London Things to Do Tips by Mariajoy

This beautiful Tudor house built by a courtier of Henry VIII , Sir Ralph Sadleir in 1535 is situated in Homerton High Street, Hackney. After centuries of occupation by merchants, silkweavers, and Victorian schoolmistresses, amongst others, and much later, in the 1980's, squatters, the house was completely renovated in the early 1990's and since then has been run by the National Trust and is open to the public.

The visitor can see rooms in Tudor, Georgian and Victorian styles that have been painstakingly restored, and, as far as possible, maintaining the architectural and decorative styles, features and details that the house would have had over the centuries.

Having been to several NT properties, which are all lovely, I especially enjoyed my visit here, partly because Hackney is the place I was born and there was the feeling of "this house is part of my heritage" (in a community sense) - I also enjoyed it because the whole property is almost entirely accessible to visitors with only a couple of rooms closed to the public. There is a really warm, friendly and welcoming atmosphere by the staff, (who are VERY knowledgeable and only too glad to offer help and assistance).

Everything here has very much a "hands- on" approach about it - there are no signs telling you not to touch - (unlike many properties where that is not permitted for understandable reasons) And, the house really seems to be an integral part of the local community, encouraging school groups, and holding monthly family days - (there is a lot to keep children interested here!) and they also host concerts in the Wenlock Barn.

Each room has fact sheets giving historical details and pointing things out that the visitor may miss (look out for the tiny etching of a Tudor man holding a grid-iron above the fireplace in the Georgian room!) - it's worth having a read, you'll be fascinated!

The Curator of the house is Naomi, who was so interesting to talk to and who has so much knowledge about the house I shall have to return for one of the tours which takes place on the 1st Sunday of each month (according to the NT guide book) - again it might be worth ringing the house first for further information.

There is the delightful, licenced, Brick Place Cafe serving drinks, snacks and light meals where we had freshly made sandwiches and a great cup of tea!

Check the National Trust's website listed below, for details of how to get there and ticket prices etc (it's free if you become a member and it is cheaper for family/school groups.)

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Phone: 020 8986 2264
Address: 2-4 Homerton High Street, Hackney E8
Directions: On the corner of Isabella Road and Homerton High Street. About a quarter of a mile from Hackney Central Station.
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Hackney, in the heart of the east end of London is where I was born, and so on a hot June day thought it would be a good idea to go back and have a little look around.

My idea was to find the Hackney Museum which I had read about previously and was easy enough to find. Take a number 48 or 242 bus from Liverpool Street directly to Mare Street (get off at Hackney Central station).

Using hands on and audio visual displays, the museum explores and celebrates the massive cultural diversity within Hackney over the past 1000 years, from early German settlers through to the Asian, West Indian, Jewish, Turkish, and a whole host of other minorities who sought refuge and work here.

The museum is situated within a recently opened "Learning Complex" and is easily accessible to disabled visitors is free to enter. It was totally absorbing exhibition, with friendly and helpful staff. If you are in the area it would be worth visiting.

Further details, including opening times are listed in the website

Update
I revisted here on the 10th Nov 07 with RhineRoll - Win is always reluctant to try the traditional Londoners food of pie and mash and jellied eels when he comes to London - and so this is the next best thing.. in the fourth photo he is in the Pie and Mash shop in the museum!!

The museum is fully accessible to wheelchair visitors.

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Address: Mare Street
Directions: Next to the Town Hall
Website: http://www.hackney.gov.uk/index.htm/cm-museum.htm

During a trip over to the east end I came across the Hackney City Farm - I had known about it for ages but never actually visited it myself.

Well we we were in need of coffee and had a look around and it was obviously very popular with young families, but unfortunately it wasn't too accessible for wheelchair visitors so we couldn't try out the cafe.

Open all year with a variety of activities on offer, it looks like a nice place to take the children for the afternoon.

Check the website for further details.

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Address: 1a Goldsmiths Row, E2
Website: http://www.hackneycityfarm.co.uk/docs/about/

Once a year, many buildings that are normally closed to the public, open their doors to London. All types of buildings, religious, industrial, historic, legal, residential, military, sport, embassies, etc etc. It is a wonderful opportunity to explore the places we never usually get the chance to see ... and for free!! Some places do require pre-booking or take limited group numbers but as there are hundreds of these places open, it's easy enough to find somewhere in every London borough if you check the website first.

We visited the City of London School, a private school in Queen Victoria Street near Southwark Bridge. The school was originally founded in 1442 on the site of Baynards Castle. (It costs £12,000 a year to send your child here!). Tea and coffee was provided and visitors could sit out on the terrace and watch the boats on the Thames and the festivities taking place on the South Bank. Public rooms were open but the most impressive feature was the Great Hall with its magnificent Walker Organ.

