Games 2012 Guide by Andre Rock

GAMES 2012 LONDON

AT A GLANCE Acer computers and technicians help provide the computing infrastructure, powering the Games eďŹ&#x192;ciently and reliably. Acer will provide 13,500 desktops, 2,900 notebooks, 950 servers and a 350-person Service Team. Acer will operate a 800sqm showcase in the Olympic Park. Be sure to come and visit us.

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GREG BOSWELL

ASPIRING BRITISH MOUNTAIN GUIDE / FULL TIME CLIMBER / FIFE “I NEVER FEEL GOOD UNLESS I’VE BEEN CLIMBING... It’s like a drug, when you’ve done a hard route you can’t wait for the next. To be honest I live, dream, think climbing – I work to climb & I climb to work. My dad got me into it when I was 13. I love pushing my limit in the winter Scottish climbing scene. I did the first ascent of “To Those Who Wait” on Ben Nevis on New Year’s Eve 2010, then the first on sight of “Happy Tyroleans” in Coire an Lochain in the Cairngorms in January. Amazing."

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CONTENTS CONTRIBUTORS Sally Watson-Jones (sports, fashion, film) As a former synchronised swimmer (not a very good one) Sally understands the training that the Olympic athletes have to go through. Her dream Olympic ticket would be anything in the Velodrome, especially if Chris Hoy is racing. Matthew Milliken (sports, media) An aspiring author currently living in Newcastle Upon Tyne. His influences and penchants include skewed 90s punk rock, B-movie horror, the works of north eastern painter John Martin and fine cheeses. Christian Da’costa (food, travel) Spent the last two years studying art, film and English literature at A-level and is now looking forward to an art foundation course and moving onto university to study film.

CONTENTS XXX Files: Olympic news / 8 Read all about it: Media rundown / 9 Fast, faster, fastest: Bolt for gold / 10-11 GB sporting legends: Now and in the making / 12-14 Iconic moments: History on film / 15 Sporting spectacle: Unmissable events / 16-17 Stadium fillers: Venue information / 19 Gateway to London: Transport and Travel / 20-21 Brit style: Fashion icons / 23 LISTINGS Shop til you drop: Where to buy / 24 Sights and sounds: UK and beyond / 27-31 Eating out: Culinary hotspots / 34-39 Visual arts: Cultural Olympiad / 40-41 Pure drama: London’s theatreland / 44 Club guide: London non-stop / 45

Sebastian Da’costa (food, travel) Film studies student with a passion for writing. Hopes to pursue a career in writing after he finishes studying. Jonathan Jenner (music) English undergraduate at the University of Exeter and aspiring journalist. Plays tennis badly, drums quite well and PS3 like an absolute champ. West Ham fan and avid reader. Cooler than he sounds. Jodie Knight (shopping) Friendly broadcast journalism student, fierce martial arts instructor and fun bar maid. And when all the mayhem is over at the end of the day she’ll tell you about what’s new, important or just on her mind

REVIEWS Film and Music: winning tracks and underdogs / 46-47 CREDITS Publisher: A N Rock Director: C J Rock Editor: Robin Fearon Design: Kerry Kitchin 2012 Games published by Templar Phoenix Ltd, PO Box 16463, Birmingham B13 3NA Email: 2012guideuk@gmail.com Web: www.2012guide.co.uk

All rights reserved. Printed in the UK. Reproduction of this publication in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher, is prohibited. Views expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or editor.

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OLYMPIC NEWS: XXX files

Third time is the charm for London as it hosts the games it previously held in 1908 and 1948 – the only city to have staged the event three times. All eyes are on the UK with the expected audience for the opening ceremony expected to be four billion people.

History in the making The official name of the London Summer Olympics is the ‘Games of the XXX Olympiad’. But none of the modern games would have been possible without the work of William Penny Brookes and the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock. Dr Brookes was a magistrate who organised the Wenlock Olympian Games to encourage amateur sports and discourage drunkeness and theft. Baron Pierre de Coubertin – founder of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – met with Brookes after his efforts to establish an Olympian festival in Athens, declaring: “If the Olympic Games that modern Greece has not yet been able to revive still survives today, it is due, not to a Greek, but to Dr W P Brookes.” When in Wenlock Much Wenlock’s Olympic games are organised annually and this year the town celebrated its 126th year of amateur sporting prowess. Events for the games, held between July 8 and 21, included clay pigeon shooting, gliding and kwik cricket (though the cricket was rescheduled for September due to pitch problems). Sporting numbers Around 17,000 athletes from 205 different countries will take part at London 2012, but the actual number of sports that will be contested at this games decreased

to 26, after baseball and softball were removed by the IOC. That number will increase to 28 at the 2016 games after golf and rugby were reinstated. Sports are considered for inclusion if they are played in at least 75 countries and 4 continents Hitting the target UK Sport has set its sights on achieving between 40 and 70 medals in this games, with a specific target of breaking its record medal haul in 2008 and again finishing fourth in the table. Team GB brought home 47 medals from Beijing (19 gold) and so sport’s funding body has given out more than £500m since the games were awarded in 2005, in taxpayer and lottery cash, to try and win big on home turf. Olympic longevity Records were made to be broken, but some stand the test of time better than others. For instance, 24 years and five games later there are no less than three individual men’s and seven women’s Olympic athletic records that have stood since the Seoul games in 1988. Nadezhda Olizarenko of the Soviet Union set an 800m time at the Moscow games in 1980 of 1:53.43 that still stands today. But the pick of the bunch is US athlete Bob Beamon whose long jump of 8.90m has not been broken since Mexico 1968!

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I wanna be connected Wiring up the Olympic sites and keeping communications flowing between them has been no small job. British Telecom estimates that it has installed 80,000 connections across 94 locations, with 4,500 miles of internal cabling, 1,800 wireless access points and 16,500 telephone lines. On top of that it has manufactured 14,000 SIM cards for mobile users and plumbed in 14,000 cable TV outlets. Austerity games The amount Londoners will contribute to the Olympics and Paralympics is £625m. Older generations might well raise an eyebrow at the idea that London 2012 is an ‘austerity games’. While the economic backdrop looks similar to the last time London hosted just after World War II (economic woes, steepling debt) the similarity ends there. Spending in 1948 came in at £730,000. Receipts, mostly ticket sales, totalled £760,000, making a modest £30,000 profit and £9,000 for the tax man. This time the cost of the games is estimated at £11bn – four times the estimate tabled. If the extra cash increases participation in sport it could fix the obesity problem in one fell swoop. Swings and roundabouts...’

MEDIA GUIDE Read all about it

Get your daily, hourly and on the spot news rundown of the Olympics, national and international news, with our pick of the UK’s media sources. By Matthew Milliken.

BBC News and Sport Auntie Beeb has seriously optimised its online and TV broadcast offering to bring you the best in HD sporting action. Web video players have been souped up and bandwidth tweaked to within an inch of its life to ensure you the best replays and live action.Up to 24 live HD streams and 2,500 hours of coverage will be available, along with select highlights in 3D and the world’s first trials of Super Hi Vision. www.bbc.co.uk

The Guardian A national daily that started life in Manchester, north-east England. A left-centre broadsheet aimed at the middle-classes. With in-depth reporting on current affairs, sports and incisive interviews, it boasts one of the best UK news websites, covering a large range of topics including an extensive archive with around three million stories. Price: £1.20 www.guardian.co.uk

Metro Free tabloid newpaper that was launched in London in 1999 although it is now readily available in most major UK cities. The concept is that is can be read within a constrained time limit, with a claim of roughly 20 minutes. It has a large mix of articles ranging from health to travel, to celebrity life and good

reviews sections that cover where to eat out and the latest films, books and music. Aimed at anyone and everyone. Price: Free www.metro.co.uk

The Independent Launched in 1983 as a daily broadsheet, The Independent has since converted to tabloid format. Although left-leaning, The Independent clearly and publically acknowledges itself as being free from any sort of political stance, with a wide range of views and opinions. Designed with a European feel to it with weekly sports pull-outs and a features magazine. Sister paper, ‘i’ is a Metro-like affair, all soundbites and shortened articles with the pick of stories and opinions from other publications, and at only 20p it is good if you want to get the news in a hurry. Price: £1.00 www.independent.co.uk

The Sun A somewhat controversial tabloid, but The Sun enjoys the largest circulation of any daily newspaper in the UK. Aimed at the working-class and known for its page three topless models, which may or may not contribute to its aforementioned popularity, it is also renowned for its ardent support of British troops as much as its big news stories and large sports section. Britain’s ‘in your face’ daily read.

