London, Sunday 14/8/2011

On Saturday afternoon, 13/8/2011,  I worked on the research diary, updating my blog, and then headed off for a beer on the Imperial Wharf river-front before dinner. I sent off an email to James Taylor, thanking him and trying to set up a time for a telephone call.

Tomorrow, Sunday (14/08/2011), I intend to go to the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, simply for the experience. I have checked the restaurants and the standing room tickets (5 pound, bought 1 hour before the performance), so early dinner and the classical music concert is a reasonable proposition. The risk is the travel/walking at night in a fairly tense London. 

London

Morning of 15/08/2011

My Kindle eBook (i.e., downloaded London guidebook) and I went to the BBC "Proms" last night, 14/8/2011). I risked the London "riots" and travelled by Underground (the Tube). Weather was kind and there was a sufficient crowd going to and from the Royal Albert Hall that I felt safe.

I went early to get some daylight video shots of the Natural History Museum (when it was not raining), treated myself to an "overpriced" dinner in the restaurant at the "Albert", and attended a very good community-involved classical music concert. They had a large backing choir, with a contingent of children singers, so the parents were obviously in the audience.

I was in the cheap seats (partially restricted view, see photo) but as soon as the doors were closed we were off "en masse" to the unused better seats further around the hall. Up in the "Gods" (top gallery) so it did not make that much difference but it made for some fun and a little bit of group bonding. Really enjoyed the experience. Next time I take binoculars.

The hall is large and spectacular (you can do a virtual tour on the web) and the music, by a relatively modern English composer, was interestingly and lively. I was tempted by the even cheaper "Promming" places; these are the unique standing-room "Promenade" places that give the concerts their name. Despite the 5 pound price in the end I was daunted by the prospect of standing for 2.30 hours, not matter how good the music. As it was, it was one of the best value-for-money 7.5 pounds I have spent in the UK (note, the real cost of the seat I ended up in was probably a bit higher than that).

Photo. Royal Albert Hall, Cheap seats = "partially restricted view" in the upper reaches of the hall.