I try to return to my hometown as often as I can, usually works out to be 2-3 times a year, usually one of those trips finds us in a beautiful rental cottage in a pretty village in Southern England.
Richmond Riverfront
The other trips are spent in the outskirts of London with family and friends. I spend about as much time in the outskirts as I do in Central London, I share this with you because as much as I love wandering the streets of Mayfair, South Bank, Westminster and West End, I also love what can be found within a 40 minute train journey, usually from Waterloo.
I have already shared the less known places to visit in Wimbledon, now I want to share a few locations that are so worth a visit; two obvious ones are Windsor and Hampton Court, both dominated by royal buildings, these are real “must do” experiences and if you would prefer not to brave the train system, which is really easy by the way, there are quite inexpensive day tour available on the site. Both of these locations are situated on the Thames River, and there are several more towns on the banks of this famous river worthy of visiting.
Close to where I grew up is the market town of Kingston upon Thames, one of the most popular shopping areas around London, however, many of the shops are the same brands you will be familiar with at home in the US, where prices are far less expensive! However, what attracts me here is the significant history, it is said that this is the point in the river that Caesar and his invading army crossed, on his way to conquer London in 55BC. I am currently reading a book called “The Story of Kingston” by June Sampson that is full of interesting stories of the town where they held many Coronations of Kings, starting with Edward the Elder, son of Alfred the Great in the year 900. There is a tour available or you can take the self guided tour that ends at the local museum. There are also some marvelous cafes, restaurants and pubs just below the bridge, where you can sit by the river and watch the marine activity.
A much smaller alternative is Barnes, a village really, easily accessible by train to Barnes or take the underground to Putney Bridge and enjoy a 20 minute walk, I suggest the second option, as the walk down the riverbank past the rowing clubs is far more intersting, you take a left at Queen Elizabeth Walk and you will come upon the Wetland Center, you should visit, more about this in an upcoming Newsletter feature. When you exit the Center turn right and you will end up at Barnes Green, a lovely area to sit and watch the wildlife on the pond. Barnes is a one of the most expensive places in London to live; you will find it a popular spot for actors and politicians, it’s also the home to The Olympic Sound Studios, where artists like The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Oasis have recorded. It has good shopping too, with unique shops and boutiques, and being on the river more great views, have a drink at The Bulls Head or the quaint Sun Inn overlooking the Green.
The last location is Richmond, I have visited there several times this year, it’s a busy town with good shopping and a wide variety of very food pubs and restaurants and a wonderful riverfront.
One of my favorites is The Cricketers because it overlooks the vast village green, where you can take in a local cricket match during summer weekends. Then there is the small, cozy Waterman’s Arms, I can recommend the food personally! There are also attractions like Ham House, Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park and the Richmond Theatre to enjoy, and Kew Gardens are very close by too.
I hope you will have the chance to explore one or more of these fun locations on your next visit.
The Anchor Pub - South Bank, London
Anticipation is growing in London and across England, the World Cup is just a few days away, 32 teams are already in South Africa, the friendly games are over and it’s taken almost 4 years of qualifying to get to this day. This is the biggest sporting event in the world, maybe not such a big deal in the USA, but in England, it’s HUGE. Throughout the country flags are flying from bedroom window, car windows, pubs are decorated, and many of those with big screen are charging for reserved tables!
Conversations in pubs turn to “how is England going to do?” as there are big expectations, if they don’t make it to the finals, it will be considered by all, including players and coaches as a disappointment. Most people are expecting them to get to the quarter finals, but not beyond, but they will be cheering hard that they do.
This tournament lasts a month, with the first game on Friday, as is tradition, the home nation of South Africa will kick off against Mexico, then on Saturday the one we have been waiting for England versus the USA, England will be favored, but anything can happen.
You have to understand the passion for the #1 sport in England, Britain for that matter, you play it from the moment you are old enough to kick a ball in the playground. Everyone has a favorite team, whether it be Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United but it’s the World Cup everyone in the country is supporting just on team, a big responsibility for the players and their Italian coach.
I wish I could be in London for this, the pubs will be as the English say ”heaving”, packed to the rafters, with crazy, fun, screaming football fans, supporting their home team.
If you are lucky enough to be in London in the next four weeks, and want to catch a game and experience this memorable occasion, check out the best places to watch the games according to our friends at FancyaPint.com, but it could be difficult to get in these locations. But be prepared, if you are going to watch an England game, get there early and bring your ear plugs!!
Go England!!
