Another few days away. This time to London

Judith organised a pleasant trip down to London to see the Christmas lights, and the icing on the plate was travelling first class Virgin, with all that entails. Ist Class lounge in Glasgow and London. All you can eat and drink and plenty of room to stretch out. Plus we managed to get it at £32 each way instead of the usual £240. We have found these offers before, but you have to be flexible and search over various times of the day. Often the afternoon from Glasgow and early morning from Euston.

So we arrived a little early and enjoyed the 1st class lounge before boarding. But within five minutes of getting comfortable, the tannoy sparked up and informed us that the train wasn't going anywhere due to a smashed windscreen. Although if we could get everything off the train and onto the other Virgin train standing across from us, we will not have to wait, which we managed. Just.

For us it didn’t matter that it was going via Birmingham and Coventry and took a further two hours. There was plenty to eat and drink.

It was comfortable and we got in at 10pm and headed to our hotel, a walk fro the station. A new Premier Hub.

What did surprise me was the email l received that night from Virgin, giving me a full refund, due to the delay. That’s what l call customer service.

We had never visited Greenwich, other than drive through on the way from Dover to London. So once we had mastered our old Oyster cards we shot off on the underground.  We have had the cards for over five years, but we hadn't used them for at least three. The internet gave conflicting answers on if we could use them, so we queued up for 15minutes at the Euston Tourist Information Centre to have them checked out. And it materialised hat we both had £16 on the cards which could be used without any action. Although they did explain that we needed to ensure that we swiped the card at the start of the journey and also at the end, otherwise you are levied with a massive surcharge.

Exited from the tube ( in fact its the Dockland Light Railway) into the centre of Greewich, a vibrant interesting place, and fortunately well provisioned with signage for all the major attractions.

National Maritime Museum

Royal Observatory

Covered market at the Clocktower

Greenwich Park

Cutty Sark

Old Royal Naval College

plus umpteen pubs and eateries.

Had always tried to use the underground link to walk from the North to the South side, but it had been closed for renovation. But today it was open and exceedingly well used.

There are massive signs at both entrances saying NO CYCLING. But people don’t take any notice whatsoever. If l only had the cattle prod.

Anyway, we went down in the lift and crossed over to the North. Spent five minutes in the bitter cold wind before returning under the Thames. But we climbed the stairs to make us feel good, and gives us carte blanche to eat and drink more.

Great views from the top of the hill, although its bombed out with the United Nations of tourists, all holding up their selfie sticks.

Old Royal Naval College

As per usual we didn’t have enough time to see all we wanted to see at the National Maritime Museum. But the Figureheads, specialist rooms with their exhibits were scintillating, especially the dissection of Turners massive oil painting of the battle of Trafalgar.

We had an early dinner in a very popular Chinese noodle restaurant before heading to one of the oldest pubs in the area that overlooked both the Royal Naval College and the North bank of the Thames. Great beer, but bloody expensive.

AS per usual, Judith had sourced tickets for a Christmas Carol service in the Chapel. It was for a good cause, the local Hospice.

They provided refreshments in the under croft, mulled wine and mince pies  and entertained us with a string ensemble. After which we were escorted up into the chapel. The Choir and musicians we truly magnificent, not surprising when you consider that the college houses the Conservatoire.

On Saturday it was a relaxing breakfast, followed by a trip to Covent Garden, early lunch and then a trip to the Royal Opera House, for a Royal ballet production of SYVIA.

Amazing, just amazing.

After the ballet we had a light dinner, followed a casual stroll to Somerset House, their pop up shops, art gallery and the ice skating. Not that we ventured onto the rink. But very festive.

It was good to just mingle in the crowds and walk up through the shopping street and see the lights.

Sunday morning and a walk along the canal to Camden Locks, then a very quick foray through the market, which was full of French tourists enjoying the strength of the Euro.

Then on towards Kensington Palace via a glorious avenue full of well positioned extravagant consulates and embassies.