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When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life
~ Samuel Johnson
These vtravellers love London
Overview
Vast, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is one of the world’s great cities. Located in the southeast of England, on the River Thames, it is the capital of the United Kingdom and has been the heart of its political, cultural and business life for centuries.
The now sprawling metropolis is a far cry from the scrabble of dwellings that first sprouted up to house river traders during their voyages towards the sea. It was the Romans who really kick-started the city, by establishing ‘ Londinium ’ as an important fortress town, guarding the Thames.
Over the centuries, London has developed and expanded, despite the many dangers that might have defeated a lesser place - the Plague, the Great Fire, the bitter English Civil War, a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, and the ‘ Blitz ’during WWII.
Nowadays, the sheer scale of Greater London can be daunting at first, although it is a city that is surprisingly easy to get around, with the comprehensive and easily navigated London Underground or ‘Tube’.
The twin axis on which London rests is the Houses of Parliament to the west and the City of London to the east. The seat of government (not far from the home of the royal family) is connected to the City (the financial engine room of London and the whole of the UK) by the River Thames.
In between lie most of the tourist attractions and the busiest, liveliest different entertainment areas, such as Knightsbridge and Soho. But London’s vivacity and charm stretches far beyond the Circle Line - the Underground route that rings the inner city. Residential areas outside the city centre, such as leafy Richmond (southwest) or Hampstead (north), trendy Hoxton (east) or Notting Hill (west), each have their own charm and identity.
London’s very real multiculturalism is evident on every street (and many restaurant plates) and is one reason why people love the city. Tourists come for London’s history or royal pageantry but they return for all the charms of the modern city, not least the extraordinary breadth of London’s cultural life, with world-class art galleries and theatres, buzzing nightlife, film, music, culinary and fashion scenes.
During summer, London’s bountiful green spaces fill up with office workers and tourists enjoying the surprisingly balmy days as cafe tables sprout across pavements. During winter, the grey skies and rain can be forgotten for a while in numerous cosy pubs. But spring or autumn are probably the best seasons to visit the city, when clear crisp sunny days often illuminate London and its landmarks, old and new.
© Columbus Travel Media Ltd.
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Do you have anything to add to this overview? Let us know.
Feature
Guide
Public Transport
TransportforLondon (tel: (020) 7222 1234 (24-hour enquiries); website: www.tfl.gov.uk) provides comprehensive information on all forms of transport within London, as well as operating the buses. It is worth noting that using Oyster, TfL’s prepaid electronic smartcard, is the cheapest way to get around, as buying individual tickets is prohibitively expensive. Enquire at a Tube station for details, or visit www.visitbritaindirect.com.
London’s famous red ‘Routemaster’ double-decker buses have now been phased out and been superseded by more modern single and double deckers, with the exception of on a couple of ‘heritage routes’ (buses 9 and 15, every 15 minutes) for the nostalgia. There is only one fare zone for all buses. You can buy a carnet of six tickets (reduced price) in advance from newsagents and Tube stations, though using a pre-paid Oyster card is cheaper or of a similar price. On many routes, you have to buy tickets prior to boarding and there is a fine for travelling without a valid ticket. Services operate 24 hours a day, with night buses, prefixed by the letter ‘N’, replacing the standard services on most routes after midnight. Fares on night buses are the same as regular buses.
The London Underground (tel: 0845 330 9880; website: www.tfl.gov.uk/tube), commonly referred to as the ‘Tube’, is the oldest and most extensive underground system in the world. An on-going programme is replacing old rolling stock, modernising stations and improving efficiency, however, escalator and station closures are still a regular problem. The network consists of 12 underground lines, each with a different name and colour, supplemented by the Docklands Light Railway (website: www.tfl.gov.uk/dlr), connecting the City of London and the Docklands. The entire network is divided into six concentric zones, which determine the price of tickets. The London Underground operates daily approximately from 0530 to 0030 but is best avoided during rush hour (Monday to Friday 0800-0930 and 1700-1830) when it is extremely crowded.
