Victoriana

It’s school holidays here at the moment so, naturally, being a Friday, South Kensington was packed solid with kids. I’m not going to go on about them like I usually do but, suffice it to say, I didn’t go to any museum at lunchtime because of them. Fortunately it was sunny and pleasant. I walked up to the Royal Albert Hall.

I’ve never been before. I didn’t even know where it was. Well, to be fair, I knew it was up the end of Exhibition Road somewhere just not exactly where.

I walked up to Prince Consort Road (which, entirely coincidentally, someone asked me directions to this morning before I even knew I was going) and turned left then went up the small slope which is the step free access. Ahead of me was Prince Albert Mansions, looking all Victorian.

Agh, the buildings are closing in on me!

These flats or apartments or whatever they are, are basically just across the road from the Royal Albert Hall. I bet the rent is rather high. Mind you, I wouldn’t want to live there. The Royal College of Music is just down the road and can you imagine what a load of violin students sound like all learning together. My ears would just flee from my head and hide under a very thick mattress.

The Hall itself is undergoing a bit of a spruce up at the moment, so my photo from the front doesn’t look as good as it could. Still, it’s what it looks like so it’s at least accurate.

The Royal Albert Hall

I managed to get a shot up Albert’s skirt though.

Albert stands guard outside his hall

I’m not sure what he’s supposed to be wearing. Mind you, Victoria always said he had a good looking pair of legs so maybe he’s just showing them off. He has a gaggle of women sitting around the base of his column. This one looks rather haughty, if you ask me. As far as I could tell, none of them are Victoria.

Miss Haughty-Pants

It’s the memorial to the Great Exhibition but other than that, I can tell you nothing. I didn’t see any plaque not written in Latin.

On the way back down, I paused outside the old entrance to Imperial College (well, I assume it’s the old entrance…it looks pretty old) and snapped away at the oddly allegorical statues either side of the big entrance. I have no idea what these are about and, to be honest, cannot be bothered looking them up!

I am speechless