21 minute read
31 // WHAT´S ON IN LONDON
London
Quintessentially British
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From Iconic sightseeing spots and attractions, to eating out and theatres, we look at some of the things to do, whilst you are away from the baize!
Roseview Alexandra Palace Hotel
ACCOMMODATION
Roseview Alexandra Palace Hotel
2 Queens Ave, Muswell Hill, London N10 3NR
T: +44 20 8365 2535 E: reception@roseviewhotel.co.uk l Roseview Alexandra Palace Hotel is located in London’s Muswell Hill, 20 minutes’ walk from East Finchley Tube Station and 2.4 km from Alexandra Palace Railway Station. It opens onto a terrace. Each modern room has attractive décor, and all rooms have free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, tea and coffeemaking facilities and a private bathroom with a hairdryer.
Highgate Tube Station is just over 1.6 km from the hotel. The centre of London, including the West End and the City can be reached in approximately 40 minutes by Tube, or bus. Several bars and restaurants are located close to the property.
Green Rooms
13-27 Station Rd, London N22 6UW,
T: +44 20 8888 5317 E: info@greenrooms.london l Among shops and eateries on a bustling street, this relaxed hostel with an artsy vibe is a 2-minute walk from Wood Green tube station, and 4 minutes’ stroll from the boats and playgrounds at Alexandra Park.
Dorms and private rooms have shared bathrooms, while upgraded rooms add en suite facilities. Studios feature sleeping lofts, kitchens and dining areas.
There’s a casual lobby bar, as well as an event space featuring pop-up restaurants, art exhibitions and live performances.
Muswell Hill B&B
Muswell Hill B&B
06-36 Cranbourne Rd, London N10 2BT
T: +44 20 8815 0070 l A unique B&B in the heart of North London, Muswell Hill B&B is a familyrun bed and breakfast. Built in 1902, the property is within 800 yards of Alexandra Palace, a ten minute walk.
All the rooms at the bed and breakfast are equipped with a seating area and can sleep up to three people. With a shared bathroom, rooms at Muswell Hill B&B also offer a garden view. We also provide guests with a desk or table, a kettle, and free high speed WiFi. Continental breakfast is available every morning served in your room.
The nearest airport is London City Airport, 11 miles from the bed and breakfast. Bounds Green Underground Station (Piccadilly Line) is only 1 mile away which connects directly with Heathrow Airport.
Luxury London Apartment
36 Vincent Square Wood Green, London, N22 6NB
l Located just 1.4 miles from Alexandra Palace, Luxury London Apartment provides accommodations with a terrace, free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk.
The property was built in 1970 and features accommodations with a balcony.
The apartment is equipped with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a patio with garden views.
Emirates Stadium is 3.7 miles from the apartment, while King’s Cross Theatre is 5.6 miles away.
The nearest airport is London City, 9.3 miles from Luxury London Apartment, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
FOOD & DRINK
Museum Tavern
49 Great Russell Street (opposite the British Museum), London WC1B 3BA
T: +44 20 7242 8987 E: igreeneking-pubs.co.uk l Visitors to the British Museum who have absorbed enough culture would do well to visit the Museum Tavern across the street.
Here they can absorb culture of a different kind; much of the carved wooden fittings, etched glass outer windows and some coloured leaded-glass detail remain. Past customers include J.B. Priestley, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Karl Marx.
Lakeside café
Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY
E: info@lakesidecafe.co.uk l The Lakeside Café is situated alongside the Palace’s famous Boating Lake. Go and taste the delicious food and drinks, and view the indoor display of paintings featuring local artists.
Step outside and watch the water wildlife, take a boat ride around the lake, or simply sit back and enjoy the acres of tranquil, breathtaking scenery of leafy parkland around.
Victoria Stakes
No.1 Muswell Hill, London N10 3TH
T: +44 20 8883 7382. l Victoria Stakes is one of North London’s premier bars and restaurants.
The a la carte restaurant menu changes every month and bar food and tapas are also available; all created with fresh seasonal produce.
The bar offers a selection of draught ales, lagers and bottled beers; an extensive variety of world wines and champagnes plus a popular cocktail list.
Tomo Pizzeria & Restaurant
88 Hornsey High Street London, N8 7NU
T: +44 020 8348 0099 E: info@tomopizzeria.com l Tomo is situated on Hornsey High Street, facing Alexandra Palace. We’re just a short walk away from Crouch End Broadway, Hornsey Station & Muswell Hill. Nearest tube: Turnpike Lane Station.
