Olympic Rings

150 days until the Olympics. This milestone was celebrated yesterday by a barge towing giant Olympic Rings under Tower Bridge.


It's always excting to see the bridge open to let tall ships through but even more so to see the Olympic Rings pass through.

Couples

A lovely sunny day on the weekend and couples everywhere.

London Dungeon

Waiting outside the London Dungeon.

Thank you for all who entered the competition. I'd love to have given you all tickets. If you haven't been it really is worth a trip.



All entries to the competition to win tickets to the London Dungeon went into the Red Hat for selection.
And the winner is:
Nathalie

New Olympic Sport Announced

Forget free running latest craze in London is synchronized pigeon flipping.

Quick reminder, today is the last day to enter the competition for tickets to the London Dungeon. Winner announced tomorrow.

Crocuses

Crocuses and sun. Almost makes you want to get the picnic basket out.

A Walk in the Park

A beautiful day in London yesterday. It really feels like spring has arrived. Crocuses popping up everywhere, double digit temperature. Ditch the winter coat.

You still have a couple more days to enter the competition for tickets to the London Dungeon.

Scary Offer

There is something very strange about us humans, we love to scare ourselves just for fun. Have you ever been to the London Dungeons? They are particularly scary. Not only that but, it is all true! London history is very macabre. Take Bloody Mary for example, she makes Charles look like one of the trees he hugs and big sweary Gordon Ramsay is positively gentle when you think of Sweeny Todd and his wife.

The London Dungeon will give one of you a family ticket. That is 2 adults and 2 children. You can visit any of the UK London dungeons.

All you have to do to enter the draw for these tickets is email me @aglimpseoflondon.com or leave a comment telling me where any of the London Dungeons are in the UK.

You have until Sunday 26th at midnight to enter. The winner will be announced Monday 27th in my post that day.

Four Lads

Four Lads on holiday in London having a great time.

London is a great place for a holiday and tomorrow I am running a wee competition to give away some tickets to one of the famous tourist attractions, so drop by.

Red Umbrella

Just enough rain to be annoying, especially when I didn't have a brolly. However it was not enough to make a difference to the water levels. We are officially in a drought. Something I've never got used to here, is the first sign of water restrictions and the papers are telling you to reduce bath and showers. No. I want to be clean. I don't get it. Maybe a Brit can explain why bathing is the first thing everyone wants to give up.

Directions

There's something to be said for these old style directions. Trying to find your way around London can be difficult at times. Generally street names are at the beginning and end of a street. If you come in a block in between try finding a sign post to tell you where you are. Almost impossible. Ask someone for directions and they're likely to tell you they are not from around here and they don't know.

Family Man

I wonder what Victoria would make of this.

Royal College of Organists

A few doors up from yesterdays building is the stunning Royal College of Organists (of the musical type not internal body parts!). Following the Great Exhibition of 1851 a number of grand buildings sprang up around the area. So grand was it all that the area earned the nickname Albertoplis. The architect was Lt. H. H. Cole a military engineer. I was a little surprised to learn that someone from that background would create something so exquisite and ornate. That was until I learned his father assisted him. Dad played a major role in the Great Exhibition and the V&A. He also designed the first postage stamp and the first Christmas card.

Queen Alexandra's House

Queen Alexandra house was purpose built in 1884 as accommodation for female students studying at the Royal College of Music, Royal College of Art and Royal College of Science.
Located next to the Royal Albert Hall, most of the buildings around here were built in the same period. Worth a walk around here to just view the architecture.
The entrance features this beautiful open iron staircase. The walls around the foyer are equally beautiful green ceramic tiles.

Light and Shadow

Another arty farty picture for you today.

Beauty in Freeze

Generally during the winter months the fountains at Trafalgar Square are drained. We've had such a mild winter that this has happened. The cold snap we had last week has resulted in the fountains partly freezing. Rather beautiful, don't you think?