The British Museum

I almost can't quite believe that I've lived in London for well over 10 years now and had never stepped foot inside the British Museum until last week.  I suppose it's a case of 'it'll-always-be-there-itis'.

So, to rectify this, I popped along to see what I could see.  The Museum is located close to both Tottenham Court Road and Holborn stations.  The first thing you notice is the sheer size of the place.  Massive.  And a bit overwhelming.  We weren't particularly time-limited, but you know how it can be as you shuffle along in museums with hoards of other people... it's tiring.  So the first thing we did was to pick up a map from the stunning main room - the Great Court.

Thankfully, I had taken with me someone who was competent to read the map.  We decided that since we weren't sure how long we would last, we would follow the suggested 1 hour route with items A-K marked on the map, to see the main pieces that were suggested by the museum and this takes you through a large number of the rooms.  Along with being distracted by other things in there, I think we probably spent around 2 and a half hours comfortably pottering around, but I would recommend it as a good route to follow if you've never visited before.  It was busy, but never felt claustrophobic.

Overall, it was definitely worth the visit, some very interesting pieces, and I discovered a particular fondness for Shields, Mosaics and also the Japanese rooms (rooms 92-94, don't miss them, they are all the way up at the top!), but there really is something to interest everyone.

If you can't get to London to visit the museum in person, do take a look around their website, where a large number of the main objects are photographed and catalogued.

A selection of my favourite pieces from the museum, the ones that stood out to me:

1. Bronze Mirror: Perseus observing the severed head of Medusa while Hermes and Athena look on:

 2. Panels from the Royal Lion Hunt showing the sporting exploits of the last Assyrian King, Ashurbanipal.  These were huge carvings filling massive rooms... very impressive!

 3. A reconstruction of the Nereid Monument

 4. Enormous Mosaic of Oceanus

5. The Portland Vase, made of Cameo glass.  Said to be the Roman inspiration for Wedgwood, and although it looks black, the glass is actually dark blue.

6. Royal Game of Ur.  Even with the instructions written there next to it, just too hard to figure out! Bonus points for my favourite name of an object in the museum.

7. Samurai items in a large case.

8. A beautiful shield

 9. Iron age shield, again, really beautiful craftsmanship.

10.  Bronze Shield

Old Operating Theatre Museum

As far as creepy and strange things go, I usually try to stay far away from them.

But for some reason, once I found the website for the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret, I wanted to visit.

As with the Museum of Brands, my National Trust Card also allowed me half price entry here.  Be warned, entry to this museum is up a steep and narrow spiral staircase, so not suitable if you can't manage this.

At the top of the stairs is a small shop, packed with general kids toys and also books etc for adults relating to the theme of the museum.  Up to the next floor and you come to the herb garret, which is packed full of herbs, and jars of body parts, along with explanations of how the herbs might have been used to cure ailments.  This also contains some devices which I can only say look like instruments of torture.  If you follow this trail around, you see some of the surgical equipment that used to be used (truly horrendous looking, some of it) and books and explanatory pamphlets about how certain procedures would be carried out.  Yes, it was pretty gruesome.

Finally you reach the Old Operating Theatre itself.  A photo probably best shows what this is like.

I stood there and imagined how horrible it must have been to lie on a tiny wooden operating table without today's modern anaesthetic, surrounded by students watching what was happening.  I'm sure you can picture the scene also.  It would be quite interesting for school trips also and they do run educational sessions if you wanted to get even more of a feel for things.

Overall, something a bit different, but very definitely wanted a drink afterwards.  The place is not that big though, so don't expect to spend more than about 45 mins to 1 hour there unless you are attending one of the organised sessions or talks.

Guildhall Art Gallery and London's Roman Amphitheatre

For years, I worked in the city, close to the Guildhall and yet did not even realise it was there.

Then, one day, I went on a photoshoot and the Guildhall was the meeting point.  I couldn't believe I'd never even walked through it.  The square is big and peaceful and there is some beautiful architecture surrounding it.

