Old London Town
[ 25 July 2007 ]
“I was wondering if you would perhaps ask the iCiNG bowl for lesser-known things to do in London? Places to shop, places to visit etc. etc. etc. Everyone I’ve asked has said “Camden Camden Camden!” but I find Camden a little … too of-the-moment.”
Dear iCettes,
Please help sweet Sarah-Rose find the fabulous, hidden, secret spots of London! I’ve only ever done the standard things, though I must tell you that it’s worth a trip to L’Artisan Parfumeur! (It also appears that they’re looking for staff!) Try this website too.
Advice please!
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala 
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I’ve only been once for a week on vacation, but.
*Try + get on a train/bus out to stonehenge: it’s a great half day trip, and totally awe-inspiring. It was freezing rain when I went in February (although I’m used to much worse, being from New York), + I still had a blast.
*Look, but don’t touch, the expensive coture shops. Walk around + marvel at how excruciatingly British everything is.
*Ignore the shops in Fortum & Mason, because it’s not at all like it’s described as it used to be- it just looks like an odd supermarket. However, DO get high tea in their “tea lounge” or whatever it’s called. 15 quid will get you some delicious tea, lots of tea cakes/snacks, + good service in a quaint room with a live piano player! And then buy a tin of the tea that you drank, for memories sake.
*As long as you’re not afraid of heights, take a ride on the London Eye. It’s totally worth the cost, as it takes you up + you can get a great idea of how the whole city is laid out, plus a spectacular view.
*If you’re into Shakespeare at all (I adore him, being an actor), go to see the Globe Theatre. Being a nerd, I didn’t learn anything from the tour guid I hadn’t already read, but it gives you a real appreciation of the format in which theatre in those days occurred. Plus, it’s the only building in all of London with a legal permit for a thatched roof.
*Take a walking tour with a local somebody, because they always have interesting aecdotes.
*Get used to bad, overpriced pub food + smoky rooms. Be ready to pay an arm + a leg if you want to eat anything decent. If you’re into Indian though, you’re in luck, as they have a large Indian population.
*Don’t be afraid of the Tube, it’s your best friend. It’s really just a giant loop with some branches coming off of it.
Wow, I remembered more than I thought I would! Hope this was helpful, + not insulting to any Londoners…
id hand out in camden, that way you can spot noel fielding and ask him to marry me.
I’ve only been to London once, and just for a few days; but what I loved the most was the Sherlock Holmes museum. Its amazing, all rigged out like his house, with waxworks depicting stories. Also the most heartbreaking collection of letters to Holmes himself.
I remember reading one letter from a girl in Japan who didn’t realise that he’s a fictional character, and wrote begging him to solve her brother’s murder because everyone else had given up and she couldn’t deal with the idea that the murderer was out there…
London’s so easy to get around that it’s fabulous just to jump on the tube, pick a suburb and go wandering … into every art space/clothing store/underground bar you come across, the good and the bad (e.g. bloomsbury, notting hill, soho and bethnal green). i had fun in london just by virtue of hunting down fun places semi-randomly, and sneakily invading the royal school of art to find out about exhibition openings (for the free booze/food, if you’re a naughty boozehound like me!).
and www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk should tell you what’s on, if you’re into that kind of thing!
persephone books (http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/shop.htm) is a real treat, if it’s your kind of thing.
i go to london about once a year, and spend most of my time drifting through parks and galleries – if you like a particular period in art or history, there may well be something on.
oh, and if you like vegetarian food, food for thought in covent garden (neal street, i think?) is delicious and not too pricey for lunch, and mildred’s in soho is an amazing proper restaurant that’s not prohibitive either.
(eek. my london recommendations are kind of odd tidbits, but i guess that’s what i enjoy.)
* I think shoreditch is the new camden. During the day it boasts spitalfields market and all the brick lane curry joints. During the night you can get yer groove on at one of the many obscure little nightclubs.
* Primark’s flagship oxford st store is the shopping equivilent of a mosh pit. I dare you to go after work on a Friday.
* Or for a more relaxing experience,go to hyde park at dusk or early in the morning to spot foxes feed the squirrels.
PS Get an oyster card if you are planning on staying more than a couple of days, it will save you megabucks!
