London 2016 Day 6 – Walthamstow Village and Hillman’s Tearoom

As LCM Summer School was over, on this day we didn't have to leave our flat at 8 a.m. So we took some time relaxing before setting off to our next appointment. We were able to walk there as it was also in Walthamstow where we stayed. On our way we walked through the beautiful Walthamstow Village which had been the centre of Walthamstow before the place became part of the ever growing Greater London. Hermann and I agreed that it would be an ideal place to live for both of us - he would have his village atmosphere and I would have my London including a tube station not far away ;)

That was before "it" happened...:

We had a little chat with this lady in her beautiful garden. She told us she had been living there for 50 years. That's what you expect in a village - unlike in London where moving house seems to be one of people's hobbies.

Our destination was Hillman's Tearoom where we met with our friend Laura Porter who had suggested it (she knows the best secret places in London!). She had looked out for us before we got there which was good, because without her we would hardly have found the place, as it was well-hidden in a kind of very narrow street with some small shops - literally a hidden gem! Inside it was also very small, the room where we sat was more the size of a small living-room with just a few tables close together. It was all in the style of the 1930s/40s, including an old tv set showing parts of films and news of that era. It is also one of just a few places in London where you can only pay cash (no plastic cards - very un-Londonlike!).The tea was excellent and so was the scone I had. We spent about three hours there without even realising where time went. It was very cosy and we enjoyed it so much :)

Afterwards the three of us returned via Walthamstow Village and passed St. Mary's Church and the old cemetery.

We had almost reached Walthamstow Central Station where we had to say good-bye to Laura when a heavy rain started and within minutes we got soaked. So our good-bye was quicker than we had expected and Hermann and I rushed back to the flat. We were wet through and for our shoes it took two days to get dry. Of course as you never know what the weather will be like in London we both had a spare pair of shoes. That is, I had two spare pairs, because I'm a woman ;) In the afternoon we took a little tour near Oxford Street.

Also thanks to Laura I was able to surprise Hermann by showing him his own statue at Bourdon Place :)

London 2014 Day 3 – John Lewis Roof Garden and Black Cab Protest

In the morning we went to the weekly Wednesday coffee morning at Belmont Hall for tea, home-made scones and good conversation with lovely people.

Afterwards we visited the roof garden of John Lewis at Oxford Street. As you can see on the photos it is a relaxing place to be and you can have an interesting view over London.

 Hermann relaxing ;) 

In the afternoon we went to Strand from Temple station via Surrey Street to check where we had to go the next day for our visit to Aldwych station. There we saw that the entire street was blocked by black cabs (though some were not black, but I think these are called black as well). We had heard about this demonstration before – it was about a smartphone app for mini cabs – but we had thought it would be just around Trafalgar Square. However, it included all the streets around the square as well. Hermann changed into professional journalist mode immediately and took lots of photos :)

Our London Trip 2013 Day 8 – Jane Austen’s House and Regent’s Park

On this day we travelled to Chawton to visit Jane Austen’s House Museum. Last time we had been there, in April 2010, there had not been very many flowers blooming in the garden, because it had been too early in the year, but now, at the beginning of June, the garden was very colourful.

As the weather was beautiful I was able to wear my Regency dress and spencer. At the House it was also possible to try on some dresses and accessories, so I completed my outfit with a bonnet :)

After our visit in the House we had tea in Cassandra’s Cup, a lovely tea room just across the street.

When we returned to London it was only late afternoon, so we decided to take a little stroll in Regent’s Park again.