The buildings around the square also house a free art gallery.  Since I like free, I dragged my friend along to pay it a visit.

The gallery houses a number of interesting artworks, many of them taking up whole walls of space, and painted with interesting scenes.  There is plenty of seating provided, which is good because you have to sit there for a while to take in everything in each piece.

Queen Victoria seated on the throne
in the House of Lords
Sir George Hayter (1792-1871)

There were also some really beautiful commissioned pieces of stained glass.

Both pieces created by Stella Timmins to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of HM the Queen.

After starting at the top of the gallery, you work your way down through portraits and further down to some sculpture pieces.  The exhibitions change every few months and some are ticketed so it's worth checking the website before you visit.

Main piece by Edward John Poynter (1836-1919)
Israel in Egypt

Finally, at the very bottom, you walk into a Roman Amphitheatre, including some of the original walls which were discovered.  It is quite a strange feeling to imagine what must have gone on in there, and I wish I'd managed to get a decent photo on my camera but sadly not.

Very much worth a visit if you are in the area and have some free time.  I'd say it probably took around an 1hr-1.5hr to walk through the whole gallery.

Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising

Since I live here in London, I like to look for things which are perhaps off the standard tourist trail.  For two reasons really - firstly, because there is so much here to be discovered and secondly because the more obscure, the more I hope it won't be full of people and I'll be able to enjoy it more.

So, after a day of hunting for things I could go and do with a friend in tow, we decided to visit the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, which is situated within walking distance of Notting Hill.  This museum has been built up over many many years by Robert Opie, who started collecting age 16.

Although the website looks really interesting, I wasn't sure what to expect, or if we'd be in and out of there within half an hour.  One of the important things to note is that if you are a member of the National Trust, they have a promotion at the moment for half price entry, and having visited I thought it was actually worth the full price of £6.50.  Sadly, no photography allowed and so this post can't really show you all the interesting things in there.

The website also seems to be geared a little towards school groups, with a number of worksheets provided.  This being the case, we decided to arrive shortly after opening at 10am, and only came across one smallish school group.

The museum was much larger than I expected, with all the items separated into different rooms from different eras, from Victorian and Edwardian through to present day.  Since we weren't on a time limit, we pottered slowly and took time to talk about how it must have been to live with what people had in the different ages.  In all we were there over 2 hours and had a fascinating time.

I'd have to say my favourite thing in the whole place and one to look out for because it's easy to miss, was in the first room, in a case in the middle of the room - from one side it looked like a concertina box, but from front on there was just a hole.  When you peeked through, there were layers of papercuttings, making up some really wonderful scenes.

I think what also fascinated me was how people managed to entertain themselves before the days of the high tech that we have today.  When we started to reach the things that I recognised and remembered from seeing my parents or grandparents using them (co-op stamps, anyone?) that was wonderful.  It was also interesting to see how brands have changed (or not) through to today.  The things we have now seemed quite tacky and gaudy in comparison to some of the older items.

Although the teenagers on their school trip raced through and looked pretty bored, we found everything in this place truly interesting and thought it was well worth a visit.  I'd like to go again with my parents and to see which things they remember.  I'd say it's definitely aimed at adults and also for schools and learning, and probably more so for the Brits, since they are most likely to recognise the things in there and to know some of the history.

The Monument

In central London, right next to Monument station is The Monument.  If you are physically able and fancy a bit of exercise, you can climb the 311 spiral steps to the viewing area and get a really good view of the city of London and the river for the very small price of £3 (or £6.50 for a joint ticket with Tower Bridge).  It is nowhere near as high as the Shard, but it is an absolute bargin if you ask me, and when you get back down you even get a certificate to say you've done it.

The Monument is open from 9.30am - 5.30pm daily with the last admission being 5pm.

The Monument

View from the bottom of the steps
- looks a long way up, right?

