Tag Archives: London

A Day at Windsor Castle

At Windsor Castle
At Windsor Castle

Not long ago, I found myself with a full day layover in London. About three weeks previously, we had spent the best part of the week in London. Knowing we’d have a full day back in London at the end of our trip, we mused over how to spend the day. While I can always find things to do in London, I suggested we explore the option of spending the day at Windsor Castle which is less than an hour from central London and even less distance from Heathrow International Airport where we were spending the night in one of the airport hotels before returning home to Canada.

The hotel consierge was very helpful, pointing out the travel options to Windsor – private car hire, taxi, bus, etc. Since we were not in a rush, we opted to take a public bus out to Windsor. We often like to do this in places we visit if we are not in a hurry as it lets us see parts of cities and places we would not otherwise see.  As we traveled through, and made stops in, small communities along the way, I almost felt like I was on Coronation Street! I half expected Sally or Gail to step outside one of the houses we passed by! If you are a Coronation Street fan, you’ll know who Sally and Gail are.

It had been 29 years since our last visit to Windsor and I have to admit I did not remember Windsor Castle at all though I vividly, for some reason, remembered High Street.

Windsor, England
Windsor, England

Of course, at the time of writing, just the day before the May 19, 2018 royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Windsor Castle is very much in the news.  The couple will wed in St. George’s Chapel seen in the photos below.

St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle
Gothic Architecture of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle
Gothic Architecture of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle

One could easily spend a couple of days exploring the grounds and state apartments of Windsor Castle.  We took a self-guided tour through the castle grounds and inside the state apartments and marveled at the opulence and the lavish artifacts, furnishings, and works of art by master painters. Photography is not permitted inside the state apartments or in St. George’s Chapel. One of the great things about a self-guided tour is that you can spend as much, or as little, time as you like in certain areas of the castle as you are on your own and not being hurried along by a tour guide anxious to move on to the next point of interest.

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It is said to be one of Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite palaces and a castle in which she spends considerable time. The Royal Standard flies above the Round Tower at Windsor Castle when Her Majesty is in residence. The flag in the photo below is the one that was flying on the day we visited Windsor Castle.

The Royal Standard
The Royal Standard

The Round Tower is one of the most iconic and photographed structures at Windsor Castle.

The Round Tower, Windsor Castle
The Round Tower, Windsor Castle

Established in the 11th Century, Windsor Castle has been home to 39 monarchs. Because it is a royal residence, it is guarded by ceremonial guards in dashing red tunics and bearskin hats.

Guard at Windsor Castle
Guard at Windsor Castle

I can’t imagine the weight and heat of one of these hats on a hot summer day!

Guard at Windsor Castle
Guard at Windsor Castle

The details!

Uniform of Windsor Castle Guard
Uniform of Windsor Castle Guard

We were blessed with beautiful weather during our day visit to Windsor Castle.

Norman Gate, Windsor Castle
Norman Gate, Windsor Castle

Look for lots of turrets and other architectural elements on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

Windsor Castle
At Windsor Castle

Because of its close proximity to Heathrow International Airport, be prepared to see and hear lots of airplanes during a visit to Windsor Castle.

At Windsor Castle
At Windsor Castle

The  Castle is laid off in wards. The gray gothic quadrangle in the photo below is in the south wing of the upper ward, the area in which the official entrance (to the left outside the photo range) to the state apartments is located.

Gray Gothic Quadrangle at Windsor Castle
Gray Gothic Quadrangle at Windsor Castle

The bronze statute in the photo below is of Charles II.

Charles II Bronze Statute at Windsor Castle
Charles II Bronze Statute at Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is steeped in history. If these walls could talk, I am sure they would have quite the stories to tell!

At Windsor Castle
At Windsor Castle

There are about 500 residents who live and work at Windsor Castle. This colorful floral display outside a window of one of the private apartments caught my eye. The bright cherry flowers are in stark contrast to the austere gray stone walls.

Private Apartment at Windsor Castle
Private Apartment at Windsor Castle

The weather threatened rain during our visit but, fortunately, it did not materialize. The formidable cloud formations and lighting added mood to the archaic buildings.

Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle

The small town of Windsor, itself, is very charming and I hope to return one day, spending more time exploring the town and the castle as well.

