Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for london
Extreme Driving in London
By Linda Tancs
London’s International Horse Show at Olympia hardly sounds like the venue to be associated with extreme driving. Yet that’s exactly what’s happening for the first time at this year’s event. Extreme driving is a high speed indoor driving competition featuring the world’s top three drivers. A new equestrian disicpline, the action will take place on the evening of 15 December and the afternoon of 16 December. Sure gives new meaning to the expression, hold your horses.
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Scotsman Soars from Edinburgh to London
By Linda Tancs
The Flying Scotsman is arguably the world’s best known steam locomotive, having dutifully plied the route between London and Edinburgh for decades. Purchased for the nation, it found a home at the National Railway Museum where it is undergoing restoration to full mainline running condition. In the meanwhile, what’s a busy traveler between Edinburgh and London to do? East Coast has the answer. In May, the train operator introduced a Flying Scotsman express service, a four-hour jaunt calling only at Newcastle in its route between Edinburgh and London’s King’s Cross station. The new service is the cream of the puff, you might say. Other improvements include a new early-morning service from Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth and Morpeth, which connects into the Flying Scotsman service at Newcastle.
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London’s Sweetest Attraction
By Linda Tancs
Now the candy that “melts in your mouth and not in your hand” has its own showcase across the pond. Opening earlier this month, M&M’s World in London’s Leicester Square is the first overseas attraction for the brand’s candy maker. The 35,000-square feet behemoth features a Union Jack comprising M&M’s logos, a Wall of Chocolate and a range of merchandise from apparel to bedding.
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A Taste of London
By Linda Tancs
There’s great taste abiding at Taste of London. From 16 to 19 June, 40 local restaurants and world class chefs will compete for your palate in Regent’s Park. The event features a boutique food market, cooking lessons from culinary greats in the Taste Theatre and a Secret Garden. No roses there, just a gourmet oasis of wines and first-class foodstuffs. Hope you’re hungry.
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Some Enchanted Evening
By Linda Tancs
As the state apartments of London’s Kensington Palace undergo a mulitmillion pound restoration, its enchanting history is coming out of the dust. Transformed into the Enchanted Palace, each room celebrates the life of one of seven princesses who once lived there. Merging fashion and fairy tale, you’ll romp through rooms like The Room of Royal Sorrows, the Room of Flight and The Room of Royal Secrets to uncover the identity of the estate’s inhabitants and their life stories. At last, walls that talk.
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Chocolate Cravings in London
By Linda Tancs
Chocolatier Milton Hershey observed, “Caramels are only a fad. Chocolate is a permanent thing.” If the number of ongoing chocolate festivals is any indication, then he got it right. After all, how many caramel festivals have you encountered? This weekend London celebrates the sweet stuff at Southbank Centre. And it’s not all about bars, truffles and bonbons. You’ll learn about the many applications of this delectable confection from bean to bonbon, savory foods to cocktails. Admission is free–all the better for your chocolate spree.
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Films Debut in London
By Linda Tancs
Through 28 October new films are showing in London at the British Film Institute’s 54th Film Festival. Galas and special screenings include Hollywood heavyweights like Natalie Portman in Black Swan and Annette Benning and Julianne Moore in The Kids Are Alright as well as the debut of West is West, the sequel to East is East, a story about a mixed race family returning to their roots in Pakistan. Would-be filmmakers would have been inspired by the chat with Black Swan’s Darren Aronofsky–if you had a ticket, that is. How about a meet and greet with music video director Mark Romanek, auteur of such works as Michael and Janet Jackson’s “Scream” and Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ “Don’t Stop.” Influenced by visionary directors such as Scorsese, Cassavetes and Kubrick, Romanek’s transition to feature filmmaking was celebrated in the festival’s Opening Night Film, Never Let Me Go. Tickets are available at screening venues 30 minutes prior to first screening. Otherwise, stop by the ticket office at Southbank, call or go online.
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London Food Fest
By Linda Tancs
London’s Restaurant Festival is in full force until 18 October. Malaysian and Mexican foods are the featured fare this year. Notable events include Street Kitchen, a mobile pop-up restaurant serving up gourmet food across the city. Speaking of pop-ups, one capsule of the London Eye is a 10-seat “pop-up” restaurant presided over by one of London’s most celebrated chefs. It’s sold out, but you can still enjoy 800 or so restaurants that will be featured on Festival Menus. Bring your appetite.
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Old Masters in London
By Linda Tancs
Now through 13 June enjoy Old Master paintings, antiques, furniture and jewelry at Olympia International Art and Antiques Fair, London’s oldest and largest summer international fine art and antiques fair. Vetted by a team of 200 experts, the offerings are diverse enough for every level of collector. Olympia Exhibition Hall, the venue, is outside the city’s infamous congestion zone. Pre-book parking or take the tube to Kensington Olympia.
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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London’s Biggest Hotel Set to Open
By Linda Tancs
London sports its fair share of iconic hotel properties: Savoy, Dorchester, Brown’s, Connaught, etc. Today greets the soft opening (soft in the sense of limited availability while the finishing touches are completed) of the largest hotel now to grace the City: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel. At a mere 350 million pounds, the finished product offers 1021 rooms within walking distance of Waterloo and Westminster stations. Of course, the best digs will feature striking views of Parliament and the Thames. The springtime gala opening will show off a luxe spa, pool and fitness center. Start saving your quid.
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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