The text reads:

The Monument

This Monument, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, was built to commemorate the Great Fire of London 1666.  Which burned for three days consuming more than 13,000 houses and devastating 436 acres of the city.  The Monument is 202ft in height.  Being equal to the distance westward from the bakehouse in Pudding Lane where the fire broke out.  It took six years to construct 1677.  The balcony is reached by a spiral stairway of 311 steps and affords panoramic views of the metropolis.  A superstructure rises from the balcony and supports a copper vase of flames.

The allegorical sculpture on the pedestal above was executed by Caius Gabriel Cibber.

View towards Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf

View towards the South and Battersea

Globe Theatre Exhibition and Tour

There are a couple of different ways to visit the Globe Theatre, located in this round, rustic looking building on the south bank.  If you want to know about the history behind Shakespeare's Globe and the theatre itself, the best way is to visit the Exhibition and Tour.  The other way is to really experience it for yourself, by booking to see a show.

Shakespeare's Globe and Exhibition

The exhibition is a self guided walk around part of the building attached to the Globe.  It contains much reading material and information about the historic past of the theatre.  It also contains some of the costumes, and you are able to take your time looking at your own pace.  Subject to there being no performance on, you can also take a guided tour around the theatre itself, and I would highly recommend doing this.  (Best to check whether the tours are running by checking first).  

This is a timed ticket, so you'll book and join a particular tour and then can look round the exhibition before or after.  The guide stops at various points inside the theatre so you can get a feel for how it would have been to be able to sit in the nicer seats or to be standing in front of the stage where the cheap tickets are.

View of the stage from one of the best seats

Since the Globe is an open air theatre, be prepared to get wet if the weather is bad :)

Ceiling in the theatre

Alternatively, when the season is running (check the website for details, the season runs from spring to autumn), it is possible to book tickets to go and see a show.  Watch out also for special deals, there have occasionally been tickets available for as little as £5 in the standing area, and there are a range of productions, from the expected Shakespeare plays to a few selected more modern ones.

View of the theatre from the inside

You'll also find there is a shop and a restaurant attached to the Globe theatre (but plenty of places to eat closeby as well).

Find out more about visiting by going to the official website.

OXO Tower and Gabriel's Wharf

The OXO tower is close to Blackfriars Bridge on the south bank of the Thames.  From the bridge, it is possible to see the tower with the letters OXO running vertically.  Once owned by the manufacturers of OXO cubes, it now houses a bar and brasserie and also a more expensive restaurant (run by Harvey Nichols), and offers stunning views of the Thames from all.  There are also vegetarian and vegan menus for the brasserie and restaurant, which is good to know if you have non-meat eaters in your party, but you do need to book in advance.  However, we have eaten in the bar before (although the menu is limited), and the food was tasty (we had the burgers), less pricey and we still had a great view, even without booking.

The OXO Tower building

If you don't want to eat or drink though, there is also a free public viewing gallery up here, to take in views of the city.

Underneath the main tower are many little shops and a few cafes on the ground and first floors, selling a wide variety of things from jewellery to funky gifts, clothes and home wares.  Also on the ground floor is a gallery which houses some really interesting exhibitions which are usually free to take a look around, change frequently and are worth popping into.

Just next to Oxo Tower Wharf is Gabriel's Wharf which also has many more little designer-maker shops, and also a delicious pizza restaurant and bike hire scheme; it is easy to spend some time browsing around both the OXO Tower and Gabriel's Wharf, and together with other local projects, this area is known as the Coin Street Community.

Gabriel's Wharf, and London Beach!
Look out for the man sculpting sand on the corner

Shops at Gabriel's Wharf
(Vendula (L) is fab for handbags)

More shops at Gabriel's Wharf

You can easily spend a couple of hours eating, drinking and pottering around the shops.  A handy thing to also note is that there are public toilets in the yellow building in Gabriel's Wharf.