Walking the City of London

Category: Quirky Page 10 of 24

Great sculpture and flying broomsticks, all within a 15 minute walk.

Sculpture in the City is back along with a fun new pop-up shop in Leadenhall Market. If you work nearby scroll down to the end of this blog for more details – you won’t be disappointed. Here’s a hint of what’s in store …

Let’s look at some sculpture first, and I shall include the explanatory plaques that accompany the works. This is just a selection – go to the website for full details.

I’ll start with the seriously weird at Aldgate Square EC3N 1AF …

Onward now to others starting with Summer Moon at Undershaft EC3A 8AH (Next to St Helen’s Church) …

I love the texture …

… and the location …

Sandwich at Undershaft, EC2N 4AJ (In front of Crosby Square) …

Rough Neck Business at 100 Bishopsgate EC2M 1GT …

Orphans at Cullum Street EC3M 7JJ …

Burial at St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate Churchyard EC2M 3TL …

Cosmos at Undershaft EC3P 3DQ (Between Aviva and the Leadenhall Building) …

Untitled at 70 St Mary Axe EC3A 8BE …

Generations (Part2) at The Leadenhall Building EC3V 4AB …

Miss at the corner of Bishopsgate & Wormwood Street EC2M 3XD …

And finally The Granary at Cunard Place EC3A 5AR …

Now for something completely different and lighthearted.

The fantastic Monster Supplies Company has opened a pop-up store in Leadenhall Market only a few steps from the Lamb Tavern …

Train strike day – no problem! Just grab a very reasonably priced flying broomstick and soar above the traffic as you head home …

The store was packed with visitors when I called in yesterday …

With Halloween coming up, and Christmas not far behind, there are lots of wacky present opportunities …

Kids seemed to love items with rather disgusting or gruesome names …

These are difficult times so pop along to Leadenhall Market. I guarantee you will feel more cheerful after your visit and maybe come away with Hope and Laughter …

The shop is open Tuesday to Friday from 11:00am to 6:00pm. If you can’t visit in person for any reason you can buy online here.

All proceeds from sales go to support the wonderful Ministry of Stories charity, a creative writing and mentoring centre for young people in Hackney aged 8 to 18. You could also visit their store in Hoxton which I have written about before in my blog entitled, not surprisingly, A visit to the Monster Supplies Store.

If you would like to follow me on Instagram here is the link …

https://www.instagram.com/london_city_gent/

Hats, heads, handsome models and spooky manikins – a stroll down Commercial Road.

I have driven along Commercial Road hundreds, probably thousands, of times and often thought it would be good to take a closer look. These images are the result.

Commercial Road was constructed in 1802–6 as a direct route to link dock traffic between the West India Docks and East India Docks to the City of London. It’s now flanked on either side by numerous businesses involved in the garment trade, which has been historically based in the area. Many are small enterprises and most seem to be ‘wholesale only’ although some are happy to take orders as low as £150.

Here are my favourites.

First up – rather spooky manikins …

They reminded me of the scary shape-shifting robot in the Terminator movie …

They’re a bit less scary when dressed up …

Hats and heads, starting with the obvious place …

Across the road … Boy George? …

Heads awaiting hats …

Why do I find this one so disturbing?

Hey, good looking …

A nice window composition …

Some miscellaneous pics …

When I first read this I thought it said ‘naughty wear’. Actually, I suppose it is …

Every window frame seems to be plastered with ads like these …

Items I was tempted to buy.

Surely my wife would appreciate this …

… and maybe I should plan in advance for a cold Winter …

Someone has misbehaved …

I really enjoyed my visit to this vibrant part of London and I hope you enjoyed viewing the images.

I went home via Aldgate East Underground Station, admiring the 1930s roundel at the entrance …

… and the fascinating tiles on the platform …

I have written about them before in my September 2019 blog.

If you would like to follow me on Instagram here is the link …

https://www.instagram.com/london_city_gent/

The Whitecross Street Party Art – even better this year. Check out the robin with the positive Covid test!

The announcement I always look forward to …

Crazy creatures blocking the road mean something interesting is happening further up the street …

Lots of stalls …

You won’t go hungry …

There’s a friendly dragon …

A sunbathing fox …

And a shy whale …

Over the weekend there is art being created everywhere ….

Aspiring future exhibitors …

Some of the finished work …

Look at what the jackdaw has in his beak …

Extraordinary work by Stringman …

And the ones that made me smile …

Goodbye until next year …

If you would like to follow me on Instagram here is the link …

https://www.instagram.com/london_city_gent/

Page 10 of 24

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