London less Traveled
August 15th 2011 11:35
When you think of London, what are the first tourist attractions you think of visiting? There are the obvious icons such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the London Bridge. But what if you want to explore some of the lesser known sights in London, and see things the way residents do? Where would you begin to look? There are lots of places off the beaten path that are well worth taking the time to see around London, if you know where to look.
Portobello Market
This market made a cameo appearance recently in a Hollywood film when Hugh Grant was captured walking through it in a montage for the movie “Notting Hill”. If you are looking for a glimpse of the real London, this is the place you need to be. The first market was held on this same location in 1870. The street is two miles long, giving you a great workout if you walk the entire length and then back. Don’t worry, you will make plenty of stops along the way; you will see antiques, fashion, produce and fresh baked goods and meats, second hand goods, art, and coffee shops and restaurants. Of course, it is in London, so there are also plenty of pubs where you can stop for a cold drink as well. In all, there is something to keep just about any visitor’s attention, and most of the shops are happy to ship things home for you.
Little Venice
The next stop is a little gem called “Little Venice”. It is a square mile residential area surrounding the Grand Union Canal. When the Canal was built in 1820, the area was filled with writers, artists, and prostitutes, and it was once the home of poet Robert Browning. In fact, there is a small island named for him in the area. Today, the area is much more genteel, and home to mostly wealthy residents. You will find boats moored in the canal alongside grand old homes built in the 17th century white stucco style, and peaceful tree lined avenues. Little Venice is easily accessible to the West End, Heathrow airport, Oxford and Paddington Streets, making it an expensive and coveted area to live in.
Regent’s Park
Near Little Venice you will find Regent’s Park, home to the London Zoo and soon to be part of the 2012 Olympics. The park is really large, with an outer ring road that is 4.3. Km, and a smaller ring that protects Queen Mary’s Gardens, a very carefully tended area. Other than those roads, the park is for pedestrians only. The Regent’s Canal runs along the northern part of the park. It connects the old London dock area to the Grand Union Canal. Around the periphery of the remainder of the park are white terraces of elegant homes designed by famed London architect John Nash in the early nineteenth century. Mainly open land, it has a bandstand, several lakes for boating and waterfowl, sports areas, and playgrounds.
Little Ben
Little Ben is a miniature cast iron structure, designed to mimic its brother, Big Ben. Originally built in 1892, it stands at the corner of Victoria Street and Vauxhall Bridge Road, just near the Victoria Palace Theatre in Westminster.
British Music Experience
If you are a fan of British music and the British Invasion, then a place you must not leave London without seeing is the British Music Experience. This is basically the UK version of the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in the United States. Here you will find information and memorabilia about English musicians from The Beatles to Oasis; David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust boots are here, and there are things from the Spice Girls, Elton John, Boy George to Black Sabbath.
Pub Experience
British Pubs are well known the world over; not only can you sit and have cold drinks in a rowdy and casual surrounding, they often serve some of London’s best foods as well. Many of the pubs are second homes to rugby fans; The Cabbage Patch, The White Swan, Bar Kick and Gunner’s Pub are examples of these. Whether you enjoy hoisting a frosty one or not the pub experience is not to be missed.
Planning a trip to London should begin with a search for cheap international flights after all, there are so many better things to spend your money on when you are part of the London Scene.
Portobello Market
This market made a cameo appearance recently in a Hollywood film when Hugh Grant was captured walking through it in a montage for the movie “Notting Hill”. If you are looking for a glimpse of the real London, this is the place you need to be. The first market was held on this same location in 1870. The street is two miles long, giving you a great workout if you walk the entire length and then back. Don’t worry, you will make plenty of stops along the way; you will see antiques, fashion, produce and fresh baked goods and meats, second hand goods, art, and coffee shops and restaurants. Of course, it is in London, so there are also plenty of pubs where you can stop for a cold drink as well. In all, there is something to keep just about any visitor’s attention, and most of the shops are happy to ship things home for you.
Little Venice
The next stop is a little gem called “Little Venice”. It is a square mile residential area surrounding the Grand Union Canal. When the Canal was built in 1820, the area was filled with writers, artists, and prostitutes, and it was once the home of poet Robert Browning. In fact, there is a small island named for him in the area. Today, the area is much more genteel, and home to mostly wealthy residents. You will find boats moored in the canal alongside grand old homes built in the 17th century white stucco style, and peaceful tree lined avenues. Little Venice is easily accessible to the West End, Heathrow airport, Oxford and Paddington Streets, making it an expensive and coveted area to live in.
Regent’s Park
Near Little Venice you will find Regent’s Park, home to the London Zoo and soon to be part of the 2012 Olympics. The park is really large, with an outer ring road that is 4.3. Km, and a smaller ring that protects Queen Mary’s Gardens, a very carefully tended area. Other than those roads, the park is for pedestrians only. The Regent’s Canal runs along the northern part of the park. It connects the old London dock area to the Grand Union Canal. Around the periphery of the remainder of the park are white terraces of elegant homes designed by famed London architect John Nash in the early nineteenth century. Mainly open land, it has a bandstand, several lakes for boating and waterfowl, sports areas, and playgrounds.
Little Ben
Little Ben is a miniature cast iron structure, designed to mimic its brother, Big Ben. Originally built in 1892, it stands at the corner of Victoria Street and Vauxhall Bridge Road, just near the Victoria Palace Theatre in Westminster.
British Music Experience
If you are a fan of British music and the British Invasion, then a place you must not leave London without seeing is the British Music Experience. This is basically the UK version of the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in the United States. Here you will find information and memorabilia about English musicians from The Beatles to Oasis; David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust boots are here, and there are things from the Spice Girls, Elton John, Boy George to Black Sabbath.
Pub Experience
British Pubs are well known the world over; not only can you sit and have cold drinks in a rowdy and casual surrounding, they often serve some of London’s best foods as well. Many of the pubs are second homes to rugby fans; The Cabbage Patch, The White Swan, Bar Kick and Gunner’s Pub are examples of these. Whether you enjoy hoisting a frosty one or not the pub experience is not to be missed.
Planning a trip to London should begin with a search for cheap international flights after all, there are so many better things to spend your money on when you are part of the London Scene.
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