London Living: A night out with expats

London Living: A night out with expats!

If you live in London, new to London, about to move to London and want to meet some new people then you should join London Living.

My friend Colleen runs the online social community and does a fantastic job. It's all free, seriously!! She's just that cool of a person! London Living will help you in many different aspects of your upcoming move or your new move if you are already here...

Check it out: London Living

Need proof that you can meet fun people?
Here are some pictures of the latest pub social at The Porthouse in Covent Garden.

The London Living ladies and visitor Chris Cannon

Colleen our fearless leader and London visitor, Chris Cannon from News Channel 5

so much fun that some how my husband ended up with stickers on his shoe

Mike had to hide his shiny North Face logo

Delirium anyone?

Royal Wedding: Preparations?

Royal Wedding: Preparations ?

The other day we were roaming around the city and spotted this street towards Buckingham Palace lined with Union Jack flags. We thought it was in prep for the Royal Wedding, but then when we turned on the telly the next day we quickly learned it was the stretch towards the finish line for the London Marathon.

Will William and Kate also take this street on their way to Buckingham Palace after their "I do's".... you know to do their wave on the balcony to the people?

Buckingham Palace in the distance

London: Red Telephone Box

London: Red Telephone Box (Booth)!

I finally got a picture with a telephone booth in London... yeah I know, its taken me a while...

Do they actually have working phones in them? YES


Do they smell of human waste? YES

Should you get a picture with one while visiting? Without a Doubt!

These beauties have been around since Sir Giles Gilbert Scott designed them in 1925 and can be found in the following places around the world: United Kingdom, Malta, Bermuda and Gibraltar.
 


There are a few different versions of the telephone box/booth... the first one was the K1.  
Per wikipedia: The first standard public telephone kiosk introduced by the United Kingdom Post Office was produced in concrete in 1920 and was designated K1 (Kiosk No.1). This design was not of the same family as the familiar red telephone boxes. Very few remarkable examples remain. One shining example is located in Trinity market in Kingston-upon-Hull where it is still in use today.

Wendy with London in a Day inside a London telephone booth

Connaught Hotel: Afternoon Tea

Connaught Hotel: Afternoon Tea


While our friend was in town we decided to kick things up a bit and have a proper Afternoon Tea at the 5 star swanky yet in no way snobby Connaught Hotel.

Do I recommend a tea at the Connaught Hotel? Yes, reserve a spot in the Espelette and ask for a window seat.

We all know that pictures speak louder than words so please enjoy:

Connaught Hotel

Espelette at the Connaught Hotel

Connaught Hotel

Those buns were good and the egg salad sandwich was the best I have ever eaten.

If I look a little dazed its the cold medicine I was on. I got sick the day our friend arrived. That tiered masterpiece to my right cheered me up though.

Best jams I have ever eaten. Seriously!

 

Wendy from London in a Day and Chris Cannon from News Channel 5 having a splendid Happy Birthday Afternoon Tea at the Connaught Hotel

His Happy Birthday surprise from the Connaught Hotel

Random Goat? In London?

Random Goat? In London?

Does anyone have any idea as to why this goat is standing on a stack of crates near Spittafield's Market (near Brick Lane) ?

Hotels in London

While my friend was in town and in the name of research for my private tour guide company "London in a Day" we went on a "Hotel Crawl".

I love seeing new hotels so this was a lot of fun.

We checked out the bar area, afternoon tea area, lobby and even the bathrooms.

Here are the pictures that will walk you through our Hotel Crawl of London: 

Intercontinental Park Lane ~ Loved the decor and it had a lovely smell running throughout

Intercontinental Park Lane ~ Bar area

Intercontinental Park Lane: Lobby area looking into the bar area

We really liked the Intercontinental Park Lane, the decor was lovely, the smell was even better, the bathrooms were spotless and up to date. The people were very friendly and the location can't be beat.

Park Lane Hotel located on Piccadilly... This is the tea area, it was nice. The lobby was a bit drab. The bar/restaurant area was a bit weird with wallpaper that had weird faces all over it. Sheraton owns this particular hotel.

