London And Toy Soldiers (2 Viewers)

[VIRIATO]

Hi,
Last week I spent some days in London with my wife. Of course I had to manage to squeeze some toy soldiers time in my trip. So I went to the Tradition of London shop, and to the Guards Toy Soldier Centre shop.
For those that don't know it, the Tradition shop is a small one, but has a very nice display of all kinds of toy soldiers, not just Tradition ones. You'll find Art IG, Britains, King and Country, etc.. The shop did look quite busy, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting London ( it's in Shepperd Street, not far from Hyde Park Corner and the Hard Rock Caffé: check http://www.traditionoflondon.com/index.asp?page=Home.asp# for more directions ). Of course I made a few buys, Tradition and Art IG sets, and I contacted Mr. Steve Taylor, who managed, in the middle of 2 phonecalls, to be both effective and friendly.
The Guards shop is a larger one, with an enormous display of mainly glossy toy soldiers: Trophy, mostly Napoleonics; Imperial, likewise; of course Britains, both glossy and matte; Fusilier Miniatures, etc. but not K&C. Great impressive display, which made choices very hard.... I came up with some Imperial sets and the FIW Britains British Artillery set, which I had pre-ordered, and was there ( but had not been set aside for me, by the way...). Mr. Williams took care of me, and helped me with some doubts, and we also had some time to exchange commentes and information on gloss and matte and Imperial Productions, which he believed had totally ceased production , which is not the case, as we here are fortunate to know. The shop's location is great, Birdcage Walk, just near Buckhingham Palace, near the Guards Museum, you just can't miss it ( http://www.mklmodels.co.uk/ ).
Of course this was also an opportunity to check the live looks of many toy soldiers. I especially liked Britains matte series, particularly the Napoleonic series, which was displayed at both shops and also at Hamleys ( famous Regent Street toy shop ). They look much better live than on photo, really excellent, especially the Coldstream Guards, and I have no problem recommending them to anyone. Also another stunning series I first saw live: K&C's Crimean War-this figures are just fantastic, you just can not miss if you go with this series, which was in display at Hamleys and at the other two shops too, if my memory does not fail me. All K&C figures and Britains Redcoats/Bluecoats looked stunning live, as most already know, especially with the proper lighting used at the shops.
I also looked for the Under Two Flags shop, which was located just behind my hotel, but unfortunately the shop closed and was replaced with an ice cream/chocolates shop.

 

[VIRIATO]

I also went to the Imperial War Museum, a definite must see, more about this, with photos later.

 

[damian]

Under Two Flags was a great little shop. Unfortunately the internet undermined his customer base and he could not survive. It is abit sad really. London is still the best toy soldier destination in the world I think. The rent must be quite expensive there but somehow the Gaurds MKL and the Tradition shop survive. I am glad you enjoyed your trip. London is one of my favorite city's in teh world. Just a bit pricey
Regards
Damian

 

[VIRIATO]

Hi Damian,
I did enjoy my trip to London, always a fascinating city, always something new to see or do, and really a great toy soldier destination too, as you say.
On the pluses, most people at shops, restaurants or museums were very helpful, professional, indeed friendly. The public transportation system is very efficient, and even at Heathrow, everything went quite smoothly and people were indeed outright friendly and helpful ( I had feared this because of horror stories about security measures, but I got informed about those measures through BA'S site and everything went fine, my luggage also having always turned up and intact. There are also those classic exhilarating touristic views and just love the parks ( Green,St. James and Hyde ). It is also interesting to literally feel the weight of History throughout the whole of central London, particularly of both World Wars.
Downsides:
1. Once again: there are always a few blokes ( a minority really ) that are pretty much unsimpathetic, rude really, they do make you feel away from home, well, just let them get back to the sorry holes they came from.
2. The dominating feeling in Central London seems to be that you should help yourself, that you are basically on your own and supposed to deal with it efficiently ( whether you are poor, old or a foreigner ). It's relatively OK and sometimes even stimulating really, but when no one helps someone that is falling down some stairs or it is weird to tell someone «hey, you've dropped something», situations I have witnessed, something is gone too far, at least according to my different Portuguese/Latin culture/upbringing.
3. Where are the children? Only saw some at Hamleys and at the Imperial War Museum, some of them foreigners and others on trips to London. None at restaurants or shops. Are families with children priced out of Central London?
4. Lost souls are more present than in other visits. The guy sleeping at the tunnel passage at Hyde Park Corner, the guy crossing Lambeth Bridge with blood on his face, a guy that got stabbed to death in Oxford Street ( freak brawl in broad daylight outside a MacDonalds ), the guy in a naked torso trying to talk to tourists at Westminster, beggars in Oxford Street...
5. The Underground is very efficient but also a depressing place to be, especially after a stroll around Kensington or New Bond Street or Burlington Gardens: people just look really, really down, a far cry from other buoyant London experiences. I mostly used Buses.
Well, these downsides can be found in any great Western city really, very predictable indeed ( like Lisbon...), just with different local colours, but when you are a foreigner you do notice them more. Guess if you can afford it, you can live in London in style and fully enjoy its potential, if you can not, you'll just spend your life commuting from suburbia.

