Trip to London

This is York House watergate, 150 yards from the Thames in Victoria Embankment Gardens. In the 1800’s the Thames lapped at the steps.

Don’t believe me? here’s your proof. They moved the Thames embankment, not the watergate.

This is the worlds smallest Police station. In service during WW2, it is now retired and a cleaners storage cupboard.

Do you remember the tale of the fire brigade insurance that was paid after the fire of London? If you did not have the insurance plaque of your house, they let it burn. Here is one of the last remaining plaques (and real gas lamp).

On Admiralty Arch there is an unusual attachment, said to be lucky if you strike it; the nose of the Duke of Wellington (*not really the DoW, but an artists nose).

It is high up and said that the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment stroke it for luck (*hmmmm)

You take your life in your hands to touch it though.

This gas lamp is powered (partly) by human excrement, it is just behind the Savoy so guests help to illuminate it.

The Beefsteak Club where all the waiters have the names Charles. “Beef and liberty”.

The entrance to the Savoy is one of only two places in London where is is legal to drive on the right, the other is a bus station.

There was a TV crew recording in Trafalgar Square.

The presenter has an interesting place to keep her hairbrush.

If you see Number 10 Downing street in a film, there is a chance it is really this door in Adam Street, not being filmed at the moment for some reason.

In the actors church (Covent Garden) an actor called Charles Mackin has a memorial. He killed another actor by stabbing his cane through the other actors eye and piercing his brain in an argument.

He represented himself in court and got away with it, but his memorial does have a macabre reminder of his actions.

If you ever want to check your tape measures, there are standard measures of length in Trafalgar Square since 1876.

A tall man in a stick.

And a shorter one.

Finally, my kind of restaurant.