For some time we have thought of a visit to the British Museum. When I lived in London for a while it was almost a weekly occurance, then when we moved to an hour away it became once every few months and since finding ourselves nearly two hours away by train it has been over a year since we went. Partly this has recently been due to train strikes and/or poor weather. But today, 13th, we crossed fingers the BBC might actually get the weather forecast close to right for once and off we went. Partly spurred on, it must be said, by realising Off Peak prices applied to trains as early as 8.15 from our south coast location – I’m sure it was after 9.00 from other houses we lived in and that would have meant from here only being able to catch the 9.46 at the earliest. Anyway, armed with our Railcard, we saved mightily on the price and had a very enjoyable journey, some of the time listening to two younger people planning their day around Covent Garden and the surrounding shops.
I love travelling by train, I think it goes back to my student days and regularly making trips down to Southampton, up to London, and other places. I particularly enjoyed travelling around 6pm on a Sunday evening, peering into the kitchens and living rooms of houses and flats, catching a glimpse for literally a second of people’s lives. There’s a book to be written there, methinks. Starting at 8.46, we arrived at Charing Cross around 10.30, had time for coffee and croissant after choosing from what seemed like a thousand coffee houses around The Strand and Covent Garden (and, yes, bumping into the young couple!), and then into the Museum.
And, yes, there were swarms of schoolchildren, some in high-vis jackets looking like they off on a break from the railway repairs, some in jeans and T-shirts, and some in smart uniforms that gave me hope English education wasn’t quite dead. It didn’t matter, it was wonderful to see them being introduced to Britain’s and the world’s history. We spent a happy two hours walking the Greek and Roman displays and one about The Enlightenment period in Britain. We had to earmark the Romans in Britain and Sutton Hoo for the return visit as our feet were aching and our eyes blurring in the very low lighting (justifiable I expect but it is a pain).
Continuing this the next day…after having taken out a year’s membership to the BM. With free entrance to the special exhibitions, usually around £22 each, I reckon I will have covered the membership with three visits to the normally three exhibits each year. You also have more freedom when to visit them, not being required to book a slot. Anyway, here’s a few pictures from our visit yesterday, no captions, just wonder at the craftsmanship on display.
With a multitude of coffee houses to choose from, we had a coffee and croissant along The Strand before the Museum, then lunch sitting outside a coffee house by the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. We did begin to wonder why so many 6-7 year old girls were going by wearing bright blue princess’ dresses, accompanied by their mothers, then realised Frozen was the production at the theatre and a matinee performance was about to begin, confirmed by the arrival of a coachload of schoolchildren, fortunately not in bright blue dresses.
When walking up through Covent Garden, we came across this four-piece band playing excerpts from classical music. They were excellent and drawing a good crowd. I believe they, or other musicians, are a daily feature.
As we came out of Charing Cross Station I was immediately reminded of my present book. In part of it the main characters make a journey around London’s streets, one being The Strand, and at one point they come across the battered cross erected by Edward 1 in memory of his beloved wife, Eleanor. Thirteen of these were put up, wherever her body rested overnight on its journey from the North. The original one in London was the biggest of all but it was pulled down in the 17th century. In 1865 this replica was erected and still stands to this day. I wonder how many people hurrying to and fro the railway actually realise it is there and what it is.
A marvellous day out, even the schoolkids on the train back were extremely well spoken and discussing the Israeli-Gaza conflict. There is hope for this country yet (a little bit, perhaps).
Jamie Neve 