The Eagle has landed at Heathrow Airport..

OldCarGuy said:
I can confirm the Beauty of England. I just love the countryside. Spotted with charming small towns.

This Sunday is the running of the London to Brighton vintage car run. There will be nearly 400 cars for the 2024 event. All being 1904 and older. The cars will be on display this Saturday at Hyde Park. And leave at sunrise Sunday morning and arriving in Brighton before 5:00.. except the ones that broke down on the way. After the last car leaves London. I plan on taking a train to Brighton to see them arrive. I’ll be sure to explore the sights of Brighton..

Veteran Car Run
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Make sure to check the both sets of 'lanes'.

Some of it can be a bit studenty :rolleyes: (most UK students are annoying bell-ends, well-meaning, but annoying bell-ends nonetheless; I know, I was reaching for that 'number one bell-end' spot with the best of 'em when I was a student :oops::grin:) but there are some really lovely jewellers and a couple of good flea markets (not much for the likes of us mind, although I did once see an old battered Moore and Wright chest in one that had been 'distressed' further and was being sold as a jewellery storage box for £200... don't get me started :rolleyes::mad::grin:) and a lot of good little cafés.

Oh and if it's open, Brighton Pavillion is worth a gander too.

Finally, if you have time, go get a gelato in Marocco's restaurant in Hove (short cab journey drive from Brighton, fair old walk along the sea front; walk is nice if you have the weather and time for it). They've been there since 1966 or something and have great gelato. Good pizza and Calzone too.

Oh and Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd fame has a house right next door to Marocco's. Poor bugger's been trying to sell it with no luck; guess he didn't reckon on the rabble of commoners, queuing up in front of his house to get a really good Italian ice cream! :grin:
 
Paddington Train Station… the second busiest station in the UK. It’s a pleasure to explore the area by train. Also the Tube, that we’d call the subway, is another great way of transportation. And ridding the double decker bus topside is always fun. The grandkids love them all.

“Lest We Forget” memorial found in the station commemorative to the 3,312 men and women of the Great Western Railway that gave their lives for King and Country.
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Good old Paddington Bear. First appeared in 1958 and can be found everywhere in London.
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One of the sleek trains at the station. They are fast, smooth, whisper quiet compared to trains in the US.
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Boundless views of ravishing London from my hotel room off in the distance the famous London Eye I’ll be ridding it today IMG_6350.jpeg

The spectacular Italian Gardens emerged from the fifteen century. Just below my window along with the entire Hyde Park.
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Found in Hyde Park are many forms of wild life. Here’s a ring-neck Parakeet that are easily spotted. I talked you a gentleman who has been hand feeding them nuts for 20 years.
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Pigeons. More like giant flying chickens known as mini 747’s
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Mice in Hyde Park. more like the size of cats that I’d call rats. Mostly running around the denser shrub areas. Feeding off the bread that visitors feed to the birds.

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I’ve seen swans, geese, ducks, and pheasants in Hyde Park.
 
Now that's a good view from your hotel. :)

As I said, not a big fan of cities but in the right light and weather, from the right vantage point, they look fantastic.

My dad was similar. He loved Concorde, loved the view of the M40 motorway snaking across the countryside seen from the high vantage point, after coming out of the cutting after High Wycombe, was awe-struck by dams, bridges and other epic civil engineering he saw when visiting other countries as an engineer on board ships in the merchant navy (he particularly loved the Hoover dam and the Glen Canyon dam; the latter I also loved when I visited it). But he didn't like cities other than for visits. He always lived in suburbia but always longed to move out to the country (but sadly never did).

Anyway, since you're in 'Laaaahndaan' ("gawd blimey guv'nor an nah noh nuffink neiyvvah".) here are some random recommendations for you to consider or ignore at your whim and convenience. :)


So, Portabello market is good if you're there on Friday or Saturday. Head to the grubbier bit with what I call the 'tat' stalls (laughably officially called 'antique' stalls:grin:) up near Notting Hill tube; again next to nothing machining related, but I've picked up the odd nice looking vintage watch in the past (nothing valuable, the internet has made that unlikely; just watches I liked the design of).

London Transport museum, if you've not been, is IMHO, one of the best museums in London.

Oh and a walk along Regent's Canal is a good 'un. It's about 8 miles long so maybe not the whole length (unless you have time) but you can do a decent chunk of it in a hour or so.

If you'd like a really good and fun Italian restaurant, Ave Maria in Covent Garden is great. Have to book generally though, but not necessarily far in advance.

Finally, if you like authentic Indian food (particularly Gujarati), head over towards Wembley and check out Ealing Road in the borough of Brent. It's one of the 'little Indias' in London. There are a fair few shops selling mithai (Indian sweets) and I daren't go up there regularly for fear of laying waste to what little health I have left!:grin: Plenty of good Indian restaurants too, with dishes many non Indians have never heard of!
 
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Looks like a great trip. The picture of Paddington Bear brought me back to when my wife and I were there in 2001. I tried taking the same picture and just as I was snapping the shutter, a cute local girl photo bombed me by running up and sitting right next to Paddington. Personally, I thought it made a better picture.

Richard
 
Today’s stop is the London Science Museum on Exhibition Road. Started in 1856 it’s more than just science. It also includes industry, machinery, trains, autos, and planes.

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Drinker Iron Lung from 1930 polio patients were kept alive in these contraptions.
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Richard Roberts Lathe 1813. With back gears and interesting carriage speed change mechanism..
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Ames 1857 duplicating gunstock lathe
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Early geared dividing head flute cutter
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Otto Lilienthal a German pioneer of aviation. First person make documented flight. In fact he made over 2,000 flights before crashing and killing himself. In 1896 at age of 48…
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Many airplane engines. One that particularly perked my attention was this diesel Bearmore Tornado built in 1927 to power airships. Gasoline thought to be too dangerous. Straight eight with 8.25 bore and 12.00 stroke no less. That’s 5,130 cubic inches, 84 liters. Weight 8,600 pounds. Producing 650 hp seven engines were installed on a blimp.
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Dinner at Happy Lamb Hot Pot Restaurant in London. I big pot of boiling chicken broth in center table with seating around for eight. Place the thin sliced beef, chicken, vegetables and noodles to cook. In n a few minutes your meal is cooked before your eyes.

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Lunch at a typical small and busy English Pub known for their Shepard Pie.
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I haven't visited the Science Museum since the 90's and it looked tired and shabby and I was disappointed (didn't help that the previous time I visited, I was a child of 6 or 7 and so during my second 1990's visit, it all looked a lot smaller).

I heard recently that it was at it's nadir in the 90's and that it's much better now, so after seeing your pics, I reckon I'm due another visit. Thank you! :)
 
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