Try the American Bar at The Stafford Hotel for an excellent lunch.

Surprise #1 — The vast range of languages and ethnicities you will encounter.
You will undoubtedly meet people from around the globe who are working and living in London, some from places you would never expect!

Surprise #2 — The vast number of people.
London is a very busy city, especially in popular locations like shopping on Oxford Street or walking across Westminster Bridge. Try to avoid using the underground (the “tube”) during the rush hours, it’s crazy.

Surprise #3 — The immense size of the city.
Greater London consists of 32 boroughs and the City of London, the same number of capsules on the London Eye (not a coincidence!). It covers over 600 square miles; however, the part visitors are most interested in are within walking distance or within short “tube rides.

Surprise #4 — The Cost.
It is expensive. You will see items that cost twice as much as you can get them at home from familiar brand-name shops. But there are also some wonderful unique items worth taking home as reminders of a great trip to London. If you are on a budget, eat at pubs or cafes rather than restaurants; they have fast food too!

Surprise #5 — Incredible history.
You are surrounded by history almost everywhere you go. There are three must see places: Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament (guided tour, limited schedule) and the Tower of London

Surprise #6– The wonderful transport system.
It’s so easy to get around. I suggest buying an Oyster card or Travel card; both will give you reduced rates on the bus and tube and are easy to use.

Surprise #7 — The pubs.
They are not like American bars! The pubs are wonderfully social places, where you can relax, have a well-priced, very filling meal, great beer and the opportunity to chat with the locals.

Surprise #8 — The food is much better than advertised
For a long time Britain has had the reputation of having very bland and uninteresting food, but lots of things have changes and some of the top chefs in the world are British. Check out a Gordon Ramsey or Jamie Oliver restaurant as examples. There are lots more.

Surprise #9 — The number of things to see and do.
As Samuel Johnson said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” There are hundreds of places to see and things to do in London, you will never be bored.

Surprise #10 — The amazing countryside.
It’s so close. In much less than an hour, you can be exploring idyllic villages with thatched cottages and beamed country pubs. You don’t have to rent a car, there are day tours that will take you there for lunch.

There are many more, like snow in London, which I just encountered during my two week visit this month.

It the greatest city in the world, so get over there and be surprised.

Cheers,

Steve

While poker rooms and tournaments are fairly new phenomenons in many cities in Europe there are also traditional poker hotspots such as London that have been spreading poker games for many, many years. That’s good news for both regular London players as well as tourists just looking for a quick game in some of the city’s historic card rooms, as you’ll have plenty of action available to choose from.

One thing to be on the watch for is whether the poker room is open to the public or members-only, as you can’t just walk into every casino or card room and take a seat. Some of the members-only rooms are easy to get a membership at — and sometimes just takes a few minutes — so don’t let the fact that it’s only open to members necessarily scare you away.

Victoria Casino: Most gamblers simply call it “the Vic”, and it holds one of London’s best-known and popular card rooms. While many casinos in the city cater the casual crowd and only regularly run small stakes cash games and tournaments, the Vic is the place to be if you’re looking for bigger cash games, which run from £1-£1 up to £10-£25 (and sometimes as high as £25-£50). That not only means it’s a great place to head for poker but you can also spot many well-known pros at the tables as well from time to time.

The Western Club: The Western is one of the larger poker clubs in the UK and runs a wide range of tournaments and cash games, with an eye towards catering to more casual players and poker fans. Most weekly tournaments are £25-30 NLHE freezeouts and draw 30-40 runners, with cash games of £1-£1 and £1-£2 the most common that run.

The International: The International is another London card room that focuses on lower stakes games and tournaments, although it does run some larger tournaments each week as well. If your poker strategy involves building up player points via frequent play, this is the best bet for you as it’s one of the few poker rooms in London that runs a loyalty program that points you earn in can go towards entry into special tournaments and other perks for regular players.

The ornate entrance to Green Park

In many of the large parks there are a wide range of attractions within, from boating on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, to a quite lunch or tea at “In the Park” restaurant in St. James Park.

We have listed our top ten London Parks and Gardens, it was a tough decision to include just ten, we had to leave out a few good ones!

So let’s get to the list, in no particular order of appearance with brief comments on why they made the list:

- St. James Park – small but we love the wildlife surrounding the lake and the views of London landmarks
- Regents Park & Primrose Hill – lots of activities, open air theatre, love the running trails and the Zoo
- Hyde Park – even more activities here, horseback riding, rowing on the lake, tennis, even softball at weekends.
- Kensington Gardens – Diana’s playground, the Round Pond, Albert memorial and of course the Palace
- Kew Gardens – It beautiful…enough said.
- Richmond Park – the deer
- Chelsea Physic Gardens – small and unexpected
- Hampstead Heath – the views of london, Kenwood House and the views from Parliament Hill
- Battersea Park – the Pagoda, La Gondola al Parco (cafe by the lake) and the childrens zoo
- Green Park – it has mostly grass and trees, no lakes no buildings, just a sentimental pick, I used to work across the street and spent many hours here!

To learn more about each of our selections, click here to link to our London – Parks & Gardens section of the web site.

Cheers,

Steve

Well, it didn’t take me long after finishing my last Blog post to book my next trip, and I am off to London on Monday!

I have spent the last week finalizing my schedule, I am trying not to fill it with hotel inspections and meetings, but rather relax and enjoy the city as a visitor would. So I have just a couple of hotels to visit, a few attractions to enjoy and definitely a few pub reviews to write.

