James Bond London Breaks July 18, 2008
Posted by admin in : attractions, breaks, james bond, london breaks , add a commentCelebrating one hundred years since the birth of successful British writer Ian Fleming, the London Imperial War Museum is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the life and works of the James Bond creator.
The first exhibition of its kind to be wholly dedicated to Ian Fleming the attraction will explore the inspirations behind some of the most recognisable characters in the literary world. Artefacts from the high grossing Bond films will be on display as well as rare materials from Fleming’s career during and after the war.
You can expect to see notes from the Thrilling Cities series, the bikini worn by Halle Berry in the Bond film Die Another Day and the “blood splattered” shirt as worn by Daniel Craig in the latest of the Bond films, Casino Royale. Detailing not only his colourful and varied career, For Your Eyes Only takes a look at the suggestion that many of the characters in Fleming’s novels and indeed the setting for the Bond novels were all inspired by his own experiences of the Cold War, spies and technology used in the armed forces.
There’s also a new book out in time for the exhibition
Be a part of celebrating Fleming’s legacy and indulge in a James Bond London Break or else add the exhibition as an additional attraction to a show as part of a Theatre Break.
This exhibition celebrates the centenary of the birth of Bond creator Ian Fleming, exploring his wartime career and work as a journalist and travel writer and how, as an author, he drew upon his experiences to create the iconic secret agent and his adversaries. The show includes Fleming’s desk and chair from his Jamaican home, Goldeneye, where he wrote all of the Bond novels, as well as props and gadgets from many of the Bond films, including Rosa Klebb’s flick-knife shoes featured in ‘From Russia with Love’ and a working model of the famous Aston Martin DB5.
West End LIVE 2008 - Theatre stars in Leicester Square June 11, 2008
Posted by Andy in : attractions, news, westendlive , add a commentWest End LIVE 2008 is a free outdoor event taking place in Leicester Square this coming Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd June. From 11am on Saturday and 12noon Sunday, the best of what the West End has to offer is showcased live in front of an audience of anybody who is in the area or can make the time to drop by.
For the running order on both Saturday and Sunday please see our new post: West End Live 2008 Running Order
The spectacle includes performances from many of the top West End shows, alongside other great musical acts and some interactive displays and exhibits from London’s Museums and attractions.
For further details you could try visiting www.westendlive.co.uk but when I went the spectacular scrolling banner display at the top froze my browser for minutes before I could regain control so you might want to read the page at Show and Stay’s Theatre News instead.
Shows performing on the main stage:
The 39 Steps
Avenue Q
Brief Encounter
Buddy
Chicago
Dickens Unplugged
Dirty Dancing
Divas
Grease
High School Musical
Into The Hoods
Jersey Boys
Joseph
The Lord of the Rings
Mamma Mia!
Never Forget
The Sound of Music
Stomp
We Will Rock You
Wicked
Afternoon Tea - Things to do in London May 29, 2008
Posted by Linda in : attractions , add a commentOne of the best things to do in London which you should really try and find time for is to indulge in that great British institution, the afternoon tea. I’m going to explain exactly what to expect and give you some idea of the best places to go in London to experience it. Now I don’t know about you, but I love the whole business of afternoon tea in an upmarket cafe or tea room. Just in case you were not aware, by the way, afternoon tea is more than just a cup of tea!
What is ‘afternoon tea’
The main thing to remember about afternoon tea is that it is a snack rather than a meal. Usually taken at around 4 - 4.30 pm it is designed to fill the gap between an early lunch and a later dinner, or possibly an after theatre supper. It’s not the same as high tea, which is more substantial, often includes something hot and is served at about 5pm. Having said that you are unlikely to leave the afternoon tea table feeling in the least bit hungry!
Where to go
Afternoon tea is a civilised sort of a snack and half the fun is going somewhere quite upmarket and traditional to indulge in it. I think the best places to sample it in London are one or two of the high quality department stores and some hotels. Now I do know that there are some places outside the capital that pride themselves on their wonderful afternoon teas and they are fantastic but London’s most famous tearooms have been serving afternoon tea for 300 years. It has to be worth trying!
Fortnum and Mason
I really think the ultimate place to go is Fortnum and Mason of Piccadilly. Now it’s not so straight forward as just wandering in and grabbing a table. You really need to book days or possibly weeks in advance, especially at weekends. Luckily you can add an afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason as an extra when you are booking your theatre break in London.
An Ideal Menu for Afternoon Tea
The essential elements include:
Dainty sandwiches - smoked salmon, ham or crab are always good, maybe some sort of pate, even cucumber (much nicer than you might think!)
