With time to spare after getting down from Sky Garden, we headed to Neal’s Yard. It’s within walking distance from Covent Garden underground. Be informed as at April 2015, Covent Garden underground is undergoing upgrading works and you can only get off from there. You would have to take Leicester Square or Holborn underground to return.
Neal’s Yard is a short alley which opens into a small courtyard. It contains several health food retailers based on anything natural & organic. I came here after seeing several pictures of the courtyard which the buildings were painted in multiple bright colors and just had to take a few photos of this place. One of London’s secret and a photo spot hidden in a small courtyard
Entrance to one of Neal’s Yard courtyard.
The multi colored Neal’s Yard’s courtyard.
Neal’s Yard Remedies outlet.
Buildings within Neal’s Yard.
Multi colored windows of Neal’s Yard.
The courtyard where public can sit & rest. There’s a cafe here.
Leaving Camden, our next point of visit is the 34 storeys Sky Garden at Frenchurch street, London. You do need to book a free visit beforehand. This can be done here.
The Sky Garden has three floors and offers uninterrupted views across the City of London. Two express lifts will take visitors to a beautiful garden with a viewing area, terrace, café, bar and restaurant. It is designed to create an open and vibrant place of leisure and offering visitors to experience London’s skyline.
I consider Sky Garden as a great photo spot. However the open air terrace has glass barrier that produces reflection that is difficult to avoid. The best view in my opinion is facing river Thames but arriving at 4:15 p.m. the sun will be right against you as oppose to you being at The Shard, the sun will be behind you.
Comparing the Sky Garden to The Shard, you will feel more comfortable due to the much larger area as well as the ‘garden’ within. There are ample space for you to take photographs and no need to jolts around. Having not heard much hype about Sky Garden, I consider it as one of London’s secret. However, after some period of time, you do feel like you are in an airport.
The Sky Garden as seen from The Shard. That white building in the center.
Sky Garden as you exit the lift.
The garden with real vegetation.
The back portion facing The Gherkin.
Strolling with the kids.
View from the garden.
View of London Bridge.
Southwark bridge, Millennium bridge and London Eye in the background.
The Shard, HMS Belfast & City Hall.
HMS Belfast, City Hall, Tower bridge & Tower of London.
Tower bridge, Tower of London and Canary Wharf in the background.
Err …. not sure where this is. Canary Wharf on far upper right.
The prime meridian is located at the Royal Observatory. You can stand astride two hemispheres here, which represents the Prime Meridian of the World – Longitude Zero (0° 0′ 0″).
Every place on earth is measured by it’s distance east or west from the Greenwich Meridian. The arbitrary north-south line divides the eastern and western hemispheres of the earth, just as the Equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres.
Royal Observatory, Greenwich location.
For us to get to the Royal Observatory, it’s quite a walk from the Cutty Sark especially going uphill. A slow and relaxing walk through Greenwich park will take about 30 minutes. Once up there, we’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view overlooking Canary Wharf as well as the O2 arena. This is another of London’s photo spots especially for those with telephoto lenses.
An up hill walk through Greenwich Park to the Royal Observatory.
View of Canary Wharf & O2 arena.
Entrance of the Observatory
The Prime Meridian line. One foot in the Eastern hemisphere, the other in the West.