I am going to explore more of West London this trip along with the up and coming area of Bermondsey, which is just south of the Thames, not far from Borough Market and Tower Bridge. I used to spend a lot of time in Fulham back in the early 1970’s, so I am overdue for a visit to Kings Road and the Chelsea Harbour. I have two or three haunted London pubs on my list to visit and I always spend a few days in Wimbledon where I was born, a walk on the Common, full English breakfast in Wimbledon Village and lunch at the Rose & Crown.

I look forward to seeing some friends that I haven’t seen for over 30 years, a visit to Wentworth for the BMW Golf Championship and maybe play a round with an old friend and hopefully kick his butt.

I will be adding a few fun posts to our Facebook page during the trip, so check in with me now and then over the next few weeks.

Will catch up with you soon!

Steve

This is my favorite time to visit London April – June, and I have this free frequent flyer ticket burning a hole in my pocket, and the more I think about the upcoming events, the more I want to sit down at my computer and book a trip!

Spring has come to Britain, during the past week or so it’s reached over 70 degrees in London, the British don’t see a huge number of hot days so it creates lots of excitement. Crowds of people empty the pubs with their drinks and stand on the pavement (sidewalk), at lunchtime the London parks are packed with office workers grabbing as much time as possible in the sunshine in one of the many deck-chairs scattered across the grass that run $2.50 for  an hour or $6.00 for 3 hours!

It’s all happening in London, what an exciting time, all starting with the London Marathon this Sunday, St. Georges Day, the patron saint of England on the 23^rd, Easter Sunday on the 24^th, and then the big event, the Royal Wedding at Westminster Abbey on the 29^th and the cricket season begins this month. Then there is May, my favorite month in London, the English football season ends with lots of exciting games like the FA Cup Final on the 14^rd and the UEFA Champions League Cup Final on May 28^th, both played at Wembley. Both finals could include the team I have supported since I was about 8 years old, Manchester United and they could also win the Premier League Championship title giving them the treble, a rare feat, last done by….Manchester United in 1999, the only team to ever do it! Sorry I digressed a little, too much football talk!

Back to events in London, the month ends with the Chelsea Flower Show on May 24-28. Then in June you have the Queen’s official birthday celebrated June 11 with the Trooping of the Color, Royal Ascot Horse Racing meeting on the 14-18 and Wimbledon on the 20^th.

I doubt I will make it through the weekend without booking that ticket!!

Sanda Shevey

Have begun a new walk around London`s historic buildings cum film locations.  We visit four venues within three hours.  One location features sets from `The King`s Speech`, the Oscar-winning film starring Colin Firth as King George VI where he utters the immortally flawed line- `Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret`.  Of course he means `Princess Margarent Rose`.  So much for film authenticity.

One of London`s grand Robert Adam houses the venue doubled both for the Duke of York`s Piccadilly townhouse and Lionel Logue`s Harley Street consulting rooms.

How? Asked two of those who had booked the walk.  “Because”, I replied, “the house has two components- the 1775 bit which serves for the royal townhouse and the Victorian part which doubtless as Logue`s consulting rooms”.

Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret Rose celebrated birthdays at the house, remodelled and upgraded by its then owner Baron Blyth (founder of W. A. Gilbey & Sons distillers).  Our present Queen apparently felt, because of its having London`s only hydraulic wall, that the house was even grander than their own.  Thus it is fitting indeed that the house replicates the royal residence in this film.

Colin Firth`s Oscar win brings smiles to us all.  It is after all about time.  I said he was due for an Oscar after I had seen `Genova` which was followed by a Q&A with the actor.

He really deserved it for Atom Egoyan`s `Where the Truth Lies`.  What a performance!

I didn`t like him in `Pride and Prejudice` as I believe (as does Firth`s own gran) that Darcy must be played by a blonde (to generate the right amount of tension within the story)

`Single Man` I thought was misconceived and a betrayal of Isherwood.  Gay men can and do pursue straight women and then call them neurotic when they return to gay lovers.

Firth is a funny guy.  I have met him twice- once following a screening of `Genova` and again at the BAFTA tribute to the actor.  He is an introverted, shy guy who even seems a bit ridiculous with his coiffed grey hair and humourless expression.  The number of borderline characters whom he has played make him even more of a conundrum; nonetheless, he has tremendous power and charm.  He is evidently good-spirited, generous, and easy to work with.  He is also known for evincing fierce support for the underdog

Speaking of Colin brings to mind Bill Nighy under whose photo I always sit when lunching at BAFTA.  Looking at him makes the food go down easy.

It was at the BAFTA talk that I accused Nighy of false modesty.  He refused to acknowledge his good looks, and said we were all crazy!

Stills from Nighy`s new film, `Chalet Girl`, show him sporting a typical Leslie Phillips leer…..`Hello……!!!!`

Nighy was born Nagy- probably a Hungarian Jew.  If so, he, like Leslie Howard, is another Austro to pass for the sexiest Anglo on the planet.  He is lecherous, self-mocking, shy, gentle, sympathetic and deeply contemplative.  He generally eats alone.  So we have something in common.

Well into his sixties Nighy was asked to play `Pericles` and turned it down.  I think he`d make a great Greek…an ageing male…of Austro descent….great!

And so…another week done and dusted….until next time…..

BFI Associate Tutor Sandra Shevey runs film/literary London walks bookable at sandra_shevey@yahoo.com

Copyright 2011 Sandra Shevey All Rights Reserved