There are a number of passes available, including the Day Travelcard, which can be used on buses and London Underground. An off peak card (only valid after 0930) is cheaper than a peak one (valid from 0001). Both are valid all night until 0430 the next morning. There is also a Three Day Travelcard, which is valid on any three consecutive days (peak). Travelcards including other zones cost more. The one-day bus pass is only valid on buses. Weekly, monthly and annual passes must be accompanied by a photocard. You can buy all passes, as well as carnets for bus or London Underground, at Tube stations and participating newsagents.
There are a number of transport services operating on the River Thames. ThamesClippers (tel: 0870 781 5049; website: www.thamesclippers.com) commuter ferries run between Savoy Pier (central at Embankment) and Royal Arsenal Woolwich Pier. There is also a high-speed commuter service from Chelsea Harbour in the west to Blackfriars. Full details of all river ferries can be obtained from TransportforLondon (see above). You can buy tickets for the various services on board.
Taxis
London’s distinctive black taxi cabs are a pleasant (if pricey) way of getting around the city, as well as meeting the legendary ‘cabbies’. The lowest tariff is in effect Monday to Friday 0600-2000 (except public holidays). Tariffs are higher at night and at the weekend. A tip of 10-15% to round up the bill is customary. Each taxi has a licence number and badged drivers must comply with official regulations. London cabbies have undergone intensive training (known as the ‘Knowledge’) which involves riding around London on a moped learning all the street names, followed by a gruelling examination.
Black cabs can be booked through Dial-a-Cab (tel: (020) 7426 3420; website: www.dialacab.co.uk) and RadioTaxis (tel: (020) 7272 5471; website: www.radiotaxis.co.uk).
Minicabs (usually standard saloon cars) can be booked over the telephone or direct from local offices throughout London. One particularly efficient and reputable city-wide firm is AddisonLee (tel: (020) 7387 8888; website: www.addisonlee.co.uk). Although generally cheaper than black cabs, there are numerous illegal and/or unscrupulous operators, so it is always wise for travellers to check that the company is registered. In particular, offers of lifts by unlicensed drivers off the street, late at night in the West End or anywhere else for that matter, should not be accepted.
TransportforLondon (tel: (020) 7222 1234; website: www.tfl.gov.uk) can provide a list of licensed private hire companies, as well as information on black taxis.
Driving in the City
London’s infamous congestion charge (tel: 0845 900 1234; website: www.cclondon.com) came into force in February 2003, and was extended in February 2007. There is now a daily charge of for all vehicles entering the central London congestion charging zone Monday to Friday between 0700 and 1800. The new zone boundaries reach (and include) North Kensington, Notting Hill, Kensington and South Kensington in the west; Chelsea, Pimlico, Lambeth, Newington and Borough in the south; the City in the east; and Clerkenwell, Finsbury, Euston, St Pancras, Marylebone and Bayswater in the north. This is clearly marked on roads and signposts. You will find a downloadable map of the zone and how to pay on the website above.
Off-road parking is available 24 hours at NCP garages (tel: 0845 050 7080; website: www.ncp.co.uk) situated around the city. The tariffs vary, however, from garage to garage. The cheapest NCP garage in London can be found at the Brunswick Centre, Marchmont Street, WC1. Street parking in central London can be extremely expensive. Meters, pay-and-display bays or resident’s parking bays operate throughout central London. Visitors should read the signs extremely carefully for the operating hours of the different bays and note that, although a pay space might only operate up to 1830, the adjacent resident’s parking bays could require permits 24 hours a day. Parking on a single yellow line is prohibited within the hours of operation of the nearest meter or pay-and-display bay. Parking within any area marked with a zigzag or double yellow line is prohibited. On a red line, or a double red line, even stopping is forbidden. Drivers caught parking illegally will incur a hefty fine.
Improved bus services in the capital, combined with the congestion charge and high parking charges, mean that visitors are much better off using public transport than they are driving in central London.
Car Hire
Regulations vary but car hire companies usually require drivers to be around 25 years or older. A foreign national driving licence is valid in the UK for one year, although an International Driving Permit may be preferred if the licence is not in English. A credit card is essential and it is important to check what level of insurance is included in the price of car hire.
All major car firms have locations all over the city, including Avis (tel: 0870 606 0100; website: www.avis.co.uk), Budget (tel: 0844 581 9998; website: www.budget.co.uk) and Hertz (tel: 0870 599 6699; website: www.hertz.co.uk). The London congestion charge does apply to all hire cars and drivers will usually be liable for this, in addition to the price quoted for hiring a car. Car hire companies vary but most do not even arrange the payment of the charge and leave it up to drivers to sort this out independently (see DrivingintheCity).
