red brick of the Chelsea neighborhood. Photo by me

It became more commercial with shops and buses.  Early morning was very busy.

IMG_9300

I could understand the reputation for shopping, with one fine storefront after another presenting itself.

Photo by me

Photo by me

Photo by me

Photo by me

It was fun to see busy London on a workday morning.

Photo by me

Photo by me

Sloane Square stood in the middle of all the activity.

Photo by me

Photo by me

I wandered in circles for a bit, before finally realizing I was near the Duke of York Square, with its lovely shops, hairdressers and cafes…

Duke of York square shops. Photo by me

Duke of York square shops. Photo by me

as well as the adjacent Saatchi Gallery.

The entrance to the courtyard where the Saatchi Gallery stands. Photo by me

The entrance to the courtyard where the Saatchi Gallery stands. Photo by me

All in all it was a morning of discovery.  I always like to think I have become familiar with one more London Neighborhood on a trip. And this past year it was Chelsea.

 

Kensington Palace Fashion Rules

06 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, Gardens, History, London, The Royal Family, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Diana, Fashion Rules, Kensington Palace, Princess of Wales

We spent a morning at Kensington Palace earlier this week. Another glorious early September day in London.

The Sunken Garden. Photo by me.

The Sunken Garden. Photo by me.

I wanted to visit the palace again and see the new Fashion Rules exhibition.

The public entrance to Kensington Palace. Photo by me.

The public entrance to Kensington Palace. Photo by me.

New this year, the exhibition of dresses from the collections of HM The Queen, Princess Margaret, and Diana, Princess of Wales has proved to be very popular.

The 1950s: HM The Queen. Photo by me.

The 1950s: HM The Queen. Photo by me.

The workmanship and style of the dresses was amazing.  It was fabulous to see the craftsmanship of the garments up close.

1960s and 70s Princess Margaret. Photo by me.

1960s and 70s Princess Margaret. Photo by me.

It really did recall a specific time vividly through fashion.

My Beloved brit reckoned the fur trim was supposed to add some warmth to the coat. Photo by me.

The card said the fur added some warmth to the coat. My Beloved Brit reckoned they were kidding. Photo by me.

A past era, revisited in cloth and color and style.

Elizabeth I. Photo by me.

Elizabeth I. Photo by me of the exhibition film.

The Diana, Princess of Wales display featured five gowns that looked so familiar from past newspaper photos.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

For the Japan State visit, a dress the color of cherry blossoms. Photo by me.

For the Japan State Visit, a dress the color of cherry blossoms on the left. Photo by me.

IMG_9662

I remember when she wore this dress with the metallic stars–she was such a style icon. Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me of the exhibition film.

And outside the palace, the golden gates on the south side were decorated with notes, clippings and floral tributes in memory of the princess.  It was the anniversary of her death on August 31st, and there were reminders throughout London.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Kensington Palace had been her home where she raised her boys, so here more than anywhere there were thoughts of her life.

The gates outside the road to the palace. Photo by me

The gates outside the road to the palace. Photo by me

Even across the street from the palace road, a cafe helps keep her memory alive.

Cafe Diana across from the palace road. Photo by me.

Cafe Diana across from the palace road. Photo by me.

And then there is the future, celebrated at this same cafe Diana herself used to pop in to for a cold drink.

In celebration of baby George. Photo by me.

In celebration of baby George. Photo by me.

The line of a tradition carries on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

London Old & New

04 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in London

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

The Shard, Tower of London

Nowhere was it more obvious the contrast between old and new London as when we came out of the Tower Hill underground station and saw the new “Shard” rising up behind the Tower of London.

The "Shard" and The Tower of London. Photo by me

The “Shard” and The Tower of London. Photo by me

There is new construction all over the city.  What a challenge to blend modern construction with a historic city.

