Brunel Museum - Wiki

For anyone on the hunt for knowledge, London is full of wonderful museums that will keep any visitor busy for many lifetimes. The British Museum alone has a hoard of treasures which include some 1.5 million objects, spanning two million years of history.

But for those whose interests lie with things that are a bit more eccentric, the city also has a number of museums which would appeal to anyone looking to see what quirky London has to offer.  These interesting and unusual museums let visitors discover lesser-known artefacts and explore the history of the more unusual aspects of London.

Here are some of the unusual museums in London:

For more London Museums, see Here

When you’re only in a city for a few days, it’s easy to get sucked into the tourist trap of just visiting the famous landmarks listed in the guide book and missing the hidden gems just around the corner. To me, London is about anything but the West End and Westminster – so step off the tourist trail, and discover a very different – and intriguing – city.

East London has changed dramatically in recent years, and now the Shoreditch and Old Street areas are getting more and more popular with visitors, especially the younger crowds. These five favourite places of mine in the East End step even further off the beaten track – so here’s how to travel in London like a local!

Stoke Newington Church Street

Clicia Cafe

Church Street is almost like stepping into another world and feels more like a trendy village than a capital city. From the organic farmer’s market at the primary school to cool brunch cafes, it’s the ideal place to while away a Sunday morning. There’s even an old cemetery to explore, with a wonderful crumbling grandeur.

Clicia Cafe (97) is my favourite place for breakfast with its beautiful Turkish décor, delicious Mediterranean platters and strong Turkish coffee.

For an evening out, try The Fox Reformed (176), a family-run wine bar that has an extensive but reasonably priced wine list and a cosy, intimate atmosphere that couldn’t be more different from the trendy establishments in the West End.
@Evan Munro

Broadway Market

The weekend market

@Bex Walton

Running down from London Fields (the nearest station) to Regent’s Canal, Broadway Market is another East London gem. On Saturdays, it’s transformed into a bustling food market with some of the best and most competitively priced produce in the city.

There are also food stalls selling everything from bacon butties to cakes, so you can pick up a snack whilst you wander along and sit back in the park at London Fields to enjoy it. Although it’s very popular with locals and gets busy most weekends, the crowds can’t compare with Borough or Camden – which is ideal for a more relaxing experience.

At night, it changes again. Quaint cafes, old fashioned pubs and indie bars line the street and, when darkness falls, the East London crowd heads here for a loud evening of drinking. During the summer, the atmosphere is unbeatable, as everyone spills out onto the pavements with their drinks like one big street party.

Colombia Road Flower Market

A barrow boy sells at the market

@nathalie_r

On Sundays, this unassuming East End street becomes an oasis of colourful blooms for the weekly flower market. Between Brick Lane and Shoreditch, it’s a fantastic place to step back in time and experience a touch of East London’s rich history. There’s something really magical about listening to the barrow boys chanting their prices – and seeing these large East End men holding delicate flowers…

Mile End Park

Sprawling Mile End Park is an excellent place to explore on foot or by bike and take in the scenery on a fascinating journey along the canals through the East End. The waterways that wind their way through the east of the city are very much a part of the culture and geography of this area.

Mile End Park Ecology Pavillion

@Ewan Munro

The park starts at Bow Wharf, with a towpath leading you alongside Regent’s Canal. It winds its way through the Ecology Park – a haven of rare orchids and water fowl – and Arts Park to the peaceful Terraced Garden and Kirk’s Place.

If you get thirsty along the way, stop off at the Palm Tree (Haverfield Road), a gem of an old fashioned boozer with gold wallpaper and good beer. The pub is right in the park next to the towpath and in the summer locals take their pints outside in plastic cups to relax on the grass.

Upper Street, Islington

Trendy bars and restaurants on Upper Street

@Ewan Munro

Although it’s a little further north, Upper Street has to be my favourite place to eat in London. It runs from Angel station to Highbury & Islington, past a collection of restaurants that could satisfy even the most demanding foodie. From French to Turkish to Cuban to Afghan, there’s an outstanding array of global cuisines.

Le Mercury (140a) is one of the all time greats, serving French dishes in a quaint Parisian style building for the bargain price of £15 for three courses. Meat lovers will adore Rodizio Rico (77-78), an all you can eat Brazilian style barbecue restaurant with never ending steak. For a post dinner cocktail, try Public House (54 Islington Park Street), a boutique bar with an intoxicating drinks menu and an arty twist – all the furniture is locally designed and available for sale.

