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London

Mini Trip to London

Matthew Alfred Jones

• 8 min read
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The Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) and the Palace of Westminster in London, viewed across Westminster Bridge beneath a dramatic sky filled with large clouds.
Photo by Marcin Nowak / Unsplash

Hello everyone, this is a little blog about my long weekend trip to London and some of the things that I got up to. Originally, I was planning to just come down and see the Spirited Away stage show, but I decided to turn it into a long weekend away.

Thorpe Park and Yamato

6th June

So, I head from my hotel to go to Thorpe Park for the day as I had never been before and it was a really good time.

Decorative archway at Thorpe Park featuring a circular red sign reading “Launch Faster”, set against dramatic dark clouds with flags and overhead ride cables visible.
The “Launch Faster” archway at Thorpe Park welcomes visitors to the resort's collection of high-speed attractions, standing beneath an ominous summer sky.
Visitors walk beneath a turquoise canopy towards The Dome entrance at Thorpe Park, with barriers lining the pathway and dramatic clouds overhead.
Guests arrive at The Dome, Thorpe Park's central entrance and indoor hub, marking the start of a day at one of the UK's leading theme parks.
Visitor posing for a selfie inside Thorpe Park, making a peace sign in front of a large colourful Thorpe Park logo display within The Dome entrance complex.
A selfie inside The Dome at Thorpe Park, marking the start of a day enjoying rides and attractions at one of the UK's leading theme parks.

One of the reasons why I wanted to go there as well is due to a new roller coaster that they opened called Hyperia, which claims to be the UK’s tallest at 236 ft, fastest at 81 mph and is designed to give you about 15 seconds of airtime. Unfortunately, it was closed due to repairs when I went as there was a problem with the lift hill, but there we plenty of others to go on.

Hyperia roller coaster at Thorpe Park, featuring a towering white steel structure with steep drops, inversions and sweeping track elements beneath a dramatic cloudy sky.
Hyperia, Thorpe Park's record-breaking roller coaster, dominates the skyline with its towering height, high-speed layout and striking white track, making it one of the UK's most impressive thrill rides.

One such roller coaster is called stealth, which is quite a short one, but it doesn't half go quick by doing 0-80 mph in 1.8 seconds.

Entrance to Stealth roller coaster at Thorpe Park, featuring a giant tyre-shaped archway and signage highlighting the ride's launch from 0 to 80 mph in 1.8 seconds and a height of 205 feet.
The entrance to Stealth at Thorpe Park showcases the ride's impressive statistics, including its explosive launch from 0 to 80 mph in just 1.8 seconds and its towering 205-foot top hat element.
Stealth roller coaster at Thorpe Park, featuring its towering top hat element rising 205 feet into the air, with the ride's entrance signage visible beneath a bright blue sky and scattered clouds.
The signature top hat of Stealth dominates the skyline at Thorpe Park, launching riders from 0 to 80 mph in 1.8 seconds before sending them 205 feet into the air.

There are also other ones like Nemesis Inferno, Saw: The Ride, The Swarm, Colossus and a reimagined Ghost Train that has special effects and live actors.

Riders seated on a Nemesis Inferno roller coaster train at Thorpe Park station, secured by over-the-shoulder restraints as the inverted coaster prepares to depart from the themed volcano-inspired loading area.
Passengers board Nemesis Inferno at Thorpe Park, the park's inverted roller coaster themed around a volcanic beast and known for its high-speed twists, turns and inversions.
Entrance area for SAW – The Ride at Thorpe Park, featuring industrial-themed buildings, weathered signs reading “SAW” and “STORE”, shipping container-style structures and visitors gathered outside beneath a cloudy sky.
The entrance to SAW – The Ride at Thorpe Park uses industrial and horror-inspired theming based on the Saw film franchise, setting the scene for one of the park's most intense roller coasters.

After having a fun and adventure packed day at Thorpe Park, it was time to go into London, so I stopped off at a park and ride London tube station, as I didn't fancy trying to drive into London, nor pay the parking fees.