There has been a recent growth in budget/Internet car hire companies, spearheaded by easyCar (tel: 0906 333 3333; website: www.easycar.com), the first Internet-only car hire company. Prices are considerably cheaper than for traditional car hire companies. The easyCar depot at the Barbican is one of the only places in central London where the congestion charge is included in the price of hiring a car.
Bicycle Hire
Both bicycles and motorcycles avoid the congestion charge (as well as traffic and parking charges), so they are sensible modes of transport in London. Mayor Boris Johnson is trying to make London bicycle friendly and there are many new cycle paths and cycle routes throughout the city. The LondonBicycleTourCompany, 1A Gabriel’s Wharf, 56 Upper Ground, SE1 (tel: (020) 7928 6838; website: www.londonbicycle.com), hires out bicycles by the hour, the day or the week.
AboutTownMotorcycleandScooterHire (tel: (020) 8871 1112; website: www.abouttownbikehire.co.uk), based in Wandsworth, in the southwest of the city, hires motorcycles or scooters which can be delivered to all London hotels.
Introduction
London's cultural scene combines the assurance of long-standing tradition with the verve of regained creativity. The sheer breadth of cultural activities on offer in the capital is breathtaking, with over 150 theatres and 300 art galleries.
The hulking concrete mass of the South Bank Centre, South Bank, SE1 (tel: 0871 663 2500; website: www.sbc.org.uk), is one of the city's cultural meccas. It houses the Hayward Gallery (website: www.hayward.org.uk) and three concert halls. Next door is the flagship Royal National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 (tel: (020) 7452 3400 (information) or 3000 (box office); website: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk). Flying the cultural flag north of the river, the labyrinthine Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2 (tel: (020) 7638 4141; website: www.barbican.org.uk), is an all-inclusive performing and visual arts venue with a varied all-year programme of events.
The weekly TimeOut magazine (website: www.timeout.com) provides details of the week's entertainment. So does the website of Visit London, www.visitlondon.com. Ticket agencies include Ticket Switch (tel: 0870 840 1111; website: www.ticketswitch.com) and TicketmasterUK (tel: 0870 534 4444; website: www.ticketmaster.co.uk).
Music: The world-famous Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2 (tel: (020) 7304 4000; website: www.royalopera.org), is home to the excellent Royal Opera. However, despite some attempts to cut the price, ballet and opera tickets are still often fairly expensive. More accessible are performances by the English National Opera (tel: (020) 7632 8300; website: www.eno.org) at the London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, WC2.
Large-scale concerts are staged at the Royal Festival Hall (see above), home of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (tel: (020) 7840 4200 or 4242 (box office); website: www.lpo.co.uk), or the Barbican(see above), home of the London Symphony Orchestra (tel: (020) 7588 1116 or 7638 8891 (box office); website: www.lso.co.uk). The Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 (tel: (020) 7589 8212 (box office); website: www.royalalberthall.com), can also stage huge concerts, including London's annual musical highlight, the summer series of the Proms (see SpecialEvents).
Music connoisseurs should head for the traditional but friendly surroundings of the Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, W1 (tel: (020) 7935 2141; website: www.wigmore-hall.org.uk), to hear impeccable chamber music and solo recitals. More informal concerts take place in halls and churches all over the capital, including St Martin-in-the-Fields (off Trafalgar Square - see KeyAttractions), St John's, Smith Square, SW1, and St James's, Piccadilly, W1.
Theatre: Within the extraordinary diversity of London's theatre scene (there are over 100 theatres in the capital, including 50 in the West End), the Royal National Theatre (see above) and the Royal Shakespeare Company (tel: (01789) 403 404; website: www.rsc.org.uk) compete for audiences with commercial West End theatres, repertory companies, 'off-West End' productions and fringe theatres. The National Theatre's three auditoria allow productions of different scale, from classics to new writing. The Royal Shakespeare Company, performing primarily Shakespeare and based out of Stratford-upon-Avon, performs in a range of venues including the Barbican.
