Art in the Park: Tuesday 10 March 2026

Covent Garden

The plan was to use the Royal Opera House as a venue but as it doesn’t open til 12.00 pm some of the group started at 11.00 am in the Covent Garden market area. It was a fine day but with an edge to the wind so most of us sat at tables in the Lower Ground courtyard where it was more sheltered. We drew to the sound of a busking string ensemble and a distant magician.

At 12.00 most migrated to the Royal Opera House where other colleagues were making a start. The images give a sense of the ‘Floral Hall’ with its wonderful window and light, of the costumes and masks that are placed around the shop and the café and of the view down from the top balcony.

We had lunch in the ROH café – a lovely bright space with long tables. Surprisingly busy.

 

Diane Umemoto
Sue Lees	Gafung Wong
Cathy Burkinshaw
Tricia Sharpe
Janet Payne
Diane Umemoto	Peter Colley
Betty Wang
Do Burgess	Cathy Burkinshaw
Audrey Rapier	Sue Lees
Diane Umemoto	Audrey Rapier
Gafung Wong	Gafung Wong
Janet Perkins

Tuesday 14 April: Scootercaffe, 133a Lower Marsh, Waterloo, London SE1 7AE

On Tuesday 14 April, we will visit Scootercaffe at 133a Lower Marsh, round behind Waterloo Station.  This cafe has at least one lambretta in its window, and lots of other fifties-sixties-related decor.   A fun and quirky indoor location.   For  further info and images see here  and here

Outside Lower Marsh has street food stalls and lots of pretty shops, so if the day is nice people may want to sketch outside, more info here  

We will  meet at 11 outside Scootercaffe.   They serve coffee and cocktails, but we don't think food, so we shall have to find lunch outside.

A map of the area can be found here   The red pin (teardrop the wrong way up) marks the location of Scootercaffe.   For those arriving by tube at Waterloo,  you should exit via the Waterloo Mainline Station entrance and go along to Leake Street, which we think goes underneath the railway lines.  Lower Marsh is very close to the other side of the mainline Station, and Scootercaffe is very close to the Westminster Bridge Road end.

We suggest that you bring your sketching stools.   

Sue's mobile number for the day is 07975 864 142.  

Images from our pleasant and productive day in and around the Royal Opera House will be posted on Sunday or early next week.