#Park Grand Paddington

[paddingtoncourt]

What goes on in the Tower of London?

Located on the banks of the river Thames, a short tube or taxi ride from the various types of accommodation in Paddington London, sits the Tower of London. Architecturally impressive, with a plethora of stories to tell and a diverse history which is both regal and full of gore, the Tower of London is now one of the most popular attractions in the whole of London.

But what is there to see and do when you get there, and is the Tower worth the trek from your Paddington London hotel?

The Tower of London as an attraction

With guided tours available and plenty of history to learn about, the Tower of London can offer anything from a stopping point for an hour or two, to a full day out for the whole family. Make sure that you take in specific points including the White Tower, Traitor’s Gate, and the execution green where Anne Boleyn was famously beheaded on the orders of King Henry VIII.

A guided tour will also tell you stories such as that of the Princes in the Tower, the history and use of the Tower as a fortress during the wars, and how prominent the Tower has been as a prison throughout its history.

The ravens

The ravens are said to protect both the crown and the tower itself, and as such there are now six ravens who live in captivity in and around the Tower of London’s site. Despite being built on superstition, the ravens are an aspect of the Tower’s history that many visitors find interesting.

The Crown jewels

The royal family and the plethora of royal connections across London drive many of the top and budget London hotels to offer deals and special offers all year round – celebrating anniversaries, weddings, births, and more.

The presence of the crown jewels inside the Tower of London combines the history of the site with the regal grandeur of the royal family – with visitors from all around the world booking tickets and queueing to file past and see the jewels for themselves from behind their thick glass case.

The outside space

We probably don’t need to tell you how glorious the setting of the Tower of London is – with its views over the river Thames and proximity to Tower Bridge making it one of the most centrally located, accessible attractions in the city. Beyond its location, the Tower of London plays host to an outside display of flowers which is referred to as the Superbloom display – with millions of flower seeds being sown in the dried moat which surrounds the attraction, budding and blooming throughout the spring and summer months.

Colourful and vibrant in its display, this floral attraction is enough to draw visitors from all walks of life – even those who don’t fancy a day of history, guts, and gore.

Whatever your itinerary, make sure you add the Tower of London to your plans for the day – researching the best form of transport from the Park Grand Paddington Court, whether on foot or by taxi or tube.

[bottomoftheriverbed]

Get to know me tag game. Tagged by @kitkatt0430!

1. Do you make your bed?

Not really. I spend most of my time in bed so there's no point really.

2. Favourite number?

I don't really have one but probably 22 if pressed because it's my birthday.

3. What's your job?

I don't have one. I'm a student and I'm disabled so I'm not really able to work. I might try and do some tutoring next year but it depends how my health is. Eventually I want to work in heritage.

4. If you could go back to school would you?

I'm at university doing my undergrad right now. I probably want to continue on and do a masters at least. Maybe a PhD as well.

5. Can you parallel park?

My wheelchair? Just about. But not anything else

6. Do you think aliens are real?

I think the universe is so big that it's more probable that there is some form of life out there then not.

7. Can you drive a manual car?

I cannot drive any car. I keep thinking I ought to try and learn but it's very intimidating

8. Guilty pleasure?

Naps. Pretty books. Mumford and sons.

9. Tattoos?

None yet. I'm thinking of getting one over the summer it's just whether or not I can get round to it. I'd have to not swim for a little bit and now I'm swimming regularly again I get antsy if I don't for a few weeks so it's psyching myself up for that.

10. Favourite colour?

Blue probably. Maybe green. I'm not very good at picking favourites but I generally prefer blues, greens and purples.

11. Favourite type of music?

It tends to depend on my mood but if I had to pick I'd probably go folk rock/indie folk that type of thing.

12. Do you like puzzles?

Yes although I do have to be in the right sort of mood.

13. Any phobias?

For all I'm an anxious person and a bit of a scaredy cat I can't actually think of any specific phobias.

14. Favourite childhood sport?

Swimming/artistic (synchronised) swimming. Swimming is the only sport I've ever been even remotely good at. It was very satisfying seeing the look on the face of my dickhead year 4 teacher who choose his favourites based on athletic ability when I was one of the best in the class at it. I ended up doing synchro after I reached the highest level of swimming lessons and wasn't really quick enough for speed swimming. I had to quit when I got sick but I've started up again at uni. I also had a tennis phase (my Opa did it because apparently my grandmother was good at it)

15. Do you talk to yourself?

Yes and I was very offended as a child when people said it was the first sign of madness.

16. What movies do you adore?

Pan's labyrinth, the grand Budapest hotel, 1996 Romeo and Juliet. Sound of music is very nostalgic for me and I do love it very much. The inkheart film is objectively a bit shit but I kind of love it anyway. The paddington films are also up there.

17. Tea or coffee?

I don't drink either.

18. First thing you wanted to be growing up?

An author. I wanted to be a doctor for most of my childhood as well.

Tagging @steeple-sinderby-wanderers @heffer-wen @ontargetmadders

[waltfrasescazadordepalabras]

-Alan Turing

Ningún ingeniero ni químico ha pregonado tener la capacidad de producir un material que sea indistinguible de la piel humana. Es posible que se logre con el tiempo, pero aún en el supuesto de que existiese este invento, sabríamos lo poco importante que resulta tratar de hacer más humana a una "máquina pensante" cubriéndola con esta carne artificial”.

7 de Junio de 1954

Aniversario Luctuoso de Alan Turing.

Alan Mathison Turing, (nació en Paddington, Londres; 23 de junio de 1912, murió en Wilmslow, Cheshire; 7 de junio de 1954), fue un matemático, lógico, informático teórico, criptógrafo, filósofo y biólogo teórico británico.

Es considerado como uno de los padres de la ciencia de la computación y precursor de la informática moderna. Proporcionó una formalización influyente de los conceptos de algoritmo y computación: la máquina de Turing. Formuló su propia versión que hoy es ampliamente aceptada como la tesis de Church-Turing (1936). Durante la segunda guerra mundial, trabajó en descifrar los códigos nazis, particularmente los de la máquina Enigma, y durante un tiempo fue el director de la sección Naval Enigma de Bletchley Park. Se ha estimado que su trabajo acortó la duración de esa guerra entre dos y cuatro años.6​ Tras la guerra, diseñó uno de los primeros computadores electrónicos programables digitales en el Laboratorio Nacional de Física del Reino Unido y poco tiempo después construyó otra de las primeras máquinas en la Universidad de Mánchester.

En el campo de la inteligencia artificial, es conocido sobre todo por la concepción de la prueba de Turing (1950), un criterio según el cual puede juzgarse la inteligencia de una máquina si sus respuestas en la prueba son indistinguibles de las de un ser humano.Turing tiene un extenso legado con estatuas y muchas cosas que llevan su nombre, incluido un premio anual por innovación en informática. Aparece en el billete actual de 50 libras del Banco de Inglaterra,​ que se lanzó el 23 de junio de 2021, coincidiendo con su cumpleaños. Un programa de la BBC de 2019, votado por la audiencia, lo nombró la persona más grande del siglo XX.

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Frases de Alan Turing:

1. Un hombre provisto de papel, lápiz y goma, y con sujeción a una disciplina estricta, es, en efecto, una Máquina de Turing universal.

2. Ningún ingeniero ni químico ha pregonado tener la capacidad de producir un material que sea indistinguible de la piel humana. Es posible que se logre con el tiempo, pero, aun en el supuesto de que existiese este invento, sabríamos lo poco importante que resulta tratar de hacer más humana a una "máquina pensante" cubriéndola con esta carne artificial.

3. La idea detrás de las computadoras digitales puede explicarse diciendo que se trata de máquinas cuyo objetivo es ejecutar cualquier operación que pueda realizar una computadora humana. Esta computadora humana, supuestamente, sigue reglas fijas y carece de la autoridad para desviarse de ellas en el más mínimo detalle.

4. Las máquinas me sorprenden con mucha frecuencia.

5. La ciencia es una ecuación diferencial. La religión es una condición de frontera.

6. El razonamiento matemático puede considerarse más bien esquemáticamente como el ejercicio de una combinación de dos instalaciones, que podemos llamar la intuición y el ingenio.

7. Una computadora puede ser llamada "inteligente" si logra engañar a una persona haciéndole creer que es un humano.

8. Solo podemos ver poco del futuro, pero lo suficiente para darnos cuenta de que hay mucho que hacer.

9. Supuestamente, el cerebro humano es algo parecido a una libreta que se adquiere en la papelería: muy poco mecanismo y muchas hojas en blanco.

10. En vez de intentar producir un programa que simule la mente adulta, ¿por qué no tratar de producir uno que simule la mente del niño? Si ésta se sometiera entonces a un curso educativo adecuado, se obtendría el cerebro de adulto.