Local cuisine, Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean, European, Sicilian
Toff’s of Muswell Hill
38 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill London N10 3RT
T: +44 (0)20 8883 8656 l For a traditional fish and chip shop experience it’s hard to beat Toff’s of Muswell Hill, a family-run establishment with wood-paneled walls and a busy fish counter.
There’s a large selection of seafood available with everything from Dover sole to rainbow trout on offer, both fried and grilled, in addition to British classics such as steak and kidney pie.
For those who manage to leave a little room for desert try ice cream from Marine Ices and traditional steamed deserts.
Cilicia Cafe & Restaurant The Grove Café
Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY
T: +44 20 3602 2709 l The Italian café sits in the picturesque Grove where you can enjoy the Italian atmosphere, peace and tranquility.
Serving tasty sandwiches, great coffee, teas, cakes, ice creams, iced coffees, homemade fresh lemonade and detox juices.
Cilicia Cafe & Restaurant
440 Muswell Hill Broadway, London N10 1BS
T: +44 020 8444 7172 E: info@thecilicia.com l A family owned Mediterranean Restaurant in Muswell Hill Broadway, London, Cilicia Cafe & Restaurant offers a wide range of traditional and contemporary dishes, as well as steak from the grill and fish.
A warm, welcoming, cosy atmosphere for all-day dining, where you can experience the most distinguished examples of rich Mediterranean Cuisine.Meals are prepared with carefully selected ingredients and special recipes. 8
ATTRACTIONS
London Eye
Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB
T: 0870 5000600 l See the capital from above on the famous London Eye. Enjoy amazing 360-degree views over London from the London Eye, a rotating observation wheel which is 135 metres (443 ft) high.
Spot some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks and top attractions, including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace.
Within each capsule, interactive guides allow you to explore the capital’s iconic landmarks in several languages.
The gradual rotation in one of the 32 high-tech glass capsules takes approximately 30 minutes and gives you an ever-changing perspective of London. You can skip most of the queues with a fast-track entry ticket.
The London Eye is located on the south bank of the river Thames. The nearest station is Waterloo, but Charing Cross, Westminster and Embankment are also a short walk away. Several bus routes stop near the London Eye.
Tickets to the London Eye must be pre-booked online with timed entry.
Prices: Child ticket : From £22.00 per ticket Adult ticket : From £24.50 per ticket Children under three years old are free.
Opening Times: The London Eye opening times vary throughout the year, typically the attraction opens at 10am and closes between 6pm and 8.30pm.
London Eye
Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden Hertfordshire WD25 7LR
T: +44 (0)34 5084 0900 E: visitor.services@wbstudiotour.co.uk l Step on to authentic sets, discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter film series.
Discover the iconic Hogwarts Great Hall and explore the Forbidden Forest, all before boarding the original Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾ and wandering down Diagon Alley.
Located at the Studios where all eight films were produced, the Studio Tour showcases the British talent, imagination and artistry that went into making the impossible a reality on screen. Visitors will relive the magic through the eyes of the filmmakers who brought the Harry Potter film series to life. This content has been supplied by Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter
Prices: Child Ticket : From £84.00 per ticket Adult Ticket : From £89.00 per ticket Tickets must be booked online in advance. No tickets on the door. Tickets are timed and you must arrive in time for your tour. If you are travelling from Central London, book with visitlondon.com and your transport from Victoria is included.
Opening Times: The first tour starts at 10:00 and the last tour is between 16:00 and 18:30 (depending upon the time of year, school holidays and weekends).
HM Tower of London
Tower Hill, City of London, London EC3N 4AB
T: 0844 482 7777 E: toweroflondon@hrp.org.uk l Despite the Tower of London’s grim reputation as a place of torture and death, within these walls you will also discover the history of a royal palace, an armoury and a powerful fortress. Don’t miss Royal Beasts and learn about the wild and wonderous animals that have inhabited the Tower, making it the first London Zoo.
Discover the priceless Crown Jewels, join an iconic Beefeater on a tour and hear their bloody tales, stand where famous heads have rolled, learn the legend of the Tower’s ravens, storm the battlements, get to grips with swords and armour, and much more! This content has been supplied by HM Tower of London
Prices : Child Ticket : From £14.40 per ticket Adult Ticket : From £28.90 per ticket Children under 5 free. Reduced admission for online advance booking.
