Green Park Station

Lovely tiled murals of leaves. Not green? They look black on red. Photos by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The red colour is echoed in the seating.

 Green Park station. A long underground walk to the distant line. Allow extra time.

The station, as the name suggests, is next to Green Park. 

Byron poem by the lift.

Green Park station has three lines, Jubilee, Piccadilly, and Victoria.

Useful Websites

https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUGPK/green-park-underground-station?lineId=jubilee

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Park_tube_station

I have other posts with pictures on the stations Charing X, Embankment, London Bridge, Baker Street, Brixton and Hatch End.

Chutney Mary Celebration Dinner

 Chutney Mary

A doorman greeted us in the doorway, quite chatty, greeted us and wished us a pleasant evening.

Doorman at Chutney Mary, Photo by Angela Lansbury.

On our way out, he asked us if we had enjoyed our meal. We stopped for a chat with him about our restaurant and other restaurants nearby.

Our table was one of four tables for two at the back. I though it was a small table, but easy to talk across. For a photo I set up a giant Hallmark birthday card, which I had adapted for a golden wedding anniversary but adding a hand written Gold wedding anniversary to the front, using blue tack and a staple. This was a success, balloons get in the way, intrude and leave litter.  The big card attracted the attention o all the other three tables, who all applauded, and wished us well, and I had a lovely chat with the lady at the nearest table. 

My husband had booked the restaurant as a surprise, Indian because our first date had been to an Indian restaurant. He had the set menu, and matching wines, I had the vegetarian menu because I am allergic to shellfish, and for the other dishes we got to try different main dishes. The desserts were the same on both menus. 

Service

Always somebody passing nearby who could be asked to help. For example, they escorted me to the ground floor toilet which was down a dark corridor to the fire exit passing fire extinguishers, which I thought was a good thing to note. The ground floor toilet had a keycode, operated by the waiter who escorted me. Inside was big and quite dark.

After dinner I tried the downstairs toilets, much better decorated, with lovely hand lotion. Not much further and stairs not too steep.

The lighting came from an oil container with a flame, which went out a couple of times. Being in such dim light made it hard to read the menu. I copied it on my phone. But I didn't need the menu, no choices to be made because we were having the set menu. 

Unique Champagne glasses at Chutney Mary restaurant. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

We ordered a sparkling wine to start. The wonderful Champagne glasses were perfect. Wide enough not to hit your nose, unlike the narrowest flutes. We recently changed our very narrow flutes, which in theory hold in bubbles, for wider ones. I would have liked to buy the wonderful unique glasses and wondered if they were some special brand such as Riedel. But the sommelier told us that the glasses had been specially ordered for the restaurant. 

Starter

I had avocado.

Main Dishes

Came with delectable rice.

Desserts

A small souffle containing coconut and halva, which they spelled halwa.

My husband had informed them that it was our anniversary. After our dessert they brought out a plate with a small chocolate concoction and happy anniversary written in chocolate.

Happy Anniversary written in chocolate at Chutney Mary restaurant. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Good for a souvenir photo. Just what I wanted.

Nearest stations

Piccadilly

Green Park

Going there we started through the park, passing on our right a lovely curvy food kiosk, shut Saturday evening, then took a tunnel left, hardly wide enough for two people side by side, went in single file, standing back to let others coming the other way.

Returning to Green Park station late at night, we took the main road, slightly longer.

At Green Park station there is a long underground walk within the station to the Jubilee line going north west.

We plan to go back, at lunchtime when the lower prices of the lunch time deals are attractive.

Useful Websites

https://www.chutneymary.com/

www.fineindianrestaurants.com

https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUGPK/green-park-underground-station

Please follow my blogs and share links to your favourite posts.

Admire Those Amazing Little Mazes On Local and Distant Stations in London: Where, Why, What Do They Mean?

 

I was puzzled by the little Labyrinth on the wall at ground level near the entrance to Northwick Park station in North London. I asked the man serving at the kiosk, "Do you know what this little design means?" He simply shrugged and raised his hands in the air. "It's an artwork."

 Now I can explain it, to local people, or foreign visitors. I feel really pleased with myself. I am a guide, a teacher. I can write about it in my blog. I can put it on Pinterest. I can add it on Google maps.  

I only recently,  yesterday, discovered that the same artist has designed different labyrinths for stations. All over London. 

The artist is Mark Wallinger.  Mark my words, his name is easy to remember. Mark the wall. Wall injured. Or, if you prefer a positive memory aid, wall enjoy. Or wall ingenius. Mark Willinger. 

Why bother to remember his name? Because you will see his little mazes on the walls of railway stations all over London, the station you depart from and the station you arrive at. 

For years I had walked past the little maze on the wall at Northwick Park station and wondered, what is that doing here? What has a maze got to do with this area? The answer is, nothing. The mazes are all over London. Each station has its own maze and each one is unique and charming.

Mark's Labyrinth at Heathrow. Picture from Wikimedia.

Where might you visit? Hyde Park Corner.

Hyde Park Corner. Simple, neat design.

