london for real / final major project
DESCRIPTION
An illustrated guidebook about London. The book is based upon 14 people living in London. No pictures - only illustrations.TRANSCRIPT
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F O R R E A LLondon
THE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO LONDON BY ANETTE MOI
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LONDON / 2012PUBLISHER NETPRINT
WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY ANETTE MOIFINAL MAJOR PROJECT
F O R R E A LLondon
THE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO LONDON BY ANETTE MOI
Anne
The real London? It´s running up and down in the underground, planning the next route, rushing to get somewhere. Having a break at some park, smile at a squirrel, breathe in that specific London air, rushing past all sorts of people, football hooligans, punk people, lost people, bored people and amazingly happy people. It´s poverty and it´s filthy richness. The real London is
all of it, combined.
Contents006 Introduction007 Contributors
022 Favourite part of London023 Shoreditch028 Hackney030 Stoke Newington033 Camden036 Dalston038 Soho040 Covent Garden042 South Bank044 Brick Lane046 Notting Hill049 Brixton
051 Love / Hate
062 Quiet London
074 Free London
093 Real London
099 Restaurants & Bars100 Bonnington102 Pogo104 SAF106 Gaucho108 J. Sheekey110 Fish House112 Crazy Hommies114 Petersham Nurseries116 C London118 River Cafe120 Sakura122 My Old Place
124 Made in Italy126 TAZA Kebab128 Marks Bar130 The Big Chill132 Lounge Bohemia134 Platform bar136 Greenwich union138 Howl at the moon140 The Bridge
142 Markets143 Borough Market146 Spitafields149 Colombia Road Flower Market151 Greenwich Market153 Netil Market156 Sunbury Antiques Market159 Ridley Road Market
161 Parks162 Greenwich park165 Regents park167 Victoria park171 London Fields park173 Hampstead Heath176 Hyde park179 Clissold park182 Alexandra park
184 Tips
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Living in London sure doesn’t feel like I’m living in the UK, because every single time I walk out my front door, I come across so many different colours of skins, nationali-ties and languages. The diversity in this city fascinates me and makes me (even more) curious about the people living here.
I have only lived here for 8 months, and have for the first time of my life really seen the real London, not the way I have seen it before. Before it has been tourist London, and the real London is something completely different.
Every time I travel to another city, I would love to know where the people who actually live there would go, their little secrets and like/dislikes about the city.
The book will give you a sneak peak into, what I think, is a part of the real and honest London. From the people who live in London. To the people who visits London.
I would like to thank the people who took their time to answer my questions. I will also thank Bjørn Moi and Netprint in Norway for printing and binding the book for me. The last person I would like to thank is my supervisor, Heather McDonough, for great support and help through-out the project.
I have learnt so much of this project, it has been rewarding in many ways. Enjoy! Anette Moi
Introduction
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Contributors
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PAGE, 34 YEARS OLD ILLUSTRATOR, WHO LIVES IN SHOREDITCH. HE IS FROM TAIWAN AND HAS BEEN LIVING IN LONDON FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS.
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LUCY, 33 YEARS OLD, JOURNALIST, WHO LIVES IN NOTTING HILL. SHE IS FROM BRIGHTON IN ENGLAND. HAVE BEEN LIVING IN LONDON FOR 9 YEARS.
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JUNIE, 49 YEARS OLD, RESTAURANT OWNER. LIVES IN FOREST GATE. FROM MALAYSIA. BEEN LIVING IN LONDON FOR 18 YEARS.
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CHRIS, 30 YEARS OLD MUSICIAN WHO LIVES IN HOXTON. FROM BRISTOL IN ENGLAND. HAVE BEEN LIVING IN LONDON FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS.
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ARRAN, 29 YEARS OLD MUSICIAN AND PUPPETEER WHO LIVES IN GREENWICH. ARRAN IS FROM BRISTOL IN ENGLAND AND HAS BEEN LIVING IN LONDON FOR 10 YEARS.
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PAOLA, 30 YEARS OLD STUDENT WHO LIVES IN HAMPSTEAD. SHE IS FROM COLOMBIA. HAVE BEEN LIVING IN LONDON FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS.
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ANNE, 28 YEARS OLD STUDENT WHO LIVES IN UXBRIDGE. SHE IS FROM NORWAY AND HAS BEEN LIVING IN LONDON FOR 1 YEAR.
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CHRIS, 31 YEARS OLD TUTOR AND ACTOR WHO LIVES IN STOKE NEWINGTON. HE IS FROM KENT IN ENGLAND AND HAS BEEN LIVING IN LONDON FOR 4 YEARS.
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OLU, 21 YEARS OLD STUDENT WHO LIVES IN HACKNEY. HE IS FROM LONDON / NIGERIA. HAS BEEN LIVING IN LONDON SINCE HE WAS BORN.
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MATT , 35 YEARS OLD WHO WORKS IN TV AND LIVE IN SHOREDITCH. HE IS FROM THE SUBURBS IN ENGLAND AND HAS BEEN LIVING HERE SINCE HE WAS BORN.
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LENKA, 29 YEARS OLD COSTUME DESIGNER WHO LIVES IN SHOREDITCH. SHE IS FROM SLOVAKIA AND HAS BEEN LIVING IN LONDON FOR 7 YEARS.
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JOHN, 51 YEARS OLD PARENT WHO LIVE IN NORTH LONDON. HE IS FROM IRELAND AND HAS BEEN LIVING IN LONDON FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.
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GIULIA, 22 YEARS OLD STUDENT WHO LIVES IN BRIXTON. SHE IS FROM ITALY AND HAS BEEN LIVING IN LONDON FOR 3.5 YEARS.
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PHILIP, 62 YEARS OLD AND RETIRED. LIVES IN SOUTH LONDON. HE WAS BORN IN LONDON AND HAS BEEN LIVING HERE ALL HIS LIFE.
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Favourite partof London
C H A P T E R O N E
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Shoreditch
STEVE POWERS “LET´S ADORE AND ENDURE EACH OTHER” VILLAGE UNDERGROUND, SHOREDITCH
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Located in East London, Shoreditch is the hipster place to be. It is surrounded by art galleries and street art, which give the place a fresh and cool vibe. There are tons of shops, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, tattoo shops and galleries. The nearest tube station is Old Street and the area is very close to Liverpool Street, providing mainline services to Cambridge, and much of the South East, along with connections to four of the most popular underground lines.
Shoreditch Town Hall is one of the most impressive build-ings in the district. Bars like Jaguar Shoes, The Bridge and Lounge Bohemia are worth having a drink or five in. There are also many clubs and pubs in the area. The last 10 years Shoreditch has moved from being a particularly cheap estate area, which, attracted tons of poor artists, to become the centre of the art world.
The area is full of hidden bars, galleries, squat parties that rarely get shut down,art, good food and a true internation-ally presence. Every first Thursday in the month there are several gallery openings in Shoreditch and the rest of East London. Go here for art, fun nights out and exploring the streets.
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MALARKY FUN AND COLOURFUL STREET ART TURVILLE STREET, SHOREDITCH TILT “UNION JACK” VILLAGE UNDERGROUND, SHOREDITCH >>
Tilt “Union Jack”Location :Village Underground.
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HackneyHackney is located in North East London and the population is around 220.000. It is a very diverse andmulticultural district, which have undergone massive regeneration in recent decades. Formerly known best as an area with huge social problems and a massive crime rate, parts of Hackney are now very fashionable with a thriving arts scene on the south of the district for example. Many problems still remain though and for the visitor it is best to stick to well known routes. Homerton and Hackney Wick area are known to avoid after dark.
If you want to experience a different cultural experience, you should go to Stamford Hill in Hackney. It is the largest Hassidic and Adeni Jewish community in Europe. Hack-ney is also known for its wide open green spaces, Hackney Marshes ( home to 88 football pitches) being the most no-table. London Fields and Victoria Park are also really great parks in the area.
By bus, Hackney is well served by buses all over the capital. London local train services serve the district well. Also, the London Overground from Stratford to Richmond have four stations in Hackney: Hackney Wick, Homerton, Hackney Central and Dalston Kingsland. There are many great parks, museums, galleries, shops, pubs and coffeeshops in Hackney. In the park, London Fields, there is a Lido, where you can enjoy old-fashioned outdoor swimming. Also, go to the old cinema, Rio Cinema, lo-cated in 107 Kingsland Street. There are also markets in Hackney, like Colombia Flower Road Market, Ridley Road Market and Broadway Market.
All in all Hackney is a vibrant, beautiful and great place to be, but remember to stay safe. Despite reputation as a dangerous place, it is relative safe provided if you´re careful. Most violence occur amongst the gangs in the rougher parts of the borough. Stick to commercial areas where there will be lots of people and keep away from housing estates, as some can be very dangerous. Some locations in the London Borough of Hackney are : Stamford Hill, Upper Clapton, Lower Clapton, Stoke Newington, Dalston, Hoxton, Haggerston, South Hackney, Hackney Central, Hackney Wick, Hackney Marshes and Shoreditch.
