The London Guide For The Uninitiated; What To See, What To Do, And Where To Eat.

By Joe Thomas

Every visitor wants something a little different from their stay in the capital. While some will want to follow the tourist trail; others are seeking culture; while yet another group wants to visit the best pubs and restaurants on the map. You might even try to include a little of everything into your visit whether you are coming for a day or a much longer stay.

However, whatever you want from your visit there is something for everyone and this guide will help you find your way around and guide you to the best on offer.

Top Tourist Spots

There are so many tourist attractions to see in London that it is best to plan out what you want to visit ahead of time, so you miss nothing. Then plot your route either on an Underground map, a street map or decide which open-topped bus you will hop on to see as much as possible, in the shortest time.

It’s often best to group attractions together, so for example if you are heading to the South Bank you can take in Tower Bridge, The London Eye, the London Aquarium and then move on to the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben. St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are all worth a visit as are Trafalgar Square, Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace and the Globe Theatre. You can choose which of them you are just going to view from the outside and which you will spend longer touring.  

Here’s a Checklist for you, so you don’t miss anything:

Tate modern

London Zoo

London Eye

Natural History Museum

Tower of London

Churchill’s War room

Big Ben

Hyde Park

British Museum

National Gallery

Palace of Westminster

Globe theatre

London Dungeon

Popular Watering Holes

All that walking and photograph-taking might have made you thirsty and a trip to London has to include a visit to a pub or two.

The pub is as much a part of British culture as fish and chips or a cup of tea and you can truly say you have mixed with the locals once you have bought a round or two at the bar.

Pubs can also tell you a great deal about British history and these five have just as much to say as a visit to a museum.

The Star Tavern, Belgravia: This establishment has seen many famous people pass through its doors including Diana Dors and Peter O’Toole. It also has the perhaps more infamous claim to fame of being the place where The Great Train Robbery was planned in the early 1960s.

The French House, Soho: This pub was used as a meeting place for members of the French Resistance, including General de Gaulle, during the Second World War. Today it retains a French flavor and even the alcohol is served in measures used across the Channel.

The Dog and Duck, Soho: It was here that the novelist George Orwell used to drink, maybe gathering ideas for his next book. It has been mentioned that in more recent times Madonna has dropped by on occasion.

The Lamb and Flag, Convent Garden: This pub can also boast it has been the hangout of great writers with Charles Dickens frequenting the bar as well as 17^th Century poet John Dryden. This pub holds regular celebrations with the bunting being hung out every St. George’s Day.

The Viaduct, Newgate Street: Opposite the Old Bailey, this pub may have acted as a temporary gaol at one time. It is also the last surviving Victorian gin palace in London and the perfect place to visit for a G&T.

If you prefer cocktail bars, then the world is your oyster in London, especially in recent years as the trend for cocktails has seen a resurgence. Callooh Callay, Love & Liquor, The Lucky Pig, Mr. Fogg’s and the extravagantly named Opium Cocktail and Dim Sum Bar are all worth heading to. Party the night away without a care in the world as you can always burn those calories off with more sightseeing tomorrow.

Hidden Secrets

If you like your drinking establishments a little more tucked away, try these out for size.

Tamesis Dock, Albert Embankment: Get on board for a pint or two at this floating pub. This 1933 Dutch Barge, that used to travel the waters of the Seine, now offers great food and cold beer and even better you can sit outdoors and watch the sun set over London as you eat.

The Mayor of Scaredy Town, Spitalfields: This truly is a secret, hidden away beneath The Breakfast Club. On arrival you need to say you would like to see the Mayor and only then will you be led downstairs to discover the bar hidden behind a door disguised as a SMEG fridge.  

Putt In The Park, Acton: If you want a little exercise alongside your cold beer then head to the park next to Acton central railway station. Here you can enjoy a round of mini golf while enjoying a pint or two. This is a tranquil destination where you will be surrounded by greenery and the sound of running water from the small streams dotted about.

Enjoy The Nightlife

When you want to enjoy the London nightlife you need not worry about being short on choices. Stand-up comedy, cabaret, clubbing or the enjoyment of fine wines or whiskies, it’s all on offer.

The following three areas of the Capital are worth exploring as they have a great deal to offer in terms of nightlife.