11. La opinión tan generalizada de que los científicos proceden siempre de un hecho bien demostrado a otro hecho bien demostrado, y nunca se dejan influir por una conjetura no probada, es bastante errónea. A condición de que quede bien claro qué son hechos probados y qué son conjeturas, no existe ningún peligro. Las conjeturas son de suma importancia, porque sugieren posibles vías de investigación.

Literatura, arte, cultura y algo más

[umichenginabroad]

Bring on the Blue Mountains! (Week 9)

After returning from Tasmania, it was time for me to recharge again before my family came to town. This meant some more local traveling, as well as catching up on sleep! On Tuesday, once my photography class ended in Paddington, I took to the streets to find a new route to explore which led me to Rushcutters Bay Park along the water just a bit east of the Opera House. The park and nearby pier reemphasized my love for the Sydney coast. 

Not pictured: dozens of dogs playing in the field.

More than the incredible beaches and vast ocean, the coast is full of the greenest parks and forests, houses climbing up rolling hills, and people. People exercising, playing with their dogs, picnicking like there’s no tomorrow, or just enjoying the beautiful weather. Even at night, the cityscape illuminates the water and makes Darling Harbour the perfect place to take a seat and catch up with friends. 

Darling Harbour at night!

Along Coogee Bay Rd, the central road of Coogee beach, I finally got to try a Vietnamese food stop which always has the longest lines in the area and runs out of food before the sun sets. The chicken banh mi I got instantly became my favorite local meal and I got it again only a few days later.

My week ended with a hostel group trip to the Blue Mountains just about 2 hours from Sydney. Known for their vast canyons and incredibly diverse greenery, the Blue Mountains are a popular site for both locals and tourists as they’re full of hikes and unmatched sites. In fact, the most popular hike which we took is called the Grand Canyon trail which takes you to Australia’s own Grand Canyon! I can’t say it compares to the one in Arizona, but it sure makes a mouth drop. The several mile hike winds down into the valley where you’re immersed in a rocky rainforest before taking you uphill to a much drier walk full of completely different flora. The hike exemplified Australia’s endlessly diverse landscape as well as the easy access to nature from the city. 

^ The start of the Grand Canyon hiking trail.

^ The Grand Canyon! It sure is greener than the one in Arizona, but can you also spot the blueish mist? They are called the Blue Mountains, after all!

^ The squad!

The trip to the Blue Mountains did expose a harsh reality of day trips - the logistics of getting there and back. Tired of taking public transport everywhere, my friends wanted to try Uber Carshare which lets you borrow someone’s car for hours/days at a time without going through the hassle of renting. The problem was that the car we booked was a 40-minute transport away anyway, and didn’t cut down the travel time compared to the train at all. And when it came to returning the car, we spent 20 minutes trying to parallel park it into the exact same spot we got it from despite the fact that the car simply did not fit into the spot. We then realized that the Uber app had a different drop-off location specified which prompted us to try again at this new location, but to no avail. Between the one-way roads and cones in our path, we couldn’t even reach the parking spot and had to park as close as we could manage. Then, as Shaunak went to take pictures of the car to submit to the app as proof of good condition, his phone died! At that point, we suggested the others go home and the two of us set off to find a USB-C charger. Adamant that we didn’t need to go home or find a store where we could buy one (there were none in the vicinity), I led us to a nearby student accommodation apartment building. I was confident that if we asked enough people, someone would help. As luck would have it, the very first person we talked to who worked in the lobby happened to have a USB-C charger right there with him! He was generous enough to let us use it and hangout in the lobby while we waited. 

The logistics of planning trips, between finding housing and flights, coordinating activities, and figuring out how we’ll get around is not an easy task for a bunch of procrastinators, but with each trip and excursion we get just a little bit better. The fact that we haven’t quite planned a week-long trip to New Zealand for 14 people in just two weeks is a little worrisome, but a reality for many students studying abroad. I look forward to sharing a bit more about that in the future! Until then, cheers!

David Bayer

Biomedical Engineering

University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia

[secretagentsagainstwhatever]

Meet me

Hi :) (i’ll probably update this semi regularly)

my name is Mia

nicknames - Mimi, Mish

I’m bisexual

She/Her

from England (hate the tories, the monarchy, and the rich)

I’m Infp apparently (odds on me dropping my BDSMtest results here lmao)

I’m 23 my birthday’s in May

I like astrology - i’m a gemini with a leo moon and leo rising

I’m the youngest of four children

I have a dog and two cats (who i will always willingly talk about)

I’m most definitely the friend that’s too woke

Quick overview of my layout:

Url: has no actual meaning, just a funny string of words

Name: Lyrics from the song “No Shame” by 5 Seconds Of Summer

Bio: Quote from The Simpsons S2 E6 “Dead putting society”

Header: The Simpsons chalk board gag but Bart is writing “Leslie Tiller was fucking murdered” a reference to the movie Hot Fuzz

Icon: Actress Liz Sladen posing as ‘Sarah Jane Smith’ with K9. Both characters from Doctor Who

I only use tumblr via the ios app so if my layout looks like crap, or doesn’t fit properly on other devices i’m very sorry (but also i won’t actually be doing anything about adjusting it so…)

Potential triggers on my account (i try my hardest to put tw)

Swearing Talk of poor mental health Politics / world issues Interaction with fanfics including 18+ / nsfw content unironic lyric posting /hj….

some of my favourites

Foods - I’m a vegetarian, and i bloody love pasta

Drink - Iced coffee & Cherry Pepsi

music - 5sos, BoyWithUke, Declan McKenna, Aitch, Matt Maeson, Sarah Close, ArrDee, Dave, Reneé Rapp, Cat Burns, Rizzle Kicks, Michael Aldag, Hozier, Seb Lowe, James Marriott, Olivia Rodrigo, Green day, Ren, Arcade fire, Cassia, Noah Kahan, Orla Gartlan, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Arthur Hill, Sam Fender, Pet shop boys, JADE, Kate Bush, Kendrick Lamar, Baby queen, Linkin Park, Muse

Tv shows - Doctor who, Young Royals, Heartstopper, Ghosts, Wednesday, Disenchantment, The Simpsons, Horrible Histories, Shameless (Us), Bob’s burgers, 9-1-1, The thick of it , QI, Taskmaster, Inside No 9, It’s always sunny in Philadelphia, Psych

movies - Stardust, The princess bride, Attack the block, Flushed away, Scream, Hoodwinked, Corpse Bride, Hot Fuzz, V for Vendetta, Wallace and Gromit, Scott Pilgrim vs the world, Barbie, The lost boys, Shrek, About time, Grand Budapest hotel, Paddington (ask to see my letterboxd and i’ll marry you)

colour - Orange 🧡🍊

AVFC 💜🩵

Disclaimer since 7/10/23 I’ve been supporting the BDS boycott movement, anything listed here that’s on the bds list i’ve either pirated or abstained from, and will continue too do so until Palestine is free 🫶🏻 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

that’s all i can think of for now, i always try my hardest to be accessible and use image id’s etc, i’m not great at using tone indicators but i’ll always tag if something is serious/srs /Genuine

I’m not sure if this is necessary or a done thing but hey i’m doing it anyway :)

so yeah Hi nice to meet you all, pls be my friend (I’m terrible at replying but i am really nice & give good advice xox)

[dollsome-does-tumblr]

Movies & TV of 2022 List

Here’s my list of what I watched this year! I may have left some stuff out, especially in the TV department, because I’m not always good at remembering to add stuff to The List.

For movies, I put hearts next to the ones I watched for the first time and extra enjoyed! I also attempted to do it with TV, but then realized I enjoyed way too much stuff and it was pretty much pointless.