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THE MIX HIP COFFEE/FURNITURE SHOP NEXT TO PERFECT FRIED CHICKEN DALSTON LANE, HACKNEY CENTRAL
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Stoke Newington
<< VINTAGE STORE BEYOND RETRO 92 - 100 STOKE NEWINGTON ROAD, STOKE NEWINGTON
8 km north east of Charing Cross is Stoke Newington (formerly known as Stokey) within the London Borough of Hackney. Stoke Newington is a very multicultural area, with large Asian, Irish, Turkish, Jewish and Afro Caribbean communities. The area continues to be home to many new and emerging communities such as Polish and Somali immigrants.
The core of Stoke Newington is centred around Church Street, which has retained its own distinct “London Village”character, indeed, Nikolaus Peusner (Art and architecture historian) confessed, that he found it hard to see the district as being in London at all. It has large Orthodox Jewish, Turkish and Irish populations.
For one small district, Stokey is endowed with gener-ous green space. North, extensive West Resevoir is open for leisure and surrounded by green space. In South you have Clissold Park. East leads to Abney Park Cemetery, one of the most splendid and enlightened of Victorian London cemeteries. Across the high street to the east is the fragmented Stoke Newington Common. There are also many independent retailers in Stokey. On Saturday morn-ings, St.Pauls churchyard in Stoke Newington High Street host an active farmers market. The nearest tube (2,4 km away) is Manor House. The area is also well known for good pubs and bars and a lively music scene.
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A SIGHT FOR THE EYE AZIZYE MOSQUE 117-199 STOKE NEWINGTON ROAD, STOKE NEWINGTON
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A SIGHT FOR THE EYE AZIZYE MOSQUE 117-199 STOKE NEWINGTON ROAD, STOKE NEWINGTON
CamdenCamden Town lies in Inner London in North West. Regents canal runs through the end of Camden Town and canalboat trips along the canal from Camden Lock are a popular activity. Camden´s industrial heritage has made way for retail, tourism and entertainment, including a number of internationally renowned markets and music venues that are strongly associated with alternative culture.
Camden is well-known for it´s markets: Camden Lock Market, Buck Street Market, Stables Market, Camden Lock Village and an indoor market in the Electric Ball-room. The markets are a major tourist attraction at week-ends, selling goods of all types: including fashion, lifestyle, books, food, junk/antiques and more bizarre items. They and the surrounding shops are popular with young people, in particular those searching for “alternative” clothing.
The tube is Camden Town Underground Station, which is near the markets and other attractions. Be aware, the tube station and Camden Town get´s very crowded in the weekends. Go for a concert at The Roundhouse Theatre and go to a pub, bar or club after - there are plenty!
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HUGE VARIETY OF SHOPS CAMDEN HIGH STREET BUSY STREET THAT LEADS TO THE POPULAR CAMDEN MARKET
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HUGE VARIETY OF SHOPS CAMDEN HIGH STREET BUSY STREET THAT LEADS TO THE POPULAR CAMDEN MARKET
Giulia
My favourite market is Camden market (also known as Disneyland, which is pretty sad)
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Dalston is North East and located in the London Borough of Hackney. Dalston is a lively neighbourhood with an ethnically varied population. Architecturally it is amixture of 18th and 19th century terraced houses and 20th century council estates. Dalston has undergone rapid gentrification the last years and The Guardian claims it is now one of the coolest places in Britain. Dalston has a vibrant nightlife and a positive atmosphere, thanks to its Afro-Caribbean and Turkish communities.
“You can walk down the road and see everything from Pam Hogg (iconic fashion designer) squeezing a melon in the Ridley Road market to a man wearing a sack preaching to the traffic lights”, says Hanna Hanra (editor of Dalston´s own music magazine) “Everything is possible. It´s a fabulous, optimistic place”.
Dalston´s historical borders are Kingsland Road and Kingsland High Street in the west, London Fields in the east, Downs Park Road in the north and the Shoreditch parish boundary in the South. Its definitely a different side of London worth a visit, surrounded by unique shops, coffee shops, pubs, clubs, restaurants and parks, you will not be bored in Dalston.
RAY WALKER “PEACE MURAL” DALSTON JUNCTION, DALSTON >>
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RAY WALKER “PEACE MURAL” DALSTON JUNCTION, DALSTON >>
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Soho is located in the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. The area was long established as an entertainment district, and had for most of the 20th century a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, Soho has undergone a considerable transformation. Now the area is fashionable with upmarket restaurants, shops, pubs and clubs. The sex industry venue is there, but there is only a few sex shops now.
Soho is a small and multicultural area of central London. It is a home to industry, commerce, culture and entertain-ment, as well as poor and rich lives in the area. It is a lively area, especially in the weekends, with late night coffee shops that give the streets an “open-all-night” feel. Soho is also the home of London´s main gay scene. It is also a centre of the independent film and video industry as well as the television and film post-production indus-try. It is home to Soho Theatre, built in 2000 to present new plays and stand-up comedy.
The nearest London Underground stations are Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Leicester Square and Covent Garden. Go to Soho for a drink, a meal, coffee, shopping, theatre and to enjoy a night out!
Soho
PUB DOG AND DUCK BATEMAN STREET, SOHO >>
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PUB DOG AND DUCK BATEMAN STREET, SOHO >>
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Covent GardenCovent Garden is located in the centre of London and is world-famous for its shopping and leisure sites. It is one of the most popular London attractions. Covent Garden is popular with all London tourists because of its widevariety of activities ensuring there is something for everyone in this iconic part of the city. Covent Garden´s many attractions include the Royal Opera House, The Punch & Judy (one of London´s most iconic pubs), a range of restaurants, pubs and retailers.
There is also many fantastic book shops here, like Koening and Magma Books. You will also find Cass Art in Covent Garden, where you can buy everything you need if you re a graphic designer, artist or illustrator. Covent Garden is just a short walk from other central London areas, like Leicester Square and Chinatown.
The nearest tube is Covent Garden. Go here forentertainment and a good time, Covent Garden has 13 theatres and over 60 bars and pubs. Either way, whatever you want to do/see, Covent Garden has (almost) everything!
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HERE YOU WILL FIND EVERYTHING THE COVENT GARDEN PIAZZA THE HEART OF COVENT GARDEN
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South Bank is an area of London which is located next to the River Thames. It forms a long and narrow section of riverside development that is within the London Borough of Lambeth. Nearest tube station is Embankment, Water-loo and Charing Cross. The South Bank is a significant arts and entertainment district.
The Southbank Centre comprises the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Hayward art gallery. The Royal National Theatre and BFI Southbank are located adjacent to the east, but are no part of the centre. County Hall has been converted and is now for use as a hotel and the Sea Life London Aquarium, the London Film Museum. Part of the South Bank Centre known as the under-croft, has been used by skateboarders since the early seventies.
The London Eye (135 meters) is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe and is the most popular paid attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by 3,5 million people annually. Westminster Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and Golden Jubilee connects South Bank to North London.
South Bank
<< POPULAR ATTRACTION LONDON EYE SOUTH BANK AT COUNTY HALL
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Brick LaneBrick Lane is a street in the East End of London. It runs from Swanfield Street in the northern part of Bethnal Green, passes through Spitafields and is linked to Whitechapel High Street to the south by the short stretch of Osborn street. Today, it is the heart of the city´s Bangladeshi-Sylheti community and is known to some as Banglatown. It is famous for its many curry houses. In the 20th century Brick Lane was important in the second wave of development of Anglo-Indian cuisine, as families from countries as Bangladesh migrated to London to look for work. Some curry houses will not sell alcohol, as most of them are run by Muslims.
More recently the area has become a vibrant art area, covered in street art and galleries. Each year most of the fine art and fashion courses exhibit their work near Brick Lane. There is also many vintage stores in the Brick Lane area. The Old Truman Brewery is a lively market in Brick Lane, where up-and-coming designers set up shop every Sunday selling a unique variety of clothes, handbags and jewellery.
Brick Lane is no longer only famous for its many curry houses, but also for its art, exhibitions, markets, clubs and bars. Street art is all over Brick Lane and features artists such as Banksy, D*Face and Ben Eine.
The nearest tube station is Aldgate East. The vibrant street is unique in London and you´ll find so many unique stores and if you re looking for curry, you have come to the right place. Although people stand outside their restaurants and asking if you want to eat at their place, don´t get scared, the food is worth trying, and once you are inside they will stop asking you.
