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

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!

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.

Classroom Canada

Classroom Canada is a great blog about teaching in London and they have recently posted about me and my company "London in a Day". How cool is that? VERY!

They are cool you should check out their blog!

Here is the link and also the copy and pasted version below:

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

See "London in a Day!"

Classroom Canada recently learned of an exciting new tour company that opened up in London, UK. It’s called “London in a Day.”

“London in a Day” is a private tour company owned by Wendy, an American expat currently living in London. Wendy has a passion not only for discovering unique bits of London, but also for sharing her finds with others. Her affordable themed tours (Landmarks and More, London’s Markets and Shopping or “Create your own”) are geared for small groups of between one and four person(s) and include tube/bus fares and one tour guide.

Sounds to me like a great, stress-free way to get to know “the best city in the world” – like a local! Or, better yet – a terrific way to entertain visitors while you are teaching in the classroom!