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Price: 40p

www .thesun.co.uk

Huffington Post An online-only news source that began life in 2005 as an American website but has since expanded worldwide, with a UK launch in July 2011. Fundamentally a blog-heavy news site covering a wide range of stories and issues with contributions by politicians, celebrities and experts. Like The Independent, it has no outward political leaning, they do cover many political issues and place politics at the forefront of their main stories. If this isnt your thing then don’t let that put you off, as there is also a huge amount of other material covered, including sports, a particularly good Olympics section, entertainment, culture and technology. www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

The Daily Mail Launched way back in 1896, when it was published by Lord Northcliffe. The UK’s second biggest selling daily paper behind The Sun, with a strong emphasis on the female audience and outwardly right-wing views. Content is primarily UK and world news, along with sports and regular supplements. An extensive part of the paper is the ‘Femail’ supplement, alongside travel, city and finance sections.’ Price: 55p www.dailymail.co.uk

FAST, FASTER, FASTEST Usain Bolt and the need for speed

In Olympic track and field events there is one that draws more spectators than any other – the men’s 100m sprint. This year the field will include three of the fastest men on the planet and they all come from the Caribbean island of Jamaica. By Robin Fearon.

SPRINTERS are a breed apart. Trained to run to the gun. Marshalling perfect rhythm and power with timing and musculature so finely tuned that a faltering millisecond can be the difference between despair and glory. Ethiopian 10,000 metre two-time gold-medallist Haile Gebrselassie told reporters he trained to the novelty 1995 hit ‘Scatman’ (or to give the song it’s full

title ‘Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop’) in order to hit his winning cadence. So what about short form master Usain Bolt, a lightning blur of early nineties gabba? Speed metal? Hardly. Usain’s Maxim ‘playlist for greatness’ included Jay-Z and Kanye, Lil Wayne, Beyonce, with a nod to his Jamaican roots in Sean Paul. Laid back but not roots reggae. Looks like none

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of his fellow Jamaican speed merchants has much time for the lilting vibes of Peter Tosh or Doctor Alimantado either. Jamaica’s national competition has heated up to the point where Scotch bonnet chilli peppers look tepid. In the Olympic trials Bolt was outpaced by compatriot Yohan Blake, who strode in at a nippy 9.72 seconds in the 100m,

beating Usain’s season’s best of 9.76s and puncturing that air of invincibility in the process. Bolt’s classy 9.86s after a misfiring start made no headlines. Countryman Asafa Powell, who cruised in third at 9.88s, simply confirmed that Jamaica holds all the aces when it comes to speed, excitement and sheer spectacle. The subsequent 200m trial

showed Blake means serious business when it comes to challenging Usain’s dominance at the top of the sprint. A medal-quaking 19.80s in the 200m affirming the fact that 2012’s Olympic fastest man competition will be – like no other era – the one to watch. Bolt is a worldwide superstar whose profile matches his physical presence. Standing at 6ft 5in (1.95m) with a running stride of three metres, he holds world and Olympic records in both the 100m and 200m sprint – 9.58s and 19.19s respectively. At just 25, he has the world at his feet. Blake’s interjection, aided by Powell and serious American competition in the shape of Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay, provides the hurry up on any ambitions he holds to retain his crown. As a teenager growing up in Trelawny, north west Jamaica, life was typically relaxed. Bolt was a natural athlete whose growth spurt gave him an advantage over rivals in his age group, so he was encouraged by a cricket coach to concentrate on athletics. “I just happened to run fast,” he said, “They said try track and field, and I continued because it was easy and I was winning.” Easy winning looks like it may be on

its way out. Blake ran the second fastest time in history in beating him at a Diamond League meeting in Brussels last September. Commentators said Bolt’s reaction was one of stunned surprise, which he struggled to hide in media interviews that night. Some have questioned his starting ability and noted that the difference between success and failure is a single bad stride. Psychological pressure is building. Wobble out of the blocks and a new sprint champion could be taking his place on the podium this summer. One journalist has even suggested that Bolt may not be among the medals if his technique is not sharpened up in time. To live up to his assertion that he can become an athletic legend at this Olympics, Usain must live up to the hype and defeat a few demons. What is certain is that it will be a competition to remember. Bolt may not ease to victory in the final with the panache of old, but there are those who would like to see him pushed all the way and others who will back a new champion. Few would bet against a Jamaican speed merchant taking the gold.

source London 2012

“Jamaica holds all the aces when it comes to speed, excitement and sheer spectacle”

OLYMPIC STADIUM: Pivotal venue for the 2012 games. Located on Marshgate Lane in the south of the Olympic Park within walking distance of the Olympic Village. Architectural firm Populous built the arena at an estimated cost of £537m. Fourteen lighting towers were included in the construction because this is the first games with HD TV freeze frame coverage to capture all the action. Part of the roof support structure was formed from 2,500 tonnes of steel from recycled gas pipelines. The Stadium has waterways on three sides and spectators arrive at the venue by a series of bridges. This games promises to be one of the most exciting in Olympic history and its showcase athletic events include Usain Bolt’s defence of his 100m and 200m titles. More than 2,000 athletes will compete in the 40-plus athletics events staged here – 24 track, 16 field events and combined sports, such as Heptathlon and Decathlon. Both the opening and closing ceremonies will be held here and film director Danny Boyle was chosen as the opening artistic director, so expect anything. Do expect to see the Olympic Creed displayed on the scoreboard at the opening, it reads: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well.” Capacity: 80,000. Sports: Athletics

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GB OLYMPIC LEGENDS Golden years at the games

Great Britain has often punched above its weight at the games, but there are certain athletes who transcend national boundaries and achieve feats that simply belong to world sport. They are the legends of Team GB. By Robin Fearon.

THE GAMES embraces lofty ideals in its Latin motto ‘citius, altius, fortius’ – faster, higher, stronger – and its focus on amateur achievement. Professional sportsmanship and sponsorship may have chipped away at the edges but the core principles remain. Before there was ‘Team GB’ there was national fervour and pride in performing for your country. Here we look at some of the finest athletes to represent Britain, true legends in the Olympic ideal. Pedal prowess Edinburgh-born cyclist (Sir) Chris Hoy is a phenomenon. At the age of 28 he picked up his first gold in Athens, winning the 1km time trial and guaranteeing international recognition. When the event was dropped four years later in Beijing he picked up gold in the keirin and sprint (which he admits he adopted only to improve his track speed) and then the team sprint. Victory in keirin and sprint at the 2012 World Championships is the perfect warm-up for another bumper crop. Alongside him Bradley Wiggins is the perfect foil. Team pursuit in Athens and individual pursuit gold-medallist in both Athens and Beijing, he was the first rider to defend an Olympic pursuit title. He then took to road racing like a duck to water, first gaining a credible fourth place at the Tour de France and then following it up with a historic first win for a British rider at the Tour. Hard to the core, yet urbane and humble. Charms sports enthusiasts with his no-nonsense approach. Water talent Henry Taylor is a name not many will be familiar with. Between 1906 and 1920

