What's New in London?
#21
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Oh my; I hate to do this, but I want to put in my opinion of Dennis Severs' House. Personally, I think it's very weird. It consists of the myriad varied artifacts assembled by an obsessed collector. The rooms are basically jammed with bits and bobs, and I didn't find any of it cohesive or all that historically informative. There was lots of drama, with one of the hand written explanations reading, "Terrifying, isn't it?" which has become a catch phrase with us. It's got "lighting" effects and sound effects, too. No talking allowed. When we left, I was moved to say that it was the trippiest place I'd been in forty years.
With so much great art and history at your fingertips in London, depending on your tastes, you might want to give this one a pass. I'd put The Wallace Collection a hundred places above this as something to see. You could add The Guildhall Gallery and Roman ruins beneath it if you haven't been there; a small collection of some of the finest 19th C. paintings in existence. A very kind Fodorite put us on to Spencer House, which has very limited openings, but was historically and architecturally impressive as one could want, with no reconstructed drama.
With so much great art and history at your fingertips in London, depending on your tastes, you might want to give this one a pass. I'd put The Wallace Collection a hundred places above this as something to see. You could add The Guildhall Gallery and Roman ruins beneath it if you haven't been there; a small collection of some of the finest 19th C. paintings in existence. A very kind Fodorite put us on to Spencer House, which has very limited openings, but was historically and architecturally impressive as one could want, with no reconstructed drama.
#22
Dennis Severs house is also a unique experience. Some people (me, for instance) can OD on paintings and sculpture and appreciate something different. (I'm assuming the OP already knows about the V&A, not to mention it's beautiful cafe rooms.)
#23
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I was wondering if it was my not remembering correctly since my last visit to London, prior to my October 2017 visit, was in 2002, that there seemed to be a lot more chip shops and pubs that there were this trip. I liked popping into a pub for lunch and a beer. Didn't seem to be all that many now?
#24
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Really?? There are pubs everywhere in central London! Some of the old boozers are closing but a vast majority of those are not in central London! I can only think of one pub that has closed - it is now a 5 Guys burger place on Villiers Street.
#25
I think you'll be impressed with how much wealthier and cleaner the city has become. Also, the food's better.>>
Strange you should say that, Fra. On a internet thread I was reading earlier today, some people who are in favour of Brexit were comparing it to the place so colourfully described by the american President the other say. Certainly it did not strike me that way on my most recent visit, but then perhaps they don't like the new buildings, clean streets and good food!
Strange you should say that, Fra. On a internet thread I was reading earlier today, some people who are in favour of Brexit were comparing it to the place so colourfully described by the american President the other say. Certainly it did not strike me that way on my most recent visit, but then perhaps they don't like the new buildings, clean streets and good food!
#26
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I appreciate all this information and am looking forward to seeing the "new" London and checking out some good restaurants. I do recall back when London was not noted for fine dining! Boveney, I've seen pictures of those new buildings - my nephew posts them of FB - so we will definitely be going to see them.
Thank you, everyone.
Thank you, everyone.
#27
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I found several of these useful when last visiting London (a week in March 2011) when I managed to attend free lectures at night at The Royal Society and The Globe, and a concert for a nominal fee at St Clement Danes -
https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/calendar/
Best London events for today - What's On across London now | LondonTown.com
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/soane...ts-16629618637
https://royalsociety.org/science-eve...o=False&page=1
https://www.linnean.org/Meetings-and-Events/Events
https://www.sas.ac.uk/events?page=1
https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/calendar/
Best London events for today - What's On across London now | LondonTown.com
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/soane...ts-16629618637
https://royalsociety.org/science-eve...o=False&page=1
https://www.linnean.org/Meetings-and-Events/Events
https://www.sas.ac.uk/events?page=1
#28
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I thought of it more like a three dimensional painting, a total experience, that tells you a lot about the house and where it stands. It's not a "museum", but one man's vision of history.
Last edited by menachem; Jan 21st, 2018 at 09:46 PM.
#29
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All this controversy is piquing my curiosity about the Severs House. Now I just might have to go see for myself.
farrermog, thank you for all those links. Someone mentioned the Lumiere London which sounded great to me, then I thought I read somewhere that it closes today! But according to the first link, it closes next Saturday, 1/27, so, that was welcome news.
farrermog, thank you for all those links. Someone mentioned the Lumiere London which sounded great to me, then I thought I read somewhere that it closes today! But according to the first link, it closes next Saturday, 1/27, so, that was welcome news.
#30
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Another "someone's house" is Leighton House, in Holland Park, the studio of then wildly popular and sought after Victorian painter Frederic, Lord Leighton.
https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/subsites/mus...semuseum1.aspx
While there, you can also visit 18 Stafford Terrace, the home of the Sambourne family.
https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/subsites/mus...semuseum1.aspx
While there, you can also visit 18 Stafford Terrace, the home of the Sambourne family.
Last edited by menachem; Jan 22nd, 2018 at 10:13 PM.
#31
And for a really posh house there is the Duke of Wellington's - Apsley House.