What does it all mean? Is the underground a maze to you? Once you have found the entrance and the destination, all becomes clear. It is really neat, and compact. 

One maze on its own, like one station on its own, might not be particularly useful, not connected with anything else. But once you have the whole picture of linked mazes and stations, you have a satisfying system.

Yes, those little mazes remind you that the underground network is a maze at first sight. However, it is logical. Once you have found the entrance and the destination, you feel in control and satisfied. Problem solved.

First I looked at them all in grid fashion on the Wikimedia page. I tried to pick out famous stations, central stations I might visit. Heathrow, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner.  

Then I looked at the patterns and tried to pick out contrasting styles. Simple maze. Contrast with complicated maze. Central symbolic shape like a hard diamond. Central symbolic shape like a curved flower. Rigid shape of the whole. Swirly shape of the whole, curved like a map of your brain. 

Finally, I found that the best way to compare them is to go to wikimedia, click on one of the pictures, select more details, then click on the left or right arrows to go through each one individually, reading the captions.

I found that the whole set were designed to celebrate 150 years of the London underground. The designs are grouped under names such as (alphabetically): 

American Indian. 

Chamfered (Chalfont & Latimer, West Acton). 

East (Highgate, Manor House, St John's Wood, Totteridge and Whetstone). 

Emboss (Angel, Arnos Grove, Euston Square). 

Medieval (Archway, Barbican, Bounds Green, High Barnet). 

Native American (Farringdon, Southgate).  

Opposed (Moorgate, Swiss Cottage, West Finchley). 

Organic (Ealing Common, Great Portland Street, Wood Green). 

The Square family (Ealing Broadway, Finchley Central, Finchley Road, Old Street, Turnpike East, Woodside Park). 

Turf (Cockfosters, East Finchley, Kentish Town, Tufnell Park). 

The West. Woodcut (Mill Hill East, Oakwood station).

My favourite designs one by one, including popular places you and I might visit on our next trip to central London:

Leicester Square

High Street Kensington. Dead white circle centre.

Green Park

Bayswater

Now my favourites from stations which you and I are unlikely to visit unless we live or work there:

Hatton Cross. I like the six petal flower centre.

Most are displayed against red brick (a London feature, from London's red clay) or white tiles. I like the green background of the artwork on Wimbledon Park station.

Useful Websites

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Labyrinth_(Art_on_the_Underground)#/media/File:Mark_Wallinger_Labyrinth_269_-_Heathrow_Terminals_1,_2,_3.

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2020/10/delightful-decorations-on-london.html

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Labyrinth_(Art_on_the_Underground)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10622805/Secrets-Victoria-Line-station-tiled-mura

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_on_the_Underground

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_London_Underground_stations

If you like this post, please save it, bookmark it, and share it.

See Life Size Elephant Statues In The Green Park in London, England, Promoted by Princess Eugene

UK flag

More than 100 life size  Wooden Elephants to publicize wild life charity CoExistence  in Green Park, London, England. See them while you can.  They were originally near Buckingham Palace. The exhibition is up for a month. Sponsored by Savills. 

Elephants carved by people in Tamil Nadu in India who live near elephants. 

Why in London? What has this got to do with us? A charity for elephants was created by the brother of one of the UK royals.

The London tube station Green Park is opposite one of the park's entrances, with station exits on both sides of the road. 

If you would rather go green, a cycle track links many places in London.

Pictures are in my Pinterest and on my Facebook page.

The elephants were previously in St James's Park. They have been and will be at various locations since May and will remain until mid July. Eventually they will be sold off to raise funds for the charity.

The headline sponsor is the Italian perfume house Xerjoff.

More shortly

Useful Websites 

ELEPHANTS

http://elephant-family.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_Family

https://elephant-family.org/coexistence/

LONDON ART & TRAVEL

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_public_art_in_London

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycle_Superhighway_3

PERFUME

https://www.xerjoff.com/

https://www.wikiparfum.fr/

Daily Mail

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9738085/Princess-Eugenie-shares-photos-son-August-visiting-elephant-sculptures-Londons-Green-Park.html?ns_mchan

Evening Standard

About the author

A Guided Walk From Green Park Station and The Ritz to Berry Brothers Wine Merchants Shop

Problem
What's the best route? What can I see and photograph on the way?

Answers
I am not an official London tour guide, although I have been on a day's training, observing. Just follow me, your friendly writer on the internet, and see what I saw. Starting from Green Park station you have lots of choices of walking routes. Coming out of Green Park station, I saw the Ritz hotel ahead. Since it was sunny, we saved that route for the return journey and headed into Green Park.

Every time I walk anywhere in London I see something new. As writer and dictionary compiler Johnson said, He who is tired of London is tired of life.

Walk through Green Park in the Queen's footsteps, or sit and read. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

An information panel told me the story of Queen Anne and how she used to walk along what is now Green Park, making houses overlooking the park more popular and expensive.

Walk south, as I did, to Berry Brothers & Rudd's new shop, I followed a friend, who knows the back routes. A few yards beyond the information panel a small alley leads between the houses.

