A look around Shakespeare's Globe

We're getting back into the swing of enjoying weekends and treating ourselves, that's treating ourselves to not having a punishing gardening schedule that is. Last weekend we headed off to take a look around Shakespeare's Globe armed with our complimentary tickets from 365 Tickets for a tour and a look around the exhibition. I've walked past the Globe many, many times - but this was my first visit inside.

I know, I'm sort of shocked by that too.

heading into London by train for our visit to Shakespeare's globe with 365 tickets

Arriving at London Bridge and admiring the work that's underway to redevelop the station, which is way more developed than on my previous visits, then we headed off through as many back streets as we could towards The Globe, stopping to pause and take a photo of the Golden Hinde. I love how it's history and traditional-ness is parked (or docked if you want to be correct) amongst the modern buildings.

Heading past the Golden Hinde in London near to Borough Market

We arrived at The Globe, and joined the short queue to redeem our tickets. I'm terrible at queues and thankfully not only did it move quickly enough there was also plenty of artwork on the walls to entertain me. I know clowns aren't everyone's thing, but I fell in love with this photo.

part of the entry to the exhibition at the globe in London

Tours run every thirty minutes and we'd done well to time it right. We had a short browse around the exhibition, which was well laid out and informative, to whet our appetite and then made our way to join the tour.

part of the exhibition at The Globe in London
 
An exhibit from the props department in the Globe in London with 365 tickets

The exhibition was good, but it was the forty minute tour that made our visit. Our tour guide clearly had thespian tendencies and shared the history of the theatre in the most engaging way. 

He was (mock) dismayed that this tribute to arguably our greatest writer was led by an American, Sam Wanamaker and that all we'd managed to do to mark the spot of the theatre was to build a car park around a rather bland memorial stone. That means that the reconstructed theatre isn't in the true spot, but given the usefulness of the car park I'm sure having a riverfront position was really not too much of a hardship.

Throughout the tour much was made of the donors who contributed to the theatre; names were carved into paving slabs like this one and on perspex on walls and that was great to see, and for those donors to continue to be recognised some twenty years later. Yes, that's right this iteration of the Globe has been open since 1997, another fact that shocked me.

one of the £300 donations for the work at Shakespeare's Globe

Our guide pointed out some of the traditional features, and some of the less traditional ones too. Such as these silver trees and the giant illuminated letters attached to the side of the theatre, and signifying its summer season entitled Summer of Love. Dead pan he pointed out these weren't in the original theatre.  I love tours that work on all levels with facts and humour, and this was definitely one of those. Remind me to tell you the beer story later on.

Make believe silver birch like trees at Shakespeare's Globe
 
The summer of Love at Shakespeare's Globe in London

Ah good, the beer story fits here.  It's almost like it was planned.

It was a tour with something for everyone, even the kids. Our guide explained what it was like to be in the yard, or standing area, in the original theatre. Asking if the children on the tour had tasted, or liked beer. Of course there was a mixed response but one little lad gave him the best line, saying he couldn't remember if he liked beer, so of course the comeback was that that would happen a lot more as he got older and perhaps he might have had just a little bit too much beer.

It was the prelude to why the yard was often known for the penny stinkers. Entrance cost a penny - and even today there are 700 tickets at every performance that cost £5 - and the area was pretty full. Hygiene then wasn't what it is today, and then there was the beer too - probably safer to drink than the water - and we all know what happens after a beer, or two, or three. And well if you've got a good spot then you weren't going to give it up easily were you? I'm sure you can put all of this together!

Inside the theatre at the Globe in London with 365 tickets
 
the stage at the globe in London
 
looking up at the seating area at the globe in london

During our tour there were sound checks going on for the afternoon's performance, but yet the tours continued and each of the guides shepherded their groups around the theatre space in an almost choreographed way, competing with the sound checks as they went. 

Back outside we learnt why Michael Palin's donation stone was misspelt. The clue is in the stone on the right, on whose stipulation the spelling was given.  

More donors contributions at the globe in London - but can you spot the deliberate mistake?

So a great tour and exhibition and something I'd definitely recommend. I can't believe it took me so long to get to something that was so good. I guess that's the whole not seeing things in the town you live in, we're all guilty of that aren't we?

There's plenty around on the Southbank so you can continue your entertainment, whether that's heading along to see some of the film locations for Bridget Jones diary, heading off to the Tate Modern, Gabriel's Wharf or the Southbank Centre. Or perhaps like us you'll retrace your steps and head over to Borough Market.

Despite the recent terror attack it was thriving and that was lovely to see. We stopped at El Pastor for some great tacos, again managing to time it right before a queue formed (and that hardly ever happens to me) and then into the market for a look around and a bit of shopping too.

If you're thinking about a trip to the Globe - go! - I think it'll be busy whenever you go, but there's plenty of space in the exhibition so you're not on top of everyone and numbers on tours are limited. The group was larger than I expected but not unmanageably so.

 

Thanks to 365 Tickets and Shakespeare's Globe for entry into the Exhibition in exchange for an honest review.

CulturedKids
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The Jane Austen garden in Lyme Regis

As is fast becoming tradition for our trips to Devon, we stopped off for breakfast in Lyme Regis. Which in itself is no mean feat given that we live in South London! This time we arrived just before 9am, and as it was the start of October I decided that I'd head for the car park down by the Cobb, there should be plenty of space.

There was and it wasn't long before we were out of the car and heading along the front towards the town, looking hopefully into all of the cafes and eateries that were starting to set up. Without much luck it must be said, one of them pointed us towards a couple of places in the town so we carried on walking. It wasn't a bad walk to have before breakfast, and especially a good walk after a long drive.

Just as it was looking like breakfast might actually be a Devonshire Pasty, we spied a coffee shop serving Breakfast Baps. That will do very nicely thank you, and they did. Having eaten there was still time for another walk along the beach and we planned to head over to the Cobb.

Because no visit to Lyme Regis is complete without a blow around the Cobb is it? 

But before we got there, I got sidetracked by this sign.

JaneAustenGardenLymeRegis.jpg

Well I just had to investigate didn't I?

So up the steps we went, and walked into a blaze of colour.

And it seemed appropriate that the garden was full of roses.

Roses.jpg

And full of colour. How glorious are these leaves. I'd love to know how they've changed as the autumn has progressed.

The garden is set into the cliffs and has a a fair amount of concrete in, but even so it's softened by wispy daisies.

And do you know, in all of our visits to Lyme Regis I've never spotted this garden before. Isn't it funny how sometimes you see things you haven't previously?

Ah, just look at that sky.

And it's been a while since I've done any OTT editing, so without further ado here you go:

It is quite bonkers, but then again when a garden has this view out to sea some craziness is allowed I think.

This garden was a great discovery. It wasn't big, but it was colourful and we had it to ourselves. I suspect that in the summer or during the season that's unlikely to happen, so it was nice to see it when we did.

Mammsaurus HDYGG