Theatre & Barge Boats in London

Two of my 50 Fabulous Things

July 2015

Had a fantastic day out in London, curtesy of SAM FM radio and Southwest Trains. Lee had won tickets on the radio show the previous week to go and see War Horse with train travel included.
With our day mapped out we set off arriving first at Little Venice. I have visited many sights in London over the years but had never been to this hidden gem. Unbelievable to think this small hidden tranquil oasis was in the middle of London!

 

Little Venice, is at the point where Regent’s Canal meets the Grand Junction Canal. The canal is lined with weeping willows, and flanked by graceful stucco Regency mansions, many designed by the celebrated architect John Nash.

Beginning at Little Venice, the canal winds its way past London Zoo and the outskirts of Regent’s Park, before ending in the bohemian area of Camden Lock, known for its street markets and hippy chic. Camden Lock Market  is the fourth-most popular visitor attraction in London, attracting approximately 100,000 people each weekend.

We stopped here to eat in the Street Food Market. We decided to op for one of  Slow Richies Burgers….well what can I say, it was the best burger I’ve ever tasted, moist, flavoursome and rather morish. We spent several hours wondering around the market then headed back on the tube over to Leicester Square, to have a wander around Neal’s Yard and Covent Garden.

I have never visited Neal’s Yard, although I know that the famous Neal’s Yard Remedies shop was there. Neal’s yard is a small alley in Covent Garden which opens into a courtyard. There are some brightly coloured buildings surround the seating area in the courtyard. It is named after the 17th century developer, Thomas Neale.

Covent Garden is a popular shopping and tourist site, and also close by to many of the Theatres in London. We stopped for some food and pre dinner drinks in one of the many public house not far from Drury Lane.

The show “War Horse”  a novel by Michael Morpurgo, was at the New London Theatre, in Drury Lane. We were very fortunate to have seats in the third row from the stage. We had both already seen the film prior to the show, so had some idea of the story line about an  extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France. On stage were life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to  life on stage. After a while you don’t notice the puppeters just the horses. They must of spent hours upon hours watching every move and listening to the sounds horses make. They seemed so life like.

Finally it was time to head home. Another two things off my 50 Fabulous Things and some well earnt brownie points from Lee.