London weekend part 2

After lunch last Saturday we headed towards Trafalgar Square and The Mall - wonderful atmosphere with Union Flags in abundance.

I liked these statues of the late Queen Mother and King George Vl overlooking the proceedings outside Clarence House

We walked almost to the end of The Mall but because they were preparing for the concert, we chose not to walk any further. On the way back spotted Big Ben in the distance towering above the trees in St James Park.

And Westminster Hall

We made our way back to St Paul's and sat here for a cup of tea and a

chance for a spot of people watching

Back over the Thames to the South Bank where we made out way towards Southwark Cathedral

Passing Borough Market on the way

Borough Market supposedly dates back to around 1276 and has been on this site since 1851. Amongst the produce on sale are fresh fruit and vegetables, all kinds of cheese, meat, game and freshly baked bread and pastries as well as freshly cooked street food which is always a mouthwatering experience to say the least.

The market next door was quite aptly named

The Clink was a notorious prison in Southwark which functioned from the 12th century until 1780 and belonged to the Manor of the Bishops of Winchester. The origins of the name "The Clink" are uncertain but possibly derives from the sound of striking metal as the prisoner's doors were bolted or the rattling of the chains they wore.

The Shakespeare Globe Theatre stands on the river bank and is a modern reconstruction of the original Globe which was destroyed by fire in 1613. It was opened in 1997 just 750 feet from the site of the original.

Next door to the Globe was this lovely little terrace of houses. In between the houses is Cardinal's Cap Alley - I love strange sounding street names and looked into its origins.  Until the 1600s Bankside was a bawdy place, full of taverns, drinking houses and brothels as well as bear and bull-baiting pits and, in the time of Shakespeare, public theatres. This alley once led to a tavern called the Cardinal's Hat.

We had dinner in this fabulous restaurant Zizzis overlooking the Thames and where they cooked the food in front of you. Such a buzz that evening.

And this was the view from our window seat.

That was Saturday

And what a difference a day makes!!

We may be wet, we may be cold but we wouldn't have missed this unforgettable Sunday.