Dover Castle Pub
Located north of Oxford Circus, this is a fine pub tucked away in a mews (formerly private stables, now houses, and in this case, a pub) off the main road. Probably a Victorian creation, it’s what we now consider to be a traditional pub inside and out. Owned by Sam Smith’s brewery in Tadcaster, Yorkshire, it’s a showcase for their beers — in fact, all drinks are their own brand, including their soft drinks.
Samuel Smith’s brewery is part of the oldest brewery in Yorkshire, that has been in Tadcaster since 1758. The Old Brewery, as it’s now known was bought by Samuel Smith in 1847 and run as John Smith’s until that business moved next door. His grandson Samuel Smith inherited the Old Brewery in 1886 and decided to run it in competition with his cousin’s business (John Smiths).
With over 200 pubs across the UK, they are the epitome of independence with all its beers being produced in Tadcaster, no large corporation spirits or soft drinks available and prices kept low, increasing only with alcohol duty and inflation. And all Sam Smith’s pubs are free of music, as they’d have to pay a levy for the music otherwise. There’s also no televisions or games machines in their pubs.
While the Dover Castle can be a bit disconcerting – almost feeling like one is stepping back in time – but the pub is worth the visit, if only to try the beer. And its location between Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus mean it’s a good place to escape from the shopping chaos of Oxford Street or as a stop on the way somewhere else.
From my point of view, Sam Smiths pubs are usually interesting places to go, with lots of original features and a very homey feel. The Dover Castle is no exception, with its dark panelling, and central bar. The beer is well kept, but I would expect little else from one of their pubs, ranging from the Old Brewery Bitter (my favourite) to a lager to a German-style wheat beer, with bottled beers extending the range.
A particularly nice choice in the bottled selection is the Taddy Porter, a dark beer and a very traditional London drink. There’s also the Dark Mild, which is also dark but much softer and well… mild.
There is some disagreement amongst beer aficionados about Sam Smiths beer, as there seems to be an almost love/hate divide over it, occasionally coming to blows. But I love it and think for the price, it’s very good value for the quality of the beer.
While the food isn’t gastro it is good, hearty pub grub that hits the spot and inexpensive for London. The pub can be a little quiet, but does tend to pick up after work and the small patio fills up pretty quickly in good weather. Oh, and it does Sunday Roast as well, which is worth a look.
Thanks to Dean at FancyaPint.com for this review. For more information and a map to find this pub, click here.
Lunchtime in Green Park
The weather, it’s a subject much discussed in Britain, usually it consists of complaining about the rain and how much people are looking forward to the summer and good weather or their holiday somewhere warm, usually the beaches of Spain. I remember having to write an article a few years ago for a travel web site about the “must-do” activities for British tourists in Spain and having once been one of those tourists, initially thought it would be an easy assignment. The reason it was so difficult is the British people go to Spain to enjoy the sun, the fun and nightlife, so the day is spent on the beach or at the pool and in the evening it’s good food and wine at bargain prices not seen in the UK. So I researched some of the historic locations and points of interest, knowing that only a small number of people would probably visit them. Usually those who burned themselves at the beach the day before and are unwilling to risk the pain another day, so decide on an activity that will allow them to recover for a day or so.
For those staying home, it’s about hoping for a warm summer, it doesn’t take much to encourage the British to pull on those shorts and head for the park. On a warm day in London you will see the parks full of office workers on the grass or in the deck chairs eating lunch, then later in the day outside the pub sipping on a pint of beer in the sun.
The British are a hardy bunch, and will put up with a lot, but a wet summer is very disappointing for all, the thought of six or seven months of winter ahead can be very depressing. However, here we are again, it’s May and it’s glorious weather in London this weekend, back yards are full of activity, tending gardens, cleaning the barbeque hopeful of many more sunny weekends and family picnics in the parks and commons around the country. The mood of the country changes, happiness abounds, people greet each other with smiles and “can you believe this beautiful weather”, so let’s hope the summer of 2010 is memorable one for all here is my home country and all those visiting from my adopted home.
Now, I am off to enjoy this lovely day in the sunshine….
Kew Palace
It was a little overcast, but I had my heart set on seeing Kew Gardens that day, after all I considered myself a bit of a gardener and wanted to see how the professionals do it. After breakfast at Borough Market I took the District Line tube to Kew Gardens station, a right turn out of the station, another right over the bridge and straight ahead for about a 10 minute walk and you run right into the Victoria Gate entrance.
