Day Four Wednesday 20th September

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The big plan today was a rock and roll sightseeing tour of London. Self-guided. Headphones on. Go.

Change of plans because Ruby is off by herself to visit the National Museum and the Pet Cemetery in Hyde Park. So Mel decided to tag along with me. Photographer and helpful hand when I can't read the maps correctly. The girls think I'm showing signs of getting old. Oh dear.

After a good hot breakfast jump on the train to Tottenham Court Road where our walk will begin. first up is the 100 Club known for the first punk festival back in 1977 but many many bands played there. We walk down to the ticket booth and take a few photos. and then it's off to Denmark Street. The original tin pan alley. Lots of cool guitars on display but I'm here for two things. Regent Studios where the Stones recorded their first album and next door the place where the Sex Pistols used to live. We've run into a real rock and roll tour so we stand and listen to the Scottish guy presenting for a little while but I don't hear anything I didn't already know.


Melody and I then went to Soho Square searching all the benches for the tribute to Kirsty McColl. Hard job to do cos everyone was sitting on the benches. Luckily her plaque was on an empty one. Kirsty sang on Fairytale of New York by the Pogues, Smiths Records and much more. Lovely voice.



From there we head up St Annes Court looking for the 2is plaque. Where Cliff Richard got his start and another cradle of British rock. Couldn't find it because we were actually at the back. Oops. So we walk up the street and take a pic of the old Marquee. Since I have already been there when it existed that was just a tick and move on. Not far away we end up on the street where the cover shot for Oasis's second album was shot. Not sure if it's the right place but since I had just walked out of Reckless Records having bought a Subway Sect album I can imagine the pic was taken pretty close. Later I was told it was taken after exiting Sister Ray Records which I missed (it was across the street)

The list goes on ..offices of Don Arden (famous manager)and Small Faces tribute, Bag O Nails site (where Paul met Linda and Jimi Hendrix first played on British Soil) and then...Ruby calls. Pet cemetery is closed and she wants to meet up. Let's meet up at Abbey Road. A plan is made and after a quick lunch and grabbing a shirt from Uniqlo (I didn't pack enough warm ones) we're off.


Get out of the station at Maida Vale and it's pouring. So a wet trudge to Abbey Road studios which I glance at since I'll be walking back this way and we get to the famous crossing. An old teacher friend Dimos is there which is weird. I bump into him in the strangest places. Ruby turns up and we do the walk while Dimos takes a bunch of snaps. But it's raining so hard we rush back to the station and I forget to check out Abbey Road studios. Well, I guess it's all online. 

The rain defeated us and we headed home to the hotel. For a bit of a rest before dinner downstairs tonight. Which was good. They have great food at this hotel. My friend Julie at school told me to try the famous ESB Ealing Special Bitter.








It wasn't that special. It was slightly warm and I won't go back there again.

Another early night beckons but the body clock is getting there.





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