Miss Saigon

Saturday 2nd January 2016

After dinner at the Taro restaurant, we headed to the Prince Edward Theatre on Compton Street in Soho. We had last minute tickets for Miss Saigon. Given the tragedy unfolding in the Mediterranean at the moment as Syrians flee the violence in Syria and the squalor of the refugee camps, this was quite an apt show to see. It was as much an education experience as it was entertainment.

Taro in Soho

Saturday 2nd January 2016

Taro is a Japanese noodle and sushi bar on Compton Street in Soho. We decided to have dinner there before going to a show. It was very busy and being in there felt a bit like being on a production line. Food was good and for London, competitively priced. The only drawback was one of us was served some time before the other.

Comptons and Molly Moggs

Saturday 2nd January 2016

After the National Gallery, we headed into Soho. Brief visits were made to Comptons and Molly Moggs, both gay pubs, and both very different. Comptons was crowded and quite dark. Molly Moggs was quiet and camp, though I have been in there when it is crowded (and still camp).

Visiting the National Gallery

Saturday 2nd January 2016

From the South Bank we headed to Trafalgar Square. More specifically, to the National Gallery.



This is a busy attraction but thankfully free to visit. It was very busy.



Lots of famous paintings, notably Constable's Hay Wain.

And how about Claude Monet's Water Lilies?

The Anchor, South Bank

Saturday 2nd January 2016

A visit to the South Bank took us first to the Anchor, an old, rambling pub not far from London Bridge, for lunch. It is easy to get lost in the inter-connecting rooms. I was a bit irritated by the arrangements for ordering food and drinks. There were two bars next to each other, One of them refused to serve me coffee as that was only available from the neighbouring bar. Why they couldn't just ask someone to pass them a coffee from that bar was beyond me. Anyway, we did eventually manage to order lunch. Food was reasonable though remember, this is London so London prices applied.

Back to the White Hart

Friday 1st January 2016

Back to the White hart in the Triangle in Crystal Palace on New Year's Day for lunch. Always worth a visit and not too crowded this time. We went for the shared dishes.

Where the Crystal Palace once stood

Friday 1st January 2016

After walking around the lake in Crystal Palace Park, we walked through the next half of the park, where once the Crystal Palace itself stood. The foundations and some of the walls of the building can still be seen but the rest of the building was totally destroyed by fire in December 1936. It is worth spending an hour or so exploring the site.

The Crystal Palace was designed by Sir Joseph Paxton. You can see his statue near the stadium.

Repairing the dinosaurs

Friday 1st January 2016

We took a refreshing walk in Crystal Palace Park on New Year's Day. The dinosaurs there are arguably the most famous features of the park. They are currently being repaired but are still worth visiting, as is the lake. Expect to have to feed the water fowl.

Mediterranea in Crystal Palace

Thursday 31st December 2015

Our New Year's Eve dinner was in the Mediterranea, a Sardinian restaurant in Crystal Palace. We have eaten there previously and we have always been pleased with the food and the service. I particularly recommend the fish dishes.

Soho pubs

Thursday 31st December 2015

After Highgate we came into central London and visited a couple of pubs in Soho - the Kings Arms on Poland Street and Admiral Duncan on Compton Street.





The Admiral Duncan was bombed by Nazi sympathiser David Copeland in 1999. There is a memorial chandelier to the victims in the pub (see photo above).

The Woodman in Highgate

Thursday 31st December 2015

After our visit to Highgate Cemetery, we went in search of lunch and found the Woodman pub. Food was okay but there was a significant delay between our meals being served. To add insult they automatically added a service charge to the bill. We're not rushing back.

Highgate Cemetery

Thursday 31st December 2015

Highgate Cemetery's most famous resident is Karl Marx, though there are others, especially from the literary world, such as Douglas Adams. Our visit lasted about an hour and a half. Entry cost £3 and gave us access to the whole site. It is crammed with graves and there are many areas which are heavily overgrown. Worth a visit.

Waterlow Park, Highgate

Thursday 31st December 2015

We headed to Highgate on New Years Eve to visit the cemetery. On the way, we called into nearby Waterlow Park.



I guess that as it was winter, we weren't seeing the park at its best but it looks well maintained and will be worth a return visit in the summer.

Four Hundred Rabbits at Crystal Palace

Wednesday 30th December 2015

When I came down to London at the end of December, dinner was at Four Hundred Rabbits at Crystal Palace. It is a relatively new pizzeria. I recommend it. Our experience of it was positive. Food and service were both good. Give it a try.