Camden: Camden is a great place to visit day or night as it is a hub of the arts. During the day Camden Market offers a wide array of stalls selling handcrafted wares including clothing, jewellery, leather goods and artwork. As the sun sets head to one or more of the quirky pubs, many of which offer live music. The Black Heart is the place to try locally brewed beer from the Camden Town Brewery, such as Camden Hells Lager.

The Dublin Castle is less about the look of the pub and more about the ambiance and the music. It is one of the pubs around London where new bands come to prove themselves and over the years it has featured Madness and Blur.

It bills itself as the only true pub left in Camden and with its roaring fire in Winter and relaxed atmosphere, you may just agree. It also features unknow indie and alternative bands so if you want to discover new music The Enterprise should be on your tour.

Mayfair: There are plenty of nightclubs on offer in Mayfair although you may need a slightly larger bank balance to make the most of them. For Seventies Chic and a groovy dance floor head to Loop Bar. Trader Vic’s is all about the South Pacific and thus you need to enjoy a cocktail or two as you soak up the atmosphere. By the same people who brought us the Playboy Club is Baroque which has lush surroundings and a mix of party nights, often with live music on offer.

Soho: Head to Soho in the West End for a mix of high energy nightlife. The Box has seen many celebrity clients over recent years. Bar Rumba and the St.Moritz Club are famous basement bars, and the latter has been a hub of entertainment for decades. If karaoke is more your thing, but you prefer to do it in relative privacy, then head to the pods inside Lucky Voice Soho where drinks and nibbles are also on offer.

Museums Not to Be Missed

London is home to many national museums and art galleries, such as the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery, the Science Museum and Tate Modern. All of these are worth a visit but what happens if you want to experience something just a little different?

Sir John Soane’s Museum: Sir John Soane was the architect of the Bank of England and this, his former residence, includes a range of his architectural drawings as well as the art and antiquities he surrounded himself with, including the Egyptian Sarcophagus of Seti.

Geffrye Museum: This museum is a fascinating insight into how we have all lived through the centuries. Taking us from 1600 through to the present day it explores the English Home with a focus on the living room, the place where we all spend the majority of our time.

The Savoy Hotel’s Museum: Naturally you can enjoy a cocktail at the Savoy Hotel’s American Bar before heading next door to take a look around the museum. This features photos of many of the famous guests of the hotel and even a little vintage alcohol makes an appearance.

The Grant Museum of Zoology: A wide range of specimens are on offer here and you can even take part in a ‘Dead Life Drawing’ class, although a glass of wine is on offer to lighten the mood.

The Viktor Wyne Museum of Curiosities: This museum really does offer an eclectic mix of exhibits. Live petting evenings when you can meet millipedes is a highlight. 

The Pollock Toy Museum: If you find old dolls frightening this one might be worth a miss. However, if instead they fascinate you, make sure you don’t miss out on this museum.

The Museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society: If medicine through the ages is one of your interests this museum doesn’t disappoint. Find out what patients experienced as they went through surgery before anaesthetics and pain relief were discovered and find out when and why leeches were used.

Dennis Severs’ House: For an insight into life in the 18^th Century for a wealthy family head to Dennis Severs’ House. This has been recreated with food on the table and unmade beds, just as though the family have gone out for the day.

Culture Vulture

It’s time to experience a little more culture around London, but all of these are relaxing as well as fun.

Wilton’s Music Hall: Located in Tower Hamlets this music hall harks back to the good old days of variety and is the oldest surviving grand music hall in the world. Offering a range of theatre productions it’s worth a visit to see the interior of the building alone.

Temple: This is an area of London known for its connections to the practice of law over the centuries. The name came about because it was established by the Knights Templar in the 12^th Century and because  of this it also played a central role in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. It’s definitely worth a visit for any lovers of the book or film.

Fulham Palace: Surprisingly this is a National Trust property right in the centre of the capital. It is well known for the variety of events it runs throughout the year usually coinciding with seasonal events such as Apple Day in October and Bones, Bumps and Bats close to Halloween.

Guildhall Art Gallery: If you want to find out what life was like in Roman London then head to the Guildhall Art Gallery. During restoration in the late 1980s they discovered the circular walls of an amphitheatre which can now be viewed together with a fascinating insight into the history of the area.

There’s Always Time to Shop

London is packed full of world-renowned department stores such as Harrods, Liberty, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Hamleys and if you are visiting close to the Christmas season the window displays are not to be missed.

However, where should you head if you enjoy smaller boutique shopping?

