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Post by bunnyhug on Sept 2, 2019 16:22:21 GMT
My dh and I are going to visit London (England, not Ontario, lol!) for the first time in a couple weeks, and I have a few things I'd like recommendations for ... from real people and not from guide books! We are staying in Mayfair, right across from Green Park. Would you mind telling me where I can find some great pubs and libraries?! And if anyone could tell me about football/soccer, I'd appreciate it. Usually when we go somewhere in North America, we take in a baseball or hockey game, but those won't really be happening in London in September! I have no idea about teams, tickets, locations--is it even during the season right now?! If we decided we wanted to take in a game (match?), would that be do-able? We have tickets to Cursed Child, as well as a tour to the Warner Brothers Studios booked, so I'm looking for something that is a little more dh than me  (Well, okay, the library request is me, but I swear the other two are me trying to make sure he has fun, too!) Thanks for your advice! |
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finaledition
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by finaledition on Sept 3, 2019 3:20:32 GMT
Just bumping the thread for you. I’ve been to London, but am not familiar enough to help you out.
We did attend 3 Premier League games at 3 different stadiums and getting the tickets was very difficult and my husband paid a pretty penny for them.
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Post by roundtwo on Sept 3, 2019 4:13:22 GMT
You're staying in a great spot, imho, since you're within walking distance to so many wonderful places to see. A couple pubs that I enjoyed visiting a few times when I lived in London were Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese and Ship and Shovel. They both have some interesting history behind them and we always enjoyed our meals. It isn't a pub but it's a spot I enjoyed for lunch (especially when sticky toffee pudding was on the menu ) is the Cafe in the Crypt at St, Martin in the Fields. They also have free lunch time concerts on certain days. It's in Trafalgar Square, just across from the National Gallery As you're from Canada, you may already know about it, but one of the gates around Green Park is called Canada Gate and has the emblems of the provinces that made up Canada when they built it as a memorial to Queen Victoria. And not far from there is the Canada Memorial in Green Park. Enjoy your visit!! |
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Post by bc2ca on Sept 3, 2019 4:18:27 GMT
We just got back from Europe and there was a European football league championship series going on, so I'm not sure if there is regular season play happening right now. It was a long, long time ago but we had a fun afternoon at the Maple Leaf in Covent Gardens which is walking distance from your hotel. |
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Post by Dictionary on Sept 3, 2019 5:00:19 GMT
I just got back in June from a 2 week stint in London. I have to say it's worth a trip to the Tate museum (There are two you want the one with the new and old bldg). If you go up to the new section to the top floor there are some wonderful views and back in the old building which is next door is a great restaurant I think it's on the 5th floor...again a seat at the bar looking out the window and the food was really good.
The Fortnum and Mason has a lovely tea if you want to do that.
I also recommend the Grazing Goat which is located behind the Hyatt Regency (The Churchill, which also has a great bar) - Excellent place for fish and chips with the minty pea puree..heaven
If you can I'd see a play and a pretty good one is Come From Away.
No help on the football/cricket since I didn't do any of that.