(one games was cancelled by World War One) he achieved what is still a record for any British Olympian – winning a medal in the same event, freestyle relay, at four successive tournaments. His record of three medals at one games stood for 100 years (cue Chris Hoy). Hop, step, gold Jonathan Edwards remains one of Britain’s highest profile athletes after his endeavours in the triple jump. Now a member of the London Organising Committee, he strode into the record books in the 1995 Gothenburg world athletics championship with an astounding 18.29m jump – the first man ever to legally achieve more than 18m. One year later he was disappointed with silver in Atlanta, but gained his rightful gold four years later in Sydney. Two timer A surprise entry for some but Rebecca Romero’s achievement stands out. A world champion in both rowing and cycling, she took silver in the Athens 2004 Olympics quadruple sculls. Back injuries cut short her rowing career so she focused on the bike with spectacular effect. In 2008 she won gold in the individual pursuit, becoming the first British woman ever to win a medal in two different sports at the Summer Games. Plain sailing Ben Ainslie has pedigree as the son of distinguished yachtsman Roddy Ainslie. Still, his time learning the craft near Falmouth in Cornwall was well spent, as he carved his way to gold in the 2000 Laser class event and then in the Finn class in the following two Olympics. He was chosen to kick off the 2012 torch

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relay in Cornwall and this year won a record sixth world championship in the Finn class. They’re surely just keeping the gold warm for him. Nothing like a dame Kelly Holmes was one of our toughest middle distance runners. Bouncing back from years of injury, then disappointment with no medal in Atlanta 1996, her hard work paid off with a bronze in the Sydney 800m. That paved the way for what was a historic double gold in the 800m and 1,500m finals in Athens. Dame Kelly set British records that stand today. A real battler. Simply oar-some Sir Steve Redgrave and fellow oarsman Matthew Pinsent are synonymous with prolonged British success. Redgrave picked up his fifth gold at his final games in 2000. He and Pinsent snatched victory from a swift Italian coxless fours on the ice blue Penrith Lakes by a half-second margin. Pinsent picked up four golds between 1992 and 2004 to sit alongside 10 world championship golds. The two are viewed as games royalty and Redgrave was chosen by 58 per cent of his fellow Olympians as the greatest.

Redgrave was chosen by 58 per cent of his fellow Olympians as the greatest

Running man Sebastian Coe may well be a slick organiser – he was certainly instrumental in bringing the games to London – but once his rivalry with fellow middle distance

Middle distance running landmark as Kelly Holmes storms to double gold – bit.ly/iam5aQ

runners Steve Cram and Steve Ovett set the record books ablaze. Ovett won 800m gold in the Moscow 1980 Olympics, Cram took silver in Los Angeles in 1984 and was the first man to run 1,500m in less than 3m30s. Yet it was Coe whose sheer power of will set the pace. Gold in 1,500m in 1980 – after three years of Ovett’s virtual domination in the event – was followed by a successful title defence in 1984. In 1980 he had held four middle distance records simultaneously – 800m, 1,000m, 1,500m and mile. “World records are only borrowed,” he said, displaying wisdom behind the steel. Holds claim to be Britain’s greatest middle distance runner. Ten out of ten Of all the incredible Olympic feats performed by British athletes, decathlete Daley Thompson’s is undoubtedly the pick of the crop. He was the first athlete to hold Olympic, world, Commonwealth and European titles alongside the world record. Master of ten disciplines – shot put, discus, javelin, long and high jump, pole vault, 100m sprint and 110m hurdles, plus the 400m and 1,500m events. Thompson was only the second person to claim Olympic decathlon gold twice (in 1980 and 1984). Until he arrived on the scene the decathlon was one of the least popular spectator sports. Thompson’s personality won them over. On the field his prowess was clear and his world record points total at the Los Angeles games stood for eight years. From left to right - Kelly Holmes, Rebecca Romero, Sir Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent, Sebastian Coe, Henry Taylor, Sir Chris Hoy

Jonathan Edwards commentary on his gold-winning triple jump in 2000 – bit.ly/MTtPxF

Keirin cycling action as Chris Hoy takes gold and Ross Edgar silver for Team GB in 2008 – bit.ly/LaKWuh

Day two, decathlon, Daley Thompson. An all-round star performance – bit.ly/LD6kJX

Legendary moments

Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent snatch gold in the coxless fours at Sydney 2000 – bit.ly/3FdaMn

AQUATICS CENTRE: State of the art aquatics venue that was built by award-winning architect Zaha Hadid. The wave shaped roof measures 12,000 square metres which is one and a half times bigger than Wembley football pitch. There are 32 swimming events scheduled from 50m to 1,500m and eight diving events. Building cost: £268m. Capacity: 17,500

VELODROME: One of the most sustainable venues in the Olympic Park. The Velodrome ‘Cable – net’ roof is made from more than 10 miles of steel cables, end-to-end measuring twice the height of Mount Everest. The designers and builders – including input from gold-medallist Sir Chris Hoy – are aiming for it to be the fastest indoor cycling track in the world. Capacity: 6,000 Sports: Track Cycling

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LEGENDS IN THE MAKING Barcelona brought victory in June, greatness beckons. Phillips Idowu (Triple Jump) Unbeaten in 2012 before pulling out of the Olympic trials with an injury, Idowu may be in a race against time to compete. A discretionary place hangs in the balance. Silver in Beijing and a world championship gold show his pedigree. Fingers crossed for Phillips.

Jessica Ennis (Heptathlon) Poster-girl for physical perfection, Ennis admits she has much to achieve at London 2012, viewing her body more simply as a “training tool”. She described the moment when she had to pull out of the 2008 Olympics as the worst moment of her career. World gold in 2009 followed, silver in 2011. In her last event before the Olympics she set a new British record of 6,906 points in beating world champ Tatyana Chernova. Her run in to form now could be golden timing.

Top-left: Jessica Ennis

Her run in to form now could be golden timing. Rebecca Adlington (Swimming) Dual gold in Beijing and current world champion at 800m freestyle: life’s rosy for Rebecca. Prodigiously fast and naturally bubbly she is a 23-year-old with a distinguished career ahead of her. An outing in

Victoria Pendleton (Cycling) Reigning world and Olympic champion in the sprint. Pendleton is a serious sporting mannequin who has graced fashion and sporting pages in equal measure. She has announced plans to retire after 2012 and aims to go out on a high, taking out Australian rival Anna Meares in the process. Christine Ohuruogu (Running) Britain’s first female 400m Olympic champion. Her times since have been solid and she set her fastest career time in June. Running into contention easily at the UK trials, she will have to up her game to take gold.

RAW TALENT Five to watch

Mark Cavendish (Cycling) Could pick up Britain’s first gold in the men’s cycling road race as it is the London Olympics first event. A distinguished track and road cycling champion who has won more than 20 stages at the Tour de France. Quite simply one of the world’s finest sprint cyclists. Mhairi Spence (Modern Pentathlon) Winning her first world championship gold in pentathlon in May has cemented Spence’s position in the team. Transformed herself as an athlete over the past two years – a natural leader. Tom Daley (Diving) ‘If you’re good enough you’re old enough’ runs the adage. Tom Daley was the youngest British competitor, aged 14, in any Olympic finals in 2008. Already a world and European champ

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at 18 he will be a favourite for 10m platform gold.

‘If you’re good enough you’re old enough’ Jade Jones (Taekwondo) Tipped as one of Britain’s medal hopefuls at the tender age of 19. Jones has beat well-known and respected martial artists over the past two years after winning Youth Olympic gold. Alastair and Jonny Brownlee (Triathlon) Brothers who took the top two places at the ITU World Triathlon in June. Alistair is favourite to take gold after his third victory in four years in world triathlon. Stamina to burn. Bottom-left: Tom Daley

ICONIC MOMENTS games history online

An archive of incredible sporting action awaits online. Check out what made our list of the most memorable Olympic milestones. By Matthew Milliken VIDEO sites offer instant access to sporting glory. Relive the spine-tingling, the controversial or the hilariously inappropriate and share them with your friends. Dig into our archive of games-past.

