Category: In London

In London for Valentine’s Day? Not sure where to go? Ronny Lavie reveals five of the most romantic, or not, venues in the capital on 14th February.

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us and, single or attached, London is full of exciting, romantic and quirky ways to fly the flag for true love. These are some of the options, whether you are an advocate of old-school courtship or a more modern approach to sweeping that special someone off their feet (and, for one option in particular, I mean that in the literal sense)…

For the traditionalist:

Simple and classy, dinner and a movie is the ultimate date night. For the most romantic atmosphere, head to Gordon’s Wine Bar on Villiers Street – an intimate underground bar with soft lighting and an impressive wine selection, or Julie’s Restaurant in Holland Park – a hidden gem with several rooms, all with different decor and atmosphere; head to the Garden Room or ‘Pink’ Room for pure romance, or the ‘Snug’ for a cosy drink. After dinner, there are many cinematic specials to choose from around town. Cineworld is bringing Moulin Rouge back to the big screen for one night only, while the Prince Charles Cinema, the BFI, Hackney’s Roof Gardens, Riverside Studios and even Kensington Palace are all showing some of the most iconic examples of devotion ever seen on screen.

For the hopeless romantic:

Nothing says romance like a champagne river cruise, and the Thames is being put to excellent use this Valentine’s Day. Multiple companies, including City Cruises and Bateaux London, offer couples the chance to spend the evening taking in some of London’s most famous sights from the unusual angle of the River Thames. Most packages also include champagne, fancy food and a suitably romantic soundtrack.

For the thrill seeker:

For adrenaline junkies, The Ghost Bus Tour provides the perfect excuse to cling to each other as you are driven through the streets of the city, while a creepy conductor tells you about its gruesome history. Actors and technology will provide the scares onboard, making this a bus ride you will never forget. And if that’s not enough to get your blood pumping, the Lover’s Leap Tandem Bungee Jump package deal surely will be. While the jump itself cannot take place on V day, it will make a great setting for you and your other half to really, ahem, fall head over heels for each other (sorry, I couldn’t resist!).

For the non-conformist:

If you and your partner want to experience the way love was celebrated in yesteryear, you should take yourself down to the Museum of London for its Valentine’s @ Late. The theme is the roaring 20s and attendees are invited to dress in the spirit of the era. Swing Dance UK will be giving Charleston lessons, and there will also be art lessons to help you create funky accessories and Valentines cards, plus a Literary Saloon and a talk by Beatrice Behlen about fashion and sexuality in London at the time.

For the anti-valentines:

Those of you who’ve recently had your heart broken must see Valentine’s Day as some kind of torture. For a scientific approach to matters of the heart, head to St Bartholomew’s Pathology Museum for its Mending Broken Hearts Seminar on February 13th. There will be a discussion about heart surgery and a talk about the benefits of wine and chocolate. They will also be giving out free samples of both and, at the end of the day, single or not and whatever time of the year it is, what more does one need?

At 310m, it’s the tallest building in western Europe (the Eiffel Tower is taller at 324m, but that’s a structure rather than a building), and after the Shard opened to the public last Friday, we thought we’d pay London’s latest tourist attraction a visit. On a particularly clear night, these are the top 10 views you can expect:

Continue reading The Shard: Top 10 Views From the Top

More than three inches of snow have fallen on the capital since Friday, with temperatures struggling to get above freezing. Here’s a selection of images from the weekend:

Continue reading Snow in London: Photoblog

Stanfords’ very own Hubert Mical has launched an exhibition of his 12 favourite London images, from Battersea Power Station at night to St Paul’s Cathedral.

Entitled The City We Live In, his images will remain on display at Mamuska Polish restaurant on the first floor of Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre until the New Year. Here’s a sample of what to expect:

Continue reading The City We Live In: An Exhibition by Hubert Mical

Lonely Planet author Joe Bindloss explores London’s myriad attractions by following that most iconic of rivers – the Thames.

For centuries, London has called out like a beacon to entrepreneurs, dreamers and chancers from across the globe. In the 19th century, the docks along the River Thames formed a living map of the trade routes of the British Empire. The dimly-lit alleyways of Limehouse were home to London’s first Chinatown, while the docks of the East India company marked the first step on British soil for generations of Indian merchant sailors.

It seems appropriate in Olympic year, after an opening ceremony paying homage to the remarkable diversity of the capital, to look at London through the prism of the River Thames – the mighty trade conduit that made all this possible. Even the MV Empire Windrush, which made a papier-mâché cameo in the Olympic opening spectacle, made its first landfall after Jamaica on the banks of the River Thames.

