This Rudolph Reindeer was animated and told a story.

The "Screen" at Hyde Park Corner, a triple arched gateway, regarded as a major entrance to London.

Constitution Arch ( or Wellington's arch), originally built as a northern gate to the grounds of Buckingham Palace but was moved to Hyde Park Corner, now on an island with traffic circling it.
"The Top represents Peace descending from Heaven into the chariot of War, causing the horses which draw the fell vehicle to rear up to a standstill" I have been up Wellington Arch as I prefer to refer to it, and walked around the top. One gets an amazing view of the road down Constitution hill, which is on the other side of this image. Unfortunately the photos I had taken got lost in a computer crash

The Lanesborough Hotel Hyde Park Corner, another grand hotel. Look at the photo gallery of the inside of the hotel in the link below to see what I mean by Grand. It is decorated in period style, so beautiful!!



Lanesborough Hotel London

The Berkeley, yet another lovely 5 Star Luxury and Contemporary Chic Hotel situated in Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London.

We parked in Wilton place just around the corner to the Berkeley's main entrance to get to the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. As we were getting out the car the concierge was just walking past us and said " Are you with us, would you like an umbrella" we said "no we are not with the hotel but thank you anyway! we are just using the public parking here on the street". He said "here have an umbrella anyway". We were nearly bowled over with his friendliness, and promised to return it on our way back and he smiled and said "no that's ok you don't need to do that" . So I have a great souvenier of London in the form of a grand black umbrella with "The Berkley" printed on it. Looking up, the Berkeley on the web, I see they do live up to the reputation they state on their website!! It certainly made us feel welcome to London

("Possibly the most friendly, relaxed yet totally luxurious five star hotel”)The World's Most Glamorous Hotels 2008]









The BerkeleyHotel website

Great pictures Dawn, nice for me to see because although i am cockney by birth i very seldom go to London.

And what a really nice gesture re the umbrella.

thank you ! You are very lucky to be able to say your birthright is in the heart of London BB. I have grown to love London so much in the last ten years since visiting it regularly, sometimes twice a year. My family are relocating to Salisbury in the next two months, and I know I am going to miss being only 20 mins out of the centre of London. Re: the brolly Yes! it was a great gesture, one I shall never forget either

A very quaint little Pub dating back to 1683, called the Two Chairmen. The link under my image will give you the history of this little place and it has a map location. It is situated just off Trafalgar Square coming directly down Pall Mall from the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery, then just off to your left before you get to Haymarket. I was alone so never ventured inside, but it caught my eye and I thought it worthy of the mention and the image I took.

My image



The Chairmen website

Thank you so much for all of these fantastic pics, Dawn. There are just so many wonderful ones it is hard to choose which ones to comment on. Lets just say they are all terrific to see.

The Christmas tree is one handsome & very tall tree, isn't it?? I'll bet each one sent from Norway is a specially nurtured tree. This one is stunning.

That is a VERY large ship-in-a-bottle, isn't it?? Maybe some of the removed statuary will return after the Olympics. It does look as though some of the space has been taken up with the countdown thingy. Trouble is, the authorities sometimes bank on people forgetting about such monuments, so they won't have to return them, don't they??

Hmmmmmmm, the Berkeley Hotel is one to remember if ever we had the money to visit London & stay in such a hotel. That was a very sweet gesture from the concierge to give you the umbrella.

You will certainly miss London when your family relocates but I am sure you will be able to spend some time there in the future.

Boy, it does look a wee bit cool there, though. Yep, did see the jumbo. Thanks again for posting all these wonderful pics & the links.

(Psst, the link for the Two Chairmen pub is the URL for your image of the building. )

So, our BigBilly is a cockney boy, eh?? A true Londoner if ever there was.

your'e welcome Joy and thank you for the kind comment and the heads up on the link mistake it should be fixed now. I am off to Fisherhaven just now to see DS. See ya all later

Have a wonderful day, Dawn.

The Two Chairmen's link is all fixed, thanks Dawn. The reviews for the pub are really good.

Thanks Joy! you all have a good day too

Thanks, Dawn. It has been hunky-dory so far.