Welltravbrit's London Sojourn - An Ongoing Trip Report
Apr 11th, 2015, 04:35 PM
#61
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RM67: "I will come to a GTG if you can upgrade the surprise celeb to James McAvoy." Yes. I'd buy the first round. If neither of them shows up we can discuss which Mc is cuter.
Love the t-minus gate-boasting.
Great report, wtb.
I love cheap opera tickets, too, and none more than ROH. I've sat in pricey ones there, too, but I most like going up to the slips, even standing room. I appreciate that the set designer bears the "upper" classes in mind.
Need to get to St Olave's for a concert.
Love the t-minus gate-boasting.
Great report, wtb.
I love cheap opera tickets, too, and none more than ROH. I've sat in pricey ones there, too, but I most like going up to the slips, even standing room. I appreciate that the set designer bears the "upper" classes in mind.
Need to get to St Olave's for a concert.
Apr 11th, 2015, 09:34 PM
#64
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Wonderful ideas WTB for our next trip to London, in early June. I have never heard about the ArtFund pass until your post. You have mentioned so many places that I had forgotten I wanted to see, Leighton House and the Courtauld. We will only be there a week, staying in Chelsea, but the pass really looks worthwhile as it also covers the McQueen exhibit at the V&A and Apsley House.
The other week we will basing ourselves in Huntingdon near Cambridge. It's my husband's 6oth birthday and we will be doing some WW11 stuff like Duxford and Bletchley Park. The ArtFund pass covers 1/2 of the latter's admission price. Thanks again for the tip and I'm going to look up the Grapes also. Of course we don't have 3 months, but are lucky to be going again!
The other week we will basing ourselves in Huntingdon near Cambridge. It's my husband's 6oth birthday and we will be doing some WW11 stuff like Duxford and Bletchley Park. The ArtFund pass covers 1/2 of the latter's admission price. Thanks again for the tip and I'm going to look up the Grapes also. Of course we don't have 3 months, but are lucky to be going again!
Apr 11th, 2015, 10:04 PM
#65
idesofmarch: If you want to see the McQueen you may want to book ASAP. Back in early March I I tried to book for the end of this month and there were no available tix for the entire time I'm in town (Apr 28-May 2).
Apr 12th, 2015, 02:23 AM
#66
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Some suggestions to add to the "local" list!
Wilton's Music Hall: A Victorian survival now (finally) undergoing restoration. You may recognise its unique atmosphere from its use for locations for various TV programmes.
http://wiltons.org.uk/
If you go (best reached by 100 bus to Dock St or from Shadwell DLR/Overground stations), then stop on Dock St to look at the memorial plaque for the 1936 "Battle of Cable St" and the commemorative mural on St George's Town Hall further down Cable St.
Wilton's Music Hall: A Victorian survival now (finally) undergoing restoration. You may recognise its unique atmosphere from its use for locations for various TV programmes.
http://wiltons.org.uk/
If you go (best reached by 100 bus to Dock St or from Shadwell DLR/Overground stations), then stop on Dock St to look at the memorial plaque for the 1936 "Battle of Cable St" and the commemorative mural on St George's Town Hall further down Cable St.
Apr 13th, 2015, 06:47 AM
#68
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Yestravel we'd love to see you before July but that may be unlikely!
Patrick thanks for the Wilton's Music Hall suggestion and directions.
OK, just in case anyone is in town or would be interested London Craft Week is on at the beginning of May and some of the high end producers are opening up their workshops. I missed out on seeing the Hermes workshop in Paris (it was fully subscribed almost before posting) so I'm very pleased to say I've booked to see Asprey's and Garrard for May 7th.
There's a nominal fee of £8:40 and still some tickets left. There are lots of associated event, tours of shoemakers, glass making, etc. Hopefully something for everyone. Its the sort of stuff that will book out the minute it appears in the paper!
http://www.londoncraftweek.com
Patrick thanks for the Wilton's Music Hall suggestion and directions.
