London - Off-the-Path Gems
Mar 23rd, 2012, 09:07 AM
#41
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SHEPHERD'S BUSH MARKET
Near East Acton is the locally famous Shepherd's Bush Street Market - lining an area between two London tube train stations with the tracks overhead.
This market is invariably called 'a real locals market' - meaning cheap clothing and food stuffs and junky bric-a-brac. It is interesting because of its ethnic flare with lots of Afro-Caribbean and Irish patrons with exotic fruits like yams, cassava and breadfruits being hawked as well as the traditional fishmongers, etc. There are cafes lining the market to watch the parade and hear the cacaphanous sounds.
Shepherd's Bush itself boats having the "largest shopping center in Europe" in its Westfield Shopping Centre.
The popular BBC TV Centre is nearby in White City and offers tours most days.
http://www.londontown.com/LondonInfo...h_Market/64ba/
http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/shepherds-bush-market.php
Near East Acton is the locally famous Shepherd's Bush Street Market - lining an area between two London tube train stations with the tracks overhead.
This market is invariably called 'a real locals market' - meaning cheap clothing and food stuffs and junky bric-a-brac. It is interesting because of its ethnic flare with lots of Afro-Caribbean and Irish patrons with exotic fruits like yams, cassava and breadfruits being hawked as well as the traditional fishmongers, etc. There are cafes lining the market to watch the parade and hear the cacaphanous sounds.
Shepherd's Bush itself boats having the "largest shopping center in Europe" in its Westfield Shopping Centre.
The popular BBC TV Centre is nearby in White City and offers tours most days.
http://www.londontown.com/LondonInfo...h_Market/64ba/
http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/shepherds-bush-market.php
Mar 23rd, 2012, 09:55 AM
#42
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http://uk.westfield.com/london
Had not been to Westfield Shopping Centre, claiming to be the largest urban shopping center in all of Europe, so looked it up - well there are zillions of shops so those looking to shop til they drop may want to hop the tube or Overground train here (new national rail station opened at Shepherd's Bush for the shopping centre).
Had not been to Westfield Shopping Centre, claiming to be the largest urban shopping center in all of Europe, so looked it up - well there are zillions of shops so those looking to shop til they drop may want to hop the tube or Overground train here (new national rail station opened at Shepherd's Bush for the shopping centre).
Mar 23rd, 2012, 09:55 AM
#43
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<< to the sweet smallish village of the same name - Hatfield >> Hatfield is not a village, it's a new town built after the 2nd WW and is mostly 1960s houses and a run down town centre. Old Hatfield is the only part worth seeing which is where Hatfield House is, opposite the railway station.
Mar 23rd, 2012, 01:52 PM
#44
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Odin - thanks for clarifying that - I only traipsed around the rather tiny old village by Hatfield House and that is what I was referring to - not even knowing how modern and large Hatfield as a total was!
Mar 24th, 2012, 03:23 AM
#45
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Thank you for sharing these. I'll be in London in the not to distant future. For me it will the first time, so I'll be sticking to the big spots. But for some of my family it will be the third time at least, so they might really enjoying going off and exploring some of these! I plan to print and share.
Mar 24th, 2012, 07:43 AM
#46
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BTBug - thanks for the thanks!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/t...oncentre.shtml
BBC STUDIO TOURS
as mentioned above in post about Shepherd's Bush Market the very popular BBC Studio Tours of the Beep TV Centre are close to the market. Tours are now offered 7 days a week but must be pre-booked (details on official site link above).
The centre is at White City, which I think was the venue of an Olympics Games in London long ago.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/t...oncentre.shtml
BBC STUDIO TOURS
as mentioned above in post about Shepherd's Bush Market the very popular BBC Studio Tours of the Beep TV Centre are close to the market. Tours are now offered 7 days a week but must be pre-booked (details on official site link above).
The centre is at White City, which I think was the venue of an Olympics Games in London long ago.
