London 2

Continuing my walking exploration of London, I visited Covent Garden Markets.

The interior of the market. I understand it's since been spruced up and is now a swanky tourist destination. A pair of performers is entertaining the crowd.

Probably in the Soho area.

A search for Melanddi shows that this was probably one of their shops in the Carnaby Street area, which was home to many fashion and apparel retailers.

These half-timbered buildings look Elizabethan, don't they? But it seems that the timbers are too straight, they are actually Victorian. A search shows this to be on Great Marlborough Street, and is now a Liberty's department store. (I have a feeling I might also have been looking for names used in Monopoly.)

It took me some effort but finally I've identified this as Oxford Circus. The picture was taken from the southeast corner of the intersection of Oxford and Regent Streets. The conical spire in the distance belongs to All Souls, Langham Place and was key to identifying the location. The building with the curved façade is nothing special. I probably thought I should have a photographic record of Oxford Circus.

As the sign says, The White Hart, Drury Lane. But why did I take a picture of it? Perhaps because my guide book said that it was the oldest licensed premises in London. I was to return many times to the theatre district to see plays, especially if there were cheap matinees or cut price bargains, including of course The Mousetrap, and possibly the farce, Noises Off. Cats had opened the year before but was still too popular. I saw that in Toronto a few years later.

This shot of Piccadilly Circus was taken the night before but it seems a good one to end this day. 

After this I started my Britrail pass and journeyed to Scotland.