A handy reference point

Like most Londoners, my mental map of the city places everything in relation to the river – all points are ‘north’ or ‘south’ of this central fulcrum – and the Thames is the one mandatory stop on the improvised city tour that I lay on for house guests from overseas, or visitors from out of town, or just about anyone willing to tag along.

Opinions are divided on the best vantage point from which to view the Thames. Many rate the stately views from the Royal Naval College at Greenwich; others insist on the epic view towards the Houses of Parliament from the London Eye. But for my money, the prime vantage point is halfway across the Millennium Bridge, with the dark brick chimney of the Tate Modern behind and the radiant dome of St Paul’s Cathedral ahead.

Roam the Thames Path

But why not work up to the perfect Thames view by picking up the Thames Path at Tower Bridge, with a detour into the narrow alleyways of Shad Thames, the last piece of London’s historic docklands to retain a trace of its Victorian atmosphere? The docks themselves moved downriver to Tilbury in the 20th century, but the walk to London’s Design Museum beneath the overlapping gangways of Shad Thames still conjures up images of smoke-filled alehouses full of seafarers, iniquity and adventure.

Returning west, duck into the Tower Bridge Exhibition to see the Victorian mechanism that once raised the bridge for tall ships, and peek over the walls of the Tower of London (film buffs might recognise the view from the final fight in Guy Ritchie’s lock-and-stock version of Sherlock Holmes).

Nearby, the Thames is immortalised in human form, posed on a giant anchor with trident in hand, on the frontage of 10 Trinity Square. The similarity between Old Father Thames and Neptune was deliberate, sending out a message of Britain as master of the seas. This striking building was used for the inaugural meeting of the United Nations in 1946 and the park in front commemorates the 36,000 merchant sailors who lost their lives in WWI and WWII.

Returning to the south bank, continue past the Norman Foster-designed motorcycle helmet that houses London’s City Hall and admire the fearsome profile of the warship HMS Belfast, camouflaged in shades of grey that blend remarkably with the architecture of the City of London.

Towards London Bridge

The walk west towards London Bridge was a lot more dramatic before 1967, when John Rennie’s Haytor-granite bridge was moved stone and mortar to Arizona by the American millionaire Robert P McCulloch. In fact, it looked even more dramatic before 1824, when the medieval London Bridge was demolished to accommodate larger merchant ships. For a glimpse of the old old London Bridge, complete with chapels, shops and fortifications, check out the model in the church of St Magnus the Martyr on the north bank.

From the modern incarnation of London Bridge, there’s a grandstand view of Europe’s tallest building, Renzo Piano’s 309.6m-high Shard of Glass, which looms above the city like… well, like a shard of glass. The topping-out ceremony was held with appropriate fanfare on 30th March 2012; a few days later, a team of BASE jumpers revealed they had been leaping off the structure for years.

The next web of alleyways winds westwards past the Clink, London’s most notorious medieval prison (in use for 600 years, though repeatedly burned down by rioters), and a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hinde, which circumnavigated the globe before finding a second career as a tourist attraction and filming location for chintzy seafaring movies. Almost across the road is the unglazed stone frame of the rose window from the 14th century Palace of Winchester.

Duck under a few more bridges and you’ll find yourself in front of Shakespeare’s Globe, which still does a commendable job of recreating the turnip-throwing glory of Elizabethan theatre, despite being conceived by Hollywood actor Sam Wanamaker (the ruins of Shakespeare’s original Globe are buried under a car park a few hundred metres downstream).

Stroll west to the Millennium Bridge

A few more steps west and bingo, there’s the Millennium Bridge, with those dreamlike views towards the gleaming dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, which was once stained almost black with pollution from the power station that now houses the Tate Modern. You could spend half a day in either, or continue west past the arty boutiques of Oxo Tower Wharf, built using the fortunes derived from Britain’s best-loved stock cube (which was actually invented by a German baron and manufactured in Argentina).

Continuing west along the river, an army of street performers heralds your arrival at the South Bank Centre, established as a ‘tonic for the nation’ during the 1951 Festival of Britain. Now London’s premier centre for the arts, these concrete precincts include such prestigious venues as the National Theatre, the British Film Institute and the Hayward Gallery (a tip from a local – the shows inside are much more interesting than all the keeping-still-while-sprayed-gold going on outside).