At Windsor in the County of Berkshire, England
At Windsor in the County of Berkshire, England

The bronze statute of Queen Victoria is an iconic visual of the royal ambiance that is Windsor Castle.

Windsor, England
Queen Victoria Statute in Windsor, England

Windsor, in the English county of Berkshire, has some lovely shopping areas.

Shopping Arcade in Windsor, England
Shopping Arcade in Windsor, England

And, of course, it’s always fun to check out the fascinators and unique hats!

Fascinators and Hats
Fascinators and Hats

You’ll be amazed at how much of Windsor Castle you can see in a one-day visit. However, I am hoping my next visit will be a bit longer as Windsor itself is a lovely town and there is a lot to see.

At Windsor Castle
At Windsor Castle

But, alas, it is time to head home and start planning a return visit to England!

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A Visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London

I was in London for a few days in May, enroute elsewhere in Europe, and some time after I booked my trip, I did some googling to see what events might be on in the city while I was there.  When I discovered that the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show was on, I was quite excited but figured that I would not likely be able to get tickets which, by that time, had been on sale for some period of time.  I couldn’t believe when I was able to successfully book tickets online for an early evening visit!

I have to say that nothing could have prepared me for the extravaganza that is the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show. Nothing. It is massive and boasts extravagant flower displays from around the world like the one pictured below from Thailand – thousands and thousands of flowers imported from Thailand especially for this show.

"Thailand, Land of Buddhism", 2015 Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea Flower Show
“Thailand, Land of Buddhism”, 2015 Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea Flower Show

The annual 5-day garden show has been held on the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, London, since 1913. While no longer the largest flower show in England (that title belongs to Hampton Court Palace) it is, however, considered the most prestigious and famous and is visited by members of the Royal Family.   Our tickets were valid for a three-hour visit and it was overwhelming to see the fabulous displays. We could easily have spent an entire day.

"Thailand, Land of Buddhism", 2015 Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea Flower Show
“Thailand, Land of Buddhism”, 2015 Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea Flower Show

The creativity of the displays was a sight to see!

"Thailand, Land of Buddhism", 2015 Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea Flower Show
“Thailand, Land of Buddhism”, 2015 Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea Flower Show

While there are a number of outside displays and a large number of stalls/booths selling anything and everything to do with gardening, the main focal point is the Garden Pavilion tent erected especially for the show. To give you a sense of the magnitude of this Pavilion, the RHS website states it covers 2.9 acres of land and has the capacity to hold 500 London buses! And, it was all filled with beautiful flowers and floral displays!

Many nations send representatives with floral displays to compete at the Chelsea Flower Show. For the sixth consecutive year, Thailand has won the gold medal at the show. In 2015, their Thai Buddhism design theme was “Thailand, Land of Buddhism” which featured tropical botanical gardens.

The show features horticultural displays, creative gardening ideas, and promotes rare floral varieties, new plant species, and future trends.  We knew there would be lots of flowers but we also found lots of ideas for outside living like this garden room.

The photo below shows the interior of one of the garden rooms on display – I’d have taken this one home if it would have fit in my luggage for transport back across the Atlantic Ocean!

The one below with the big screen TV is not too shabby, either!

Who wouldn’t want a patio table with a built in barbeque! Perfect for outdoor entertaining.

Floral displays were meticulous in every way and not a dead or wilted bloom could be seen.

The different floral species and varieties were well marked.

DSC09242

The orange tulips below  almost look like a painting.

Spectacular color was everywhere at every turn!

Beautiful begonias in every shade imaginable.

It was so hard not to take a thousand photographs!

The displays below reminded me of decorated cupcakes!

Loved this display of spuds at the show!

Flora in every shade and shape imaginable!

Look at the intricate detail of color in these blooms.

Hard to imagine what nature creates!

I loved the more whimsical displays like the teapot and cupcakes below.

These displays were popular with photographers.  Some 157,000 visitors pass through the show in five days and I’d be willing to bet there were not too many of them who did not have a camera in hand!

Check out the flower-filled cookie!

A teapot pouring flowers!

Don’t discard the old dining room chairs – they make for interesting flower containers!

A flowing floral table skirt.

Atop the lovely tableskirt was a table set for afternoon tea.

