Explore London in the Rain

Houses of Parliament, Historic Arcades, Famous Auction Houses

Oct 16, 2007

A rainy day in London can be fun: concerts in ancient churches, indoor antique markets, London is never so cold you that you can't enjoy the city any time of year.

London in the Rain - Lunchtime Concerts in a Wren Church

Relax in a beautiful church designed by Sir Christopher Wren, who opened it in 1684. St. James' s is an Anglican church on Piccadilly in the centre of London. William Blake was baptised here in 1757 and Leopold Stokowski was choirmaster from 1902 until 1905 when he left for a similar position in New York. There is a full programme of lectures, concerts and events. . Lunchtime concerts Mon, Wed, Fri, 13:10. There is no charge but a donation of £3 is suggested.

Spend an afternoon watching political power at work in the House of Commons and House of Lords, both open to the public.The Speaker chairs the debates between the current government and the Opposition. They sit opposite each other behind red lines that were originally there to prevent sword fights. Today, verbal weapons are the order of the day and shouts, jeers and insults are hurled back and forth. It can be one of the best shows in town.

London has many beautiful old shopping arcades. The oldest is the Royal Opera Arcade, built by John Nash 1816-18. You can find the most unexpected shops in these arcades: some specialise in ancient swords and armour, others in pure Irish linen goods, antique glass and china, costume jewellelry, cashmere sweaters, Barbour coats for the rain, embroidered silk waistcoats - they are Aladdin’s caves stuffed with treasures. And there's usually a small cafe where you can recharge your batteries .Read related article

Founded in 1824 with only 38 paintings, the NPG now houses ten thousand. Portraits of the famous and the infamous are on show here. Located close to the north corner of Trafalgar Square, the NPG is sometimes overlooked because it sits behind the enormous bulk of the National Gallery. It’s well worth a visit. Kings, queens, rock stars and movie idols, as well as some of the most famous people in British history - in fact almost anyone with any claim to fame is probably represented here. There’s also a very nice cafe.

London in the Rain - Visit a Famous Auction House

Spend a day in one of London’s most famous auction houses. You can inspect the sale the day before the actual auction, choose what you might buy if you had squillions to spend, and return the next day to see your coveted objects go under the hammer. The two most famous houses are Sotheby's (34/35 New Bond Street, W1A 2AA) and Christie's (8 King Street, SW1Y 6QT). These places are worth visiting for the atmosphere alone and there is no obligation to buy.

Unlike King Canute, who was able to order the tide to turn back, you will not be able to order the rain to stop. So... why not spend some time in a traditional umbrella shop dating from 1850? They are the most elegant umbrellas that money can buy - and they don’t all cost the earth. More Info.

The copyright of the article Explore London in the Rain in Historical Travel is owned by Cathy Smith. Permission to republish Explore London in the Rain in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.