Nancy sent me a Apple News link to a story from BBC US: Victoria and Albert Museum Tour of British Identity.
I watched the clip and thought it was a odd, limited choice of items, although I’ve since discovered there are more. She responded that the British were quirky and eccentric. Now, I thought that was probably a pretty dated description left over from times of independently wealthy, privately educated, upper class individuals.
Today as I read my daily Atlas Obscura posting I stumbled on a London Loves list by Angelalazenbury of 49 London sites that can really only be described as quirky and eccentric.
So I invite you to read and enjoy her list, and jot down ones you’d like to see.
Then, tell me are the British still quirky and eccentric?
P.S. Also at the Victoria and Albert is a Frida Kahlo exhibit. And here's a BBC article on that.
There is probably a charge for that and other special exhibits, but otherwise the museum is free, so we can pop in and look at this and that. The museum has been described thus, "Beautifully but haphazardly displayed across a seven mile, four storey maze of halls and corridors, the V and A's treasures are impossible to survey in a single visit." Perhaps their new Photography Gallery will be open by then. Here are some opinions of what to see there. The V and A From the Collections. TimeOut's Seven Wonders of the V and A. And the Telegraph's How to Visit the Victoria and Albert.
We can easily get to the Victoria and Albert, and the adjacent Natural History Museum and the Science Museum by taking the 41 or 141 bus up Fulham. Or we could walk, but I think we'd better save our strength.
The Science Museum is on Fernando's list and "it is undeniably impressive, filling seven floors with items drawn from every conceivable area of science, including space travel, telecommunications, time measurement, chemistry, computing, photography and medicine. There are hands-on exhibits and an IMAX cinema, too.
Is time for lunch, yet? Let's wander across to Herrod's Food Hall with its exqusite Arts and Crafts tiling We can probably get anything we want although it will be pricey, as is the entire establishment. It's also a major tourist destination so don't expect to be alone. Here's what Yelp says
We might also stop for coffee and...in the Victoria and Albert at the cafe in the room designed by William Morris. Here's other suggestions for cheap places to eat near the South Kensington Museums.
Then has anyone the energy for a walk in Hyde Park?
Today as I read my daily Atlas Obscura posting I stumbled on a London Loves list by Angelalazenbury of 49 London sites that can really only be described as quirky and eccentric.
So I invite you to read and enjoy her list, and jot down ones you’d like to see.
Then, tell me are the British still quirky and eccentric?
P.S. Also at the Victoria and Albert is a Frida Kahlo exhibit. And here's a BBC article on that.
There is probably a charge for that and other special exhibits, but otherwise the museum is free, so we can pop in and look at this and that. The museum has been described thus, "Beautifully but haphazardly displayed across a seven mile, four storey maze of halls and corridors, the V and A's treasures are impossible to survey in a single visit." Perhaps their new Photography Gallery will be open by then. Here are some opinions of what to see there. The V and A From the Collections. TimeOut's Seven Wonders of the V and A. And the Telegraph's How to Visit the Victoria and Albert.
We can easily get to the Victoria and Albert, and the adjacent Natural History Museum and the Science Museum by taking the 41 or 141 bus up Fulham. Or we could walk, but I think we'd better save our strength.
The Science Museum is on Fernando's list and "it is undeniably impressive, filling seven floors with items drawn from every conceivable area of science, including space travel, telecommunications, time measurement, chemistry, computing, photography and medicine. There are hands-on exhibits and an IMAX cinema, too.
 |
| Kids in the Wonderlab at the Science Museum |
Is time for lunch, yet? Let's wander across to Herrod's Food Hall with its exqusite Arts and Crafts tiling We can probably get anything we want although it will be pricey, as is the entire establishment. It's also a major tourist destination so don't expect to be alone. Here's what Yelp says
Then has anyone the energy for a walk in Hyde Park?
You watched a video clip from the BBC on the British Identity at the V&A? I was only able to get a podcast from BBC Radio. Maybe it expired. We're coming down to the line on our trip and I've been too busy to get much read recently. I'd like to get a real map so I can plan out some days. I suppose the museums of South Kensington would be better on a weekday and they aren't closed on Mondays. I was also happy to see that at the V&A, "You are welcome to breastfeed throughout the Museum."
ReplyDeleteOK, I found the clip and found it's the triumphal background music that makes it eccentric. Do they still feel imperial?
ReplyDelete