Le Meridien Hotel located on Piccadilly - This is an inside picture of their cool bar called " Longitude 0. 8. ~ This picture really doesn't give this bar justice. I really liked the inside.

Bar entrance

Le Meridien Hotel ~ The Terrace Restaurant/ Bar~ This is where they serve afternoon tea, lunch and dinner.  It was nice, but on a warm day all that glass and sunshine made for a very warm environment... they need to work on turning up the air...  They also have some 2 and 3 course lunch specials if you are interested... On a side note...they have very high quality products in their bathrooms which is always a plus.

Claridge's Hotel on Brook Street ...located off Oxford Street just a bit

Claridge's Hotel lobby and afternoon tea area

Claridge's Hotel Afternoon Tea area - the chandelier was absolutely beautiful (If you want to book, book at least 12 weeks in advance or you are very likely not to get a booking)

Claridges Hotel: Mens bathroom ( my friend took this picture not me. The womens was nice, but I was too busy sitting at the vanity inside it brushing my hair to take a picture...sorry...)

Swissotel: located just across the street from Temple Station and down the street from popular Fleet Street ~ This is their bar/afternoon tea area facing their fantastic outside area

Swissotel: bar, restaurant, afternoon tea area

Swissotel: I love this outside area. I will definitely be back to have drinks out there on sunny day or a warm evening.

Brown's Hotel: located just off Piccadilly. We forgot to take pictures once we got inside...oops!... We loved the bar area, very cool!, nice bathrooms... Did we like the afternoon tea area? No, we found it kind of boring and sleepy.  Did we like their restaurant area? Yeah, it was ok.  We mostly just fell in love with their nice bar.

Stay tuned for the scoop on the Connaught Hotel where we had Afternoon tea...

London: World Photography Festival

London: World Photography Festival:

I'm so bummed that I'm going to miss this... Hopefully you can go though!


Vodafone London Fashion Weekend and the World Photography Organisation have teamed up to offer you an exclusive 20% discount on Festival Passes for the World Photography Festival at the fashionable location of Somerset House in London.

The World Photography Festival will see a wealth of photographic events taking place from 26th April – 1st May and a Festival Pass will also grant you access to exhibitions including the Sony World Photography Awards 2011 winners and a retrospective of work by Bruce Davidson, recipient of our Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award.

Get involved and get inspired – click here to buy your Festival Pass now and enter the promotional code LFW20 to redeem your 20% discount.  (if the link does not work please visit their site)

BBC PROMS: Royal Albert Hall 2011

BBC PROMS: Royal Albert Hall 2011

BBC Proms 2011

Season announced Thursday 14 April

The BBC Proms return to the Hall from Friday 15 July to Saturday 10 September. Plan your Proms concert-going online at your leisure before tickets go on sale, at any time from 12 noon on Thursday 14 April until midnight on Friday 6 May, using our online Proms Planner.

Booking will then open on Saturday 7 May at 9am.

If you have never been to a show at the Royal Albert Hall, it is a MUST!

You can also tour the venue. I've done it and it's pretty decent. You can find a 2for1 coupon at Days Out Guide

J.M. Barrie

J.M. Barrie:

My latest find... this is located on Bayswater Road not too far from where I live...  I noticed it on my 3.5 mile walk the other day...  If you don't remember, this guy wrote "Peter Pan"

J.M. Barrie

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus and the Statue of Eros:

Piccadilly Circus...  Statue of Eros... 2011

Piccadilly Circus has had so much energy running through it over the years, but now it just has a little more neon to go with it...
As you can tell from the picture below taken in 1896  Sanyo wasn't quite so prominent.

Credit: Wikipedia for the picture from 1896



Speaking of that Sanyo sign if you haven't heard they did not renew their lease that allows them to have that neon sign soooo.... in the upcoming months keep an eye out for who will replacement it... It's been years and years since someone has been removed from that famous spot.

Piccadilly Circus was created to join Regents Street, Piccadilly and later Shaftesbury Avenue (West End Theater District) together.

Piccadilly Circus Tube Station is also directly under that busy area. How wild is that?!

You may also notice the Statue of Eros "also known as the "The Angel of Christian Charity"

Its a statue of an archer... it kind of reminds me of cupid... Back in its day it was pretty naughty with it being one of the first statue to be naked and all... it was also the first statue to be cast in aluminum from what I've read...

