London, England – May 1999
New This Month
Football finals for the various cups, including the FA, UEFA, and European Cupwinners Cup!
Yes, you too can crowd into a smoky pub to watch the events with the locals, a thoroughly authentic English activity. If you’re really lucky you might even see some soccer hooligans.
For those that haven’t experience a big football event in London, it really is worth it, as the whole city turns into a demented jolly atmosphere.
To See & Do
May is a perfect time for a walk in the Regent’s Park, which offers a surprising variety of things to see.
Start at the bottom and move towards the inner circle, which has delightful gardens, fountains, and statues; although you have to view them through the wedding photo shoots. There is also an outdoor theatre and a bandstand that showcase various events.
The northern tip is home to the London Zoo, and many of the animals can be viewed from Regent’s Park without having to enter the zoo.
A walk along the canal that flows along the northern edge of the park is very scenic, with long colourful canal boats, boathouses, and drooping trees it’s almost possible to forget you’re in a massive city.
Cross the road into Primrose Hill park, which itself is entirely unexciting, but a climb to the top of the hill offers panoramic views of the entire city.
Great Eats
In Primrose Hill, dine at Lemonia (about halfway up the highstreet on the west side). This authentic Greek restaurant offers a great unpretentious atmosphere with excellent food at acceptable prices. If you’re in a group go for the £12 feast, which brings a never ending stream of food to you table.
Nightlife
While in the area, an excellent mainstay night club is Camden Palace in Camden Town. Although weekend admission fees are high, it’s reasonable throughout the week. It’s an old converted multi-level theatre that’s maintained much of its original feel.
Shopping
Although impossibly trendy & touristy, the area of the Seven Dials near Covent Garden offers the coolest of the cool of London Fashion.
Filled with countless 70’s used clothing stores, you can pick up that old Denny’s uniform you’ve been pining for. Top off your outfit with a paid of 12″ platform boots that look strait out of a Japanamation flick.
The area also features numerous aspiring designer stores, as well as used and discount top designer clothing. Too daring for you? It’s also home to many chain stores such as Diesel and Berkinstocks.
Trafalgar Square
General Info on London
London’s huge. It’s also crowded and buzzing with an energy all
it’s own. With the exception of wildlife you can find everything
you’ve ever dreamt of – for a price. When coming here the number
one thing you can count on is that you’re not going to be bored.
The number two thing is that you’re going to spend a lot more
money than you planned (even considering most museums & galleries
are free).
Guide Book Update
I know many guide books are highly recommending the Museum of
Mankind just off Bond Street, and I trudged a ½ hour to see this
wondrous collection only to find out that it’s closed. It is currently
being relocated to the British Museum and will not be on display
for a few years – probably just in time for the next guidebook
update!
Recommended Readings
Edward Rutherford’s “London.” Okay okay, it’s a long book, but
if you have a long plane ride the payoff is excellent. There’s
so much more to be had from the city when you can walk around
and understand how the things you’re seeing got there.
Getting Around
I know all guidebooks will tell you to take black cabs, and they
are pretty cool but also pretty expensive. You can get much cheaper
travel by finding a minicab, with whom you can negotiate the price
upfront. They are really easy to find at night, they hang around
outside of night clubs and other attractions, and they’re listed
in the phone book if you want to get one from your hotel.
Where to Find Info
The what’s on bible for most Londoners is “Time Out” which is
widely available and comes out weekly for 1.80. They also have
a good website. Every
Thursday the very similar (though not as comprehensive) guide
“Hot Tickets” comes
free with the 35p Evening Standard – which is sold on all street
corners.
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