Compare London and Bucharest
The Narrowest Street
When I was in Brasov, a regional capital of Romania, one of the city's main attractions was an alley called the narrowest street, or String Street.

String Street, Brasov, regional capital of Romania. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Narrow Alley off Green Park, London. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

This alley off Green Park seems equally small to me. I must go back and take a photo of somebody with their arms outstretched. You must do it before 10 pm when the passage is closed. If you visit, that would be an amusing photo. But this passage is technically private property, not a public street.

When you emerge at the other end, you can walk across to an old English hotel

Photo of exterior of hotel with British and American flags. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

As I walked towards the hotel, I saw a lady walking towards me carrying a bunch of flowers. How very English, I thought. I had not known that carrying bunches of flowers upwards was English, until I went to Romania. In Bucharest, the capital of Romania, people carry bunches of flowers with the heads downwards.

A women carrying bunches of flowers upwards in a street in London, England. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

A woman carrying a bunch of flowers with the heads down in Bucharest, capital of Romania. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

People carrying bunches of flowers, head down, in Bucharest, capital of Romania. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Elegant flowers in window boxes and a blue door. Georgian sash windows. London, England. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

A London blue heritage plaque saying that Frederic Chopin was here in London, England. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

I was passed by an Amphibian vehicle on a tour of London. I took these in Philadelphia, USA, and New York city, New York state, in the USA. Great fun when you tip into the water.  Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Whether you want to walk through Green Park, sit in the sun, or walk through the back streets of London, or take an amphibious tour, always plenty to see and do in London, England.

The second part of my walk and Berry Brothers is in the next post.


USEFUL WEBSITES
UK
https://tfl.gov.uk
https://art.tfl.gov.uk/projects/permanent-commission-by-daniel-buren/
www.visitlondon.com
www.londonpass.com
www.visitbritain.org
ROMANIA
www.tarom.ro Romanian budget airline.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

A Green Park picnic, then a happy hour wine tasting at Hedonism Wine retailer in London's upmarket Mayfair

Go to Green Park station, which is opposite the Ritz hotel. If you come out of Green park station on the side by the park you emerge through a wall of green plants trained up the walls.

Drinking on an empty stomach is not good any time, especially if you are planning to drive home. We planned a picnic in the park. If you have brought your own picnic, you can sit on a park bench.

We sat down beside two strange strangers, decidedly odd characters. But when we took out our picnic, one of them limped away. The other one who was sleeping, woke up, and walked off. (Was it something we said? Was it something we ate?)

I murmured, "My mother taught me: Don't stare; and Don't eat in public."

My companion retorted, 'You worry too much. Get on with your life."

"What is life if full of care you have no time to sit and stare." That's a misquotation from the poet Davis, who was a tramp. He said stand. We chose to sit. And stare. 'People watch' is the polite word for it. In front of us were deck chairs you could hire. Joggers raced passed, followed by little dogs trundling along attached to leads trying gamely to keep up with their brisk owners.

A group who could have been dancers or gymnasts, wearing black tights and tight tops stood in a circle following routines directed by a man with ropes and equipment.

A stand sold coffee. We went  back to Piccadilly to a Pret Manger so we could avail ourselves of coffee, ample seats and ground floor toilets.

If you are more interested in Happy Hours than Happy Meals, maybe Hedonism wines is more your thing.

I suggest you look around the wines which are on sale and all the wineglasses and decanters and so on before you try a drink or two or more.

We walked to Hedonism from Green Park via Berkeley Square, which holds an antiques fair in a marquee every year for a week late in September.

Hedonism Wine shop has a huge display of wines for sale in grand surroundings, chandeliers and a grand staircase with motifs. See the Enoteca machines downstairs. You can pop in and buy a glass of wine from one of the Enoteca dispensers on the wall.

Get on their mailing list to be invited to a wine tasting - mostly priced about £25. You get to meet somebody from the vineyard or area or country or importers promoting a style of wine.

This tasting and talk can take about an hour, early evening, just drinks, no food guaranteed unless specified, not usually any food, so usually we plan to go off for dinner. We will spit out the wines, as is usual at a wine tasting when you get to try half a dozen wines, and then take the train and car home.

The human body is a pipe when when you put water or wine in at the top, the mouth, the liquid travel around until gravity leads it out again. That's why establishments serving drink need toilets.

Hedonism has the most amazing ladies toilet. (The only other one I've seen equally astonishing is at a restaurant in Beaconsfield.) If you don't like the food, drink and toilets in burger bars and coffee bars, or want a change, something upmarket in the evening or for a special occasion, London has wine bars and hotels offering luxury bars, restaurants and toilets, especially in Mayfair.

Hedonism ladies toilet
Firstly you  need to be directed to get to Hedonism's toilets.  Unmarked door. Inside the TV screen is dancing and blaring, like hotel bathrooms in top hotels in the USA. In addition to the toilet and washbasin there's a bidet. Out of the wall comes a white china hand - and a few inches vertically from that is the gel dispenser.