Thursday, August 12, 2010

Off the West-End

Do you love theatre but dislike the price tag that comes with west-end tickets? Then why not organise a trip to a nearby independent theatre.

With great shows, fewer tourists and affordable tickets, I would strongly recommend the following.

The Tricycle Theatre: Situated on Kilburn High Road, this theatre has a constant stream of great shows. Ticket prices are also very reasonable. While usually £15, Tuesday evenings and Saturday matinee performances are 'pay what you can' for students (the first 20 seats) and reduced to £8 on Wednesdays. There is also a very nice cinema and restaurant.

The Hampstead Theatre: To avoid confusion, the Hampstead Theatre is NOT in Hampstead, it is outside Swiss Cottage tube station. Once again, very interesting productions have been performed here with tickets at the £12 mark.

Lyric Hammersmith: I must confess, I have not yet visited this great venue. Then how could I possibly know of its greatness? (I hear you ask). Well...every time I have tried to book my reasonably priced £10 ticket for one of their shows, it has always already sold out!

Links:





Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Faces to a name





Left to Right: My Village Café, Primrose Patisserie, Café 202

(Mike’s Café will have to remain a mystery…no picture could be found)

Take a break

A trip to a café should be a break from reality. A small smidgen of time that lets you forget the rush, stress and troubles of everyday life.

Many Londoners’ relish in the non-stop city life thereby getting used to the to-go approach of the big chains. Wait! Slow down! And turn to our fellow Europeans (as well as my suggestions) for inspiration on how to sit back, relax and take a break.

Mike’s Café: Since opening in the 1960s, this place has been bustling ever since. While famous for their traditional English fry up and a great atmosphere, my personal favourite is their homemade milkshake – don't miss out, they even give you the left overs that don’t manage to fit in the glass!

12 Blenheim Cresent, Notting Hill, W11 1NN, 02072293757

Primrose Patisserie: Unpretentious, simple and relaxing. Situated on the doorstep of Primrose Hill Park, this is a great café to sit and watch the world go by. When faced with the decision of which cake to choose, a strong suggestion is the infamous apple cake. That is, unless one has an aversion to apples.

136 Regent's Park Road, Primrose Hill, NW1 8XL, 0207 722 7848 (Nearest tube: Chalk Farm)

Café 202: This café is perfect if you feel like treating yourself for a special breakfast. The brunch menu includes delicious waffles, eggs, pancakes and much more. While there is often a queue on weekends, it goes relatively fast and before you know it, you will be sitting, relaxing and enjoying.

202 Westbourne Grove, Nothing Hill, W11 2RH, 0207 727 2722

My Village Café: The owner is lovely, the food is great and the atmosphere is one of my favorites. Situated towards the Chalk Farm end of Camden Highstreet, this great find has amazing coffee and papers to read as well as wonderful tasters dished out by the staff.

37 Chalk Farm Road, Chalk Farm, NW1, 8AJ, 0207 485 4996

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

In England we trust

Whilst most of these posts consider things to IN London, today, I thought I would venture outside of my metaphorical box.

I present to you – The National Trust – a famous institution aimed at preserving England’s beautiful estates and gardens.

Although for many, a trip to a National Trust estate is a by-word for an OAP’s fun day out, this need not result in the younger generation missing out on England’s beauty.

With over 300 places to visit (many of which have overnight accommodation), a National Trust experience can make a wonderful getaway. Whether you find yourself in a Medieval castle or walking amongst gorgeous landscapes, I guarantee that your hours/days/weeks will be very enjoyable.

Whilst entry to the estates and gardens cost on average £10, the purchase of a (heavily discounted) young person’s annual membership for those between 13-25yrs, is £22. This will get you in anywhere without needing a ticket. What’s more, those joining for the first time and paying by direct debit get the bargain price of £16!

Knowing this, I hope your National Trust image will be transformed from its former self to a more interesting and alternative young person’s recreational activity. Enjoy ;)

Links:

The National Trust

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Best of British

One thing unique to England is its pub culture. Whilst it is to blame for many of society’s faults, there are numerous lovely features make one’s local pub well worth a visit. Whether it be relaxing in a cozy setting or stimulating the mind with the aid of the weekly pub quiz, here are some suggestions in effort to increase the frequency of your pub experiences.

In no particular order,

The Hollybush: Tucked away behind Hampstead Highstreet this pub is a secret gem. My favourite day is a Sunday when it gets packed with young professionals, families and locals all wanting the classic Sunday roast.