Opening Times: Open all year. Summer: 1 March - 31 October: Tuesday - Saturday 09:00-18:00 / Sunday - Monday 10:00-18:00. Last admission 17:00. Winter: 1 November - 28 February: Tuesday - Saturday 09:00-17:00 / Sunday - Monday 10:00-17:00. Last admission 16:00.
Hop-on hop-off London Bus Tour
l See London’s iconic landmarks from the comfort of a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Enjoy unlimited travel around London over 24 or 48 hours and get a free river tour included with your bus ticket.
The buses cover five different routes with more than 60 stops, so there’s plenty of opportunity to see London’s most famous places. You can hop on and off as many times as you want, giving you the chance to explore areas and attractions in more detail.
On the hop-on hop-off tour, you’ll have the opportunity to see iconic landmarks including: • Tower of London • Buckingham Palace • Westminster Abbey • Oxford Street & Regent Street • Shakespeare’s Globe • St Paul’s Cathedral • Trafalgar Square
Buses generally operate every 15 to 20 minutes, but this varies by time of year and is subject to change.
Prices : Adult ticket : From £28.00 per ticket
Emirates Air Line cable car
l Glide above the Thames in the Emirates Air Line cable car and take in aerial views of London’s skyline, as you travel from the Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks.
Enjoy beautiful views of the Thames, London’s skyline, the Greenwich Peninsula, the Royal Docks and The O2.
View sunset over the river and watch
Emirates Air Line cable car
the city come alive after dark with extended night flights after 7pm.
Book single tickets or a multi-journey boarding pass for 10 single trips on the Emirates Air Line for £17, or hire a private cabin for a round trip with up to 10 passengers.
You can also enjoy a wide range of packages, including the Emirates Air Line Discovery Experience, which includes a non-stop round trip, onboard video tour, free entrance to the Emirates Aviation Experience and a souvenir guide.
The Emirates cable car journey times are adjusted according to passenger flow or weather conditions and range from five to around 13 minutes.
You can either catch the Emirates Air Line cable cars from North Greenwich or board on the Royal Victoria side of the river (return flights are available).
Prices: Child ticket: From £4.00 per ticket Adult ticket : From £8.00 per ticket 8
The Shard at sunset
The View from The Shard
The View from The Shard, Joiner Street London SE1 9QU
T: +44 (0)844 499 7111 E: enquiries@theviewfromtheshard.com l Experience 360-degree views over London with a visit to The View from The Shard. At more than 1,000ft (300 metres) tall, The Shard in London Bridge is almost twice as high as any other building in the city.Experience 360-degree views over London with a visit to The View from The Shard. At more than 1,000ft (300 metres) tall, The Shard in London Bridge is almost twice as high as any other building in the city. You can go inside The Shard building and look out over London from the viewing platforms on levels 68 and 69. You can also head up to the Skydeck on level 72 - an open-air platform offering spectacular views over London. Top things to see from The View from The Shard include Tower Bridge, the twists and turns of the river Thames, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and St Paul’s Cathedral.
The View from The Shard is part of The Shard building, located just outside London Bridge Station - the main entrance can be accessed on Joiner Street. The closest stations are London Bridge Underground Station (Northern and Jubilee Lines) and London Bridge Railway Station (Southern and Southeastern trains).
Guarantee entry by booking The View from The Shard tickets in advance online.
Prices: Child ticket (under four years old) : FREE Adult ticket : From £45.00 per ticket
Opening Times: Opening times may vary. Check with the venue in advance.
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
County Hall, Riverside Building, London SE1 7PB
T: +44 (0)20 7967 8000 E: info@londonaquarium.co.uk l Explore the marine world at SEA LIFE London Aquarium on London’s South Bank.
During your visit you’ll stroll underneath the sea in the glass Ocean Tunnel; take a trip to Seahorse Kingdom; spot piranhas and crocodiles in the Rainforest Adventure and test your nerves on the Shark Walk as sharks swim beneath you. Other creatures you’ll meet include penguins, clownfish, rays, jellyfish and starfish.
Most visits last between one and two hours. The SEA LIFE London Aquarium is located in County Hall building on the south bank of the river Thames, next to the London Eye.
The nearest train station is Waterloo (also the nearest Tube station). You can also walk from Westminster or Charing Cross stations. Several bus routes serve the area with stops nearby.
You must book tickets in advance to go to the London Aquarium. When booking you’ll choose a date and 15-minute entry timeslot. Book tickets.
Opening Times: The aquarium is open seven days a week, with entry from 10am to 3:45pm. Opening times may be subject to change and tickets must be booked in advance.
