The Smallest Car in the Largest City in the World (1913):

Queen Alexandra ordered a miniature Cadillac car for Crown Prince Olav (later King) of Norway and – never ones to miss an advertising opportunity – the manufacturers arranged the filming of the car’s departure from the factory, where it is waved out by an enthusiastic male crowd.

This mini marvel continues its jubilant journey through the streets of London – past the Bank of England, around Trafalgar Square and on to Hyde Park. As crowds cheer and leap in front of the camera, desperate to be preserved on film, the driver’s composure and deadpan facial expression remains one of the most entertaining aspects of this Edwardian glimpse of British pride.

The film ends with some charming footage of a tea party, in which three children run into trouble with the law for speeding!

Again, posted by the BFI. Jeremy drives the smallest car in the world at the BBC – Top Gear (2007):

Jeremy drives the Peel P-50 through central London and into the BBC offices. From Top Gear.

Visited this exhibition last week while in London but here are a few videos posted by the Museum on youTube …

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Last weekend, Jill and I went down to London and visited the Tower of London to see the exhibit on Henry VIII.  Neither of us had been to the Tower before and it was a great place to spend part of a day (but without the 2 for 1 entrance, it would have been too expensive). Read more »

On Valentine’s Day, after visiting the Hotel Chocolat in Kensington and having a hot chocolate (okay, Jill had a coffee & chocolate drink), we were looking for some place to have lunch.  So, I had seen this place on one of my previous trips to the Science Museum, and we decided to stop at Le Pain Quotidien in South Kensington (tel – 020 7486 6154).

At heart, it is a bakery.  Their bread is a highlight of the meal … a basket is £5.20.  It comes with a range of spreads (both fruit and chocolate) and organic butter!  The basket and a bowl of porridge (£3.20) makes a great meal!  It was an ideal location for a Valentine’s brunch … and I would recommend it for anyone in the area looking for a place to dine.  If I am looking for a place to have a meal the next time that I am back at the Science Museum, I will stop in here.

They are located at 15-17 Exhibition Road in SW7 2HE (corner of Thurloe Place).  It is just a short walk from the South Kensington Tube stop and only a block or two from the V&A.

(We also got the great pink, heart-shaped meringues that we had on the train back from London on Valentine’s here.)

For our five-year anniversary, Jill and I went to London for the night … here are a few photos of the trip:

Friday, 13 Feb:

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