Camden Passage: This is probably one of the most well known and loved centres of independent stores and it hosts a selection of shops and cafes. Many of the shops are catered towards vintage so this is definitely the place to head in London if you want to pick up something unique.

Little Venice: Little Venice is on the Thames and is a collection of waterside shops and cafes. What’s makes it even more fun is you can even hop on a canal boat and head off to your next destination, almost like being in Italy.

Let’s Get Outside

It’s not just the urban buzz that attracts people to London. What makes it so special is there is so much opportunity to get outside and experience green spaces in the fresh air.

The Thames Path: This stretches all the way from the Thames Barrier across the country to Cirencester. There are many shorter routes you can take within London to see the sights and if you head out by bike you could even make it to Windsor to visit the Castle. Stop off at any of the many pubs along the way for a hearty lunch to keep you going.

Japanese Roof Garden at the School of Oriental and African Studies:  If you want the perfect place to relax then head to this garden which was built during the 2001 Japan Celebrations at the college. The theme here is Forgiveness, and this is summed up by the Kanji character engraved on the granite water basin in the garden.

Postman’s Park: This park is home to The Watts Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice. It was built in 1900 by George Frederick Watts and celebrates the heroism of individuals who gave their lives to save others. The park acquired its name because it used to be the place where workers from the old General Post Office ate their lunch.

Let’s Eat!

Street Food: Shoreditch is a great place to experience a wide array of street food. It holds many food festivals and markets, most notably the Urban Food Fest which happens every Saturday. This includes many street food stalls plus a changing selection of craft beers, wines and even cocktails.

Another street food destination is Borough Market and this offers both food which is ready to eat straight away plus fresh produce. A foodies dream to find everything under one roof. In Fact there are many amazing spots dotted all around London, so wherever you are, there shouldn’t be one too far away from you.

Restaurants: There are so many restaurants to choose from in London that before you head out, it’s best to narrow your search down by deciding what kind of food you are in the mood for.

If you are craving ice-cream then Chin Chin Labs in Camden takes this sweet treat to a whole other level through the application of liquid nitrogen. 

A trip to London wouldn’t be complete without that traditional trip to the pie and mash shop. You can even try the local delicacy jellied eels, but be warned it isn’t for the faint-hearted.

One of the latest trends in London restaurants has been the upsurge in venues which are tucked away and offer seclusion. Back in 5 Minutes, Freud, Four O Nine and Old Tom and English all make it on to this list, but remember most will need early reservation.  

It’s All in the Planning

You will get the most out of any trip to London if you do some planning before you arrive. That way you can group together all the places you want to visit and waste less time on the Underground or in the back of cabs.

There are now several apps available you can download to your phone to help you get around and to find places worth visiting close to wherever you are, so you never miss out on anything. It’s also worth browsing the reviews on Trip Advisor or looking through Time Out London to find new places of interest.

There are many guides covering numerous sectors specialized to what you want to do. London on a budget, London as a couple, or London with a team are three.

Your friends and family can sometimes be the best people to advise you on what you will like so don’t be afraid to ask around in person and on social media to capture a wider network.

Lastly it’s important to remember that there is so much to see and do in London that it’s unlikely you will get to visit everywhere, regardless how long your stay is. So choose wisely and above all pace yourself so you intersperse sight-seeing with plenty of rest and relaxation in the pub or in the beautiful open spaces around London.

Exploring London's Secrets: Five Great Walking Tours

You’ve taken a spin on the London Eye, explored the Tower of London and made funny faces at the Queen’s Guards. Been there, done that? Well, not quite. There’s more to London than its iconic landmarks. Whether you’ve lived here all your life or are just visiting, these five walking tours, which take in Charlie Chaplin, Daniel Craig, petticoats and wombats, offer a surprising and unique perspective on the city.

Photography and street art in Shoreditch

Pin this imageStreet art on Hanbury Street, off Brick Lane. Image by Amy Laughinghouse / Lonely Planet

From Technicolor murals to 'found object' sculptures, you can discover London’s richest cache of street art and learn to capture it with your camera on a tour of Shoreditch, with a professional photographer as your guide.

This half-day 'Streetscape' walk is one of several photography programmes offered by Buenos Aires-based Foto Ruta (foto-ruta.co.uk; it's Spanish for 'photo route'). Featured destinations range from London Bridge to Camden, Brixton and Soho, but Shoreditch holds a gritty appeal.