Tube: Hampstead

The Clifton: This is a lovely place to go if you want something very local as its distance from the nearest tube (only a 20 minute walk away) is too much for most Londoners to handle. With many board games to choose from (Othello being my personal favorite), a challenging Wednesday night quiz and 2 for 1 steak nights make sure to grace this little secret with your presence.

Tube: St Johns Wood or Maida Vale

The Grand Union: This gastro pub has been included in this list mainly for its great atmosphere on a Friday or Saturday night. Don’t judge it on its overly loud music or slightly expensive beer since its main reason for drawing the crowds is its convenient whilst off the beaten track location (just up Camden Road) and funky décor.

Tube: Camden

The Windsor Castle: Whilst many pubs are forced to flourish in either Winter or Summer, somehow this place manages to do so in both. During the former, outside heaters, blankets and mulled wine allow the beer garden to maintain its constant hum of conversation whilst in Summer, good weather and nice jugs of Pimms make sure the fun keeps going all year round.

Tube: Notting Hill Gate

Many others I have failed to mention will make a spurious list which I will add to as they pop into my head. However, as not to bore you further, I will confine their entry to only include their names and website details.

-The Old Bull and Bush (Hampstead/Golders Green)

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Going to the movies

In today's world, many of you may think that paying money for a trip to the movies in lieu of a free download is a waste of time and money. However, this will no longer be the case having read my list of alternatives. I, for one, have been sucked in by mass film advertising campaigns; I am 'fanatical about film'; I 'love film, [and] hate piracy' and agree that 'there is nothing better than the big screen'. Consequently, I will attempt to accommodate all kinds with the following:

For those who fancy a treat:

If instead of budget, comfort is the prerequisite for your cinema experience then the luxury of Everyman cinemas is just for you. Whilst prices do seem on the high side (average £14), generous couches, waiter service and toilets which play the audio through speakers, may warrant for some, the extra pounds.

To those who fancy a steal, here are some of London's best:

1) Coronet Cinema: A beautiful, church-owned, independent cinema which offers tickets for just £3.50 on Mondays (for students showing valid ID) and Tuesdays (for everyone!).
Tube: Notting Hill Gate

2) ICA: If you fancy some alternative film, go to Happy Mondays (£5 tickets) at the ICA. This cinema is a wonderful place to go to as it's right opposite St James' Park (my personal favorite), however, book online early as tickets always sell out.
Tube: Charing Cross/Leicester Square

3) Orange Wednesdays: Although this promotion has been running since 2003, few on the Orange network remember to take advantage of it. Text FILM to 241, show it to the box office and voila... 2 for 1 cinema tickets will be provided. However, make sure you find out that the cinema you visit accepts the deal by checking on the Orange website.

Links:


Saturday, December 26, 2009

On your bike!

London is great for many things. However, if you ask people what annoys them most about the city, a top three list may include: Bad weather, Expensive & overcrowded public transport and Traffic (In no particular order)

So as a potential solution to these problems I propose that Londoners trade in their comfortable car seats and excessive tolerance of public transport and start cycling! Perhaps I will be able to generate some enthusiasm with the aid of a lovely list…

  • It’s a free way to travel - you could be saving over £1,000 a year, based on an annual travel card; zones 1-2
  • It’s a great form of exercise – you can burn anything from around 400-1400 calories per hour, depending on weight and speed
  • It’s astonishingly quick – you can cover 4 miles in an average of 22 minutes in central London on a bike, which would usually take 40 minutes by car
  • Free cycle maps are available from the Transport for London website

If the content of this post (and my use of smiley faced bullets points!) has captured your momentary interest, a good bike shop that doesn’t exploit its monopolistic power (cough, cough…Evans Cycles and Cycle Surgery) would be Camden Cycles.

This is a secondhand bike shop whose closest tube station is ironically not Camden but Mornington Crescent. Here you can get quality brands at very good prices. What’s more, you can take in your old bike and trade it against the cost of a new one, or simply take your old rusty bike for a reasonably-priced service (£35 vs. £50 when I took my bike to Cycle Surgery).

I paid a total of £200 and gave in my old bike for an almost brand new Pinnacle unisex hybrid. It rides like a dream, which if new would have cost me £500. (Bicycle prices can be anything from £30 upwards so there’s something for everyone!)

Links:

Fighting Fit

Free maps from Transport for London

Camden Cycles