During the summer, events for families spill out onto the river bank, or you can observe a free show every day of the year, courtesy of the skateboarders flipping ollies in the undercroft of the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Pick up a second-hand novel in the book market beneath Waterloo Bridge, or leave a slice of ham as homage at the statue of Britain’s favourite thespian luvvie, Lawrence Olivier.

Waterloo sunset

Like the closing ceremony of the Olympics, my tour of the Thames finishes with a nod to Ray Davies and The Kinks at Waterloo. At sunset, soar high above the crowds of commuters on the London Eye to see the usually-murky waters of the Thames shimmering in the evening light – a good metaphor for London really: sometimes tarnished, but scratch the surface and you’ll find gold.

For more on the sights and spectacles strung out along the River Thames, pick up Lonely Planet’s

> London City Guide or

> London Pocket Guide

You may also be interested in the following London travel guides:

> Not For Parents: London

> London Discover Guide

It sometimes makes sense to vary or change your routine. It can open your eyes to new perspectives, to things you hadn’t considered before. A walk to work is the perfect solution for urban commuter fatigue syndrome, which city dwellers the world over will have experienced at some point or other. Continue reading As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning

There are many ways to explore London, and most of them involve looking at specialist books and maps or following guides with a crowd of people. But now Stanfords are introducing a different way to discover the delights of the capital, with Stanfords Self-Guided Audio Tours.  These are like the audio guides we use in museums and galleries, but out on the street. It’s time to look up – not down!

These informative and amusing Audio Tours come in a ready-to-go package containing your own mp3 player preloaded with an audio tour specially designed with Stanfords customers in mind. Headphones, a lanyard, a battery and a unique map of the route complete the kit, and it’s yours to keep. All you have to do is press play and start walking – and listening.

The commentary is intelligent and engaging. The music and ambient sound effects are enhancing. Continue reading Looking at London – with Your Ears

Getting around London by bicycle has never been so accessible. With the city’s public cycle hire scheme, cycle superhighways around the capital and improvements to cycle paths in preparation for the 2012 Olympics, there has never been a better time to get on your bike. Cycling is a great way to get fit and experience another side of London as well as saving money on transport. Whether you are a visitor to the city or a life long resident, discover London from another perspective with the best of our cycling books and guides. Continue reading Cycling London

Although there are a huge number of museums to visit in London and an array of must-see attractions, it is also home to beautiful parks and open spaces, a plethora of fine restaurants and some of the best shopping districts in Europe. Below are our top 5 places to go in London.

South Bank: Overlooked by the iconic London Eye, this area along the Thames River is only a short walk from the West End and offers stunning views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben across the Thames. Home to London’s Aquarium, The Hayward Gallery and the Jubilee Gardens, South Bank is the perfect place for an afternoon stroll.

Covent Garden: A top location for entertainment, this popular area in London’s West End is a must-see for visitors to London. Wander the cobbled streets and quaint winding streets before visiting the historic market on the Piazza at very heart of Covent Garden.

Richmond Park: With herds of deer wandering the open landscapes, cycle paths and horse riding, Richmond Park is a serene escape from busy city life. London’s largest Royal Park at almost 100 hectares, Richmond Park is a unique way to spend a day in London.

Oxford Street: A mile and a half from end to end and lined with every high street shop imaginable including some of London’s finest department stores, Oxford Street is a shopppers heaven. Although it can be busy during rush hour, it offers unrivaled shopping and is close by the stylish Regents Street which leads onto Piccadilly Circus

Trafalgar Square: A visit to London would not be complete without a visit tot he famous Trafalgar Square. At it’s centre lies the historic Nelson’s Column surrounded by four bronze lions and the square is home to The National Gallery and St Martin-in-the-Fields. Throughout the year there are numerous cultural events, parades, performances and events taking place on the square.

Planning a trip to London? Browse all our London maps and guides here >

With the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations taking place over the June bank holiday and an exciting summer ahead for the city, it’s no surprise that London has been named the top place to visit in the world for the very first time.Compiled by review site TripAdvisor as part of the annual Travellers’ Choice, the information is based on the reviews of millions of travellers. Below are the other destinations that made the list for 2012.

Top 10 Destinations 2012

1. London

2. New York

3. Rome

4. Paris

5. San Francisco

6. Marrakesh

7. Istanbul

8. Barcelona

9. Siem Reap

10. Berlin

Planning a trip to London? Browse all our London maps and guides here >