Give yourself plenty of time, at least 4 hours this place is huge, over 300 acres and lots to see, several restaurants if you want to make a day of it. If you do have limited time or have trouble walking long distances, take the Kew Explorer, it’s only £4.00 for a day ticket, you buy it in addition to the £13.50 entrance fee. You can get on and off the train at designated points around the park. You will be give an excellent map when you enter, which also includes what plants are in bloom, events in the park and where to find the start of the free walking tours, the Introduction to the Gardens is highly recommended, there are two per day at 11am and 2pm. They are capacity controlled so be sure to register with the guide 15 minutes before the start time, to avoid disappointment.
The highlights for me were the bluebells in bloom, the Palm House, Kew Palace, the aquatic display, the wildlife to be seen from Sackler Crossing and the treetop walkway, which is a bit of a climb but worth it. Take a look at all my photographs, just click the “Photos” link on this page.
I would have like to have stayed longer, there is so much to see, maybe next visit, there is some much to see and do in London.
Once a month we are going to review a British pub, pubs are a staple of British life and a great place to eat inexpensively and rub shoulders with the locals. I have asked our friends at Fancyapint.com who are the experts, to highlight a pub they think visitors to Britain would enjoy, particularly focusing on the history and charm of the establishment.
Ye Olde Mitre Tavern, Chancery Lane
I’ve lived in London for more than 18 years now and have spent a lot of times in pubs in and around the City of London – the main financial district – and this has been one of my favourite pubs for a long time.
The pub, called Ye Olde Mitre Tavern is literally hidden from view down an alleyway off Hatton Garden, London’s jewellery district. Located on a very historic spot, there has been a pub on this site since around 1547.
There are a lot of rumours floating around about this pub, the main one being that it’s not part of London, which I believe is down the fact it was originally part of the Bishop of Ely’s property in London, as his palace was just next door in what is now Ely Place. As the Bishop was from Cambridgeshire (north and east of London, where Cambridge and its famous university are located) the pub was actually a part of Cambridgeshire until sometime in the 20th Century – to the point that London’s Metropolitan Police force had no jurisdiction there and the licensing of the pub was set by the council of Cambridgeshire.
Built for the Bishop’s servants to use, it was part of the palace grounds until 1772 when the palace was sold to the crown and the pub was demolished and quickly rebuilt when they realised they still needed a pub!
The other legend that sticks to the pub concerns the section of tree trunk visible in the front bar, this is alleged to have been the original boundary marker for the diocese and Queen Elizabeth I is said to have danced the maypole around it, or so the story goes.
With dark wood panelling in both rooms and the little nook off the back bar, the interior of the pub feels historic to me, even if it’s not really that old. There’s usually a good selection of real ale on the taps – the landlord does regular beer festivals where he gets loads of guest beers in over a week – as well as a couple of regional ciders (alcoholic). And if you would like some more information on any drink, don’t hesitate to ask as the staff are pretty knowledgeable about what they serve.
In terms of food, the only gastronomic delights available are sausage rolls, the occasional pork pie and toasties (generally involving cheese and ham or cheese and onion between two slices of bread and toasted) prepared by the friendly staff. The toasties are inexpensive and hit the spot with a pint or two!
To find this pub, your best bet is to start from Chancery Lane tube. If you leave the ticketing hall by the Gray’s Inn Road exit, to the left as you leave the ticket barriers, and take the right set of stairs out of the tube, head straight down Holborn past a large red brick building (home of the Prudential). You’ll pass a pedestrian area on the left which is the start of Leather Lane Market, and then a large office building before coming to what is known as Holborn Circus, with a statue of Prince Albert seated on a horse. The first left off the Circus is Hatton Garden – cross over and turn left up Hatton Garden. A short way up the road is a lamppost with a Bishop’s headgear on it, with a sign pointing the way down the alley to the pub. It is closed at weekends, so this is definitely one to visit during the week.
Dean Fetzer – FancyaPint.com
For more information and a map click here
Steve Langley - Publisher, TheBritishTraveler.com
I am headed back home to London in a few weeks with a very busy schedule, it all starts with a weekend visit to Hampton Court and stepping aboard the Magna Carta a luxury barge that cruises along the Thames River from Central London to the more rural areas including Windsor Castle. Unfortunately I won’t be cruising anywhere, I am meeting Dominic the Captain and getting a tour of the boat. Then onto Wimbledon, I am going to write a feature about the town in which I was born, as there is a lot more to see and do than watch tennis for two weeks a year, and I will share it with you in an upcoming Newsletter. The English football season is drawing to a close, so I will be watching a few matches while reviewing Wimbledon pubs!
