Covent Garden – London’s first residential square, a short history

Covent Garden – London’s first residential square, a short history

Covent Garden is home to the world renowned Royal Opera House, the Royal Ballet and the London Transport museum – as well as some of the best shopping, food & drink and street entertainment in London. This post is about the foundation of Covent Garden and, in particular, two painters that were attracted to paint [...]

Chelsea Physic Garden

Chelsea Physic Garden

Stroll around a seventeenth apothecary’s garden, followed by afternoon tea at the café.  The Chelsea Physic Garden is a micro climate tucked away in Chelsea.  It is the oldest in England (after Oxford) and is open to the public (closed Nov-Jan).  If you’re near the King’s Road, take a cab for the 5 minute journey [...]

‘Hidden’ lunchtime restaurants near Westminster Abbey

‘Hidden’ lunchtime restaurants near Westminster Abbey

Here are two restaurants near Westminster Abbey.  You won’t meet any fellow tourists here - you’ll have done plenty of that in the Abbey itself! They both serve inexpensive, high quality meals to local Civil Servants and office workers.  Each is open to the public - and tourists with kids – but tourists would never [...]

12 portraits at the National Portrait Gallery for Americans

12 portraits at the National Portrait Gallery for Americans

Here is self-guided tour of 12 key portraits at the National Portrait Gallery for Americans in London.   The National Portrait Gallery (NP)G is a haven of peace compared to its next door neighbour; the National Gallery.  It also has a rather nice rooftop cocktail bar with views over London.   Both galleries are on Trafalgar [...]

5 must-see American historical sites in London

5 must-see American historical sites in London

Here are five must-see American historical sites that you can visit in London today.  They are not in any order or category, but having said that, we should start from where the Mayflower set sail in the first place. 1 The Mayflower Pub Back in 1620, the Mayflower started its journey from here to the [...]