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All packed and ready to go

Our final day started off with clear blue skies and a bowl of porridge for breakfast. We had done most of the packing so decided that we would have a walk into town. We enjoyed the clear weather and decided that a look at the town would be our final hurrah. We wandered through the shops looking for the final bargain which were purchases at Boots and a card shop.

The Beaney was our next stop and this is the local museum, art gallery, library and gathering space. Well worth the visit and Stephanie even admired the Star Wars exhibition. After departing the building we made our way to Patissiere Valerie for tea and cake. It was delicious and a real treat. So much better than Gert and Henry’s in York. 

When we left the rain started but it was only light. We then visited Virginia at work, looking at the swollen rivers on the way and admitting that the ducks had the right idea of sitting on the bank.

Back into town, we made a final stop at Lakeland to get the cake liners for Marilyn. Looking through more shops for bargains we found ourselves admitting that we were tired and waterstones, the book shop beckoned for a browse, followed by lunch. As this was our final stop after the bank for changing money, and Boots for instant photo printing, we walked home under increasingly greyer clouds.

The final pack and a decision that an extra case may be needed as we did have allowance for it. Googling we found some at Debenhams for £30 ish, phone Virginia to check if she had a spare sports bag and decided the back pack would do, to fit the extra cake and books in. All packed and weighed okay we felt.

Luke arrived home and changed after doing his homework. Virginia arrived home just after five so we piled into the car to pick up the younger two and go to Chiilam for dinner. An exciting ride down Stuppington Lane with puddles and all. The Woolpack Inn was our destination and a very nice place it was. Virginia loved her present and we had fun with crackers, jokes, and colouring in while waiting for dinner. The meals were lovely with Callum deciding that he needed to eat from the adult menu and he did make a grand effort to eat the most enormous burger.

On our way home we went past a discount store to check out suitcases and the bargain case was acquired. Repacking the final items to even out the case weights, we had tea and biscuits, watched John Deed for the final night and went off to bed before Mark arrived home. 

Last day in London

Enjoyed our last supper at The Crowne Plaza. As checkout wasn't until midday, we decided to take advantage of this and head to Kensington Palace which was just up the road and then come back to check out and deal with bags.

Again a lovely day in London, so we enjoyed our walk to the palace admiring the lovely crescent houses along the way. A 6 bedroom 5 reception house which we had seen the other night, will only set  you back a cool £12m. 

As the palace hadn't opened when we arrived, had a bit of a wander round the garden. Got chatting to the gardener. They were enjoying the spring like weather and pleased to see crocus, mini Iris and lovely snow drops out.

Got into the palace right on 10 and walked around all the rooms allowed. Unfortunately the fashion exhibition was closed, but there was still plenty to see. After getting some advice of what we should see at the V&A we headed back to hotel to check out. This was a very painless exercise and we were able to leave our bags there in the process. 

So it was off to the V&A. We had hopes of seeing the shoes and Al Thani jewels from India exhibitions. However, once we realised it would cost something like $50 each to see this and as we only really had 3 hrs at the maxi, economy got the better of us, and no it wasn't the accountant who had the deciding vote.

We instead visited the 1600-1810 European exhibition which had been recommended to us at Kensington Palace. We even managed to tag onto a museum tour, which provided some interesting tidbits along the way. After the exhibition tour we felt a cuppa was needed, so found our way to the cafe and enjoyed a bite to eat.

Headed to the modern section of the museum and as with all modern art, there were some interesting displays. Our visit ended with a trip via the gift shop. The shop was somewhat disappointing, with selection and price...who could afford to buy here!

Back to hotel picked up luggage, across road to tube station and off to Victoria. Got lucky at Victoria as a very kind gentleman offered to take the bag up the steps, but did say it was a bit heavier than he had expected!

So ends our four days in London. Saw a lot but as always still so much more to see and do.

It's windy at the top.

The morning started earlier as we wanted to be at St. Paul's at opening. Breakfast was great once again and we then became part of the commuter traffic as we used the underground to get to St. Paul's. A quick look around to see which direction, past the reinstated Temple Bar and we paid the £18 to visit the cathedral. This gave us an audio guided tour with pictures to match. An excellent solution to having thousands of guides and groups wandering around. We did the main sections and then it was time to ascend into the heavens. First stop was the whispering gallery which really worked as Stephanie can attest. Steps up to that level were easy to climb as the staircase was very wide. 

Next set of narrow stairs took us up to Stone Gallery which is outside and around the edge of the dome. Great views but the wind could have taken Mary Poppins out for a ride. Up the final set of iron circular stairs to the Golden Gallery which is just below the very top of the building, this would be about 350 ft high. Excellent view all around but the wind once again was ferocious. Great selfies at this level. 

