I just returned from a short trip to London. I built this trip around "Wolf Hall Weekend" an event celebrating Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall " trilogy. The event (June 6-7) was held at All Hallows by the Tower Church. I stayed at the Premier Inn-Tower Hill, a short walk from the venue, as well as the Tower Hill Tube station.
I arrived on June 4th, the day of a Tube strike. I took Heathrow Express to Paddington, followed by a long taxi ride to the hotel (lesson learned for future trips).
June 5th-I visited All Hallows and spent the morning exploring the museum in the church
crypt-it's a fascinating look at London from Roman to present times. The church is also where the bodies of Bishop Jonh Fisher and Sir Thomas More were brought after their executions in 1535.
In the afternoon I went to the Tower of London -my third visit, and very rewarding, as I went to partsof the Tower complex that I had missed on previous visits. I also had a lovely encounter with a Yeoman Warder, which led to my attending that evening 's Ceremony of the Keys-pure serendipity.
Saturday and Sunday were Wolf Hall Weekend, Saturday a day of very fine lectures and panels
about Thomas Cromwell and the trilogy of novels.
Speakers included Tracy Borman of Historic Royal Palaces and Owen Emmerson, one of the curators of Hever Castle, the Boleyn family home.
Sunday included a guided walk of Cromwell 's London.
Saturday and Sunday both included meals/tea provided by Byward Kitchen, a restaurant
adjacent to All Hallows. I can recommend them,based on the quality of our meals.
Monday and Tuesay were free days for me to just be a tourist. I did see "Grace Pervades" at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, starring Ralph Fiennes- very worthwhile, Fiennes was amazing.
After realizing that Heathrow Express wasn't convenient for me, I reserved a car service for my trip to Heathrow. I booked through Addison Lee and was very happy with their service.
So, another happy trip to one of my favorite cities.