Mar 27th, 2012, 12:38 PM
#47
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HOLLAND PARK
Not far from Shepherd's Bush Market and the BBC Studios is Holland Park, nestled in a very posh neighorhood with stately houses lining the adjacent streets. It is a very popular park with locals, many of whom when I was there on a nice sunny day bring picnics and include many South Asians and other ethnic groups.
The park is especially known for its Japanese Garden, gift of Japan I believe, bevy of loud and colorful peacocks and Holland House, a historic royal house that has recently been rehabbed and is open for tours I believe - there is also a HI youth hostel adjacent to the house and in the park - one I stayed at several times eons ago.
If looking for a peaceful respite from hectic London head to Holland Park, just off Kensington High Street (nab picnic supplies at the nearby Whole Foods Market!
http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/leisureandlib...llandpark.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Park
Not far from Shepherd's Bush Market and the BBC Studios is Holland Park, nestled in a very posh neighorhood with stately houses lining the adjacent streets. It is a very popular park with locals, many of whom when I was there on a nice sunny day bring picnics and include many South Asians and other ethnic groups.
The park is especially known for its Japanese Garden, gift of Japan I believe, bevy of loud and colorful peacocks and Holland House, a historic royal house that has recently been rehabbed and is open for tours I believe - there is also a HI youth hostel adjacent to the house and in the park - one I stayed at several times eons ago.
If looking for a peaceful respite from hectic London head to Holland Park, just off Kensington High Street (nab picnic supplies at the nearby Whole Foods Market!
http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/leisureandlib...llandpark.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Park
Mar 28th, 2012, 09:35 AM
#48
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http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/kensington/
Pick up picnic supplies - healthy ones at one of London's five (and growing constantly) Whole Foods Markets - this one on Kensington High Street is very close to the entrance of Holland Park and is the flagship and biggest of WFMs in London - there no doubt is also a Tescos or Sainsburys nearby and these too always seem to have lots of deli take-out items and picnic supplies - a better booze selection for sure.
Pick up picnic supplies - healthy ones at one of London's five (and growing constantly) Whole Foods Markets - this one on Kensington High Street is very close to the entrance of Holland Park and is the flagship and biggest of WFMs in London - there no doubt is also a Tescos or Sainsburys nearby and these too always seem to have lots of deli take-out items and picnic supplies - a better booze selection for sure.
Apr 3rd, 2012, 08:01 AM
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Institute
THE COMMONWEALTH INSTITUTE BUILDING
Right in front of Holland Park is what to me is one of the ugliest edifices in all of Europe - the former Commonwealth Institute - which is in the process of being converted to house the Design Museum starting in 2014.
Formerly it house artifacts and provided info about British Commonwealth countries.
So for a relic of times when London erected horrendous architecture see the Commonwealth Institute building.
THE COMMONWEALTH INSTITUTE BUILDING
Right in front of Holland Park is what to me is one of the ugliest edifices in all of Europe - the former Commonwealth Institute - which is in the process of being converted to house the Design Museum starting in 2014.
Formerly it house artifacts and provided info about British Commonwealth countries.
So for a relic of times when London erected horrendous architecture see the Commonwealth Institute building.
Apr 5th, 2012, 12:14 PM
#52
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BROMPTON CEMETERY
I recently stumbled, literally on one of London's Seven Magnificent old cemeteries - Brompton Cemetery, just off Fulham Broadway and adjacent to the famous Stamford Bridge stadium of the Chelsea football club - to see pre-match festivities I trekked out here on The Tube to Fulham Broadway station and took in the pre-game activities - then literally stumbled on the cemetery when perusing the vast crowd of fans and seemingly equally vast numbers of cops, many on horseback and in heavily fortified police vans.
And the cemetery captured my heart as it was not in pristine condition but rather quite shabby it seemed in how its once obviously ornate tombs and mausoleums and stately tree-lined lanes must have been when they were erected in the 1800s - as a gem of London cemeteries.