Art Day in London

02 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, London, paintings, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

National Gallery of Art, National Portrait Gallery, Trafalgar Square

Between sailing races last week, I took a few detours in to London to visit art museums.  Last Friday, I decided to concentrate on the National Gallery of Art…

Photo by me

Photo by me

with a bright blue cock right out front…

Photo by me

A new addition to Trafalgar Square in front of the National Gallery of Art. Photo by me

and The National Portrait Gallery.

Photo by me

The entrance to the National Portrait Gallery. Photo by me

The two world-class museums are snuggled up next to each other off Trafalgar Square right in the center of London, and offer more art than any one person can take in a day. But I tried.

Photo by me

Both galleries are located directly off Trafalgar Square. That’s Big Ben in the distance. Photo by me

I spent my first hour at the National Portrait Gallery.

Photo by me

Harry and William in a relaxed portrait. Photo by me

It is a favorite of mine. Intimate in its size and varied in its content, it has new exhibits all the time and old favorites that I like to re-visit.

Photo by me

Photo by me

There was  a special exhibition of drawings by Bob Dylan, never having been shown before.  I thought of how he may have sketched all these years just for the joy of it never caring if anyone else saw them.  He was an idol of mine in my youth, and this scenario suited my image of him.

Photo by me

Bib Dylan’s sketches. Photo by me

I ended my visit in the upstairs galleries featuring historic paintings.  This one of Queen Elizabeth I was one of my favorites. And again, as always in London, the sense of history is so overwhelming.

Photo by me

Photo by me

The museum is rich and varied.  And although there were restrictions on what I could and could not photograph, the images linger in my mind.

Photo by me

Ocean’s portraits of people who visited his studio. Photo by me

The National Gallery of Art, attached yet separate did not allow any photography at all inside.  But the collection was more familiar, so hardly necessary to recall the great art.  Seeing the Constables, Monets and Van Goghs was like visiting old friends.

Photo by me

Photo by me

All in all a very pleasant day.  As I slowly strolled across the city to return to Liverpool Street Station to catch my train back to rural England, I was felling very lucky indeed to be allowed access to all that London has to offer.

St.Paul's Cathedral on the walk back to the train.Photo by me

St.Paul’s Cathedral on the walk back to the train. Photo by me

 

 

Chelsea and the Saachti

28 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, London, paintings, sketching, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Dawn Clements, Eric Manigaud, Margot Sanders, Saachti Gallery, Storm Tharp, Thom Thayer, Yuken Teruya

I was in London yesterday, and my hotel (which had offered an unbeatable bargain for the night) was near Victoria Station, a neighborhood I was not familiar with. Early in the morning after a big breakfast I decided to head out and explore, and found myself in Chelsea.

Entering Chelsea. Photo by me

Entering Chelsea. Photo by me

It was lovely.  Lots of beautiful townhouses, shops and busy streets.  It was rush hour after all.  Even though I was on holiday, London was back to work after the 3 day break. But more on the neighborhood in a future post.

Busy Sloane Square. Photo by me

Busy Sloane Square. Photo by me

Wandering down past Sloane Square, I came across the Saatchi Gallery, which I had often heard of but had never had a chance to visit. I believe this is a new location for it.

IMG_9315

It was fantastic.  I found several exhibits in the many galleries that were exciting and original. In the very first gallery was Dawn Clements, and she filled the large room with her sumi ink on paper.

I believe this artist was my favorite...Dawn Clements. Photo by me

I believe this artist was my favorite…Dawn Clements. Photo by me

I loved the realism and flow of it.  Almost like a giant sketchbook gone wild!

A detail from "Movie". Photo by me

A detail from “Movie”. Photo by me

The huge sheets of paper filled the room in a seemingly haphazard manner, like lazy memories.

IMG_9327

Detail, "Travels with Myra Hudson". Photo by me

Detail, “Travels with Myra Hudson”. Photo by me

Only one piece was in color.  The color seemed to make it cozier.

