Sir John Soanes Museum and Thames Walk, and Pubs

A day out for seven quickly whittled down to three.  The attrition rate increased as soon as the seven realised Mr Him was one of the 7. Excuses like having to fix a drainage pipe that miraculously just fell off (the trouble our friends go to to attrite),

 having to suddenly grocery shop for sudden unexpected guests, not to mention sudden surprise birthday parties.  Anyway the three,  Mr Him,  I and a 'friend brave ' took ourselves to a little known London gem or four.

The first gem was the Sir John Soanes museum near Holborn in Lincoln Inn Fields here  A treasure trove of a house, literally.  From the outside you wouldn't know it contained the likes of sarcophagus of  Seti 1 and 8 original Hogarths,  let alone a Turner.  Strict no photo policy but compensated by it being free to visit. I can only describe this like experiencing   the library in The Librarians but rabbit warren style, if you can imagine such a thing. 

Mr Him has write his impressions of this treasure maze below.

Tucked away in a tranquil oasis a couple of hundred metres from the very busy Kingsway in central London, was a four storey Georgian townhouse. Inside awaited a rabbit's warren of floors, rooms and corridors,,  designed and decorated by Sir John Soanes, celebrated architect. Artifacts from Egyptian, Roman, Greek and Babylonian cultures nestled cheek by jowel with Renaissance pieces and contemporary artworks (for his time). Funerary masks and pieces of sculpted stone overlooked one of the prize pieces of the collection, the sarcophagus of no lesser an individual that Seti 1! An awesome piece of masonry carved lovingly from a single piece of alabaster, almost luminous in the deliberate gloom of the cellar. In the upper rooms, whole walls were movable, in order to best display artwork collected by the insatiable Sir John. I was in utter disbelief when a wall was moved to reveal all of the 8 original series of Hogarth's "The Rake's Progress"! There was also at least one Turner, and some Cannelettos!! I left the museum pleased that I'd allowed Anna to persuade me into attending. I feel well and truly "cultureficated"....!!! 

Back to Anna

We then went to investigate a Wetherspoons called The Shakespeare.  

a  mural in the ladies restroom, spot the hand dryer 

We didn't see dogs.  Mr Him had a colourful beer as he had blackcurrant cordial added to a weissbeer. I suppose he thought if my wine was pink then his beer should be.

Next stop Bodeans for pulled pork and New York Cheesecake  (yes we can get it in the UK.  This one was similar to the Rockerfeller Centre one.  Not quite as creamy as a deli cheesecake),  and an Alabama Slammer or two.

The  men had banana splits

We needed a walk and Mr Him took us on a Thames Path walk to London Bridge vicinity.

machinery of days gone by along the Thames

Tower Bridge in the distance

I filmed the sound of the Thames lapping along and the night views for you here 

Custom House

lit up London Bridge and Shard

Borough Market empty at night

days of yore depicted in Borough Market near the bins

Under London Bridge train line

cheese shop closing for the day

Then onto a pub or inn called The Anchor.  Inside we found another warren.  This time rooms containing bars and seating.

a model of the Globe Theatre inside the Anchor inn

 It was an unusually warm night and we sat out on the roof garden to drink and look at the views of London.

I videoed some music and revellery going on below us for you here music by the Thames

Then a walk to the station admiring the moon over the Shard.

 and a discovery of what remains of Winchester Palace.

I like how they have planted in the ruins.  An attractive display