Movies of 2022 January 01. I Love You, Phillip Morris 02. Lady of the Manor 03. Red Notice 04. Bridget Jones’s Diary 05. Jurassic Park 06. Jurassic Park: The Lost World 07. Peter Rabbit 2 08. The Double 09. The Lost Daughter 10. #Alive 11. Before Sunset 12. Stage Beauty 13. Persuasion (2007) 14. Beauty and the Beast (2017) February 15. Falling for Fígaro 16. Nightmare Alley 17. Free Guy 18. I Want You Back 19. Austenland 20. Marry Me ♥ 21. Life After Beth 22. Shaun of the Dead 23. Warm Bodies March 24. The Tragedy of Macbeth ♥ 25. West Side Story (2021) 26. Silent Night ♥ 27. Then Came You 28. The Object of My Affection 29. Housebound April 30. Vacation Friends 31. The Lost City ♥ 32. Everything Everywhere All At Once ♥ 33. Baby Done ♥ 34. Something's Gotta Give 35. Don Jon 36. Ondine 37. The Crying Game ♥ 38. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent ♥ May 39. Sense and Sensibility ('95) 40. Fresh ♥ 41. Men ♥ June 42. Book of Love 43. Fire Island ♥ 44. Encanto 45. Jurassic World: Dominion ♥ 46. Good Luck To You, Leo Grande ♥ 47. Jurassic Park 48. Downton Abbey: A New Era July 49. Mr. Malcolm’s List ♥ 50. Persuasion (1995) 51. Lamb 52. Persuasion 2022 53. Cha Cha Real Smooth ♥ 54. The Sea Beast ♥ August 55. Nope ♥ 56. Not Okay 57. Spy 58. Runaway Bride 59. The Family Stone 60. Did You Hear About The Morgans? 61. Midsommar 62. Clerks 63. Dirty Dancing 64. E.T. ♥ 65. An Evening with Beverly Luff Lin September 66. Three Thousand Years of Longing ♥ 67. Vengeance 68. Zombie for Sale ♥ 69. Don’t Look Now October 70. Paddington 2 💕 71. The Valet 72. Catherine, Called Birdy ♥ 73. Significant Other 74. Addams Family Values 75. Crimson Peak 76. Practical Magic November 77. Enola Holmes 2 ♥ 78. See How They Run ♥ 79. Ever After 💙✨ 80. Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me 81. The Menu ♥ 82. The Wonder ♥ 83. Last Night in Soho ♥ 84. Weird: The Weird Al Yankovic Story ♥ 85. Disenchanted 86. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On ♥ December 87. Strange World ♥ 88. Bros 89. Amsterdam 90. The Banshees of Inisherin 91. Knives Out: Glass Onion ♥ 92. Klaus 93. It's A Wonderful Life 94. The Big Year 95. The Invitation TV of 2022 January Queer Eye, Season 6 Parks and Rec, Season 5 Emily in Paris, Season 1 Search Party, Season 5 Back to Life, Season 1 Wolf Like Me, Season 1 Emily in Paris, Season 2 Back to Life, Season 2 The Witcher, Season 2 Parks and Rec, Seasons 6-7 Yellowjackets, Season 1 February The Paradise, Season 1 Santa Clarita Diet, Season 1-3 The Book of Boba Fett, Season 1 Peacemaker, Season 1 Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl In The Window The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Season 2 Around the World in 80 Days, Season 1 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Season 3 The Paradise, Season 2 Ghosts, Season 3 March The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Season 4 Murderville, Season 1 Single Drunk Female, Season 1 OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH, SEASON 1 All Creatures Great and Small, Season 2 The Larkins, Season 1 Upload, Season 1 April Upload, Season 2 Killing Eve, Season 4 Flight of the Conchords, Season 1 Sanditon, Season 2 Flight of the Conchords, Season 2 Starstruck, Season 2 Wrecked, Season 1 You, Me, and Them, Season 1 Grace and Frankie, Season 7 May Lost, Season 1 Julia, Season 1 Lost, Season 2 Wrecked, Season 2-3 The Baby, Season 1 Killing It, Season 1 Stranger Things, Season 4-A June Good Trouble, Season 4-A Hacks, Season 2 Mr. Mayor, Season 2 Lost, Season 3 New Girl, full series (watched over past few months!) Gentleman Jack, season 2 July Lost, Season 4-5 Lost, Season 6 Agatha Raisin, Season 1-2 Anne With An E, Season 1-2 Minx, Season 1 August Girls5Eva, Season 2 The Orville, Season 2 Why Women Kill, Season 2 Schitt’s Creek, full series (over past few months) Anne With An E, Season 3 Never Have I Ever, Season 3 The Afterparty, Season 1 Another Period, Season 1-3 September Trying, Season 3 My So Called Life, Season 1 and only! Only Murders in the Building, Season 2 Superstore, Season 1-4 Darby and Joan, Season 1 October Lots of BBC Ghosts! Superstore, Season 5-6 Derry Girls, Season 3 Miracle Workers, Season 3 Wellington Paranormal, Season 4 House of the Dragon, Season 1 Los Espookys, Season 1-2 Mary Berry: Love to Cook, Season 1 Difficult People, Season 1-3 November Interview with the Vampire, Season 1 Physical, Season 1-2 Mammals, Season 1 Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Season 2 Broad City, Season 1-4 Mum, Season 1-2 December Down to Earth with Zac Efron, Season 2 Mum, Season 3 Wednesday, Season 1 Broad City, Season 5 Loot, Season 1 Around The World In 80 Days, Season 1 Avenue 5, Season 2 Our Flag Means Death, Season 1 30 Rock, Season 1

[dknuth]

England

We are in England for some independent travel in Yorkshire and a historian-led tour of Hadrian's Wall.

We left Madison at about noon and flew to Chicago and then to London. Our flight arrived in London at 5:55 AM. We took a train into the city at Paddington Station, a taxi to Kings Cross Station, and a train to York. That all worked well, although it didn't need to as we arrived in York about 10 AM and couldn't get into our little apartment hotel until 2 PM. So after an overnight flight and Cathie being really tired, we were hanging out for over 4 hours. That's a really difficult time to arrive. It's way too early to check in for that night. If we had gotten a hotel in London we'd have checked in at 7 AM and had to check out at 11 AM. I guess we should have gotten the room in York for the night before too and paid over $200 for the 4 hours.

I will look closer at the arrival times on flights in the future and try to arrive at a reasonable hour. In Tunis I arrived at 1 AM and paid for that night, which seemed reasonable. But this was too late for an extra night to make sense and too early to check-in.

That day Cathie was wiped out and slept for the whole day. I got out and walked around a bit.

Our hotel was just a couple of blocks from the train station, which made it an easy walk with the bags to get there.

Between the station and the hotel was the old city wall. But it was only about a one-block detour to get through the wall. York decided in the early 1800's to preserve the walls for a pedestrian promenade. It was a great decision and it works well as a loop around the old town.

The wall near our hotel leads right down to the river with a view of York Minster the background.

Between the wall and our small hotel there is a large deluxe hotel we walk past all the time. How fancy is it? The topiary beside the front door is trimmed to match the doorman's top hat.

He and I agreed that it really needs a yellow band to match the one on his hat. I check the prices for The Grand. It's £400 and up per night. We have a very nice apartment for less than half that, although no doorman.

York is a very nice town. It's has a river running through it, which they put to good use, with riverside dining, riverboat tours, and parks.

The town is over 1,000 years old and so there is a wide range of building ages and styles.

One small street has some quite ancient buildings and is known as The Shambles. If you work at it and frame the buildings just right it can look like something out of Harry Potter, which the store owners have taken full advantage of. But I really wasn't interested enough to create an illusion.

Near The Shambles is a very short street with an unusual name.

Apparently it was originally spelled Whitnourwhatnourgate, which doesn't really help that much. There is debate about what it would mean, possibly "Neither One Thing Nor Another" or "What a Street" it only has three addresses on it # 1, # 1a, and # 1 1/2. Clearly theyv'e kept it around for the novelty. SPeaking of novelty, the shop at 1 1'2 is a Fantasy Gaming store.

When the Normans conquered this part of England they built many Abbys and several were in York. Of course when Henry VIII abolished all the monasteries in England. That left grand building complexes abandoned. Most of them are now in various stages of ruin. We will see several of these in our travel around the area. As elsewhere, abandoned stone buildings were recycled into everything from barns to castles.

Just across the river is Museum Park, a nice park along the river on the grounds of St. Mary's Abby. A part of the apse of the main chapel still stands in the park.

This park is only a third of a mile from our apartment, so it was an easy destination for Cathie.

It was also the location of our first splurge restaurant of the trip, The Starr in the City. A restaurant founded on local ingredients and local cuisine, but modernised and improved. The location was equally inspired. You enter through a tunnel in the old city walls.

Into a new glass and wood dining room in the park.

We had an excellent dinner, but one where we needed to look up many of the words on the menu. It seems that British food words are quite different than Americal ones. But it was a good meal. (I neglected to take food photos, sorry.)

Since most of the city walls are intact, the next morning I headed out to do a loop of the old city on the walls. It was a lovely walk of a little over 3 miles and had a good view of ancient and modern York.

Of course the old gates into the city were way too small even by the 1800's. What is pleasant to see is that rather than just blowing out that section of the wall they built new gates. They aren't much good for stopping attackers but they handle the traffic and maintain the spirit of the walls. Here you can see the original gatehouse in the center and later openings for pedestrian and vehicular traffic on either side.

Many of these gatehouses are now coffee shops, a nice break for a wall walk.

On the north side of town, the wall abuts the wealthier neighborhoods around York Minster.

