St Mark’s in Myddelton Square
Photo by Tigger

We started the day in classic fashion by walking round Myddelton Square, heading for the deli.

Pale sunhine

The square was lit by pale and hazy sunshine, quite pretty in its way.

At the deli

It wasn’t too cold and we were able to take our coffee sitting outside the deli,

Angel Central “garden”

We passed through Angel Central where the “garden”, if that’s what it is, seems to be finished. It presents a rather cluttered appearance,

The rein-moose-deer

I took another look at the strange quadruped. It definitely has moose’s horns, though the rest of it isn’t moose: it’s a chimera.

Decorated escalator

Even the escalator was decorated though it probably looks better at night when I assume it is lit up.

Aboard the 19
Photo by Tigger

We next took a number 19 bus into town.

Regent’s Street

We left the bus and walked through to Regent’s Street.

Eros, Piccadilly Circus

We passed the famous statue of Eros atop his fountain in Piccadilly Circus. According to the legend, if you stand here long enough, you will eventually see everyone you know passing by.

Zédel

Our first call was here, Brasserie Zédel, a French-style cafe and restaurant. Sadly, there a few actual such establishments left in France.

1930s décor

The décor is styled in the 1930s and the interior is very picturesque. At street level is the cafe (shown above) while downstairs is the brasserie (or restaurant, if you prefer, though both words are, after all, French).

Coffee and croissants
Photo by Tigger

We ordered coffee and croissants, of course! As it was a little late for breakfast, they only had three croissants left, so we cut one in half to share.

The “Toilettes”

Though I usually gloss over such mundane topics as toilets, Zédel’s are so elegant that I think they are worth a photo. I like the old-fashioned taps and the top-quality paper towels that you drop into the holes between the basins after use.

Vintage motor car

Parked in front of Zédel was this vintage car, perhaps one of those about to take part in the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run tomorrow. Does this give a clue to the origin of the establishment’s name? Zédel is formed from the names of the lletters ‘Z’ and ‘L’. Could these refer to the Swiss car manufacturers Zédel founded in 1901 by Ernest Zürcher and Herman Lüthi? The brasserie’s own account of its history does not discuss the origin of the name, so this remains an open question.

Part of the Regent’s Street Motor Show

Currently happening is an event called the Regent’s Street Motor Show. It consists of a large number of cars of all ages drawn up along a closed-off street.

Vintage cars

Tigger wanted to see the show but it interests me not at all. One tin box on wheels is about as boring as another tin box on wheels, as far as I’m concerned. There were a lot of cars on show and a lot of people looking at them. I took the above photo “just to show willing”, as it were.

Beautiful horses

No prizes for guessing that these horses were my favourite exhibit (if indeed they were intended as an exhibit) though I felt a little sorry for them, having to put up with the attentions of passers-by.

Taking it seriously
Photo by Tigger

Some people take vintage motoring seriously, it seems, and turn up in period costume. I bet they nonetheless have their mobile phones in their pockets.

Christmas decorations begin to appear

Afterwards we went in search of a bus. Because streets had been closed off for the motor show, buses were diverted and some stops had been suspended. We eventually found buses running our way.

Aboard the bus

We took two buses but they delivered us safely home at the Angel. Having a second breakfast at Zédel in no way spoilt our appetite for a late lunch!