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24 July 2008
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IF you are a music-loving visitor to London between now and September 13th, you're missing a trick if you don't attend at least one concert at the BBC Proms. Go for the experience of enjoying classical, jazz and world music in the wonderful Albert Hall; join the students and penny-pinching Prommers in the 'cheap' ticket areas from £5...Nigel Kennedy, Mayra Andrade, Daniel Barenboim, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra are all lined up. Go to the Proms website for more details
Folk is playing for the first time at the Proms. Bella Hardy is a real find, and if you can't make it to the Albert Hall to hear her and others perform on the 20th July, discover the 24 year old Derbyshire lass on her Myspace page. Night Visiting, the title of her album, signifies lost love, as exemplified in the song 'Three Black Feathers'
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Travel news: Vacation deals to London/Europe flying high in spite of the weak US dollar
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Evening view from the River Thames |
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English Heritage is once again hosting the splendid Kenwood and Audley End picnic concerts this summer with guests ranging from the Canadian jazz singer Diana Krall, Welsh opera star Katherine Jenkins, Bueno Vista star Omara Portuondo, Van Morrison, the Gipsy Kings and others. Not sure that the fireworks will be making an appearance (complaints from the neighbours) but should still be fine events nonetheless – weather permitting, cross fingers...
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Kenwood House © Paul Petty
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Carluccio’s restaurant is offering a picnic hamper for two, complete with bottle of wine at £45, for the concerts. Also worth wondering around is the lovely Kenwood House for its own art collection.
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To view and book tickets for these events go to the dedicated English Heritage summer concert website at Picnic Concerts |
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I’m becoming a big fan of the Barbican in the City of London, especially for their current concerts as part of their spring/summer programme – an eclectic range from classical to world. Recently went to hear Cape Verdean singer Mayra Andrade* at a concert there which went down very well as did the Cuban artist, Roberto Fonseco with friends Omara Portuondo and American singer/bassist, Esperanza Spalding.
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Then there are also the theatre and other art events hosted there. Click here for the latest on Barbican events...
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*see Mayra perform on the Jools Holland show on the BBC website...
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For the latest rock, pop and other live events, as well as the theatrical experience Afrika! Afrika! take a look at Greenwich’s O2 website: notice that Santana had a concert there in June this year...Classic FM will also be hosting a series of classical concerts there, featuring the likes of Bryn Terfel and Barbara Hendricks
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Trendy East London club Cargo has a bit of a student vibe. Only paid £6.60 online (£6 at the door). Worth checking to see whether anything catches your eye – and lots of nice restaurants around the area, including it’s own Street Food Café...
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Salsa is especially hot in London right now. For all you salseros I can think of two places worth going to should you fancy a dance class whilst you’re here, though I’m sure there are more: for Cuban style salsa try the Salsa Caribe: they have Sunday afternoon classes at The Place in Kings Cross
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For a more NYLON oriented class (well, that’s what I call it) at the Pineapple Dance Studios in Covent Garden, Sai and Deanne host a pretty good Friday night two hour class for just £8.
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Cinemas
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The Exhibit: sometimes they host a typical British lunch nosh-up (roast beef with all the trimmings) followed by a film in their private cinema for around £16. Located in Balham.
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Prince Charles: very cheap cinema in the heart of Leicester Square
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Picture House, Clapham: Like the fact that you can take your glass of wine of beer into the cinema with you. Cute local cinema with restaurants just outside and around the vicinity (French, Middle Eastern etc) There are other Picture House cinemas around London
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Museums and galleries
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Reluctant to choose a favourite – there are too many. If you insist, then the Museum of London would have to be high up there: I love the way it tells the story of the city, like a magical visual tour. Unfortunately, nearly half of it is being restored until next year, so that’s a bit of a bother, but can still pop in. Ideas for museums and galleries continues
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Walks
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About one fifth of the Big Smoke is green, boasting parks and gardens such as Holland, Hyde, St James and Regents parks. Simply walking around London is a good start – I’ve walked from South London to the South Bank once, around London Bridge through City Hall, the Globe Theatre and past the Tate Modern art gallery
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London Walks offers free downloads of guides that’ll tell you stories about the area whilst you wander: download before you get here so that you don’t have to waste your time trying to get them to your ipod/mp3 when you’re over
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| South West Trains has fabulous ideas for days out | ||||||
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By the way, the RV1 bus from Tower Bridge will offer up fantastic views across the River Thames, especially at night, before dumping you at Covent Garden (there are worse places to be dumped!) I still remember the sharp intake of breath when I found this route by accident a few years ago – and I was born and bred here. The following bus route link gives details of this and others, including the night buses that serve the capital whilst the underground sleeps: http://www.londonbusroutes.net/routes.htm
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Public Transport
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Vacation must-buy: Oyster cards |
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Even if you’re staying for just a couple of days, it’ll save you up to 50% in travel fares
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The Transport for London website (TfL) has more information on this and it’s also worth looking out there for any last minute disruptions to the tube as well as any other transport information
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The following link will lead you to the TfL visitors' section, with information about young children/teenagers' travel. Give yourself plenty of time to apply for the young persons' photocards (at least a month):
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Try Dell's Restaurant/Café (right)as you stroll through Hyde Park
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Outside London
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Vineyard tours: what do you mean there aren't any vineyards in England? If you can drag yourself away from the Big Smoke for a couple of days, why not take a short vacation break in a Gloucestershire vineyard, perhaps as an add-on to the London holiday? The Three Choirs vineyard offers a two day package that includes breakfast and dinner for around £220 per lodge
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How to get there: you’ll have to take a train from London (Paddington) to Ledbury, (around two and a half hours, about £41 return) then catch a taxi from Ledbury station to the vineyard (about £30)
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Click here for more about the Three Choirs vineyard
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See National rail for train details
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The Visit Britain website is also a useful source of information
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Finally, read a review of the Three Choirs vineyard in The Guardian newspaper
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For more ideas on where to go outside London, continue...
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| All writing and photography on more than oxford street is copyright Vanessa Curney © 2008 unless indicated otherwise. All rights reserved. |
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