"Untitled (Coloured Kitchen), Photo by me

“Untitled (Colour Kitchen), Photo by me

IMG_9330The galleries were a mixture of very varied work on/with paper on the main floor.  Some I liked better than others, but the personal nature of the work and the original use of paper made it cohesive and exciting.

Eric Manigaud, pencil and graphite on paper. Photo by me

Eric Manigaud, pencil and graphite on paper. Photo by me

Along the wall of one room were a series of different paper bags…from McDonald’s to Christian Dior.  When you went up to them and peered inside…

Yuken Teruya, all paper and glue. Photo by me

Yuken Teruya, all paper and glue. Photo by me

you saw these lovely little trees

IMG_9341…the leaves had been cut from the top of the bag displayed, leaving a patterned hole for the light to come in.

IMG_9342

Each was a different color palette depending on the bag it came from.  Recycle indeed.  It was like delicate origami.

IMG_9346

At the far end of the room was another beautiful use of paper recycled into “nature” art.

Thom Thayer's "Nature Scene" Photo by me

Thom Thayer’s “Nature Scene” Photo by me

It was very large and juxtaposed next to the delicate bags even more impressive.  The artist was intrigued by birds, and his use of materials was delicate but strong.

paint, ink, pigments, graphite and sewing on felt and monk's cloth. Photo by me

paint, ink, pigments, graphite and sewing on felt and monk’s cloth. Photo by me

Another gallery featured very strong portraiture, full face or full-bodied. Margot Sander’s acrylic on paper was by far my favorite.

Margot Sanders "In fine company" Photo by me

Margot Sanders “In fine company” Photo by me

Storm Tharp’s ink gouache and colored pencil on paper was interesting, but a bit too depressing for me.

"Love Nothing More" Photo by me

“Window” and “Jodie Jill” Photo by me

IMG_9351

“Love Nothing More” Storm Tharp. Photo by me

His series of 21 works on paper, above, reinforced that feeling. It also felt familiar, like I had seen it before.  Not sure if that was because I had seen something similar or because of the nature of the work.

I escaped to the next floor and found a room that was interactive video.  The first screen had falling snowflakes in gray on white.  When my shadow hit the screen, the snowflakes bounced off of “me”.

IMG_9354

 

There was also a work that reacted when you stood in front of it.  I have seen this type of thing before.  But it’s still intriguing to see how you can affect a space. Rather like a play space…

IMG_9356

 

All in all, an intriguing day.  Some of the aspects of the museum are very commercial and designed to get the public directly engaged with the works. There was something about “voting” for your favorite work. Ugh. I didn’t take the time to read the details.

Mark Jenkins, USA, "Cornered", sculpture. Photo by me

Mark Jenkins, USA, “Cornered”, sculpture. Photo by me

But it was still refreshing, and especially the “Paper” show was one of the best I have seen in a while. Always love a visit to London.  There is never-ending art.

Riding the "lift" up to the "first floor". Photo by me

Riding the “lift” up to the “first floor”. Photo by me

 

 

 

If it’s Bank Holiday Monday, this must be London

26 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by pat in Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, History, London, The Royal Family, Travel, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, Westminster Abbey

I left My Beloved Brit happily sailing on the Crouch River in Eastern England, and took the train in to London.

Ready to start the day.  The River Crouch. Photo by me.

Ready to start the day. The River Crouch. Photo by me.

Obviously many others had the same idea.  It was the Bank Holiday Monday at the end of summer, the last day off many families will have until Christmas! Remember, in the UK there is no Thanksgiving holiday.

Many others had the same idea of going down to The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

Many others had the same idea of going down to The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

It was the perfect day to head to The Mall, the main street in front of the palace.

The Victoria Fountain in front of the palace. Photo by me.

The Victoria Fountain in front of the palace. Photo by me.

Heading down The Mall, I stopped in front of Clarence House, the current residence of Prince Charles and Camilla, and former residence of the Queen Mother.  It was only open for one more week, so I took the opportunity to ask if there were any open times left. As luck would have it, I got one of the last openings on the spot.