Here graffiti artists have transformed brick walls and barricades into an ever-evolving canvas, and the residents are as diverse as the murals. Turn a corner, and you might spy a tattooed man with a topknot, a woman in a flowing black abaya, or a girl wielding cans of spray paint, hard at work on her next masterpiece. The brick-making and textile factories that once lined the streets have given way to galleries, bars and vintage shops, as well as Brick Lane’s curry restaurants, as Shoreditch has evolved into London's main hipster enclave.

Your tour leader might assign you exercises as you stroll, to develop your photographer’s eye and your patience. Pause for five minutes on one street corner, snapping passers-by as you soak in the scene; shoot from a different angle, such as down on your knees; or look for interesting reflections, whether in a rain puddle or a shop window.

Fact and fiction in Chelsea

Pin this imageThe Albert Bridge connects Chelsea with Battersea. Image by Andrew Bowden / CC BY-SA 2.0

If you’ve ever suspected that some tours leaven the truth with a dose of prevarication, then you’ll love London Liars’ Tours (londonstreettours.co.uk), which actually encourage punters to deduce which stories are fact and which are big fat fibs.

At each stop, clients are asked to read two versions of a tale. If you guess which is real, you collect a token, which might earn you a prize at the end. If you're wrong, you’ll have to perform a mildly embarrassing forfeit, which could range from a Monty Python-style silly walk to singing the Village People’s 'YMCA'.

The 'Kings’ Road Cons' tour of Chelsea touches on everything from wombats to dog wee-related damage to the Albert Bridge. You’ll also have to decide whether Sloane Square was named for a saint, or the man who introduced hot chocolate to England. Sometimes, truth is even more outlandish than fiction.

Music and celebrities in Camden

Pin this imageThe Regent's Canal at Camden Lock. Image by Mark Kent / CC BY-SA 2.0

'Unseen Tours' aren’t just about the area you visit; they’re about who’s giving them. Guides are either homeless or formerly homeless, offering extraordinary insight into the hidden lives of a community that most people know little about.

Mike, whose tour (sockmobevents.org.uk) focuses on the legendary musicians and celebrities associated with Camden and Primrose Hill, became homeless during the last recession after losing his job as a facilities manager and incurring unforeseen medical bills. He’ll show you not only where Daniel Craig lives, but also where he himself finally landed in a flat of his own just across the street (in a building shared with a former Bond villain, coincidentally), with the help of a local charity.

Mike, who uses only his first name, has also managed various musical acts, and he knows all their hangouts. You’ll find out where Amy Winehouse honed her skills as a pool shark, which pubs are frequented by the likes of Kate Moss and Robert Plant, and the best places to see a secret gig or catch musicians like Jack White and Keith Richards chewing a late-night kebab.

As for Mike, he admits he’s still 'way below the poverty line'. But considering how far he’s come, he says, 'I’m just thankful every day'.

Death and debauchery around Covent Garden

Pin this imageA street performer in Covent Garden. Image by Anthony Kelly / CC BY 2.0

Hauntings, hangings, a two-headed boy and a touch of the plague. Those are just a few grizzly highlights of Insider London’s 'Death and Debauchery' tour (hinsider-london.co.uk) in and around Covent Garden.

Kicking off behind Tottenham Court Road tube station with a tale of drowning in 'a tsunami of beer' (there are worse ways to go), the tour continues in an area once known as The Rookery, one of the most notorious slums of the 18th and 19th centuries. You’ll visit the site of a former leper hospital and a bucolic square where criminals were once hung, drawn and quartered, discover how the plague first arrived in London, hear about a cadre of spectres at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and learn about the medical oddities housed at the Hunterian Museum.

One of the most diverting accounts is that of Jack Sheppard, a thief elevated to the status of anti-hero for his improbable escapes from jail, including the time he dressed as a woman. Then there’s the story of Samuel Derrick, credited with compiling catalogues of Covent Garden’s prostitutes in the mid-to-late 18th century. 'It listed their name, age, specialties and very intimate descriptions,' explains guide Michelle Buckley, who thoughtfully wraps up an entertaining two hours at one of London’s loveliest gin palaces.

History in Whitechapel

Pin this imagePrincelet Street, Spitalfields. Image by Amy Laughinghouse / Lonely Planet

When American author Jack London approached a British travel agency about visiting the East End at the turn of the 19th century, their advice to him was 'consult the police'. Coppers, after all, knew the area around Whitechapel better than anyone except perhaps the pimps, prostitutes, thieves and the desperately poor who scraped by on some of the meanest streets in London.

