Open Writing

“When you are tired of London, you are tired of life.”

I would modify that famous quotation by saying it’s a wonderful place to visit, providing I can return home to my Pennine Hills.

I have so many memories of London, having visited the city regularly for many years, and it never palls for me.

Staying in Southwark beside the gates of Guys Hospital, our first outing was usually through the hospital yard, across the road and up the steps to London Bridge. Nowadays one doesn’t even have to cross the road, as there is a bridge over it into the hospital yard. We saw Guys Hospital grow almost double in size, with a new block 20 storeys high. At one time three members of the family were employed there in different departments.

Across London Bridge past the Monument to those who died in the Great Fire, through the old Billingsgate Fish Market (now no more) and on to the Tower and the Embankment. A walk up Tower Hill to the church of All Hallows in the Tower, full of history, and there lies the tomb of Tubby Clayton, the founder of Toc H, with the Eternal Flame always lit.

Cross over to the monument with the names of all the merchant seamen who perished during World War II. Go back down to the riverside and walk past the Tower Hotel and on to the museum for ships in the old St. Catherine’s Dock, a place teeming with life, pubs and shops included, overlooked by flats or apartments which can only be rented by the rich, I understand.

The hours pass like a dream. Another walk across London Bridge, turn left to St. Paul’s Cathedral, surely one of the most beautiful and interesting buildings in the world. So much to see. And afterwards a short concert by choristers and orchestra to enhance the visit even further.

We did most of our sightseeing on foot or by tube from London Bridge to a focal point. Sitting in Trafalgar Square absolutely teeming with people and not one English-speaking voice to be heard, but quite fascinating just watching people.

Walking through the parks -- Hyde, Green, Kensington Gardens and Regents Park, or just sitting watching the world go by. Take a bus to Golders Green and walk back over Hampstead Heath, calling at the Old Bull and Bush for a sandwich and a glass of cider, then walking back on to the Embankment and back to Southwark. The Cathedral in Southwark is well worth a visit, and probably not so well known, as it is off the beaten track at the other end of London Bridge.

Seeing Windsor Castle restored once more brought back memories of a day spent there, having travelled by bus from Hyde Park. The Castle is a beautiful place, and I’m sure even more handsome since its restoration. But the rats down by the river didn’t do much for me, and they were there in plenty that day.

Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament are a must, of course, and for us morning service at Central Hall Westminster and lunch in its basement restaurant before setting out on our travels, usually to the parks on Sundays. Wet days were reserved for museums and art galleries, of which there are an abundance, and all worth a visit.

Over the years we found many restaurants at reasonable prices, one of which was the Spaghetti House at Knightsbridge, which became famous because of the siege there. We once took our small granddaughter for a meal in the early evening. Whilst waiting for our food, a party came to the next table consisting of two Arabian ladies fully robed with yashmaks and jewelled eye pieces, and another lady and a gentleman. The younger lady removed the lower part of her veil to eat, but the elder lifted up one side only. Neither of them ate anything until the lady or gentleman had first tasted.

The waiter satisfied our curiosity, telling us they were Arabian princesses with their bodyguards. They were regular customers, but they ate hardly anything. The visit was really to enable them to come into the outside world and see people, even though they didn’t talk to them. They were so rich but had so little, like birds in a gilded cage.

Our granddaughter had raised a smile with us earlier that day. She had asked for a pomegranate and was enjoying it with a pin when we arrived at Buckingham Palace. We stood at the gates and informed her that this was the palace where the Queen lived. “Oh, yes,” said she and continued eating the pomegranate, which left us wondering what was most important in life.

One great occasion was to go to St. James’s Palace to see Charles and Diana’s wedding presents. We got there early and had only a short time to queue, and it certainly was something never to be forgotten. Such beautiful and ornate gifts, such a pity that their marriage was too short to enjoy them all.

Another wonderful day out was a bus trip to Hampton Court, a tour of the palace and the gardens and a walk down the riverside on a lovely sunny day to see how the other half live on the banks of the Thames up river, quite fascinating.

River boat trips up to Westminster or down to Greenwich, whichever direction you take, history is there before you and you can never be bored. Or should I say I can never tire of this wonderful city.