Saturday arrived with an early start and rain, thankfully only light. We jumped on the tube to Notting Hill Gate and walked along Portobello road while the market was being set up. We spotted a small café down a back street, Mike’s café, with seats available indoors and what a treat. The food was delicious and not expensive, especially for the quality.

The rain had eased and we continued onwards. Our first visit was to be at The Museum of Brands. A relatively small museum packed with fun, facts and nostalgia. It was interesting to see how times, packaging and marketing has changed over the decades. Lots of childhood and recent memories were evoked in this museum.

After a couple of hours exploring it was time to leave, a five minute walk from here is Grenfell tower and the memorial to the people who died in the tragedy, we stopped to pay our respects before heading back along Portobello Market and Notting Hill tube station.

A short journey to Chancery Lane station and it was on to the Postal museum and the mail rail. I used to work for the Post Office so it was interesting to see the history of this company and how Royal Mail moved the post quickly around a very busy city by using an underground rail system. Unfortunately the reduction in post and letters means it is no longer used for moving mail but the mail trucks have been converted with seats and take people along the same tracks showing videos of the history. It was strange to think hundreds of people worked down there and many thousand letters moved through daily.

After spending a good few hours indoors the sun had made an appearance so it was time to wander the London streets. We walked through the city and down to Covent garden. Here we made a quick stop at the Opera House, one of my favourite places. I love the ballet and I did a tour of this beautiful building and behind the scenes a few years ago on my last visit to the capital.

After wandering through Covent garden, braving the crowds, we took a short stroll to Neals Yard. Home of the Neals Yard remedies brand, it started in this small courtyard and has kept the original shops and spa here. It was pretty although the trees weren’t in blossom.

Every visit I have ever made to London has included a trip to Trafalgar square and a meal at Saint Martin’s in the field church. The food is beautiful although the prices have really gone up.

It was a very long and busy day, both us were exhausted so we headed back to the hotel and an early night.

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