What's a Tonka Bean?
I thought I'd go and see what this Open House lark was about, there being just the one or two (hundred) places to visit.
Trinity House was on the list but wasn't open today. Never mind, I only overslept a bit, getting out just before 8 this morning heading for 30 St Mary Axe - the Gherkin. It opened at 8, I got there at about 8.45 to see a queue of about 400. That could have been worse, as it's 100 in per ten minutes. Nevertheless, I thought I could find better things to do, so set off down Leadenhall St, past the Cheesegrater (queue c. 100), to the Bank of England (queue about 150 ish).
Happily, they opened earlier than advertised, and I was in by 10am. It was about a half-hour tour, without going to the vaults, but we did wander through the Governor's office, the main meeting room, and the room where the Court of Directors meet (a Board isn't grand enough...). Quite interesting, and not normally available. Other things were a gold weighing scale so massive that it has to be put on a load-bearing surface, and a chance to pick up a 13kg gold bar (not hanging in the air). The queue on leaving was round fully two sides of the bank - probably 3 hours.
Leadenhall was up to c. 400, and the Gherkin to about 3 hour length - madness.
I wandered onwards to the Custom House, the Apothecary Hall (interesting to see inside) and on to Middle Temple Hall (rather fine). A good day out all-in-all. Maybe I'll do the Westminster stuff next time, and maybe the Guildhall.
As for the title, it was on one of the many many jars in the Apothecary Guild Hall.
Trinity House was on the list but wasn't open today. Never mind, I only overslept a bit, getting out just before 8 this morning heading for 30 St Mary Axe - the Gherkin. It opened at 8, I got there at about 8.45 to see a queue of about 400. That could have been worse, as it's 100 in per ten minutes. Nevertheless, I thought I could find better things to do, so set off down Leadenhall St, past the Cheesegrater (queue c. 100), to the Bank of England (queue about 150 ish).
Happily, they opened earlier than advertised, and I was in by 10am. It was about a half-hour tour, without going to the vaults, but we did wander through the Governor's office, the main meeting room, and the room where the Court of Directors meet (a Board isn't grand enough...). Quite interesting, and not normally available. Other things were a gold weighing scale so massive that it has to be put on a load-bearing surface, and a chance to pick up a 13kg gold bar (not hanging in the air). The queue on leaving was round fully two sides of the bank - probably 3 hours.
Leadenhall was up to c. 400, and the Gherkin to about 3 hour length - madness.
I wandered onwards to the Custom House, the Apothecary Hall (interesting to see inside) and on to Middle Temple Hall (rather fine). A good day out all-in-all. Maybe I'll do the Westminster stuff next time, and maybe the Guildhall.
As for the title, it was on one of the many many jars in the Apothecary Guild Hall.