Wallace and Wapping…

[Wapping]

The Wallace done, it was time to wander to lunch.



Along Marylebone Lane:



Past a large crane lift, which had closed off Wigmore Srreet:



I used to live just along on the right:



Past Sir Jacob Epstein’s Madonna and Child on Dean’s Mews:



Along the top of Cavendish Square:



Past the All Souls church and the BBC on Langham Place:



Past another very popular coffee shop:



Across the upper end of Regent Street:

 

[Pukmeister]

I used to work in that building with the crane on Wigmore St, I was told that it used to be a bank a long time ago before becoming offices. It had a very grand interior resplendent with marble panelling and ornate art deco features.

I recall my host was an eccentric elderly doorman/caretaker gentleman who used a seemingly endless string of terrible jokes and puns.

Sadly I mostly saw just the basement plant room whenever I visited to service their equipment, I’d have loved a tour of the entire place.

 

[Wapping]

It is now ‘Beer o’clock’ and time to drop into the pub to rehydrate.

The one I chose was the George, on the corner of Mortimer Street and Great Portland Street:

 

[Wapping]

A pint onboard and it’s time to head for lunch.

It’s back out of the door, a cut back to Regent Street and a walk into Carnaby Street:



Into a little passageway, off Carnaby Street and to Imady’s, a Syrian restaurant:

 

[Wapping]

I first heard of Imady’s in a BBC radio interview of the owner.

I found this interview on YouTube:

He has now opened a cafe at Somerset House.

 

[Wapping]

It really is very good and certainly very popular:

 

[Wapping]

Fed and watered, it was back out into Carnaby Street:



Then a walk across to Euston station, to take the Northern Line to Bank.

The walk moves into Bloomsbury, home of the prestigious University College London, whose campus dominates the area:

 

[Wapping]

On the Euston Road, I passed by the headquarters of the Quaker organisation, so I thought I might as well see inside. Bloomsbury has always been pretty radical in its politics, so I wasn’t unduly surprised. The spirit of Citizen Smith (from far away Tooting) lives on, comrades;

 

[Wapping]

With the march of Socialim well behind me, it was on to Euston station, to catch the Northern Line southbound to Bank. From there to walk home:



One last thing though to look at was the closing demonstration outside the Tower of London, protesting about the new (and massive) Chinese embassy to be installed on the site of the former Royal Mint:





That’s it done!

 

[Wapping]

As a slight aside, I have just bought (via iBooks) the recipe book, writtten by the owner of the restaurant. Lot’s of bods here enjoy Middle Eastern food. It’s worth a look.

 

[Northern jock]

I enjoyed your wander, thanks. Some ideas for places to visit

 

[Wapping]

I enjoyed your wander, thanks. Some ideas for places to visit

Thank you.

Just as idea….

There is a huge Middle Eastern population, largely gathered on the Edgware Road, slightly to the west. It is interesting that the social coffee and cake ‘habit’ has transferred over with them. I can say, if you are prepared to queue, the cafes are worth a look and often something quite different.