Crowe – Emily (the guide) showed us a house and said we should recognise it, as the exterior was used in “Mary Poppins” (not having seen the film, I didn’t actually recognise it). She then told us about the eccentric ex-sailor who had originally owned it (used to fire cannons to greet the dawn and at the end of the day), and finally said that it had just recently been sold to Russell Crowe.

Judi Dench’s house was at the end of a row – we looked down the lane behind them. They were very small, but very pretty, and, apparently, very, very expensive. Emily said there had been a fire there some years ago, and Judi Dench lost a lot of her theatrical memorabilia, because the fire engine had difficulty getting hoses down the lane.

It was interesting to read about all sorts of movies, the new Pride and Prejudice especially (still haven’t got my body in gear to see it, though have read the book lots!). Wish you could come again in spring and see the gardens as they are meant to be seen – often the happiest part of a London trip for me from childhood. And the blue plaque houses are legendary! Tell more about Crowe and Dench, please.