Um gosh, it is hard when you’re here every day to actually think of things to do and it really depends what you’re into. There is this company I think called London walks, it soudnds kinda weird and naff walking around the city in groups but they do some really different and interesting walks and the groups for these are usually really small. * Spitafields market could be an option instead of Camden, I agree that I’m completely over Camden and there has to be better places out there; * If you’re into it Highgate Cemetary is really interesting; * The boat down to Greenwich there’s plenty to do there including markets on the weekend; * Covent Garden flower market is cool but you’ve got to get up early (it is actually in vauxhall not covent garden); * Get out of the city and go to Tooting for a real curry, cheap and damn tasty. You’ll actually be eating in a restaurant full of people who actually know about what they are eating, none of this tika masala rubbish; * Hang out in one of the parks, London has dozens and dozens of parks and it is great to just sit and people watch, there is the obvious Hyde and Regents parks but there are a bunch of smaller really nice parks to sit in too; * Then there are the hundreds of museums to look at the tate modern and V&A are my faves, the V&A has a fab clothing/style section; * If you are into food, Borough market is a must, every food type imaginable both to buy and take home to cook and to eat on the spot; * If you are into either Freud, Dickens or Sherlock Holmes, all their museums are worth a visit; * Then there is the Horniman museum, I’ve never actually been there but boy the name is funny.
Right, that is me clear out of ideas now, hope you find something to do!
* Go to Greenwich Park and stand on the meridian
* Spitalfields market is worth a look – it’s home to a quirky automata museum, as well as plenty of cheap (well, for London) ethnic food stalls.
* Have tea on the terrace at the Houses of Parliament (actually, I have no idea if this is possible most of the time, but if you do get the chance, take it! The setting is fantastic)
* The department store food courts – particularly Harrods – are pretty spectacular
* For a different view of the city, there’s a group that meets up – I think on Thursday evenings – to rollerblade around London en masse
Sarah – No, damnit! Noel Fielding is marrying ME!!! I have dibs on the pointy one!
Completely off topic, I have nothing to share about London. Wish I did though…
http://www.beyondretro.com/ in chesire street is the secret vintage store that ID and all other quirky london magazines use for their shoot. It has another store just opened up and they sell at wholesale prices! I myself haven’t been there yet :( :( !! but my friends have and they say its MAgnificant! And don’t worry about smoky pubs -it’s now illegal to smoke indoors in a ‘work environment’! Woo!
1. I think spitalfield’s market is mostly closed for renovations, although it might have been relocated nearby.
2. brick lane on a sunday is fabulous, and all the vintage clothes stores are open.
3. independent art galleries abound in east london (whitechapel, old street, vyner street).
4. check out the websites of timeout london and londonist for events and other great stuff. (in fact, i think timeout once had an issue about the top 100 things to do in london)
1. Camden is OK but East London’s where it’s all at at the moment. The area around Liverpool St. Station and Brick Lane is heaving at night and very trendy. There are some brilliant clubs and club nights and Brick Lane is famous for its Indian restaurants. Also the brilliant jewellery and accessories store Tatty Devine is on Brick Lane and is definately worth a visit (they’re also online).
2. The Jack the Ripper tour around Whitechapel.
3. Poet’s Corner at Westminster Abbey.
4. The Comdey Store in Leicester Square.
5. Covent Garden – stores to check out: Coco de Mer (upmarket sex emporium); POP for vintage clothing; Rough Trade records; Pout cosmetics.
6. Bond St. for window shopping at all the lovely expensive clothes.
7. Portobello market – but not on a Saturday. Far too busy. Also, there’s a really good (cheap) Thai restaurant there called Thai Rice. I think you need the Ladbroke Grove tube station.
8. Weather permitting, strawberries in Hyde Park.
I agree with A*My, Beyond Retro is absolutely brilliant and considering the over-inflated prices of most London vintage stores really cheap. And it’s the size of an air-craft hanger. Also, India’s right: get an oyster card.
http://www.thegarret.org.uk/
The Old Operating Theater is AMAZING
Going on the picture in the main post I think a spot of Banksy hunting would be on the cards. Check this map out for locations.
http://www.zeesource.net/maps/map.do?group=1571
these comments are wonderful for me, im leave to england with the next few day and will be spending a week in london. Thank you for all the great idea’s.
i adore london. definitely visit the tate britain and tate modern galleries (i am DESPERATE to see the dali retrospective at the tate modern! desperate!), as well as the national portrait gallery, covent gardens…
also i’m just joining in the general noel fielding love that seems to have sprung up in this thread. i’ve been told i look like him quite a few times.
xoxo
Hurrah, I’m going to London in September for a couple of weeks too. I’ve been there before, but there is ALWAYS something new to see.