A way to re-purpose old books, teapots, and teacups and saucers.

One of several floral arrangement submissions on exhibit from creative floral designers.

Love the lime green shades!

A beautiful autumn-themed display that incorporates many elements.

An old church window frame was the inspiration for this display.

We found the show very well organized and, of course, only permitting so many visitors on to the grounds at a time does control crowds.  We were staying in the Belgravia area of London this time so used the Tube (underground railway system) to and from the show.  There were a number of double decker buses leaving from nearby Victoria Station but traffic in London can be slow moving and it is very congested in the Chelsea area when the flower show is on so we felt the Tube would be the quickest way to get to Chelsea and back to our hotel.

Thousands of people all moving at the same time means you need to have a good sense of direction and know where you are headed.  Some took advantage of the rickshaw service to get them from one point to another.

If you find yourself in London in May when the Chelsea Flower Show is on, I highly recommend a visit.  Just know, though, that tickets must be purchased in advance.  We bought ours online and picked them up at the ticket booth just inside the entrance gate to the show.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief glimpse into the Chelsea Flower Show as it was in 2015.

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Chelsea Flower Show 2015
Chelsea Flower Show 2015

Afternoon Tea at London’s Intercontinental Park Lane Hotel

Since my first visit to England in 1985, I have had a love affair with London! I find it’s a city that, no matter how many times I visit, there is always something new to see and to explore.

There are the usual iconic attractions that remain largely unchanged over the years – the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Harrods, Fortnum and Mason, and the list goes on. One of the most British of traditions – afternoon tea – has also endured over the years and, if anything, has grown in popularity with different age demographics. On each visit to the city, I ‘take tea’ at a different venue. My latest visit just this past May took me to the Intercontinental Park Lane Hotel near Hyde Park for afternoon tea.

This hotel offers a high-end traditional afternoon tea on a regular daily basis and, in addition, designs several seasonal teas throughout the year. Their new “Scents of Summer” afternoon tea had only been available four days prior to our arrival and we found it was a treat for all the senses.

"Scents of Summer" Afternoon Tea. Photo courtesy InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel
“Scents of Summer” Afternoon Tea. Photo courtesy InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel

This is not your ordinary afternoon tea with the traditional egg and cucumber sandwiches.  Expect attentive (but not intrusive) and knowledgeable service to go along with tasty and artfully prepared food that takes afternoon tea up a notch. Servers will offer tea pairing recommendations for each course of the afternoon tea that is served complete with a glass of bubbly. For my complete review of this tea experience, visit my sister blog “My Island Bistro Kitchen”.

In the meantime, here are some photos of the afternoon tea to whet your appetite.

We sampled three different teas during the afternoon, one to accompany each course.

We started with the rose pearl wheatgrass palette cleanser.

Then, these four tasty pinwheel/scroll sandwiches were presented in the shape of a butterfly.

Dainty buttermilk scones arrived at the table accompanied by dishes of Devon clotted cream, wild strawberry jam, lemon curd with pink peppercorn, and Bergamot-infused Earl Grey butter.

And, for the finale, take a look at the presentation of the dessert course. Everything you see in the photo below is edible, including the pebbles!

The dessert course was accompanied by a glass of Moët & Chandon berry floral Rosé.


If you are in London this summer and go to only one afternoon tea, I recommend the Scents of Summer at the Park Lane. Do plan to allow about three hours to relax and fully enjoy and savour this exceptional afternoon tea in the hotel’s Wellington Lounge.

The price per person of the Scents of Summer afternoon tea experience is ₤45 + gratuity (generally about 15%) which, at the time of writing would total approximately $100. (CDN) per person.

The Intercontinental Park Lane is located at One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London, England, W1J 7QY (Tel: +44(0)20 7409 3131). Reservations are recommended for afternoon tea. For more information, visit the hotel’s website at http://parklane.intercontinental.com/wellington-lounge-afternoon-tea.html

My thanks to the Park Lane for the opportunity to experience Scents of Summer Afternoon Tea and for the fine hospitality. My afternoon tea at the Park Lane Hotel was complimentary for the purpose of conducting a review of the new Scents of Summer offering. However, this in no way influenced my opinions of the afternoon tea experience which are purely my own.

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Afternoon Tea at Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel
Afternoon Tea at Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel