Home   |  
Search
London Theatre Tour blog 2015

London Theatre Tour blog 2015

monday, nov 2

The London travelers arrived safely at the Bloomsbury Hotel this morning. The flight was uneventful, and though we landed in a dense "pea soup" fog that caused airport delays, we did not experience those delays! Today's plans include walking tours of the surrounding neighborhood and a welcome dinner here at the Bloomsbury. Cheers!

This luxurious and historic hotel is situated in the centre of the capital, close to the theatres of Covent Garden, the shops of Oxford Street and just a few minutes' walk from the British Museum. Soho, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square with their museums, bars and restaurants, are a short walk away making The Bloomsbury Hotel the ideal base for any visitor to London!

Some of the group took a walking tour to the British Museum on Monday afternoon.

Current exhibits at the Museum include Drawing in silver and gold: Leonardo to Jasper Johns, Celts: art and identity, and Egypt: faith after the pharaohs.

A group of walkers also went to the Pollack's Toy Museum. There they saw Goodspeed's stage model in cardboard, which was designed by a Yale professor for Goodspeed a number of years ago.

David Byrne, the Executive and Artistic Director for the New Diorama Theatre in London, addressed the Goodspeed travelers at the Welcome Dinner.

Nancy

Click thumbnails below to view Monday's photo gallery.

Tuesday, Nov 3

Today, The Goodspeed travelers got up bright and early for a bus tour of London. Hopefully, it whetted everyone's appetite for all the wonderful sights to see here.

Our travelers spent the afternoon on their own exploring the city. Some went to Covent Garden, some had afternoon tea, a few shopped at Harrods, a couple even got lost in the Underground.

Tonight we saw Photograph 51, starting Nicole Kidman. Fabulous story! Gave us lots to think about and talk about in the pub afterwards.

Here's a selection of reviews for Nicole Kidman in Photograph 51:

Director of Development Nancy Altschuler, one of the Goodspeed staff members accompanying the tour, is celebrating her birthday today. After a long day of touring, she returned to her hotel room to find the lovely surprise you'll see in photo 6 waiting in her hotel room. Happy Birthday, Nancy!

More tomorrow!

Click thumbnails below to view Tuesday's photo gallery.

WEDNESDAY, NOV 4

Wednesday was a two-show day. The morning was free. A variety of groups headed off for morning sight-seeing to Churchill's War Rooms, the National Gallery, Regent Street, and the Imperial War Museum.

This afternoon's matinee was a fantastic production of Gypsy, starring Imelda Staunton. Then we went to see Bend It Like Beckham, a very fun musical, which was followed by a talkback with Music Director/Supervisor Nigel Lilley.

The evening ended on a typically social note - in the hotel pub!!

Nancy

Click thumbnails below to view Wednesday's photo gallery.

THURSDAY, NOV 5

Click thumbnails below to view Thursday's photo gallery.

FRIDAY, NOV 6

Today, the group went to Greenwich to see the Royal Observatory, had lunch at the Rivington Grill (thumbs up!), and toured the Cutty Sark, a China tea clipper. We returned to London via the Thames and were treated to London at night from the river. Lovely!

Some went on to see a "Fringe" show, while others took the evening off to enjoy special dinners or walk the city on a Friday night.

Cheers, and we'll see everyone back in Connecticut soon!

Nancy

Click thumbnails below to view Friday's photo gallery.

saturday, nov 7

Today is the last full day in London for our group. Everyone had the day free to explore on their own. Many saw more theatre (War Horse, Winter's Tale, Beautiful) and others toured Parliament or went shopping and Harrods and Selfridges.

Saturday evening was our Farewell Dinner at Fortnum and Mason which is already decked out for Christmas.

The food was divine, company grand, and setting just gorgeous. This has truly been a wonderful adventure with a great group of people.

This is such a lovely group of people, and I think many will keep in touch long after the trip is over.

After Saturday night's farewell dinner at Fortnum and Mason, We leave the hotel at 7:00 am Sunday morning for a 10:30 am flight out of Heathrow and home to Connecticut early Sunday evening.

The 2015 blog is now complete. Until next year .....

Cheers!

Nancy