Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for london
The Height of Luxury in London
By Linda Tancs
You could say that guests of the Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard in London enjoy a heady experience. It is, after all, the tallest hotel in Western Europe–the first of its kind in a London skyscraper, occupying floors 34 to 52 of the glamorous Shard. The first luxury hotel south of the Thames, the GŎNG bar at its apex will no doubt leave you agog over cityscape views for up to 40 miles. Add to that a spacious room with floor to ceiling windows and a marble bath for a welcome respite. Does it live up to its name? Hardly remote, but idyllic nonetheless.
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A Moving Tribute in London
By Linda Tancs
Through year end you can experience James Bond in motion–sort of–at the London Film Museum’s Bond in Motion exhibition in Covent Garden. Boasting the largest official collection of James Bond vehicles, the venue is displaying over 100 individual original items from all 23 films–the largest display of its kind ever staged in London. What’s included? The Aston Martin DB5, Goldfinger’s Rolls-Royce Phantom III and the Lotus Esprit S1 submersible from The Spy Who Loved Me. Will you leave shaken, or stirred?
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The Sage of Chelsea
By Linda Tancs
Moving in the finest of literary circles, Victorian writer Thomas Carlyle earned the nickname “Sage of Chelsea.” Indeed, his home in London’s Chelsea district is where much of his writing took place (such as his Complete Works and Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches) amidst multiple gatherings with heavyweights like Dickens and Tennyson together with his equally gifted wife, Jane. Near the house is a bronze statue of the literary giant, unveiled in 1882 (a year after his death) and funded by such luminaries as Charles Darwin, Robert Browning and William Morris. Preserved by the National Trust, Carlyle’s House is accessible via a 15-minute walk from the tube at Sloane Square or South Kensington.
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London’s Larder
By Linda Tancs
London’s Borough Market turns 1000 years old this year. You’ve come a long way, baby–from grain, fish, vegetables and livestock trading in the 11th century to a premier market source for foodies like chefs, restaurateurs and amateur cooks. Its original location is marked by The Triangle, a patch of land purchased by local residents when Parliament closed the market in the 1700s. Now over 100 stalls strong, the facility is home to renowned producers like Northfield Farm and Furness Fish and Game. The City’s oldest fruit and vegetable market, it’s located next to London Bridge station. The full market is open Wednesday through Saturday.
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Birthplace of English Landscape
By Linda Tancs
The English Landscape Movement was inspired by Dutch landscape paintings of the 16th and 17th centuries. Launched by landscape designers like William Kent, the movement’s birthplace is widely recognized to be the gardens at Chiswick House in west London. The property was restored a few years ago to enhance its lake views and serpentine pathways. This 65-acre oasis has inspired other great landscapes around the world like New York’s Central Park. Admission is free year round. Take the District Line to Turnham Green station.
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London’s Oldest Riverside Pub
By Linda Tancs
The Prospect of Whitby, London’s oldest riverside pub in Wapping, was once known as the Devil’s Tavern, a nod to its once-upon-a-time popularity with thieves, smugglers and pirates. More polished clientele included Charles Dickens, Samuel Pepys and artists Whistler and Turner. Originating in 1520, this traditional British pub boasts an original flagstone floor, a rare pewter-topped bar and old barrels and ship masts. And what good would a storied pub be without a haunting or two? Reputedly a favored watering hole of “hanging judge” Jeffreys, his spirit allegedly still presides over the hangings and drownings at high tide visible from his bar stool.
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Celebrating Cricket’s Bicentenary
By Linda Tancs
Lord’s, the home of cricket in London, celebrates 200 years of sport, having hosted the first known cricket match in 1814 between MCC and Hertfordshire. To commemorate the bicentenary of this venerated sporting venue, eager fans are awaiting this Saturday’s star-studded lineup in the MCC versus Rest of the World match. Luminaries include Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne, Brian Lara, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi. Can’t make the match? Visit the historic grounds and museum for a peek at the largest cricket collection in the world. The site is just a five minutes’ walk from St. John’s Wood tube station.
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Shaw’s Corner of Hertfordshire
By Linda Tancs
The writer Franz Kafka once remarked that writing is utter solitude. All great writers express the need for solitude–and some find it–like George Bernard Shaw. The Irish playwright moved at the height of his fame to an Edwardian villa in Ayot St. Lawrence in Hertfordshire, England known as Shaw’s Corner. In his garden he installed a shed–his writer’s nook–where he wrote Pygmalion, Man and Superman and Major Barbara. He named the little hut (which swivels to catch the sun) “London” so his wife could inform curious callers of his destination and avoid interrupting him. How clever!
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Royal Hospital Welcomes Visitors
By Linda Tancs
Today marks the birthday of Britain’s King Charles II. It’s a day fondly regarded at London’s Royal Hospital Chelsea; King Charles founded the hospital in 1681 as a retirement home for war veterans (pensioners). Nearest the day is the hospital’s seminal annual event–a parade presided over by a member of the Royal Family. This year’s festivities will take place on 5 June. You can always visit the hospital, led by a Chelsea Pensioner, for a small fee featuring a 90-minute daily walking tour. Otherwise, you can visit the grounds, chapel and Great Hall on your own for free.
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Year of the Bus
By Linda Tancs
Sixty years ago, the iconic Routemaster bus was unveiled at the Commercial Motor Show in London, England. That was in September 1954. Why wait to celebrate? Mayor Boris Johnson has declared 2014 as the Year of the Bus. And rightly so. Did you know that London’s road network carries more bus passengers than New York and Paris combined? Approximately 2.3 billion passenger journeys were made between 2012 and 2013 on around 700 routes on London’s bus network, over 100 of which operate around the clock. The double decker has captured the hearts of travelers worldwide. You can learn more about its impact at a lecture tonight in Covent Garden. Other events taking place during the year include a festival at Finsbury Park in July and symposia on the history and cultural significance of the London bus. Routemaster, we salute you!
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