There is a good atmosphere going through Brick Lane, whereas there is a mix of people and not too many tourists. There is always something going on here, from concerts to festivals to vintage kilo markets to exhibitions. If you are going here, go on a Sunday because then you can visit the Brick Lane Market. It is located at the northern end of Brick Lane and along Cheshire Street in east London. The market operates every Sunday from around 8am to 2pm. Almost anything can be found on Brick Lane, from antique books to eight-track cartridge decks. A large part of the markets charm is thepossibility of strange discoveries and it has always been popular with and much photographed by art students.
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SOUTH INDIAN RESTAURANT DOSA WORLD 46 HANBURY STREET, BRICK LANE ONE REASON TO LOVE NOTTING HILL CANDY COLORED HOUSES BYWATER STREET, NOTTING HILL >>
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Notting HillNotting Hill is close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is a cosmopolitan district known as the location for the annual Notting Hill Carnival, and for being home to the Portobello Road Market. Notting Hill has a contemporary reputation as an affluent and fashionable area, known for attractive terraces of large Victorian townhouses, and high-end shopping and restaurants.
Notting Hill has had an association with artists and “alternative” culture since its development in the 1820s. There are also areas of deprivation to the north, sometimes referred to as North Kensington, or Ladbroke Grove, from the name of the street. The Portabello Road Market (located on Portobello Road) runs every day except Sundays, and the Notting Hill carnival, held every year on the last weekend in August. Much of the area is incredibly expensive in terms of house prices and rents, as well as rents for shopkeepers.
Although, a great place to visit, from its cafes and restaurants, to its many pubs and bars and the area still holds so much uniqueness to enjoy.
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BrixtonBrixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in South London. It is mainly residential with a prominent street market and substantial retail sector. Brixton is a multi- ethnic community, with around 24 percent of its population being of African and Caribbean descent. Brixton also have a market, Brixton Market, which is open every day, selling a range of Afro-Caribbean products. There are also Indian and Vietnamese supermarkets and South American butchers amongst the shops and stalls. London Farmers Markets opened a farmers market on Brixton Station in 2009. Open every Sunday from 10am-2pm. The Brixton Splash is an annual one-day street party held since 2006. The event is Community run, showcasing local talent and celebrating the cultural diversity and history of Brixton. Go to Brixton for a completely different part of London!
CINEMA RITZY BRIXTON OVAL, COLDHARBOUR LANE, BRIXTON >>
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Love / Hate
C H A P T E R T W O
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HATE
Overcrowded tube
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LOVE
Always something to see or do
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Giulia
HATE
Social relations. They´re mostly cold and superficial, sometimes based on convenience....or maybe I´m
just naive ?
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LOVE
Diversity
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HATE
Traffic
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Paige
LOVE
There is a lot of galleries, exhibitions and things going on. It is easy to get inspired.
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HATE
The weather
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LOVE
Listening to different languages
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Quiet London
C H A P T E R T H R E E
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Old synagogues in East London
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BEAUTIFUL & QUIET TRUE BUDDHA TEMPLE 265 WILLESDEN LANE, WILLESDEN GREEN, WEST LONDON >>
The British LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It is actually the world´s largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from many countries, in many languages and in many formats, both print and digital books, manuscripts, journals, newspapers, magazines, sound and music recordings, videos, play-scripts,patents, databases, maps, stamps, prints and drawings. The library´s collections include around 14 million books, along with substantial holdings of manuscripts and historical items dating back as far as 2000 BC. The British Library adds around three million items every year occupying 9.6 kilometres of new shelf space.
The library is located on the north side of Euston Road in St. Pancras, London. This is between the Euston railway station and St Pancras railway station. The library has a document storage centre and reading room at Boston Spa, Wetherby in West Yorkshire. Anyhow, the negative thing about the library is that you do need a Reader Pass. This means that only people with a permanent address can apply for it, this is for security purposes. This detail makes it difficult for tourists and travellers to use the library. So it can be a hassle to get into the library, but London have big and beautiful libraries all over the city, where also travel-lers can visit.
But even though you cannot access the Reading Rooms, there are plenty of space around the building and it is a great atmosphere inside the library. And it is quiet. The library has a total of 150 million items, 14 million books, 824.101 serial titles, 351.116 manuscripts, 8.2 million philatelic items, 4.3 million cartographic items, 1.6 million music scores and 3 million sound recording. It is an impressive size of the library and it´s worth a visit even though you cannot get a Reader Pass.
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Train to South DownsPublic transport can be a quiet zone, especially if you don´t take the overground, underground or bus. This train takes you to South Downs, even though it is outside London, it´s still included, because it´s important to remember there are some great and beautiful places just right outside London. Go to London Victoria and book a train ticket to South Downs on the Southern Railway.
You will find peace and quiet and also get a beautiful view of nature and landscape. And what is not more relaxing than a good book, a nice cup of tea and a view of thenature? And maybe spend a day at South Downs ? The place is a range of chalk hills that extends for about 260 square miles across the southern-eastern coastal counties of England from Hampshire to East Sussex.
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HighgateHighgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath. Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character. In Highgate there is a collection of largely Georgian shops, pubs, restaurants and residential streets. In between there are landmarks such as St. Michaels Church.
Highgate is also famous for its atmospheric Victorian cemetery in which the communist philosopher Karl Marx is buried. The village sits atop a hill which provides views across London, climbing 114 metres a above sea level at its highest point. The area is well worth visiting. You will find somewhere quiet and beautiful in Highgate. The nearest tube station is Highgate and Archway.
CEMETERY HIGHGATE CEMETERY SWAINS LANE, HIGHGATE >>
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CEMETERY HIGHGATE CEMETERY SWAINS LANE, HIGHGATE >>
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Lenka
Rollerblading in Victoria Park
Quiet London is rollerblading at 6 am in Victoria Park
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Dutch Garden In England, Dutch garden is a particular type of rectangular garden space, often enclosed within hedges or walls, even if part of a larger garden or parkland. This space is laid out in highly cultivated and geometrical, often symmetrical, fashion, shaped by dense plantings of highly coloured flowers, and edged with box or other dense and clipped shrubs, or low walls. One of them is the beautiful Dutch Garden at Holland Park, located in West London.
The 22 hectare park offer sports facilities, playing fields, children´s play and adventure areas, dog walking, an Ecology Centre, formal gardens and woodland walks, the Japanese Kyoto Garden, art exhibitions, rooms for hire, a restaurant and cafeteria, and a youth hostel. It also host the annual summer season of Opera Holland Park. The park is open daily from 7.30 am until 30 minutes before dusk. The nearest tube stations are Kensington High Street and the Notting Hill underground station.
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Free London
C H A P T E R F O U R
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C H A P T E R F O U R Walthamstow Marshes
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Walthamstow Marshes is on the borders of Hackney and Waltham Forest in the Lee Valley Park. The place is home to species such as the rare Creeping Marshwort. The local bird life includes the reed bunting, reed, sedge and willow warblers, and a variety of wintering birds and finches in autumn. The Marshes form a natural link between Hack-ney Marshes to the south and the various reservoirs to the north. To the West, the River Lee carries canal boats to the Springfield Marina and on into London. Walthamstow Marshes is on National Cycle Route Number 1, so the bi-cycle is the best mode of transport for you to get there.
The reserve is one of the few remaining pieces of London´s once widespread river valley grasslands, and a space to treasure for many reasons! There are plenty of paths to choose from when you explore by bike or on foot. Missing some nature in London ? Take the trip to Walthamshow Marshes and enjoy the nature.
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Galleries
AMAZING ART, CULTURE AND EVENTS AFTER HOURS FIRST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH OPENINGS EAST LONDON>>
There is a fantastic amount of art in London and it´s virtually all free. The Brits have been all round the world for centuries collecting artworks and were the first country to make the art gallery and the museum into popular resources. The Tate Modern is the world´sbiggest, modern art gallery in a beautiful building overlooking St Pauls Cathedral and the admission is free.
Other free galleries worth a visit is the National Gallery, Tate Britain, National Portrait Gallery, Whitechapel Gallery, Saatchi Gallery, Hayward Gallery, Somerset House, Royal Academy of Arts, [space] gallery, Stolenspace gallery, Photographer´s gallery, White Cube and Serpetine Gallery. Galleries are fun, inspiring and free. If you like galleries you should check out some of the galleries and museums that are open late every first Thursday in East London. There are over 100 galleries and museums which are all open until 9pm on these first Thursdays. There will always be something free and exciting to see.
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Springfield Marina
Springfield Marina is a large basin for narrow boats, located in Springfield park. The park is located in Upper Clapton. The higher ground of the park gives you views over Walthamstow Marshes. There are also a few sports facilities in the park; five tennis courts, a cricket pitch and rugby fields. This is a nice and free hideout from the busy streets of London. The park was created in 1905 out of the extensive grounds of three mansions, of which only Springfield House survives, which is now known as the White House. The White House is a café and the municipal rangers station. The park received a Green Flag award in 2008.