The Old Vic, The Cut, Waterloo, SE1 (tel: 0870 060 6628; website: www.oldvictheatre.com), offers inspired traditional drama. Meanwhile, down the road, at 66 The Cut, the Young Vic (tel: (020) 7922 2922; website: www.youngvic.org) presents modern productions of contemporary and classic plays. The Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1 (tel: (020) 7565 5000; website: www.royalcourttheatre.com), continues to foster excellent new writing.
Quality innovative productions can also be expected from 'off-West End' theatres, such as the Donmar Warehouse, Earlham Street, WC2 (tel: 0870 060 6624; website: www.donmar-warehouse.com) and the Almeida, Almeida Street, N1 (tel: (020) 7359 4404; website: www.almeida.co.uk). Fringe theatre, ranging from the inspired to the insane, is performed in dozens of local venues, including the King's Head, 115 Upper Street, N1 (tel: 0844 412 2953; website: www.kingsheadtheatre.org), which is the oldest pub-theatre in London, and the Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, SW10 (tel: 0844 847 1652; website: www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk).
From May to September, the Globe Theatre, New Globe Walk, SE1 (tel: (020) 7902 1400; website: www.shakespeares-globe.org), stages open-air productions of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. There are also outdoor summer performances at the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park, NW1 (tel: 0844 826 4242; website: www.openairtheatre.org).
You can buy West End theatre tickets in advance from the theatre box office. Alternatively, for tickets on the day of the performance, there is a booth on the south side of Leicester Square, called tkts (website: www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk). It is open Monday to Saturday 1000-1900 and Sunday 1200-1500. This is the official Society of London Theatre's booth; visitors should avoid touts and other outlets in the area. The booth sells mainly half-price tickets, although some tickets at 25% discount and some full-price tickets. Because of the booking fee, when only full-price tickets are available for that night's performance, visitors are advised to go to the actual theatre box office. There is another tkts outlet in Canary Wharf DLR Station.
Dance: Touring dance companies perform mostly contemporary dance at the Sadler's WellsTheatre, Rosebery Avenue, EC1 (tel: (020) 7863 8198 or 0870 737 7737 for tickets; website: www.sadlers-wells.com). Ticket prices are usually more reasonable than at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2 (tel: (020) 7304 4000), which is home to the Royal Ballet (website: http://info.royaloperahouse.org/ballet). The Roundhouse on Chalk Farm Road, Camden (tel: 0844 482 8008; website: www.roundhouse.org.uk), has reopened after a £30 million refurbishment and will be showcasing new talent in various cutting edge productions, many of which will be dance.
Film: Local cinemas are less expensive than those in the West End, where tickets can cost over £10. Two main cinema chains are Odeon (tel: 0871 224 4007; website: www.odeon.co.uk) and Vue (formerly Warner) (tel: 0871 224 0240; website: www.myvue.com), with venues all over London, their biggest in Leicester Square, WC2. Barbican Screen, Silk Street, EC2 (tel: (020) 7638 8891; website: www.barbican.org.uk/film), is London's leading independent cinema showing independent, art house and blockbuster movies, along with the National Film Theatre, on the South Bank, SE1 (tel: (020) 7633 0274; website: www.bfi.org.uk/nft). For more art house films try the Curzon, which has several branches including at Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (tel: 0871 7033 988; website: www.curzoncinemas.com) or the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts), Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y (tel: (020) 7930 3667; www.ica.org.uk). You can experience IMAX magic at the largest cinema screen in the UK, the BFI London IMAX Cinema, South Bank, SE1 (tel: 0870 787 2525; website: www.bfi.org.uk/imax). For cheaper seats, try the Prince Charles off Leicester Square on Leicester Place (tel: (020) 7494 3654; website: www.princecharlescinema.com); it shows mainstream movies later than the bigger cinemas, but you can catch a film for under £5.
