One amazing day at Wimbledon!

How do we get tickets for Wimbledon? That's a question I am often asked and the answer is either to get there very, very early in the morning to queue or to put in for the public ballot the year before you want to go. I was lucky enough to win 2 tickets in the ballot for Court 1 for last Friday so excitement levels were high!

We took the tube to Southfields  where you are immediately plunged into the tennis spirit as the platform is decorated as a tennis court - such a great touch. 

Southfields tube station in tennis mode

As ticket holders you just walk straight in which is such a treat after my visit last year when I had  to queue for 4 hours. However, the rain came down as we entered so we found a dry spot and got ready for a long wait as this summer has not been the best for outdoor events. We were very jealous of the even luckier people who had Centre Court tickets as with its wonderful roof, play is guaranteed now. This photo shows what we could see!

Sad sight early last Friday

Then the rain lifted, the clouds moved off and the sun came out so we headed off to our seats on Court 1 to enjoy the Women's Doubles Semi Final featuring the awesome Williams sisters.  We were treated to 3 sets of high quality tennis with a great view of the court from our excellent seats. 

Court 1 at Wimbledon

The Williams sisters - a winning combo

By now Andy Murray was on Centre Court and we could hear the crowd getting very excited so we headed off to the Hill - still called Henman Hill after Tim Henman.  There's a big screen and always a massive crowd of very loud tennis fans. The tension watching Andy Murray was hard to bear but the outpouring of relief when he beat Tsonga was brilliant to be part of. I really like Tsonga but he was up against a Brit bidding to be into the final for the first time since 1936. Sadly he came up against the genius of Roger Federer on Sunday but on Friday it was still all optimism and hope. The view from the Hill is great, giving you a great feel of the whole of Wimbledon and as you can see the evening was glorious. 

The match from Henman Hill

Views over Wimbledon

Come on Andy!

The Wimbledon ballot opens in August and all the information is on their website, so have a look and perhaps you could be there next year! 


Bye for now,
Sue
www.itsyourlondon.co.uk
@itsyourlondon

For the love of the River Thames - London's brilliant new children's tapestry

This week saw the unveiling of an amazing new art work in St Paul's Cathedral, bringing a splash of colour and fun to these classic surroundings. The Thames Heritage Tapestry is a school arts project celebrating the River Thames and has involved schools all along the Thames to produce a heart warming and beautiful work.

Each school has contributed one metre square and they have used their imagination to depict an historical and/or up to date representation of their home area and how the Thames influences where they live. The schools are from all along the river so you can trace its full length in tapestry squares from the source in Gloucestershire, along the panels to the estuary at Southend. 

We were lucky enough to have some of the children there to explain their work, as well as the Bishop and organisers of the tapestry who knew the story behind every square. It is an inclusive event with Special Needs Schools represented and I especially liked the Pearly Kings square from the East London Independent School. 

You can see bridges, rowers, famous monuments, boats and of course plenty of blue water but what struck me most was the riot of colours and the almost Hockney-esque beauty of the tapestries. Most of all, the wonderful imagination and hard work from all the kids involved. Do go and see it if you can, it's in St Paul's until 27th September and is another good excuse to see St Paul's - read my recent blog if need any more reasons to visit! 

The biggest problem was how to chose which children's squares to put in the blog so here's a small selection but if you want to see more click here. 

One of the four panels tracing the length of the Thmes

The Bishop enjoys the Pearly Kings

'We made this'!

Mid Thames secton

Around Teddington

Tales of the Riverbank!

Rowing at Henley

Houses of Parliament

The proud creators of the bottom square

A local hero

Colourful Kew (I think!)

Just like a Hockney!

Love the sheep!

The sun shines brightly in this one

All the fun of the South Bank

I'll have to stop here but each of the 240 squares is worth a photo and stopping to hear the story behind children's choice of images woven, stitched or stuck onto their own square.

Bye for now,
Sue
www.itsyourlondon.co.uk
@itsyourlondon 

A new cable car swings out over the Thames!

Today was another big day in London. We have so many at the moment in the build up to the Olympics but this was a good one marked by the opening of London's first cable car across the Thames on a bright sunny day. We also saw the Queen unveil the memorial to the crews of Bomber Command in the Second World War, a new monument in Green Park, but more of that in a future blog.

I hopped onto a Thames Clipper boat to zoom to the start of the cable car at the 02 Arena, or North Greenwich Arena as it will be called during the Olympics to avoid brand advertising! These boats are a great way to travel and on a warm and sunny day it was a perfect way to arrive. 

