27 August 2013 ~ Around London ~ Part I

Listening to: The Cult ~ Rain

The Cult will be playing live in London on Halloween. For those of you who don't know this band, they are a British rock band formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in the mid-1980s as a post-punk band.

The day after the pub tour I did a London tour.

Here are two views of the Wellington Arch, located at the south end of Hyde Park. Built nearby between 1826-1830, it was moved to its present position in 1882-83. It once supported an equestrian statue of the 1st Duke of Wellington; the original intention of having it topped with sculpture of a "quadriga" or ancient four-horse chariot was not realised until 1912.

The Albert Memorial is located in Kensington Gardens on Albert Memorial Road opposite the Royal Albert Hall. Per the Royal Parks website, it is one of London's most ornate monuments, unveiled in 1872, commemorating the death of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, who died of typhoid fever at the age of 42.

Marble figures representing Europe, Asia, Africa and America stand at each corner of the memorial, and higher up are further figures representing manufacture, commerce, agriculture and engineering. Yet further up, near the top, are gilded bronze statues of the angels and virtues. All around the base of the memorial the Parnassus frieze depicts celebrated painters, poets sculptors, musicians and architects, reflecting Albert's enthusiasm for the arts. There are 187 exquisitely carved figures in the frieze.

Here is the Royal Albert  Music Hall. I wish I had time to go inside, even better is someone had been playing here during my stay (like Clapton!). I would have seen a symphony, but my work schedule did not permit it.

 

We drove by the famous shopping store "Harrods" but I only got this window shot of purses.