A London Wander

Up at half six today to catch the Megabus to London for a day out with writer buddy, Mandy, and Squizz, who was hoping to steer me towards the M&M's store to top up his Christmas cache.

We started off with coffee and pastries at Victoria station and then wandered through to Sloane Square, where we caught the tube to Embankment, and pootled across the bridge to South Bank.

It was the perfect day for a wander around London and the city and its river both looked at their best in the Winter sunshine.

We found a food festival behind the Royal Festival Hall and the heady aromas managed to persuade Mandy to overcome her dislike of eating outside, so we could have a bite of lunch and Squizz could sample the roast chestnuts. The warming mulled wine may have helped, too!

We wandered along the South Bank to Tate Modern, and stopped there in the Members' Room for a glass of wine, and to enjoy the views as dusk fell over the river and St Paul's opposite.

Next it was time to visit the Christmas Market outside, pick up a warming cup of hot chocolate and make our way back over the river, past the Globe and St Paul's, and head along The Strand. After short stops in Waterstone's Trafalgar Square (for us!) and the M&M's store on Leicester Square (for Squizz), we wandered up to Soho and chanced upon the Dog & Duck, where George Orwell used to be a regular. We had dinner there in the upstairs dining room named after him.

A final pootle along Regent's Street and a browse around Liberty's, and it was time to part ways and head home.

For me and Squizz, this took a little longer than we'd anticipated... our coach had a dodgy starter motor and we were delayed leaving Victoria for 2 hours and 25 minutes. We eventually made it home just after 5 a.m. and fell into bed.

It was a brilliant day out though and an excellent London wander.