A few days in London the visit the RAF museum, the Natural History and the Courtaulds gallery.
This was all started by the announcement in the Autumn of 2024 of Van Gogh and Monet exhibitions at the National and Courtaulds galleries respectively. But in a bad 2024 habit didn’t actually take action until tickets were sold out. So although unable to see the blockbuster events, resolved to get off my backside anyways. And do better for 2025.
RAF museum
Setting off on Sunday morning, into Euston then backout on the Northern line to Collindale got me to the RAF museum at Hendon just after lunch so plenty of time to peruse the collection. Using the lockers meant I didn’t need to lug my backback around.
Unfortunately hanger 6 with the more modern planes was closed. Which meant once the more information based displays were passed there wasn’t as many planes to view as I’d imagined. Perhaps over the years I’d built the place up as a vast treasure drove of aviation, the reality is it feels much more modest. There feels more to see at Duxford. However there was still some amazing aircraft on display including a Lancaster bomber with ‘Tallboy’ 12,000lb bomb and a Luftwaffe Komet rocket plane. The transition from a gossamer fragile Blériot XXVI (1911?) through to the brute power of a Lightning F6 (circa 1960s) is a mind boggling journey.
As always exit through the gift shop. The prices preclude buying much but I found a small spitfire logo laptop bag on sale that I think will package my tablet and its peripherals nicely.
From there some bus hops (303,142) got me to the Brent Cross shopping centre and a KFC. Not great but enough. The booked Travelodge was a short walk away but on arriving the place seemed gloomy and deserted until I realised the actual lodge is hidden behind the rather glum offices. It all makes sense as a driver since the car parking leads to the door but as a pedestrian not so obvious an entrance. As always a Travelodge is nothing special but is adequate. I had to turn the heating off though since the room was at a sweltering 28°C, even in the cold snap the room was warm enough for me without heating. Guess it’s what your used to…
Natural History museum
After stuffing myself silly at the breakfast buffet headed back into London and the Natural History Museum. I had planned to visit the National Gallery since it was enroute but a combination of not feeling upto a prompt morning start and adding to traveling costs by breaking the journey meant a more relaxed journey to the NHM. I think I’ve visited at sometime in the past as a child but I’ve no certainty. Maybe it’s one of those synthetic memories built by having seen a lot of imagery of the place. Regardless, the building itself is impressive, opening in 1881. When those Victorians set out to build, they didn’t mess about.
The plesiosaur collected by Mary Anning, a near intact Stegosaurus, moon rocks, samples of seemingly every mineral known. Cases and cases of preserved animals and plants. The contents really live upto the building’s aim of being a ‘cathedral to nature’. It’s a lot to see and I’d suggest using the website to maybe plan things, I know there were bits I’ve overlooked.
Exit though the gift shop. Treated myself to a model Stegosaurus skull. Yes I know I’ll be trying to model some for myself in clay (thanks for the inspiration!) but when I’m actually going to that is anyones guess.
Courtaulds gallery
Tuesday was a checkout and travel to the Courtaulds gallery along the Embankment. With my backpack and a growing bag of souvenirs I was happy to use the lockers down in the basement. There are some real gems in this collection. Apparantly the family started as silversmiths before switching to textiles so there are some beautiful metalwork exhibits from the likes of 14th century Iraq. An extensive collection of Rubens is alongside Gainsborough and Goya. But the real stars are the impressionist paintings on the top floor including “A Bar at the Folies-Bergèr” by Manet, “The Card Players” by Cézanne and “Young Woman Powdering Herself” by Surat. These are famous paintings seen so many times in reproduction. As always it’s a exhilerating experience to actually see the real thing.
Strangely the gift shop seemed closed.
Walk along the Strand to Trafalger square, a lunch in the crypt at St. Martins and then upto Euston for a return train.
A tiring few days with a bit of a bittersweet at not getting to the big-ticket exhibitions. But really glad to get up and going to see some fantastic stuff.