Tuk Tuk? In London? Yes!

Tuk Tuk? In London? Yes!

In the next month or so you will see me cruising around in this adorable ride, yes it is a Tuk Tuk!!  I can't wait! I'm already dreaming of how fabulous the pictures are going to be and the fun that will be had!!  More details to come so keep an eye out.  Its going to be good!

Tuk Tuk

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!

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.

Ben Franklins House

If you are ever strolling down the Strand or find yourself climbing on the lions at Trafalgar Square you should take a few minutes to wander over to Craven Street and see the only remaining home of fellow American Ben Franklin.  He lived at 36 Craven Street for roughly 16 years...his last night in that house was March 20, 1775...

me at Benjamin Franklins House in London...in the RAIN...

* TELL THEM LONDON IN A DAY TOURS SENT YOU AND YOU CAN GET A 2for1 DISCOUNT (Buy one ticket and get one for free)*

Ben was an interesting guy... he was an inventor... inventing things such as bifocal glasses, swim fins, glass harmonica, street lighting, odometer, 3 wheel clock, extension arm, a stove and how could we forget the lightening rod... Of the numerous inventions Franklin created, he did not patent a single one.

I recently read this on a PBS website and found it really interesting:

Daylight Savings Time: In 1784, while Franklin was living in France, he wrote a humorous letter to the Journal of Paris, in which he suggested that it would be more thrifty to use natural light than to burn candles or oil lamps. In his tongue-in-cheek commentary, Franklin recommended that the city of Paris enact a number of laws which would force Parisians to get up with the sun and retire early in the evening. Later, Franklin's letter was published as an essay under the title of An Economical Project. We will never know if Franklin intended anyone to take his idea seriously, but every April and October people reset their clocks to "spring ahead" or "fall back." 

Besides an inventor Ben Franklin was a number of other things such as: a diplomat, colonial agent between America and Britain, entrepreneur, a writer, a printer, gulf stream mapper, kite flyer, journalist, electricity pioneer, US FOUNDING FATHER and much much more... 

He was also a husband and father, but I'm not sure if he was very good at either of those things especially the husband part...  He was a passionate man when it came to his work, but when it came to his wife he would leave her for very long periods of time.  When she was sick he was not at her bedside.  When she died he wasn't there then either...

He even had an illegitimate son that was once the Governor of New Jersey.  Ben was a bit of a ladies man from what I've read...  I wasn't alive in 1775 so I'm not one to say for certain...


Besides this house, he has ties to St. Bartholoemew The Great Church (found 1123) and St. Bride's Church...


He lived a long 84 years and now rests in a small cemetery in Philadelphia, PA (USA)... located just a short walk from the Liberty Bell. 


Benjamin Franklin House opened for the first time on his 300th birthday in January 2006 and now offers Historical Experience Tours as well as Architectural tours Wednesday-Monday. Closed Tuesday for School activities.



Location:
36 Craven Street
London, WC2N 5NF
UK
www.BenjaminFranklinHouse.orgwww.benjaminfranklinhouse.org

a dear friend...

If you are crafty and have never read the blog http://www.stitchriprepeat.blogspot.com/ then you should... go do that right after reading the blurb below...  I'm not saying that just because she mentioned my company "London in a Day" either (smile) She really is good.  She even taught me how to sew.  She's the only person in the world that can that.  She's an artist and her recipe cards can be spotted all over the USA at the coolest store ever "Anthrologie".  Her latest venture is 1canoe2 (click the link to learn more)

Now on with the news.... 

Per her blog on March 4, 2011:

From one friend to another..

A dear friend has started a new company and I just had to help spread the word

Wendy specializes in unique tours of the city which are stress-free and affordable. She can show you all of London in less than 6 hours without needing a map- and without the worry of getting lost.

There is finally a reason to stay off that tour bus!

If you are busy at work, and need to entertain family and friends this is a great way to do it! A long layover? Traveling alone? London in a Day is the answer!

Tours also make a great gift!

Check out her website: London in a Day.