Once down on the cathedral floor, we took advantage of the guided tour and explored the myriad of famous people that are buried or immortalised in the crypt. A final visit to the cathedral shop, with no bargains to be had and we departed for a Starbucks coffee. Snacks, courtesy of the Crowne Plaza, eaten we decided to head back to hotel to meet up with David Lithgow.  We had a quick look around Covent Garden, before the taking the tube to hotel and receiving a message that David was on his way. Pit stop to off load shopping at hotel and we piled into the very nice vehicle David was driving. A short drive and the Westfield shopping centre with accompanying building works was our destination. David knew the place so parking was easy and off to the restaurant row. The Italian place was gone so Wahaca (Mexican) chosen. Fairly ho hum service, we ordered drinks and meals. This place advertises that it's spoons go missing so some how David ordered dessert which meant that three or four more spoons have been taken on adventures. Great spoons but decided that it would be difficult to eat cereal with. 

After leaving David we travelled by bus back to Trafalgar Square to the Portrait Gallery. Lots of famous and some not so famous faces were on display (ours not amongst them) we were chased out at 6 pm. Leicester Square beckoned and there was a premiere of Creed happening so we chose to avoid the crowd and attended the movie "Joy". Great movie and interesting story about the start of tv shopping channels. Another tube ride with a garfunkels dinner and a long busy day is over.

Yet another fine day. 

 Three of the four spoons which may have disappeared from restaurant!

What Sale!

Leisurely start to the day, with a great breakfast at the Crowne Plaza. Definitely recommend hotel it is a great location oh and breakfast is pretty good too!

Walked to natural history museum as Virginia wanted to see if the exhibition had been changed so she could take photo for kids. But alas no, so it was a quick trip via the gift shop and out to catch the bus to Piccadilly Circus.

We walked up Regent Street stopping off at various shops to see what they had to

offer. Like yesterday the quality of sale items was limited but we did get some good food samples which previously had been unheard of in London!

Had a stop for tea and tea cakes at Liberty and Diane may have purchased some fabric.

A wander along Oxford street which saw us done for shopping. Caught bus back to hotel where Virginia collected her luggage, now in a Buckingham Palace bag (upgraded from tescos) and headed to Victoria station to catch train back to Canterbury. 

We had a cuppa and then headed off to the Devonshire Arms which was just 800m up the road to have dinner with Diane's friends Tina and Duncan.

Another day done and dusted in London.

Next Stop London

Took the 8.40am train to London this morning. We got to Victoria Station London about 10.30, put some funds on our much used Oyster cards, with Virginia purchasing one too, which will come in handy for visitors in the future!

Found our way to the Crowne Plaza in Kensington, thought we would just have to drop luggage off and check in later but the room was ready. Dropped the luggage off, got ourselves sorted and headed out. It was during the luggage drop off, that Virginia who had prided herself on bringing minimal luggage (all fitted in a small tescos shopping bag) realised no nightie!!!

We walked from the hotel into Knightsbridge, past the natural history museum and V&A. First port of call was Harrods. No matter how many times this shop is visited, we always find some thing new. Harvey Nichols was the next stop, had thought about lunch here, but instead free samples got us through until we could find a cafe which suited us better. This turned out to be in Waterstones on Regent Street. 

Taking the path through Green Park we got to Buckingham Palace about 3.45pm. We were told a little early for our tour, so we visited the Buckingham palace shop while we waited. Virginia, who wasn't doing the palace tour, decided she would do a tour of the queens gallery to help pass the time before she became our personal paparazzi!

After our security check and waiting on chairs inside the ambassadors entrance to the Palace, Steve our guide took us into the quadrangle and through the official entrance, just like we were Royal visitors.   A short introduction, drop off our coats and off we went going up that wonderful staircase that you see in many photos. Going into the green room, blue room, ball room (state dining room was under minor maintenance so missed out), the painting gallery and white room.

The tour took about two hours and finished with a glass of champagne and a trip to the gift shop. Once we had finished our shopping we were then escorted out to the quadrangle again and through the main gates to the awaiting paparazzi, well Virginia!

Walked to tube, got off at South Kensington, found a nice restaurant to have dinner (Wildwood). Back to hotel and relax.

Beautiful fine day!

Sports day.

Today was sports day for the children so we were up early to return the car which was painless. On our walk back a very kind gentleman offered us a lift home. Stephanie wondered why Diane was getting in the car when she realised it was Mark. 

Next stop was tennis lesson with Callum. The venue was a plastic dome which was slightly chilly. Callum is a good player although the shortest in his group.  Back home we had time to thaw out and a cuppa then off to gymnastics with Emma.  The view was interrupted by the Christmas decorations which hadn't been removed. Emma is learning new skills of skipping and high bars. Midday came and class was over so back home for lunch. Luke's rugby was at school so he set off while we had lunch. We got up to the school and found his team warming up. The game was played against Kings College and eventually won  17 - 10. The sideline comments from rules expert Stephanie and proud mother 

Virginia were entertaining.

Back home a quiet evening was planned with some tv watching, games on the Wii and tablets, as well as stitching by Diane.