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Walking by the canal
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The good thing about canals ; they are everywhere! It is absolutely a great free thing to do in London. It is peaceful, beautiful and quiet. Walking along East London´s historic canal network unlocks a calm world only yards away from the busy streets.
The British Waterways manages and maintains 2.200 miles of canals, rivers and docks within the United Kingdom. Due to the size of the canal network controlled, half of the United Kingdom population lives within five miles of a canal or river managed by British Waterway. So, yes, they are everywhere. Some of the canals that go throughLondon are Regents Canal, Kensington Canal and Oxford Canal.
A stroll by Regent´s Canal can provide a peaceful haven in the middle of the city, and can take you past Camden Town and all the way to the historic Docklands and Limehouse Basin. The waterways are a perfect place to relax and enjoy an new perspective on the city. The canals, like Regent´s canal, offer people an opportunity for walkers to enjoy their activity in relatively safe and peaceful surroundings. The canals are surrounded by villages, green fields and open spaces. All you need is a good map and a start and finish point with good communications. Say, if you wanted to walk part of the Oxford Canal, you could go to Oxford station by train, then walk north to Banbury where there is another rail station with good connections or you can use the buses that take you back to Oxford.
While you walking along a canal you meet all sorts of interesting people, and loads of dog owners of course. And by walking along Regents Canal , it passes through the centre of London, by Regent´s Park and London Zoo.
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Cycling
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Walk the streets
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Walk the streets Run around Hyde Park
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Free folk music nights Folk music includes both traditional music and the genre that evolved from it during the 20th century folk revival. Certain types of folk music are also called world music. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways; as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers.
In London you can experience free folk music nights, for example at Blackheath Folk Club in Blackheath, South East London. The folk music nights take place every Tuesday night. The club holds its weekly meetings from 8.30 pm in a room at the British Oak, at 107 Older Dover Road on the Blackheath/ Kidbrooke borders. There is a very good quality on the performers. They operate by a first come-first served system. There are 10 minutes / 2 song slots.
Another free folk music night is Cocked Ale, which are on Tuesdays at The 3 Compasses at 99 Dalston Lane, Hackney. The night starts at 8 pm and last till 11 pm (at least) Going to Cocked Ale, you will hear some of the freshest sounds coming out of a very creative scene.
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Friday late nights at V&AThe Victoria and Albert Museum is the world´s greatest museum of art and design. It is the world´s largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. It is named after Prince Albert and Queen Victoria and founded in 1852. The museum is located in SouthKensington in West London.
The museum is usually open from 10.00 to 17.45, except Fridays where the museum is open till 22.00 pm. It is a free night of art installations and live performances. Friday Late at V&A is a chance to explore the current and latest exhibitions and experience the fun and excitement of live and interactive events based around it.
Taking place on the last Friday of the month, it allows you late night access to the galleries and the chance to browse at your leisure. Talks, performance and workshops allow the visitors to really get involved and enjoy a wonderful late night session of entertainment.
This is free and a really inspiring and fun night in London. You get art, inspiration, live performances, cutting-edge fashion, debates, one-off displays and installations, special guests, bar and food and guest DJs.
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Visit a church
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Free gigs and jam sessions
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Real London
C H A P T E R F I V E
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People from the whole world
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London scene at night
RUSHING PAST ALL DIFFERENT PEOPLE >>
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Giulia
There is no “real” London in my opinion. There is just a different London for everyone. There is one for tourists, one for students, one for workers and one for musicians. I think the “real” London is the city, with the cold heart which keeps the machine working. Sometimes I just look out of my window in the lovely Brixton and
think that this is the real London in it´s all simplicity.
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Restaurants&
Bars
C H A P T E R S I X
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BonningtonThe Bonnington Café is a cooperatively run vegetarian and vegan restaurant in the Bonnington Square Community Centre in the heart of Vauxhall in SouthLondon. The Cafe has been open since the early 80´s and is one of South London´s best-kept secrets.
Bonnington was started as a squat Cafe to provide a good cheap meal for the community. Since the opening, there has been a lot of changes to the place, but not the sense of community. There is no single person that runs the restaurant, but it is maintained by an active collective of member cooks. The cooks provide excellent vegetarian home-cooking at great prices in a laid back and friendly bohemian atmosphere.
As a visitor you get a sense that you are a part of a community. The cooks are from all over the world, so the menu will be different on any given night. From Japanese to Medieval inspired and from Italian and French to American. Each cook brings their own style and background to the Café´s veggie fare.
Bonnington is an unlicensed premises, so you have to remember to bring a bottle with you if you want to drink alcohol. They don´t charge corkage. And if you are interested in cooking at the Café, you can come to one of their cafe users group meetings which are held on the 1st of every month at 6pm sharp.
Address
11 Vauxhall Grove
London Borough of Lambeth
Opening hours
Everyday 12 - 2 & 6.30 - 10.30
Menu
Vegetarian & vegan
Pricerange
Cheap
Under £ 10
Booking
www.bonningtoncafe.co.uk
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Pogo Pogo Café is located in Hackney, East London. Pogo Café is a vegan space run completely by volunteers. They aim to encourage veganism and animal liberation by providing tasty, affordable food and useful informationto the local community and beyond.
There are also more than food going on at Pogo Café. They also arrange regular film nights, raw food parties and poetry nights. Pogo Café is run by a Voluntary Workers Co-operative who took over the lease of the café in 2004. Since then, they have been providing delicious vegan food and a space for alternative culture, actively promotingveganism and co-operative working, and providing a positive alternative to other restaurants and cafés.
Pogo try their best to use organic vegetables, tofu, grains and beans, which are fair trade and locally grown. They bake their own bread and all of their cakes. They also have fresh specials every day including a main course, fresh soup and salads. Pogo are proud of their burgers, which are made from scratch in their kitchen, from organic tofu, pumpkin seeds and lots of other yummy things.
They operate with BYOB, so you have to bring your own alcohol if you want. There is also free wireless and a bookshop in this creative Café.
Address
76 Clarence Road
Hackney
Opening hours
Wed - Sat 12.30 pm - 9 pm
Sun 11 am - 9 pm
Menu
Vegan
Pricerange
Cheap
Under £ 10
Booking
020 8533 1214
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SafAddress
The Barkers Building
Whole Foods Market 1st Floor
London
Opening hours
Mon - Sat 11 am - 10.30 pm
Sun 11 am - 6.30 pm
Menu
Vegetarian
Raw food
Healthy food
Pricerange
Medium
Under £ 20
Booking
020 7368 4555
Saf restaurant is located in Kensington, West London (there is also one in Shoreditch in East London) Saf is not only a restaurant, but they also have a bar and Whole Food Market. It is a very popular and a great place to eat.
The restaurant & bar is set on the first floor of the historic Barkers Building with its distinctive floor to ceiling windows bathing the venue in natural light. Saf provide an inviting and intimate dining experience.
The work with Whole Foods Market provide the finest of ingredients and the restaurant have been getting top reviews including being named London´s Best Vegetarian Restaurant of 2010 by the London Evening Standard. There is also a cocktail menu created by mixologist Joe Mcanta, all-natural wine list and an extensive range of organic teas and fresh juices.
At Saf you can eat delicious, gourmet food that is also healthy. It is London´s favourite, award-winning healthy restaurant. Saf means Simply Authentic Food, specialises in raw and cooked plant-based food, botanical cocktails and organic wines. There is no dairy and no refined or processed ingredients in the food, only fresh, vibrant and delicious, flavoured food.
Visit Saf and kick-start a healthy new you! There is takeaway as well and if you are hosting your own social event, Saf can provide you with this.
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GauchoAddress
60 Charlotte Street
London
Opening hours
Mon - Sun 12:00 - 23:00
Menu
South American steak
Pricerange
Expensive
Over £ 40
Booking
020 7580 6252
Gaucho have restaurants all over London, this one islocated in Charlotte street, Central London. It is set among concrete office blocks and is an excellent restaurant. The unassuming ground-floor lobby belies the “wow” factorof the dining room below: it is a double-height space decked out in trademark black and white, with cowhideseating. The staff is supposed to be very attentive and service minded.
The place also have a beautiful modern tasting room, contemporary bar. The overall design of the restaurant is contemporary and sleek. All in all, Gaucho is a stunning and jaw dropping restaurant. Gaucho is very contemporary and are paying homage to its root, that of, a steak house. This is a restaurant serving up spectacular steaks of the finest quality, fresh from the pampas of Argentina .
The restaurant is close to Soho and Covent Garden and are therefor ideal for pre and post theatre. The beautiful Private Dining Room is ideal for group bookings.
