kawh

A quick "two-fer" question from California.

Have tickets for the Olivier Theater- at the National Theater .

Can someone recommend their preferred way to travel from Gloucester Tube to the theater? Take the tube to the river, then walk over the bridge?? If this is the best way (if it's not raining) is it pretty safe (as in we won't be the only 2 on the street) at night, after the performance? Prefer not to take a taxi.

I have looked up information on the theater and there seem to be lots of reasonable dinner options within the complex. Does anyone have a favorite-- within a fairly average budget? Weighing food/view/price-- any standouts?
Or would we be better off eating somewhere nearby?

Thanks much for your help.
kawh, sebastopol

PatrickLondon

>>Take the tube to the river, then walk over the bridge??<<

From Embankment tube over Hungerford footbridges would be my preferred route, provided it's not raining. Plenty of places to eat right by where you come down from the footbridge to the riverside. If it is raining, just change tube lines at Embankment to Waterloo (take the exit for the South Bank). From memory there are also a few places across the road from the National, as well as its own catering, and the café at the National Film Theatre. As a food-is-fuel person, I wouldn't advise on which is best.

>> is it pretty safe (as in we won't be the only 2 on the street) at night, after the performance? <<

If you're not the only two people in the theatre, you won't be the only two people on the street going back to the tube! One can never entirely rule out the likelihood of drunks, idiots and the ill-intentioned, but it's as safe as anywhere.

kawh

patrick-- thanks for this. looking at a map, i didn't notice the footbridge-- i think i thought it was a RR crossing bridge??? i will take your path. just hope the tube is still running by the time i get over the river.

"food is fuel person" -- well-- i'm afraid i can't relate! but will just keep my eyes and nose open and check for a good place to eat along the way.

kawh

anyone else have a beloved food option near the theater?

janisj

"<i>Is it pretty safe (as in we won't be the only 2 on the street) at night, after the performance?</i>"

You'll be 2 of hundreds. totally safe.

"<i>i think i thought it was a RR crossing bridge???</i>"

There is also a rail bridge. Total separation for pedestrians - the footbridges flank the railbridge.

"<i>just hope the tube is still running by the time i get over the river.</i>"

Should be -last trains are around midnight give or take. If you are out celebrating and miss the tube, there are Night buses.

PatrickLondon

>> i didn't notice the footbridge-- i think i thought it was a RR crossing bridge??? <<

Here's a view across the bridge to the Festival Hall and South Bank:
http://house.ofdoom.com/~hungerf3/im...db.rxml?id=539

Last train from Embankment to Gloucester Road is 0035. Your nearest night bus would be the N97 from the top of Northumberland Avenue (about every 10 minutes from 0013 onwards)

kawh

wow-- thanks for the photo! (can't help notice the site is "house of doom"??? whaaaaa??
still hoping for a strong dinner recommendation???

jamikins

To be honest there aren't a lot of stand out places around there...but there are lots of decent chain restaurants. Just look at the menus and decide when you are there.

Gordon_R

There's a branch of the excellent Italian eatery Caffe Vergnano. Cross the footbridge mentiond above, down the steps, go straight ahead for about 50 metres and it's on your right.

http://www.caffevergnano1882.co.uk/index.php

alanRow

<i>Gloucester Tube</i>

Gloucester ROAD Tube. Please use the full names of places otherwise you have a good chance of ending up in Edgware instead of Edgware Road (or Liverpool instead of Liverpool Street or Gloucester instead of Gloucester Road).

xyz123

While I know it's not everybody's cup of tea (or glass of sake), there is a branch of the Japanese noodle chain Wagamama right there. Yes it's there for tourists but many locals eat at various branches and some of the dishes are really good and not too expensive (you can argue whether a noodle shop should be even cdheaper).Here is where you can find information about this branch of the chain:

http://tinyurl.com/cs9xr5o

You can check out the menu. My favorite dish is #35 kare lomen with prawns.....whenever I visit London, I make it my business to stop off at one of the branches and have that...

(It's too bad they have not yet put a branch into New York City...they would do quite well but we now have a couple of pret a mangers)....

Again, it might not be everybody's favorite and believe me before the panning starts I know it's far from gourmet dining but it's convenient to the National Theatre (as well as Queen Elizabeth Hall) and, at least by London standards, it's not too expensive. But it's certainly not gourmet or romantic or anything like that. (You sit on communal benches like a typical Japanese noodle shop).

xyz123

Alan...pal..

What would you tell somebody if they wanted travel directions from Edgeware Road tube stop?

I'm xyz123 and I approved this message.

xyz123

BTW...I'm really sorry my computer skills are not what they should be or I would show you a picture of the dish I refer to above which might make your mouth water for it (it does for me and almost makes me want to fly out to London tonight now that the Olympic madness is over!) Too bad.

One other reminder (I don't know where you're from). When you look at a menu for a London restaurant, there is no additional sales tax a la the USA. The price you see is the price you pay. Of course, the question comes up about tipping (a dirty word to many). The menus clearly indicate if service is included or not. At Wagamama service is not included. Tips in London restaurants to the best of my knowledge run from 10 to 12.5%....I leave 10% only if they hand me the credit card machine to press the green button a few times and it's easy to figure a 10% tip...just drop the last digit and move the decimal point one place left. When they finish the transaction without handing me the credit card machine to enter the tip, they get nothing. Who walks around with that kind of cash? (I certainly don't)...

I'm xyz123 and I approved this message.

janisj

xyz: It isn't 'Edgeware' . . . it is Edgware Rd. (no <B>e</B> in the middle). Wagamama is OK but not a great bargain or anything special.

xyz123

Thanks....but the point I was trying to make is there are 2 separate stations with the same name....right? One on the Bakerloo line and the other on the circe/district line (I think!).

I think I also said Wagamama is nothing special (although there always seem to be lines outside of them at dinner time) but the branch I mentioned is very convenient to the National Theatre although quite frankly there is no great need necessarily to eat right there.

Several years ago, I was going to a concert at Queen Elizabeth Hall in January and we ate somewhere in Convent Garden and simply walked over...it was a warm evening for January (with the usual darkness coming in aby 1630 and it was a very pleasant walk.

Thanks though for the clarification. (I still like the dish and considering London prices, don't find it all that expensive! But to each his or her own! (didn't you appreciate my hunor...a cup of tea or a glass of sake?)

I'm xyz123 and I approved this message.

kawh

xyz123- thanks for the food tip. had not heard of that restaurant-- and am always eager to try a new chain that's not available in my neck of the woods. i looked at the link-- and i see they have one in boston-- so maybe nyc soon. i like the idea of having an inexpensive and quick dinner on the way to the theater, then a nice drink or dessert at an upscale location after.
btw-- i am flying straight from london to nyc before going home-just in case you have any can't-do-without tips for me there.