Spend the morning on my awesome Slavery & Empire Tour at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Then enjoy a stroll along Brompton Road to Harrods. Treat yourself to a bangup take-away dinner complete with chocolates and cakes. Wrap it all up winding your way through a secret part of Belgravia to the utterly charming Grenadier Pub – tucked away in the most beautiful little crescent.
Getting to The V&A Museum:
Begin your day, as early as possible, at the V&A in South Kensington. The closest London Underground station to the V&A is South Kensington, with a walk of about 5 minutes – either above ground or through the tunnel.
Victoria and Albert Museum
MAP | WEST LONDON, SOUTH KENSINGTON
This is my favorite museum in the whole world (besides the Wallace). You can and should plan to spend all day here. Look at stuff ’til your eyes pop out.
Many of the objects in the V&A were lovingly collected and gifted/sold to the museum. Some were plundered and sold to the museum. However the V&A acquired the objects, the wealth necessary for collecting, commissions and expeditions was very likely entwined with slavery and/or the colonization of India. Let’s explore some previously neglected, ‘simultaneous’ histories. ** WARNING: you may find some objects abhorrent in nature **
Open Daily: 10am–17.45pm, Fri: 10am–22pm
MY FAMOUS Slavery & Empire TOUR
Take a leisurely stroll up Brompton Road to Harrods. You are walking through the famous Knightsbridge neighborhood of London. 0.6 mile MAP
Your eventual destination is the Harrods Food Hall (downstairs). But definitely take the escalator to the top floor and work your way down. Harrods had the first escalators in London installed in the late 19thc. They offered complimentary brandy at the top to ladies who felt a bit faint. There are still fainting couches in some of the ladies rooms.
Harrods Food Halls
MAP | WEST LONDON, KNIGHTSBRIDGE
Seasonal fruit and vegetables, British seafood, artisan cheese, truffles and more – it’s all ripe for the picking in the most bustling of the Food Halls. A paradise for sweet-toothed fans, the Chocolate Hall houses the finest chocolates beautifully packaged into perfect treats for loved ones.
Pick up a luxury take-away dinner for the evening. Make sure you check out their chocolate hall and the cakes!
Now its time to wend your way to one of the most tucked-away pubs in London – The Grenadier.
MAP This walk takes you through a part of our old ‘hood and some very historic, beautiful streets.
The Grenadier Pub
MAP | WEST LONDON, BELGRAVIA
A landmark in its own right, The Grenadier in Belgrave Square is royalty amongst London pubs. This historic treasure chest is a hidden gem, beloved by both locals and visitors to the city.
Legend has it that Grenadier is named after young Cedric, a soldier who was caught cheating at cards and punished by being beaten to death. No one knows exactly when this ghastly deed occurred, but it is thought to have been in September as that is when ghostly happenings are rife. Visitors hang money from the ceiling in an attempt to pay his debt, but poor Cedric seems to remain trapped on earth.
