This morning’s outing was for utilitarian purposes and hardly counted as a “walk”, despite our pleasant coffee break at Myddelton’s. After lunch, Tigger proposed a more adventurous excursion, one that would involve a bus ride there and back.

The immediate destination would be Waterloo Station, for the same reason that we had based yesterday’s jaunt on King’s Cross Station: the availability of toilets!

Aboard the 341

In St John Street we boarded a 341 bus, destination Waterloo Station. Why Waterloo? Because, as we shall see, there are some items of interest in that area.

Bus cctv

You may know that London’s buses carry several cctv cameras which record while the bus is in service. A screen shows, in rotation, a still from each camera. We appeared on it, of course.

Can you see us?

The image is slightly distorted by the transparent plastic screen in front of our seat.

Waterloo Station

Waterloo Station is quite familiar to us because so many of our expeditions have involved catching trains here. I was worried that it might be crowded but, though there was plenty of activity, it was easy not over-busy and it was easy to move about. And, yes, the toilets were open.

The London Eye

Near Waterloo Station is a park called Jubilee Gardens. We crossed this and I photographed the London Eye, currently closed and motionless.

The Thames

From there, we arrived at London’s famous river, the Thames, which had been one of our reasons for making this trip because we had not visited it for a long time.

Jubilee Oracle
Alexander, 1980

Here we found this abstract sculpture, Jubilee Oracle, by Alexander. It contains a lengthy comment by the artist. You may be able to read it in the photo but, if not, there is a transcript here.

International Brigades Memorial

We also visited the International Brigades Memorial that stands in the gardens. More information about it can be found here.

Motor Cyclist
Siegfried Charoux

Nearby, we discovered this intriguing sculpture of a motor cyclist by Siegfried Charoux. It looks a little neglected.

The Graffiti Tunnel

We now made our way to the other place we intended to visit, the Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel. Once an ordinary road running under Waterloo Station, Leake Street has been closed to traffic and turned over to use by street artists. We like to visit it from time to time to view the continually changing display of paintings. Here follows a small selection of what we saw today.

We returned to Waterloo Station where we visited the upper level. We often came here “before Covid”, either before departing or after returning from a trip, to visit one of the several restaurants. Today they were all closed but we found an artwork on display.

The Sunbathers
Peter Lazlo Peri, 1951

Making a strange contrast with its surroundings, it is The Sunbathers by Peter Lazlo Peri, originally created for the Festival of Britain, then lost and finally rediscovered (see here).

Down the escalator

We descended by one of the escalators and I paid a visit to “the facilities”.

Waterloo Station Entrance

We left the station by this famous entrance and made for the bus stop. We returned home by a different route which required two buses.

On the number 30 bus

Here we are in the second of those buses, a number 30, currently heading towards King’s Cross Station. A short ride up the hill brought us home safe and sound.

To celebrate, I made tea with Marmite toast!

In British folklore, Monday was always washday, the day of the week when families carried out what was, before the invention of washing machines, a major household task. If you have ever watched one of those re-enactment series on TV where a modern family spends a month or so living in the manner of past ages, you will have some idea of how onerous a duty it was.

Happily, we live in modern times when the average family owns a washing machine or, like us, has recourse to paid-for laundry services.

This morning, then, Tigger listed the items to be washed and packed them into the shopping trolley. Then off we went to Amwell Street to deliver the burden to the dry cleaner’s to invoke their laundry service.

It was a beautiful morning, sunny and warm but for a chilly breeze.

House clearance

On our way through Claremont Square, we came upon this sight. A house – or perhaps one of the flats within it – is being cleared. The occupants have presumably departed, leaving considerable clutter behind them. That is all being bagged and tipped out into the street to be carted away to the tip.

A once loved toy

Perhaps it is sentimental of me to find this object rather sad: a once loved toy, now cast out and forgotten. How fickle we humans can be!

Myddelton Square

We paused to take contre-jour photos of Myddelton Square which was luxuriating in spring sunshine. Not altogether successful as photos go but you get the idea, I’m sure.

We delivered our cargo to the dry cleaner, who uttered the ritual phrase “Thursday morning”, and then we were free to disport ourselves.

You probably guessed where we went next.

Myddelton’s deli

Yes, we went across the road to Myddelton’s deli for coffee. They have tables and chairs outside again and so we chose to drink our coffee sitting outside in the sun.

Amwell Street in spring sunshine

I took this photo of Amwell Street while sitting at a table at Myddelton’s.

Afterwards, we made our way home though we may go out again later. If we do, I will be sure to let you know!

After lunch, we decided to go for a ramble but, first, there was an important duty to perform. Elections are taking place for the Mayor of London and members of the London Assembly. We vote by postal ballot so we filled in our voting forms, inserted them in the official envelope and set out.

Democracy in action
Photo by Tigger

We posted them in the pillar box in White Lion Street. That duty performed, the rest of the afternoon was ours.

One of the neighbours

We began making our way down towards King’s Cross but, in Collier Street, stopped to say hello to one of the neighbours. He was uncertain of our intentions so we did not disturb him further.

King’s Cross Station

On arrival at King’s Cross Station, we put on our masks and stepped inside. One of the problems of taking rambles during lockdown, with pubs and cafes closed, was the lack of public toilets. Though not in need at this moment, we wanted to check whether the station toilets were open, should we need them. And, yes, they were. Good to know.

Overlooked by cranes

With the decline in freight traffic on the railways, a large swathe of buildings around the station has fallen into disuse and has been redeveloped as a mixture of entertainment venues, offices and residential blocks. We went for a wander in this strange, but not unpleasant, landscape.

Cafe terrace

This cafe terrace looked inviting so we chose a table, comfortably distant from the crowd, and sat down.

Coffee and cinnamon bun

I guarded the table while Tigger went inside to order. She chose coffee and a large cinnamon bun which was enough to share.

Central Garden and water feature

Running up the centre of this area is a strip garden with a long water feature. We rather liked this view with the tower of St Pancras Station reflected in the water.

Looking “upstream”

Looking in the opposite direction, you can see that the garden is on a gentle slope so that the water flows gently downstream.

Google’s offices

Yes, well, they’re everywhere, aren’t they?

Dozing ducks

The gardens are not always peaceful but today they were quiet enough for this pair of ducks to take a no doubt deserved snooze.

Granary Square and the canal

The Regent’s Canal runs along the edge of Granary Square (so called because its main building was once the warehouse where grain arriving by train was stored). As you can see, the sunny weather has brought people out in droves. Not that I am complaining because we ourselves were part of the crowd, after all.

Barges moored along the canal

Barges on the canal would once have carried merchandise but with the aforementioned decline in freight traffic, they are now mainly houseboats, with a few service vessels.

Home, sweet home…

…and home, sweet home.

We watched this pair of coots for a while. One (we assume the female) remained on the nest while the other paddled about looking for sticks and straws to add to the nest. We wondered whether she was protecting eggs.

Eggs revealed
Photo by Tigger

At last, the coot moved enough to reveal that there were indeed eggs on the nest. Tigger counted four.

The book barge

This barge is a fixture in these waters. It is a floating bookshop and, if the notice on the side is to be believed, also sells coal! Today there was a man standing on the barge playing a saxophone to background music.

Mackerel sky over York Way

We made our way back to King’s Cross Station by York Way where I photographed the pretty mackerel sky that we have enjoyed today.

Joint self-portrait
Photo by Tigger

As we went, Tigger took this joint self-portrait of us.

King’s Cross and lighthouse

At King’s Cross, I stopped long enough to take this photo of the famous scene of the crossroads with the “lighthouse”, and then we ran to catch a bus back to the Angel.

In the event, we did not use the “facilities” at the station but it was good to know that they were available in case of need.

Sunny Baron Street

It is another warm and sunny day today as you can see from this view of Baron Street.

Farmers’ Market and pub tables

The Farmers’ Market was even busier than before, if that is possible, and the pub’s tables were adding to the crowded look of the scene.

Cafe tables outside

The cafes in Chapel Market also had tables outside and these had attracted their fill of customers. Did I feel envious? Noooo. Well, maybe, just a little 🙂

Surfing the shelves at Sainbury’s

We donned our masks and protective spectacles and dived into Sainsbury’s. It was crowded in some parts, less so in others. We performed our usual run round the shelves (paying attention to the “Points Game“), and made a home run to the checkout. Job done!

The market – busier than ever

The market was also much busier than on previous Sundays. Many of the stalls that we had not seen throughout lockdown were making a triumphant return. Standing among the stalls, I had a feeling of being “immersed” in the market that I had not felt for a long time.