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J. SheekeyAddress
28-32 St Martin´s court
London
Opening hours
Mon - Sat 12 noon - 3.00 pm
5.30 - 12 midnight
Sun 12 noon - 3.30 pm
6.00 - 11.00 pm
Menu
Fish
Seafood
Pricerange
Mid-range
Over £ 15
Booking
020 7240 2565
www.j-sheekey.co.uk
J Sheekey is located in the heart of Covent Garden. It is a fish and seafood restaurant offering the finest fish, shellfish, oysters and other fruits de mer. The fish are responsibly caught from sustainable sources. The restaurant is discreetly tucked away on St Martin´s Court between Charing Cross Road and St Martin´s Lane. It is close to West End´s theatres, the cinemas of Leicester Square and the lively streets of Covent Garden and Soho.
The building it self is beautiful art deco and the calm scene inside is a contrast to the busy outside. Many come to appreciate this calm and enjoy the seafood specialities at their leisure. J Sheekey also has a symmetrical U-shaped oyster bar. Here you can find the finest West Mersea oysters, Maldons and Fines de Claire. You can also enjoy Dublin Bay prawns, razor clams, scallops, crab, shrimps, lobster and tiger prawns.
J Sheekey attracts a glamorous crowd and is a lively place to eat. Although it is suppose to be worth every penny. It is always crowded, so a reservation is a must. It is one of Londons most enduring seafood restaurants.
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Fish HouseAddress
126-128 Lauritson Road
London
Opening hours
Mon - Fri 12 pm - 10 pm
Sat - Sun 11am - 10 pm
Menu
Fish
Seafood
Pricerange
Cheap
Under £ 15
Booking
020 8533 3327
Located on the edge of Victoria Park, Fish House is a family run, independent and contemporary fish and chips and seafood restaurant. There is daily fresh fish at the restaurant, a good fish guide and eco friendly seasonal catch. The place is child friendly and community orientated. You will get value for money when you eat at the Fish House.
It is a retro stylish take-away chippie, juxtaposed with a table-service fish restaurant. The tables are large and glass topped, the chairs look very stylish and are also comfortable. Takeaway customers are assigned two bench-tables at which to wait for ( or eat) their battered cod, haddock, plaice, rock or scampi and chips. And the restaurant visitors are separated from the takeaway. Restaurant visitors sit in a clinically stylish area to enjoy the likes of lobster bisque with bread and butter, grilled lemon sole with french fries and garlic butter, and king prawns with aioli.
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Crazy HomiesAddress
125 Westbourne Park
London
Opening hours
Mon - Fri 6 pm - 11 pm
Sat 12 am - 11 pm
Sun 12 am - 10.30 pm
Menu
Mexican
Taco
Nachos
Pricerange
Cheap / Mid-range
£ 2 - 25
Booking
020 7727 6771
Crazy Homies is a Mexican food restaurant, located in West London. It opened in December 2004 and has since that been a very popular restaurant. The food at Crazy Homies is inspired by the street vendors and local Taqueiras found throughout Mexico and is freshly made to authentic recipes. The combination of the fantastic flavours and the refreshing Margarithas is a good value for money.
Crazy Homies has killer music, art and design that create the perfect backdrop for a good experience. Great Mexican food, lovely staff and a cool atmosphere. They have a bar and they also do take away. It is best to go easy on the oversized starters, which include quesadillas with assorted fillings : “ barrio chorizo”, mushroom and spinach, or succulent, caramelised “melting pork”.
The venue comprises of two floors, a small pavement cafe style restaurant on the ground floor and a large basement underneath with more tables that opens in the evenings from Wednesday to Sunday. Seating consists of a bench that runs all the way around the room and the place is filled with colourful cushions and skeletons.
The atmosphere is easygoing and fun and it does get livelier towards the weekends and you may be asked to share a table if the restaurant is very busy.
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Petersham NurseriesAddress
Church Lane
Off Petersham Road
Richmond
London
Opening hours
Mon - Sat 9 am - 5 pm
Sun 11 am - 5 pm
Menu
European
Middle East
Pricerange
Cheap - Mid-range
£ 8 - 30
Booking
020 8940 5230
Petersham Nurseries is owned by Gael and Francesco Boglione and is set at the foot of their home, Petersham House, at the base of Richmond Hill. It is a magical place in the most idyllic of surroundings. Petersham Nurseries is a tranquil oasis and seedbed of inspiration. They grow vegetables, herbs and salads as well. The cafè/restaurant draws its own admirers. The cafè offers a short menu of seasonal dishes to be eaten amongst the flowers and plants at the antique tables in the main greenhouse.
The approach is very unique, you walk down a narrow country lane till a broad field opens in front of you, and the nurseries are on your left. Behing worn wooden doors, you walk through the stunning shop under the transparent greenhouse roof and into the restaurant. The place has such an unique touch.
Petersham Nurseries are known for good service and excellent food. For the spring-summer season (2012) the Australian chef Greg Malouf has joined the team and his often exotic cooking frequently references his Middle Eastern heritage whilst also drawing on his European training and influences. Six days a week, Greg and his team will make a short lunch menu to be eaten amongs the plants an flowers in the greenhouse. Dishes such as ; baby courgette flowers with dukkah and tomato-shankleesh salad and turbot grilled with persian spices, beans, grans and baby vegetables. Greg´s signature dish is Duck Bistayeea with Almonds and Sweet Spices.
Reservations are recommended.
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C LondonAddress
23 / 25 Davies Street
Between Grosvenor Street & Mount Row
London
Opening hours
Mon - Sun 12 noon - 3 pm
6 pm - 11.45 pm
Sun 6 pm - 10. 30 pm
Menu
Italian
Pricerange
Expensive
From £30
Booking
020 7399 0500
C London is located in the heart of Mayfair, which is a few steps away from the most elegant shopping. The restaurant is classy, timeless and elegant. The atmosphere is bussy with an electic crowd of Londoners and a very international clientele. The menu offers traditional Italian dishes and classics from Harry´s Bar in Venice.
The restaurant is known for attracting celebrities ( and therefore also paparazzies) So, eating here is almost beside the point : this is a place to be seen in company with “the right people”. Expect to pay top dollar for starters such as a very simple king crab salad. Most of the people who eat at this restaurant does not care about the price.
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River CafeAddress
Thames Warf
Rainville Road
London
Opening hours
Mon - Fri 12.30 pm - 2.15 pm
7.00 pm - 9.00 pm
Sat 12.30 pm - 2.30 pm
7.00 - 9.15 pm
Sun 12.00 pm - 3.00 pm
Menu
Italian
Pricerange
Mid-range - Expensive
From £15 - £40
Booking
020 7386 4201
The River Cafè is located at Thames Wharf Studios on the River Thames about one mile south of Hammersmith Boradway in West London. This Italian restaurant received a Michelin star in 1997. The restaurant is sospecial and good that you want to get a 150 hours-a-week job as an investment banker, just so you can afford to eat there every day.
The food is simple and unpretentious as Italian should be, with great kicks of lemon, parmesan, tomato or chili. Adajent to the restaurant is a private dining room, which rooms 18 guests. The room has its own entrance with views onto the terrace and into the open kitchen. In the summer, they also have outdoor seats, there is no booking on them, so it is often possible to turn up and get a table,even at the weekend. It´s a perfect venue for summer dining right next to the River Thames.
River Cafè brings the flavours of Italian home cooking to London. They also have an all-Italian wine list. The restaurant also brought to London a modern, open-plan kitchen. “Sourcing, sourcing, sourcing” is the mantra of the owners of the cafe. Menus are changed twice a week to respond to the seasons and what is best in the market, with simplicity as the key.
The owners, Ruth Rogers and ( until early 2010) Rose Gray have written six highly successful cookbooks, including Italian Easy and The London River Cafè Cook Book. The River Cafè is aslo notable forthe number of succcessful chefs that have trained in its kitchens. These include Sam and Sam Clark of Moro, Ed Baines of Randall & Aubin and Jamie Oliver.
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SakuraAddress
9 Hannover Street
London
Opening hours
Mon - Sun 12.00 noon - 2 pm
6.30 pm - 10.30 pm
Menu
Japanese
Pricerange
Mid-range
From £15 - £25
Booking
0207 6292 961
Sakura is a Japanese restaurant located in the shopping district in central London, off Regent Street. The restaurant is always packed with people during lunch and dinner. There is one hour wait for walk in diners for dinner if you show up anytime after 7.You don´t have to wait as long if you sit down with the sushi bar. If you want to try Japa-nese food, cooked or raw, you go to Sakura.
Sakura has a reputation of being the best Japanese restaurant in London. When you step in at Sakura, you know the food has to be good because there is a lot of Japanese people eating there. That is always a very good sign. Go to Sakura, sit at the sushi bar, sip tea ( or sake) and read a book or soduko while you wait for your food. The place is very small, but that makes it very atmospheric as well.
The closest tube is Oxford Circus tube station.