Their plight was documented by Charles Booth, a Victorian philanthropist who colour-coded maps of London according to income levels. Today, you can walk in Booth’s footsteps with Sean Patterson’s tour, 'The Near East: Charles Booth’s Whitechapel' (charlesboothwalks.com ).

The RADA trained actor brings historic Whitechapel alive with quotes from Booth and other chroniclers of the era, including London and Israel Zangwill, who penned The Children of the Ghetto, about the lives of the Jewish community. Laced with intriguing anecdotes, ranging from how Petticoat Lane lost its name (possibly due to prudish Victorians’ aversion to naming a street after ladies’ underwear) to Charlie Chaplin’s music-hall appearance in 'Eight Lancashire Lads Clog Dancing', it’s a thinking man’s tour of the obscure

Contributed by Amy Laughinghouse

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Travelore News: London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks Celebrations To Be Ticketed For The First Time

London’s hugely popular and internationally acclaimed  fireworks celebrations, organized by the Mayor of London, have become so successful that the organizers have taken the decision to ticket the event in order to reduce the number of people attending.

 

This year 100,000 tickets will be available to the public, which will guarantee good views of the fantastic pyrotechnic display and a better visitor experience. People, from anywhere in the UK or abroad, will be able to book up to four tickets from Friday 26 September at 12 noon (UK time), by going to www.london.gov.uk/nye.

 

Introducing tickets to popular events, similar to the Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations, is a recognized way of controlling crowd numbers and not a penny of profit will be made from the £10 ($16.25) fee, which will be used to pay for administration costs and ensuring the event is safe.

 

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “London's New Year's Eve fireworks are phenomenally popular, not just in the capital, but across the world and we want to ensure it continues to be a safe, enjoyable and sustainable event for the long-term. After consulting with our partners, we are introducing ticketing to help manage crowd numbers and create a better experience on the night. For anyone without a ticket the fireworks are again being shown live and in full on television, meaning you can watch it in glorious HD color without missing a single second. And don't forget, there are hundreds of other New Year's Eve celebrations to enjoy in bars, restaurants and clubs across the capital.”

 

London is a special place at the turn of the year, the city is lit up and there is a sense of optimism for the year ahead. If you can’t get a ticket to attend the fireworks there are many other amazing events and experiences to enjoy, so long as visitors plan ahead and book in advance.

 

The capital's amazing night life is world famous and there are a multitude of ways to celebrate as establishments all over the city will be pulling out all the stops to make New Year’s Eve 2014 one of the most memorable ever. London offers the best dining experiences in the world from top class fare at one of the city’s Michelin starred restaurants, treating someone special to a romantic supper or taking an unforgettable dinner cruisedown the Thames.

 

Many London pubs and gastro pubs will be staying open past midnight and top comedy clubs and West End theatres will be putting on great performances.  London is also one of the clubbing capitals of Europe and there will be a whole host of specially organized club nights in unique locations around the city or top DJ sets at one of these well-known nightclubs.

 

Families can also have a great time by taking the children to an afternoon matinee or enjoying skating on the many ice rinks around the capital. While some might still be in bed, the New Year's Day Parade provides a stunning start to the New Year with marching bands, acrobats, cheerleaders and entertainers.

 

Julie Chappell, Director of VisitLondon.com, said: “London is the best city in the world to see in the New Year because it offers something for everyone. The city’s night-life is so vibrant and diverse that there are so many other events and attractions leaving visitors spoilt for choice. Our advice is to plan ahead to come and enjoy the best pubs, clubs, comedy, restaurants and theatre that can be found anywhere. Once you’ve had a night to remember on New Year’s Eve come back and enjoy the New Year’s Day Parade which is free for everybody.”

 

Since the fireworks were first staged at the London Eye in 2003, the numbers of people wanting to see them have grown from an estimated 100,000 in the first year to 400,000 in 2012 and 500,000 in 2013.

 

The prime viewing areas have a capacity of 100,000 people, which means the majority of people wanting to watch the display do not get the best view, or are unable to access the areas altogether. The huge crowds also mean long delays leaving the area at the end of the event as revellers make their way to Tube, rail and other public transport services.

 

For more information about what’s going on in London on New Year’s Eve go to www.visitlondon.com/newyearseve