 

[VIRIATO]

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM, Portuguese visitor

 

[VIRIATO]

Inside

 

[VIRIATO]

Inside

 

[VIRIATO]

Airborne

 

[VIRIATO]

Sunday morning at Hyde Park ( 24.º Celsius! ). Do you recognize anybody?

 

[VIRIATO]

Sir, is that a bomb you're carrying in your bag sir? They are not allowed here, sir...

 

[VIRIATO]

Can we now have lunch, guv'nor?

 

[VIRIATO]

Toy soldier bags ( at Green Park )

 

[VIRIATO]

Ain't that the Tower of London, guv'nor?

 

[vandilay]

Sounds like a great trip , I realy enjoy visiting london
so much history . But as you say its every man for
himself in the big smoke !
What Imperial sets did you manage to get [and others for that matter]
Regards Rob

 

[VIRIATO]

Sounds like a great trip , I realy enjoy visiting london
so much history . But as you say its every man for
himself in the big smoke !
What Imperial sets did you manage to get [and others for that matter]
Regards Rob

Hi,
Great trip indeed!
140 French line infantry officer
138-1 French line infantry head of column
Britains FIW British artillery set
Traditions ACW 911 N. York Zouaves and 905 Confederate infantry
Art IG's Seamen of the Guard standard bearer
There were several Imperial Napoleonic sets at the Guards Toy Soldier Centre, like Dutch Lancers, Mamelukes, Seamen of the Guard, etc.. Great inspiring photos of these items here at the Forum, as you know.

Best regards,
Paulo

 

[OzDigger]

Thanks for the pics Viriato.

Re your points 1 & 2: I agree that there has a been a decline in social values in that people are more reluctant to help others especially in the larger cities where people are more competitive and hardened.

3) You don't see many children in central London because families rarely need to travel to the Central Business District's of cities and large towns as most shopping needs can be found in suburban shopping centres (malls) that have been built in recent decades.

When I was a child back in the 1960's/70's a trip to inner Sydney was exciting as many people were doing their Saturday shopping. Since then many main street business have closed down because they couldn't compete with the ever increasing shopping malls. And of course online shopping has also caused a reduced need for a trip into the city.

4) Addictions, be it alcohol or drugs are often the cause for lost souls and social problems such as violence. I used to do rescue work but I gave it up when more and more 'victims' were people that abused various substances.

And in most western cities PC (political correctness) policies has also made it more difficult for heath and policing authorities to keep people with mental problems out of harms way.

5) I envy people in cities that have a good public transport system. I live in a suburban area with over 150,000 people and we have no trains because the main railway system is further inland where it was built for the transport of rural goods rather than urban (coastal) passengers. That said I have never been a fan of underground train travel.

 

[Leadmen]

Greetings Virato: Thank you for the nice pictures and report from London. I enjoyed seeing the sights you took and it must have been at a special time to get pictures of all the political leaders.

I enjoyed the War Museum and Guards pictures. The picture of the little sub impressed me. My son keeps saying he would take me there but it has been a long time since I traveled aboard and feel I am not up to it. Your pictures are so clear and I am glad you put in a picture of yourself. Thanks for posting this trip to London. Regards Leadmen

 

[thebritfarmer]

Looks like you had a great time Thanks for the pics. I especially like the one of the guards

That isn't the Tower of London though, it's the Houses of Parliament

 

[vandilay]

Hi,
Great trip indeed!
140 French line infantry officer
138-1 French line infantry head of column
Britains FIW British artillery set
Traditions ACW 911 N. York Zouaves and 905 Confederate infantry
Art IG's Seamen of the Guard standard bearer
There were several Imperial Napoleonic sets at the Guards Toy Soldier Centre, like Dutch Lancers, Mamelukes, Seamen of the Guard, etc.. Great inspiring photos of these items here at the Forum, as you know.

Best regards,
Paulo

Thats a nice haul , Imperial Naps are my favourite from their ranges
so i,m glad you where able to pick some up .
If thier is ever any imperial sets you want to grab from Imperial themselves just let me know ,as I know they can be tough to get hold of and I,m a
drive over the hill away.
Regards Rob

 

[VIRIATO]

Thats a nice haul , Imperial Naps are my favourite from their ranges
so i,m glad you where able to pick some up .
If thier is ever any imperial sets you want to grab from Imperial themselves just let me know ,as I know they can be tough to get hold of and I,m a
drive over the hill away.
Regards Rob

Many thanks Rob. Now a drive over the hill away, that's what I would call a great location. New Zealand would also be a great trip, for sure, but that's another story.

Best wishes,
Paulo