Apsley House from Hyde Park Corner Apsley House at Hyde Park Corner in Central London is the London home of the Dukes of Wellington, although the house is named after the first owner, Lord Apsley. The house was given the popular nickname of Number One, London, since it was the first house passed by visitors … Continue reading Slow Summer | Apsley House | Number One, London
In Victorian times, 50 Berkeley Square in Mayfair was known as the most haunted house in London. It developed its fearsome reputation when a Mr. Myers was jilted at the altar and became a recluse, living alone and only leaving his tiny room at night to walk by candlelight. Later, following the death of a … Continue reading Slow Summer | London’s Most Haunted House
The Elizabeth Line, London's newest rail line and named in honour of Her Majesty the Queen, opened its doors to passengers 24 May 2022, almost four years later than planned and apparently massively over-budget. We live not far from one of the stations on the western side of the route and were keen to see … Continue reading Slow Summer | The Elizabeth Line
The Phoenix Garden is a community garden located just behind the Phoenix Theatre on Charing Cross Road. Designed to give people working or living in the West End a green retreat, it offers the chance to see some nature, and is a great spot to retreat to when the summer heat starts to make life … Continue reading Slow Summer | Phoenix Garden, Soho
The moat at the Tower of London has been turned into a Summer garden in honour of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee. To mark that occasion, over 20 million seeds have been sown in the moat, which will grow over the course of the summer, creating a beautiful, new naturalistic landscape. Designed to attract pollinators, the … Continue reading Slow Summer | The Tower of London in Bloom
Grill in the middle of Charing Cross Road It doesn't matter how long I have lived in London for, I know that there is always something new to discover. And I particularly enjoy it when I learn about something that is supposedly hidden right under my feet. 🙂 The Boy and I had come in … Continue reading Slow Summer | Secret London Beneath Our Feet
Created in memory of London's East End residents killed in World War II, the Hermitage Riverside Memorial Garden sits on the former site of Hermitage Wharf, which was destroyed in a firebomb raid in December 1940. When the area came to be redeveloped in the late 1990s, the builders of a new block of flats … Continue reading Slow Summer | Weekday Walk | The Hermitage Riverside Memorial Garden
South Molton Street The Boy and I walked the streets of Mayfair recently, following this year's Art Trail. It has to be said that it was quite a frustrating 90 minutes - many of the installations didn't appear to be where the map said they would be, it was quite peoplely and it was humid. … Continue reading Weekday Walk | The Mayfair Art Trail 2022
What can I say about this year's Summer Pavilion? I think it looks like a hat box. I think the designer, Theaster Gates, has misread his brief. He appears to have created something akin to a mausoleum, rather than a summerhouse. Perhaps he's aware of that, because the Pavilion is called Black Chapel. Shouldn't a … Continue reading Summer Installation | Serpentine Pavilion 2022
It was a week of Covid-19 isolation. The Brainy One and The Boy were self-isolatingThe Brainy One's jury service was deferred until later this yearThe Boy tested negative of day 5, The Brainy One was still positiveThe Boy returned to school after 2 consecutive negative tests. He was sent home again before lunch, as he … Continue reading Me on Monday | 13 June
This West London Life 