The Perfect 10 – Montreal 1976: A performance on the uneven bars by Nadia Comaneci is the first time a perfect score of ten had ever been awarded to a gymnast at the Olympics. So what could she do to top that? Well, she went and scored another six perfect tens on the way to three gold medals as well as a silver and bronze. bit.ly/1aRLz

Zola Budd and Mary Decker – Los Angeles 1984: The 3,000m final ‘84 was a race that was billed as a head to head between Budd and Decker. Although Maricica Puica proved to be the eventual winner, it would be the infamous “trip” from Budd on Mary Decker that grabbed the headlines. bit.ly/KeRQN

Greg Louganis – Seoul 1988: This American diver won two gold medals at these games but not until he had managed to suffer concussion with a sickening blow to the head during the preliminary rounds. I’ll allow Alan Partridge to lighten the mood a little... bit.ly/ohSPwH

Coe Vs Ovett – Moscow 1980: Sebastian Coe, who has headed the London 2012 bid, took on rival and British compatriot Steve Ovett in both the 800m and 1,500m. Coe got his tactics wrong in the 800m, handing the race to Ovett, but six days later he would have his revenge by triumphing in the 1,500m final. 800m – bit.ly/ plURmv 1,500m – bit.ly/bvJjfz

Adebe Bikila – Rome 1960: In only his third marathon, Bikila, competing as a late replacement in the Ethiopian team, manages to not only break the Olympic record while winning the gold medal but, because of a problem with his teamissued shoes, completes the race barefoot. bit. ly/HRQw1

Shun Fujimoto – Montreal 1976: A member of the Japanese Gymnastics team, Shun put in a performance that was nothing less than astonishing. After breaking his kneecap in his floor routine he decided to continue, putting in an amazing performance on the pommel horse, and then the rings. Fancy doing that on a shattered kneecap? bit.ly/3dQw4P

Ben Johnson – Seoul 1988: Beating the reigning champ and Olympics legend Carl Lewis in the 100m final and world record time would have been more than enough to cement Johnson in the history books, but it was the aftermath and subsequent disqualification for drug use that he is known for today. bit.ly/Nmhs8d

Jesse Owens – Berlin 1936: The 1936 games were the Nazi centrepiece of a certain Mr Hitler. One gets the feeling that even the German team topping the medals list wouldn’t have been enough to take the bitter taste from Adolf’s mouth after African-American James “Jesse” Owens took home four athletics gold medals. bit.ly/133Ysc

Black Power – Mexico City 1968: In what would become one of the most powerful images of any Olympics, Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise their fists in the air in a Black Power salute on the podium while receiving their respective gold and bronze medals. bit.ly/19upsT

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SPORTING SPECTACLE Must see events

Given the dazzling array of talent on offer we’ve come up with our pick of the schedule. Drama guaranteed, whether you’re watching from stadium seats or granny’s comfy chair. By Sally Watson-Jones. DIDN’T manage to bag any tickets to the fencing or the second round of the table tennis? Does your Olympic experience look more like you’ll be watching the events you actually want to see from the comfort of your own sofa, or at the pub with your mates? We’ve put together a run down of some the unmissable events at the 2012 Olympics to make sure you catch all the best action.

Men’s 100 metres Final If you’ve been hiding under a rock since the Beijing Olympics, then you may have missed the fact that the favourite to win is Usain Bolt. You might also want to have a shower and check none of your loved ones have passed away recently. Bolt is literally a safe bet; William Hill gave him odds of 7/4 to win three or more gold medals at the games, and 8/11 that he will beat his own 100 metre record in the process. When: Sunday 5 August, 9.50pm Venue: Olympic Stadium Track Cycling Great Britian excelled in track cycling at the last Olympics, bringing home eight gold, four silver and two bronze medals, and there are high hopes that this time round both the men and women will do even better. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to ogle some fit people in very tight lycra. Watch out for Victoria Pendleton: the 2012 Olympics will be her last competitive outing before she retires, so she’ll be looking to go out in a blaze of glory, and is going for the gold in three events. When: Thursday 2 – Tuesday 8 August. Venue: Velodrome Triathlon This one is up for grabs. Since it’s introduction to the games in Sydney in 2000, the six medallists have been from six different countries, with no nation yet making the event their own. As much about endurance as skill, the Triathalon is made up of 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and a 10km run, and with no heats it all comes down to who, out of the 110 competitors (55 men and 55 women), performs best on the day. The event also gives viewers a real taste of the capital: the route starts in Hyde Park, with participants swimming the Serpentine, cycling through Wellington Arch, Constitution Hill and Birdcage Walk in front of Buckingham Palace, before returning to the park for the run. When: Women’s Triathlon: Saturday 4 August, 9am Men’s Triathalon: Tuesday 7 August 11.30am. Venue: Hyde Park Women’s Beach Volleyball For reasons unknown, a lot of men seem to be passionate about this sport. It must be the level of skill involved and the training these talented athletes undergo to get match fit that inspires such awe. You think? Taking place practically on the doorstep of Number 10, maybe Dave Cameron will be able to relax a little and take a breather from worrying about banking reform, the Leveson Inquiry conclusions and the fact that the Coalition seems to have lost that loving feeling recently. Hard core beach action never looked more appealing. When: Saturday 28 July – Wednesday 8 August. Venue: Horse Guards Parade

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Water Polo Hardly the most dramatic of sports, but at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne a real grudge match took place between Hungary and the Soviet Union. Prior to the games, thousands were killed in a Hungarian uprising against the USSR-backed government. A semi-final showdown was bound to be explosive. Later labelled the ‘blood in the water’ match, it was an angry affair, with the Hungarian team taunting their opponents in a bid to distract them. It certainly worked. Hungarian player Ervin Zador was punched so hard by his rival on the Soviet team, Valentin Prokopov, that his wound gushed blood into the pool. Riot police were called in and the match was abandoned, with Hungary declared winners. Admittedly a repeat incident is very unlikely but the history of the sport makes it a little more intriguing. When: Sunday 29 July – Sunday 12 August Venue: Olympic Park – Water Polo Arena

Boxing For the first time women’s boxing has a place in the Olympics. Watch out for light-welterweight Tom Stalker, who is ranked number one in the world in his class, middleweight Savannah Marshall, Britain’s first women’s world boxing champion, and middleweight Anthony Ogogo who’s probably good too, but is mostly known for revealing he has a sensitive mouth in that Subway advert. When: Saturday 28 July – Sunday 12 August. Venue: ExCel Men’s Rings If people running really fast and jumping really high isn’t enough to make you feel completely inadequate as a human specimen, then the Men’s Rings might just do it. When a man who has just spent five minutes on the rings performing seemingly impossible moves receives a disappointing score because of an almost imperceptible wobble on his dismount, you might not feel quite as proud about that half hour you spent at the gym two weeks ago. Also, it will never not be funny to announce that you’re an aficionado of men’s rings during a discussion on the merits of the Olympics. When: Monday 6 August, 2pm. Venue: North Greenwich Arena Relay races 4 x 100 metres and 4 x 400 metres Success in the relay rests on a knife edge: one dropped baton puts the whole team out of the running. And in addition to the wrath of a nation, there’s the anger of three disappointed and adrenaline-pumped teammates to contend with if you mess up. While the US have dominated relays in the past, the unpredictable can, and does, happen. Fumbled handovers in Athens in 2004 led to the US losing to Great Britain, who all performed flawlessly in the handover, and last year Jamaica triumphed after Tyson Gay missed his handover and the US team failed to complete their heat and qualify for the final. When: 4 x 400 metres Final on Friday 10 August, 9:20pm 4 x 100 metres Final on Saturday 11 August, 9pm Venue: Olympic Stadium Men’s 400 metres Although it might not be as popular as the 100 metre sprint, this year there will be plenty of people paying attention to the Men’s 400 metres. In a world first, the South African team have picked double amputee Oscar Pistorius as a contender, making him the first athlete to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics. This has caused controversy, with critics claiming that his artificial lower legs (earning him the nickname ‘Blade Runner’) give him an unfair advantage. In 2008 the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled there was no evidence that Pistorius had any advantage over other competitors, overturning an IAAF decision in 2007. Expect a lot of animated pub discussions if the South African athlete makes the final. When: Final on Monday 6 August, 9:30pm Venue: Olympic Stadium Women’s Swimming Michael Phelps is expected to add volumes to his huge eightmedal haul from the last Olympics, but where Great Britain is concerned, the women’s swimming is the one to watch. Among the swimmers expected to medal are Rebecca Adlington in the 400 and 800 metres freestyle, Fran Hansall in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle, Keri-Anne Payne in the 10km open water and Ellen Gandy in the 200 metre butterfly. When: Saturday 28 July – Thursday 9 August. Venue: Olympic Park – Aquatic Centre, Hyde Park

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STADIUM FILLERS The sites that matter

Bitesize facts about our most interesting, and iconic, Olympic venues - creating those perfect sporting moments.

