Chinese New Year is celebrated in London in style. On the weeks before the main event, normally held on a Sunday, Chinatown streets in London’s West End are adorned with hundreds of red paper lanterns. The celebrations start with a parade through Central London with floats, lion dances and the sound of firecrackers going off… Read More Chinese New Year in London
A pleasant riverside walk from Vauxhall Bridge to Tower Bridge, will give the opportunity to walk past all the bridges in Central London and visit many of the attractions along the way. The first building to see next to Vauxhall Bridge on the Albert Embankment is the MI6 Building, seen in many movies including the… Read More Bridges of London, a riverside walk
The City of London, is also known as the Square Mile as it occupies an area of just over one square mile. A busy financial centre during the week, it is almost deserted at the weekend, probably the best time to visit to admire its architecture without the crowd of office workers running around. There… Read More The City of London and Covent Garden
The Sky Garden opened in 2015 at the top of the building at 20 Fenchurch Street (commonly referred to as the Walkie Talkie for its curious shape) in the City of London. Although access to the garden is free, tickets need to be booked in advance online. After going through airport-style security checks (including photo ID… Read More London’s Sky Garden
London has many green spaces and although people might be familiar with favourites like Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Greenwich Park to name but a few, there are many hidden gardens and parks waiting to be discovered not only by visitors to London but, often by people who have been living here for a long… Read More London hidden parks and gardens featuring butterflies, deer, a lemur and a Mandarin duck
The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park opened in 2014 on the site of London 2012 Olympic Games in Stratford, East London; a whole new neighbourhood has been created with its own brand new postcode: E20. Some of the temporary structures used during the Games were dismantled and the remaining buildings have been made accessible to the general… Read More Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Christmas in London starts as early as late Summer when Selfridges and Harrods open their Christmas Shops, but it is at the beginning of November when the city gets into full Christmas mood. The lights get switched on in Oxford Street and Regent Street, drawing big crowds who come to see which celebrity has been… Read More Christmas in London, not just mistletoe and wine
Holland Park is London’s secret oasis; located between the affluent neighbourhoods of Kensington and Notting Hill, somehow away from the tourist route. The park is spread over 54 acres and can be accessed by underground from the stations of High Street Kensington, Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park. Passing the opulent mansions along Holland Avenue, walk… Read More Holland Park, peacocks, sculptures and a Japanese garden
Notting Hill in West London might be famous worldwide for Portobello Market and a movie with the same name starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts but, every year since 1966, the area attracts large crowds for the Notting Hill Carnival. Held over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, it started as a small gathering but it… Read More Notting Hill Carnival
By now everyone should know that Big Ben is not the name of the clock tower next to the Houses of Parliament in London but, it is the nickname given to the Great Bell which stands at the top of the tower. The original bell was cracked beyond repair during testing and a new bell… Read More A close encounter with Big Ben
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