British Beer Festival - Courtesy VisitBritain

If the promise of 1,000 real ales sounds like a good enough reason to visit London, then plan your travel to London for early August!  The annual Great British Beer Festival (GBBF), Britain’s biggest beer festival, will take place at Olympia London on August 7 – 11, 2012.

At the British Beer Festival, visitors can look forward to more than 1,000 real ales, ciders and perries from the UK as well as a large selection of foreign beers to try.

The Great British Beer Festival is hosted by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale association. As well as beer there will be different foods available, from traditional pub snacks to cheeses and curries.  There will be and beer-tasting sessions and visitors who want to learn about what makes a great beer will be able to join tutored tastings.  Live music, pub games and competitions are some of the entertainment during the festival.  And to add to the festivities, such as Hat Day – the best hats are rewarded with free beer vouchers.   A family area will offer children’s entertainers, video games and toys.

During the Festival the  CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain is announced. The winner in 2011 was Oscar Wilde from Mighty Oak Brewery in Essex.

The Great British Beer Festival is a very popular beer festival and last year there were some 62,500 visitors to the event and more than 250,000 pints were served at a rate of 80 poured every minute.

Tickets for the 2012 beer fest go on sale in March (?) – check the GBBF website. 

The easiest way to get to the beer festival at Olympia is on the London Tube. The closest London Underground station is Kensington (Olympia) Station.

Event    :  Great British Beer Festival
Date      :  August 7 – 11, 2012
Venue  :  Olympia, London W14 8UX
Website: www.gbbf.org

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Diamonds - A Jubilee Celebration - Courtesy VisitBritain

As one of the many exhibitions organized for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, visitors to Buckingham Palace will be able to see a number of personal jewels inherited by the Queen or acquired during her reign.  This is a rare display, never before exhibited.

Diamonds – A Jubilee Celebration

Diamonds are known to be the hardest natural material and for this reason they are associated with longevity. For centuries rulers have used diamonds in regalia, jewellery and precious objects. The Queen’s Diamonds exhibition will show the many ways in which these precious stone have been used by British monarchs over the last 200 years. It will also reveal how many of these extraordinary stones have been re-cut or incorporated into new settings during their history.

Did you know that the Crown Jewels consist of 23,578 gems?

Buckingham Palace State Rooms

The Queen’s Diamonds will be on display in the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace which are open to the public each summer when the Queen makes her annual visit to Scotland.  If you are interested in seeing this rare display of the Queen’s Diamonds, book early. You can buy tickets through the Royal Collections website below.

The Palace State Rooms are furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection. These include paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin and Canaletto, sculpture by Canova, Sèvres porcelain and English and French furniture.

Exhibition:   Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration
Dates : From  30 June – 8 July and 31 July – 7 October, 2012
Venue : State Rooms, Buckingham Palace

Admission to the State Rooms is by timed ticket, with entry every 15 minutes, from 9.30– 18.30pm.
Tickets cost:   Adults £18 , Seniors and Students £16.50 and Under 17 £10.25, Family £47.

Address:
Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA
Tel: +44 20 7766 7300
Website: www.royalcollection.org.uk

Christmas Caroling - Courtesy of VisitBritain

Alongside fairy lights, Christmas trees and festive foods there’s nothing that gets you into the festive spirit like your favourite Christmas carols.

Many of London’s major concert venues stage special Christmas concerts which feature world-famous singers and orchestras, as well as singalong shows that are family-friendly.

London’s beautiful historic houses and churches also put on a range of recitals and Christmas carols to get everyone in the Christmas mood.

The Royal Albert Hall at Christmas

The Royal Albert Hall annually stages a number of popular shows at Christmas. This historic venue makes the performances extra special. Some of the shows include Christmas Carols with the Stars, Christmas Carol Singalong, and Christmas by Candlelight. See here for the list of Royal Albert Hall Christmas events.

Christmas Line-up at Cadogan Hall

Cadogan Hall has a famous Christmas programme and many of the events are in aid of charities. See what’s on at the Cadogan Hall here.

Barbican Christmas

The Barbican has a varied line-up of Christmas concerts this year.  See what’s on here.

Westminster Abbey

Celebrate Advent and Christmas in the beautiful surroundings of Westminster Abbey. Popular services and carol concerts include Handel’s Messiah.  See what’s on at Westminster Abbey here.