OLYMPIC PARK: BMX Track: One of the smaller venues – only slightly larger than a football pitch – but likely to have more than its fair share of thrills and spills. The course is made up of jumps and tightly banked corners. Riders start from an eight-metre high ramp. Size: 160m x 90m Sports: Cycling (BMX) Copper Box: Twelve teams will take part at what will be the main arena for the frenetic and high-scoring Handball events. Russia is historically the most successful nation in the men’s and women’s competition. Capacity: 6,500 Sports: Handball, Modern Pentathlon Water Polo Arena: The first dedicated water polo venue to be built for an Olympics and a distinguished one at that with its inflatable roof. Capacity: 5,000 Sports: Water Polo OTHER LONDON VENUES: The Royal Artillery Barracks: Shooting could only be hosted here really. Has

heritage dating back to 1716 and the formation of two artillery companies. Eye-catching architecture. Capacity: 7,500 Sports: Shooting Horse Guards Parade: A true departure for this well-known London landmark as it trades events such as the Queen’s birthday parade for beach volleyball. Around 5,000 tonnes of sand was used to create the arena. Capacity: 15,000 Sports: Beach Volleyball Hyde Park: Home to a number of grassroots sports clubs, including the Serpentine Swimming Club. Now playing host to World and Olympic events in triathlon. Capacity: 3,000 Sports: Swimming, Triathlon Wembley Stadium: The national stadium is hosting Olympic football along with stadia around Britain, including St James’ Park in Newcastle, Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and Hampden Park, Glasgow. Capacity: 80,000 Sports: Football

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ExCel: The largest competition venue at the games – made up of five different arenas. All of the most combative sports are on display here. Expect high-octane thrills from boxing, judo and taekwondo. Capacity: 6,000 to 10,000 depending on the arena Wimbledon: Where else for tennis? Home of the All England club and the world’s only grass grand-slam event, it hosted the tennis competition when London first held the games in 1908 Capacity: 30,000 Sports: Tennis OUT OF LONDON VENUES: Eton Dorney Rowing Centre: Eton Dorney has been acclaimed as one of the finest rowing venues in the world. This fantastic centre is set within a 450-acre conservation park around 25 miles west of London. Capacity: 30,000 Size: 2,200m long, eight lanes wide. Sports: Rowing, Canoe Sprint Clockwise from top-right: Water Polo Arena, Horse Guards Parade, BMX Track, Copper Box, The Royal Artillery Barracks. All images Source London 2012

GATEWAY TO LONDON 2012 Transport and getting around

GETTING to and from Olympic venues or into and out of London requires coordination. If you don’t have the latest information or timetables you could find yourself at a loose end. Thankfully the London 2012 committee and its travel partners have constructed a number of useful websites to help you out.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT & ROAD TRAVEL

Millions of extra people are using London’s transport networks during the games. Get Ahead of the Games offers daily travel bulletins, information on trouble hotspots, alternative routes and a twitter feed (@GAOTG) of the latest news to keep you mobile.

getaheadofthegames.com getaheadofthegames.com/news/1122.html – Tips for group travel.

Games travelcard: Anyone with a ticket for a London 2012 sports event or ceremony in or around London receives a free Games Travelcard, valid for public transport in London zones 1–9 on the day of the event. It can be used on the Tube, overground trains, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), buses, trams and National Rail services – but not on Heathrow, Stansted or Gatwick Express trains.

london2012.com/spectators/travel/gamestravelcard/

Journey planning: If you’ve got an event ticket London 2012 has an excellent travel hub offering a multitude of options for getting to Olympic venues – planes, trains and automobiles included. london2012.com/spectators/travel/ – London 2012 travel hub.

london2012.com/spectators/travel/bookyour-travel/ – Journey planner. london2012.com/spectators/venues – Venue information.

Tube: Transport For London (TFL) has an excellent journey planner for public transport including Tube, train and bus. Twitter feed travel alerts @TfLTravelAlerts.

travelling via the Thames. This includes the canal boat service (water-chariots. co.uk), river tour service www.citycruis-

If you are staying on in London, try a Visitor Oyster card – the cheapest way to pay for single journeys on public transport.

Cycling: TFL has an excellent cycling hub. Free cycle route maps are available, but can only be ordered for delivery to UK addresses, with limits on orders. Bound to be busy during the games, so look for them at bike shops and travel information centres. Also has information and an online map for hire cycles.

tfl.gov.uk

visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/

Train: More than 100 extra train services have been added to get people to Olympic events. You must have a games event ticket or be a London 2012 volunteer to travel on specialist services. If you don’t, check The Train Line for regular services.

nationalrailgamestravel.co.uk thetrainline.com/train-tickets/2012-olympics/ index.shtml

Coach services: Coaches depart from towns and cities across the UK direct to Olympic sites in and outside of London, including journey planner. firstgroupgamestravel.com/direct-coaching Park and Ride: Car parking with bus services direct to Olympic sites, including journey planner. firstgroupgamestravel.com/park-and-ride/ OTHER WAYS TO GET AROUND

River travel: Your Games Travelcard entitles you to one-third off the cost of

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esgamestravel.co.uk/WebSys.aspx and river bus express www.booking.thamesclippers.com/ gamestravel

www.tfl.gov.uk/cycling/

Cycle superhighways: Barclays Cycle’ Superhighways are specially developed cycle routes from outer to inner London. Four have already been launched with a further eight to be introduced by 2015. Maps are available for download direct plus a link to find cycle parking. www.tfl.gov.uk/barclayscyclesuperhighways

Walking: London authorities made a commitment to make the 2012 games as sustainable as possible, establishing the Active Travel programme for cyclists and pedestrians. Find out more about booking a guided walk to the games. Alternatively download an audio or video tour narrated by triple jump gold-medallist Jonathan Edwards.

www.london2012.com/spectators/travel/walking/ www.tfl.gov.uk/walking

TRAVEL

Get away from it all

YOU still want the Olympic vibe but you don’t want to find yourself nose to armpit on a bustling Tube train? Why not soak up the atmosphere from the comfort of another country. Yesteryear’s games destinations could be just the ticket.

USA, LOS ANGELES AND ATLANTA: Los Angeles played host to the games in 1984, Atlanta in 1996. Sunny California sounds a whole host better than the rain-sodden English summer, so use LA as the jump off for Baja California and dive with turtles, or pick up Route 1 and drive along the Big Sur to relive the dream of Jack Kerouac’s life on the road. Wind up in seriously hip San Francisco. From there it’s giant redwoods to the north, the wilds of Yosemite National Park to the east, beyond it desert country and the Sierra Nevada. Atlanta, capital of Georgia, is the birthplace of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Southern fried hospitality and soul food cuisine are the order of the day. People are friendly and you can kick back in the humidity and soak up a peach iced tea or an Old Fashioned. Trek out to Stone Mountain Park or further afield to the delightfully named Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest – movie geeks, the Chattooga River running through it is where Deliverance was filmed. Time in hand, then cross the state line into Florida and soak up some rays, flirt with Disney and 50-assorted flavours of mini-golf and assay the beauty of sunset in the Everglades.