The Ealing Studios in west London presented English eccentricity and black humour in a distinctive London setting in the 'Ealing Comedies', such as PassporttoPimlico (1949) and TheLadykillers (1955). Before the war, Alfred Hitchcock established his reputation atElstreeFilmStudios, with London-based thrillers such as The39Steps (1935), featuring Richard Hannay (Robert Donat) hanging precariously from the clock face of Big Ben. More recently, SlidingDoors (1997), ShakespeareinLove (1998) and NottingHill (1998) have achieved huge success by combining a London setting with the box-office draw of Hollywood stars. The compelling gangster face of East End London has also been portrayed in Guy Ritchie's Lock, StockandTwoSmokingBarrels (1998) and Snatch (2000). London has also been portrayed in BlowUp (1966), MonaLisa (1986) and Wonderland (1999). Recent movies shot in the capital include BridgetJones'Diary (2001), DirtyPrettyThings (2002), AboutaBoy (2002), 28Days Later (2002) and its sequel 28 Weeks Later (2007), BendItLikeBeckham (2002), LoveActually (2003), BridgetJones: TheEdgeofReason (2004), Closer (2004), MrsHendersonPresents (2005), MatchPoint (2005), Breaking and Entering (2006) and Happy-Go-Lucky (2008).
Literary Notes: London has sheltered and inspired writers for centuries. Bunhill Fields' graveyard has monuments to John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe and William Blake. Bloomsbury gave its name to a literary set that included Virginia Woolf, while the leafy suburb of Hampstead was once home to John Keats, H G Wells and D H Lawrence. Some of the country's most famous writers are commemorated in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.
The seething mass of 19th-century London life (and its legendary fog) is vividly recreated in the novels of Charles Dickens. Sinister goings-on in the capital surface in the SherlockHolmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stephenson's TheStrangeCaseofDrJekyllandMrHyde (1886) and TheSecretAgent (1923) by Joseph Conrad. Graham Greene captured the unique atmosphere of wartime London in TheMinistryofFear (1943).
More recently, Martin Amis' LondonFields (1989), a depressing portrait of a London in pre-millennial decline, Chris Petit's Robinson (1993), which delves deep into Soho life, Tobias Hill's Underground (1999), a poetic murder mystery woven around the Tube, Jake Arnott's TheLongFirm (1999), set in the London underworld of the 1960s, and Zadie Smith's WhiteTeeth (2000) a tale of life in multicultural London, have added their names to the rich London literary canon.
A lively and impressively detailed history of London that captures the essence of the city's spirit is Peter Akroyd's London: ABiography (2000). If you are into travel writing with a twist, try Tim Moore's DoNotPassGo (2002), a travelogue of one man's journey around the Monopoly board and an epic history of London's progress since the launch of this very popular game. Also worth mentioning is BrickLane, by Monica Ali (2003), a moving account of a young woman's journey from her native Bangladesh to the East End of London and Saturday by Ian McEwan (2006).
© Columbus Travel Media Ltd.
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reviewed by tjenness, 29 weeks ago
london
This amazing city has something for everyone, world class restaurants and shopping, theatres with Hollywood actors performing, museums and art galleries as well as many many historical buildings and landmarks-not forgetting the city is home to HRH and our political centre.
Getting around without a car is very easy (london traffic can be a nightmare and there is a £5per day congestion charge mon-fri)-the underground service(the tube) is cheap, reliable and the quickest way to get where you need to be. Maps of the different tube lines are everywhere and although v straighforward, there are plenty of underground staff who will help you out. Buses are also a great way to travel and for both of these methods you can buy single journeys, return, day/week passes so all your travel costs are paid upfront. Taxis are omnipresent but allow time for traffic..
London is great to visit any time of the year but the run up to Christmas is especially lovely-the lights at Oxford St are beautiful and the shops with their Christmas displays are definitely worth battling the crowds to see!
reviewed by xanthe, 39 weeks ago
If you have young kids, Tate Modern is a great place to visit. Lot's of space both inside and out, there is always an exhibit in the Turbine hall to entertain them. Lunch in the cafe is always a safe bet, good fish and chips!
reviewed by Andrew Bowman, 52 weeks ago
One of the South Bank’s most striking features and one of the world’s finest modern art spaces. The peerless permanent collection is displayed according to easy-to-follow themes and paid exhibitions are always top notch. The building itself is an incredible work of art and the grassy area in front provides an ideal picnic/rest stop which leads almost directly onto the magnificent (and no longer wobbly) Millenium Bridge.
reviewed by Andrew Bowman, 52 weeks ago
If there’s one building that Londoners are almost universally fond of, it’s this defunct generating facility on the Thames.The sturdy walls and colossal chimneys were featured on the cover of Pink Floyd’s album Animals and in recent years it has been used as a location for movies including Children Of Men and The Dark Knight. Still occasionally used as a dramatic backdrop for cultural events with current plans set to revitalise it as the the world’s first carbon-neutral arts amphitheatre.