St Paul’s Cathedral Concerts

There aren’t many more spectacular venues to enjoy a Christmas concert than at St Paul’s Cathedral. Many events are open to the public, and some are free.  St Paul’s concerts are very popular so be prepared to queue!  Check whether you need to book tickets in advance and read their FAQs.

St Martin-in-the-Fields

St Martin-in-the-Fields is a beautiful 18th-century church set in Trafalgar Square. The church is a regular venue for classical concerts during the year and throughout December they have an extensive Christmas concert programme.

Christmas Lights in London

There’s plenty to see and do in London on any given day of the year, but at Christmas time when the temperature takes a dive, visitors to London are in for a treat. Christmas lights, carols, beautifully decorated Christmas stores bursting with temptations, Christmas street parades, Christmas markets and ice skating rinks all add to the attractions of Christmas in London.

Christmas Lights

It’s fairy lights and Christmas decorations that give a place a fairyland feel at Christmas and London is well lit up during the festive period. From November you can enjoy London’s Christmas lights in famous streets such as Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby Street and South Molton Street. For street lighting dates, see HERE.  An even more special and fun thing to do is to let Santa Claus guide you around on a Christmas Eve Lights Tour in London.  Or, you can also see the highlights of London on Christmas Day in a London Vintage Bus.

Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree

There are Christmas trees in squares all over London, but the Christmas tree at Trafalgar Square is special. Each year since 1947 Norway has given a Christmas tree to London. This is in gratitude of the support that Britain gave Norway during the Second World War. Each year the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree lighting takes place with a ceremony, together with carols in the square throughout the Christmas period.

Ice Skating

Ice skating is one of the favourite pastimes at winter and all over London ice skating rinks pop up. From the historical venues like Somerset House and Hampton Court Palace to more modern venues like Canary Wharf and London Eye, you won’t have to travel too far to find an ice skating rink.

Photo Courtesy of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

This is an annual event when London’s beautiful Hyde Park transforms itself into a Winter Wonderland with fun rides, loads of entertainment, London’s biggest open-air ice skating rink, and a German Christmas market with stalls selling all kinds of Christmas handicrafts, gifts and festive foods.

Christmas Markets

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the chance to indulge in festive treats. London’s famous markets like Borough Market, Portobello Market, Camden Market, etc. are a great places to visit at Christmas time and stock up on Christmas treats.

Things to Do at Christmas

Whilst Londoners are dashing about on Christmas Eve doing their last-minute Christmas shopping, visitors to London may wish to escape the shopping frenzy and take a tour perhaps to Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath or Leeds Castle, Canterbury and Dover.

And on Christmas Day, whilst the streets of London may be quieter, there are still a lot that visitors in London can do. You can feast on a traditional Christmas lunch whilst enjoying the sights of London on a Christmas Day River Thames lunch cruise, or go further afield and enjoy a Christmas Lunch in the Cotswolds.  For the full list of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day tours, see Here.

London has lots for Kids to do

While London is very popular with adults, there are just as much things for kids to do in London.  For those travelling to London with children, below is just a sample of what’s on offer:

• Most people don’t expect to see a farm in the centre of London, but within sight of the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf is Mudchute Park & Farm. Mudchute is the largest farm in London. Set in 32 acres of parkland Mudchute has a collection of 200 farm animals and fowl, some of which are British rare breeds.
  Mudchute Park and Farm is located in the middle of the Isle of Dogs and is easily reachable on the Docklands Light Railway.
  Entry to Mudchute Farm is free.

• Still on the animal theme, the Northern Line from Bank to Camden Town station takes you to the amazing ZSL London Zoo. London Zoo is home to nearly 750 different species of animals ranging from gorillas to snouted cobras, Komodo dragons, all of which will keep children entertained for hours. In addition to the animals, the Zoo also has London’s only living rainforest. In the climate-controlled area, children can come face-to-face with a variety of rainforest species, including sloth, monkeys, armadillo and tamandua.  London Zoo is one of London’s most popular attractions so to skip the line you can get your London Zoo tickets HERE.

• For London sightseeing tours, the London Duck is a fun way of sightseeing for children and adults. On an exciting road and river sightseeing adventure aboard a yellow amphibious vehicle, the Duck tour provides 75 minutes of fun, laughter and interesting sightseeing in London.