CHINA, BEIJING: Things had changed hugely since the brutal suppression of democratic protest in Tiananmen Square in 1989. By 2008, China had adopted market forces the same way that they industrialised, with a great leap forward. Bustling Beijing is a city of marvels, high class restaurants, rampant commercialism, home to the Olympic ‘Bird’s Nest’ and the Forbidden City – a city of opposites. Marvel at Mao’s body lying in state and then take your portion of Peking duck along to the picturesque Summer Palace to relax and gather your thoughts. Great Wall turns out to be the icing on the cake. AUSTRALIA, SYDNEY: Sydney in 2000 had it all. Darling Harbour and The Rocks present what must be one of the most cultured city centres anywhere in the world. Mountainous seafood platters full of Moreton Bay Bugs, lobster, barramundi, John Dory. East-meets-west finery in Malaysian rendang and massaman curries. Aboriginal buskers strut the emu. Head out to the suburbs for cocktails in Rushcutters Bay or surf bodies, fish and chips and gelatinous ice cream in Manly. Bondi Beach Club for lunch then walk it off, taking the cliff route past Bronte, Coogee and out to Maroubra, fresh with sea spray.

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FASHION ICONS Making it Brit Style

UK stylists have always been innovators and aesthetes of eclectic style. We reveal a handful of the figureheads behind Britain’s unique cultural capital. By Sally Watson-Jones. THE DESIGNERS Alexander McQueen: Born in Lewisham, McQueen’s apprenticeship on Savile Row and time at a theatrical costumers helped shape his beautifully tailored, flamboyant designs. Signature look: The ‘bumster’ Vivienne Westwood: Westwood, along with Malcolm McLaren, helped kick off the London punk movement when they opened their infamous ‘Sex’ boutique in King’s Road. Signature look: Tartan, safety pins and bondage gear Mary Quant: Quant was born in Blackheath, in London, and after studying illustration at Goldsmiths College she served an apprenticeship as a couture milliner before moving on to fashion. She became famous for her sleek bob and mod fashion designs. Signature look: The mini skirt THE MODELS Jean Shrimpton: Shrimpton left High Wycombe to study at the Langham Secretarial College in London. Her dreams of a career as a secretary where not to be, and instead she became the world’s first supermodel. Signature look: The Shift dress

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS David Bailey: Working his way up from poor East End roots to photography assistant, then Bailey got his big break – contracted by British Vogue as fashion photographer in 1960. He photographed many of the most iconic people in London at the time, including The Beatles, Mick Jagger, Jean Shrimpton and the Kray Twins. Signature look: ‘Box of Pin-Ups’ Corinne Day: Day began her career as a model, but soon found she liked it better behind the camera. Famous for the photos that launched Kate Moss’ career, Day worked with The Face, i-D and Raygun magazines on many iconic shoots. Signature look: ‘The Third Summer of Love’ Nick Knight: Knight studied in Bournemouth before working with some of the biggest fashion magazines in London, including British Vogue, i-D, Dazed and Confused and The Face. Signature look: ‘Skinheads’

Clockwise from top-right: Kate Moss, Jean Shrimpton, Vivienne Westwood 2012 Tartan Line, Twiggy

THE MUSES The Beatles: Not only massively influential musically, The Beatles started a lot of fashion trends too. In the 60s they were famous for their Edwardian collarless suits, and in the 70s John Lennon adopted his ‘teashade glasses’, now more widely known as ‘John Lennon glasses’. Signature look: The mop-top haircut David Bowie: Another musical muse, David Bowie is a master of reinvention and has always been at the cutting edge of style. From glam rock, through plastic soul and his Berlin era, to flirtations with industrial and jungle music, Bowie has had as many looks as albums. Signature look: Androgynous alien superstar Ziggy Stardust Jane Birkin: Born in Marylebone, actress Jane Birkin rose to fame after her role in 1966 film Blowup. After this success, she landed the lead role in the French film Slogan, despite not speaking the language. She starred in the film opposite Serge Gainsbourg, with whom she would go on to make music and a daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg. Signature look: The Birkin bag

Kate Moss: The Croydon teen was discovered in JFK Airport at 14 years old. She signed to the Storm model agency and her career took off at 16 when she appeared in uber style magazine The Face. Signature look: Heroin chic Twiggy: The face of the swinging sixties, Twiggy, born Lesley Hornby, took the world by storm after being voted ‘The Face of 1966’ by the Daily Express, and travelling to Japan, the US and Europe to bring them a little bit of London magic. Signature look: The crop haircut

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SHOP LIKE A CHAMPION Top spots to spend your savings

SPEND your days in furious bargain hunting or simply soak up the atmosphere as you walk the bustling streets. There are treasures to be found and deals to be snapped up as you bash the plastic. Covent Garden: The ultimate in shopping performance. Drop your bags, stand and appreciate breathtaking acts. You won’t be alone. An array of singers, jugglers and acrobats never fail to attract a crowd. Once you’ve torn yourself away from the display, slip down a side road or two to browse everything from mid-priced chains to high-end designer shops, or if you have an eye for it go antique hunting and you might just go home with a nice memento. Open all week from 10am until 6pm. www.coventgardenlondonuk.com 0870 780 5001 Tube: Covent Garden Hamleys Toy Shop: Let the big kid in you come out to play as you explore the endless wonders of Hamleys. From the moment a giant clown greets you at the entrance until he blows bubbles at your back when you leave, you’re guaranteed to gasp and laugh as you make your way between the themed floors. This toy shop is unlike any other – you’re allowed to touch! It doesn’t matter if your four or 40 you’ll be welcome to fly aeroplanes, hold bubbles that don’t burst or get stuck in with arts and crafts. www.hamleys.com 0871 704 1977 Tube: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus Oxford Street: One of the few places you can expect to find both Primark and Selfridges. So whether you fancy bagging yourself a bargain, or buying a pair of shoes that ‘are an investment really’, you can find what you’re looking for in one of the 500 shops on this famous strip. www.oxfordstreet.co.uk 020 7462 0689 Tube: Oxford Circus, Bond Street, Marble Arch Portobello Market: London’s most famous outdoor market, well known for its vintage fashion and antiques. If that sounds like your cup of tea, take a step back in time and lose yourself in the past. The market is open every Saturday and some stalls are open throughout the week. www.portobellomarket.org Tube: Notting Hill Gate

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Camden Market: One of London’s top tourist attractions, trading goods from all over the world. Notorious for its kooky ways, Camden Market is the place to go for crazy coloured hair dye, quirky accessories or t-shirts guaranteed to make your friends embarrassed to be seen with you. www.camden-market.org Tube: Camden Town, Chalk Farm Road Westfield Stratford: London’s newest shopping centre and conveniently in perfect proximity to the Olympic Park. If you’re watching the pennies take a stroll through John Lewis where the view of London’s Olympic Stadium is free of charge and it really is worth the trip. Being a sponsor, you can also pick up a mascot from Westfield as a souvenir. If by chance you get all shopped out, dine in one of the 70 restaurants in the centre before you finish off your day with a game of bowling or a trip to the cinema. uk.westfield.com/stratfordcity 0208 221 7300 Tube: Stratford The Bullring: Located in the heart of Birmingham, just over an hour on the train from London. A versatile shopping centre that answers to your every whim with its variety of clothing brands, jewellery designers, techno gear and everything mainstream. All wrapped up in the finery of its modern architecture. www.bullring.co.uk 0121 632 1526 Train: Birmingham New Street Bluewater: The pride of Kent, Bluewater is hosting Rollerfest until 1st September. During this time the shopping centre has set up giant sport screens, fairground rides, festival food and sporting activities for visitors to get involved in. Leaving almost no time to shop! www.bluewater.co.uk 0870 777 0252 Train: Greenhithe

