Regents Park

Tuesday 23 July

Our wonderful drought breaking rains over the past week has kept me indoors. I took the opportunity to catch up with the final blog posts of our overseas holiday in 
June /July of last year. There will be 4. No 2.
[250mm has fallen] 

Regent's Park
Mid July saw my husband and I staying in London with a special friend I had made in 1978, whilst working in Scotland at a hunting and shooting lodge, on the shores of Loch Tay.

It was wonderful to have Freda guide me, as I revisited three of my favourite London parks. It was extremely warm for our day in Regents Park, but it was just wonderful to return, even if the gardens were a tad thirsty from the very dry conditions. I believe the heavens opened the day we flew out of London, with the summer continuing quite wet.

Nearing the garden entrance.

From the moment we entered I was enthrawlled by its summer beauty, rose gardens, annual and cottage garden displays, ponds, sculptures, landscaped avenues and parklands.

Enjoy your visit.

 

 

Yes, we did opt for the air con for a short breather.

Freda had just completed a 12 month course to be a Guide of London. Leaving the gardens at about 2pm, she was able to share her knowledge of the history of this area with me. We eventually arrived at St Pancreas Station, for our commute home.

Building to heritage constraints, in Cleveland Street.

It is reported that Charles Dickens lived for a few years, in this area.

The King and Queen Pub - 1 Foley Street, Fitzrovia, hosted Bob Dylan's first performance outside America in 1962. Note the King and Queen images adorning the walls.

Fitzrovia Chapel in the pedestrianized Pearson Square, is decorated with magnificent mosaics. Unfortunately on this day, a wedding was being performed, so we were not able to enter. The lunchtime crowds however, were making the most of this shady haven.

Historic v modern. [BT Tower]

The  foyer of The University Hospital of London had this wonderful mosaic of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, 9 June 1836 - 17 Dec 1917. 

"She was the first woman to qualify as a physican and surgeon. She was the co-founder of the first hospital staffed by women, the first Dean of a British medical school, the first woman to be elected to a school board, and as Mayor of Aldeburgh, the first female mayor in Britain." - Wikipedia.

 Given the age she lived in, she must have been quite a remarkable woman.

Tavistock Square or Peace Garden

Dame Louise Aldrich-Blake, another pioneer of women in medicine. [within the Square]

Sadly, July 7 2005, saw the peace of the gardens shattered with one of the four London suicde bombers detonating himself  here on a passing bus. 13 passengers died. 

St Pancreas Station

Feeling a tad sweaty, hot and jaded on arrival at St Pancreas, we treated ourselves to a bowl of Truffle and Parmesan Fries and a coffee, in the elegance of the Booking Office Bar and Restaurant. Delicious! The original booking offices have been incorporated into the bar.

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