Thames Clipper

The new cable car route goes from the 02 to the Excel Centre (also called the Royal Docks) which is a short 5-10 minute ride. I got on at the 02 side and the entrance is just a short walk from the Thames Clipper jetty or the tube station. More branding is on show on your approach the station as Emirates have sponsored the cable car and call it their Air Line - could be confusing on internet searches!

 Boarding is very smooth and reminiscent of being in a ski resort, but much easier without the skis and poles. There are 34 cars travelling around the circuit each holding 10 people but as the service had only opened 2 hours before I boarded, I got a car all to myself and  could easily take my photos. As soon as it is running at full capacity, 2,500 people an hour will be swinging across the Thames in each direction. 

Getting on the cable cars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cars head out across the Thames

The views as you swing over the Thames are amazing and the cars do swing a little but nothing too scary. You can catch a great vista over the 02 Arena back to the sky scrapers of the City. Looking downstream you catch sight of the Thames Barrier, open again after being in action during the Jubilee Pageant to keep the river flow in check. 

 The Olympic Park is easily identifiable in the distance by the red curling frame of the Orbit tower and the view along the dock alongside the Excel Centre takes the eye along to the City Airport.
 

The white towers supporting the cable wires form a graceful line across the river and the cars themselves comfortable with plenty of glass to take in the views. . I enjoyed it so much that I got back on again and took the return journey!

Arriving at the Excel Centre

This new cable car has opened ahead of schedule and will be very busy in a month's time linking Olympic venues on opposite sides of the river.  I really enjoyed my trip and it was fun to be among the first to use it!

Bye for now,
Sue
www.itsyourlondon.co.uk
@itsyourlondon 

In praise of St Paul's, one of London's greatest buildings

St Paul's Cathedral has been the scene of some great events in British history: the funeral of Winston Churchill, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth 11, the funeral of Wellington, the bombing of the blitz in the Second World War.

We watched the Diamond Jubilee service take place in St Paul's last week so I thought it was time for another visit to this wonderful building and although I know it well, I was bowled over again as I explored it. There are no pictures allowed inside but the exterior is so grand, iconic and beautiful that it is hard to stop snapping!

The first thing I saw before  I entered the church was a great reminder of the Diamond Jubilee history of the church as there is a stone recording Queen Victoria's visit in 1897.

There has been a church on this site since 604 and the current church was built following the destruction of the previous one in the Great Fire of London in 1666. It is a masterpiece by Christopher Wren who was the architect for many post fire buildings. This one is an iconic part of the London skyline with its instantly recognisable dome. One of the amazing facts you find out on your visit is that the dome is actually 2 domes, one on top of the other, because the full dome would be too high to see properly when you are inside, so the smaller one inside brings the paintings within sight. Clever bloke that Wren! 

Make sure you allow plenty of time for your visit as you'll want to spend time seeing the wonderful interior, the huge crypt with Wellington and Nelson's tombs as well as plaques to a wide range of famous people. You get an audio guide as part of your entry fee so do use it to give you lots of good info as well as a guide through the various places to visit. 

For the energetic there are the 3 galleries to climb up to.  The famous Whispering Gallery is 257 steps up and is a fun visit as if you stand on one side you can whisper something and another person across the dome can hear you. You'll see lots of people trying. As well as this you get great views of the dome and down into the cathedral floor. For those with a head for heights and good legs there are 2 further galleries, both on the outside of the dome. The Stone Gallery is 121 steps up from the Whispering Gallery but the Golden Gallery right at the top is the one to go for if you are up to it - a further 152 steps and 365 feet above the floor of the cathedral! The view is 360 degrees and incredible -  down the river through Tower Bridge and to the nearly completed Shard tower, to the City across One New Change shopping centre's roof, up river to the London Eye and curves of the river Thames. the 'Wobbly bridge' with the Tate Modern and the Globe theatre and way over in the distance to the Olympic park and the Orbit red tower.

Towards the Shard and Tower Bridge

The City and One New Change roof in the foreground

Upstream along the curve of the Thames

'Wobbly bridge', Tate Modern and The Globe Theatre

Hopefully you will want to visit St Paul's Cathedral, or revisit it as a second viewing is well worth it.  I have one more photo before I sign off as I want to show you this wonderful building at night when it is magical.

Bye for now,
Sue
www.itsyourlondon.co.uk
@itsyourlondon