Soanes Museum and a Thames Walk

Wednesday 7th December was a cold day (it felt like 2 or 3 degrees) but bright and dry. Ten of us meet at Holborn station for a visit to Sir John Soane's Museum, organised by Andrea. A short walk later and we were at the museum in Lincolns Inn Fields.

The museum has been kept in the same condition as it was when Sir John died in 1837. This was at his request. Madeleine joined us at the entrance to the museum where there was some fuss about bags. It soon became apparent why; the walkways were narrow and absolutely covered with statuary, pieces of plaster, bowls, paintings and other items from a long career collecting whatever took his fancy. The house itself was a rabbit warren, with a fresh view to admire every time you turned a corner, looked up or looked down. I had to keep asking the curators where I was and where I had to go next. The Picture Gallery was impressive with paintings mounted on hinged panels which a curator regularly opened to let us see the paintings hidden behind the front display. Canaletto’s views of Venice and Hogarth’s Election series featured in the Gallery.

90 enjoyable minutes later we left and went to a Wetherspoons nearby for lunch. Paul, who had been closing in on our trail and covered the museum in 6 minutes flat in his pursuit, finally caught up with us but had to leave part of his lunch as we left to walk on to the Thames. Walking along the North side of the Thames towards Blackfriars Bridge we saw a strange looking new building on the South side but the local maps did not mention it. A Google search established it was called The Boomerang – no, we hadn’t heard of it either.

We diverted to Paternoster Square where some of the party were entranced by a couple of reindeer while the rest of us stood and shivered. There was a dining table with many large animals sitting around and two empty spaces for photo opportunities, which of course we took.

On again along the river, we stopped at St Magnus the Martyr Church, near the Monument, claimed to be Christopher Wren’s most expensive parish church. Worth a visit but some of us just wanted to get a bit warm.

Back to the river, and we walked on to the Tower of London where the walk finished.  Most enjoyable.

Brian   7th December 2022

Andrea's trip to the John Soane's Museum today was very interesting, even though I had been there before. Afterwards we had lunch at a Wetherspoon's, then walked slowly to Tower Bridge beside the river - where road/pavement works allowed. We stopped briefly at St Paul's, and got sidetracked by a man with two reindeer (no - not that man!) and learned a lot about reindeer. They were very sweet, and their feet really do click when they walk. Eventually we carried on - it was pretty cold and we all needed to thaw out by the time we got to Tower Hill.

Thanks to Andrea for organising a lovely trip - and the bright sunshine - despite the cold.

Madeleine    7th December 2022