Sunday Lunch & a Slightly Boozy Stroll

Whoever said that British food is awful has never had a proper Sunday Lunch...for when done properly, there is no fare that can compare.

We met up with friends & family and settled in at The Prince Bonaparte in Notting Hill. I had to have Roast Pork as Canadian pork never has crackling, and this crackling was sublime! Great outer crunch, yet melted in the mouth! However, the puddings shone! Apparently, the Sticky Toffee Pudding (alas, not gluten-free, so untried by me) was one of the best e-ver! Raves all around.

It's healthy...there are dates in it!

Pulling away from the table, we put Guv's encyclopedic knowledge of London to good use and started a walking tour across London, factoring in stops for refreshment!

We popped along to Portobello Road, admiring the rainbow of life and peering into windows. Gin lover's alert: the road is home to The Ginstitute. (My cousins snuck in and bought a house bottle.) Did you know you can bottle your own blend there? It is calling to the experimentalist & gin lover in me for next time!

Don't you love the candy-coloured houses?

We meandered along a little further to Camden Hill and popped into one of my uncle's old haunts, The Windsor Castle to slake our thirst. I really love this pub - it's so cozy, with it's little low doorways, wood panelling, and nooks & crannies...however, I really love sitting in the little garden in the back, which was chock-a-block this visit where everyone was lingering in the fabulous afternoon.

Perfect for whiling away a Sunday afternoon

Refreshed, we walked through Holland Park, another favourite London green spot, and one with fond childhood memories of feeding squirrels, playing in the adventure playground, and later attending concerts and exhibitions.

Holland Park dahlias...much nicer than this piece of modern art, which I tried to miss.

We emerged from Holland Park the park, and into the beautiful Holland Park, the neighbourhood - now home to posh celebrities and embassies.

See what I mean? Beautiful!

And, as always, when in London, don't forget to look up!

Yep...she's lovely!

We walked a little further to show our friends where some of the family had lived for over sixty years until not so long ago, and then popped into their old local, The Scarsdale Tavern, another favourite for quaffing outside and watching the world go by.

The Perfect Neighbourhood Gathering Spot

We sat and chatted about how we should have more local places like this at home...to meet up with friends for the odd drink after work, before Sunday Lunch, or just because. Guv then steered us expertly through all the secret passageways and side streets, until we popped out at Kensington Gardens - another childhood favourite for visiting the famous statue of Peter Pan, feeding the ducks, or just to stroll around eating ice cream! Of course it's also famous for housing these grand digs:

Kensington Palace - home to the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge and little George

We walked on through the Park, past the Round Pond, and past the Albert Memorial...

...the Albert Memorial is in the foreground, with the Royal Albert Hall behind it.

...and then out of that park and onto Green Park, next to more nice digs, Buck House, and home to the Bomber Command Memorial, for which I have a soft spot, as my father was a rear gunner in the RAF during WWII.

That's my kind of pub crawl...hope you enjoyed it! Thanks Guv for navigating such a great (and nostalgic) day! xoxo