The blue morning room at Clarence House, from the official royal website.

The blue morning room at Clarence House, from the official royal website.

No photos allowed, and it was very warm with no air-conditioning (now we know why they all head to Balmoral for August). But it was still fascinating. It’s a beautiful home.

The changing of the guard in front of Clarence House. Photo by me.

The changing of the guard in front of Clarence House. Photo by me.

It was time to cut across St. James’s Park and pick up a bottle of ice-cold water, and head towards Westminster Abbey.

Bucking ham Palace from St. James Park. Photo by me.

Buckingham Palace from St. James’s Park. Photo by me.

A waterfowl staying cool in St. James's Park. Photo by me.

A waterfowl staying cool in St. James’s Park. Photo by me.

The park in summer. Photo by me

The park in summer. Photo by me

And of course this is England, so there are fabulous flowers. Photo by me.

And of course this is England, so there are fabulous flowers. Photo by me.

I got to Westminster Abbey and headed for the ticket entrance.  The Abbey has been on my list for some time, and I have never managed to get there in time to get admitted. But this time I had luck.

Westminster Abbey in August. Photo by me.

Westminster Abbey in August. Photo by me.

Again, no photos were allowed inside, and it is a church with many, many tombs and chapels, so it is understandable.  It gave me such a sense of history as I gazed on the tombs of kings from the 12th century, Queen Elizabeth the First, Mary Queen of Scotts, Darwin…it just goes on and on.

The Abbey from the Cloister. Photo by me.

The Abbey from the Cloister. Photo by me.

And of course the whole thing looks so absolutely familiar from the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in Westminster Abbey. Mirror.co.uk/Pic:PA

The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in Westminster Abbey. Mirror.co.uk/Pic:PA

And then there was that very famous coronation 60 years ago.  In the Chapter house  there is an exhibition on the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, which took place at the abbey, and the original painting by Australian artist Heimans, which is spectacular, was still on exhibition.

The painting

The painting by Ralph Heimans. Photo by me.

I had read that this painting had been damaged by a vandal in June who sprayed paint on it.  It was good to see that the artist was able to bring it back to its original glory.

Detail.  The Queen is standing in the Abbey on the spot where she was crowned in 1953. Photo by me.

Detail. The Queen is standing in the Abbey on the spot where she was crowned in 1953. Photo by me.

I must say, my time in Westminster gave me pause.  The sense of history, tradition and mortality was palatable.

With that, I came back to my room, watched the sun set, and planned on heading back to Burnham-on-Crouch the next day.

Goodnight, London. Photo by me.

Goodnight, London. Photo by me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

← Older posts

♣ Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 27 other subscribers

♣ Archives

  • September 2022
  • May 2022
  • January 2022
  • November 2021
  • August 2021
  • May 2021
  • January 2021
  • September 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • July 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • July 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011

♣ Recent Posts

  • Autumn Stroll on the C&O Canal
  • A Winter’s Project
  • A Walk In The Park
  • An Adirondack Pond
  • Golden

♣ Categories

  • Art
  • Art Museums & Exhibitions
  • Bath
  • Books
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Burnham-on-Crouch
  • cars
  • Cornwall
  • Cornwall
  • England
  • entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Gardens
  • Grasmere
  • Guana Island
  • History
  • Lake District
  • Lake District
  • London
  • movies
  • Music
  • National Trust
  • Olympics
  • paintings
  • Peak District
  • Sailing
  • Scotland
  • Shopping
  • sketching
  • The New Forest
  • The Royal Family
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • United Kingdom

♣ my button

accentbritain.com
<a href="http://accentbritain.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://accentbritain.com/accentBritainbutton.jpeg" alt="accentBritain.com" width="125" height="125" /></a>
Copyright 2011 accentBritain LLC. All rights reserved. All original photos, text and art is copyright protected.

Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: Chateau by Ignacio Ricci.

 

Loading Comments...