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wellway
Prolific Pea
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Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Sept 3, 2019 6:03:38 GMT
Football EPL clubs have a membership scheme where supporters pay to have priority access to tickets. Season tickets holders pay hundreds of pounds just to have the right to be first to buy a ticket for a particular seat! Tickets are released in tranches to the various levels of membership before tickets (if there are any left) are sold to the general public. Even when you are a member you might be limited to buying one ticket. For popular fixtures, members have to have accrued a number of loyalty points before they can buy a ticket. You gain loyalty points by buying tickets for games and buying merch. Looking at Chelsea's games for Sept. Away to Wolves on the 14th, sold out Home to Valencia on the 17th, Champions League Game. Home to Liverpool on the 22nd Home to yet to be decided, on the 25th Carabo Cup, 3rd round game Home to Brighton on the 28th Link shows the ticket availability, which is mostly matchday experiences, a pricy option. However, check on the 6th of Sept to see if general admission tickets are available for the Valencia game. You will need to be online at GMT. www.chelseafc.com/en/tickets---membership/buy-tickets?pageTab=GENERAL%20ADMISSIONIf you can't get tickets, perhaps a stadium tour. Spurs have just opened their brand new stadium or see Chelsea's ground before they knock it down to build a bigger venue. While here your husband could watch Match of the Day, an iconic football tv show on the BBC. Aired on Saturday night, showing the action from the games played that day, lots of chat. The show is 40(?) years old and the theme tune has never changed. The show is repeated early on Sunday morning. The other option is to look at the Championship games, the Championship is the league below the Premier league and whilst the demand for tickets will still be high you might stand a better chance of getting a ticket. One small hint, don't call it soccer while you're here! |
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wellway
Prolific Pea
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Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Sept 3, 2019 6:14:01 GMT
The London clubs in the Championship are Brentford, Charlton athletic, Fulham, Millwall, QPR.
To give you an idea of their standing
Brentford finished 11th last season
Charlton Athletic got promoted from League One
Fulham got relegated from the Premier League
Millwall finished 21st
QPR finished 19th
Millwall is not a team I would spend money seeing, the fans love that they are hated by others.
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wellway
Prolific Pea
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Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Sept 3, 2019 6:31:44 GMT
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Deleted
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Apr 18, 2024 23:58:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2019 6:50:49 GMT
Dh is a big football fan. We visited London last November and each family member got to choose an activity or place to visit. He chose Wembley Stadium. They have a fantastic tour that takes you down into the locker rooms and even out onto the field. Dh was in heaven and truthfully, I enjoyed it as well.
I know it isn’t on your list but I HIGHLY recommend the Tower of London. I found it fascinating from beginning to end.
Enjoy your trip!
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Post by gar on Sept 3, 2019 7:02:36 GMT
I don't personally know any of the central London libraries but here is a link so you can have a quick google and see which you fancy visiting  I'm not sure that any of them are particularly glamorous  I don't know the area we'll enough o know any pubs that close unfortunately but it might be something worth asking when you arrive perhaps - there are loads of pubs in London!! Have a great time! London Libraries
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Deleted
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Apr 18, 2024 23:58:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2019 8:35:04 GMT
It might be pretty difficult to get tickets to see a premier league football ( soccer) game as so many of their followers have season tickets. Here's a link to their fixtures dates. If they are listed on the left side of the list they're playing at home ( in London). It looks like it's only Chelsea and Arsenal that are playing at home during September. There are pubs everywhere in London and most of them are pretty decent in central London. Here's a link to the top ten British libraries in London. Obviously the number one is the British Library, it's the biggest in the world for the number of items catalogued. " Come from away" that someone up thread mentioned is a musical based on your( Canada) amazing hospitality to the people that were stranded in mid air while flying during 9/11. I haven't seen it yet but it has received amazing reviews. I would suggest you pre-book as soon as possible if it interests you. link
ETA - We have Ice Hockey during that time in London too  link |
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Post by jennyap on Sept 3, 2019 9:31:35 GMT
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Post by annabella on Sept 3, 2019 11:04:59 GMT
I just got back from London and went to the Churchill Arms pub and had my first gin and tonic. It was close to the tube, crowded so everyone was outside and very photogenic.