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My Old PlaceAddress
88-90 Middlesex Street
London
Opening hours
Mon - Sun 12.00 noon - 2.30 pm
5 pm - 11 pm
Menu
Chinese
Pricerange
Cheap
Under £15
Booking
0207 247 2200
My Old Place is a Chinese restaurant located near Liverpool street. The closest tube station is Aldgate.The word amongst the varius social circles ( Facebook mostly) is that My Old Place is one of London´s finest Szechuan restaurants. Taiwanese people in London especially love this place.
The restaurant is packed of young Chinese people and a visit to the place can be frustrating experience for non-Mandarin speakers. The staff know little English, so complex requests are out of the question. Expect that part of your order might never arrive and you may also see fellow diners eating things that don´t seem to be on the menu.
The food is very cheap, you get a massive main course for £7 - £11. The classics are twice-cooked pork belly and kung pao chicken. Adventurous eaters can enjoy (?) a pig´s liver and “married couple” sliced lung. A favorite at My Old Place is the cumin-spiced barbequed lam skewers at £1 each.
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Made in ItalyAddress
249 King´s Road
Opening hours
Mon 18.00 pm - 23.30 pm
Tue - Sat 12.00 noon - 23.30 pm
Sun 12.00 noon - 22.30 pm
Menu
Italian
Pricerange
Mid-range£20 -£40
Booking
0207 7352 1880
Made in Italy is an authentic Italian restaurant. When people talk about the place, they say that a pizza like the one you get at the restaurant is hard to find, even in the Naples, the birthplace of piza. And the people telling this is the Neapolitans, people who grew up, living and breathing pizzas. Made in Italy brings a bit of Southern Italia to London.
Made in Italy on the Kings Road was the first restaurant in the group. It opened in 1989 and has become famous for its real Neapolitan pizzmetro and genuine Italian ambiance. It is a small and lively restaurant. The menu consits of pizza, pasta and salads. Its a popular place for a quick bite to eat.
They are able to accommodate private parties for up to 35 peple. You can also sit on the terrace, depending on the weather. It is an atmospheric West End restaurant where you can meet friends or colleagues for after-work dates or fun nights out.
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Taza KebabAddress
35A Queensway, Bayswater
London
Opening hours
Mon - Sun 11.00 pm - 00.00 am
Menu
Lebanese
Pricerange
CheapUnder £5
Booking
020 7727 7420
Taza is a take away kebab house located in Bayswater. It is a place for fast, tasty and very fulfilling food. The shawarmas are amazing and the cost is cheap. If you are really hungry and need food fast, this is the place to go. Taza is well known for everyone, the place is always busy and the line is continuous, but it goes quick.
You have not tried a kebab unless you have been to Taza Kebab ! This place is hard to beat. THey have the best tasting shawarmas in London, the chicken is juicy and packed full of flavour. You will get free salads and sauces too and they will give you little takeaway boxes to take your salads home.
The kebabs are generally regarded as the best kebab in London. The kebabs are 3,5 pounds each and it will fill you up pretty well ( a lot of meat ! )
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Marks BarAddress
66 - 70 Brewer Street
Soho
London
Opening hours
Mon - Sun 11.00 pm - 00.00 am
Drink menu
Cocktail
Beer and cider
Champagne
Wine
Non-alcoholic cocktail
Drink InfoBeer from £3.95 per bottle
Wine from £20.00 per bottleCocktail List available
Contact
020 7292 3518
Mark´s bar is located in the basement of HIX restaurant in Soho. It was voted best place to drink in London in 2011. And it is one of the coolest bars in London. Leather chesterfields, smoky mirrors, ambient lighting and its apothecary cocktail bar give the place a very New York vibe.
Mark´s have a traditional bar billiards table and a cocktail list of historical curiosities and celebrations. It is the place to sit back and enjoy a more eccentric approach to drinking. There is a glamor and quality of the drinks that seduce Londoners even in the day. The owner, Hix, says “ Soho office workers love an afternoon tripple” He wanted the drinks to be interesting, with classics and retro combinations.
The place itself is sophisticated, but worn around the edges thank to the battered Chersterfields, rugs and a mishmash of retro lamps and tables. It feels exclusive, but it is open to everyone.
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The Big Chill BarAddress
Dray Walk
Off Brick Lane
London
Opening hours
Sun - Thu 12.00 pm - 12.00 am
Fri - Sat 12.00 pm - 1.00 am
Drink menu
Cocktail
Beer and cider
Wine
Non-alcoholic cocktail
Drink InfoBeer from £4 a pint
Cocktail from £6.50- £8
Contact
020 7392 9180
The Big Chill bar is a part of the fabric of Brick Lane life in London. The bar is set in the heart of the Truman Brewery, it bustles with locals and visitors alike. It is a place to have a drink and a delicious burger after shopping or to party with one of their resident DJs when the sun goes down.
The Big Chill bar remains consistently popular every day of the week. The bar has a very laid back style with oversized, comfortable sofas to sit on. The Big Chill bar is a big and chill bar with a very chilled out atmosphere. It can get really busy, after exhibitions and during the nights.
The decor is sparse and the ceilings are low. The faint smell of alcohol/cleaning products lingers in the airs and the floor is sticky, but as the place is darkly lit, it only enhances the slightly dingly vibe. Be careful going to the toilets alone and keep an eye on your belongings.
The atmosphere is fun and relax and the people who go there are a mixed bag of local creatives and party seekers from out of town. The place attracts a nice, diverse crowd. The staff are friendly and the music is an electic mix of house, funk, reggae, hip hop, jazz and electronica. DJs spins all day on Sundays.
Cocktails are popular at this place. Try a Big Chill Punch or a Jaywalking Honey. Go here on a nice summer day and you can sit on the benches outside and drink and watch the people and the busy, creative area of Truman Brewery.
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Lounge BohemiaAddress
1E Great Eastern Street
Shoreditch
London
Opening hours
Mon - Sat 6pm - 12am
Sun 6 pm - 11 pm
Drink menu
Cocktail
Beer and cider
Wine
Non-alcoholic cocktail
Drink Info
Cocktail from £7- £9
Book a table
07720 707000
Lounge Bohemia is located in Great Eastern street in Shoreditch, East London. You find the bar in a basement and it is run by Czech bartender Paul Tvaroh. The bar is inspired by Eastern Europe in the 60s with interesting cocktails and beers on offer. Make sure that you book a table and that you stick fast to the owner´s no suit policy !
The bar is hidden discreetly between a kebab shop and a newsagent. When you are walking down the busy Great Eastern street. look out for the number 1E and a corridor covered in old Czech newpapers. The place is small with a capacity of only 40 people. Much of the furniture in the place actually comes from Paul´s own family.
It is important to book beforehand, because Paul is very strict about that. The dress code is no joke either ; no office wear. When you ring Paul to book a table (on his mobile!) he will tell you about the dress code. There is a seated-only policy in this bar, which is quite unique.
You can choose between traditional cocktails and those with a molecular twist. Lounge Bohemia never got too busy or feel to full due to the strict booking policy. This makes the atmosphere pretty relaxed and as you are likely to share a table with others it can be quite a soicable place to be. Its pretty difficult not to get talking over the fantastic drinks that arrive in front of you.
Lounge Bohemia is Paul´s bar and he does what he wants to do. If he or any of the staff doesn´t like the look of you,or if you don´t adhere to the rules, he has no problems in asking you to leave even if you have booked a table. This bar is definetly not for everyone!
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Platform BarAddress
56 - 58 Tooley Street
London
Opening hours
Mon - Wed 12 pm - 12 am
Thur - Fri 12 pm - 3 am
Sat 12 pm - 3 am
Sun Closed
Drink menu
Cocktail
Beer and cider
Wine
Champagne
Non-alcoholic cocktail
Drink InfoBeer from £4 a bottle
Wine from £18 a bottleCocktail list awailable
Book a table
020 7403 6388
Platform bar is located just under the arches of London Bridge station. It is a lively bar and restaurant nestled in an old railway arch on Tooley Street, directly beneath platform number one.
The location of the bar not only makes it the perfect meeting place, but also gave them the starting point of their name; Platform. The name also alludes to the fact that they want to be a platform for a new approach to provide simple, honest food and bringing London diners some of the best produce currently being farmed in England without the fuss.
The spacious groundfloor bar is lined by a lager-lager-lager choiuce of beer taps and slightly hectic music. There is a huge glitterball that lights the way up a huge central staircase to the first floor restaurant.
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The Greenwich UnionAddress
56 Royal Hill
Greenwich
London
Opening hours
Mon - Fri 12 pm - 11 pm
Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 11.30 am - 10.30 pm
Drink menu
Spirits
Beer and cider
Wine
Non-alcoholic drink
Drink InfoBeer from £4 a bottle
Wine from £18 a bottleCocktail list awailable
Contact
020 8692 6258
The Greenwich Union is located only 5 minutes away from Greenwich market. It is nestled in the heart of Greenwich´s bustling Royal Hill. The place is serving memorable beers and appertizing food. It is actually a beer drinking heaven serving modern British dishes in gener-ous portions. A popular place with food and beer lovers.
