London, Especially Theatre
Mar 10th, 2016, 12:27 PM
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London, Especially Theatre
- Theatre, Vegetarian-friendly Restaurants, Museums, Bloomsbury & Hotel Suggestions Wanted -
I am planning a two week trip to London at the end of March. Short notice, I know.
We have flights and the first 3 nights of our hotel booked at the Marriott by the Thames due to a short overlap visit with family. We may be visiting a friend in Falmouth during part of our stay, which is why I have delayed in securing remaining accommodations in London.
I would like to focus on museums & theatre, and will return to the Tate and National Gallery. Any other museums to suggest?
As for theatre, I'd like to see as much as possible. I'm looking at: "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime", "Nell Gwynn", "The Maids", and "The Kinks: Sunny Afternoon" (husband's request). Some others I jotted down: "The Play That Goes Wrong", "People Places Things". I also love Shakespeare and would love to see "Cymbeline" and/or "The Tempest". I've seen most of the major productions in San Francisco, except Matilda & Billy Elliott. Comments, if any one has seen any of these in London? How is the tour of the Globe theatre?
As for restaurant recommendations, I'm a vegetarian and my husband is a carnivore, which is problematic and limits my enjoyment of many restaurants and pubs. I love Indian, and we will make a repeat visit to the Bombay Brasserie, and The Ivy, for Sticky Toffee Pudding. (We saw Oprah there.) Pre & post theatre recommendations are especially welcome.
I studied the Bloomsbury group, and would like to explore that neighborhood more. Any suggestions about where to go, what to look for there?
Last visit we stayed at 22 Jermyn St., a small hotel no longer in business, but we loved the location (near Piccadilly Circus). Our event is at the Royal Academy of Art, and we would like to walk to the theater. We are OK with a pricier hotel for this trip.I personally like a historical hotel, and my husband must have wifi above all else. Any recommendations for hotels?
We love to walk, explore, and find odd little places. Since we need to stay flexible, we're not making a tight itinerary, but would like to research the possibilities.
Thank you for any suggestions!
I am planning a two week trip to London at the end of March. Short notice, I know.
We have flights and the first 3 nights of our hotel booked at the Marriott by the Thames due to a short overlap visit with family. We may be visiting a friend in Falmouth during part of our stay, which is why I have delayed in securing remaining accommodations in London.
I would like to focus on museums & theatre, and will return to the Tate and National Gallery. Any other museums to suggest?
As for theatre, I'd like to see as much as possible. I'm looking at: "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime", "Nell Gwynn", "The Maids", and "The Kinks: Sunny Afternoon" (husband's request). Some others I jotted down: "The Play That Goes Wrong", "People Places Things". I also love Shakespeare and would love to see "Cymbeline" and/or "The Tempest". I've seen most of the major productions in San Francisco, except Matilda & Billy Elliott. Comments, if any one has seen any of these in London? How is the tour of the Globe theatre?
As for restaurant recommendations, I'm a vegetarian and my husband is a carnivore, which is problematic and limits my enjoyment of many restaurants and pubs. I love Indian, and we will make a repeat visit to the Bombay Brasserie, and The Ivy, for Sticky Toffee Pudding. (We saw Oprah there.) Pre & post theatre recommendations are especially welcome.
I studied the Bloomsbury group, and would like to explore that neighborhood more. Any suggestions about where to go, what to look for there?
Last visit we stayed at 22 Jermyn St., a small hotel no longer in business, but we loved the location (near Piccadilly Circus). Our event is at the Royal Academy of Art, and we would like to walk to the theater. We are OK with a pricier hotel for this trip.I personally like a historical hotel, and my husband must have wifi above all else. Any recommendations for hotels?
We love to walk, explore, and find odd little places. Since we need to stay flexible, we're not making a tight itinerary, but would like to research the possibilities.
Thank you for any suggestions!
Mar 10th, 2016, 01:36 PM
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I would like to focus on museums & theatre, and will return to the Tate and National Gallery. Any other museums to suggest?>
Which Tate - old one (Tate Britain) or newer one (Tate Modern in old power plant on Thames (other one is too on Thames) - both are neat.
I love the V & A - Victoria & Albert - very eclectic collection fun for all.
as for a nice stroll the South Bank promenade along the Thames is so so cool - walk between the London Eye Ferris Wheel and the Tate Modern - Globe Theatre and cross the bridge from the Tate Modern to St Paul's if into churches - great climb to the top for views all around. Tate Modern has nice upper floor cafe/resto with views over the Thames.
Which Tate - old one (Tate Britain) or newer one (Tate Modern in old power plant on Thames (other one is too on Thames) - both are neat.
I love the V & A - Victoria & Albert - very eclectic collection fun for all.
as for a nice stroll the South Bank promenade along the Thames is so so cool - walk between the London Eye Ferris Wheel and the Tate Modern - Globe Theatre and cross the bridge from the Tate Modern to St Paul's if into churches - great climb to the top for views all around. Tate Modern has nice upper floor cafe/resto with views over the Thames.
Mar 10th, 2016, 01:55 PM
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London Walks has a great walking tour of Bloomsbury. I highly recommend it.
The Globe tour is quite good - an actor usually is your tour guide. Lots of info about Sam Wanamaker and the building of the theatre.
The Globe tour is quite good - an actor usually is your tour guide. Lots of info about Sam Wanamaker and the building of the theatre.
Mar 10th, 2016, 01:58 PM
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The Globe tour is quite good - an actor usually is your tour guide. Lots of info about Sam Wanamaker and the building of the theatre.>
and surprisingly when I visited The Globe a lot on the controversy of was it The Bard of Avon who was the real Shakespeare - a whole panel casting doubt on it all.
and surprisingly when I visited The Globe a lot on the controversy of was it The Bard of Avon who was the real Shakespeare - a whole panel casting doubt on it all.
Mar 10th, 2016, 02:02 PM
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<i> "I'm a vegetarian and my husband is a carnivore, which is problematic and limits my enjoyment of many restaurants and pubs. "</i>
Why? Just steer clear of silly faddish restaurants. All normal restaurants in London offer a decent range of vegetarian food. Who wants to eat in a ghastly steakhouse anyway? And as for those vile dumps that just churn out politically correct rabbit food...
<i>"I studied the Bloomsbury group, and would like to explore that neighborhood more."</i>
Fuggedaboutit. The incontinent narcissists pontificated and fornicated anywhere in London they felt like it. They - except possibly Keynes - left no significant legacy, and none of it really had any connection with Bloomsbury anyway.
Bloomsbury's essentially a 19th century academic quarter with a few charmless tourist ghettoes grafted in. Apart from some of London's horrible-est hotels, it's got the world's greatest museum, a handful of other museums that'd be outstanding anywhere else, a few reasonably elegant Guglielmian squares, a street or two of quirky shops and that's about your lot.
Fine to wander round in. But, apart from the British Museum (and, some might argue, the Cartoon Museum, the Dickens Museum and the Foundling Museum: all blissfully unconnected with those unspeakably posturing snobs), there's not that much to linger over.
Why? Just steer clear of silly faddish restaurants. All normal restaurants in London offer a decent range of vegetarian food. Who wants to eat in a ghastly steakhouse anyway? And as for those vile dumps that just churn out politically correct rabbit food...
<i>"I studied the Bloomsbury group, and would like to explore that neighborhood more."</i>
Fuggedaboutit. The incontinent narcissists pontificated and fornicated anywhere in London they felt like it. They - except possibly Keynes - left no significant legacy, and none of it really had any connection with Bloomsbury anyway.
Bloomsbury's essentially a 19th century academic quarter with a few charmless tourist ghettoes grafted in. Apart from some of London's horrible-est hotels, it's got the world's greatest museum, a handful of other museums that'd be outstanding anywhere else, a few reasonably elegant Guglielmian squares, a street or two of quirky shops and that's about your lot.
Fine to wander round in. But, apart from the British Museum (and, some might argue, the Cartoon Museum, the Dickens Museum and the Foundling Museum: all blissfully unconnected with those unspeakably posturing snobs), there's not that much to linger over.
Mar 10th, 2016, 02:31 PM
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Thank you all for the great answers! I went to the Tate Gallery, so I will definitely include the Tate Modern, as well as the Victoria & Albert.
PalenQ, your advice about a stroll along the Thames is great, because I don't have a good sense of where things are located and how close together things are, or how far apart, but that sounds like a perfect day.
Flanneruk, that was kind of my impression of Bloomsbury when we spent an afternoon there. I thought I had missed something. Well, I love Virginia Woolf; the others are more like characters in her letters to me.
I did not know The British Museum is located in Bloomsbury, so there is another day well spent. The Foundling Museum has a lot of appeal for me, too.
I will check out London Walks...thanks LCBoniti. Glad to know the Globe Theatre tour is good. I will definitely book a tour.
As for food, I'm glad that most restaurants serve some entrées without meat. I can usually find that in California, but have had trouble in New Orleans, Nashville, and the Pyrénées countryside.
PalenQ, your advice about a stroll along the Thames is great, because I don't have a good sense of where things are located and how close together things are, or how far apart, but that sounds like a perfect day.
Flanneruk, that was kind of my impression of Bloomsbury when we spent an afternoon there. I thought I had missed something. Well, I love Virginia Woolf; the others are more like characters in her letters to me.
I did not know The British Museum is located in Bloomsbury, so there is another day well spent. The Foundling Museum has a lot of appeal for me, too.
I will check out London Walks...thanks LCBoniti. Glad to know the Globe Theatre tour is good. I will definitely book a tour.
As for food, I'm glad that most restaurants serve some entrées without meat. I can usually find that in California, but have had trouble in New Orleans, Nashville, and the Pyrénées countryside.
Mar 10th, 2016, 02:40 PM
#7
>>I'm a vegetarian and my husband is a carnivore, which is problematic and limits my enjoyment of many restaurants and pubs. <<
You will have absolutely NO problem at all. I can't remember more than one or two London Restaurants that didn't have menus covering all bases - places like Rules or Simpsons in the Strand won't be great. But otherwise you can bot be happy anywhere.
>>We are OK with a pricier hotel for this trip.I personally like a historical hotel, and my husband must have wifi above all else. Any recommendations for hotels? <<
Most London hotels have wifi -- shouldn't be an issue But what is your actual budget?
As for the Bloomsbury Group -- you'd be better off visiting Charleston House and Monk's House in East Sussex, Sissinghurst in Kent, etc.
You will have absolutely NO problem at all. I can't remember more than one or two London Restaurants that didn't have menus covering all bases - places like Rules or Simpsons in the Strand won't be great. But otherwise you can bot be happy anywhere.
>>We are OK with a pricier hotel for this trip.I personally like a historical hotel, and my husband must have wifi above all else. Any recommendations for hotels? <<
Most London hotels have wifi -- shouldn't be an issue But what is your actual budget?
As for the Bloomsbury Group -- you'd be better off visiting Charleston House and Monk's House in East Sussex, Sissinghurst in Kent, etc.
Mar 10th, 2016, 03:05 PM
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Budget would be up to $450 pounds or dollars...ha ha. My husband is OK with anything but would start cringing over $550. I am the more frugal one, but we haven't been traveling too much recently so want it to be nice.
Mar 10th, 2016, 05:44 PM
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For other museums have a look at:
The National Portrait Gallery - small but brilliant (right around the corner from the National)
The Wallace Collection - superb old masters plus antiques/furniture
The British Library - to see the Magna Carta and info on the process leading up to it and it's influence in the development of western civiliation
The National Portrait Gallery - small but brilliant (right around the corner from the National)
The Wallace Collection - superb old masters plus antiques/furniture
The British Library - to see the Magna Carta and info on the process leading up to it and it's influence in the development of western civiliation
Mar 10th, 2016, 08:53 PM
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nytraveler, ALL of those museums sound great! A feast of art & culture. I'm excited!
janisj, I didn't even know that was St. James's neighborhood, so that is helpful when looking for places. It looks beautiful, and since I love old places, it makes sense to indulge this in a city like London. I was just at a Sofitel this morning for a breakfast meeting and it was very nice. Thank you!
janisj, I didn't even know that was St. James's neighborhood, so that is helpful when looking for places. It looks beautiful, and since I love old places, it makes sense to indulge this in a city like London. I was just at a Sofitel this morning for a breakfast meeting and it was very nice. Thank you!
Mar 11th, 2016, 12:53 AM
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I highly recommend Dishoom: http://www.dishoom.com/
Their black dahl is out of this world!
Also use www.opentable.co.uk to see restaurant reviews etc.
Their black dahl is out of this world!
Also use www.opentable.co.uk to see restaurant reviews etc.
Mar 26th, 2016, 03:28 PM
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I made it! I'm here in London. So much anxiety about planning...transfer from airport, theatre tickets, restaurant reservations. I decided to leave most things up to chance.
Ended up booking the first 4 nights at the Marriott at the London Eye because coincidentally, relatives were there with a 4 hour overlap and it seemed fun.
We rode on the Eye, ate at the Giraffe. Somehow managed to not be jetlagged.
We move to the Sofitel St. James next week, then a few days seeing very close friend in Falmouth.
Today went to the Tate Modern (for lunch), great tour of the Globe Theatre (got most souvenir shopping done here...To Bee or not To Bee for the g'kids.
All of Shakespeare is sold out! but it seems that there are people with connections in the hotel industry. We are desperately seeking tickets to the Lion King for a sweet 5 year old tomorrow. We are going to see Shrek, the amusement thing on the Thames next to the Dungeon. Oh dear.
Bloomsbury. Well, I've been crushed. But hopefully will revive when we stay on the other side of the bank.
So funny reading theatre reviews. Read some really bad ones of a new Alice in Wonderland show "best thing about it is everyone is trying really hard to make something of a disaster."
Realized we will see the "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" in San Francisco this year (husband rudely pointed that out). I currently want to see only things within short walk of hotel. Glenn Close is reprising Sunset Blvd., but very limited & expensive seats... plus far.
I didn't know when I first posted this, that we would be going to Falmouth for a few days, and spending the first few days in London with my dearest goddaughter and her daughter (who lives in Falmouth). So, much of our time is differently focused.
Ended up booking the first 4 nights at the Marriott at the London Eye because coincidentally, relatives were there with a 4 hour overlap and it seemed fun.
We rode on the Eye, ate at the Giraffe. Somehow managed to not be jetlagged.
We move to the Sofitel St. James next week, then a few days seeing very close friend in Falmouth.
Today went to the Tate Modern (for lunch), great tour of the Globe Theatre (got most souvenir shopping done here...To Bee or not To Bee for the g'kids.
All of Shakespeare is sold out! but it seems that there are people with connections in the hotel industry. We are desperately seeking tickets to the Lion King for a sweet 5 year old tomorrow. We are going to see Shrek, the amusement thing on the Thames next to the Dungeon. Oh dear.
Bloomsbury. Well, I've been crushed. But hopefully will revive when we stay on the other side of the bank.
So funny reading theatre reviews. Read some really bad ones of a new Alice in Wonderland show "best thing about it is everyone is trying really hard to make something of a disaster."
Realized we will see the "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" in San Francisco this year (husband rudely pointed that out). I currently want to see only things within short walk of hotel. Glenn Close is reprising Sunset Blvd., but very limited & expensive seats... plus far.
I didn't know when I first posted this, that we would be going to Falmouth for a few days, and spending the first few days in London with my dearest goddaughter and her daughter (who lives in Falmouth). So, much of our time is differently focused.
Mar 26th, 2016, 03:51 PM
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Oh, I hit submit instead of preview.
The 5 year old would like to see the Queen. Any insiders here? We will go to Buckingham Palace for a change of the guard and a 4 story toy store and come out with bags of toys. http://www.hamleys.com/
It is so fun to walk around and get our bearings, along the Thames, looking across to Big Ben. (So crowded like Time Square, though. It's spring break.)
Food has been great. Nice vegetarian entrées.
The 5 year old would like to see the Queen. Any insiders here? We will go to Buckingham Palace for a change of the guard and a 4 story toy store and come out with bags of toys. http://www.hamleys.com/
It is so fun to walk around and get our bearings, along the Thames, looking across to Big Ben. (So crowded like Time Square, though. It's spring break.)
Food has been great. Nice vegetarian entrées.