OK, just in case anyone is in town or would be interested London Craft Week is on at the beginning of May and some of the high end producers are opening up their workshops. I missed out on seeing the Hermes workshop in Paris (it was fully subscribed almost before posting) so I'm very pleased to say I've booked to see Asprey's and Garrard for May 7th.
There's a nominal fee of £8:40 and still some tickets left. There are lots of associated event, tours of shoemakers, glass making, etc. Hopefully something for everyone. Its the sort of stuff that will book out the minute it appears in the paper!
http://www.londoncraftweek.com
Apr 13th, 2015, 08:06 AM
#69
wtb: we are putting together a small GTG - looks like April 28/venue not 100% decided, maybe the Grapes. So far PatrickLondon, jamikins, bikerscott, moi. Maybe you can join us??
I'll post an update on my thread in a day or two.
I'll post an update on my thread in a day or two.
Apr 13th, 2015, 05:21 PM
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WTB, continuing to enjoy your informative report and the comments of the many other London aficionados.
What are your favorite venues in Dublin? Or are you mostly taken up with family when you visit? I am planning a short one week solo visit to Dublin in June (Bloomsday etc.) but hope to return to London next year.
What are your favorite venues in Dublin? Or are you mostly taken up with family when you visit? I am planning a short one week solo visit to Dublin in June (Bloomsday etc.) but hope to return to London next year.
Apr 13th, 2015, 10:52 PM
#74
northie: The venue hasn't been firmly set yet. We've discussed the Grapes in Limehouse (not far from Westferry DLR station) and that may be the place. But I'll post an update on the GTG thread probably tomorrow evening, seeing if there are any other suggestions . . .
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ril-28may1.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ril-28may1.cfm
Apr 14th, 2015, 01:25 AM
#75
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Janisj,what fun! I met Jamikins and BikerScott on a walking tour of Matera in Italy years ago, proving the world is a very small place. It would be great to see them again and meet all of you too. April 28th looks good for me. Thanks for the heads up!
So we've been on a bit of a self made seminar on urban development and architecture in London.
On Sunday we went on a LONDON WALKS ON POST-WAR ARCHITECTURE (I'll be blogging on all of this later). This was one of their special Sunday morning walks. We started at the Barbican and ending in the City. We really enjoyed this walk and the guide Paule Cooze was excellent. It gave a good sense for the changing eras of development, from residential estates built in the damaged areas after the war, to the move to build up, up, up in "iconic" buildings. We will definitely be heading back to the Barbican which I'd like to see more of, as my husband just bought a very nice architectural guide which has some walks in it.
Yesterday evening we headed over to the LAST TUESDAY SOCIETY which is right around the corner from our house. They have a sort of salon with offbeat speakers, there's a modern versions of a museum of curiosities downstairs and a hipster cocktail lounge upstairs. It's unlike anywhere else and yet it isn't at all surprising to stumble upon it in this neighborhood. It could be in the Mission in SF or the Lower east Side of Manhattan too.
http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org
Anyway, it was right around the corner and we were very happy to go because they had Tom Bolton talking about his new book THE VANISHED CITY; London's Lost Neighborhoods. He did a great talk covering all ten of the neighborhoods and it was very interesting, Coincidentally he started by talking about Cripplegate a neighborhood destroyed during the Blitz which has been replaces by the Barbican and the Golden Lane Estate which we has visited the day before. You can see the old Cripplegate church in the middle of the Barbican development.
I was interested in the talk because a friend lent, and highly recommended, his first book, LONDON"S LOST RIVERS A WALKERS GUIDE, which we brought with us. I haven't looked at either book in any depth but I'm looking forward to sending some time with them.
The history/architecture/urban planning theme continues tonight at the BISHOPSGATE INSTITUTE, just across from Liverpool St station. It's a great resource and well worth checking out if you're in London for a while. The lecture is by the Guardian's design critic on the Seven Dark Arts of Developers - I think that gives you an idea of where he stands! I booked the tickets quite some time ago and I'm very much looking forward to it.
One other (perhaps obvious) tip is that the libraries have lots going on, and much of it is free or very low cost, for example I'm going to a talk on the Brompton Cemetery at the Guildhall Library this week.
