Dont wake him up

Chelsea

Chelsea

In front of artist Gabrielle Rossetti's house
where he kept wombats, kangaroos
and all kinds of exotic animals

On Kings Road, tennis anyone?

In the backyard of Thomas Carlyle's house,
a national trust Victorian home we explored

New friend

Old friend

Figure Court at Royal Hospital Chelsea

Great Hall at Royal Hospital Chelsea

Dinner at Zedels

Amazing art deco at Zedel's

 Its Saturday, Jane is back on the tourist trail!

We are off Chelsea home of the posh, pensioners and puppies. As usual I have a plan with printed map and Jane is ready to wander aimlessly - how do two people who have such a different approach to life get on so well?

Down King’s Road we go. Which is all very fashionable now, even a Mary Quant shop. Originally this was a private road for Charles II to travel to Kew. Time to turn off and search for blue plaques. The first one we are after is for Maud McCarthy she was the British Army matron in chief during World War 1. Nursed with Florence Nightingale and is Australian.

Now its onto Tite St, a hot bed of writers and artists including Oscar Wilde. Finally we are where I have been waiting to go for ages, Chelsea Physic Garden and it is shut. Moving on. Cheyne Walk has fascinated me ages, beautiful houses that I first saw on that famous Day 1 drive from Heathrow to Ladywell Lodge. 

Home to artists, rock stars and now only the very wealthy. Two major sites are in my targets. First is Gabrielle Rossetti's house where where he kept wombats and kangaroos and then Turner’s house where he worked. There was lots more in-between.

Snap a photo here, snap 10 photos there, a schnauzer, lots of other dogs, bike riders, finally we are at Battersea Bridge and the end of this walk. Time to head back on the bus as we are too tired to walk another step and here we are at Royal Hospital Chelsea, home of the Chelsea Pensioner's.

We approach the gate, oh there is a pensioner is his full brilliant red uniform. Sound asleep on a bench. Shh, Jane we want to get a photo you will wake him up. Over we go. Opps, its a statue! Much photo snapping ensures. Designed by Christopher Wren it is a feast for the eyes and a wonderful place for retired Army personnel to live. 

Back on the bus into Leicester Square, I love being up the top on a double decker and enjoying the spectacle that is London. We arrive at our final destination, Zedel’s a magnificent art deco restaurant.