Winter Walk with Hot Chocolate

Well, I didn't quite get up to date with the blog on Friday evening, because I had to run - I was back with London Social and Cultural Meetups, who were doing a Winter Walk with Hot Chocolate (also advertised with London European Club, but there didn't seem to be any takeup there) - and heading in search of some mulled white wine, it seemed! I had to leave work early for this one, so what with having had to do the same on Monday, I had to get up really early to make up the difference..

Headed off a little earlier than recommended by Google Maps - and yay, just made the bus! Isn't it funny though, how Google Maps still thinks the #188 goes all the way to Tottenham Court Road - so they were advising me to head there, and walk the rest! (And isn't it funny how TFL still thinks the same, even though all the buses now terminate at Aldwych..) Happily, they gave me an alternative route, changing at Lancaster Place - and what an inconvenient bus stop that is, with half the pavement blocked off with never-ending building works! Hardly knew where to put myself - and it was a long way past Google Maps' estimate when I finally got a bus. Which was absolutely rammed.. and got completely stuck in traffic in Regent Street, just as I was to get off. We were so close to the stop.. after about five minutes of the passengers constantly ringing the bell, the driver relented and let us off where we were.

Happily, all the pedestrian lights went in my favour as I crossed several roads to where our organiser stood waiting for us - handily, we both arrived at the same time! and took off fairly straight away - we were headed for a chocolate shop that closed within half an hour. As we pushed through the manic crowds, we did have a few chances to stop and admire the lights:

To find our "hidden courtyard", as she told us, look for the tortoise:

Down the alleyway, we came to Smiths' Court:

..and around the corner, we came to a little Patissier Chocolatier - William Curley's:

Now, she had told us the shop closes at 6 - we were waiting for our hot chocolates to be prepared when the shop assistant realised it was 6, and ran to close the door! It would be at that time, too, that what looked like a food walking tour rocked up - the group leader did manage to get in and blag a bag of chocolates. The shop assistant said ours would have to be takeaway - we just sat at the outside tables, handily not being moved on until we'd finished. She also said that they only had "small" takeaway cups, for a reduced price - and as one of us remarked, they were perfectly large! Two of us had the gianduja - ooh yes.. I couldn't really get the aroma until the steam died down a bit, but it was gorgeous! They also do chilli, and normal.. well worth a visit chaps, very, very moreish.

And so we went on a meandering walk, checking out some lights:

These are on Savile Row, known for its tailoring!

We passed the Royal Society, with several statues of notable people outside:

We came across London's only carillon:

We then decided to head through St. James' Park, for some peace and quiet:

Central Hall was floodlit in red:

And we had great fun musing about the purpose of the grand buildings round about:

As we were passing Westminster Tube, one of the group decided to head home - the walk had taken longer than anticipated. So the organiser and I headed for the Southbank Winter Market, in search of white mulled wine. And do you know, as I said to her, I must be a bad luck charm - because we never find it when I'm along! Never mind, I had a boozy hot chocolate instead - After Eight, with an After Eight mint and chocolate shavings on top of the cream, and creme de menthe in the hot chocolate. She had a more conventional one - and we sat and chatted for a good while. Well, after that I was hungry - I might have got something from the nearby stalls, but they were beginning to close now, and anyway it was cold. So I took myself to The Archduke, where happily they found me, the soup was the most gorgeous butternut squash, and I had the amazing rotisserie chicken.

It ran too late to blog though.. More in the next post.