• What about a Pirate Fun Day on board the Golden Hinde where costumed actors will teach the kids about life at sea in the 16th century and tell them tales about Drakes’s voyage around the world.  There is also the option of Sleepovers on the Golden Hinde.

• London is a shopping destination and the world’s oldest and finest toy store is in London. Hamleys is in Regent Street, right in the centre of town.  There’s always something on at Hamleys so check their website before visiting.

• And for something to do in the evening, London’s West End has popular children’s shows like The Lion King, the Wizard of Oz and Billy Elliot.  London is the theatre capital of the world so what better place to enjoy a show.

Of course there are heaps of other London attractions such as the Tower of London, the London Eye, the London Aquarium, etc. not forgetting the great London museums, most of which are free.

Classic Mini Cooper London Tour

You know about the Big Red London Sightseeing Bus, but did you know that there is now a more thrilling way of sightseeing in London – a London sightseeing tour in a Classic Mini Cooper.

A Private London Sightseeing Tour

Hop into your very own Classic Mini Cooper and discover the diverse city of London in swinging sixties style!  Your personal and charming British guide will escort you around famous London sights such as the London Eye, the Tower of London, the Royal Palaces and the famous West End theater district.

On your bespoke private London sightseeing tour you will discover London’s main sights accompanied by interesting stories and information from your personal driver.  The tour will also take you through the ancient streets of London and your driver will fill you in with bits of secrets along the way.  You can of course ask as many questions as you like, including finding out the best places to eat, where to shop or where the latest entertainment hotspots are.

A Nostalgic Sixties Tour

With the combination of a stylish car and some of the most iconic sights in London, this Classic Mini Cooper tour brings back the memorable 1960s.

The Classic Mini Cooper tour will let you learn more about destinations that helped shape the music, politics and fashion whether it be Abbey Road, Notting Hill or Carnaby Street.  To set the mood, your driver will be decked out in 60’s fashion and you are accompanied by a swinging sixties soundtrack.

Each car can carry a maximum of three passengers, but don’t worry, if there are more of you travelling – you can even book a fleet of Minis, making this adventure even more fun!  For departure times and how to book, see HERE.

Orient Express Shopping Trip - Courtesy VisitBritain

A trip on the Orient Express would be a train journey that many people dream of, but what if you could combine that with some luxury shopping?  Some of Britain’s finest luxury goods will be for sale on the first ever Orient Express Shopping on the Rails day-trip.

The Orient Express British Pullman train will leave from London’s Victoria Station for a non-stop day-trip through the Kent countryside. On this special Orient Express day-trip, passengers will travel in vintage carriages that were first used in the 1920s, a period considered by many as the ‘golden age of travel’.

Shopping on the Orient Express

The Orient Express day-trip includes the opportunity to see and buy the latest collections from 10 top British brands: Harrods, Brora, Cath Kidston, Royal Warrant-holding Ettinger, Miller Harris, Liberty, Holland & Holland, Astley Clarke, Daniel Sandler and the Collection Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Award-winning jewellery expert Bill Foreman, whose career includes working for the Crown Jewellers Garrard, will be on hand to offer passengers professional help and advice.

About the British Pullman

The British Pullman is the sister train to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Some of the carriages were used by the British royal family. Others carried passengers who included President de Gaulle and Nikita Khrushchev. Two of the carriages were part of Winston Churchill’s funeral train.

Many of the carriages were withdrawn from service in the 1960s and ’70s. They feature Art Deco marquetry and brass fittings and all have been fully restored.

Orient Express Day-Trip Details

Date: Thursday, December 1st
Time: Between 11.45 am and 4.30 pm
Cost: £300 per person – includes a four-course Christmas lunch with champagne and half a bottle of wine per person.

If you can’t make it this year, a second trip is planned for December 6, 2012 (£350 in 2012).

Address:

Orient-Express, 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PF
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 845 077 2222
Websites: www.orient-express.com/uktrains

New Thames Crossing - Courtesy VisitBritain

You don’t need a passport to travel on Emirates Air Line in London – this is because Emirates Air Line is the name of the new cable car crossing that London is to have. The cable car will cross the River Thames and connect Europe’s biggest entertainment venue with the UK’s largest exhibition centre.