reviewed by Andrew Bowman, 52 weeks ago
A vision of the future from the past, the Barbican is one of Britain’s most bizarre architectural achievements. Loved and loathed in equal measures, this blocky Brutalist complex seems like a zone from a fictional city and is completely at odds with its surroundings. All of which serve to make it one of London's finest venues to take in theatre and dance performances, art exhibitions, films and concerts.
reviewed by jenny chan, 27 weeks ago
Sit on the steps and soak up the atmosphere of busy Piccadilly Circus. Lots of theatres in and around the area. The Britain and London Visitors Centre is located at 1 Regent street which is close to this statue.
reviewed by Lydia, 39 weeks ago
It's difficult to tell people this isn't Eros the pagan god of love. Nor is it actually Cupid. I've been told the archer atop this bronze fountain symbolises the virtue charity. Appropriate enough, since it's dedicated to Lord Shaftesbury, for whom affordable housing was a cause. However, it's much more romantic to call it Eros or Cupid, as it's more than just a statue it is a meeting place, and often where love is found. Even this statue has found it's mate, as there is an exact life-size replica of 'Eros' in the Adelaide Museum of South Australia. If you believe the local tradition for good luck, propose, under this statue, at the stroke of midnight and it will bring you happiness in your marriage. Ah... so romantic.
reviewed by Andrew Bowman, 52 weeks ago
No matter what high art events are happening inside, this complex (comprising the Royal Festival Hall, The Hayward Gallery and Queen Elizabeth Hall) defiantly remains an open, people’s space. The RFH’s recent expansion and the de-cluttering of its open foyers make it even more wander-friendly and the hard slabs and pillars of QEH’s Undercroft have long made it a Mecca for skateboarders and graffiti artists. The perfect place for weekend afternoons by the river.
reviewed by Karmina, 34 weeks ago
If tours aren't your thing, or if you want to experience the Globe in another way, see a play at the theater. While the seats range from £15-£33 you can get a spot in the yard (standing area) for only £5. Only warning for the yard, you can't use an umbrella if it rains, as it would block your fellow patrons view, so make sure you come prepared clothing wise.
reviewed by Lydia, 39 weeks ago
If you are a literary and movie fan, this is the perfect place to go. Shakespeare was performed here and Shakespeare in Love, 1998, was filmed here. The Rose theatre sets the scene for the play of Romeo & Juliet in the film, and was the very stage where Shakespeare honed his art back in Elizabethan times. Based in Bankside, Southwark, the theatre offers tours as part of the Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition every day except Monday.
reviewed by Andrew Bowman, 52 weeks ago
A work of unparalleled genius or a giant coffee machine? Sometimes referred to as the Inside-Out Building, architect Richard Rogers’s vision for the home of Lloyd’s of London, certainly wears its modernism on its sleeve. The three achingly futuristic main towers and their outside “attachments” simply can’t fail to provoke a reaction. And the retention of the original construction cranes for “decoration” purposes is surely the icing on the architectural cake.
Latest Reviews
reviewed by ag8394, 34 weeks ago
The Apex City of London Hotel is a stylish hotel with 179 contemporary rooms, the award-winning Addendum restaurant and bar, conference and private dining venues and luxurious leisure facilities. Ideally located in Central London, just moments from Tower Bridge and the Tower Hill tube station.
reviewed by owngig2009, 39 weeks ago
Old fashioned but gives you a sense of traditional London hotel. Good service.
reviewed by Dave, 54 weeks ago
The Goring is fantastic for a quick informal mtg. It's a stones throw from Victoria Station and if you're coming into town from the south then you can meet people quickly and jump back on the train.
The service is top notch, small magic touches like the tea served with strainers, shortbread with the goring crest and a great touch asking people not to open their laptops or use their phones meaning you can talk without the need to grab the powerpoint. Check out the gents for some humour too!