Contact info:
wendy@londoninaday.com
www.londoninaday.com
www.londoninaday.co.uk

HopSkipJumpAshley.com

Yippee! More "London in a Day" press from a fellow expat blogger!  Check it out!

 www.hopskipjumpashley.com

Exploring London

Posted on March 3, 2011 by AshleyT 

Wendy is a fellow expat living in Notting Hill and when I first moved here I emailed her about 53892058920352 questions and she was so helpful with every single one.  She really knew London and I trusted her recommendations.

It’s quite fitting that she has just started her own company called…….

London In A Day

It’s a private tour guide company that will show you London in 6 hours or less without getting lost, using  map or getting stressed.

Check out her blog as well as her company!

Love it!! Thanks for the mention Ashley!

Cheers,
WMMc
www.londoninaday.co.uk
www.londoninaday.com

More London in a Day Press!!

London in a Day just got another great piece of blogger press from Betsy Transatlantically a great blog written by a very cool fellow expat.

Check it out:

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

London in a Day

Hello, bloggerites and bloggerellas!  I have a shoutout today to my friend Wendy, a fellow expat to London from the good ol' USA.  Wendy has started her own business, and I have to say that it looks fantastic.

London in a Day is an amazing guide service guaranteed to take you around London like a local.  You can sign up for one of the packages - a shopping tour, yes please! - or create your own bespoke tour catered to what you want to see and do.

If you have a trip to London in the cards or you're expecting a visit from an out-of-towner, you should definitely check out Wendy and London in a Day!


Thanks Betsy Transatlantically!

An American Girl in Chelsea

I have been reading a blog called "An American Girl in Chelsea" for quite some time.
I just love it and try to tell people about it all the time. It's a really great site.

Today I was told through a friend that my company "London in a Day" was mentioned and I nearly lost it with excitement.  I immediately went to the site and now to this site to share it with all of you.

So cool!  Thanks American Girl in Chelsea!

Here's the post:
http://www.americangirlinchelsea.com/2011/03/southern-belle-turns-london-tour-guide.html

Thursday, 3 March 2011

Southern Belle turns London Tour Guide...

I was recently contacted by American Girl, Wendy, a self-proclaimed "Southern Belle" who has started her own tour company here in London. I had to give her a shout-out....

Wendy specializes in unique tours of the city which are stress-free and affordable. She can let you see all of London in less than 6 hours without needing a map- and without the worry of getting lost.

If you are busy at work, and need to entertain family and friends this sounds like a good way to do it! Here's her website: London in a Day.

London in a Day

St. Brides ~ This spire inspired the tiered wedding cake...

I have terrific news to share... I have started my own business!!

"London in a Day"

It is a private tour guide business and I can't wait to start showing people around one of the best cities in the world!

"London in a Day"

recommends that you check out the websites and more importantly "LIKE" it on facebook... here is the facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/London-in-a-Day/121572874578830?sk=wall

You can also just type in the search box "London In A Day" and it'll pop up.

Thank you all for all of your support and please please please spread the word!

Let's send emails...

Like it on facebook...

Leave a comment on its facebook page...

Tell EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

Heck even write a blog about it if you blog... If you do this PLEASE send me the link so I can link it to my website.

This is short and sweet, but I'm a business owner now I gotta get back to work!

Click here to read a blog of a friend that I recently showed around the city in "4.5 Hours". It was pretty amazing that I was able to show her all that I did in that amount of time. (Insert pat on the back here)

Cheers,

WMMc

P.S. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT LONDON IN A DAY!

*London in a Day is a limited company registered with Companies House

Big News!

So that people will stop asking me if I'm preggers or if I got puppies...

I am going to tell you. I'm starting my own company!! Yep! More details to follow soon! Stay tuned!

Oh yeah and I'm going to Thailand in a couple weeks for a girl trip.
I've been hearing a lot about "lady boys and lizards"... ??

Big News!

In the next few weeks I will be announcing some VERY BIG news so stay tuned!
No, I'm not pregnant.

It's gonna be big!

Cheers!