Royal Arcade, New Bond Street
If anyone had suggested to me a few years ago that I would become one of London’s biggest admirers, I would have dismissed them as mad. I had a strong dislike for the city and on our essential visits to the city I would arm myself with a thick skin, replace my natural smile with a scowl and count down the minutes till we could breathe the fresher air of northern England again. I am now an unashamed Londonophile (?) and really look forward to my regular day trips into the captial.
Today I have had a poorly arranged schedule which led to several lengthy gaps in my appointment schedule. So I took the chance to explore a part of the city that is very central, yet goes unnoticed by most visitors and locals. Only a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus is St James’s Square and Jermyn Street, home to some of London’s grandest homes and most picturesque traditional shops.
Here’s a small selection of images from this neighbourhood, and even a clip of a beautiful musical recital I was lucky enough to catch when visiting the historic church of St James in Jermyn Street.
St James's Square
One of the locals, St James's Square
The home of Nancy Astor in St James's Square (now the Travel Club)
East India House, on the west side of St James's Square
Traditional barber's shop, Jermyn Street
Fancy cheese shop, Jermyn Street
Men's clothing shop, Jermyn Street
We have never been to London and I would just love to go there. Sure, we love our adventures in the country, but we love cities too. Glad to hear that you are starting to like London. Your pictures have made me want to go even more. Now, if I could just win some money to afford it:)
Hi Andy, thanks for the wonderful trip down memory lane and around St. James Square. I’d actually forgotten about the Traveller’s Club being located there, and was wondering if the original St. James Club — which was the basis for a hotel group of same name — was still surviving there on the square? My own original connection was just a membership years ago at the London Library, which is a fantastic institution in its own right. Acres upon acres of floors of books.
@Dave and Deb you should come visit London. It’s so full of surprises, beyond the A List sights that everyone visits. And it can be done without breaking the bank too. Give me a shout when you guys take the plunge and head this way.
@Hal not sure about the St James’s Club. I’ll have a look next time I’m in the area. There are so many grand clubs and societies housed in those prestigious buildings. Must have been a hive of intrigue and power in previous centuries. I did attend a function at the Traveller’s Club a few months back, and it is the stuff of Phileas Fogg legends… a real step into the past.
Thanks both for your comments.