[jaydeemedia]

[ad_1] This lovely walk along Regent’s Canal is 4.5 miles and explores the most beautiful section of the waterway. The route passes Little Venice, Camden Market, and the regenerated King’s Cross area. Map and instructions included. LAST UPDATE: 6 Jan 2024 Anywhere We Roam is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support - Paul & Mark. Regent’s Canal cuts its way through the parks and varied urban architecture of northern London. A towpath runs along most of its route, allowing for a traffic-free walk to explore some of London’s finest neighbourhoods. We have designed a walk that covers the best sections of the canal. The regenerated areas of Paddington and Kings Cross bookend this walk. Along the way, it passes the mansions and narrowboats of Little Venice, the leafy banks and grand houses of Regent’s Park, and the stalls of Camden Market. Our Regent’s Canal walk can be completed in just over 2 hours. But if you spend a bit of time at the market and have lunch at one of the stalls, you’ll want to allow at least half a day. REGENT’S CANAL MERCHANT SQUARE ABOUT THE REGENT’S CANAL WALK Regent’s Canal connects the Grand Union Canal in the west with Limehouse Basin in the east. Sometimes a towpath runs along side it, at other times it dives into tunnels beneath the city. We have picked the prettiest section of the Regent’s Canal towpath and constructed a walk around it. It begins in Paddington and passes through Little Venice, Regent’s Park, Camden and ends at King’s Cross. The walk can be done any time of year but is prettiest in late spring when the parks are lush and green, and flowers dot the banks of the canal. MAP | REGENT’S CANAL WALK Use our map to navigate this Regent’s Canal Walk and make sure you don’t miss any of the sights. >> How to use this map / Click on the top left of the map to display the list of locations, then click on the locations to display further information. Click on the top right corner of the map to open a larger version in a new tab or the star to save to your Google Maps.   WHERE TO START We recommend starting at Edgware tube station (or Paddington Station) and finishing at King’s Cross/St. Pancras tube station. However, you could also do the walk in reverse. HOW LONG? The walk is 4.5 miles (7.3 kilometres) which would take just over 2 hours without stops. However, you’ll want to spend time exploring Camden Market and perhaps taking a detour onto Primrose Hill, so allow 3 – 4 hours. REGENT’S CANAL TOWPATH START | EDGEWARE RD TUBE STATION Edgware Road tube station has two exits – one for the Bakerloo Line and one for the Hammersmith, District, and Circle Lines. Whichever exit you use, make your way onto Praed Street (following the map above) and then turn right through a gap in the buildings to reach the canal. You could also start at Paddington Station, but you would miss the Merchant Square section unless you backtracked a little. MERCHANT SQUARE This end of the canal is called Merchant Square. This recently regenerated area is home to shiny office buildings and canal-side dining. Keep right and follow the north edge of the canal as it passes bars and restaurants, food vans and coffee shops, all set below the glass and steel architecture. Pass under a bridge, bend right around the corner, and then cross the canal on the second bridge – signposted to Paddington Station. // Regent’s Canal by boat As an alternative to walking our Regent’s Canal route, you can rent speed boats from GoBoat UK who are located near Rolling Bridge in Merchant Square. It’s a 2-hour round trip to Camden Lock and back. MERCHANT SQUARE PADDINGTON BASIN Once over the bridge turn right and follow the left bank of the canal. You are now in Paddington Basin where colourful narrowboats have set up restaurants on deck. Darcie Green serves a good brunch or lunch, and May Green supplies the artisan coffee. Both are lovely on a sunny day.

Passing under a couple of bridges, keep an eye out for the sculpture ‘Two Figures’ also called ‘Walking Man and Standing Man’ portraying two people about to meet. PADDINGTON BASIN LITTLE VENICE The walk bends left and widens into a triangular pool known as Little Venice. Thought to be named by Robert Browning (but no-one is quite sure), it is where the Grand Union Canal and Regent’s Canal meet. Narrowboats and day trippers drift past the facades of grand mansions. Swans and ducks plough the waters to Browning Island in the centre of the pool. Stop and peruse the second-hand books at the Waterside Café. After the café turn right over the bridge and right again to follow the Regent’s Canal towpath, now heading northeast (see map above). After passing under another bridge keep left, leaving the towpath and join Blomfield Road. At the end of the road, the canal disappears into a tunnel and goes underground. Cross over Edgware Road and continue along Aberdeen Place. As the road bends left, keep straight ahead, and go through a gap in the buildings, then descend a staircase back onto the towpath. In just a few hundred meters climb the stairs back up to the road, turn right over the bridge and then left again to join the Regent’s Canal towpath on the right-hand side of the canal. Shortly the towpath crosses a pedestrian bridge over the canal, passes colourful street art, and enters Regent’s Park. LITTLE VENICE REGENT’S PARK This is the most beautiful section of the walk. The canal sweeps gracefully between two leafy banks. Grand houses with landscaped gardens peer over the waters as willow trees drift in the breeze. To get a view over London, take the detour to Primrose Hill (marked in orange on the map above). A short climb to the summit brings views over the City and London Eye. Back on the towpath, the walk passes London Zoo. Look carefully and you can see monkeys in the Monkey Valley tent to your left, and perhaps African Wild Dogs on the far bank. REGENT’S CANAL REGENT’S CANAL PRIMROSE HILL CAMDEN MARKET At the striking red Feng Shang Princess restaurant, the path bends left under a bridge and leaves the grassy banks of Regent’s Park for the urban interior of Camden. Brick walls and the underside of bridges are packed with a mix of graffiti and street art. Local houses (with their own narrowboats) back onto the canal. The Regent’s Canal towpath soon reaches the black and white bridge at Camden Lock. From here Camden Market stretches either side of the canal. The largest (and in our opinion) most interesting market in London is well worth exploring. A melting pot of music, fashion, experiences and food, the market is split into 4 quarters: Camden Stables Market Camden Lock Market Camden Hawley Wharf Market Camden Buck Street Market Wind through the stalls and passages of Camden’s Stables Market (see map) and grab lunch in Camden Lock Market. When you’ve finished exploring, cross over Camden High Street and head through Camden Hawley Wharf market to re-join the Regent’s Canal towpath signed towards King’s Cross. CAMDEN MARKET COAL DROPS YARD After leaving Camden the crowds disappear as the walk winds between a mix of old and new architecture. Graffiti lines many of walls and hoardings until you reach the regenerated area of King’s Cross. Over the last 20 years an underused industrial site famed for prostitutes and drugs has been rejuvenated with new streets, squares, and parks. First up Gasholder’s Park has transformed two enormous gas cylinders into stylish accommodation. Next, Coal Drops Yard is packed with cool shops, good restaurants, and a mix of coffee shops and bars. Out the back of the yard is Lewis Cubitt Square. It has an outdoor photo collection and Lightroom Gallery which houses an intriguing mix of artist-led exhibitions. Finally, Granary Square is home to the popular Caravan restaurant and an array of dancing fountains. The steps down to the canal is a popular spot to sit on a sunny day.

COAL DROPS YARD KING’S CROSS Cross over the bridge (opposite Granary Square) and follow the pedestrianised footpath signed to King’s Cross Station. Harry Potter fans should make a detour into the station for the Harry Potter shop and platform 9 ¾. Architecture fans should head into St Pancras station to see the magnificent arches, architecture, and concourse of the Eurostar. Our Regent’s Canal walk ends at Kings Cross / St Pancras station. We hope you enjoyed it. PLATFORM 9 3/4 ST PANCRAS RENAISSANCE HOTEL ST PANCRAS STATION MORE LONDON SELF-GUIDED WALKING GUIDES Walking is a great way to see London. Here’s a list of some of our favourite walks in London. Also, check out all the fantastic day hikes near London and soak up some beautiful country landscapes. ANYWHERE WE ROAM ISREADER-SUPPORTED Thanks for reading. To support our blog, you can shout us a coffee or follow us on social media. Big thanks – Paul & Mark. INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK [ad_2] Source link

[centralparkcollection]

Central Park Hotel: Where to Stay for Home Comforts and Luxury

When looking for hotels in Central London, it’s easy to be tempted by a five-star hotel with all the frills. However, these properties are not feasible for the average traveller’s budget. Fortunately, properties such as the Central Park Hotel London provide all the luxury of a grand dame hotel at a reasonable cost. 

Where is the Central Park Hotel London

The Central Park Hotel nestles on a serene street in a quiet neighbourhood close to Paddington Station and Hyde Park in the London West End. Located within walking distance of Paddington, Bayswater, Queensway, and Lancaster Gate, it is wonderfully connected to everywhere in London. Yet, you are guaranteed to sleep easily in this peaceful area. 

How to get to the Central Park Hotel

International travellers arriving at Heathrow Airport may take the Heathrow Express or Elizabeth Line directly to Paddington Station. It is a 15-minute walk from the station or less than five minutes in a taxi for those with luggage.

Top-notch amenities at the Central Park Hotel London

Upon arrival, you will be checked in and greeted warmly by the front desk. Staff are available 24/7 to answer any questions during your stay. They can assist with laundry services, a wake-up call, luggage storage, restaurant reservations, and London attraction tickets. 