Exciting London Transport News

The London cable car is the UK’s first urban cable car. Naturally, London’s Lord Mayor, Boris Johnson is pretty excited about this new multi-million pound London Transport project saying that Emirates Air Line will be an exciting and innovative mode of transport. Apart from easing travel for thousands it offers spectacular bird’s eye view of London’s majestic Thames. The cable car will also be a new addition to the city’s skyline.

About the London Cable Car

The cable car is planned to open in summer 2012 and will connect the O2 arena in North Greenwich and the Excel exhibition centre at the Royal Victoria Dock. Both are Olympic venues. Passengers will travel between two new stations that will be named Emirates Greenwich Peninsula and Emirates Royal Docks.

The Thames cable car will be 50m (164ft) above the river and connect north London to south London. It will be able to carry up to 2,500 people an hour in each direction, equivalent to the capacity of 30 buses per hour. It is anticipated that the Emirates Air Line will carry two million passengers per year.

No doubt the new cable car will be very popular with visitors to London – we certainly will be taking a ride on our next London visit.

Ripley's Believe It or Not - Wiki

Believe It or Not, sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction, especially in the world of Ripley’s Believe It or Not.  Ripley’s in London has 700 weird and wonderful and unbelievable exhibits that will tease, entertain, astonish and astound visitors.

Spread over five floors of the London Pavilion at Piccadilly Circus, some of the bizarre and amazing exhibits include three shrunken human heads from Ecuador, a two-headed calf, a four-metre long model of the Tower Bridge made of matchsticks, a mirror maze, an upside-dow tea party to the world’s tallest man, a portrait of Princess Diana made out of laundry lint from a clothes dryer and a Mini-Cooper encrusted with 1,000,000 Swarovski crystals – this has to be seen to be believed!

Ripley’s Believe It or Not appeals to anyone with a sense of curiosity and an enjoyment of all things bizarre. This museum of oddities is a London family attraction, although the ticket prices are not cheap.

Ripley’s Opening Times:

Believe It or Not, Ripleys in London are open 365 days of the year from 10:00 – midnight (last entry 22:30)

Getting there:

By Foot

Ripley’s Believe It or Not are located in Piccadilly Circus in the heart of London’s West End. It’s only a few minutes walk from Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Soho and just 10 minutes walk from Oxford Circus and Covent Garden.

By Tube

Piccadilly Circus Exit 4 – Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines. Upon arrival at the tube station, use Exit 4 to Coventry Street. Ripleys London are located where Coventry Street and Shaftesbury Avenue enter Piccadilly.

By Rail

The nearest Railway Station is Charing Cross, less than 10 minutes walk to Piccadilly Circus.

By Bus

Check the TFL journey planner for further information.

For ticket prices and more information about exhibits, see their website www.ripleyslondon.com.

Address:
The London Pavilion
1 Piccadilly Circus
London W1J 0DA

Map of London:

British Music Experience - Courtesy VisitBritain

Fans of British music will love the British Music Experience, the world’s only fully-interactive permanent exhibition devoted to popular music in Britain.

Experience British Music History

The British Music Experience is conveniently located in The O2 Bubble, next to The O2 where many of the pop and rock concerts in London are held. At this state-of-the-art exhibition you can learn all about British music history from tradional Jazz to Rock and Pop Music. You can see famous pieces of British music memorabilia like the clothing worn by pop stars like Mick Jagger, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, including David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust outfit, Roger Daltrey’s Woodstock outfit, Geri’s Union Jack dress and Noel Gallagher’s Union Jack guitar. Then watch, listen, play, sing and dance your way through 60 years of British music history.

Become a Rock Star for a Day

If you’ve ever fancied yourself becoming a rock star, at the BME Gibson Interactive Studio you can get virtual tutorials to sing, mix your own music and rock out on guitar and drums. And the great thing is that you can use your Smartticket to store your experience and recordings and bring it all back home to enjoy.  And, even if you don’t cut it as a rock star, it’ll be a fun memorabilia to have of your London experience!

The British Music Experience is open Mon – Sun from 11:00 – 19:30 (Closed Dec. 24-26, Dec. 31, Jan. 1). To book tickets, see the British Music Experience website.

Getting to the British Music Experience:

Situated just five minutes’ walk from both North Greenwich Tube station.  You can also get there by bus, the Docklands Light Railway and by the Thames Clippers.

Address:
British Music Experience
The O2
Peninsula Square
London SE10 ODX
Website: www.britishmusicexperience.com