We started the day by heading to Harrod’s, which is a huge department store, and it seems it’s pretty much for rich people. You can get “bespoke” furniture and clothing here, as well as designer everything. We picked up a few edible goodies, then hunted for a few plaques. We headed home for lunch to drop off the backpack of purchases.

 

 

 

We spent the remaining ‘business hours’ at the V&A again.

 

 

We finished pretty much everything we wanted to see, and managed to get 90% of the top floor done in about 10 minutes before we were shooed out.

 

 

We spent the evening hunting for plaques, and found a LOT of really nice cars in the process: Maserati x3, Lamborghini x5 (at least), multiple Aston Martins, including an older Bond-style one, multiple Ferraris, Rolls Royces, and Bentleys. We basically found ourselves in a fancy schmancy part of London. Here are our three favorite cars from today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we were content with our Blue Plaque Go™ finds for the day, we found a couple o’ “bobbies” (police officers) that were hanging out on the street, and asked them where to find a really good burger on our last night. They sent us to MEATLiquor, and they were right. The burgers were delicious. If you’re good with the darker atmosphere, with loud rock music, and vulgar pictures and words on the walls, then go here. The food was amazing. In fact, the cocktails were too!

 

 

When we were content with our fully bellies, we headed home for the night to pack for our flight. I’m sad that we have to go home, but I’m also happy to be able to sleep in my own bed again, and see my two favorite little puppers!

Blue plaques today:

• Sir Robert Walpole – Lived from 1676-1745. He was the prime minister. His son also lived here:
• Horace Walpole – Lived from 1717-1797. A connoisseur and man of letters.
• Sir Isaac Newton – Lived from 1642-1727. Adam says he’s important for some stupid physics reason.
• Napoleon III – Lived here in 1848.
• Ada, Countess of Lovelace – A pioneer of computing that lived from 1815-1852.
• A site that encompassed three prime ministers: William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, lived from 1708-1778; Edward Geoffrey Stanley, Earl of Derby, Lived from 1799-1869; William Ewart, Gladstone, Lived from 1809-1898.
• Nancy Astor – The first woman to sit in parliament, she lived from 1879-1964.
• A theater that was founded in 1897 by Herbert Tree, an actor. He directed in this theater until his death in 1917.
• Ho Chi Minh – The founder of modern Vietnam, he worked in 1913 at the Carlton Hotel, which used to be at this site. He lived from 1890-1969.
• Richard Cobden – Died on-site. Lived from 1804-1865.
• Richard Dadd – A painter that lived from 1817-1886.
• Sir Mortimer Wheeler – An archaeologist that lived from 1890-1976.
• Tom Cribb – A bare knuckle boxing champion that lived from 1781-1848.
• Sir Henry Cole – A campaigner and educator; also the first director of the V&A Museum. He lived from 1808-1882.
• Stephane Mallarme – A poet that lived from 1842-1898. She stayed on-site in 1863.
• Francis Place – A political reformer that lived on-site from 1833-1851. He lived from 1771-1854.
• E.F. Benson – A writer that lived from 1867-1940.
• Wells Coates – An architect and designer that lived on-site from 1936-1956. He was born in 1895, and died in 1958.
• Elisabeth Welch – A singer that lived from 1904-2003.
• Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford – An inventor and adventurer, he lived from 1753-1814.
• Sir George Cayley – A scientist and pioneer of aviation, he lived from 1773-1857.
• Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield – He lived from 1804-1881 and died on-site.
• On the indicated site, in January of 1918, Dame Katharine Furse G.B.E. established the first headquarters of the W.R.N.S. (Womens Royal Naval Service).
• Lord Fitzroy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan – Commander during the Crimean War, he lived from 1788-1855. [This plaque will be re-mounted at some point. We couldn’t actually see this one because they seem to have torn down the previous building to put a new one up right now.
• Sir Richard Westmacott – A sculptor that lived and died on-site. He lived from 1775-1856.
• Charles X – The last Bourbon King of France, he lived on-site from 1805-1814, and lived from 1757-1836.
• J. Arthur Rank – An industrialist and film producer that worked on-site. He lived from 1888-1972.
• Albert Henry Stanley, Lord Ashfield – The first chairman of London transport, he lived from 1874-1948.
• Constance Spry – A designer in flowers that worked on-site from 1934-1960, she lived from 1886-1960.
• John Gilbert Winant – A United States Ambassador that lived on-site from 1941-1946. He lived from 1889-1947.
• Florence Nightingale – Lived and died in the house that previously stood on-site. She lived from 1820-1910.

Total steps: 22,805

 

ttfn

Emily and Adam