What is there to do in Piccadilly Circus?  Shop! See a play! I really LOVE WICKED and Jersey Boys is good too. See a movie! Eat! Drink! People watch! Check out some of the fancy 5 star hotels near by... Take a walk to Trafalgar Square... then to Westminster... 

Heck, the better question is What ISN'T THERE to do?  But what ever you do please don't feed the pigeons.

How do I get to Piccadilly Circus?  You can take a bus... I know that bus #9, #159, #94 and a ton more go there... You can take the tube using Central Line( Get off at Oxford Circus and just walk down Regents Street)... Bakerloo... and Piccadilly....  There is always the cute London Black Cabs too!

Where should I eat? If you don't mind a short walk I recommend Mildred's near Carnaby Street.

Enjoy!

Swiss Cottage

While riding along on Bus 31 yesterday... on our way home from Chalk Farm area we were riding through Swiss Cottage at one point and wondered how it got it's name... I thought it had to do something with a war, but I was wrong...

The district is named after an inn called The Swiss Tavern that was built in 1804 in the style of a Swiss chalet and on the site of a former tollgate keeper's cottage. The inn was later renamed Swiss Cottage

Per wikipedia here is a picture of the original "Swiss Cottage"

per wikipedia... The original Swiss Cottage...


P.S. Did you know The Great Eastern Hotel has a secret train platform that was used to transport fresh sea water from the coast into the spa pools?

The London Coffee Festival

http://www.londoncoffeefestival.com/home.aspx

Per the site:

An inspiring celebration of coffee & food.

The London Coffee Festival was born out of a dream to create the world’s most inspiring celebration of coffee and food culture.

London is rapidly becoming one of the greatest places on earth to discover, taste and share incredible coffee and gourmet food, and is now established at the centre of the new ‘third wave’ coffee scene.

Taking place in the unique environment of the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, the coffee-obsessed and food fanatics will be immersed in a world of discovery, tastings, demonstrations and entertainment.

London Attraction Discounts

London Atrraction Discounts:


Book a Tour with London in a Day and receive discounts at London Attractions:

London Skyline.... www.londoninaday.com

Ben Franklin House: 36 Craven Street, London WC2N 5NF (he lived here for 16 years)

* Receive 2 for 1 discounts (Buy one ticket, get one free)

*Children under the age of 16 receive free admission

Open:Wednesday to Sunday 12-5 PM

Warwick Castle: London in a Day customers receive a discounted price: £11.02 Adults, £6.50 Children, £8.42 Students, £7.77 Seniors. 

Open: Daily 10-5pm (closed Christmas Day)

*To receive this discount booking must be made through London in Day.

Contact: wendy@londoninaday.com or call +44 785095 5238

London Eye: 

1)Photo Voucher: Half Price London Eye Souvenir Photo

2) Groups of 15/more receive discounted admission.

For booking/photo voucher email wendy@londoninaday.com or call +44 785095 5238

Open: Daily 10-830 PM (Closed Christmas Day)

The Freud Museum: 20 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SX

(Sigmund Freud's Home and the home of  the couch where his patients would lie down)

*London in a Day customers receive discounted admission

*Children under the age of 12 receive free admission

Open:Wednesday to Sunday 12-5 PM

and St. Bartholomew The Great Church (founded 1128)...

The Honest Sausage

When walking through Regents Park for the first time I spotted this cute place "The Honest Sausage" the name cracked me up.  Not to mention when I spotted it I also noticed 2 wiener dog's walking away from it. Too cute! I'll have to go there for lunch one day.

The Honest Sausage located in Regents Park

Check out the two very cute wiener dogs leaving The Honest Sausage

Cow and Coffee Bean Shop

We went for a walk in Regents Park for the first time (yes, I know, shame on us for waiting so long...) and I spotted this little hidden jewel "Cow and Coffee Bean".  I cant wait to go back and try out their coffee and other goodies. It is adorable! Maybe a future Monday Morning Coffee spot?