Latest Reviews
reviewed by Lydia, 39 weeks ago
Opened in 1860 by a passionate Scottish fishmonger, Scotts was known as the most glamorous oyster bars in town and prospered for the next 100 years, until the IRA bombed it in 1975, heralding an era of stuffy clientele and a lacklustre experience. This has all changed in recent years with the cobwebs being blown away, a return to the menu that originally made it famous, helped along by an insurgence of young British artists (including Tracey Emin, Gary Hume and Damien Hurst) contributing to the décor. The menu is now a stunning complement to the historic surroundings and with fantastically fresh fish on offer, and a wide choice of native oysters available, you won’t fail to be impressed. For guests wanting more hearty fare, meat, fish and game are beautifully cooked and well-complimented with seasonal vegetables. Ian Fleming is still celebrated at Scott’s after naming it his favourite restaurant and often referencing it in the novels, but it is also a great place for spotting modern day celebs – Elton John and Jack Nicholson have been known to frequent here. There is no bar license as such, but you can drink with your meal. Martinis start from £9, Oysters from £17.00, Starters from £5.00 and Mains from £17.25
reviewed by xanthe, 39 weeks ago
Great local deli. If you fancy going on a picnic in Dulwich Park or Peckham Rye then pop in here for your goodies. Try the 'Kentish flute' a small baguette which you can stuff with some goodies from the shop (about £1.40+)
Albert's Table Restaurant, 49b&c South End, Croydon, Surrey CR0 1BF, England, UK
- 1 rating
Find out morereviewed by Lydia, 53 weeks ago
What delicious food. So pleased that Croydon offers this type of experience for those of us who want something a bit special. The style of food is very much British, but modern. Highly recommend this restaurant. The food is really fresh and also from local producers. Worth the price £25 for 2 courses. The wine was a bit pricey but managed to drink and enjoy it anyway. The service was efficient, warm and friendly. Love it! Will be back again soon...
reviewed by ellie, 44 weeks ago
Fantastic new idea. Food very nice, not much quantity wise but it's more about quality, you can order more sides anyway, prices are good for the experience and what you're getting. The interactivness absolutely brilliant.
reviewed by Helen, 39 weeks ago
Delicious authentic Goan food. Unpretentious and friendly service, I would recommend this for family lunch to romantic evening out.
reviewed by ellie, 37 weeks ago
If you're in the area, want a quick healthy lunch and the abilility to create a sandwich with the ingredients you want and the way you want it (brown bread, white bread, toasted, buttered, mayonaise etc) then this is the place for you. What's even better is it's very reasonably priced (£2.75 for a roast chicken salad sandwhich!! In London!). Not a coffee drinker myself but I have heard their coffee is nice too.
reviewed by Karmina, 34 weeks ago
There are 3 great things about this restaurant: the food, the prices, and the number of locations.
The chain itself serves Japanese inspired food, which is made quickly and healthy. The menu features a variety of gyoza, udon, ramen, miso, and other popular foods. One of my favorites is the Chilli Chicken Ramen, it's great on a damp London day.
The price is great when you're in London on a budget. Side dishes range from around £1-£5 and most main dishes are around £8. Every time I go here I leave stuffed, and I have yet to finish my entire dish.
Thirdly, there are locations all over London, as well as England. Which makes it really convenient to find. There are locations by Tower of London, in Leicester Square, and near Victoria station just to name a few.
reviewed by Lydia, 39 weeks ago
Looking to enjoy some world class cuisine AND dine guilt-free? Long gone are the days when the 2 were mutually exclusive; Acorn House restaurant in Kings Cross offers the ultimate in eco-friendly dining chic. With fresh seasonal menus, a dedication to healthy eating and heavy emphasis on environmental responsibility, Acorn House is ideal for a new generation of eco-warriors who love good food in a glamorous setting. Every aspect from design through to delivery aims to be environmentally conscious and sustainable, preferably using local produce. For lunch the venue is hustling and busting with an influx of invariably trendy diners and the menu ranges from seasonal vegetables, meats and fish, to cold meats, fresh salads, fresh fruit and soft breads. For dinner, the venue becomes a lot more intimate and sophisticated with a more structured menu offering seasonal starters like wild garlic & spinach soup with pistachio crème fresh and mains like Mamma Chiomento’s potato Gnocchi with oxtail and mint; to sublime puddings like Chocolate tart or Toffee Pannacotta. Not only is the food good for you but it is good for the community too – the venue is run by the Shoreditch Trust as a social enterprise, offering training to locals to achieve a national qualification. Lunch from £10, two-course dinner from £30 per head, without wine, tasting menus also available for 9 people or more, from £29.50 per head.