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace State Apartments, Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX
T: 0844 482 7777 E: kensingtonpalace@hrp.org.uk l Kensington Palace, a palace of secret stories and public lives, has been influenced by generations of royal women.
Experience life as an 18th-century royal courtier whilst making your way through the magnificent King’s and Queen’s State Apartments adorned with remarkable paintings from the Royal Collection.
Victoria Revealed, set within the rooms Queen Victoria lived in as a child, is an exhibition that explores her life and reign as wife, mother, Queen and Empress.
Diana: Her Fashion Story - Kensington Palace’s newest exhibition - traces the evolution of Diana’s style; from the
Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery
demure, romantic outfits of her first public appearances to the glamour, elegance and confidence of her later life. Highlights include the pink blouse worn for Diana’s engagement portrait in 1981 and the ink blue velvet gown, worn when the princess danced with John Travolta. This content has been supplied by Kensington Palace.
Prices: Child Ticket : From £8.50 per ticket Adult Ticke: From £17.00 per ticket Free entry for children under 5.
Opening Times: 1st March - 31st October: 10:00 - 18:00 daily, last admission 17:00. 1st November until 28th February: 10:00 - 16:00 daily, last admission 15:00. Closed 24-26 December inclusive.
National Gallery
Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London WC2N 5DN
T: +44 (0)20 7747 2885 E: information@ng-london.org.uk l Explore the story of European art at the National Gallery, masterpiece by masterpiece, with its collection belonging to the public which includes inspiring works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Turner, Renoir and Van Gogh.
This season we have incredible exhibitions for you to enjoy. Discover how ‘Mantegna and Bellini’ shaped the Renaissance or see to the bright and vibrant images of the Impressionist movement in ‘Courtauld Impressionists: From Manet to Cézanne’.
If you are looking for adventure you can also join the Winter Survival festival for a weekend of Poetry, printmaking and skilled drawing workshops.
The National Gallery also have the first UK exhibition of Spain’s Impressionist, Joaquín Sorolla, in over a century (opens 18 March 2019), an exhibition dedicated to celebrating the vivid seascapes and animated scenes of Spanish life. This content has been supplied by National Gallery.
Prices: Entrance for gallery is free, charges for events/special exhibitions.
Opening Times: Daily 10am to 6pm, and Friday 10am to 9pm. Closing commences five minutes before time stated. Free admission to the collection and some special exhibitions. Charges apply for major loan exhibitions. 8
What’s
on in London
UNTIL 30TH APRIL 2022
The Book of Mormon
n Laugh along to musical comedy, The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre near Leicester Square.
Winner of multiple awards, including four Oliviers and nine Tony Awards, this Broadway musical from the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez, has been a hit with UK audiences since 2013.
A satirical musical which tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries as they naively try to convert the locals, who are more worried about war, famine, poverty and AIDS than religion. Parental guidance is advised and under16s must be accompanied by, and sat next to, an adult.
Where: The Prince of Wales Theatre, 31 Coventry Street, London T: 0844 482 5110 E: customer.service@delfontmackintosh. co.uk
UNTIL 27TH NOVEMBER 2022
Wicked
n Join more than nine million people who have witnessed the previously untold story of two sorcerers and their incredible friendship in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria theatre.
Wicked The Musical is based on a novel by Gregory Maguire and is a prequel to the Wizard of Oz. It follows two friends, Glinda and Elphaba, and tells the story of how they became Glinda The Good and The Wicked Witch of the West respectively.
Wicked has won more than 100 major awards and is one of the longest running musicals in West End theatre history. The show features the famous song, Defying Gravity.
The musical is approximately two hours and forty-five minutes long, including one interval. Suitable for a general audience.
Where: Apollo Victoria Theatre, 17 Wilton Road, Westminster, London T: +44 (0)20 7834 6318
UNTIL 16 JANUARY 2022
Hogwarts in the Snow at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter
n Celebrate a very magical festive season with Hogwarts in the Snow at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.
Winter has arrived at the wizarding world, with a true festive makeover. Glittering Christmas trees line the Great Hall and a replica festive feast including flaming Christmas puddings is laid out on the long tables.
Around the rest of the studio, specialeffect fires roar in the fireplaces, the Gryffindor Common Room and the Boys’ Dormitory are filled with Christmas decorations and the detailed Hogwarts castle model is covered in a special blanket of snow. Plus, Diagon Alley is looking even more wintry with a dusting of snow on its cobbles and shopfronts.