Twinings on Strand

Walking along the Strand, the two Chinamen and lion sitting above the front entrance of the Twinings shop caught my eye. Ah, Twinings tea, the trusted tea  brand that I and millions of tea connoisseurs around the world drink everyday. Refreshing and exotic tea blends like Earl Grey, Lapsang Souchong, Orange Pekoe, Assam, Russian Caravan and Prince of Wales quickly come to mind.

Twinings on the Strand

Looking at the polished white frontage of the Twinings premises, I mistakenly assumed that this is one of the new trendy tea shops that have cropped up in London. Tony reminds me that Twinings have occupied these premises at 216 Strand since 1706 when it was established.  Twinings also holds the record for the world’s oldest company logo in use.

The Beginning of Twinings

When Thomas Twining bought Tom’s Coffee House in 1706, coffee, gin and ale were the most popular drinks in England at that time. The shop’s location was ideal as the area had become newly affluent with the upper class and aristocratic families moving here. Coffee houses were a popular feature of life in London but there was strong competition between the coffee houses.  The differentiating factor at Tom’s was tea.  As tea was a new import from China, many were initially suspicious of it. Thomas Twining won fans over by promising to sell only the finest qualities and varieties.

Tea drinking became very fashionable during the 18th century, especially among the upper classes, in spite of attempts by the authorities to suppress tea consumption through high taxes. Over 300 years after Thomas Twining opened Britain’s first tea room here in 1706, Twinings tea is still a household name around the world.

Take 10 and Visit the Shop

If you are passing through the Strand, “Take 10″, as the company slogan suggests, and drop into the Twinings shop. There is a new Sampling Counter where you can ask to try one of their teas, as well as buy some of the great selection of black teas and infusions in their beautiful cannisters or wooden boxes.  Within the premises there is also a small museum with interesting old teapots and caddies and pictures of the Twining family.

Although there are other Twinings stores at Westfield Shepherd’s Bush and Westfield Stratford City, the Strand store is a heritage shop and there’s nothing like buying tea from where it all started..

Opening Times: Mon – Fri: 8.30 to 19.30 | Sat: 10:00 – 17:00 | Sun: 10:00 – 16:00

Address:
R. Twinings and The Twinings Museum
216 Strand
London WC2R 1AP
Tel: 0207 353 3511

How to Get There: Nearest Tube is Temple (District and Circle lines)

Map of London:

Union Flag - Courtesy VisitBritain

London’s Regent Street is famous the world over for its fashionable shops and some 7.5 million tourists come to the “Mile of Style” each year to see what the latest trends are. This summer, this iconic London shopping street will be dressing up for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, leaving visitors in no doubt where they are.  One hundred and forty Union flags will decorate Regent Street from Monday May 21 to Monday June 18.

Proudly British

The gigantic flags were hugely popular with Londoners and overseas visitors alike when they were first put up in Regent Street to celebrate the Royal Wedding of William and Katherine in 2011. So on the occasion of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, what more fitting and patriotic tribute to honour the Queen than to fly the Union Jack.

Great for Business

And with the eyes of the world on London as it prepares for the Olympics, Regent Street dressed in the Union flag will no doubt attract lots of attention. Many of the shops and restaurants on Regent Street are preparing for a record number of visitor arrivals into London’s West End for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and in the lead up to the Olympics. The stunning display of flags will truly welcome visitors.

Where to see the Flags

Starting at the BBC building, north of Oxford Circus, a sea of 140 flags will lead to Piccadilly Circus before continuing down Regent Street in the south. Suspended from 28 crossings, each flag measures 4 x 2.5 metres in size and will create a striking backdrop to one of the world’s most famous historical shopping thoroughfares. Other side streets displaying Union flag buntings include Heddon Street, Swallow Street and the Regent Street Food Quarters.

Map of London:

BBC Proms - Image by Yuichi - Wiki

The BBC Proms is back. Regarded as the world’s greatest classical music festival, the BBC Proms is doing its 118th year.  And, the event remains true to its original aim, which is to present the widest possible range of music, performed to the highest standards to the largest audiences.

What’s on at The Proms

The Proms 2012 season runs from July 13th – September 8th and takes place at the Royal Albert Hall. The Proms showcases works by the world’s greatest composers and every day there is a concert at the Royal Albert Hall (see here for what’s on and tickets for Proms).

Then, there is the Proms Plus series which includes talks, family events and many more activities.