Off Chester Road Regents Park, London NW1 4NU - 020 7224 3872

London in a Day

New Tours have Just Arrived at London in a Day! 

Spread the word it's a pretty big deal

(insert big smile here)

Cleopatra Needle by Thames River ~ www.londoninaday.com

Here's the latest scoop:

Tour Start Times: 8 a.m.

Tours Include: 1 tour guide, tube/bus fares and will last approximately 5 or 6 hours unless stated otherwise.

For groups larger than 4 please email prior to booking.

For more information email: info@londoninaday.com

This tour is walking mixed with tube (subway) and double decker bus rides.

 If you prefer to ride more than walk please let us know and we can arrange that.

Landmarks and More:

Cost: £80 per person

If you are into history or even a "see it and flea" you will be amazed!

You will visit and learn about all of London's iconic landmarks such as London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Borough Market, Shakespeare's Globe Theater, British Museum, famous Portobello Market, Notting Hill, and much much more.  This tour does not disappoint!

Royal Wedding Tour:

Cost: £80 per person

The story of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship.

You will  visit and learn about the birthplace of Queen Elizabeth II, the official jeweler of the royal family, Garrard Jewelers, St. James Palace, Queen's Chapel, a Jigsaw Store, The Ritz London, White Gentleman's Clubs, John Lobb Bootmakers, Clarence House, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey.  Along the way you will learn how each of these place's are connected to the Royal Family, especially William and Kate.  April 29, 2011 will be here before you know it!

London Shopping:

Cost: £70 per person

You will start when the stores open which is around 9am depending on the day and starting point.  You will visit adorable boutique's (some which are owned by a celebrity), antique shops, famous shopping streets, the world's famous luxury department stores such as Harrod's, world's largest shoe department and much much more. A shopping fantasy at your fingertips!

Be prepared to be spoiled!  Need a cupcake or a savory treat along the way? No worries, your guide knows all the hidden spots.

Farmers Market Fantasy: Let's Eat!

Cost: £60 per person

Saturday and Sunday Only

You will visit some of the best food markets in the world. See and taste the fresh organic local produce, unbelievable cheese, meat's, breads, wine, marmalade's, custards and so much more. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!  Save room for the "raclette" because when you see it you will want one! Trust me.

Markets and More:

Cost: £60 per person

Saturday and Sunday Only

Love outside markets? This is the tour for you! 

From fashion, antiques, art, food, to souvenirs you can see and experience it all.

Not to mention explore the great city of London along the way...

Create Your Own Tour:

Email us what you'd like to see and do and we will build a personalized tour just for you.

We will create a package to meet your exact needs and then show you around the best city in the world.

• 6 Hour Package: £220 for 1 to 2 people: 

• 6 Hour Package: £390 for 3 to 4 people: 

• 3 Hour Package:  £150 for 1 to 2 people

Contact:

wendy@londoninaday.com

or

info@londoninaday.com

or

call +44 785095 5238

London in a Day℠, LTD

London in a Day LTD is a registered limited company with Companies House UK

Dr. Samuel Johnson

The other day I was roaming around Fleet Street exploring...
when I finally found Dr. Samuel Johnson's House.  Who? or What? is that you ask?

Dr. Johnsons House

"When a man is tired of London he is tired of life" - Dr. Samual Johnson

Dr. Samuel Johnson is a man who worked for years with a small group of friends compiling the first comprehensive English Dictionary.  He became known as "Dictionary Johnson" .
He and his friends piled into 17 Gough Square, EC4 and created one of the most important books every published.


Dr. Johnson was not a rich man, but instead a man dogged with debt. His reputation stood on the shoulders of the Dictionary.  His wife was proud of him, but sadly did not live to see the Dictionary published in 1755...she died in 1752.

Dr. Johnson lived in this house from 1748-1759. He was born 1709 (3 years after Ben Franklin) and died 1784.

The house is located off Fleet Street
Closest Tube Stations are: Temple, Chancery Lane, St. Pauls and Blackfriars.
Bus: Aldwych, Chancery Lane, Fleet Street, Strand.
Telephone: 020-7353-3745
www.drjohnsonshouse.org
Hours: Mon-Sat 11-5pm
 - Closed Bank Holidays.