Some sort of small savoury treat - maybe melba toast and Gentleman’s Relish, or a little cheese and potato pastry of some sort.
Then
Scones, fruit or plain, preferably with jam and cream, could be whipped or ideally clotted.
Finally to finish you off - did I mention this is just a snack?
Cakes - small iced cup cakes, little fruit tarts, individual iced cakes, little cream horns, eclairs, vanilla slices, need I go on?
(Groan - I’m making myself hungry!)
The Tea
Of course you also have the all important pot of tea. It has to be a pot, preferably china, though silver is acceptable, with another pot of hot water so that you can top it up. I prefer Earl Grey, with it’s gorgeous scent of bergamot oil, but smokey Lapsang Souchong, or even a really good Ceylon, is quite acceptable. Cups should be china too, with pretty matching saucers and milk jug. Slices of lemon should also be there for people like me who don’t take milk. Bowls of sugar cubes and pretty silver sugar tongs to serve them are lovely to look at even if you don’t take sugar.
Setting
I think where you eat is nearly as important as what you eat out. Afternoon tea is an ideal opportunity to live out all your Jeeves and Wooster fantasies or pretend you’re in an Agatha Christie. I want waiters and waitresses in black and white uniforms looking very efficient. Of course, to do it justice you need to be fairly smartly dressed too, smart casual is fine.
Choose the right setting and you might even see a few celebs refreshing themselves after a taxing afternoon’s shopping. Half the fun is people watching so choosing somewhere like Fortnums is ideal.
This is one of a series of posts about extra things to do whilst you are enjoying your theatre break in London. I’ve already looked at rickshaw rides and Thames river boat trips.
Fancy a rickshaw ride after the theatre? 5 things you should know. May 25, 2008
Posted by Linda in : advice, attractions , add a comment
Take a casual wander round any part of the West End and you will soon see the rickshaws, parked up outside the theatres or whizzing through the traffic. They look like an interesting way to get from your restaurant to the theatre or to end an evening at the theatre in London.
Five Things You Should Know About Bicycle Rickshaws
Here are five things you need to know before you get into a bicycle rickshaw in London.
Safety - are they safe?
There have been no major collisions involving rickshaws. However the ride can be a bit hairy when traffic is busy, during the rush hour for example. The rickshaws owned by the large companies have regular safety checks and are well maintained.
They all carry lights but not all them use them.
The community police make regular checks on this issue. If you are getting into a rickshaw at night make sure yours has its lights switched on.
They have seat belts, usually lap belts. Please use them.
Bicycle rickshaws are not designed to carry more than three passengers. If there are four of you use a second rickshaw.
Insurance - are they insured?
Contrary to popular belief, the rickshaws run by the main companies definitely carry full public liability insurance. This is part of their voluntary code of practice. However, see above, if you exceed the stated number of passengers you may invalidate the insurance.
Expense - what do they charge?
The fare is a matter of negotiation between the driver and the passengers. Most of the rickshaw companies charge a basic flat rate fare per passenger (between £3.50 and £4) and then the driver negotiates his fee on top of that. How much more you pay is dependent on your negotiating skills and how far you are going. It’s hard physical work so they expect something worthwhile for their efforts. Agree a fair price before you get in the cab and then stick to it.
You will find they expect a tip as well. If you are pleased with your ride a 10 - 15% tip is adequate.
Drivers - who are they?
The drivers are mostly young foreign students trying to make a bit of money to help fund their studies. A few may have shadier backgrounds. They don’t have background checks. They do receive training via the London Pedicabs Operators Association and there is a voluntary Drivers Code of Conduct. Your driver should be wearing a name badge.
Booking - can I book one in advance?
If, like many Brits, you aren’t comfortable haggling you can book your ride in advance - expect to pay more though and your driver will still expect a tip. Your rickshaw will be waiting for you at the theatre at the end of the show. You can get contact details from the web sites mentioned at the bottom of this post.
Distance - how far will they go?
Realistically you do not want to go very far in a rickshaw. They are not wonderfully comfortable and it’s a bumpy ride. Whilst the rickshaws are fine in the West End and Soho areas you definitely don’t want to travel much further out that way! Once you are into fast moving London traffic the rickshaw becomes a much less attractive mode of transport. In their element though the rickshaws are a quick way of getting around and a bit of fun to end your evening after a trip to the theatre.
Companies - who are the major companies?
The major companies who run the rickshaws (pedicabs) are all members of the LPOA and abide by their code of conduct.
Three of the major operators in the West End are:
Inwheelswetrust.com
If you want to know anything else leave a comment and I’ll do my best to find out for you.
River Trips on the Thames May 11, 2008
Posted by Linda in : River Trips, attractions , add a commentOne of the most overlooked things to do while you’re down in London for a theatre break is to take one of the trips on the Thames. The river is just the best place to see the sights of London without all the noise and traffic. On a fine day you can relax on deck and take photos to your hearts content. You can even enjoy a fine meal or dance the evening away by the lights of the city.
Luxury Dining Evening Cruises
These are the really romantic option! Ideal for couples, the evening luxury cruise with a fine meal and dancing afterwards is the perfect way to spend a second night of a theatre break in London. The Bateaux boats really are floating restaurants where good food and music combine with the river cruise to provide a really memorable experience. Not only that but when booked as part of a theatre break package they are surprisingly affordable with prices starting at around £65 per person. Try having a night out with dancing and a meal for less than that in London 
Lunch Time Cruises
Don’t despair if you’ve got the kids with you and a romantic evening a deux is out of the question. You can still experience a delightful meal on the river by booking a lunchtime Catarmaran cruise. There’s a good set menu with vegetarian and children’s options and the cruise lasts around 2 hours. When booked with a theatre break package prices start from £19 for adults and £12 for children.
Lunch at Planet Hollywood and a River Cruise
Planet Hollywood is not so much a restaurant as a Hollywood themed eating experience. Situated just a short walk from the West End you can have a good mooch round looking at the theatres before you pop in for lunch. As part of the Planet Cruise offer with Show and Stay theatre packages lunch at Planet Hollywood includes any sandwich or burger platter on the menu, ice cream and soft drink.
The package includes a City Cruise river tour and costs just £20 per adult and £10 per child
The Duck
The Duck Tours are an institution in London. What could be better than a trip on an amphibious vehicle? Always going to be more appealing to those of us with kids, (of whatever age!) than a romantic dinner cruise, and yet the ducks are surprisingly comfortable!
You get the best of both worlds, seeing the sights from the river and being able to go right into the heart of the city. The tour starts from Chicheley Street (just behind the London Eye) then goes through the City of Westminster. On the way you’ll see Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street and Nelsons Column. Next it’s into the river down a slip way at Vauxhall. Now you cruise along the Thames and get the best view of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Lambeth Palace and other places of interest. There’s an interesting and informative commentary to explain what you are seeing. The round trip lasts 75 minutes.
Day Passes on the Catamaran Cruises
If you want a tour but not a meal why not book a day pass? This will give you unlimited use of Catamaran’s Cruisers sightseeing cruises.
The Catamaran Cruisers sail between Embankment, Waterloo, Bankside, Tower and all the way to Greenwich. You can stay onboard for the whole cruise but I think you should definitely hop off at Greenwich.
It’s one of my favourite parts of London. Lovely old buildings by the river to walk around, nice quirky shops, good food, pleasant pubs and a great little market.
Just get yourself a timetable and spend the day river hopping. It’s one of my favourite London pastimes The River Pass is great value and means you pay just one fixed price for a whole day, no tubes, no nasty traffic. If you don’t like somewhere just hop on the next boat and try somewhere else!
Planet Cruise add on to London Theatre Breaks April 12, 2008
Posted by admin in : attractions , add a comment
But I never saw the good side of the city,
’til I hitched a ride on a riverboat Queen
sang Tina Turner in Proud Mary and it’s just as true about London as New Orleans.
Planet Cruise
From the Thames you can see most of the city’s most famous sights, both old and new, in a slowly changing panorama as you cruise comfortably past. This added attraction for theatre breaks in London comes with dinner in the famous Planet Hollywood restaurant as part of the Planet Cruise option for just £20 per adult and £10 per child.
You get an informed commentary as well, explaining the roles of the two cities of Westminster and London, Cleopatra’s needle, Southbank arts complex, the famous London bridges, Old Billingsgate fish market, the Houses of Parliament, London Eye and many more landmarks and less well known building of interest. Down on the river you can relax and take it all in, away from the traffic noise and congestion.
Lunch at Planet Hollywood
Planet Hollywood is the big glitzy restaurant that dominates Picadilly Circus, and is an experience based on Hollywood legend. The London Planet Hollywood has been refurbished since 2003 and now even cooler, and it’s right by London’s theatreland. As part of the Planet Cruise offer, lunch at Planet Hollywood includes any sandwich or burger platter on the menu, an ice cream and a soft drink
Thanks for reading London Theatre articles about attractions
