I'm just back from a trip to London where my focus was theatre and pubs, and I purposefully spent this trip trying to get more of a feel of what it's like to live there, rather than visit really touristy places-although I saw some great homes/museums and did find time for lots of pubs and wine bars (36 drinking establishments actually). So if you want advice on any pub highlihgts-just ask!

The highlights of my trip:
Dennis Seever's House-a previously unknown to me recreated time capsule of 1790-1800's east London life.
The Linley Sambourne house- an actual time capsule of upper middle class life in 1890's Chelsea at the home of the Punch Cartoonist.
Seeing theatre lots of theatre! almost all RSC productions this time; Ralph Fiennes at the Haymarket, Merry Wives at the Old Vic, and also seeing Mark Rylance in Richard II at the Globe.
I loved Greenwich and would consider moving there because the air quality and the pace of life was definitely pleasant-and it's now entirely within easy reach of London on the DLR (which is part of the zone 2 tube pass!). I love the feel of London, but really appreciated a few trips to more bucolic surroundings after a few days of exhaust and noise and a sea of people.
Low Lights of the trip:
Most pubs still close at 11pm despite the fact that there's lots of discussions about changing the laws.
And the Circle lIne on the tube-love the tube-hate the circle line and yet was so dependant on it for a number of trips.
By the way, only one person wanted to talk politics with me-a drunk in the pub who hated Blair and didn't care much about Bush. Most people wanted to talk about Beckham's possible move from Manchester Utd. to Real Madrid or AC Milan...
I know lots of other people have posted trip information on London so I won't go into more details, but if anyone has any questions about basics, I'd be glad to give it a go.
Emily

Oops, silly me, forgot about the baggalini stories. I managed to break the handle off my suitcase (the one that allows you to pull it) while dragging it up/down the millionth flight of stairs in the tube so I barely made it to the house I was staying at. I then realized all the stress of the suitcase had caused the strap to pull loose from my leather carryon bag-which I also use as a day bag. Luckily I had brought two baggalini's with me-that's the brand name but they're small bags that zip out of a pocket size and exapand to various sizes. One was a luggage baggalini which is basically water proof and has survived two transatlantic flights in the cargo hold-I bring it along for laundry etc. and then when I need to put souveniers in the suitcase, I put clothes in the checked baggalini. The second was a shopping bag bagallini which zips up into the size of your hand and I slung it over my arm and used it to carry 3 bags of groceries back from Tesco and Marks and Spencer, as well as used it to carry all my carry ons back on the plane. It reminded me that travelling light is always the best bet, but it gave me the freedom to bring back more items. I'll be buying a baggallini for my step father for a trip to Brazil to insure he can bring me back lots of mementos. : )

emjoy, I have a couple of Tote brand bags that sound a lot like your baggalinis. They are at the end of their very useful life and I'd love to replace them. Where do you buy baggalinis? Thanks!

I bought mine at a store in Chicago called the Savvy Traveller, but there is a website with product info on it
http://www.baggallini.com/index.html

I use the zip out shopping bags-the large size wich zips closed is the one I check, then the one without the zipper the small size is the shopping/day bag I used which unbelievably carried back three books, medecine, glasses, cd player, pouch full of cds, headphones, a bottle of scotch and some chocolate gifts AND my laptop! believe it or not. This is also the same one I put three bags of groceries in and slung it over my shoulder so my hands would be free to reach my tube pass etc.

Thanks, emjoy! I'm going to order some. And such cool colors!!

I just checked out the Baggallini website - my favorites are their zip-out bags! Thank you, Emjoy for posting it, I worried if I'd ever find a replacement for my cheap zip-outs I found several years ago in San Francisco china-town $2.99 each, now I know they exist elsewhere! They are so convenient even for every day use, I always keep one in my purse.

LOL, I thought the "baggalinis" would be baggy trousers since they saved your bum

I enjoyed your report..and it contained shopping info too! How cool~

Just as a matter of interest - do you go in for some sort of weight training to prepare you for lugging all this stuff around...?!

Hi Patrick, I generally make the mistake of carrying too much around. It's my curse. I try so hard to consolodate but then I keep telling myself, I need this book, that book, must have a hairdryer for theatre, blah, blah... and the cases get more and more full. In retrospect, I should have taken a smaller wheeled suitcase, AND the baggallinis, since you can have up to 2 bags up to 70 pounds each on BA transatlantic flights (my checked bags were only 30 pounds each by the way). Next time I'll leave the laptop at home because I opened it exactly once in 2 weeks, and I might consdier leaving some of the numerous (4) pairs of shoes behind (but that's a hard call for me-especially when you're doing theatre, as well as lots of walking).
I don't do weight training but I am use to carrying and moving heavy camera cases so it wasn't too bad. The steps up then inexplicably down again int he tube were more frustrating-how do handicapped people travel in the UK?

Hi, Emjoy!

This is a bit off-subject, but you mentioned seeing Ralph Fiennes at the Haymarket. Three friends and I managed to get front-row tickets to that play (Brand) in July. I heard it was very good, but very dark (and that's okay). What did you think?

I also heard that the actors use the aisles, as well as the stage. Three of us are rabid Ralph Fiennes fans, and our seats are at the front right corner of the audience, if you look at it from the back of the theatre. Any chance Mr. Fiennes uses the aisles in our vicinity? We'll behave ourselves, of course!

Sorry to be a bit silly, but we just can't believe our luck with this! Thanks for any insight you can give us on the play!

... and what the heck IS a bagallini anyway?!

Hey emjoy, I bought 2 baggalinis the other day. The huge one in green and the zip tote in purple. Thanks for the tip -- I think they would make great gifts for other travelers as well.