This was our second day in London: So far we walked across London Bridge, toured Tower Bridge along with it’s engine room, and walked the perimeter of the Tower of London—and the day was far from over.
I wanted to tour the Tower of London; however, following our tour of Tower Bridge, we found ourselves on the opposite side of the river. It was becoming late afternoon and we were hungry. It was time to eat! The idea of walking back over—not to mention the time the tour would require—became less practical if we were going to make it to our next stop: Lamb Tavern at Leadenhall Market.
DOUBLE DECKER BUS RIDE
I’m always looking for cool pubs. I made a list of potential pubs we could hit up whilst in London; and, based on our current location, the Lamb Tavern won today. Fortunately we were just a block away from a bus stop (at the base of Tower Bridge) that would take us right to Leadenhall Market, home of Lamb Tavern.
We jumped onto the double decker bus, and like a good tourist, immediately went upstairs. Within a few stops, the first row of seats opened up and we seized the opportunity. Now we were riding a London double decker bus the correct way. After a short ride, we were dropped off just a few steps from our destination.
LEADENHALL MARKET
Leadenhall Markett is a covered market in the City of London. The wrought iron and glass structure was built in 1881; however, the market dates back to the 14th century. According to their website, it was established in 1321. There have been several incarnations of the market over the years. The first covered building to be used as a market at this location was a lead roofed manor house, hence the name, Leadenhall. The building sits on what was the center of Roman London.
Making our way to the Lamb Tavern, we entered Leadenhall Market . . . in awe. The building is magnificent! Certainly unlike any shopping market I’ve ever been to. This remarkable backdrop has been used in several films; in fact, during the 2012 Olympics, it became part of the marathon course as runners made their way through the market.
LAMB TAVERN
Lamb Tavern was on my list as a pub to visit mainly due to it’s location in Leadenhall Market. It just seemed too unique not to. The tavern was established in 1780 as a private house selling real ale. Eventually it was purchased by Youngs and began selling to the public, which it continues to do to this day.
This would be the first “British” pub we would visit on our trip. A bit different than I’m used to back home in the states. In my world, going to a pub generally happens one of two ways: The first is simply sitting at a bar and having some drinks. The second is grabbing a table—which means they expect you to order food, and when the food is gone, it’s time for you to be gone—then the next group sits down and the process is repeated.
The pubs in Britain are a bit more laid back. It’s unusual to find stools at the bar, and if you do, there are only a few. Patrons grab their drinks at the bar then make their way to any open table, or stand about at their leisure. This lack of congestion at the bar makes it very easy to walk up and grab a pint. You are free to sit at your table as long as you wish (and it’s ok if you’re not eating), at least until closing that is. There are no glaring looks from servers trying to mentally push you out. It’s just a great setting to grab a drink and just hang out.
We intended to eat at the Lamb Tavern but nothing really quite jumped out on the menu. No worries . . . it didn’t prevent us from enjoying the atmosphere over a pint. I’ve always been told that Guinness on the other side of the pond was better. I took this opportunity to find out—which by the way—I agree with. It was nice! We sat on the mezzanine level of the pub, had a Guinness, then moved on in search of food.
NEW MOON
Just a few steps from Lamb Tavern, also within Leadenhall Market, we discovered a pub called New Moon. The place looked cool and the menu was promising, so in we went. We were still unsure of how this all worked over there. Did we wait to be seated? Order from a server? Order at that bar? We were still learning. We approached the bar and inquired; the bartender said food was available—but further added that there was a restaurant in the basement. I kinda took that as we should go downstairs if we wanted to eat. We found the stairs, which required us to exit the pub and go through a separate door (I later realized there was a staircase inside as well).
We entered a quaint basement lounge type setting, which to our surprise was completely empty. Despite being the only ones down there (with the exception of the bartender), it was an enjoyable dinner. We split a few sliders, had a few drinks, and I adventurously ordered scotch eggs—which, I should add, ate alone. The verdict? They were interesting!
Oddly enough, it originates from London—not Scotland. Unaware of this, I reached out to my Scottish friend Greg, assuming he’d appreciate my current situation. No excitement on that end. He simply replied, “go to a ‘chippy’ and get black or white pudding.” What’s a chippy? I still don’t know!
HARRODS
Now that we were refueled it was time to go shopping. Next up . . . Harrods, one of the most famous department stores in the world. This place is quite remarkable. It’s the department store that has almost anything you can imagine. I was interested in the $10k Godfather poster, $8k pen, and most definitely the $100k bottle of Louis XIII. I settled on a Christmas ornament.
Harrods is a must see if you find yourself in London. Be sure not to skip the food court; it is amazing! I would also advise allowing yourself sufficient time. You’ll be in there a while. Before we knew it the store was closing. Yet—there was so much left to see. We would return the following morning to conclude our Harrods experience before we set out on our adventures. Till then, it was back to the hotel for a nightcap at the hotel bar.
THE TERRACE BAR: THE CHESTERFIELD MAYFAIR
Back at the hotel, we headed down to check out the lobby bar. The Terrace Bar, as it is called, had a country club feel to it. Dark wooden bar, green leather chairs, and a piano player livening things up. Seated at a small lounge table, the espresso martini in my hand was all too fitting. Oh, and it was wonderful.
We got up to leave, but somehow that turned into us relocating to the bar. I guess I just couldn’t resist another martini. Oh, and an Italian beer too. Sitting at the bar a member of the staff inquired about our plans for the following day. I’m glad he asked. I explained we were heading to Parliament and Westminster Abbey. He proceeded to ask if we knew where we would be eating. I did have some places in the area marked off as potential spots, but he quickly changed my mind. He told me to check out Gordon’s Wine Bar. It’s like walking back in time a few hundred years, in a cave-like atmosphere lit only by candles. This is what the Conahan Experience is all about . . . distinguished experiences.
The following day we would indeed pay a visit Gordon’s Wine Bar, but not before visiting the Westminster section of London. There we would see Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. Click here to continue the journey!