It was this faded but regal grandeur - perhaps being a metaphor for Britain itself and the British Empire in my mind that captured my interest so I lingered and investigate every nook and cranny - seeing the great domed chapel that has been compared in style to St Peter's in Rome and ignoring the gaggle of street people using the cemetery as a loo or drug den - oh well the many photos in links below say it all.
http://www.brompton-cemetery.org/
http://www.google.com/search?q=bromp...=1600&bih=1075
http://www.londontown.com/LondonInfo...emetery/de9f2/
I recently stumbled, literally on one of London's Seven Magnificent old cemeteries - Brompton Cemetery, just off Fulham Broadway and adjacent to the famous Stamford Bridge stadium of the Chelsea football club - to see pre-match festivities I trekked out here on The Tube to Fulham Broadway station and took in the pre-game activities - then literally stumbled on the cemetery when perusing the vast crowd of fans and seemingly equally vast numbers of cops, many on horseback and in heavily fortified police vans.
And the cemetery captured my heart as it was not in pristine condition but rather quite shabby it seemed in how its once obviously ornate tombs and mausoleums and stately tree-lined lanes must have been when they were erected in the 1800s - as a gem of London cemeteries.
It was this faded but regal grandeur - perhaps being a metaphor for Britain itself and the British Empire in my mind that captured my interest so I lingered and investigate every nook and cranny - seeing the great domed chapel that has been compared in style to St Peter's in Rome and ignoring the gaggle of street people using the cemetery as a loo or drug den - oh well the many photos in links below say it all.
http://www.brompton-cemetery.org/
http://www.google.com/search?q=bromp...=1600&bih=1075
http://www.londontown.com/LondonInfo...emetery/de9f2/
May 7th, 2012, 10:37 AM
#53
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http://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/
SPEAKERS' CORNER used to be a major draw for foreign visitors before it declined IME from a vibrant place where many topics - including many very controversial - would be discussed by anyone bringing a soap box to stand on and spiel away.
But it seems to me at least in recent years Speakers' Corner has seen a decline of both speakers and crowds, famous for taunting - often lovingly and by the same taunter week after week - have declined and the topics have degenerated from Marxism and Socialism and Atheist and foreign policy, etc to many religious nuts spouting off 'you're going to Hell'.
Well that's my take but the long tradition still goes on on Sunday afternoons (and other days as well) on Hyde Park corner where Oxford Street hits the park - far northeast part of the sparwling park - check it out - perhaps I have just hit it at a wrong time recently.
SPEAKERS' CORNER used to be a major draw for foreign visitors before it declined IME from a vibrant place where many topics - including many very controversial - would be discussed by anyone bringing a soap box to stand on and spiel away.
But it seems to me at least in recent years Speakers' Corner has seen a decline of both speakers and crowds, famous for taunting - often lovingly and by the same taunter week after week - have declined and the topics have degenerated from Marxism and Socialism and Atheist and foreign policy, etc to many religious nuts spouting off 'you're going to Hell'.
Well that's my take but the long tradition still goes on on Sunday afternoons (and other days as well) on Hyde Park corner where Oxford Street hits the park - far northeast part of the sparwling park - check it out - perhaps I have just hit it at a wrong time recently.
Jul 5th, 2012, 12:19 PM
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FAHRENHEIT 451 FANS
I just watched again for the umpteenth time Fahrenheit 451, a Truffault film about a future society who deems books to be a bad thing and goes about ferreting them out and burning them.
Well anyway large parts of the film were filmed in Roehampton, a part of outer London, in a dreary housing estate, called Alton, which at the time of its completion in 1958 (according to Wikipedia: "Was considered by many British architects to be the crowning glory of post World War Two social housing."
