All Look This Way

Part of the festivities at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park

The Fair

The Winter Wonderland Fair is here and it seems to be bigger and better than ever.  There is something to bring a smile and enjoyment to everyone.  One of my favourites this very grand two story carousel. 

Top Days Out in London

London is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, and is replete with wonderful historical sites, monuments, museums, galleries, theatres, parks, restaurants, pubs and so much more. Whether it’s your first time visiting London or your tenth, you’ll find a vast array of new things to experience. So if you’re trying to plan your London trip, then here are a few fun activities and sites that you won’t want to miss-out on.

The London Museums

London is home to a dizzying amount of museums that house collections ranging from Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek ruins, to dinosaur bones and modern technological wonders. Some of the most popular museums include: the British Museum in Bloomsbury, which is dedicated to human history, art, and culture; the Natural History Museum in SouthKensington, which exhibits specimens from across all of natural history; and the Science Museum, also in South Kensington, which features space and technology exhibits. A major plus to the London museum scene, is that there are no entry fees, but donations are recommended.

Walking Tour of London

The best way to tour all the most famous landmarks of London would be by purchasing a ticket for the hop-on-hop-off bus tours that circle the city. However, if you’re looking to get in a little exercise and want to roam the streets like the locals, consider taking a self-guided walking tour along the banks of the Thames. Starting from Parliament and the famed Big Ben clock-tower, you can head east to the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, the Tate Modern gallery, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London.

Visit London’s Great Parks
In a metropolis like London, once called The Big Smoke, one would think it would be difficult to discover some greenery, but fortunately there are plenty of parks located throughout the city, each featuring its own unique looks and atmosphere.

 Richmond Park is the largest of the Royal Parks and was created by Charles I in the 17th century as a deer park. Today, you can still observe herds of deer roaming through its open paddocks. Closer to the centre of town you’ll find Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, the former of which is a well manicured mixture of grass and flower beds, and the latter of which is more rugged and open, and home to the Serpentine waterway and the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain.

For those looking to experience all the great things this city has to offer, and not break the bank, there are lots of discount vouchers available for some of the best things to do in London, so a trip to this fantastic city won't cost you an arm and a leg. 

Memorial

Today many memorial services are be being held to mark the 10th anniversary of the bombings in  London.  Three tube trains and a bus were attacked resulting in 55 people being killed and more than 700 injured.

Among the planned tributes to be held today, wreaths will be laid at the memorial in Hyde Park, a service will take place at St Paul's  Cathedral, and a minutes silence will be held on London's transport network at 11:50. 

Remember

NZ memorial at Hyde Park corner

Today is ANZAC day, a time when Australians and New Zealanders remember those who lost their lives in the world wars.  It is 100 years since the landings at Gallipoli, which will be commemorated today, beginning with a dawn parade here at Hyde Park corner.  Later in the morning wreaths will be laid at the cenotaph in Whitehall.

Australian memorial at Hyde Park corner

A Fancy Loo

Tucked away behind the bushes near Marble Arch is this little gem of a building.  Cumberland Gate Lodge has had a very varied life, moving sites as bigger and "better" things were wanted where it stood.  The last move was to make way for the arch (Marble Arch).  It then became a rather fancy public loo for the well heeled of Park Lane.  The clock and windows were added later.  It was moved to it's current quiet private location in 1961.

  

Last of the Lazy Sunny Days

Not too many days left to enjoy the sunshine in a deck chair.  Slowly being packed away for another year.  

Interesting Loos # 5

Pretty tiles depicting various iconic London scenes decorate the walls of the public loos at Hyde Park Corner.  Well maintained and clean so  worth the 50p entry fee.

Balancing Trick

Don't try this at home!
Sculptor Bushra Fakhoury describes this work as a sculpture that  "symbolises human struggle to achieve excellence, pushing boundaries to make the impossible possible".

Christmas Morning Dip

It's a tradition for some Londoner's to take an early morning dip in the Serpentine (the lake in Hyde Park).  This is not just for anyone, they must qualify and spend several months before hand to win a place in this freezing dip. They are led out to the water by a piper playing "Scotland the Brave"

The line up - ready, steady.....

Jump, dive or slide in as your number is called out.

 Then the thaw out.  Every age has taken part of this crazy event.

The Final Leg of our MINI Adventure

Yesterday someone commented that they hoped our adventure included green parts of London.  It sure did.  After we passed Buckingham Palace we took in Kensington Gardens and the massive tribute Queen Victoria made for her beloved Albert.

Lunch was now the priority.  The first place with a car park outside would be where we ate.  Just up the road on the edge of Hyde Park was a perfect place to stop outside the new restaurant "The Magazine", at the Serpentine gallery.  What a treat it was!  Plus … a friend to keep our MINI company while we ate.

Time for just one more stop before the MINI had to be handed back, so we headed over to Regents Park.

The sun was just catching the BT tower in the distance. Sadly our day was drawing to an close.  Oh but it was such fun.

Sun's Out

Heading back to London after a few days away. I'm told the sun is shining and the wind has died down.  Something to look forward to.  Renting a deck chair might seem like a good idea after all.

Speakers Corner

A quiet spot Monday to Saturday, however if you want to be entertained or challenged then come here on a Sunday to hear a multitude of opinions offered from various soapboxes.

New Zealand Memorial

Several war memorials stand in Hyde Park corner marking the relationship between Britain and those countries that supported her during the first and second world wars.

Today is New Zealand's national day. Waitangi Day, so named as on February 6th 1840 representatives of Queen Victoria and several Maori Chiefs signed a treaty that is the founding document of modern New Zealand, at Waitangi.

The memorial sculpture, a collaborative work by New Zealander Paul Dibble has iconic New Zealand folklore on each of the standards. Six of the standards sit slightly apart from the group and are arranged to represent the southern cross (star constellation). All of the standards have a cross on the top that glows at night to represent the New Zealand sky.

Sugar

The sweet stall at Winter Wonderland. As you pass by the food stalls the familiar smells of a fair fill the air, spun sugar, frying chips and onions.

Winter Wonderland

This is not just a whizz of blue colour it is the snow jet ride at Winter Wonderland. I can't believe I actually went on it. I usually stick to something nice and gentle like the ferris wheel!
Each year it seems better than before. This year the ice-skating rink is bigger and fabulous right in the centre. Rides, food, Xmas stalls, music, all in all just a heap of fun.

Libya Protest

For the past month a group of protesters has held a vigil outside the Libyan Embassy.

Skywatch Friday - Sun over Serpentine

Sunset over the Serpentine in Hyde Park

See other skies around the world today.

Taking it Easy

You're probably a little tired of park pictures by now, but I'm laid low with a cold. I'll be back out with my fresh eyes in a couple more days.

More Spring

First signs of spring continue.