Latest Reviews
reviewed by Andrew Bowman, 52 weeks ago
Part of the mini-empire that includes the brilliant Soul Jazz Records and Dynamite! club nights. The shop stocks a massive range of reggae, jazz, hip-hop, soul, latin, electro, disco, dubstep (and more) - plus there's the secondhand basement. The same enthusiasm and expertise that informs Soul Jazz’s peerless compilation output comes through in the shop, one of Soho's real treasures.
reviewed by anecdote_queen, 39 weeks ago
Can't give it 5 because i've never been in - but i find just the existence of it soothing!
reviewed by Lydia, 39 weeks ago
Selling everything from common-or-garden brollies for £10 to examples like one of their biggest sellers, a standard black umbrella topped with a solid silver skull on the handle that sells at in excess of £300. Worth a visit for the architecture alone, the building is a beautiful testament to the Victorians knowledge of retail design and has remained unchanged for the last 100 years. While the selection of umbrellas, canes and walking sticks is vast (securing their status as the oldest and largest umbrella shop in Europe) the sign outside promises ‘dagger canes and sword sticks’ which are no longer in the inventory. It became illegal to carry a lethal weapon disguised as a walking stick in the 1980’s but the sign remains as the shops signage is listed and can’t be removed.
reviewed by NėilMajor, 51 weeks ago
The best dance music store in London as far as I'm concerned. Friendly staff, greatly selection of stuff, and a fun place to hang out. Also run a great website and free magazine - Fact Magazine. www.factmagazine.co.uk
reviewed by Andrew Bowman, 52 weeks ago
The premier exponent of a join-the-dots aesthetic - expect to find the finest selections on vinyl and CD from across a global groove spectrum that takes in soul, reggae, latin, African and the furthest outreaches of folk, hip-hop, house, modern composition and electronica. Bolstered by the success of the highly regarded Honest Jon’s record label – co-founded with Blur/Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn, HJ’s will hopefully remain a permanent fixture on the quiet end of West London’s Portobello Road.
Rough Trade East, 'Dray Walk', Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
- 1 rating
Find out morereviewed by Andrew Bowman, 52 weeks ago
The number one destination of the independent-minded music fan since the heyday of punk, Rough Trade (which spawned the Smiths-signing label of the same name) has always managed to please while moving with the times. Their new store, just off the East End’s legendary Brick Lane, is Wi-Fi-friendly, with a café and performance and exhibition space. Stocks a vast array of records and CDs, spanning the entire cool continuum– indie pop to hip-hop, punk to post-rock, folk to funk, retro to right now.
reviewed by Andrew Bowman, 52 weeks ago
Wall racks filled to bursting with UK, US and European releases, exclusives, promos, white labels…BM SOHO (formerly Black Market Records) is the home of the 12” single. One of dance music’s longest standing institutions, it has steadily serviced both the superstar and the bedroom DJ since its inception in 1990. Staffed by producers, label owners, DJs and promoters, BM is relied upon for its matchless expertise and is consequently nearly always crowded - get in there early on a weekday!
reviewed by Andrew Bowman, 52 weeks ago
Owing to its broad range and cheap prices, Sister Ray should be the first port of call on any music shopping binge. Check here before the entertainment superstores or other specialists for CD and vinyl bargains in all genres. SR is especially good for indie rock, classic albums and reissues alongside cheap DVDs, merchandise and books, and unlike most other stores is open seven days a week. Immortalised (in its previous incarnation as Selectadisc) on the cover of Oasis’s What’s The Story.
reviewed by Andrew Bowman, 52 weeks ago
A truly special store, a couple of minutes stroll from Portobello Road Market, Intoxica! would almost be worth visiting for its Hawaiian beach shack décor alone. The real treat though is the treasure trove of vintage vinyl (no CDs), that nestles in amongst the fancy fixtures and fittings. Their expertly handled catalogue of rare, collectable second hand and quality reissue platters covers 60s beat, psychedelia, soundtracks, surf, ska, soul, blues/rnb, punk and exotica.