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Address: Queen Victoria Street
Directions: Mansion House or St Paul's tube
Website: www.openhouse.org.uk

The offer of a ticket to see the wonderful Scottish-Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (part of the SBC) was too good to miss, so I met up with my good friend, VTer RhineRoll who had come all the way from Germany for this concert. Win is a huge fan of Julie Fowlis and I am so glad I was able to share this great experience. Her voice and the music were indescribably beautiful.

The staff here were really helpful and as Win is a wheelchair user, they were available to assist us from the moment we arrived (and we had front row seats too!! :))

The Royal Festival Hall is open from 10am to 11pm and visitors are welcome to wander the foyer areas even if they don't have a ticket - you can sit on the terrace and have a coffee and admire the views. Sometimes during the day there are free musical events going on too.

The entire SBC is accessible to wheelchair users though you may have to take some interesting detours to enter the theatre and you get to see some backstage areas as well! Great fun!!

Check the website for listings.

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Address: Queen Elizabeth Hall
Directions: South Bank Centre
Website: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/

If you take the lift at Oxo Tower up to the 8th floor, you can walk through to the public viewing platform for stunning views over the Thames. This is free to visitors and you don't have to book a table for dinner.

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Address: Oxo Tower
Directions: South Bank

We visited Bargehouse (a massive undeveloped warehouse space on the South Bank) for the Barnado's exhibition about child poverty in Britain today.

Currently, in the UK today, THIRTY PERCENT of children are living in poverty. I am ashamed. The exhibition is situated on 3 floors (with disabled access) and is entitled "Seeing is Believing" and features photographs of 100 families and young people all over the UK who's lives, for all kinds of reasons, have been blighted by poverty. Some of the content of the audio/visual displays not suitable for younger children.

The free exhibition runs until the 31st Dec 07 but please check the website for details of forthcoming events.

Click the link to find out more about the great work Barnardoes do.

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Address: Oxo wharf,
Directions: South Bank
Website: http://southbanklondon.co.uk/index.php?pid=13&attractionid=4&print=1

Primrose Hill is London's highest natural view point (and is actually one of 6 "protected" vantage points in the capital). It is right by Regents Park, with Regent's Canal running in between. I was told that it's a great place for toboganning in the winter too!

It is very popular with families, dogs and anyone with who might be a bit "worse for wear" who is looking for a quiet shady place to lie down on the cool grass and recover from the excesses of the night before - like we were :)) There is an icecream van and a tea/coffee/muffin van thingy in the park too

The Ueber-trendy Primrose Hill is a fabulous place for people watching too - lots of well known TV, music, film etc personalities live in the area and are easily spotted! (But let them sip their lattes in peace!)

We arrived and found a lovely little cafe and a table on the sunny pavement and ordered coffee and toast. I tried asking the East European waitress for a Bagel but it was too taxing on her limited English - This is how the conversation went:

"Have you got bagels?" I asked innocently, thinking this wasn't an unreasonable request
"Bakel? Bakel?"... she frowned and repeated the word bakel
"Nooo", I said.. "a bagel... a bread roll with a hole in it??"
She shook her head... and walked away...
And came back a moment later....
"Ahhhh!!!! BAKEL!!! !! CREEEEESPY BAKEL!!??!??!" she shrieked, delighted to have at last apparently comprehended my request...
"No... not "crispy bacon"... I muttered despondently.. "just coffee".

Oh and bring plenty of money - this is one of the most expensive areas in London to have a coffee and no bagel.

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Address: Camden Town
Directions: Chalk farm Tube

Cleopatra's Needle is the ancient Egyptian obelisk, engraved with hieroglyphs, situated on Victoria Embankment and guarded by two bronze Sphynx. The Pharoah Thotmes III first had it erected in Egypt in around 1500 BC but it was given to the British people 1819 when Admiral Nelson was victorious over the French at the Battle of the Nile in 1798.

Inside the pedestal on which it stands, some contemporary (for 1819!) objects have been interred forever. These include, a Standard Foot (12 inches), and pound (16 oz), copies of newspapers, almanacs, a railway guide, a complete set of British Empire coins, and Bibles in various languages.

This is a popular pick up and drop off point for bus loads of tourists so the monument and the sphynx are always crawling with kids and it can be very difficult to get a good shot.

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Address: Victoria Embankment
Directions: When you come out of Embankment tube, turn right and cross the road and look to your left.

Charles Dickens lived at 48 Doughty Street, a typical Georgian town house, from 1837 for two years from the age of 25. He was just married to Catherine and her sister Mary also lived here with them. It was in this house that he wrote Oliver Twist and The Pickwick Papers amongst others.

The rooms are on 4 levels, (basement, ground and two upper floors). There is a short video presentation, a patio garden area, and small gift shop. Rooms open to the public include his drawing room, Mary Hogarths bedroom (where she died in Dickens' arms), a wine vault, washroom and library and his writing desk.

Entry is £5 and there is unfortunately no disabled access.

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Phone: 020 7405 2127
Address: 48 Doughty Street
Directions: Holborn or Russell Square Tube
Website: http://www.london-walks.co.uk/30/the-dickens-house-museum.shtml