Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Usual breakfast and some reading before going out to do things we picked last night.
The first visit was to police museum. Dad found it on the "nearby" button on Tripadvisor. It is about 200 yards away!
Dad warned it was small and it was. You had to ring a bell to get in, but staff were amazing! They had me wear a police helmet, I got to hold a truncheon that was over 150 years old and I got to hold a police sword!
Another member of staff let me sit at an old sergeants desk and to work the wind up air raid siren.
I was given some police shoes, an iron on badge, a metal badge, a forensic kit and a police van (not a real one!). Dad bought me a book on history of police plus a police pen.
It was a great experience, shame more people do not see it - dad was told re lack of resources to develop the idea and about how much material they had that could be exhibited that is in storage.
We had to go back to hotel to drop off stuff as we had so much - luckily it was only 2 minutes away.
We then headed off for the London walk I had picked. Old Kensington. We got to station where walk began 20 minutes early. There was an old fashioned cafe in station area so dad got me a juice and cake. We almost decided to just sit and enjoy ourselves, but dad said just as the group moved off, let's go and join them.
It was a strange experience. We were in busy London area one second, the next we were in a quiet square with houses over 300 years old. The walker leader was very good, loud enough to hear easily and I stole his walking stick a few times! We learnt about the small village of Kensington, how the posh houses developed and nearby worker houses that are now worth millions. We saw artists studios and areas were horses were kept. Some on first floor as carriages kept on ground level. Now apartments, but reason for very wide balconies - they were this wide to let horses exit the stable on this 1st floor level.
We saw an old church, famous poet, artist etc houses all with plaques on. He talked about windows and how you could age a house by how inset they were - something about fire laws.
Finally we went to Roof Gardens, you need photo ID but I did not have my passport. Others in group did (foreign tourists) - I think they took pity on us and let us go up! It is not well known and door to enter is like an office entrance - yet it is free to go up. Dad said all the photo ID stuff is probably to put off people trying to get in.
The gardens were amazing - Japanese, Tudor and Spanish. Waterfalls, ducks, flamingos etc. We even peeped into the very posh restaurant when I needed the toilet.
After walk we headed back to one of the small local eating places the guide mentioned to eat.
Back in room by 6pm for Simpsons!
- comments