08 January 2009

London calling

I headed down to London yesterday for a meeting, and got the chance to do one of my favourite things - walk.

I love looking at London's streets and buildings, as they're nothing like we get up here. Gateshead's city centre is pretty brutalistic 1960s concrete all round, although Newcastle is rather more classical, especially in Grainger Town and Grey Street. It meant I had a fantastic wander down from King's Cross to Covent Garden, marvelling at the sci-fi Brunswick Centre in Bloomsbury (I quite fancied one of the apartments, which had a beautiful terraced garden), a detour to the always elegant British Museum, and then a brisk stroll along Southampton Row and Kingsway to the delights of Bush House.

I also had a twirl around Covent Garden, which as ever was overpriced, twee and disappointing - and bizarrely full of 1950s-style cupcake and sweetie sellers. What gives?

It was also quite fun wandering around Drury Lane and the theatres, although the large pictures of David Tennant et al in the RSC productions are rather unnerving at first glance - when you're used to watching people on the telly or iPlayer, suddenly seeing them 8ft high is rather disturbing.

Anyway, the meeting was good. And I found Paddington Bears galore to photograph for the three-year-old, and brought home some of the best croissants in the world from the Eurostar station at St Pancras.

All in all, a good day.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

What gives? (re Covent Garden's cupcakes and sweeties)... Ummm American tourists. (I'm American, so I can say it out loud). Another problem with CG is the Monsoon creep (it's taking over the world).

PS In 1991 lived down the street from Brunwick Centre and it was grim and scary (though the flats always seemed they must have lots of light and great views/location). It's had a major facelift in recent years!

Anonymous said...

What gives? (re Covent Garden's cupcakes and sweeties)... Ummm American tourists. (I'm American, so I can say it out loud). Another problem with CG is the Monsoon creep (it's taking over the world).

PS In 1991 lived down the street from Brunwick Centre and it was grim and scary (though the flats always seemed they must have lots of light and great views/location). It's had a major facelift in recent years!
PS2 - sorry, posted this accidentally as 'stats' duh!

rach said...

Miranda: Hi! I agree with the Monsoon thing...it's everywhere. Hopefully the credit crunch should soon put a stop to that (joke).

The Brunswick Centre did look good, and if I'd had time I quite fancied catching a film at the cinema. I didn't end up inside - is it the usual high street sort of stuff or are there more interesting shops?