On Monday I am taking a RIB Speedboat down the Thames River and will be reviewing that experience on the site, as well as meeting the General Manager and visiting several of his Premier Inn three star hotel properties on the South Bank before recommending them to be added to the site. I will also be visiting a Crowne Plaza property in St James for the same reason, and lunch at the Tattershall Castle, the floating restaurant across from the London Eye. Will also try to squeeze in a visit to Borough Market.
Tuesday takes me to The Rock & Roll Experience at the O2 in the morning, an interview with the concierge at The Cavendish Hotel, which should be interesting, perhaps he will give me a few hidden secrets I can share with you! Then it’s onto a Mayfair hotel that I have heard a lot about, it’s a four star property with very good value rooms, so taking a tour and having a cocktail at their bar with their Sales Director.
I have Wednesday open right now as I think I would like to drive out of London and visit somewhere exciting in Sussex or Kent that I can tell you about….you will have to wait to read more about this.
I have a Canal Boat Ride booked for Thursday from Little Italy to Camden Locks, where I will visit the famous market and then onto the London Canal Museum. I would then like to see an afternoon play, possibly The Warhorse at the New Theatre on Drury Lane.
Friday is filled with restaurant and museum visits, and hopefully lunch at the American Bar at The Stafford Hotel, maybe I will run into Prince William, he visits often for a burger (no really!), as he lives just down the street at St James Palace, so it’s a short walk.
If time allows I also want to review a WalkTalkTour.com that I am going to download to my iTouch, the one of The City of London sounds interesting.
That’s a brief outline of my trip, and things could change a little once I get there, as exciting opportunities always seem to arise once I get to town. I hope to return with lots of interesting things to share with you.
I will be posting my experiences each evening of the trip on our Facebook page, so I hope you will become a Fan, if you are not already, and follow my adventures!
Post a comment here or on our Facebook page if you would like me to check anything out for you and I will do my best.
We are joined this week by our friend Atanas Botev, Hotel Manager for the Radisson Edwardian Hampshire & Leicester Square Hotels in London:
There are a million things one can do while in London…
There are a million things I love doing in London but today I would like to share one of them – the embarrassing one…
Being star struck is not advisable when you’re the general manager of a five star hotel on London’s Leicester Square. But I still can’t help but thrill at the sight of Hollywood’s biggest film stars treading the boards in some of our best-loved theatres, or watching them walk the red carpet at one of Leicester Square’s regular world premieres.
I couldn’t be better placed for the razzle dazzle of celebrity – running a hotel at the very heart of the West End means I’m in the privileged position of seeing household names on my doorstep on an almost weekly basis.
Since becoming general manager of the Radisson Edwardian Hampshire Hotel almost 3 years ago, I’ve seen many A-list stars court the cameras right outside the hotel’s entrance on the square itself. This is where the red carpet begins, on its course up the square towards the Odeon cinema. When I’m busy in the office, I can even keep one eye on the action – live on the 24/7 Leicester Square webcam we have on top of our hotel.
Despite the glamour of its location, I think there’s real warmth at the Hampshire, and there’s always a genial atmosphere in the bar – a lively spot but never more so than on premiere nights. I love the buzz of this place, and the feeling you never quite know who you might bump into. Of course, there’s nothing better than seeing our regular guests, and occasionally even our staff, sharing in the excitement. Whenever we can we treat them to premiere tickets or top shows like Legally Blonde or the Jersey Boys, both of which are my personal favourites.
So, if you are ever in London, do come by to say hello, as you never know I might be giving premiere tickets away!
Atanas Botev, Hotel Manager
Radisson Edwardian Hampshire & Leicester Square Hotels
31-36 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LH
Our guest blogger this week is Neil Sankey, Sales Manager at Hard Days Night Hotel, Liverpool
When I first came to Liverpool I was astonished at the amount to do, see and visit in this vibrant city. After 2 and half years of working here I’m honoured to be able to share with you some of my favourite places and hopefully give you a few reasons to love Liverpool.
For a relatively small city, Liverpool is world famous for a very big band: The Beatles. You only have to wander the streets of Liverpool to realise that although no longer in the charts, the Fab Four are very much in the city’s hearts and minds. Our hotel, the Hard Days Night, is the world’s first and only Beatles-inspired hotel and houses some original memorabilia and artwork by internationally acclaimed Beatles artists including those by Shannon, Peter Blake, and Klaus Voorman. The hotel is also in a fantastic location, positioned right in the heart of the Beatles Quarter, which is home to the Cavern Club and Cavern Walks, a boutique shopping centre which has some great designer stores. The hotel is also only a stones throw away from the hub of the city’s action, Liverpool One, which has a cinema, restaurants and loads of high-street shops.
