Into the big city

Today we ventured into the big city of London for the afternoon and evening.

We first headed to Covent Garden so we could visit Stanford's map shop before they move premises next month. We read an article about this place in the FT Weekend some months ago. It has been here 117 years and was bombed during WW2 but survived because the top floor was so tightly packed with maps the fire didn't destroy the whole building. It is the place where Sir Ernest Shackleton and Robert Scott went to plan their expeditions. It felt appropriate that we went to this place with all of Rhodri's work, so we took the #38 bus from Victoria and then walked through the streets until we found it.

After Stanfords, we did some other shopping and then stopped for warm drinks and cakes in a little cafe. 

 Then we walked over to Carnaby Street to see the lights and visit the Queen (the band, not the person) exhibit especially for Tryfan.

 Then we went to Kulu Kulu Sushi for some conveyor belt sushi. We found that the best place to sit is 'upstream' and close to the kitchen. We had a great meal there and it was so fun to get here exactly at 5 pm just as they were starting up the conveyor belt! By the time we left there was a queue out the door.

After dinner we walked for a bit and then hopped on bus #38 again to get back to Victoria so we could arrive in good time for the 7:30 pm performance of Wicked.

 None of us had seen it, but since it is the prequel to the Wizard of Oz, it seemed appropriate that we should see it. Plus the Apollo Victoria is literally next to Victoria Station, so it meant a very easy commute home after the show finished. The show itself was amazing and we were so impressed!

So it was a long day in the end, but since Sioned had taken Winnie to go visit friends a few hours away and we had nothing else planned, it seemed like the right thing to do. I'm so glad we did. We never go into London and today/tonight was so clear and beautiful with all the festive lights and everything. It was really a great outing.