Top to bottom: Hamleys Toy Shop, Camden Market, Oxford Street

KISS BLAND GOODBYE

/BREOOFFICIAL

MAGNETIC ATTRACTIONS UK leisure hotspots

LONDON rewards the adventurous tourist so be sure to make the most of your spare time. Venture further afield and you’ll discover so much more about the UK and its treasures. LONDON’S TOP DAYS OUT Tower of London: No visit to London would be complete without a trip to the Tower. Packed with historical detail of execution and torture, its use as a royal palace, an armoury and a fortress. Learn the legend of the Tower’s ravens and try your hand with siege weapons. www.hrp.org.uk Royal Museums Greenwich: Four top attractions are located in the World Heritage Site of Greenwich, namely the National Maritime Museum, The Queen’s House (which is hosting the Olympics equestrian and modern pentathlon events), The Royal Observatory and the historic ship Cutty Sark. www.rmg.co.uk St Paul’s Cathedral: Sir Christopher Wren’s awe-inspiring architectural feat is a must-see. Venture into the crypts to see the last resting place of Britain’s heroes and then climb up to the Whispering Gallery to see the dome up close. www.stpauls.co.uk Tower Bridge: Get inside the workings of London’s most iconic bridge with the Tower Bridge Experience. Enjoy incredible views of the capital from the high walkways and then

continue your journey into the depths of the Victorian engine rooms to discover its working secrets. www.towerbridge.org.uk Houses of Parliament: Attend the ‘mother of all parliaments’ and you can see the political cockfight up close and personal. Watch debates and committee hearings if the house is in session, and if that’s not your thing just take a tour and climb Big Ben’s famous clock tower. www.parliament.uk Buckingham Palace: The Queen lives here. Possibly worth a look for that fact alone – 775 rooms, but only 19 state rooms are open to the public. Contains an incredible collection of classical paintings, porcelain and furniture. The palace gardens are open during the summer. www.royalcollection.org.uk Alternative tours of London: View the city from a different perspective on an alternative tour. Mosey through the vibrant East End to check out street art (alternativeldn.co.uk), pedal through secret London – day or night (biketouroflondon.com), or even try a tour in a 1960s Mini (smallcarbigcity. com). Top left, clockwise: St. Pauls Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Street Art (alt-tours), Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace.

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BEST UK DAYS OUT Beyond the Capitol: Take a trip to the dreaming spires of Oxford for a look at this historical jewel on the twin rivers Thames and Cherwell. Climb 99 steps to the top of the Carfax Tower, visit the Bodleian Library or Blenheim Palace (visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com). Brighton to the south is the definition of quirky seaside resort town. Stroll along the magnificent pier, visit the Royal Pavilion and wine, dine, sixty nine to your heart’s content (visitbrighton. com). Head south east and you’re in the garden of England, Kent. Canterbury is famous for its astounding cathedral, medieval walls and Chaucer’s bawdy tales (canterbury. co.uk). In Chichester you’ll find Goodwood, the Earl of March’s estate with its fabulous house, sculpture park, forest, farm and racecourse, with its world famous Glorious Goodwood meeting (goodwood.co.uk). If you’ve got the legs then experience some of Britain’s finest countryside on foot, bicycle or horseback across the North and South Downs Way national trails (nationaltrail.co.uk). Finally, take the boat out to the Isle of Wight for its stunning beaches, sailing and world class music festivals such as Bestival in September (iwight.com/visiting). Around the UK: In the north-east of England lies the city of Newcastleupon-Tyne and nearby neighbour Durham. Newcastle boasts a vibrant nightlife, excellent eateries, great shopping opportunities and a vibrant arts scene (newcastlegateshead. com). Durham’s cobbled streets, its picturesque castle and cathedral, offer a quieter more relaxed atmosphere (thisisdurham.co.uk). Head south to Yorkshire where York’s medieval walls shelter a jumble of treats – tea and cake at Betty’s Tea Room, sweets and bookshops in The Shambles, Viking history, or a day at the races (visityork.org). Outdoors-types will find ale and trails aplenty in the shape of two beautiful national parks – the Dales and the Moors (yorkshiredales. org.uk, visitnorthyorkshiremoors. co.uk). Further south, Leeds boasts seriously good international cuisine and the largest repertory theatre outside London (visitleeds.co.uk), while Sheffield offers Europe’s largest indoor ski slope for your piste up pleasure (sheffieldskivillage.co.uk).

ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Adventure travel: Britain boasts a wealth of incredible outdoors experiences, everything from flighty peaks to freshwater lakes, sweeping forest to majestic and rugged coastlines. Snowdonia in Wales (visitsnowdonia.info) Scafell Pike in the Lake District (lakedistrict.gov.uk) and Ben Nevis (visithighlands.com); the Pennine Way (thepennineway.co.uk) or the Highland Way and Scottish Munros (walkhighlands.co.uk/munros/) offer plenty of adventure for the serious trekker. Along the way you can pick up any combination of adrenaline-fuelled activity – sailing, canyoning, kayaking, caving and climbing await. Dalby Forest in Yorkshire hosts one of more than 20 high ropes courses (goape.co.uk) and the largest network of mountain biking trails in England.

Expedition leaders: For those with more appetite (and more money) to venture further afield, there are activities to suit every lifestyle. High mountain trekking in the Andes or the Himalayas and mountain biking in central Asian republics such as Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan are no longer the preserve of paid up adventurers, though you will need to save your pennies. Few corners of the world are unreachable, but in expedition holiday terms, the untouched continent is Antarctica. You can now experience the South Pole without lengthy planning and an arduous ski slog through the ice fields. Spend one week at an Antarctic base with daily activities and take a flight to the Pole. These are ‘holidays’ of a lifetime, so you’ll probably consider it an investment rather than disposable income. Or perhaps you would like to do your bit for charity? There are many opportunities to raise money for worthwhile causes and explore the world at the same time. In 2013, an expedition is planned to the South Pole with the aim of raising as much money as possible for Oxfam and Prostate Cancer UK. Eight people will journey to the pole and raise thousands for these good causes. Plan your own expedition and find out what it means to truly test yourself and give to others at the same time. We would like to thank the following excellent outdoor and expedition suppliers for outfitting our charity expedition team. They are: Hilleberg, Rab, The Mountain Boot Company, Outdoor Research, SmartWool, Sorel, Lyon, Exped, Oakley and Bushnell Outdoor Products.

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Discover this land, Discover this land, like never before. like never before.

Magic and excitement away from the games

Warner Bros Studio tour London: The Making of Harry Potter In one word. Spectacular. One thing is to see J.K Rowling’s phenomenal world translated, from the books (and your imagination!) onto the silver screen; another thing entirely is to see it right there in front of your eyes. It goes without saying that fans of Harry Potter will be absolutely enthralled by the experience, but even those who are not will still be thoroughly astounded by the sheer amount of work, dedication and creativity that brought to life the immensely detailed world that Rowling envisioned. The tour is fantastic, allowing visitors to wonder around freely –after an initial 20 min guided introduction- and discover for themselves all the amazing collection of props, sets, structures and costumes; plus there are some added mind-blowing surprises along the way! With all this and more and everything the magical gift shop has to offer, you are sure in for a treat! Alton Towers: Hands down one of the best days out in the UK. Alton Towers provides hours of fun for thrill-seekers, and some more casual fun for those of us who aren’t as thrill inclined. With an expanse of exhilarating rides varying from the eye-popping Rita Queen of speed to the monstrous Nemesis, as well as their fantastic recent addition- Th13teen, you’ll never leave unsatisfied. Set in the beautiful Alton Towers Stately Gardens, there’s always plenty to see and do if you’re not one for hair-raising white-knuckle attractions; they have a fantastic Spa experience, Extraordinary Golf, Garden tours, The Towers tour and the fantastic Skyride which takes you up above the grounds and allows for stunning aerial views of the entire 800 acre area! A brilliant day out is guaranteed!

