This is the last one from the France/London trip. It contains random street views of some walks I did - notably down the Strand/Fleet Street from Trafalgar Square to St Pauls; and through Mayfair. Again, they are out of order. I'll put some notes on each one again....
This is the Twinnings shop on The Strand that has been there since 1720 - the same shop. It's quite narrow and shoehorned in between some other buildings (see other picture further below). Inside there is actually a very interesting selection of very obscure teas - I should have bought some to bring home and try.
1670's clock - with characters who strike the bell
1920's clock - art deco Telegraph Building on Fleet Street
1600's Temple Bar Gate House by Christopher Wren - it was the 'entry' to the City of London from the west (Westminster). It once straddled Fleet Street but was removed in 1800's (due to traffic) to a country estate. In 2003 it was relocated to Paternoster Square next to St Paul's. It used to often have spikes on the roof with heads on show!
1930's 'futuristic' Express Building on Fleet Street - a change in style from neo-classical stonework common at the time
1610 terrace building on The Strand - leading to Temple complex
The Strand mixed streetscape - note Twinnings shop
Canaletto's famous view of London from Somerset House (note St Paul's Cathedral)
Same view today - can't see much! If you look close you can still see St Paul's. The river is now about 100m further, following construction of The Embankment in late 1800's for sewer and underground rail.
The Savoy Hotel - built on the site of the palatial Savoy Palace of medieval times.
Same location 1930's.
Chinatown - up our street.
Random cut through in Fitzrovia (north of Oxford Street)
The Royal Academy of Arts - our namesake Joshua was the first President. It's just around the corner from....
...Saville Row, where the Beatles did their rooftop concert at No. 3 (on left this side of the white building).
Random lane in Mayfair
Random mews in Mayfair
Pomp and Tradies
Down Whitehall to Parliament (Downing Street bit further on the right; Banqueting Hall bit further on left - where old King Charlie I lost his head - King Charlie III better watch out!)
St James Palace - little toy men on a side street with nobody really watching them (I think the one on the left might have an itch)
The Mall annual taxi race (just kidding) - looking back to Admiralty Arch just before Trafalgar Square - Churchill lived in the apartments above during WW1 as Navy boss
Buck Pal. from St James Park - was a private house until some King said 'you can't have a house that big - I'll buy it' - so he did
Queen Mary's steps. These were steps to the royal barge on the Thames, next to a long terrace, all designed by Christopher Wren in 1600's on the river side of Whitehall Palace (since demolished except for the aforementioned Banqueting Hall). Now it faces The Embankment.
This is the fabulous York Gate, built 1620's to provide direct access to the Thames from York House - long since demolished. It's quite close to Charing Cross Station (and Embankment station on the tube) but now part of The Embankment gardens.
Our street.
Somerset Dam (I think)
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