Ben and I enjoyed a very informative and productive afternoon in the West End today. The main aim was a visit to the Military Careers Office in Handel Street, Holborn, where Ben met with a senior army officer and discussed his future plans and options in the coming years. Our thanks to the team for an extremely useful half an hour. We then strolled through Russell Square and benefitted from free entry to the British Museum and had just enough time to appreciate the Assyrian and Greek collections.
In the mood for a hot drink, we then discovered the Camera Museum on Museum Street and found ourselves absorbed by the photographic equipment over a coffee and hot chocolate. A short walk down to Shaftesbury Avenue followed and offered the opportunity to visit Forbidden Planet and peruse their books, merchandise and character figures.
A brief stroll down Monmouth Street then led to the site of Brian Epstein’s offices in 1963-64, where a plaque marking the spot can now be seen. I believe this was unveiled in 2010 by Cilla Black.
Returning to one of my favourite parades, Neal Street, we first entered Zegerman Clothing and bought Ben a custom T shirt and I promised the proprietor to visit again and buy one or two of the striking custom shirts on display. By now Stetson London at no. 58 was calling and a quick try-on of various hats proved time well-spent. I will back there too for a trilby (size large).
Minutes later we arrived in the main piazza of Covent Garden to find the area totally rammed. Our arrival happened to coincide with the lights on the Christmas tree outside St John’s Church being switched on. Finding our way beyond the crowds – a true pickpocket’s paradise if you asked me – we made the Clearmont Hotel in the Strand our final destination before catching a train home from Charing Cross.
