Into London for a fairly new tour, this time at the Piccadilly Circus hub. You start off by one of the least used exits and make your way into the concourse getting a history lesson along the way. There is an old map in the concourse area and directly opposite a tribute to Frank Pick.
World clock map, it had been restored to working order.
Here I felt that we should have been shown around the concourse a lot better before descending down the stairs to the hidden tunnels. There is a fair amount of unique 1920s architectural features to point out. The tile work, pillars lights, a very unique world clock map was addressed. Maybe it would help to point out the location of where Stephen Bone’s mural was before it was lost. We then walked round to an area with a few small shops. However the majority of these seemed unoccupied, but the foot fall at the time didn’t look like it would help the matter.
Empty shop unit
The lead tour guide chose some steps next to a small shop and we descended down. This seemed mainly to not get caught up with other passengers. We made it down to the Northern Line platform where at one end we entered through a gated door.
This is where you enter and feel really off the grid, a feeling of, I shouldn’t be here. These tunnels and others around housed many of the peoples of London during the WW2 blitz. We were shown many photos of the people sleeping on the escalators as well. One photo looked a lot like St John Woods tube station. There was also a section of tunnel to house artworks to protect them from the bombing. These were transported from Dover Street (now Green Park) via a tube train for storage. Saw some abandoned lift shafts, round a bit more then the tour felt like it abruptly ended.
Looking the lift shaft.
This is the first time I feel that a Hidden London tour needs to be adjusted. But nevertheless, it was an interesting experience. Not as good as their Aldwych experience which is the one I recommend the most.
I only went for a short weekend break and flew out from London Airport, which is so much easier to deal with compared too large airports than Heathrow.
In Berlin I got a taxi from the airport to my hotel and it’s not cheap, €65 for a 35-minute trip did seem a lot to me. It was also the same back and I tried to pay with the card, but the taxi driver had no idea how to use his card machine!! Or did he??
My first evening I walked around the immediate area next to my hotel. It was cold but not too bad. There are works going on right next to the hotel for the whole area, Deutscher Dom and Konzerthaus were completely closed off. I then found a pub-restaurant where I had schnitzel and a large beer. Not bad a meal, but I couldn’t finish the beer as it was far too much.
Walking around in the evening.Look at the head on that beer!
The next day I walked over to the Brandenburg Gate had a little look around. On the way the city felt empty, walking in the centre of Berlin, large buildings empty streets. Walked past several embassies guarded by lots of police. By the gate was a tourist store and I brought myself a museums pass and walked up to the museum island. Probably boring to a lot of people but I went into the Deutsches Historisches Museum and had a wonder. I believe I was only in one part of the museum as the main museum was being overhauled.
Next, I walked across and went inside Berlin Cathedral had a good look and walked all the way to the top and around. The stairs were a little killing, but really not that bad. But I am still young…ish!
Berlin Cathedral
After I had lunch I visited the Altes Museum lots of Greek artefacts on display including an amazing life like bust of Caesar.
I was feeling somewhat warn-out so I walked back to my hotel and I asked the concierge to book me into what is described as one of Berlin’s top restaurants called Borchardt’s. In my book it said it was where diplomats and celebrities go to.
Sitting in the restaurant it really did feel like the place the Berlin elite go to. And there was one gentleman who was sporting a flag pin on his blazer, a diplomat? Sitting next to me was a couple who I can only describe as wearing high end clothing labels. I ordered fillet steak with sweet potato chips and a salad and the waiter picked a glass of red wine to go with my meal. For one person I paid €75 altogether.
The next day I first went to Checkpoint Charlie, had a look around and I read the boards. I didn’t actually go into the museum on the side as I wanted to go checkout the fairly new Spy Museum. It was a good bit of fun, I tried to do a few puzzles in there, but I really wasn’t very good! Would I even make a good spy?
After that I walked round to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews. An interesting piece of art in itself. From the exterior it looks like a graveyard, you enter and it feels like a maze. You really don’t see the deep middle from the top. To me it feels like the weight of humanity has left a scar here. A calm exterior, the wound underneath.
I then made my way back to museum island as I wanted to see the bust of Nefertiti. On the way I past a square, but I didn’t know the significands of what I was looking at until a lady told me what it meant. In the square was a glass window showing a room with shelves, but it was a representation of a library without books. This is the square where the Nazi’s did their book burning in the 1930s.
I finally go to the museum and started to wonder around and finally found the Nefertiti Bust, to see this is person, see the contours, the elegance, colours. It truly is a work of art. Anyone that goes to Berlin must see this antient piece of history. It truly is stunning. It’s not just the bust, but there are lots of fantastic historical items in the museum. I could easily visit this museum again.
My next stop was the TV Tower, it was already nearing 6pm and felt it was a getting on a bit and I didn’t want to late ticket they were offering to go up. So, I called it a day and walked back to the hotel. Maybe I can get up there on my next visit.
I was very sad to learn of the threat to close this beloved cinema. Over the last few years I am very happy to go and see old classics, obscure films with those childhood memories thrown in.
But the landlord wants to do what? Increase the rent, destroy what so many have loved. This is a part of the beating heart of Soho in London.
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