London General Tips by Jenniflower

Favorite Thing: This must be one of the most looked at and photographed statues in the world.

It is the Shaftesbury Memorial fountain, erected in 1893 generally called ‘Eros’, and otherwise known as 'The Angel of Christian Charity', which is translated as 'Agape' but formally called 'Anteros'.

It was designed to commemorate the work of Anthony Ashley Cooper, the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, for his pilanthropic work.

It is a figure of a naked archer with wings, quite controversial when first erected (with it being nude), but has since become a London icon.

Piccadilly Circus is a tourist mecca, it has the commuter traffic, as well as all the tourist traffic, all year round. This statue is found in the midst of this madness, and fares well I think.

People rest on the steps of this statue, chat, eat, take photos and have a good time.

A titbit of interesting info: The statue is used as the mast head of the Evening Standard newspaper.

(I will load a few beautiful shots I took of this statue soon :)


Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: I work about a 2 minute walk from this hectically touristy and beautiful place.

This huge advertising *space* above Boots and Burger King has become an icon of London in its own right! Recognised all over the world, and on many postcards, it never stops rotating its adverts, and at night is very well lit and so vibrantly colourful.

This intersection is where quite a few roads meet up, Regents Street, the Haymarket, Piccadilly Street, Glasshouse Street, Coventry Street, Shaftsebury Avenue and Lower Regent Street.

As a pedestrian you have to quite vigilant as traffic comes in all shapes and sizes from all sides!!!! Haha

Fondest Memory: As this is tourist-land, I am OFTEN asked for directions, plus to take photos for people. I LOVE it! (Especially when English people ask me for directions hehe) ;)

I have not tired of this area of London either.. you might think I have after working here for over 3 years. And no, I have not.

The architecture is phenomenal.. an eclectic mix of the new and technological, against the elegant background of some stunning architecture and detail. There is a lovely vibe here, is never dull, and will be something I never forget.

Ever

Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: I am sure this building has raised many an eyebrow, and thrown many a question.

It is situated on the banks of the River Thames, near the Tower Bridge. It is surrounded in glass (one can see inside, it is not one-way glass), but one can't really see what the Mayor is up to unfortunately! :)

I happen to think it is stunning. Weird coming from me you might think! haha I love old architecture, but this building is so 'out there', and is so different and daring, it surely earns some praise? More glass buildings have been finished now close to it, so it doens't stand alone as much as it used to. It is still the most exquisite of the glass buildings though.

If you would like to tour this building, you may. Have a look at the website below.

http://www.london.gov.uk/
Greater London Authority, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, More London, London SE1 2AA


Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: Always a big question for us when we visit a place.

There are pros and cons to using an audio guide, but in our experience the pros outweigh the cons.

The audio guides we have used in London in the Tower of London, Cabinet War Rooms have been insightful and very useful.

They do have Beef Eaters giving tours in the Tower of London, but the crowds were huge when we went, and we didnt want to be stuck in a slow crowd, half the time, battling to hear what was being said.

We prefer to go at our own pace.

If you want to go away from somewhere knowing more than surface information, some information with some history and depth, then these are best. If there's a section you are not interested in, then you don't have to listen to it, you carry on to the next section.

The downside is that it can be an insular experience, and not enjoyed as a group. We do make sure we dont go walking off on our own too much, so we still experience things together.

The London Open Top Sighseeing Bus has someone chatting to you as you drive around the city, which is personally preffered (if they know their stuff, and don't feel the need to crack a joke every few minutes that is!).


Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: If you wander around London long enough you will eventually see a blue plaque attached to the front of a building somewhere, as there are over 800 in London.

They were started in 1867, with the thought to commemorate someone famous who had lived/worked/died in that building.

These are the 5 most famous plaques:

Sherlock Holmes ~ Fictional British consulting detective @ 221b Baker Street

Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) ~ Novelist @ 48 Doughty Street

Karl Marx (1818 - 1883) ~ German social, economic and political theorist @ 28 Dean Street

John Logie Baird (1888 - 1946) ~ British (Scottish) engineer who invented television (TV) @ 22 Frith Street

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917 - 1963) ~ 35th American president @ 14 Princes Gate

UPDATE April 2006: I was at Kew Gardens this weekend (Easter Sunday), and saw a blue plaque! It was for Camille Pissarro, the French Impressionist artist, who lived at this address in 1892. This plaque is found in Gloucester Street, Kew.

http://www.blueplaque.com/


Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: I really enjoy the dry wit than many English people possess. A play on words is also well received.

What I do NOT appreciate is the blaspheming and need to swear that I find in London (this comes from people from all nationalities, not only Londoners please note, and MANY Londoners I know do not swear at all).

I find the blaspheming insulting. Swearing is also not liked but I try and ignore it as much as I can. To each their own.

Anyway, that's my own outlook on language in London! :) The wit is generally great though!!!


Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: A favourite topic of conversation, nary a day goes by without a discussion about it in the office.

But it is so unpredictable, that one sometimes doesn?t know how to even dress for work! In one day it could rain, plus be warm one hour, and cold the next, you just never know.

My answer? Layering! I always dress in layers, so that when I come out of the cold onto a hot tube I can take a couple of layers off if need be.

Favourite weather website? www.bbc.co.uk


Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: American English differs from English English in several key points. This can cause much amusement sometimes! haha

lift-elevator
boot-trunk of car
telly-TV
brolly-umbrella
tube-subway
lorry-truck
pavement-sidewalk
vest-undershirt
waistcoat-vest
ring-call
muffler-scarf
lounge-livingroom
rubbish-trash
mad-insane
let-rent

etc. etc.!

Fondest Memory: That being said, you often will find that the person behind the counter/waitron does not have English as a first language, and this can be quite frustrating at times. There are many foreigners who live and work in London, especially students, and they are learning English. Might sound weird to not deal with English people when shopping/eating out in London, but is so.

The photo is of Bree, an Australian waitress we chatted with at Hampton's Wine Bar. She had only been in London for 2 weeks wen we met her!

Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: London is a very safe city taking into account its size, you are able to go anywhere in the centre at any time - in some districts a little more caution is advised though - at the North End of Notting Hill, Brixton, Walthamstow, Peckham and anywhere near Elephant and Castle - but it's generally safe otherwise.

As a woman I walk in many areas on my own, but I am cautious, like I would be in any city. There are nasty people everywhere!

The tubes are also safe at night, albeit the usual drunks that make life a little less savoury for the rest of us on Saturday nights.

But on the whole, I feel pretty safe in London.


Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: The money used is Pounds Sterling, some places will, accept Euros too.

There are ATMS ('a hole in the wall') all over the place, and the majority of them do not charge you to withdraw, which is great! (In South Africa there are hefty ATM withdrawal charges)

Another convenience is being able to ask for Cash Back from the local supermarkets when you pay with your debit card. There is no charge for this.

Saves time, hassle and is safer.

Cheques are accepted in most places but aren't used that much anymore.


Leave a Comment