The Greenwich Union is renowed for its great selection of beers. But, they do not only have good beer, but also exceptionally good spirits and wines. Soon after the place opened in 2001 it established as a corner-stone of local Greenwich life. The place is commonly known as “The Union” and offers taste, flavour and the right choice of drinks. All the beers are unpasteurised and brewed in small batches with much time, care and attention. In addition to their own range of Meantime beers, The Union is proud to showcase a selection of over 60 beers from some of the world´s top breweries to demonstrate many classic examples of great beer styles.
The customers at the bar ar treated as the beer , with time, care and thought. The staff offers you a warm welcome and they have passion for great beer and honest home made food.
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Howl at the moonAddress
178 Hoxton Street
London
Opening hours
Sun - Thu 12.00 pm - 11.00 pm
Fri - Sat 12 pm - 1.00 am
Sun Closed
Drink menu
Cocktails
Beer and cider
Wine
Non-alcoholic drink
Drink InfoBeer from £3-£3.50 a pintWine from £11.50 a bottle
Cocktails from £3
Contact
0203 341 2525
Howl at the moon is a popular bar in Hoxton, East London. The place is a short walk from the clubs and bars in Shoreditch, yet far enough away that youre out of the hectic atmosphere and get more of a traditional local East London feel. The exterior of the bar is very interesting and it is very non-bar like. It has a huge sign with quite bizarre lettering. Once inside, you will feel more at home.
The serving area is huge, the staff can literally dance behind it. The ceilings look as if they havent been changed since the 80s and there is only two toilets, one for men and one for women. There is also a piano tucked away in one of the corners. There is funky artwork on the walls, like a large Audrey Hepburn picture. Wood and glass tables have candles in bottles and there is also new retro-style sofas. It is an relaced and unprentious feel to the bar.
The music played is very mellow and some nights there is live music at this venue. The music ranges from blues to jazz and there are four resident brands on a constant rotation. Go to Howl at the moon for a good night. Live music every Friday night!
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The BridgeAddress
15 Kingsland Road
London
Opening hours
Mon - Wed 12.00 pm - 1.00 am
Thu - Sat 12.00 pm - 2.00 am
Sun 12.00 pm - 00.00 am
Drink menu
Coffees
Beer and cider
Tea
Spirits
Wine
Drink InfoBeer from £5 a bottle
Contact
0871 963 4200
The Bridge is an unique bar located in Shoreditch. Go up to the seating area in the second floor and I promise you that you have never seen anything like it. This is one of Shoreditch´s most flamboyant places, but from the street it´s almost outshone by the brighter bars around it. The ground level features seating at the long bar alongside its vintage espresso machines. The stairs to second floor take you to a gaudy boudoir of pink velvets, fuchsia throws and violet fainting couches that look like someone took inspiration from a Fondant Fancy. The place attracts hipsters, coffee lovers, knowledgeable tourists and couples
What makes The Bridge so unusual is that despite its long hours ( its open as late as some of the bars) there is not much alcohol and so what it has going on is that most rare of things in London, a version of a coffee shop culture. There is a warm and familiar service that make you feel like a local, even on the first visit.
The place has a relaxed, sociable atmosphere, helped by a soundtrack of classical music. All the tables are arranged almost likes booths, so you can have some privacy for gossiping. They have some alcohol, delicious coffee and cakes. It used to be a former DVD and video store and is now a coffee house and bar filled with all manner of Americana, antiques, and paraphernalia. Two visits will ever be the same, there is so much to look at on the walls, ceiling and floor.
Go to The Bridge, enjoy a drink or coffee and step back in time to a Victorian coffee house, with an almost obsessive collection of old photographs, vintage Coca Cola adverts, Tiffany lamps and gilt mirrors.
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Markets
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Borough MarketBourough Market is London´s most renowned food market ; a source of fantastic and unique British andinternational produce. It is a heaven for anybody who cares about the quality and provenance of the food they eat - restaurateurs, chefs, passionate amateur cooks and people who just happen to love eating and drinking. The marked is populated by a community of remarkable individuals from all over the UK, Europa and the rest of the world, whom all care deeply about the food and drink on offer.
Many of the people who have stalls at Borough Market are actually the producers of what they sell, they grow,rear or bake the food they sell. While others are importers with intimate knowledge of whichever corner of the globe they source their products from. This make this market unique and fantastic. It is a place to explore, to ask questions, to discover new flavours and to savour a unique atmosphere.
Borough Market´s vision is to enrich the quality of life of the local community and to biild on its reputation as a wcentre of food exellence. They want to be a viable and sustainable, independet and quiality food marked. The market is open Thursday 11am - 5pm, Fridays 12pm - 6pm and Saturdays 8am - 5pm.
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Spitafields
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Spitafields is London´s oldest market and is located in East London, close to Shoreditch and Liverpool Street station. It is open every day except Monday and Saturday. The market and shops offer cutting edge fashion and interiors, original artworks and food. The market is surrounded by independent shops, cafes, bars and awarding winning restaurant like Galvin La Chapell and Giraffe.
The market has up to 110 stalls on it busiest days. The stalls range from contemporary and vintage fashion, music, bespoke children´s toys, jewellery and accessories and home interiors. The market is also surrounded by a host of independet boutiques, food shops and restaurants., Plus you have Old Spitafields Martket right next door.
Set on Market Street, you also find Spitafields Arts Market, a great place to browse and buy affordable art direct from established and up and coming artists. There is a wide choice of original artworks from paintings to photography.
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Columbia Road Flower MarketColombia Road Flower Market is a beautiful market located in the East End sitting on the edge of the city with Shoreditch to the west and Brick Lane and Spitafields nearby. Every Sunday Colombia Road is transformed into an oasis of foliage and flowers. Everything from bedding plants to 10 foot banana trees are up for grabs. A lot of the flower sellers grow their own plants or import flowers from around the world.
Colmbia Road is one of the few streets in the country composed of sixty independent shops. Small art galleries sit next to cup cake shops, vintage clothes stores, English and Italian delis, garden and antique shops. There is also a wealth of great pubs, cafes and restaurants.
Coloumbia Road Flower Market and the shops are open on Sundays from 8am to around 3pm. The market is popular not only with plant and flower buyers, but also with photographers and television companies who regu-larly film there.
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Greenwich market
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Greenwich market is an unique covered market with its vibrant atmosphere and comiitment to showcase designer makers and is fondly regarded as one of London´s best markets. Discover original artworks and handcrafted toys, fashions and handmade jewlerry, delicious fresh produce and fantastic food-to-go.
Greenwich market has it all under one roof and is open Tuesdays through to Sundays with arts, craft and food stalls on Wednesdays, Saturday and Sunday with antiques, vintage and collectables on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The market is open from 10am to 5.30pm. They are also open on Bank Holidays.
You meet unique people behind the stalls, like Ms.Cupcaks. She is a special lady that sells vegan cupcakes at the market.
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Netil MarketNetil Market is located in London Fields in Hackney, East London. It is a mini market, which has stalls for artisan coffee, baked goods, crafs and even a rotisserie. Stall holders rotate each every week, but there is usually a good mix of homewares, vintage clothing, accessories and crafty bibs and bobs.
The market is the hotspot for up and coming creative talent. Every week there is a variety of stalls offering specialist vintage, art, craft, furniture, food, jewellery and miscellaneous. There is a heated dining space and a very friendly, relaxed vibe.
The main market is every Saturday from 11am to 6pm in 13-23 Westgate Street in London Fields.
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Sunbury antique market
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Sunbury Antiques Market is the largest and longest running Bi-monthly market in the UK. This market has been at Kempton Park for over 20 years and due to the enthusiasm of Sue Cruttenden who started here in 1979 it has gone from strength to strength.
The market has over 700 stallholders, 350 stalls inside and over 350 outside stalls. The stalls offers a wide variety of furniture, silverware, jewellery, ceramics, clocks,kitchenallia, vintage fashion, garden ephemera, paintings, cameras and books. The market not only attract those from the antiques trade, but collectors, prop buyers and interior designers. The market also operate with free admission and free car parking.
It is an enormous and unique antiques fair, where you can definitely find something that noe one else has. The market operate every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Part as the appeal of the place, aside from the vast variety of the stuff on offer, from old French maps and tables of stuffed owls to gargantuan Belgian farmhouse tables - lies the fact that you can often buy in silly quantities - meaning people kitting out pubs can but 20 of the same science lab light fittings, or 100 school chairs. There is also the great atmosphere that comes from a jumble of different accents, a shared enthusiasm for unusual objects and the solidarity of enduring and very early start (6.30 am).
