It was time to say goodbye to my cosy home in Lacock and the wonderful Cotswolds area – I can´t wait to come back next time! Another cab ride later, the only one that was actually planned as there are no buses on Sundays I boarded the train to London.
This time I stayed in the very elegant South Kensington area and got a room with a view – what a skyline! Besides having theatre tickets I hadn´t planned anything special for my days in London and spent most of my time just wandering around and exploring the city.
The Thin House, right around the corner from my hotel. Maybe the thinnest house in London? Thurloe Square, where the house stands on the corner, was built in 1840-1846 and most of the houses were designed by George Basevi. Around two decades later the Metropolitan District Railway was working “on a new transport advancement”, today known as the Tube, and bought a few of the houses. Five were demolished and some of them had their back gardens drastically reduced – South Kensington station opened in 1868.
With the railway lines just a few feet away from the south side of Thurloe Square, the triangular site of former Nos.1-5, remained vacant for many years. However, prolific local builder William Douglas saw its potential for seven artists’ studios. The wedge-shaped red brick block was built between 1885-1887. The large north-facing windows are perfect for letting in lots of light for the artists to work in. (Memoirs of a metro girl)
On the narrowest side, the house spans 6ft (1,8m)and spanning 34ft (10,36m) on its widest side. A studio flat in the building went on the market for £900.000 in 2016.
The Dior exhibit was sold out but I explored some of the other rooms, it´s always a must.
Little Ben – a miniature clock tower in Westminster mimicking Big Ben, erected in1862.
All About Eve at the Noel Coward Theatre.
The usual walk along the Thames.