All guest rooms at the Central Park Hotel London feature a private bathroom, complimentary Wi-Fi, a TV, in-room coffee/tea-making facilities, an in-room safe, a wardrobe, a mini fridge, and a work desk. Daily housekeeping will ensure your room remains sparkling clean. 

Breakfast and bar at the Central Park Hotel 

As one of the best hotels in Central London, a continental and full English breakfast is available to all guests. This comprises a buffet stocked with an assortment of healthy dishes. In the evenings, this restaurant area is transformed into a bar serving a fine selection of wines, spirits, and beers. 

Many of London’s most appealing restaurants are within walking distance or require a short journey by bus, Tube, or taxi. Paddington is awash with casual independent restaurants and traditional pubs while upscale Notting Hill is abundant in trendy brunch spots and stylish wine bars. The Michelin-starred fine dining scene is a short trip on the Underground.

Things to do near the Central Park Hotel 

Start your day with a morning stroll in Hyde Park and locate the Italian Gardens. Kensington Palace Gardens is connected to the west end of the park whereas Green Park and Buckingham Palace are a short walk to the east. Little Venice is but a 20-minute walk away where you can meander along the canals. 

Choosing one of the top-rated hotels in Central London means that you can even walk to Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the London Eye. 

How to book the Central Park Hotel 

The best rates apply when you book a stay at the Central Park Hotel London online. Booking directly finds the best available rate and applies an automatic discount. Deals and packages are also available via the property’s official website. 

[amazinglondon]

Discovering London's Hidden Oasis: The Charm of Little Venice

Hello, my fellow adventurers!

Today, we're escaping the hustle and bustle of London's busy streets and diving into a serene, picturesque corner of the city: Little Venice. A tranquil canal area, nestled in the heart of the city, Little Venice is a delightful escape that offers a unique perspective on the capital. If you're looking for a peaceful yet exciting side trip in London, or a delightful afternoon stroll, this little gem is waiting for you.

Little Venice: A Slice of Serenity in London

Located just north of Paddington, Little Venice is a charming network of waterways where the Grand Union and Regent’s Canals meet. The area got its name due to its striking resemblance to the famous Italian city, complete with pretty waterways, colourful narrowboats, and beautiful Victorian homes.

Cafes, Pubs, and Restaurants

One of the joys of Little Venice is the array of waterside cafes, quaint pubs, and restaurants lining the canals. There's nothing quite like enjoying a hearty meal or sipping a cup of tea while watching the narrowboats drift by. The Summerhouse and The Waterway are popular spots that offer fantastic canal-side dining experiences.

Canal Boat Trips

For a truly immersive experience, hop aboard a canal boat. Companies like the London Waterbus offer leisurely cruises from Little Venice to Camden Lock. It's a perfect way to soak in the picturesque scenery, and who knows, you might even spot some local wildlife!

The Puppet Theatre Barge

Adding to the charm of Little Venice is the Puppet Theatre Barge. It’s a unique floating theatre that showcases marionette puppet shows, bringing a touch of magic to the canal. The performances here are enchanting for both children and adults, making it an excellent option for families.

A Stroll along the Towpath

For those who prefer a tranquil walk, the canal towpath offers a peaceful route through London's greener side, leading to spots like Regent’s Park and ZSL London Zoo. It’s also a popular spot for joggers and cyclists.

Final Thoughts

Tucked away from the city's skyscrapers and crowded streets, Little Venice is one of London's best-kept secrets. It's a pocket of tranquillity where you can unwind, indulge in delightful dining, take a scenic boat trip, or simply enjoy a leisurely walk.

So, whether you're planning your first London visit or you’re a local in search of new experiences, make sure to carve out a day for Little Venice. The peaceful ambience, scenic views, and charming attractions make it a must-visit London spot.

Until our next adventure, enjoy every moment and keep exploring the world’s hidden gems!

Cheers, and happy wandering!

[lesombresdeschoses]

A NEW CAREER IN A NEW TOWN

Dans une grande maison à l'architecture art déco, une jeune fille monte les escaliers portant un plateau sur lequel : du thé, du lait et quelques biscuits. Elle entre dans la chambre où son oncle, assis à son bureau, écrit dans un carnet relié de cuir noir, puis pose la collation à côté de lui. L'adolescente sourit à l'élégant trentenaire aux cheveux bruns. Levant ses grands yeux gris teinté de vert, il lui rend sa mimique en la remerciant d'un signe de tête. La brunette, à la coupe au carré années 1920, s'assoit sur un tabouret près du plan de travail en merisier. L'homme boit quelques gorgées du breuvage. La demoiselle l'observe. Soudain, il se tourne vers sa nièce :

— Qu'est ce que...

Se levant calmement, elle continue de le dévisager. Il tombe de sa chaise, s'agrippe à la jupe de la jeune fille prononçant dans un dernier souffle :

— Louise !

*

Law se réveille en sursaut. Encore un cauchemar. Elle se passe les mains sur le visage pour sortir de sa torpeur, puis regarde son mobile :

— Fuck ! La cliente ! jure-t-elle, se levant en trombe.

La rousse compose un numéro.

— Allo Ren, j'arrive au plus vite !

L'ex-flic raccroche. Habituée aux timings serrés, elle enfile le jean traînant sur le bord de son lit, un T-shirt propre extirpé d'un tiroir de sa commode et se rue dans la salle de bain. Visage, dents, c'est torché. Law prend sa veste, met son kit main libre, puis sort en courant.

La W. Agency se situe dans le quartier de Victoria, sur Guildhouse Street. L'enquêtrice, habitant à Sussex Garden, n'a qu'à traverser le parc pour s'y rendre. L'agence est un petit deux pièces au rez-de-chaussée d'un bâtiment à trois étages de briques marron. Ren, toujours ponctuelle, attend déjà dans le bureau. La cliente, assise en face d'elle, boit un thé. Les deux jeunes femmes patientent. Arrivée au bout de Hyde Park, Mortensen rappelle sa collègue.

— OK, résume.

La sublime blonde élancée, tirée à quatre épingles, au bout du fil... c'est Renata, mon associée. Elle me coûte un bras, mais on s'entend bien. Elle semble un peu rêveuse et romantique par moment, et pourtant... elle sait garder la tête froide, on peut sérieusement compter sur elle. Un peu trop, même. Elle s'inquiète toujours pour un rien, une vraie mère poule ! Parfois, je me demande si ce n'est pas un peu surjoué...

— Madame Montgomery cherche un objet, un héritage familial. Un grand miroir d'environ un mètre de long. Je sais que la recherche d'objets ce n'est pas vraiment notre spécialité, mais je ne pouvais pas refuser. Tout ce qui appartenait à sa famille a été vendu après la mort de son oncle...

Ren n'a pas le temps de finir. Law arrive, essoufflée :

— Bonjour, Madame Montgomery. Toutes mes excuses pour ce retard, une affaire sur laquelle j'ai planché toute la nuit.

Après une poignée de main, l'enquêtrice s'assied derrière son bureau.

— Vous voulez donc que je retrouve ce miroir ?

— Oui, j'aimerais assez. Je traverse une mauvaise passe en ce moment. Je suis en instance de divorce, ça se passe assez mal. Je risque de me retrouver sans le sou. Ce miroir valait une petite fortune à l'époque. Il est incrusté de saphirs, de rubis et certaines parties sont en or massif.

L'ex-flic, intriguée, lui demande :

— Auriez-vous une photo de l'objet à me montrer ?

— J'ai pris un cliché du portrait de mon oncle. Le miroir est en arrière-plan.

La cliente fouille dans son sac, puis trouve la photographie, qu'elle tend à l'enquêtrice. Law la regarde, son expression s'assombrit.

— Vous devriez m'en dire plus sur cette chose. Qui s'est occupé de la vente après le décès de votre oncle ?

— Après sa mort et celle de mes parents, mes grands-parents m'ont adoptée. Ils ont vendu la maison et tout ce qu'il s'y trouvait. Je n'en sais pas plus, à vrai dire... à part que certains objets ont été rachetés par des membres éloignés de la famille. J'étais très jeune, j'ai peu de souvenirs de cette époque.

*

Paddington flat

Law boit son thé, debout, adossée au mur de son balcon. L'air préoccupé. La rousse aux grands yeux vert émeraude entend soudain, un objet se briser. Laissant sa boisson sur la petite table de jardin en métal peint en noir, elle rentre dans le salon pour trouver la cause du bruit. Au pied du buffet enfilade longeant le mur, gisent les morceaux d'une assiette en porcelaine. La jeune femme ressent encore une fois la présence de la nuit dernière. Allons bon, en pleine journée... Elle se retourne, puis regarde le miroir. Identique à celui sur la photographie de la cliente.

— Non. OK. Mais là, non. C'est de la folie.

