Oh, great. We just got over jet lag and now we have to deal with another time change. The clock on the cable box tells me that we got up at 4:30 am, though our bodies thought it was 5:30 am. A wee bit too early for my taste.
Rehearsal in the city went well yesterday, but it was very rainy around here with high winds, so it was the kind of day that took all our energy to navigate. Today is sunny and much calmer. But all of the wind and rain over the course of the past week has taken down most of the leaves. I see a lot of bare trees out there.
Okay. Back to London.
On the day after our magical experience with Ian McKellen, we got up, had breakfast, and headed to Sloane Square.
Right by our local underground station.
Right outside Sloane Square station is the Royal Court Theatre. This theater is known for producing groundbreaking new plays over the years, including those by Caryl Churchill, who wrote Top Girls and Cloud 9. I’ve acted in Top Girls and have coached it more than once. She’s a brilliant playwright. It was really neat to see the theater for the first time – I’d forgotten it was situated in Sloane Square.
We meandered down the road until we found the little side street where John Sandoe Books is located. I spoke about this, my favorite bookshop in all the world (so far), in an earlier post. But for those who didn’t see it, here are a couple of photos.
It should read: John Sandoe Books LTD: Heaven on Earth.
Could I spend all day there? Most certainly. Both of us bought books and Don said that he could spend hours there and Don usually gets antsy in bookshops after about 10 minutes and ends up waiting for me outside. We sort of split up upon entering the bookshop, each of us exploring a different area, thumbing through books, overwhelmed by the sheer number of books on so many subjects. A big thumbs up from both Claudia and Don.
Afterward, we decided to head toward Westminster Abbey. As we emerged from the Tube near Parliament, we decided we had to eat first.
We saw this pub.
The Red Lion. It looked promising. We were escorted downstairs to the dining room, which was incredibly charming – as was the entire pub. This pub has quite a history; Dickens and Churchill frequented it. It’s very near Parliament.
We ordered a pie – typical fare for a pub lunch – but our pies were vegetarian! Full of mushrooms, with an incredible crust.
This photo doesn’t do it justice, but that crust was a beautiful shade of brown and the pie was delicious – as were the chips and vegetables. I wish I had one to eat right now!
Happy husband.
Contented wife.
After a nice, long lunch, we headed over toward the Abbey.
Part of Parliament. You can see some of the scaffolding on the left.
Gorgeous building.
But as we worked our way toward the entrance of the Abbey, we learned that it was too late to enter that day. Their closing hour is earlier than St. Paul’s. So we walked around and took some photos.
It’s stunning, of course.
I’ve been there before, but that was over 20 years ago.
We decided we would go to the Abbey the following morning.
More tomorrow.
Happy Sunday.
As with all of the previous trip posts, I find myself stopping, closing my eyes, and reminding myself to breathe!
Hope you both have a relaxing day!
Thank you, Debbie!
Lovely day in London! What gorgeous weather you had. Oh the pub looks wonderful but the book store, yes heaven on earth! Rest up a bit today!
It was a beautiful day – we were pretty lucky with all the good weather we had on the trip.
There is nothing in my mind, that compares to old world architecture. So beautiful. Enjoy your day! ;)
Thank you Donnamae. I agree!
Living vicariously through your posts. Magical experience, lovely couple!
Thank you, Lovenna!
Claudia, I am sending my daughter pictures of the book store. She would live in one if possible. :):) So I know she would dearly love your favorite of all time book store. Wow, I am just in awe of all the times you and Don saw and did on your trip . Wonderful memories to last a life time. Blessings, xoxo, Susie
p.s. oh this time change, I actually an hour longer. LOL
She would love that shop, Susie! Thank you.
Your pub photo reminded me of the pies on which we splurged at Fortnam and Mason. Soooo goood! I love the crust almost more than the fillings! I didn’t see Sloane Square on my most recent trip but will get there next time. Your quest for books is akin to my quest for fabric and yarn shops!
The crusts are incredibly good! There was a time when I quested for fabric and yarn, but not so much anymore. But books have been a constant in my life. Thanks, Wendy!
Beautiful pictures. I would have spent hours in that book store. :-)
It’s the perfect shop, Regula. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing another day on your Magical Mystery Tour. ♡
It is that, isn’t it? I’ll pass that on to Don! Thanks, Chris!
Thank you so much for sharing your priceless trip with us. I love how you have photos of the outside and the inside; it makes us feel we are there–so wonderful! I know it must take time to load photos, etc, so we really appreciate your time.
Alice
Thank you, Alice!
I could spend days in that book store, it looked the perfect place to search for literary adventure. Then your lunch . . . mushroom pie, oh my, Yum. Thank you for allowing me to tag along on your trip to London.
Connie :)
P.S. Happy to meet you, this is my first visit to your lovely blog.
Welcome! So glad you’re here, Connie.
so happy for you two to have enjoyed so many magical experiences. you packed a lot in two weeks!
thanks for taking time to post about it all!
kathy in iowa
You’re welcome, Kathy.
Hello, Claudia,
Susie sent me over here because I’ve been writing about our recent trip first to Paris (with three weeks in London and more England to follow) — we were gone most of October. She said I needed to check you out and she was right. Oh, I wish we’d discovered that bookstore while we were there. I love that you are part of theatre — it’s not what I do now, but it was what I studied in college and am involved in our community through our university’s theatre board and such. I would have killed to see Ian MacKellan as Lear — I must have walked by the theatre four or five times! At any rate, if you have a chance, stop by The Marmelade Gypsy and we can compare notes! I look forward to digging into your other posts. ~ jeanie
I wish we could have spent as much time there as you did! Lucky you! Thanks for stopping by!
I have loved seeing the book shop you visited in your trip!…what fun to have lunch at the pub…it looks so good!…The Abby is amazing!!
I could live in London. Or Paris. Or both.
Now you’ve gone and done it. Made me put London on my bucket list. Used to be a true blue Anglophile, but after Paris, the idea of stuffy old London turned me off. Well, you opened my eyes, and I’m damned grateful! Of course, seeing it thru yours and Don’s experience is unique and I know like all travelers I’d find my own London, but now I want to know what my own London would be. I’m in awe of the night with Sir Ian. Saw him for the first time that I recall as Iago–was he ever smarmy!! And of course he can (and has) played everything. But I have no knowledge of theater as you and Don do and so when you say historical performance I get goosebumps! And your old pal was there to verify it wasn’t just the magic of your 20th and the city romancing you. To be in his presence and to have him sign your program on that of all nights…golly!! If that was all that had happened on your trip, it would have been worthwhile. Since my Ancestry DNA revealed that I’m 96% English (LOL) with a dab of Irish and French, I think I owe it to my “roots” to get me hither and yon forthwith verily! Thank you. Oh! And Abbey Road!!!
I’m so happy to have inspired you! It’s not stuffy at all! They are very different cities, but both Paris and London are incredible. Thanks, Nora!
I am happy to hear that the pubs in London are still as nice as I remember. Why can’t we have those cozy little places?
I know! There’s such a neighborhood feel to them. A pub feels very different from a bar. xo