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Ridley Road market
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Ridley Road Market is located in Hackney, East London. It is a colorful market with strong emphasis on food. The food include Afro-Carribean fruit and veg to Asian spices and plenty of fish. But its not just the place for affordable food, the market also offers cheap clothes and household goods from a sic pack of knickers to washing up liquid.
The best of all is the excellent selection of exotic food. The quality varies from stall to stall, so make sure you shop around. It is open from 9am to 7pm every day except Sundays . Ridley Road is just off the Kingsland High Street section and its right next to Dalston Kingsland railway station. It is a colorful, vibrant market with a positive vibe.
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Parks
C H A P T E R E I G H T
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Greenwich park
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Greenwich Park is a former hunting park in Greenwich and is one of the largest single green spaces in South East London. It covers 74 hectares and is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site. There are fine views over the River Tames, Isle of Dogs and the City of London. The park is open from 6am for pedestrians all year round and closes at dusk. The park stretches along a hillside and is on two levels.
On the lower level of the park there is popular children´s playground and a herb garden. On the upper level, there is an extensive flower garden, large duck pond, a cricket pitch and a rose garden. It is an ancient oak tree and an enclosure (“The Wilderness”) housing some wild deer. There is also the garden of the former Astronomer Royal, a peacful secluded space which is good for picnics. There is also a cafè in the park.
When London hosts the Summer Olympics in 2012, this park will be the venue for the equestrian events and for the riding and running parts of the modern pentahlon events. The park also hosts the Greenwich Meridian 10 km in March every year.
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Regents park
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Regents Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the northwestern part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden. It contain Regent´s College and the London Zoo. The park has an outer ring road called the Outer Circle and an inner ring road called the Inner Circle, which surrounds the most carefully tended section of the park.
The 166 hectare park is mmainly open parkland which has a wide range of facilitiesand amenities including gardens, a lake, boating area, sport pitches and children´s playgrounds. The northern site of the park is rhe home of London Zoo. There are also several public gardens with flowers and specimen plants, including Queen Mary´s Gardens in the Inner Circle.
There is many sports played in the park including tennis, netball, athletics, cricket, softball, football, hockey, running and rugby. There are three playgrounds for children and there is boating on the main lake. The park is also very popular for cyclists who cycle around the outer circle. It is a very beautiful park with a relaxed vibe.
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Victoria ParkVictoria Park ( known as Vicky Park or the People´s Park is 86,18 hectares of open space that stretches out across part of the East End of London bordering parts of Bethnal Green, Hacknet and Bow. The park is also used as a concert venue and hosts many festivals each year. In recent times, the park have started with open-air music festivals which are often linked with a political cause.
In 2008 the park was voted London´s best local park by Time Out magazine. In 2011 it won its first Green Flag award and was again voted London´s favourite park in the national People´s Choise Award. Vicotria Park is very popular for children and adults. During the summer cricket is played every evening on the park and the park is also very popular for runners and taking a walk.
The park is open daily from 6:00am to dusk.
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London FieldsLondon Fields is a park and the name of an area in London, situated in the easteren borough of Hackney. The park itself was first recorded in 1540. At this time it was common ground and used by drovers to pasture their livestock before taking them to market in London. The park is just over 31 acres in extent, about one-third of its original size.
The London Fields Lido is very popular and the only heated outdoor Olympic-size pool in London. There is also a cricket pitch, grass areas, a small BMX track, tennis courts, a table tennis table and two children´s play areas in the park. London Fields received a Green Flag award in 2008. Every Saturday, many producers from around the country take part in the very popular market selling quality produce including a huge array of hot foods, complemented by many others selling hand-made jewellery, gifts, childrenswear and vintage clothing. Every Sunday there is also a London Fields Farmers Market.
London Fields is one of Hackneys most popular green spaces. The space is characterised by its grassy expanse and is demarcated by mature London plane trees. The park was awarded a Green Flag award in 2011, this award is given out to the best green spaces in the country. Hackney has currently rthirteen Green Flags, one of the highest totals in London.
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Hampstead HeathHampstead Heath ( locally known as “the Heath”) is a large, anicent London park, covering 320 hectares. This public space is one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate. The Heath is rambling and hilly, embracing ponds, recent and ancient woodlands, playgrounds, a lido and a training track. The park is a popular place for Londoners to walk and take in the air. Along the eastside of the park you find a chain of ponds, including three open-air public swimming pools (which were originally reservoirs for drinking water from the River Fleet).
There is lakeside concerts arranged in the park during the summer. Hampsteah Heath is also an importan refuge for wildlife, including muntjac deer, grass snakes, foxes, rabbits, slow worms, squirrels, terrapins and frogs. There are over 25 ponds on Hampstead Heath, mostly collected in two distinct areas. On the east (Highgate) side is a series of eight former reservoirs, these include two single-sex swimming pools, a model boating pond, a wildlife reserve pond and a fishing lake. In the south-west corner of the Heath, there are three further ponds (known as Hampstead Ponds), one of which is the”mixed pond”, where both sexes may swim.
The Heath is home to a range of activities, including 16 different sports. It is used by walkers, runners, swimmers and kite-flyers, and is regarded as the home of cross-country running in Britain. Swimming takes place all year round in two of the three natural swimming ponds. There is also a volleyball court and eight seperate children+s play areas including an adventure playground.
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Hyde park
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Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in London and is located in central London. It is one of the Royal Parks of London and is famous for its Speakers Corner. The park is divided in two by the Serpentine. The park covers 142 hectares. To the southeast, outside the park, is Hyde Park Corner. Hyde Park is right next to Kensington Gardens and people often assume that Kensington Gardens is a part of Hyde Park, but they are seperate.
Hyde Park is open from 5am to midnight every day. The park is the largest of four park which form a chain from the entrance of Kensington Palace through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, via Hyde Park Corner and Green Park, past the main entrance to Buckingham Palace and then on through Saint James´s Park to Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall. The park has become a location for mass demostrations.
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Clissold parkClissold Park is a 22 hectares community park in Stoke Newington, within the London Borough of Hackney. There is a children´s playground, sport fields, bowling green, tennis courts, a cafe and some animals in the park. The park also hosts remains of the New River. Clissold Park was voted the Heart of Hackney, in an I Love Hackney poll organised by Hackney Council.
Clissold park is one of the most beautiful parts of London, with a large dedicated area to doggies, public toilets, a cafe and real live terrapins in the pond. If you are lucky you may even see the goats, bunnies, deer and pretty coloured birdies. The Stoke Newington Festival is at Clissold park and there is a selection with local music, food and arty stalls.
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Alexandra ParkAlexandra Park is an 80 hectare park in the Borough of Haringey in north London. The park is split between hilly terrain and flat ground. It is dominated by Alexandra Palace. The vast, tree-lined sloping hill has wide views over London and on a clear day you can see the Crystal Palace Transmitter on the far south-east side of London. The medium-sized lake atrracts a variety of waterfowl in all seasons and a large enclosure houses a small herd of fallow deer.
The park has won the Green Flag Award and Green Heritgae. You will definitely find some peace and quiet in this beautiful park. The park is not accessable by tube, but bus. The W3 bus has connections at Wood Green and Finsbury Park tube stations.
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Tips
C H A P T E R N I N E
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DON´T DO THOSE STEREOTYPICAL THINGS ( SUCH AS SPENDING LOTS OF MONEY TO
TAKE PICTURES OF WAX STATUES)Giulia
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BE BRAVE, GET ON A BUS / TUBE AND GO WHERE IT TAKES YOU , THEN WALK WITH A GOOD MAP IN FRONT OF YOUPhilip
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BE HAPPY AND OPEN MINDEDPaola
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DON´T BE AFRAID TO EXPLORE ! Anne
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THERE ARE ADVENTURES TO BE FOUND ALSOW-OUTSIDE ZONES 1 & 2. FIND THE RESTAURANTS
WITH MAINLY LOCALS AND LESS TOURISTS. Anne
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GET A WEEKLY OYSTER CARD TO SAVE MONEY Arran
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LOOK LIKE YOU KNOW WHERE YOU GOING ( EVEN IF YOU DON´T)
John
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CARRY AN “A TO Z” WITH YOU.LONDON IS BIGGER THAN YOU THINK.
EASY TO MISS WHERE YOU GOING. Olu
196AVOID PECKHAM, TOTTENHAM, CAMBERWELL AND OTHER SINK ESTATE AREASPhilip
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GO TO RANDOM PUBS.GET OUT OF ZONE 1 AND 2.
DON´T IDEALIZE WHAT YOU SEE.Giulia
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IT´S NICE TO SPEND TIME IN LONDON DURING SUMMER.
Giulia
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OXFORDSTREET
AVOID
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OXFORDSTREET
AVOID
Lenka
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LONDON FOR REAL IS AN UNIQUE, ILLUSTRATED GUIDEBOOK. THE BOOK
IS BASED ON 14 COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSONS LIVING IN THE
MULTICULTURAL LONDON.