Law s'approche de la glace, puis scrute l'intérieur du reflet, comme si elle voulait passer de l'autre côté. Alice... mais encore... Non, vas prendre ta Rispéridone, sérieux... n'importe quoi... Mortensen ramasse les bris d'assiette, retourne chercher sa tasse de thé, dépose le tout sur le plan de la cuisine et sort aussitôt de l'appartement.

*

Brixton district

L'ex-flic s'arrête en face d'un bâtiment en pierre de taille, le regarde un moment. La jeune femme y entre enfin, puis se dirige vers l'accueil pour se présenter. Quelques minutes plus tard un policier vient vers elle :

— Il arrive.

— Merci.

À cet instant, le DCI[1] McKenzie apparaît faisant signe à Law de le suivre. Elle lui emboîte le pas jusqu'à une salle d'interrogatoire. Montrant une chaise, Mac lui suggère de s'installer. Elle refuse, puis s'adosse au mur en face de la vitre teintée en croisant les bras. L'inspecteur s'assoit sur la table. Après un long silence, il s'adresse à son ancienne collègue sur un ton sarcastique :

— Ça fait un bail.

Inspecteur-Chef, Tyler McKenzie. Aaaah, Mac... Trop compliqué à expliquer. Passons.

— Ouais. J'ai besoin d'un service.

— Quel service ?

— Des renseignements sur une certaine Madame Montgomery. Sa famille, à vrai dire. Ses parents et son oncle sont décédés. Concernant ce dernier, si c'est une mort suspecte, tu dois avoir des rapports aux archives.

— Montgomery, tu dis.

— Montgomery. Beaumont-Montgomery, j'ai pu lire sur son passeport, à la signature du contrat... Beaumont étant, je suppose, le nom de son mari... Beaumont, comme Felix...

— OK, je vais voir ça. Je te tiens au courant, très vite.

Mac se dirige vers la sortie, ouvrant la porte pour laisser passer Law. L'enquêtrice n'est pas surprise par la réaction de son ex-coéquipier, mais elle attendait de lui un peu plus de...

...de résistance, de colère, d'indignation, que sais-je ? Une émotion bordel ! L'English dans toute sa splendeur ! Ah, il a peut-être grandi en Écosse, celui-là, mais un cul serré de naissance, ça reste un cul serré ! Mac le Magnifique, toujours stoïque. Superbe blond de presque deux mètres, sexy à souhait avec sa carrure de guerrier, mais j'ai toujours envie de lui foutre des baffes pour le secouer !

— Tu comprendras que je ne peux pas te laisser aller aux archives. Je m'en occupe.

— Bien sûr. C'est assez pressé par contre.

— Oui. J'ai dit : « très vite », lui répond Mac, sèchement.

Law le regarde, puis acquiesce. Elle n'insiste pas, la situation est assez tendue à son goût.

*

Louise se prélasse au soleil, assise dans le jardin sur un plaid à motifs floraux. Son oncle s'occupe des plantes. Elle l'observe, tel un chasseur guettant sa proie. L'homme lui fait signe de venir l'aider. La brunette se lève et s'approche de lui. Il lui tend un plantoir, puis lui indique un petit lopin de terre.

— Pique-le dans le sol, à la moitié, pour faire des trous. Espace-les de dix centimètres environ. Je vais te suivre pour y mettre les graines d'Impatiens walleriana.

Louise s'exécute. Il la suit, laissant tomber quelques semences dans chacun des orifices qu'elle a creusé. Par quelques gestes, apparemment anodins, l'adolescente cherche à le séduire. Brusquement, elle tente de l'embrasser. Il la prend par les épaules, la repousse :

— Bon sang, Louise ! Que fais-tu ?

La brunette le regarde fixement. Il se relève, contrarié, puis se précipite dans le pavillon. Mais qu'a-t-elle dans la tête, cette môme ? se dit-il, perturbé par le geste de la jeune fille. La sonnerie retentit à l'entrée, l'homme s'empresse d'ouvrir, nerveux. Les parents de Louise rentrent de voyage. Ayant entendu le carillon, elle passe près de son oncle, qui sursaute, surpris par sa présence. Furieuse qu'ils reviennent troubler sont petit monde fantasmagorique, à la vue de ses géniteurs, son regard s'assombrit. La mère se jette sur sa fille pour l'embrasser :

— Louison ! Alors, tu as été sage ?

La jeune fille repousse la femme, d'un geste agressif.

— Maman, j'ai quinze ans, je ne suis plus une enfant !

Le père serre la main de son frère. L'esprit accaparé par ses affaires, l'homme ne se préoccupe pas de son enfant :

— Bon, le voyage a été long, il faut encore défaire les bagages, je retourne à Londres, demain.

L'oncle aide les parents à porter les valises dans leur chambre. Louise reste à l'entrée, le regard rivé dans le vide. Soudain, elle penche la tête sur le côté, esquissant un sourire diabolique, se retourne et s'enfuit dans le salon pour jouer du piano. La marche funèbre de Chopin.

*

W. Agency - Victoria

Mortensen, assise à son bureau, une tasse de thé à la main (oui, on boit beaucoup de thé au Royaume Uni), lit les dossiers d'archives que Mac lui a confiés. Brusquement, la porte s'ouvre. Ren entre précipitamment. Sortant, tel un trophée, un bloc de feuilles de son sac en bandoulière, elle flanque le tas sur le plan en bois vernis. La belle blonde ne prend pas le temps de retirer sa veste et tend la photocopie d'un article de journal à sa collègue :

— Law, lis ça ! Le père disparaît mystérieusement, l'oncle meurt quelques mois après... Et c'est pas tout...

La rousse lit le papier, puis regarde la photo de famille.

— T'as chopé ça aux archives de la bibliothèque ?

— Oui, lui répond fièrement son associée, en retirant son cartable, puis son blazer, posant le tout sur une chaise.

L'ex-flic continue à regarder le cliché, reprend le dossier qu'elle étudiait précédemment pour le lancer sur la table en direction de sa partenaire.

— Mate ça.

Ren prend le maigre document, puis commence à feuilleter ses quelques pages :

— Cette Madame Beaumont-Montgomery nous cache des choses.

La blonde, debout de l'autre côté de la table, cesse de lire, puis regarde son amie, intriguée. Law relève la tête, posant ses coudes sur le bureau :

— Oui. Et ce miroir qu'elle recherche, je sais où il est... il est à Felicia maintenant, marmonne l'enquêtrice, préoccupée.

— Felicia a les moyens de se payer un truc pareil ?!

— C'est dans sa famille depuis quelques générations. Son grand-père était propriétaire terrien aux États-Unis. Alors quand ils ont emménagé au Royaume-Uni, ils ont dû faire la razzia sur les puces et les antiquaires de Londres... bref, j'en sais rien, mais toujours est-il que l'objet trône chez moi...

— Quelques générations...

— Toi aussi t'as chopé la fausse note !

— Il faut qu'elle me donne l'adresse de son chirurgien...

— J'te voyais plutôt aller chez le nutritionniste...

— Trève de plaisanterie, on ne lui dit rien pour l'instant. Je ne la sens pas ta cliente.

— Tout de suite, ma cliente !

— C'est toi la patronne...

— Quand ça t'arrange... mais qui est-ce qui m'a foutu une pareil associée !

Law regarde encore l'image, pensive :

— Louise Montgomery... Louise Beaumont-Montgomery... Mimétisme génétique ? s'interroge Mortensen à voix haute.

— Vu le genre d'enquête qu'on mène, ça ne me surprendrait pas que ce soit elle.

Ren replonge dans la lecture du dossier.

— Un brin dérangée la Louise, si c'est elle qui a commis ces meurtres. Et le père, retrouvé mort dans sa voiture, un an après le décès de l'oncle. Une momie. D��duction, court lapse de temps entre les deux morts.

— Le rapport d'autopsie dit que c'est une crise cardiaque qui aurait provoqué l'accident. L'oncle a lui aussi eu un infarctus... y'avait quoi dans leur jardin ? demande Ren.

— Bonne question. Digitale pourpre, à tous les coups.

— Sans doute. Tu m'éclaires ?

— On en extrait de la digitaline, pour le traitement de cardiomyopathies. Je ne saurais te préciser lesquelles, je ne suis pas médecin... tout ce que je sais c'est que ça peut tuer, et vite.

— Quelle science ! Moi je pensais plutôt à des poisons plus classiques, comme la strychnine, mais le bêtabloquant c'est parfait, en fait.

— Je traînais toujours à la morgue quand j'étais flic. Le légiste était canon.

— Forcément...

*

[1] Detective Chief Inspector.