“Inessentials” are back

One reason for the crowding was, of course, that stalls selling stock not considered “essential” during lockdown were now back in action, such as this luggage stall.

Mercer’s for coffee

As usual, I hurried ahead to Mercer’s to buy our coffee. It was quite busy and I had to wait. If you look carefully, you can perhaps see that there are new pale blue tiles either side of the door. Installing these has been a slow process and each time we came here, the tiling had risen a few inches higher. Perhaps the job will be complete at our next visit!

Preparing the coffee

My turn came at last and our coffee was made. Our loyalty card entitled us to a free one today. This is not to be despised because even small mercies are welcome 🙂

Today’s errand was to collect a parcel that the Royal Mail had failed to deliver.

Waiting for the bus at the Angel

Happily, there is a bus that takes us fairly near to the parcels office. Accordingly, we went off to the Angel bus stop to meet it.

Aboard the 294

Appropriately masked, we boarded the 294 bus, which we call the “Homerton Flyer”. Its ultimate destination is Homerton Hospital but it is a small one-door bus the follows a tortuous route through the backstreets in fits and starts with many a pause at awkward corners and traffic hold-ups. It reaches the goal eventually but does anything but “fly”.

Bye bye, bus

Having left the bus we cast about to orient ourselves. I left this work to Tigger as I knew her inner pigeon would find the way faster than I could by looking at maps.

Cropley Street

We go up here (Cropley Street) and…

Eagle Wharf Road

…along here (Eagle Wharf Road), until…

Royal Mail parcels office

…we come to the Royal Mail sorting and parcels office. There was a queue outside (no surprises there) and so I waited outside while Tigger queued and then was admitted to claim her parcel.

Shoreditch Park

Afterwards, we went for a ramble, which we started by crossing through Shoreditch Park. It was just the weather for a stroll in the park, sunny and warm (as long as you ignored the chilly breeze) and there were a lot of people in the park, including those who, singly or in groups, were doing gymnastics and martial arts.

The beaten track

This path between the trees seemed popular with runners and joggers.

Old Gainsborough Studios

A nearby landmark is the building that was first a warehouse and then became the Gainsborough Studios of Alfred Hitchcock fame. It has now been sold for “redevelopment”.

Lamps of unusual design

Our attention was drawn by these lamps of unusual design. The ironwork decoration suggests that they are quite old but more than that I do not know. The crossbar ladder support suggests that they might once have been lit by gas.

Hoxton Street Market sign

We eventually reached Hoxton Street which, since 1687, had been the site of a well known market, as the above sign declares.

Hoxton is also the name of the district. Popular etymology suggests that the name derives from an ancient farm where pigs (or hogs) were kept but it is considered more likely that the name derives from Anglo-Saxon Hocs (possessive case of the name Hoc) and tun (“farm”), that is, Hoc’s Farm was once to be found here.

Busy market

Since Monday, all market stalls are once again allowed to trade and the market was crowded with both tightly packed rows of stalls and potential customers.

Man with parrot
Photo by Tigger

One of the more colourful of the latter was this gentleman with a parrot in his shoulder.

Hoxton Hall

This relatively modest-looking premises, called Hoxton Hall, started in1863 as Macdonald’s Music Hall and today it is a Grade II* listed building. You will find more about it in my previous post on the topic, A hall in Hoxton.

First World War Memorial to North London Railway Men

Near Hoxton Station, which these days is served by the Overground, stands this simple but dignified memorial to “North London Railway Men” who lost their lived in the First World War.

A glimpse of the Museum of the Home

In this area is to be found a very fine museum, now called the Museum of the Home. It is based on a row of almshouses endowed by Sir Robert Geffrye and the museum originally bore his name. However, recent concerns about racism and the involvement in the slave trade of hitherto celebrated figures, have led to the museum’s rebranding. I took this view of the rear of the main building through the railings of the garden.

We had deliberately more or less followed the bus route so that, when we felt ready to return, we could easily board a bus. Here we are waiting at a bus stop in Kingsland Road. Through the trees you can catch sight of the minaret of the Suleymaniye Mosque.

On the “Flyer” once more

We boarded the “Flyer” once more and were carried, through many a twist and turn back home to the Angel.