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Post by Charwee on Sept 3, 2019 12:33:39 GMT
The British Library is always worth a visit, there's usually a good exhibition on. As for pubs, I don't go out too much in town these days, but when I do it's around Westminster/Victoria where I work. The Red Lion on Whitehall is full of government workers and has strong ties to Parliament so good to visit if you have an interest in that (and crikey we're in fascinating times at the moment). The Westminster Arms is nice and cosy and closer to Victoria station, The Colonies is particularly friendly and just down the road from that, The Cask and Glass is tiny but proper quaint. The Infatuation and Time Out are good websites for some recommendations too. Enjoy your trip! |
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Post by Marina on Sept 3, 2019 15:03:16 GMT
I recommend visiting the Houses of Parliament. It was a very interesting tour. They also have a separate tour of their library though we were not aware of that at the time. ETA: Check out secret London on Instagram and Facebook for some interesting pubs and other places to visit. http://instagram.com/p/ByINhTVpudf |
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Deleted
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Apr 18, 2024 23:58:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2019 15:44:39 GMT
I recommend visiting the Houses of Parliament. It was a very interesting tour. They also have a separate tour of their library though we were not aware of that at the time. ETA: Check out secret London on Instagram and Facebook for some interesting pubs and other places to visit. http://instagr.am/p/ByINhTVpudf You can only do a guided visit of the Houses of Parliament on a Saturday. Some Saturday the tour is not in English either. link
There are limited days you can tour the library and non in September when the OP is visiting link |
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Post by roundtwo on Sept 3, 2019 15:59:19 GMT
It's not a pub or library but if you are in London before 29 September, you can tour Buckingham Palace. I've gone on the tour a couple of times and it is really quite neat to see the Palace set up to celebrate the different theme each year. I didn't do the tour of the garden but you wander through the garden on your way out so you can still see it. |
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Post by bunnyhug on Sept 16, 2019 4:15:04 GMT
Sorry to be bumping this back up to the top, but I realized that I asked my question, got lots of helpful answers, and then I forgot to come back to the board for almost two weeks!! Yikes, what bad manners! Thanks to everyone for your advice and suggestions--we leave tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to checking out all the places you've recommended. Besides my HP must-do things, we also pre-booked tickets to tour Buckingham Palace and to go on a day trip to Stonehenge and Bath,and I've scouted out a great book store near to our hotel. I also plan to do a trip to Baker St for some Sherlock-ing, and to assorted and sundry other historical sites. Honestly, my dh is a pretty good sport, because about 80% of the stuff we're doing is my kind of stuff, so fingers crossed we come across some great dh stuff |
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Sept 16, 2019 4:28:26 GMT
Have a great trip! I’m heading to London soon as well so I have been reading your thread with interest.
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joelise
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,649
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Post by joelise on Sept 16, 2019 8:52:26 GMT
If you’re looking for a traditional British pub try The Princess Louise in Holborn. It’s got a very interesting interior and definitely worth a visit. Avoid it early evening when office workers leave work!
Have a great trip!
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Deleted
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Apr 18, 2024 23:58:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2019 9:48:41 GMT
If you're after THE bookshop in London visit the Waterstones store in Piccadilly ( not Piccadilly circus but the street leading off of it) It has six huge floors of books and is supposedly the largest bookshop in Europe.It's also open until 10pm so that is a bonus then you don't have to use your day time to browse. linkHave a good trip. |
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wellway
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Post by wellway on Sept 16, 2019 9:55:04 GMT
Have a look at the weather forecast it's lovely for the next week, sunny and light breeze. |
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muggins
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by muggins on Sept 16, 2019 12:33:47 GMT
Try The Mason’s Arms pub in Fitzrovia. I think the closest tube station is Great Portland Street. The whole outside of the pub is decorated with flowers in the summer and the inside is very traditional.
I also love wandering round the centuries old Borough Market near London Bridge. Lots of great local food on display. The pubs and restaurants on site are also great. There’s a nice pub right on the water next to the Golden Hinde ship which is walking distance from the market. The Thames walking path towards the Southbank centre is really interesting and you can cross the river at one of the bridges.
I can’t recommend any libraries, but Tottenham Court Road has quite a few old book shops if that interests you.
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(Well, okay, the library request is me, but I swear the other two are me trying to make sure he has fun, too!) Thanks for your advice!
I'm not sure that any of them are particularly glamorous 