So we've been on a bit of a self made seminar on urban development and architecture in London.
On Sunday we went on a LONDON WALKS ON POST-WAR ARCHITECTURE (I'll be blogging on all of this later). This was one of their special Sunday morning walks. We started at the Barbican and ending in the City. We really enjoyed this walk and the guide Paule Cooze was excellent. It gave a good sense for the changing eras of development, from residential estates built in the damaged areas after the war, to the move to build up, up, up in "iconic" buildings. We will definitely be heading back to the Barbican which I'd like to see more of, as my husband just bought a very nice architectural guide which has some walks in it.
Yesterday evening we headed over to the LAST TUESDAY SOCIETY which is right around the corner from our house. They have a sort of salon with offbeat speakers, there's a modern versions of a museum of curiosities downstairs and a hipster cocktail lounge upstairs. It's unlike anywhere else and yet it isn't at all surprising to stumble upon it in this neighborhood. It could be in the Mission in SF or the Lower east Side of Manhattan too.
http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org
Anyway, it was right around the corner and we were very happy to go because they had Tom Bolton talking about his new book THE VANISHED CITY; London's Lost Neighborhoods. He did a great talk covering all ten of the neighborhoods and it was very interesting, Coincidentally he started by talking about Cripplegate a neighborhood destroyed during the Blitz which has been replaces by the Barbican and the Golden Lane Estate which we has visited the day before. You can see the old Cripplegate church in the middle of the Barbican development.
I was interested in the talk because a friend lent, and highly recommended, his first book, LONDON"S LOST RIVERS A WALKERS GUIDE, which we brought with us. I haven't looked at either book in any depth but I'm looking forward to sending some time with them.
The history/architecture/urban planning theme continues tonight at the BISHOPSGATE INSTITUTE, just across from Liverpool St station. It's a great resource and well worth checking out if you're in London for a while. The lecture is by the Guardian's design critic on the Seven Dark Arts of Developers - I think that gives you an idea of where he stands! I booked the tickets quite some time ago and I'm very much looking forward to it.
One other (perhaps obvious) tip is that the libraries have lots going on, and much of it is free or very low cost, for example I'm going to a talk on the Brompton Cemetery at the Guildhall Library this week.
Apr 14th, 2015, 10:07 AM
#76
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Really loving your posts, wtb!
And so bummed that I will miss the gtg by a month.
At least I will have Lee Mead as a consolation prize . . .
(Sorry for the vague reference but I am a huge fan and time my London trips around his concerts. End of June this time!)
And so bummed that I will miss the gtg by a month.
At least I will have Lee Mead as a consolation prize . . .
(Sorry for the vague reference but I am a huge fan and time my London trips around his concerts. End of June this time!)
Apr 14th, 2015, 10:59 AM
#77
LCB - I know that you can be relied on to tell us about Mr Mead's doings. Where is he going to be this time? I seem to remember that last time it was a venue that caused some hilarity amongst the brits here.
Apr 14th, 2015, 12:00 PM
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It was Clacton. I had no idea.
This time he will be in London at the Pheasantry, which is a small club inside Pizza Express.
OK, a pause for more hilarity.
However, this is a small venue that he has used before to "try out" new material before beginning another tour - which he is doing beginning in July.
Three nights. Me, Lee Mead, and 60 or so of our best mates. Should be amazing.
This time he will be in London at the Pheasantry, which is a small club inside Pizza Express.
OK, a pause for more hilarity.
However, this is a small venue that he has used before to "try out" new material before beginning another tour - which he is doing beginning in July.
Three nights. Me, Lee Mead, and 60 or so of our best mates. Should be amazing.
Apr 14th, 2015, 12:12 PM
#80
i can't believe that I forgot Clacton. it must be my age.
I don't know the Pheasantry but it sounds as if you and the other die-hard fans will be able to get up close and personal with Lee. Amazing is certainly one word for it!
I don't know the Pheasantry but it sounds as if you and the other die-hard fans will be able to get up close and personal with Lee. Amazing is certainly one word for it!