Our in-house restaurant Blakes is a fantastic place to eat, having just received the title of best restaurant in the city centre by the Good Food Guide, however for truly magnificent views of the river Mersey, Liverpool Cathedral, the famous Liver Building and the rest of the city, try Panoramic restaurant on Brook Street. At 300ft above sea level it’s the UK’s highest restaurant and has just been awarded three Forks and Knives by the Michelin Guide.
For a good spot to people watch, have a coffee or a cocktail, try the historical Albert Docks on the waterfront. Also home to the Tate Liverpool, the Maritime, and the Slavery museum, it’s a great place to catch up with the city’s art and culture offering.
And finally how can I forget the city’s world famous sporting pedigree? Liverpool and Everton football clubs are only a short distance away and are well worth a visit. At Anfield, Liverpool’s ground, there’s no feeling like it when the crowd sings ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up!
I have been managing hotels in London for over ten years. On my first day I had to attend a meeting at County Hall and walked across Westminster Bridge with London Eye in front of me and the Palace of Westminster behind me and I remember feeling very privileged to work in such a great city. I still run from The Cavendish to Blackfriars along the South Bank a couple of times a week, passing St James’s and Buckingham Palace, Westminster Bridge, The South Bank, St Paul’s and The Horseguards on my way back, all within 45 minutes! I enjoy London theatre and go at least twice a month. The best shows I have seen in the past year were: Jerusalem; Six Degrees of Separation; Warhorse; Priscilla; Oliver and, my favorite of them all, Billy Elliott.
When visiting London, I recommend doing some research before you arrive and you will find it easy to get around (Publisher comment: We can help with that at www.thebritishtraveler.com). Walking will enrich your stay as you will discover more. Invest in an Oyster Card, which you can top up during your stay, to use tubes and buses, and the website WalkIT.com gives you simple directions to walk from one place to another. The websites I personally use are ThisisLondon, which is the Evening Standard newspaper’s website, Visitlondon.com and Time Out, which has the latest listings for all the cultural attractions and the most succinct reviews.
My favourite restaurants in London are The Wolseley and Wahacca in Covent Garden, which serves Mexican Street Food, last Thursday there was an hour and half wait for a table, which is an indication of how good this place is! For fine dining with a bill to match, Wiltons on Jermyn Street has a new Michelin Star chef, Andrew Turner. I went there last Monday night and it was superb in every respect. Le Gavroche in Brook Street is very special for a romantic night out. The Roux family continues to provide superb French cuisine with exemplary service. By the time I had bought my wife a new dress, handbag and paid for the babysitter, it was a once in a lifetime treat! Elena L’Etoile in Charlotte Street is a wonderful, atmospheric French restaurant. The Maître D’, Elena, has served for over 60 years and she was still on duty the evening I was there!For late night drinks and fun I go to a Blues bar called “Nothing but the Blues” in Soho. There is no cover charge, it has great music and it is always very busy. Bar Italia beside Ronnie Scotts in Old Compton Street is a great 24 hour café bar run by the same family for over fifty years.
If you are staying in a hotel with a professional Clef D’or Concierge, like our man Ben Malpass, do use them they will book shows and restaurants for you in advance. In London it can be very hard to get into the best places at short notice, but the concierge can help, however, the more notice you can give them the better. They are a great source of unbiased advice and they do get invited to a lot of events in town and will share their expert opinion if you ask. I asked Ben for his theatre recommendations. He likes Enron, Misanthrope starring Keira Knightly and Mamma Mia. The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and Les Misérables are still very popular because they are brilliant productions. His hottest restaurant recommendations include: Arbutus, a British-meets-French bistro with smart, but unfussy, high standard food. The restaurant with the best view is Galvin at Windows, which has panoramic views from the top of the London Hilton. The restaurant is run by Chris Galvin who now has three restaurants in London. Ben’s best gastro pub is the Guinea Grill in Mayfair .
Finally, I live in Windsor and highly recommend a visit if you have time. You can catch a train from Waterloo, which takes about 50 minutes. Windsor Castle is situated beside The Thames and it is open daily. Try to go on the day that they have the changing of the guard ceremony as it is spectacular. The town of Windsor has lots of small restaurants and good traditional pubs by the river. You could even visit Eton College or even stop off in Richmond, another beautiful town beside the Thames, on the way. If you have an interested in gardens, Kew Gardens is a wonderful day out.
Ciaran Fahy, Managing Director at The Cavendish London.