The show I went to see that evening is called Hinotori, The Winds of Phoenix by a group called Yamato, The Drummers of Japan. It was amazing to see, and I will post a video from YouTube of the performance, which is well worth a watch, especially with the energy and stunts they do, plus rocking out with a Shamisen as well.

Advertisement for Yamato: The Drummers of Japan displayed outside the Peacock Theatre in London, featuring dramatic images of taiko drummers against a fiery red and orange background.
Promotional display for Yamato: The Drummers of Japan at London's Peacock Theatre, showcasing the internationally acclaimed taiko drumming performance during its West End run.
Stage set for Yamato: The Drummers of Japan at the Peacock Theatre in London, featuring a large taiko drum in the foreground, multiple drums arranged across raised platforms, dramatic red-and-orange backdrop artwork and theatrical lighting.
The stage is set for Yamato: The Drummers of Japan at the Peacock Theatre, with an impressive array of taiko drums ready for a high-energy performance combining rhythm, precision and athleticism.
Blue stage curtain at the Peacock Theatre in London moments before a performance, illuminated by blue and purple theatrical lighting, with the heads of audience members visible in the foreground.
Waiting for the curtain to rise at the Peacock Theatre in London before a performance of Yamato: The Drummers of Japan.

If you ever get the chance to go and see them, do it, just do it, don't hesitate as you won't regret it!!

London and Spirited Away

7th June

The next day, I was heading home after seeing Spirited Away in the evening but didn't really know what to do in the meantime, so I had a quick looking in the morning and then planned what I was going to do. The plan was to park up at Finchley Central and get the tube into London from there.

Now what about the time between the morning and the evening you might ask, well my dad made a suggestion and that was to go to a museum as London has plenty of them, so after looking up which one I wanted to go to, it was time to be off to the Science Museum, which as a bonus is also free to visit like many of the museums in London.

Museum information panel titled "Scout Launch Vehicle", explaining the history of NASA's Scout rocket programme and its use for launching scientific experiments, satellites and military payloads, mounted on a dark gallery wall.
An information display at the Science Museum describes the NASA Scout launch vehicle, an inexpensive and versatile rocket used for more than three decades to carry scientific experiments and satellites into space.
NASA Scout launch vehicle suspended from the ceiling of the Science Museum's Space gallery in London, viewed from below along its full length, with exhibition displays and visitors beneath the illuminated rocket.
The NASA Scout launch vehicle on display in the Science Museum's Space gallery in London highlights a versatile rocket used from the late 1950s to launch satellites, scientific experiments and other payloads into space.
Replica of the Sputnik 1 satellite suspended in a museum gallery, featuring a polished spherical body with four long antennae extending from its surface, displayed against dark exhibition walls and illuminated by overhead lighting.
A model of Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, on display at the Science Museum in London, commemorating the Soviet spacecraft that launched the Space Age in 1957.
Historic steam traction engine on display at the Science Museum in London, featuring large iron wheels, a tall chimney and a green-and-black body, with suspended boat hulls and engineering exhibits visible in the background.
An early steam traction engine displayed at the Science Museum in London highlights the role of steam power in transforming agriculture, industry and transport during the nineteenth century.
Historic steam locomotive displayed at the Science Museum in London, featuring a black boiler, tall chimney, copper fittings and red buffer beam, exhibited on a short section of railway track within the museum's transport gallery.
One of the early steam locomotives on display at the Science Museum in London, illustrating the technological advances that helped transform rail travel and industry during the nineteenth century.
Historic twin‑engine propeller aircraft suspended from the ceiling in the Science Museum in London, viewed from below, with stacks of classic cars displayed nearby and transport exhibits filling the surrounding gallery.
A historic twin‑engine aircraft dominates the Science Museum's transport gallery, displayed alongside classic cars and other engineering achievements that helped shape twentieth‑century travel.
Command Module Simulator main display console from 1966 on display at the Science Museum in London, featuring a large panel of switches, dials, gauges and controls housed in a glass case, with an Apollo spacecraft capsule visible in the background.
The 1966 Apollo Command Module Simulator display console on show at the Science Museum in London highlights the complex controls used to train astronauts for the Apollo missions during the Space Race era.
Electronic ocean model display at the Science Museum in London, featuring a Commodore CBM 8032 computer mounted above electronic equipment racks, displayed behind glass with an information panel describing its use in studying ocean currents and storm surges.
The Electronic Ocean Model, developed by oceanographer Shizuo Ishiguro, is displayed at the Science Museum in London. The system used electronic circuitry and computing technology to model ocean behaviour and help predict the timing, location and strength of storm surges.
Google Street View tricycle on display at the Science Museum in London, featuring cameras mounted on a tall mast above a specially adapted three-wheeled bicycle used to capture panoramic imagery for Google Maps, with a red telephone box visible in the background.
The Google Street View tricycle on display at the Science Museum in London shows how panoramic images were captured in locations inaccessible to cars, helping expand the reach of Google Maps and Street View around the world.