New for 2021, the Forbidden Forest is given a seasonal makeover with filmmakers’ snow draped across the trees.
Get up close to props, costumes and models used in the Harry Potter films, then take a look around the studio’s famous movie sets, decorated as they were for the festive scenes.
Where: Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden Hertfordshire WD25 7LR T: +44 (0)34 5084 0900 E: visitor.services@wbstudiotour.co.uk
UNTIL 1ST OCTOBER 2022
Mamma Mia!
n Enjoy feel-good musical Mamma Mia! and find out why this show’s been running for more than 20 years on the West End stage.
Just like the film of the same name, bride-to-be Sophie attempts to find her father so he can give her away at her wedding. She invites three possible candidates to the wedding on a mythical Greek island, with hilarious consequences – all set to a soundtrack of ABBA songs!
Since opening in 1999, more than eight million theatregoers to London’s West
End have enjoyed the musical, and it’s also been turned into a blockbuster film with a sequel.
Where: Novello Theatre, London, WC2B 4LD T: 0844 482 5115 E: customer.service@delfontmackintosh. co.uk
UNTIL 29TH MAY 2022
The Mousetrap
n Head to St Martin’s Theatre to see the longest-running play in the world, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap.
One of the West End’s most popular shows, the first performance of The Mousetrap was in London in 1952.
The Mousetrap is a classic whodunnit that takes place in a remote English country house hotel during a snowstorm. The hotel owners and their guests are shocked when Detective Sergeant Trotter turns up and tells them that a murderer is coming to the hotel. But it seems the murderer has already arrived when one of the guests is found dead!
Expect the usual twists, turns and double-bluffs as the audience tries to work out which character is responsible for the murder.
After the show, you’ll be asked to keep the identity of the killer a secret so the play remains a mystery to others.
Where: St Martins Theatre, West Street, Soho, London WC2H 9NZ T: +44 (0)20 7836 1443
ALL YEAR (OPEN DAILY FROM 10AM TO 6PM (LAST ADMISSION 5.15PM)
Hidden London: the Exhibition at London Transport Museum
n Uncover secret spots and stories of London’s Underground, as the London Transport Museum recreates abandoned Tube stations and wartime bunkers in the immersive Hidden London: the Exhibition.
Experience Winston Churchill’s Second World War hideaway, complete with a replica dining room and telephone exchange – which will keep you on your toes as you attempt to connect callers. And hear stories of wartime shelters that provided safety from air raids for thousands of Londoners.
Study the ticket office and recognise iconic tiles in a recreation of the now closed Aldwych Tube station. There’s also the chance to discover never-beforeseen drawings, objects and posters of disused stations and learn more about why some stations are no longer open.
Where: London Transport Museum, 39 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7BB T: +44 (0)34 3222 5000 W: www.ltmuseum.co.uk
UNTIL 31ST DECEMBER 2022
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries
n Step inside The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries in Westminster Abbey, as the once-hidden space opens to the public for the very first time.
Located high above the worldfamous abbey in the medieval triforium, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries offer spectacular views of the church and the Houses of Parliament.
The new exhibition and gallery is home to more than 300 objects from Westminster Abbey’s treasured collection, which traces its 1,000-history through four themes: Building Westminster Abbey, Worship and Daily Life, Westminster Abbey and the Monarchy, and The Abbey and National Memory.
Discover an array of fascinating items, including a model of the abbey created by Christopher Wren, a 14th-century service book, the coronation chair of Mary II, and the marriage license for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Where: Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA T: +44 (0)20 7222 5152 E: info@westminster-abbey.org W: www.westminster-abbey.org
The London Dungeon
n Delve into the ancient capital’s
most horrible history at the London Dungeon. Experience live actors, thrilling rides and exciting special effects during this terrifying 90-minute experience.
The London Dungeon is a walkthrough experience that recreates scenes from London’s scary history. Take the medieval lift into the depths of the dungeon and begin your journey. Along the way you’ll have a close shave with Fleet Street barber Sweeney Todd, investigate the mysterious identity of Jack the Ripper and discover the dreadful secrets of the torture chamber. Not for the faint-hearted!
The London Dungeon is located on London’s South Bank, a short walk from Waterloo mainline and London Underground stations.
There is no age limit for the London Dungeon. However, the recommended minimum age is 12 years old, while visitors aged under 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years old or over. This is due to the slightly scary nature of some of the attractions.