[parkgrand]

Instagrammable Places in London for Travellers

London is blessed with incredible photo opportunities that include historic landmarks, quirky neighbourhoods, and lush green spaces. A camera or smartphone is an essential packing item when planning a trip to the Park Grand London Hotel. Add some of the most Instagrammable places in London to your itinerary and look forward to securing photos you’ll treasure forever. 

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is an icon of London. During your stay at a London Hyde Park hotel, you can visit the attraction and walk across the glass walkways and take panoramic photos of the city. Even without going inside, the area around Tower Bridge is one of the most photogenic areas in London. You can shoot the suspension bridge itself as well as the Tower of London, the River Thames, City Hall, and Shad Thames. 

Granary Square

Granary Square is a public plaza located a short walk from Kings Cross Station. It’s filled with over a thousand water jets and fountains that perform a choreographed dance and are illuminated by night. You can capture artistic photos here at any time of day but it’s perfect for night photography. Afterwards, you can sip a cocktail at one of the bars that are located in Coal Drops Yard.

Little Venice

Nicknamed for its resemblance to Italy’s romantic city, Little Venice is a neighbourhood in Maida Vale. It’s personified by tree-lined boulevards that run alongside the junction of the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal and the Regent's Canal. Barges are docked on the banks while small boats drift along the water. Guests of the Park Grand Paddington can enjoy leisurely morning photo walks in Little Venice.

Notting Hill

This bohemian neighbourhood is known for its pastel-hued townhouses, public gardens, and vintage boutiques. If you’re staying in a London Hyde Park hotel then you can visit early in the day to take photos and observe the Portobello Road Market spring to life.

Leadenhall Market

This ornate Victorian market features a high glass roof and handsome facades for its resident shops, cafes, bakeries, and salons. It’s a fantastic spot to get creative with your photography and spotlight the spectacular architecture. 

The Shard

You’ll want to get a snap of the Shard – the tallest building in London – during your holiday at 4 star hotels in London. You can visit the observation deck or one of the bars and restaurants for an aerial view. But, in reality, shooting the skyscraper from the ground is just as fun. Experiment with getting close-ups from the base as well as perspectives from the bridges and across the river. 

Primrose Hill

Primrose Hill rises to the north of Regent’s Park and provides enchanting views of the city skyline. The park is free to visit and minimal effort is needed. Visit early or around sunset for the best light. As well as capturing images of the city, Primrose Hill is great for getting selfies. Couples and families staying at the Park Grand London Hotel are urged to pay a visit here to update their photo albums.

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Visitors guide to London markets in 2022

The city of London is no stranger to topping lists for the best food, fashion and more. Unfortunately, while there are several places to spend your money in London, the city is also synonymous with being one of the 20 most expensive cities in the world. However, as any local would tell you, knowing insider information can get you far in London, even on a budget. 

Your biggest expense when visiting this vibrant metropolis will likely be your accommodation. However, with these  London Hotels Deals Special Offers, you can save big and have enough left over for bargain hunting and sampling delicious food in the city. In addition, this visitors guide to London markets in 2022 is your key to getting more for your buck. 

Borough Market

Topping our list is the famous Borough Market. This popular market located in the Southwark region is popular with food lovers from all over. People come here to sample an incredible selection of street food to shopping for fresh produce and the best seasonal ingredients. The historical market dates back 1000 years with a string of attractions nearby. The market is accessible by tube and easy to reach for guests staying at the Park Grand Paddington Court.

Covent Garden Market

London visitors booked at any Accommodation In Paddington London will likely want to give this market a go. A summer visit to Covent Garden Market brings alive its cobblestone streets. Street performers add 'sunny' energy to the festival regardless of the weather. Products tend to be more upmarket, with prices matching West End standards. Traders selling antiques and jewellery are among the many booths you can find. Additionally, Covent Garden is a close distance away from the indoor Jubilee Market.

Old Spitalfields Market

There is a strong local appeal to this market, which is busy and well-organized. Similarly to Petticoat Lane, this market is centuries old and is a crucial part of East End history. Vintage and rare records have always been sought after by locals. In addition to traditional stalls and shops, the market has undergone a facelift over the years. Located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, this shopping space has attracted visitors since its opening in 1876.

Brick Lane Market

In addition to being renowned for its curry restaurants, Brick Lane also has a thriving market. Located in London's East End, this area has an edgy charm and incredible urban energy. Many artists sell their creations from shops and stalls in the East End because of the area's low rents. An essential aspect of the market's diversity is its beigel shops. 

Portobello Road Market

Located in the affluent neighbourhood of Notting Hill near some outstanding Paddington London Hotels, you will find one of the most charming markets in London. The Portobello Market attracts the likes of celebrities, including top models Naomi Cambell and Kate Moss. Visitors can expect to find a string of collectables and antiques ranging from ornaments, trinkets and vintage fashion.  

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Everything You Need To Know About Madame Tussauds In London

Madame Tussauds is an international icon, with museums spread all around the world, each attracting visitors in their thousands. But did you know that the original, and the largest, waxworks museum is in London? One of the city’s premier tourist hot spots, the waxworks is a constant favourite, and is the most complete and extensive collection of wax work models found anywhere in the world. If you are planning on taking advantage of the points you have built up with your Paddington Court Rooms Loyalty Program then Madame Tussauds is an excellent way to spend the afternoon, before winding down in comfort at the Park Grand London Lancaster Gate. 

So let’s take a quick look at all the things you need to know before your visit to this world famous venue. 

A Bit of Background

Marie Tussaude learned the art of wax sculpting when she was a child growing up in France, she actually created her first sculpture at the age of 16. She went on to tutor the sister of French King Louis XVI, before upping sticks and travelling Europe with her collection. She finally settled in London, on Baker Street no less, and opened her first museum with around 400 sculptures.

The original major attraction was the ‘Chamber of Horrors’, featuring victims of the French Revolution. Jump forward to today, and the museum has spread across the globe- from Australia to all over the USA. Largely a collection of important historical figures and celebrities, you can still find parts of the original collection, including a self portrait of Tussaud.

How to Get There

Now based just around the corner from Baker Street, the wax work museum is really centrally located. If you are staying at the Grand Royale London Hyde Park then you are within walking distance of the museum, as well as easy tube access. So let’s take a look at how to get there.

On the Underground

The nearest tube station is Baker Street, and you can access this station on the Circle, Bakerloo, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee or Metropolitan lines. Like I said, it's really accessible! 

On the Train 

Marylebone Station is the closest train station, it is approximately a ten minute walk.

On the Bus 

Buses  2, 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 113, 139, 189, 205, 274, and 453 will all get you within a five minute walk. Just jump off in the Marylebone area and make your way there!

There is plenty to see in the museum so here some of the highlights:

Star Wars

The Star Wars section is a favourite with kids and adults alike. Grab a seat with Han Solo in the cantina scene, experience the rush of lightsaber duelling with Darth Maul, Obi Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, and even enter the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit with Chewy himself.

The Royals 

The group of royal waxworks are always a favourite for selfie takers. Grab a picture with Kate and Wills, and maybe even the Queen! 

The Starman Has Landed

See David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust immortalised and celebrate the legend.

Make sure you pre book your tickets in advance, as the museum can get very busy, and make the most of your stay at the Park Grand London Kensington by visiting one of London’s most loved attractions. 

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Little Venice. London by Roy Llowarch Via Flickr: Little Venice is an area in London where the Grand Union Canal and Regents Canal meet each other. Lovely serene place to walk and look at all the narrow boats, but nothing like Venice of course. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Venice,_London