It was a blast to go around to be honest and an enjoyable day out, especially for someone like me, who is into technology and tech history as well.

Afterwards, it was off to get some ramen and then head to the London Coliseum to go and see the Spirited Away theatre show!

Banner advertising Spirited Away hanging outside the London Coliseum, featuring artwork inspired by Hayao Miyazaki's acclaimed story, with the theatre's ornate stone façade and a cloudy sky in the background.
A promotional banner for the stage adaptation of Spirited Away outside the London Coliseum, celebrating the theatrical production based on Hayao Miyazaki's award-winning animated film.
Visitor posing for a selfie in front of a Spirited Away promotional display, featuring the show's title and artwork inspired by the Studio Ghibli story, at the London Coliseum.
A selfie beside the Spirited Away display at the London Coliseum, ahead of seeing the acclaimed stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki's beloved story.
Copilot said: Alt text: Decorative cherry blossom display inside the London Coliseum, featuring large branches covered in pink blossoms illuminated by soft pink lighting beneath the theatre's ornate interior architecture.
A striking cherry blossom installation decorates the foyer of the London Coliseum, creating an atmospheric setting for the stage production of Spirited Away.
Cast board for the stage production of Spirited Away at the London Coliseum, listing the performers appearing in that day's performance alongside character names in English and Japanese, displayed beside decorative cherry blossom theming in the theatre foyer.
The cast board for Spirited Away at the London Coliseum shows the performers appearing in the production that day, highlighting the show's blend of Japanese theatre and Hayao Miyazaki's celebrated story.
Stage set for Spirited Away at the London Coliseum, featuring a painted backdrop of blue sky and clouds framed by lush greenery, trees and a torii gate, creating a dreamlike landscape before the performance begins.
The stage awaits the start of Spirited Away at the London Coliseum, with an atmospheric set inspired by the natural and spiritual worlds that feature throughout Hayao Miyazaki's acclaimed story.

This was the awesome view from my seat as I was right near the front, now the show was not in English, but in Japanese, but there are screens that you might be able to see just in the picture above where the subtitles will appear, they are about halfway up each sign of the stage. Now as I thought subtitles would be a distraction, I watch the movie on Netflix earlier, so the story would be fresh in my mind and I tell you what, watching the show, was like watching the movie, but 1,000,000 time better, especially with the actors, puppetry and moving stage as well. I honestly cannot put into words how awesome the show was and even through it cost me a bit for the ticket (£180), I would have quite happily paid that amount again and seen it for a second time.

Stage set for Spirited Away at the London Coliseum, featuring a large traditional Japanese bathhouse with illuminated windows, wooden walkways and lantern-lit architecture beneath dramatic blue stage lighting.
The bathhouse set from Spirited Away at the London Coliseum transforms the stage into the magical spirit world at the heart of Hayao Miyazaki's beloved story.

Here is a quick snap that I got of the stage after the show, before it got put away. Until next time, which will be when I am in Poland.