Nearby at the Cadogan Hall there is Proms Chamber Music concerts.

Last Night of the Proms

This classical music festival comes to a spectacular conclusion on September 10 with the world-famous Last Night of the Proms celebrations.

Tickets for the Proms

A number of the Proms performances sell out quickly so to avoid disappointment, booking in advance is recommended. Demand for the Last Night of the Proms is huge and tickets are usually hard to secure.

Viagogo is an on-line ticket exchange which allows customers to buy Prom tickets as well as sell unwanted tickets should your plans change. See what’s on and you can buy your Proms tickets here.

Event: BBC Proms
Date : July 13 – September 8, 2012
Venue: Royal Albert Hall

Map of London:

Hampton Court Flower Show - Credit: Jon-Enoch / VisitBritain

Hampton Court Palace, to the south west of London, is the venue for many events and one of the most popular is the annual Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Organized by the Royal Horticultural Society, the Hampton Court Flower Show is the largest gardening show in the U.K.

At the Hampton Court Flower Show, visitors can admire the many different gardens created specially for the show, as well as shop for thousands of plants.

World of Gardens, Romance and Roses

Every summer the flower show features gardens specially created for the event. This year Hampton Court Flower Show will, for the first time, have an area that is dedicated to international gardens of countries and regions of the world from Switzerland to the Caribbean.  There will also be a combined rose and floral design marquee under the theme Romance and Roses.

The special Grow Your Own area will feature fruit, vegetable and herb growing. As well as admiring the displays, visitors can shop for thousands of plants, and it seems that some 82% of visitors either bought or placed orders at the shows.  Visitors can also picnic in the grounds or eat at the different restaurants set up for the event.

Hampton Court was the royal residence of many monarchs, most famously, Henry VIII.  At Hampton Court Palace you can learn about all of his six wives who came to the palace, most of whom had new and lavish lodgings. The King rebuilt his own rooms at least half a dozen times.

Hampton Court Flower Show Dates

The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show takes place on July 3–8, 2012.  July 3 and 4 are RHS members only days and an exclusive Preview Evening is held on 2 July with live music and a fireworks display.  Tickets cost from £14.50 to £32.50.  You can buy your tickets HERE.

Hampton Court Palace is just 35 minutes by direct train from central London.  South West Trains run services direct from London Waterloo to Hampton Court.  The Palace is a 200 metre walk across the bridge from the station.

Address:
Hampton Court Palace, Surrey KT8 9AT
Tel: +44 20 7649 1883
Tel: +44 12 1767 4063 (tickets for overseas visitors)
Website: www.rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt

Map of London:

Savoy Hotel London - Courtesy VisitBritain

The Savoy Hotel in London and Abbey Road Studios are both globally renowned British establishments. Now these two iconic British brands are pulling together to offer visitors a unique experience. Guests of London’s Savoy Hotel will soon be able to record themselves at Abbey Road Studios, Britain’s most famous recording studios.

The Savoy-Abbey Road Deal

Abbey Road Studios have signed a global partnership agreement with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Savoy Hotel’s managers, which means that guests at the Savoy will be offered experiences from behind-the-scenes studio visits to recording a song, as well as exclusive discounts and offers on Abbey Road Studios products and services.  If you think you have talent, this is a unique opportunity to record yourself at these world-famous studios.

The Savoy

London’s Savoy Hotel needs no introduction. This leading London hotel recently went through a £200 million refurbishment to restore the hotel to its stunning Art Deco glory. The Savoy team will be working closely with Abbey Road Studios on a refurbishment project to bring some of London’s High Society style to the studios’ lounges.

The Savoy is set near the River Thames and is less than 5 minutes’ walk from the famous British Museum,  The Royal Opera House and many other London attractions. For room rates and availability, check Here.

Abbey Road Studios

Abbey Road Studios - Courtesy VisitBritain

Fans of British pop music know Abbey Road well. The famous image of the Fab 4 striding across the Abbey Road crossing outside the recording studio is still being imitated by music lovers from around the world. The Studios have also been used by artists such as Pink Floyd, the Hollies, Cliff Richard, Kate Bush, Oasis, Elbow, Florence and the Machine, Kasabian and the Stereophonics.

But it’s more than pop music that Abbey Road Studios are famous for. The studios are also renowned for movie soundtracks. Blockbuster film soundtracks such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Braveheart, The King’s Speech and The Artist have all been recorded Abbey Road.

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.