Looking back to Leicester Square

Sunday 27^th May 2012

The fantastic weather just keeps rolling on. Woke this morning to a clear blue cloudless sky with the temperature predicted to be in the high 20’s.

Checked out of the University Arms Hotel in Cambridge about 9:00am and caught a Taxi to Cambridge station. Purchased tickets for the fast train to London which arrived at Kings Cross station about 10:30am. Another taxi ride saw us checking into the Hotel Russell in Russell Square that will be our base in London for the next 3 nights. We have stayed here before and it is a lovely old hotel built in 1896 with a   grand central staircase, marble columns and very high ceilings.

As our room was not going to be ready until 2:00pm we left our luggage with the Concierge and caught the tube to Leicester Square to purchase theatre tickets for tomorrow night to see Mousetrap. Mousetrap is a play written by Agatha Christie and is the longest running live theatre production in London.

Lynne in the M&M shop

After buying the tickets Lynne discovered that we were almost right outside M & M World so she had to go in. An hour and a half later we left the shop with a bag full of M & M merchandise – Lynne thought it was fantastic!!!  Everything is based on M & M’s, and you can buy M & M’s in 22 different colours. 

A personal Air Raid Shelter

After a light late lunch back at the Hotel we again caught the tube and headed for Covent Garden where we walked round the Covent Garden Markets and also went into the London Transport Museum. It portrays the story of travel in and around London over the last 200 years, and has some original trains, tube carriages, buses and taxis. It was very interesting, especially the history of the London Underground.

After a great day in what seems like our second home we headed back to the Hotel for dinner. 

Halifax Bomber

Friday 25^th May 2012

The great weather continues, 27°, clear blue sky and no wind.

We checked out of our lovely B&B around 9:30 and set the Navman to take us to The Yorkshire Air Museum- the largest original Bomber Command Station of WWII open to the public. This year is the 70^th anniversary of the commencement of operations with 77 Squadron Halifax bombers. The Halifax was the lesser know of the RAF 4 engine heavy bombers. A very interesting museum.

Peterborough Cathedral

Back in the car and heading south to Peterborough to visit the Peterborough Cathedral where Katharine of Aragon (1st wife of Henry VIII) was buried in 1536. A beautiful old Cathedral that is 900 years old.

Last stop of the day was Bedford to meet up with Alan & Lin Bell. We arrived in Bedford about 5:00PM and met Alan at the Pheasant Inn (where Lin works) and had a pint before going to Alan’s home to get changed and walk back to the pub. Lin finished work at 7:30PM and we then had a very enjoyable dinner at the pub before making the short walk back the Alan & Lin’s place where we were spending the night.

It was great to catch up with them both. Alan is into his garden and as their house looks over a small lake Alan has befriended a pair of Swans and a couple of ducks which he feeds each day.

Alan & Lin's House

Saturday 26 May 2012

The warm summer weather is still with us- temperature again in the high 20’s with blue sky and a slight breeze.

We left Alan & Lin’s place in Bedford about 9:00AM and drove to Cambridge.  We checked into our hotel University Arms, unloaded our luggage, and set off about 10:30AM to return our hire car. Easier said than done. The address we were given to return the car was incorrect so after a few phone calls and stopping to ask where the place was, we finally dropped the car off about midday and got a taxi back into Cambridge City. 

Push bikes in Cambridge

We spent the afternoon walking round the old part of the city, which was very crowded. Everyone seems to ride push bikes (no matter what age) and they are parked everywhere in the city, chained to fences lampposts etc. As the weather was excellent everyone was taking advantage of it and sitting in the parks.

After a bit of a rest this afternoon we headed out to find somewhere to eat. Found a great Italian Restaurant, Zizzi, for dinner- really great food and a good change from pub food.

We have now got our bags packed for tomorrows train trip to London.