It’s been three years now since I was there, but I totally preferred Portobello Market over Camden. We found this tiny little Italian cafe near Portobello, just near one of the Tube stations, that had the best cappuccino I’d ever tasted. My friend said it was the best she’d had outside of Italy. Sadly, I cannot remember the name. But it’s TINY, and there was a movie theatre nearby if that’s any help.
The V&A is amazing, definitely worth the trip. The London Eye is also worth the trip.
Gawd – about London…
Gala, may I hijack your online magazine and write a bit about London for your readers?
I used to live in London. Here are the things in London that make me happy:
-Idle afternoons at the ‘Hookah Lounge’ in Brick Lane
-The Tate Modern. Even if you don’t like modern art, entry is free and it’s a great place to have coffee on one of the balconies overlooking the Thames.
-Japanese cocktail and style heaven at the ‘Shochu lounge’
-Never pass up getting dressed up for Afternoon Tea at ‘Claridges’: the yummiest and most stylish and least touristy afternoon tea in London. Beats ‘Fortums’ and the ‘Ritz’ out of the water.
-Read books in ‘Daunt’s’ bookstore in Covent Garden. Such a beautiful building.
-Dinner in the crypt of the the ‘Bleeding Heart Tavern’ after browsing at all the jewellers in London’ s sparkle-central district (Hatton-Garden).
-In Soho, ignore the fact that all the cool places are now stupid chain cafes and visit the first ‘Agent Provocateur’ boutique, ‘Omygod’ acessories and listen to late night jazz at ‘Ronnie Scotts’
-Shop at boutiques in Fouberts Place and Newburgh Street and buy scarves at ‘Liberty’s’ (all close to Carnaby St)
-Visit the ‘CoChineChine’ shop… totally out of the way in Hampstead but SO very helpful
-Dinner at the Covent Garden Hotel… although I couldn’t get a table last year when I visted my parents due to it’s popularity since it was used in Woody Allen’s ‘Match Point’ movie!
I love london so, so much. you MUST go to as many museums as possible, especially the Tate Modern – the Surrealism exhibition in particular!! swoon.
Robin — YES, YES, YES! Sarah Rose has moved to London so I think she needs some solid suggestions, not just tourist stuff, & I am sure you are the man to give them to her! Thank you, champion! xxx
spitalfield
brick lane
don’t forget to eat the bagels, they are weird but good.
if you don’t get to tate modern, i’ll have to shake my fist at you. it’s imperative.
also if you can fly a kite off parliament hill, it’s a lot of fun because you can see the whole of london…
This probably applies only to fellow classical studies nerds like me, but when I went a couple weeks ago I was totally excited about being able to see some real Roman ruins (seeing how sadly this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to Rome).
One of the things I really wanted to see was the foundations to the Roman temple of Mithras. There’s not much there, but it’s still cool to be able to see a Roman temple that wasn’t even discovered until the 1950s. Plus, Mithras was a really interesting god that was very influential, but not usually mentioned in discussions of Roman religion (which instead tends to center around the Greek gods and goddesses with Roman names). And it’s right in the middle of all these tall modern buildings with people walking by oblivious to its presence. Check out google before you trust my directions, but I think it was on Queen Victoria St. just south of the Bank tube station, in front of a building that says “Temple Court”.
Another thing I saw – and without even planning – was a section of the Roman wall, along with a statue of emperor Trajan. They are right there at the Tower Hill station, which most tourists will use at least once, and probably not even go out of their way to investigate the huge chunk of wall (the top part is medieval, but the thing is really massive).
One Roman thing I didn’t get to see was the Stone of London. Not hugely impressive, I know, but still a cool bit of history that is often overlooked.
Anyways, you can look up “London Stone”, “Temple of Mithras, London”, and “London Wall” on Wikipedia if you’re interested in finding out more about these places.
Meg – I’m so envious! It all sounds truly amazing. I dearly dearly love a good historic vibe.
Ooh I only just discovered the “Suprise Me” button and have since been sucked into a whirlwind of articles I hadn’t read, can’t say I’m complaining though…
Anyway, I’m not too sure about London, although Portobello Road market is fantastic on saturdays. However, if you’re there for a while and want a change of scenery I’d reccommend taking a trip to Brighton (about 45 minute train journey). There are three or four shopping areas ranging from high street to amazing junk shops, by the sea with a albiet tacky but fun pier, lots of bars and independant cafes. Brighton has an element than Camden maybe once had in abundance, but Brighton isn’t quite as well-known.