The William Morris Gallery is a little off the beaten track, but I loved it. However, it may be closed for your dates:
Home | Welcome | William Morris Gallery
The William Morris Gallery is a little off the beaten track, but I loved it. However, it may be closed for your dates:
Home | Welcome | William Morris Gallery
#33
Yet another notable person's house is that of Dr Johnson, on Fleet Street:
Dr Johnson's House home page
If you want to link that up with a visit to Legal London, the grounds of the Inner and Middle Temple are to the south of Fleet street, and entry is free, with the gardens open at lunchtimes. You can even book to have lunch in Middle Temple Hall, on weekdays, and enjoy eating in the place which saw the first performance of Twelfth Night:
Lunch in Hall | Middle Temple
To the north of Fleet Street is the Royal Courts of Justice [colloquially referred to as "over the road" by barristers who have chambers in the Temple] which again is free to enter as are all but a few of the court rooms. The most interesting cases are the criminal appeal hearings which are in Courts 2-6 [usually] which are on the fist floor on the right [the enquiry desk should help]. They are the grandest courts too. There is also a display of legal dress going back over 300 years and there is even a part of the building called the bear pit because of the legal antics that go on there. [not sure whether the clients or the lawyers are the bears though].
Finally, crossing over to the south side of Fleet Street again, do not fail to poke your head inside Lloyds Bank at 222, Fleet Street by Temple Bar which has some of the most elaborate victorian tiling and carved wooden panelling you are ever likely to see.
Dr Johnson's House home page
If you want to link that up with a visit to Legal London, the grounds of the Inner and Middle Temple are to the south of Fleet street, and entry is free, with the gardens open at lunchtimes. You can even book to have lunch in Middle Temple Hall, on weekdays, and enjoy eating in the place which saw the first performance of Twelfth Night:
Lunch in Hall | Middle Temple
To the north of Fleet Street is the Royal Courts of Justice [colloquially referred to as "over the road" by barristers who have chambers in the Temple] which again is free to enter as are all but a few of the court rooms. The most interesting cases are the criminal appeal hearings which are in Courts 2-6 [usually] which are on the fist floor on the right [the enquiry desk should help]. They are the grandest courts too. There is also a display of legal dress going back over 300 years and there is even a part of the building called the bear pit because of the legal antics that go on there. [not sure whether the clients or the lawyers are the bears though].
Finally, crossing over to the south side of Fleet Street again, do not fail to poke your head inside Lloyds Bank at 222, Fleet Street by Temple Bar which has some of the most elaborate victorian tiling and carved wooden panelling you are ever likely to see.
#34
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More awesome suggestions! I actually love visiting historic houses so I will try to do as many of these as possible. So thank you for these suggestions, everyone.
Belinda, I'm pretty certain I've been to the Dickens House. He was - still is - always one of my favorite authors.
Annhig, thanks for the info on the courts. I would LOVE to see them and will make it a point to do so.
I'm leaving tonight. It was supposed to rain all day here but the sun is out and it's fairly mild so that's a happy sign -- altho' I keep seeing rain in London for tomorrow.
Thanks to everyone for all your help, on all my posts.
Belinda, I'm pretty certain I've been to the Dickens House. He was - still is - always one of my favorite authors.
Annhig, thanks for the info on the courts. I would LOVE to see them and will make it a point to do so.
I'm leaving tonight. It was supposed to rain all day here but the sun is out and it's fairly mild so that's a happy sign -- altho' I keep seeing rain in London for tomorrow.
Thanks to everyone for all your help, on all my posts.
#35
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thursdaysd: I sure as heck agree with your statement that it's a unique experience. I wanted to add my perspective to what are generally recommendations for this unique attraction.
#36
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In addition to Ann's reminder of lunch in Middle Temple Hall, next trip we'll also try to take in the Courtauld Gallery and Somerset House (and not just because one of my greatfathers worked there briefly before setting out for the end of the world). We'll try to remember not turning up for Lunch in Hall wearing dirty or torn clothing, so that will probably preclude having a pre lunch drink or two at any nearby pub frequented by the legal profession.
https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/tours
https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery
https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/tours
https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery
#37
Some of the best places for lunch are IN the various museums and galleries.
A few: The V&A, the Portrait restaurant https://www.npg.org.uk/portraitrestaurant , the Wallace Collection The Wallace Restaurant - Peyton and Byrne - French-style brasserie , several in Somerset House, both Tates have cafes but also have posh restaurants (Booking required) Restaurant at Tate Modern | Tate Rex Whistler Restaurant at Tate Britain | Tate
A few: The V&A, the Portrait restaurant https://www.npg.org.uk/portraitrestaurant , the Wallace Collection The Wallace Restaurant - Peyton and Byrne - French-style brasserie , several in Somerset House, both Tates have cafes but also have posh restaurants (Booking required) Restaurant at Tate Modern | Tate Rex Whistler Restaurant at Tate Britain | Tate
#38
We'll try to remember not turning up for Lunch in Hall wearing dirty or torn clothing, so that will probably preclude having a pre lunch drink or two at any nearby pub frequented by the legal profession.>>
if you're wearing what you would wear for lunch, you'll fit right in, Farremog. We lawyers don't generally change into torn or dirty clothes just to go to the pub! [well, not up in town, anyway]
if you're wearing what you would wear for lunch, you'll fit right in, Farremog. We lawyers don't generally change into torn or dirty clothes just to go to the pub! [well, not up in town, anyway]