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An Independent Inside Guide to London Theatre and Concert Venues |
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For Great Value Tickets for many popular attractions are available here. Also try Tickettree.com for great value "hotel and theatre ticket" packages. Theatremonkey is often asked for ideas on attractions worth visiting in London. This is a quick rundown of some - old and new; together with a little general advice about listings magazines which detail the very best in restaurants, clubs and entertainments on offer in London. For more details see either the specific web address given, www.visitlondon.com (the official London Tourist information site) or www.londonvisions.com.
www.smartsave.com offers opportunities for visitors to save money on
many London attractions and restaurants as well as hotels and attractions around
the UK. London restaurants - reviews, special offers, venue hire and table booking ViewLondon.co.uk For independent reviews of hotels, by the travelling public, try: www.realholidayreports.com. www.frixo.com Frixo is a road / motorway traffic reporting site giving users up to date information as the site gets updated every 3 minutes via feeds from various sources including the government's official Highways Agency site. www.welovelocal.com - Find the best local businesses Trustedplaces: London Restaurant Reviews Trustedplaces is a community of real people and their insights and opinions about restaurants of all kind. Trustedplaces: London Bar Reviews Trustedplaces is a community of real people and their insights and opinions about bars of all kind. www.goingunderground.net A fun & informative site about travelling on the London Underground www.alondonguide.com A guide to London, including tourist attractions, museums, galleries, restaurants, shopping and nightlife. With online hotel and theatre booking. www.dolke.co.uk London attractions and sights guide for tourists www.londonfreelist.com London Free List - free and nearly free events and attractions in London. www.guideforeurope.com
, www.thisislocallondon.co.uk. Aggregating over 2000 articles a week from 28 weekly newspapers, this is a rich source of local news, sport and information covering Greater London and the surrounding counties. www.london.towntalk.co.uk Plan your itinerary here. www.goin-london.com - Hotels in London. Accommodation in London hotels. Periodically updated special offers. www.london-footprints.co.uk/wktheatresintro.htm Lists an interesting route for a history filled walk around the theatre area of Southwark and the South Bank, with another www.london-footprints.co.uk/wktheatrebintro.htm covers the Blackfriars area. www.londonfamilies.co.uk. "LondonFamilies" is for families living or visiting London who are looking for ideas for days out and activities suitable for children in and around London. Included on the site is a calendar of what's on. Activities and days out include museums, theatre, art galleries, cinema, theme parks, historic houses and gardens and much more.London Tourists Guide.com - Tourist Guide for London London Tourists Guide.com offer informative information on all tourist activities within London. www.photograph-london.com Photograph London for photos of London. From Big Ben to the Boat Race and from the Borough Markets to Blackfriars Bridge we've got London on film. http://www.bizwiki.co.uk/ Accepts free business listings, consumer reviews of businesses and allows registered users to edit and add to business information UK Jobs UK job site that focuses on employment vacancies for the United Kingdom.
www.unseentours.org.uk Led by homeless guides with their own
distinctive styles and life histories, each Unseen Tour has its own personality,
uncovering London's hidden history and present-day reality from their
perspectives.
Daytime
Attractions.
Buckingham Palace: www.royal.gov.uk
or www.the-royal-collection.org.uk/.
Allow 1/2 a day or more.
Hampton Court Palace. www.hrp.org.uk. Hampton Court, South West London. Allow 3/4 of a day. This is where Henry VIII lived. The place is split into sections - Royal Apartments, Kitchens, Banquet Halls, etc. Each section has either a recorded guided tour (many languages available); or better still, a guide dressed in REAL replica period costume - even the underwear is genuine! These guides are so clever that they adapt the tour to the audience. The gardens are also attractive and it should be possible for you to lose your least favourite friend permanently in the maze.
Only special advice is DO NOT take the river boat to the Palace. It takes a
full day to get there and back. The train only takes 30 mins from the city
centre!
River Boat to Greenwich for the Cutty Sark, Meridian Line, Observatory Museum and Maritime Museum. Greenwich. www.greenwich.gov.uk/news/index_whatson.htm. For river boats www.visitlondon.com. Allow a full day. This is a classic river trip. The attractions at the end are all interesting, and the park is beautiful. Most enjoy the thrill of standing in both Eastern and Western hemispheres at once in the park. The Cutty Sark itself is closed to visitors as the area undergoes preservation and changes to the display that will preserve the ship. Sadly, a fire in May 2007 will prolong this closure past the original 2009 re-opening date.
Other boat trips down the Thames are also available and are entertaining.
Also consider evening trips.
Jason's Canal Boat Trip www.jasons.co.uk. Allow 1.5 hours A journey on a traditional narrow boat / barge along the Regent's Canal from Little Venice to Camden. You get a unique insight into London's industrial past, along with an unusual view of London Zoo. (This trip, is, in fact, well worth combining with a zoo visit for a fun children's day out.). Food is available on the boat for a special casual snack break!
Houses Of Parliament. www.parliament.uk/parliament/TOURS.HTM. Westminster. Allow 2 hours. Tickets may also be booked online at www.firstcalltickets.com
See the House Of Commons and House Of Lords. Open Late July
/ Early August to Late September Only.
The London Eye www.british-airways.com/londoneye/.
Westminster. Allow 1/2 hour for ride. The ferris wheel with a view over the city. Just about the best new thing in London! Generally closed in part of January and / or early February for annual maintenance - though it is always worth checking for changes. If you think the wheel is huge, just wait until you see the size of the hamster...
Madame Tussauds www.madame-tussauds.com. Allow 3 hours. Book in advance to avoid the queues.
The British Music Experience (BME) www.britishmusicexperience.com. On the top floor of The O2 bubble. This is a permanent, high-tech, interactive music exhibition - a combination of cutting edge audio-visual technology and the most coveted music memorabilia of all time. It enables visitors to trace musical trends through the decades, learn about music’s influence on art, fashion and politics and allow visitors to download music from the BME archive. For the genuine musical experience members of the public can visit the Gibson Interactive Studio, a fully integrated space within the BME where they can play various Gibson guitars, Slingerland Drums, pianos, mixing desks and have a go on in the Sennheiser Vocal Booth. There is also a full public and educational programme with workshops, lectures, master-classes and concerts. The Tower Of London www.tower-of-london.org.uk . Allow 3/4 day. Tickets may also be bought at all
London Underground Stations and by telephone on 0870 756 7070.
Tower Bridge Experience www.towerbridge.org.uk allow 2 hours.
Climb up inside this famous bridge and follow a clever mixture of films,
talking models and show displays explaining the history of the bridge and
river, and how the bridge works. The view from the walkways is
spectacular. It is often overlooked by visitors, but is worth a visit!
St Pauls Cathedral www.stpauls.co.uk Westminster Abbey www.westminster-abbey.org Westminster Cathedral www.westminstercathedral.org.uk.
Victoria.
Charles Dickens House. www.dickensmuseum.com. Doughty Street. Allow 2 hours.
If you have read any Dickens, his house is a museum worth seeing!
The London Dungeon. www.thedungeons.com. Allow 2 hours.
All the gruesome bits of London history brought to life in rides and
waxworks in a damp space under a railway bridge.
Covent Garden Plaza. Covent Garden.
Look around the market stalls and small shops for fashion goods / junk /
souvenirs. Watch the street entertainers, and watch out for your
handbags and wallets as pickpockets work hard here. Also good in the evenings.
Walking Tours of London www.walks.com The walking tour company offer a wide range of day and night tours, have a look on the website. According to a recent newspaper report, the London Theatre walking tour needs a little work! Other operators include Stepping Out: www.walklon.ndirect.co.uk London walkers with a theatrical bent might check out www.londontheatrewalks.com for an excellent guide book on the subject.
The Tate Modern Art Gallery. www.tate.org.uk. Bankside. Allow 1/2 day. A really good art collection and a space to enjoy.
Chessington World Of Adventures, Chessington, Surrey. www.chessington.com Full Day needed. A theme park full of terrifying rides. Very popular with teenage Londoners. It is to the south west of London, about one hour away by train from the city centre . Top
Buy an 'all-day' ticket on one of the London sightseeing tour buses
which circle the city most of the day and evening. All the companies follow
similar routes. Pick one that has a recorded commentary in a language you know
well to get the most from it.
Coach Tours from central London to destinations like Bath, Stonehenge etc may be found with www.framesrickards.co.uk, www.hallamandersontours.com and other companies -see www.visitlondon.com
Jack The Ripper walks. www.walks.com. Whitechapel, East London. Allow 2 hours. This early evening walking tour with a professional guide shows you the Whitechapel area of London, scene of 'Jack the Ripper's' 19th century murders. A good way to see a bit of London most people ignore. The area is a little unsafe without the guide, so do not try to do the trip alone. Top
Covent Garden Plaza
The Comedy Store, Coventry Street (near the Prince Of Wales
Theatre)
General 'What Is On' / 'Listings' Magazines
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