London is a very complicated place. It has very large things, like the new Shard skyscraper going up near London Bridge 71 stories finally, plus another seven of roof:
But in between these large modern buildings are some little gems:
And then there are grand old buildings like the Hop Exchange:
With a beautiful tympanum above the entrance showing the process of growing and harvesting hops:
There’s a bigger version where you can see the detail more clearly, here:
However, despite man’s best endeavours, nature always stands waiting to take back everything for its own:
Closer:
Buddleia roots anywhere, and we were followed at close quarters by a thin-looking fox later that night near Deptford.
We also had a look round the newly opened medieval galleries in the Victoria & Albert Museum, it was stunning. Especially this breton staircase:
It has some fine detail, besides an interesting structure and function:
And even it’s own Green Man
And a jolly little griffin, from what I can make out on the top gallery:
There is also a host of amazing medieval ironwork, these particularly took my fancy:
Here’s the one in the middle in close-up:
The weather was kind to us too, and we enjoyed some decent ale outside in The Albion in Hackney with our son Will on a surprise visit from New York:
