London bridge is falling down
Feb 26th, 2016, 08:51 AM
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London bridge is falling down
It is? What's up with that song? What exactly is falling down? I am not in the know.
It'll be my second time in London and my main objectives are to see the Crown Jewels and purchase something pretty from Fortnum and Mason. Any advice on other things to do, places to see, restaurants to check out? 5 days in October. Thank you in advance.
It'll be my second time in London and my main objectives are to see the Crown Jewels and purchase something pretty from Fortnum and Mason. Any advice on other things to do, places to see, restaurants to check out? 5 days in October. Thank you in advance.
Feb 26th, 2016, 08:59 AM
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The London Bridge that was falling down (there have been several in that location) was sold and removed to Arizona and a new one built in the 1960s.
As for what to see and do there are many dozens of interesting sights - but since you have told us nothing about you and your interests all I can recommend is to look at a couple of guide books to decide what you want to do.
As for what to see and do there are many dozens of interesting sights - but since you have told us nothing about you and your interests all I can recommend is to look at a couple of guide books to decide what you want to do.
Feb 26th, 2016, 09:09 AM
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Thanks nytraveler and sorry about the lack of info. A little about me. I'd like to be somewhat in the center, enjoy zipping in and out of museums, walking around, looking at beautiful things, don't need to go up the London Eye again but might make a stop at the V&A they have everything there, love having cocktails before dinner preferably in a nice setting, oh and maybe have fish and chips again the one I had was not very good so if you have suggestions that would be really handy, views are always appreciated, theatre, anything fun to do etc. Thank you.
Feb 26th, 2016, 09:48 AM
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Camden Lock Market on a weekend - people watching at its best and ambiance galore - Camden is a cool spot these days I guess - lots of neat pubs and restos -
https://www.google.com/search?q=camd...w=1920&bih=955
I also like the more downscale Petticoat Lane Market where EastEnd cockneys yell out to sell their wares - fun lines like a guy selling bags - 'the more you put in it the more it holds' - 'all for a fiver", etc. Go onSundays.
https://www.google.com/search?q=pett...w=1920&bih=955
https://www.google.com/search?q=camd...w=1920&bih=955
I also like the more downscale Petticoat Lane Market where EastEnd cockneys yell out to sell their wares - fun lines like a guy selling bags - 'the more you put in it the more it holds' - 'all for a fiver", etc. Go onSundays.
https://www.google.com/search?q=pett...w=1920&bih=955
Feb 26th, 2016, 10:06 AM
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For Fish & Chips
Seashell at Lisson Grove is my favorite when I lived in London:
http://www.seashellrestaurant.co.uk/
Another with not so much ambiance, but great fish: The Golden Hind 73 Marylebone Ln
A little more upscale with really good fish, Geales at Nottinghill Gate:
http://www.geales.com/notting-hill/welcome
It used to be that you could ask any cabbie where the best was, but that seems not to work as well now.
Seashell at Lisson Grove is my favorite when I lived in London:
http://www.seashellrestaurant.co.uk/
Another with not so much ambiance, but great fish: The Golden Hind 73 Marylebone Ln
A little more upscale with really good fish, Geales at Nottinghill Gate:
http://www.geales.com/notting-hill/welcome
It used to be that you could ask any cabbie where the best was, but that seems not to work as well now.
Feb 26th, 2016, 03:12 PM
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If you really want to know the origins of the song, there are a number of possible explanations based on things that really happened (except that the song might just be a semi-nonsensical jaunty tune to entertain children).
In the times when Saxons and Vikings were fighting over control of London, one side managed to use the power of the tides to pull away the wooden supports of the then London Bridge. Highly unlikely that has any relevance.
In mediaeval times, the then King gave the revenues from the bridge tolls to his Queen, and instead of maintaining the bridge in good order she ("my fair lady") spent it all on maintaining her court and there was unrest in London about the state of the bridge.
Possibly the song refers to that story, but the tune is clearly much later than mediaeval, so someone may just have taken the idea of one or other of the later rebuildings as the basis for a play song for children.
In the times when Saxons and Vikings were fighting over control of London, one side managed to use the power of the tides to pull away the wooden supports of the then London Bridge. Highly unlikely that has any relevance.
In mediaeval times, the then King gave the revenues from the bridge tolls to his Queen, and instead of maintaining the bridge in good order she ("my fair lady") spent it all on maintaining her court and there was unrest in London about the state of the bridge.
Possibly the song refers to that story, but the tune is clearly much later than mediaeval, so someone may just have taken the idea of one or other of the later rebuildings as the basis for a play song for children.
Feb 26th, 2016, 06:24 PM
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>>The London Bridge that was falling down (there have been several in that location) was sold and removed to Arizona and a new one built in the 1960s.<<
Apparently the good people of Lake Havasu City, AZ thought they were buying the Tower Bridge... probably a bit disappointed when that crusty old thing showed up...
Apparently the good people of Lake Havasu City, AZ thought they were buying the Tower Bridge... probably a bit disappointed when that crusty old thing showed up...
Feb 26th, 2016, 08:16 PM
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The story about the developer believing he was buying tower bridge lacks basis in fact as far as I know. The purchase was by the developer and the seller. Apparently there were no "good people " of Lake Havasu involved.
Feb 26th, 2016, 10:58 PM
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>>The story about the developer believing he was buying tower bridge lacks basis in fact as far as I know.<<
Ah, this one I do know, from coming across a reference to it in some collection of journalism from the time. It was the developer himself who said it at the time, as a joke like all those jokes about clueless tourists being sold Brooklyn Bridge. Some cloth-eared reporter picked up on the words, but not on the man's sense of humour.
Ah, this one I do know, from coming across a reference to it in some collection of journalism from the time. It was the developer himself who said it at the time, as a joke like all those jokes about clueless tourists being sold Brooklyn Bridge. Some cloth-eared reporter picked up on the words, but not on the man's sense of humour.
