London up high, down low and on a (gin) high
Last weekend was 2009's London Open House weekend and this year, for the first time, we managed to get our act together and book to go and see some places - some of the most interesting and usually inaccessible/unopen venues are limited to pre-booking only, and always fill up fast.
In fact, across the board this is the first OH visit we did since our very rubbish attempt in 2007 where we made City Hall (only). Before that I last ventured around a few buildings in (I think) 2003...
It was an early start, too, as we had a 10.30 engagement in inaccessible (thanks Jubilee Line) Dollis Hill, to visit the Second Cabinet War Rooms bunker at Paddock. Fascinating, particularly because of its incongorous setting, now accessed via a steel door in what looks like an electricity substation in a small housing estate.
In fact, across the board this is the first OH visit we did since our very rubbish attempt in 2007 where we made City Hall (only). Before that I last ventured around a few buildings in (I think) 2003...
It was an early start, too, as we had a 10.30 engagement in inaccessible (thanks Jubilee Line) Dollis Hill, to visit the Second Cabinet War Rooms bunker at Paddock. Fascinating, particularly because of its incongorous setting, now accessed via a steel door in what looks like an electricity substation in a small housing estate.
[Interlude: had a very nice cuppa in a very nice cafe in a very nice park - must go back there. Also stopped off in Brent Cross for the first time in 10 years. Less of a rush to go back there.]
After that, a real treat in looking around Centre Point but, ultimately, most people were there for the exterior shots rather than the interior, interesting as it was - the views from the top are, frankly amazing. There are a few pics in the Flickr set, but I'll also stitch together a video of clips from the top in due course [will believe it when we see it - previously let down readers]. I've always been a big fan of Centre Point, and have never understood why people don't like it - it was always a shame it was a bit of a shambles at the base, but finally Crossrail is coming along and putting that at the heart of a piazza (although it's also taken down the Astoria, as you can see - compare that to just a few months ago)
Finally a trip to the Beefeater Gin Distillery in Kennington - yeah, who knew? Very glad I do now, though - as the only Gin distilled in London, it has everything I love - urban industry, London symbolism and, well, Gin. It was a great tour, interesting on many levels and I'd reccomend people to go. IanVisits has a bit more depth. Sadly no photos were allowed of the interior, but the exterior is fascinating in itself - a great building, but surrounded by the wasteland of its former even larger glories (the bottling moved to Scotland, and that's where the Tesco on Kennington Lane now sits).
More photos on the Flickr set. Meanwhile, my thoughts turn today to more exotic places... and planes!
After that, a real treat in looking around Centre Point but, ultimately, most people were there for the exterior shots rather than the interior, interesting as it was - the views from the top are, frankly amazing. There are a few pics in the Flickr set, but I'll also stitch together a video of clips from the top in due course [will believe it when we see it - previously let down readers]. I've always been a big fan of Centre Point, and have never understood why people don't like it - it was always a shame it was a bit of a shambles at the base, but finally Crossrail is coming along and putting that at the heart of a piazza (although it's also taken down the Astoria, as you can see - compare that to just a few months ago)
Finally a trip to the Beefeater Gin Distillery in Kennington - yeah, who knew? Very glad I do now, though - as the only Gin distilled in London, it has everything I love - urban industry, London symbolism and, well, Gin. It was a great tour, interesting on many levels and I'd reccomend people to go. IanVisits has a bit more depth. Sadly no photos were allowed of the interior, but the exterior is fascinating in itself - a great building, but surrounded by the wasteland of its former even larger glories (the bottling moved to Scotland, and that's where the Tesco on Kennington Lane now sits).
More photos on the Flickr set. Meanwhile, my thoughts turn today to more exotic places... and planes!
Comments
Post a Comment