My girlfriend and I are going to London for 4 days and I would really like to pay my respects and visit the late, great Freddie Mercury's home.
I was just wondering if people were allowed to do this now? I know Mary Austin now lives there with her children and after reading on Mercury Paradise, it says that there is now no graffiti on the wall, as they have painted it with a substance that will not allow any graffiti to be put on.
I would never like to intrude and would not like to invade their privacy but just wanted to know if anybody has been there recently and what it was like?
Also, from Paddington station, is it easy to get to. I know it is in Kensington but exactly how far are we looking from Paddington Station?
All replies will be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance guys and gals!!! :-)
That is excellent Serry, much appreciated!
Also, thank you very much flash00, I am sure we will!
So I take it that it is all Kool and the Gand to visit Garden Lodge then?
i was there in july, signed the door was almost tempted to ring the doorbell but didn't i got off at dammit has to find her map again but it was a nice walk up eh!
I went to Garden Lodge for freddies birthday a few days ago, went to it before in august for my birthday and wrote on the bottom walls theres still lots of writing there, bought white lilys, made a banner, small teddy, pressed the buzer, took loads of pictures my mate took her camcorder met other Queen fans found out that one fan has been round Roger Taylors street in London. Spoke for a little and i hugged and kissed the door and said goodbye to freddie and went off to the Queen fanclub in Barnes. I had a wonderful day 5th i cant wait to go again hopeful next week. :D
I think it's fine to visit.
It's a public street. I usually walk past on my way from the Olympia record fair to Earl's Court Tube.
As for writing graffiti and ringing doorbells etc - well I guess that's up to the conscience of the individual visitor - just make sure you don't cut yourself on the razor wire!
I've been there in August 2003. We rang the bell, but I would not do it again today... We were answered by Mary, I think, and we were told that it was not possible to visit the house. The road was desert, we found just one lady who lived there and who hardly knew who Freddie was.
If you go to London you should visit this site: link
I wrote most of descriptions and directions, so if you have any question, I'm here.
Don't ring the bloody buzzer! You're bothering the one person Freddie cared about more than anyone. Is that how you would honour his memory? The graffiti is pathetic too. We're all outside the circle, like it or not, so leave nothing and take only pics and memories. For all the vandals and nuisances, if Freddie were still alive, he'd kick you right between the pegs. No wonder he didn't want a grave site, tossers would have dug him up and sold him on e-bay.
Messenger Of Leah wrote: link
On that link there's a photo in black and white. who are they?
Mary's Children of course, rick and Pamela..
I was there on logans place February 96 while the paintings were still on.. I remember I had bought This compilation C-casette of A winter's tale single.. which had Thank god its christmas and Rock in rio blues.. and I used to stay there couple of hours and paying my respect and tribute..
Okay, call me a shit-disturber, but in my view, hanging outside the home of someone you don't even know is a bit ridiculous. What's the point? It's fine to visit the house ONCE - we all should do it...but why go back multiple time's?
Neither one of us here are remotely close to being friends with either Freddie or Ms. Austin. Why bother a) writing graffitti on her home, or b) ringing the buzzer? That's absurd and VERY distasteful, in my view. What makes you so special to think that you're any more of a fan than anyone else?
Do us all a favour, and just enjoy the music and leave these people alone. If you want to show true respect to Freddie, you'll leave him and his friends well alone. Spend an evening remembering Freddie for what he should be remembered for - the MUSIC. Not hanging outside his house for hours at a time ?!?!?.
(Go ahead and try to start an argument with me about this...I'd like to see anyone try and justify WHY they feel the need to either spraypaint a message, or ring someone's doorbell that they don't even know...GO AHEAD!!)
Let's me put it this way.
If you were a successsful musician, how would you feel if hords of fans were hanging around outside your home and spraypainting your walls and ringing your doorbell?
"MY MIND" understands this full well. My point is that it's a bit of overkill in a sense to spend hours and hours hanging around - and kissing the paint on the door of garden lodge - when just remembering the guy in your own mind will achieve the same thing.
yes i agree with kagestan1313 i was there on the 24-11-2011 and there is now perspex (clear sheet plastic)on the walls next to the main door, around one metre each side to stop the graffiti. maybe it can been seen in my video link
yes i agree with kagestan1313 i was there on the 24-11-2011 and there is now perspex (clear sheet plastic)on the walls next to the main door, around one metre each side to stop the graffiti. maybe it can been seen in my video link