Legendary 1950s coffee house in Earls Court, West London. One of the primary venues of the British folk music revival of the 50s and 60s, artists who have performed there include Bob Dylan (performing as Blind Boy Grunt!), Paul Simon, Jimmy Page, Sandy Denny, Robert Plant, Bert Jansch, Charlie Watts, Jimmi Hendrix. STILL ALIVE! More recently, from one extreme to the other, you could have caught Caggie from Made In Chelsea or Morrissey, who played here in February 2012. Or Houkago Tea Time, whoever they are.
Hidden London 2 - Captain Bligh’s House
I was actually on my way to meet a friend at the Imperial War Museum caff in SE London. On the way I came across this stellar blue plaque house, immediately conjuring up the ship’s captain stepping out of that front door to go to sea and returning here goodness knows how many years later. A quick Google reveals he not only commandeered The Bounty but sailed with Captain Cook on his 2nd voyage 1772-4. How often must he have dreamt of this place with its twirly balconies when he was in that little rowing boat drifting for 400 miles?
My novel Ten Good Reasons To Lie About Your Age about a 50 year old widow back on the dating scene is in the BooksonBoard bestsellers!
London author Stephanie Zia blogs about London’s secret spots, museums, restaurants, art galleries
Yesterday I met a friend at the Degas exhibition at the Royal Academy and afterwards we nipped across the road to London’s most sumptuous store Fortnum & Mason, for a wander through confectionery and cakes.
Last week, thanks to a friend buying tickets many, many moons ago, I was lucky enough to go to the Leonardo exhibition at the National Gallery, take a virtual tour of the gallery here. Everybody’s talking about the two The Virgin of the Rocks coming together and they were one of the many highlights. One of them is in the permanent collection and it’s worth knowing that when the exhibition finishes it will take its place back in the free area of the museum. Lots of London’s museums and galleries are free. Which is as well as it’s such an expensive city to live in…..