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[ad_1] Heythrop Park Hotel is the ultimate spa and golf getaway in the Cotswolds. History, grandeur, and cool country aesthetics combine to create the decadent adults-only escape you deserve. Ad | This guide was produced in partnership with Warner Hotels. Heythrop Park is a grand golf and spa hotel located on the edge of the Cotswolds.  A sweeping driveway sets the scene for the Downton Abbey escape of your dreams. Once inside, a beautiful Italian Baroque-style manor house is surrounded by 440 acres of leafy countryside. Modern facilities and a relaxed country ambience create the perfect relaxed getaway. Lounge in grand sitting rooms inspired by the early 1900’s. Join rifle shooting, archery, or one of the many activities offered on the grounds. Indulge in a spa treatment with a glass of prosecco or have a round of golf in a beautiful setting. Here is all you need to know about staying at Heythrop Park, A Warner Hotel. COMMENTS // We do our best to keep the information in this guide up to date, if you notice anything has changed, please leave a comment below. BOOKINGS // Booking your trip via the links in this guide will earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support – Paul & Mark. HEYTHROP PARK HOTEL, COTSWOLDS Warner’s Heythrop Park is a luxurious golf and spa hotel in Oxfordshire, on the edge of the Cotswolds. This ultimate country escape is set on 440 acres of rolling countryside containing ancient woods, lakes, rivers, golf course, and hiking trails. At its centre is the Grade II listed Manor House with an imposing sandstone façade supported by 12 columns. Inside, a grand staircase leads from the main reception to a mezzanine floor overlooking an opulent lobby. The period features and quirky modern touches provide a great spot to read a book, or attempt one of the daily quizzes. High tea can be taken in plush surroundings or you can simply stare out the windows at acres of green countryside. Modern additions like the theatre, late lounge, and multiple restaurant spaces mean you are never far away from fun and entertainment on a Heythrop country break. WHERE IS HEYTHROP PARK? Heythrop Park Hotel is located outside the village of Enstone near Chipping Norton (OX7 5UF). The estate is on the northern edge of the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in central England.   By Car — Heythrop Park is around 1 hour, 30 minute’s drive from London, between junction 9 and 10 of the M40. By Train — The nearest train station to Heythrop is Charlbury which is a 1-hour, 20-minute journey from London Paddington. From Charlbury Station, it’s a 15-minute taxi ride to Heythrop. HEYTHROP PARK HISTORY Charles Talbot, the 1st Duke of Shrewsbury, employed architect Thomas Archer to build Heythrop House. After falling in love with Italy, he requested an Italian Baroque-style residence. The glorious building was completed in 1710. In 1831 the house was severely damaged by fire. Thomas Brassey, a railway magnate, bought the house. Albert, his son, renovated the shell and expanded the estate. The Jesuits purchased the house in 1922, turning it into a college. In 1969, NatWest bought the house and park adding further buildings for staff training. From 1999 the estate was operated as a Crowne Plaza Hotel. In 2018, Warner Hotels took the property, undertaking a massive but sympathetic transformation. Without altering the footprint of the original building, they opened in 2022 and the Heythrop Park Hotel was born AN EXCITING COTSWOLDS GOLF HOTEL Twisting through the 440 acres of leafy, undulating landscaped grounds is a 72 par championship standard golf course with USGA standard greens.   With 5 sets of tees which stretch out to an impressive 7,156 yards from the tips, Heythrop Park Golf course is a challenge. Test your mettle on the tight fairways and try to avoid the numerous water features. It’s a tricky course even for the pros. The carefully prepared

course and beautiful Cotswold scenery make for a memorable – if perhaps high scoring – round. Choose from a 1- or 2-night package including breakfast, dinner and golf. Visit warnerleisurehotels.co.uk for more information. A LUXURIOUS COTSWOLDS SPA HOTEL Golf is not the only treat. The Spa & Wellness Club offers a rejuvenating experience in their modern onsite facilities. Treat yourself to a face or body treatment. Heythrop Park Spa uses Temple Spa products, a luxury British skincare brand which is proudly cruelty free. Go for a power breakfast facial and be on your way in 25 minutes or luxuriate with a 115-minute prescriptive facial and massage, designed just for you. If you just want to unwind at your own pace, have a paddle in the 20-metre indoor heated pool or soak in the thermal steam room. We couldn’t resist a glass of prosecco in the hot tubs on the outdoor terrace, and found it hard to leave. ACTIVITIES AT HEYTHROP PARK We had great fun exploring all the activities that are on offer at Heythrop. For many of them, qualified instructors are on hand to get you up to pro level in no time. For others you just turn up and try your hand. Channel Robin Hood in an archery lesson on the grounds. (included) Hire an e-bike to explore the 440 acres at Heythrop. (extra) Get to know your liquor with a Gin Tasting experience. (extra) Try a traditional afternoon tea in a grand room. (extra) Have a shot at rifle shooting on the grounds. (included) Try laser clay or laser pistol shooting. (included) Book yourself into a Pilates class. (included) Have a round on snooker in the elegant Billiards Room. (included) Try your hand at bowls or croquet on the lawn. (included) Have a soak in the pool followed by the hot tub on the outdoor terrace. (included) ENTERTAINMENT AT HEYTHROP Over the three nights we stayed at Heythrop there was no shortage of entertainment. The hotel has two onsite theatres offering a variety of shows every night. The calendar includes artists from all over the country, like comedians, bands, acoustic sets, and DJ’s. The Theatre – Sit back and watch a live performance in The Theatre. It showcases everything from rock bands to pop acts, cinema experiences to musicals. The lush setting with bar tables will make you feel like you’re at the Kit Kat Klub from Cabaret. All performances are included in your package. The Late Lounge – With a bar next door and a dance floor in front of the stage, the Late Lounge is the place to check your inhibitions in at the door. Regular performances include several well-known tribute bands. During our visit we were treated to a star performance by Ami Vaziri. Outside the two main theatres, piano sets swoon while you enjoy a drink in the manor house reception or the Orangery. WHAT TO DO IN THE AREA? Heythrop Park is located on the edge of the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with charming villages, excellent walking and a host of wonderful attractions. Read more in our guide to the best things to do in the Cotswolds.   Here are a few of our favourite Cotswold attractions near Heythrop. Blenheim Palace — Blenheim was the birthplace of Winston Churchill. It’s a stunning palace and a UNESCO World Heritage Site set on 200 acres of landscaped parklands. It’s just a 15-minute drive from Heythrop. Stow-on-the-Wold — Stow-on-the-Wold is a charming market village in the Cotswolds with a vibrant antiques scene. The town centres around a large market square surrounded by elegant Cotswolds townhouses. More details are in our best Cotswolds villages guide. Great Tew — Just a 10-minute drive from Heythrop, Great Tew is one of the most atmospheric villages in the country. The cottages with traditional thatched roofs make a great photo stop. Diddly Squat Farm Shop — Located just 10-minutes from Heythrop, it’s worth popping into Jeremy Clarkson’s farm shop, Diddly Squat. It’s open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm Wednesday to Sunday. Oxford — Oxford is around 40 minutes from Heythrop so it’s easy to visit on your way.

You could see most of the main sights with our 1-day Oxford itinerary. If you have time for an overnight stay, read our guide to the best things to do in Oxford for some more ideas.   HEYTHROP PARK // DETAILS ROOM TYPES AT HEYTHROP PARK Heythrop Park has 337 rooms with choices to suit different budgets. Cosy – The cosy rooms are designed with solo travellers in mind. These pint-size spaces punch above their weight with all the modern conveniences for an indulgent stay. Standard – Standard rooms at Heythrop are the most economical option for 2 people. The rooms include double beds with stylings of earthy tones and vintage artwork. Deluxe – When you want some extra luxuries to level up your stay, the Deluxe Rooms are a great choice. They have super king-sized beds and armchairs. The style is elegant with wood paneling and heritage colours.   Superior – The 13 feet ceilings, ornate fireplaces, roll-top baths and marble bathrooms evoke all the Baroque splendour of the estate. Super king-sized beds and sofas take advantage of the country aspects from the large windows.   Search for your perfect room at Heythrop Park. YOUR HEYTHROP EXPERIENCE – WHAT’S INCLUDED? Heythrop Park is a spa hotel in the Cotswolds where you can be as active or idle as you wish. Enjoy the expansive grounds, take part in one of the many activities, or indulge in a therapeutic spa session. All bookings at Heythrop include breakfast and dinner. Kickstart the day with a hearty breakfast then finish up with a variety of options for dinner without the need to leave the property. Many of the activities on offer at Heythrop are also included in the price. Enjoy a live music act, take a yoga class, try your hand at archery or try a curious tea tasting experience, all for free. For more details, visit their website: warnerleisurehotels.co.uk WHERE TO EAT AT HEYTHROP Heythrop Park has a wide selection of food options with both traditional British dishes, and international favourites. Here’s what’s on offer: The Travelling Duke Pub & Kitchen – Named after Charles Talbot, the 1st Duke of Shrewsbury who built the first manor house. It’s a pub-style environment and serves British classics. The space is modern yet cosy with the option to eat outside when the sun is shining. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 8 am. Market Kitchen – The Market Kitchen is the main restaurant at Heythrop with a bright open feel and plenty of choice. Three-course dinner is included in your package. Order your entree and dessert at the table. The main course involves choosing from the tasty buffet. It’s open from 8 am to 10:30 am for breakfast and 6 to 8:30 pm for dinner. Brasserie32  – If you get the urge to dine like you’re in Downton Abbey, Brasserie32 is the place. The à la carte menu features beautifully presented dishes inspired by ingredients from the 1900s. The food is perfectly matched with the excellent service and elegant setting. It’s open from 8 am for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Brassey Bar – Named after Thomas Brassey who purchased the fire-damaged property in 1831, the Brassey is a lovely bar where you can grab a drink throughout the day. The nearby Snug is a library-like space for a cosy tipple.    THANKS FOR VISITING // WHERE NEXT? A BIG THANK YOU We’ve been providing free travel content on Anywhere We Roam since 2017. If you appreciate what we do, here are some ways you can support us. Thank you! Paul & Mark FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM USE OUR RESOURCES PAGE [ad_2] Source link