Friends excursion: Pope's Grotto
Wednesday 30 May 2018 11am - 12.30pm
Meet outside Twickenham Train Station, London Road, London TW1
£28
Friends of the RA book first
The RA invites Friends to a rare opportunity to see Alexander Pope’s original grotto in a tour by the Thames in Twickenham, led by local historian and expert, Mike Cherry.
The poet, satirist, letter-writer and garden designer, Alexander Pope moved to Twickenham in the early 18th century and built a villa in the Palladian style. Beneath the villa, he constructed a grotto, which still exists today though the original villa was demolished in 1808. Pope’s Grotto is currently under careful restoration and usually closed to the public, so we are lucky to access it for this private tour.
The tour takes Friends on a gentle walk along the banks of the river, led by expert from the Pope’s Grotto Preservation Trust, Mike Cherry. Starting at St Mary’s Church, the final resting place of Alexander Pope, join us as we take in the sights along the Thames and learn about this legend of English literature, culminating in a private tour of the mysterious subterranean wonderland, Pope’s Grotto.
This event will also be held on the same day from 2-3.30pm.