The estate remains one of the largest public (council) housing estates in the UK.
http://www.architecture.com/LibraryD...ond/Alton.aspx
(the above site claims that Alton West - the last part of the estate to be developed was Britain's architectural response to the great influence of Le Corbusier.
Anyway Roehampton is way off the beaten path but something very different.
I just watched again for the umpteenth time Fahrenheit 451, a Truffault film about a future society who deems books to be a bad thing and goes about ferreting them out and burning them.
Well anyway large parts of the film were filmed in Roehampton, a part of outer London, in a dreary housing estate, called Alton, which at the time of its completion in 1958 (according to Wikipedia: "Was considered by many British architects to be the crowning glory of post World War Two social housing."
The estate remains one of the largest public (council) housing estates in the UK.
http://www.architecture.com/LibraryD...ond/Alton.aspx
(the above site claims that Alton West - the last part of the estate to be developed was Britain's architectural response to the great influence of Le Corbusier.
Anyway Roehampton is way off the beaten path but something very different.
Jul 6th, 2012, 09:53 AM
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RICHMOND PARK AND DEER PARK
Smack on the doorstep of the Alton Housing Estate that was in scenes from Fahrenheit 451 lies the vast Richmond Park, one of the several large Royal Parks in the London megalopolis.
Like any Royal Park it makes for nice hiking and also in the case to see the several hundred small red and fallow deer running lose inside the fenced in park.
http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park
Smack on the doorstep of the Alton Housing Estate that was in scenes from Fahrenheit 451 lies the vast Richmond Park, one of the several large Royal Parks in the London megalopolis.
Like any Royal Park it makes for nice hiking and also in the case to see the several hundred small red and fallow deer running lose inside the fenced in park.
http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park
Aug 27th, 2012, 07:46 AM
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CRYSTAL PALACE PARK is one of my very top off-the-beaten-path sites/sights in all of London. I'll be back to opine about this amazing lovely park and the famous Crystal Palace itself, which sits in a forlorn ruined state of a few statues and foundations at the top of the park.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal...al_Palace_Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal...al_Palace_Park
Jan 13th, 2015, 12:02 PM
#58
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https://www.google.com/search?q=imag...w=1455&bih=977
images of Crystal Palace Park - note the highlighting of life-size dinosaurs - the marque attraction of the park for many - highly acclaimed!
images of Crystal Palace Park - note the highlighting of life-size dinosaurs - the marque attraction of the park for many - highly acclaimed!
Jan 27th, 2015, 08:19 AM
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https://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cm...etwork-map.jpg
An off-beat excursion in London goes across its southern edges on the city's only tramway - currently though a N-S tramway has been in the works practically since the last old-fashioned trams disappeared in 1952.
I started at Wimbledon and took it to East Croydon and onto East Addington - then walked over to Elmer's End and took it back to East Croydon - trams go both on dedicated right-of-ways that seem to be old rail lines and also down leafy suburban streets - nothing really exciting if you're not a rail buff I guess but an area of London most never see.
An off-beat excursion in London goes across its southern edges on the city's only tramway - currently though a N-S tramway has been in the works practically since the last old-fashioned trams disappeared in 1952.
I started at Wimbledon and took it to East Croydon and onto East Addington - then walked over to Elmer's End and took it back to East Croydon - trams go both on dedicated right-of-ways that seem to be old rail lines and also down leafy suburban streets - nothing really exciting if you're not a rail buff I guess but an area of London most never see.
Jan 27th, 2015, 09:16 AM
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St Dunstan In The East.
This church was bombed in the blitz and left unrestored as designated a garden. It's barely 5 mins walk from Tower Hill or Monument tube, but worth a visit for its tranquility.
Here I some photos I took there in December.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/494523...7649613857118/
This church was bombed in the blitz and left unrestored as designated a garden. It's barely 5 mins walk from Tower Hill or Monument tube, but worth a visit for its tranquility.
Here I some photos I took there in December.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/494523...7649613857118/
