Started the morning with Joy spotting yet another famous person – in the lobby of the hotel – a Gerald-Ford-Lookalike – Joy is very good at finding these people! [recall Churchill last night at The Wellington!]
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We are off and running this morning to see as much as possible before the play tonight…
We hit Hatchard’s on Piccadilly first thing – one of those must-see places whenever in London [I go again when I came back in July] – founded in 1797, claims to be the oldest in the UK, it offers five floors of books, mostly new but also a brilliant collection of used and rare…one could be here all day, or more – so we do a rather fast scurry to all the floors, find this book, newly out that we both have to have…
Always check the Churchill section…how much can you possibly say about one man??
– and after a few purchases we head next door to the other must-see London shop Fortnum & Mason: their windows alone drawing you in…
Did not do Afternoon Tea this time – but here it all is awaiting your arrival….
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Passing Carnaby Street on our way to Liberty London on Great Marlborough St., with its array of fabrics for all manner of fashion and household goods. I had not been here before and what a treat! There was an exhibit on the history of the store and its variety of fabrics – could not get enough of this!
Then off to do the Royals – Kensington Palace – have been a number of times before but with different exhibits, this time going through most of the place to see its history – then a fine café lunch and then just wandered back to the hotel to pack and prepare for the play – A few photos from the Palace:
Queen Caroline of Ansbach [consort of George II]
The great Peter the Great
[Here is a great post on the various portraits at Kensington Palace: https://anhistorianabouttown.com/royal-portraits-at-kensington-palace/ ]
The exhibit on Queen Victoria’s childhood included this:
Loved this display on ‘what to where when’:
Fashion! the ‘Dress Codes’ exhibition – but I only focused on this one dress of Queen Alexandra…
I want one…
-and then this, which I very much wanted to see – it is quite something…
One of my favorite places: The Orangery
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Then the play! No photos allowed during the performance, so only these from the outside [with Nelson in the background]:
and the opening screen:
Clueless did not disappoint – completely faithful to the original film AND Emma, there were catchy tunes, with great actors / singers / dancers; enough plaid to satisfy any tartan-obsessive; and enough energy in the playhouse to keep us all tapping and clapping all the way home. It was pure delight! [It is closing soon – get your tickets if you can…]
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So this short stop in London ended our tour – my hopes to see some of those places on my to-do list [the Sherlock Holmes Pub. and the National Portrait Gallery, closed for renovation the last time I was there] – I was not too disappointed as I was coming back at the end of June – and happy to report I did see Richard III in his new digs at the NPG [Room 1, Floor 3] as well as my favorite pub, under new management and with a new sign, but all the same inside with the Holmes memorabilia upstairs – the pub sign has changed a number of times through the years – here is the new one:
[Mr. Holmes is a topic for another day – a full post just on these changing signs is way past due…]
[this sort of creeped me out – my mother’s name was Elsie…]
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And of course a Richard III – because even Jane thought he was an innocent man…
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Day 14: Home!
I was off very early for a 10:30 am flight – the hotel packed me a lovely breakfast; the taxi driver and I had the best conversation about Life and Current Politics I’ve had all year [lots to talk about!]; Heathrow was smooth sailing – and I was home via Charlotte NC and to Savannah in what seemed like a jiffy..
Such a nearly three-week journey! – very well-spent – with a hearty Thank You to JASNA and Pathfinders [and Marian our leader and driver Paul], to Liz Cooper for all her planning and just being there for all of us. And to everyone in Britain who welcomed us with such open arms despite our political nonsense! All the tour participants were a joy to spend some quality-Jane-time with – Thank You all for making this trip one of a lifetime – all in celebration of Jane’s 250th – seeing all the spots from her birth to her death, and all the glorious writing in-between. I am more devoted than ever – we are all nuts, of course, but justifiably so!
[You can visit the JASNA site for information on this years two tours – you should start planning for next year – JASNA will be announcing the 2026 tour early in the new year…just do it!]
c2025JaneAusteninVermont
Tea Towel – Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral – at the Jane Austen wall memorial
Jane Austen in Vermont 