Could this be the best Hotel group in Britain? The Hilton Hotel group is renowned all over the world, with over five hundred hotels in almost 80 countries across the globe it’s most certainly a heavyweight in the hotel industry. They never fail to impress with their vast range of fantastic services, including relaxing Spas, gym facilities, elegant swimming pools and saunas and their customer service is of such a high degree; the staff are always very warm, while maintaining great efficiency and professionalism at all times. Their refined, high quality taste in style and design is forever impressive and is in keeping with their position at the forefront of the hotel business; not only this but luxurious rooms are guaranteed which help to ensure a brilliant experience time and time again. An example that best describes the excellence of The Hilton group is as follows. On one of our trips to London, we had made reservations with another major hotel group in the city, but following an upsetting issue with the organized accommodation we were left with nowhere to stay. We explained our dilemma to the nearest Hilton Hotel (on Park Lane) and were utterly astounded at their response; even though it was an extremely busy, school-holiday period –not to mention they were fully booked- they bent over backwards to accommodate our family and, with such compassion and adaptability from the staff, ultimately found us a splendid suite to stay in for three nights. The quality of the dining facilities within Hilton hotels is of a very high level; at breakfast you can select from great A La Carte menus or if you wish you can go for their exceptional Continental or Full English breakfast choices, and they even offer Champagne to go with your morning meal! For your lunch and dinner meals at The Hilton, Park Lane, there are a selection of fantastic restaurants which serve up incredible dishes and equally as incredible views; particularly Galvin at Windows, which overlooks the whole of the city of London and is directly above Hyde Park. So, if you’re looking for the highest standard in hotel accommodation as well as great prices (rates for a family of three for two nights in Park Lane is around £300 incl. breakfast!) then The Hilton is definitely the place to go.

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www.rab.uk.com

Established in the UK in 1981 - clothing and equipment 36

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EATING OUT

Britain’s culinary hotspots

QUALITY food emporiums are worth their weight in gold to the hungry sports fan. Whether you want food on the go, a relaxing night out or a novel dining experience to excite the tastebuds, it’s all here. TOP LONDON EATERIES Pitt Cue Company: Hip BBQ venue in Newburgh Street just off Carnaby – go early and queue as there are only 30 seats and it is first come first served. The best ribs anywhere in London. www.pittcue.co.uk/welcome.html Big Apple Hotdogs: Street food at it’s best. Inspired by the New York staple, made with 94-98 per cent meat and gluten-free. Prime pork and beef dogs with freshly made buns from local bakers. Try a Pimp Steak smothered in onions, sauerkraut or relish, or all of them. Open Tues-Fri 12-6 www.bigapplehotdogs.com

La Bodega Negra: New freakishly good Mexican with superb tequila – hidden away off Old Compton street – book well ahead. Seared steak with hot sauce or red snapper and prawn ceviche, the choices are fabulous. Try chilaquiles with slow braised shredded beef and ancho chilli.Yum. www.labodeganegra.com Mele e Pere: Looks like a fashion boutique or slightly weird office entrance foyer from street level but the action happens downstairs – vermouth bar – they make their own. Try the ‘eat at bar’ snacks or book a table in the main area. Quality Italian res-

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taurant using the best fresh ingredients. www.meleepere.co.uk Gelupo: Artisan ice-cream – offshoot from Bocca Di Luppo restaurant making amazing gelato and sorbetto – sublime flavours and constantly changing menu. Boasts the most exuberant taste of Italy this side of the Alps. www.gelupo.com Tramshed: Mark Hix’ (Oyster and Chop House, Mark’s Bar) new offering Tramshed – when you’re in the mood for chicken or steak. Some lukewarm reviews but we found it good value for money and a nice

idea as you can have a sharing meal ordering roast chicken for four and it is carved at the table. www.chickenandsteak.co.uk Roka: Contemporary Japanese cuisine – one to spoil yourself with as it’s quite pricey. Central Robata grill where chefs prepare food in front of you. Located in Charlotte Street near Russell Square, and another in Canary Wharf (if you must). www.rokarestaurant.com The Modern Pantry: Light fresh cooking with a twist – consistently good. Sugar cured prawn omelette with a chilli sambal a favourite on the menu. Or how about an edamame crusted buffalo mozzarella, purple carrot, shimeji and oyster mushroom salad, grilled spring onion and romescu sauce. Well I never. www.themodernpantry.co.uk

and tables so that you can eat what you choose. Relaxed, you have to share space but it’s worth it. Sophisticated choice of wine or beer. www.lafromagerie.co.uk Vinoteca: Wine store with restaurant – cant fault the food in this place – clever, seasonal and always really well executed – book to avoid disappointment. Incredible seafood with a list of more than 300 wines. www.vinoteca.co.uk/marylebone Caribbean Scene: Nutritious, healthy and of course delicious range of dishes from the Caribbean islands. Three fantastic outlets in London; Royale in the Docklands, offering the ultimate ‘Carib-chic cuisine experience’, plus a family eatery and a ‘grab and go’ outlet in Stratford. www.caribbeanscene.co.uk

La Fromagerie: Cheesey heaven – a cheese shop with walk in cheese room

Wholefoods Market: If you are looking for the whole food experience then visit possibly the UK's best delicatessen and luxury food retailer. Wholefoods Market has its flagship store in Kensington. Dozens of regional cheeses, acres of meat cuts available at the 75ft butcher's counter, fresh fish, speciality teas and coffees, handmade chocolates – need we say more? Yes. The Market Restaurant has burgers, burritos and freshly made pizzas; mezze and shawarma nestle up to Japanese hotpot style cooking. Seriously tasty culinary experience. wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/kensington

Clock-wise from top right: Tramshed, La Fromagerie, Mele e Pere.

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TOP BIRMINGHAM EATERIES Las Iguanas: Las Iguanas takes a contemporary approach to the traditional, hearty Mexican cuisine, retaining the powerful flavours and colourful dishes while offering a more refined approach to Mexican dining. The Taco sharing tray, ‘The Enchilada’, Gambas (Prawn soup) and the calamari starter were the best of the many highlights at this Central and South American restaurant, but the Taco tray definitely takes the crown; it is an amazing dish for any group/family and you can choose to have up to eight delicious fillings to go with your corn and wheat tortillas. The atmosphere was very a pleasant and warm, and the service was also very good. If you have a taste for the exotic or just want to try something new, Las Iguanas should definitely be in your crosshairs. www.iguanas.co.uk

Zizzi’s: Zizzi, the Gondola group’s finest offering, shows off a fantastic Italian

cuisine and a great restaurant experience. There was an expansive menu which included Italian staples such as their Pizza and Pasta dishes which had a real sense of rustic authenticity and class; if you want to go for something a bit different there is a tasty selection of meat and fish courses as well their excitingly immense Calzones (folded/stuffed pizza). The service and atmosphere were as delightful as the food so if you’re looking for somewhere impressive to visit then Zizzi’s is the place to go. www.zizzi.co.uk/

Handmade Burger & Co: The Handmade Burger Company has built up a great reputation in the last few years since its conception in the mid noughties and has helped to change the image of burger-eating into one with more healthy and natural connotations. With styles and flavours coming from places such as Mexico, Morocco, The Caribbean and even Japan, they have Burger to suit everyone’s taste buds. As well as their excellently well-priced menu and fantastic service, we were very impressed

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with the strong ethics regarding fresh produce and their ‘reliably sourced 100% Scotch beef’ patties, which were some of the best we’ve ever tasted! All of this mixed together with some delicious accompaniments (mainly the chicken skewers and milkshakes) make The Handmade Burger Company a must for any food-lover. handmadeburger.co.uk/

Ming Moon: Located in Birmingham’s Chinatown district, Ming Moon offers a brilliant selection of food in their incredible Pan Asian buffet; with dishes ranging from countries all over the eastern world (Japan, China, India, Pakistan, Thailand and many more…) you’ll never leave unsatisfied. Once inside the atmosphere tremendously hospitable and welcoming, and suits a family day/night out as well as a more private dinner for two. One of the memorable highlights was the Teppanyaki counter where the tremendously skilled chef cooks your selected ingredients to perfection in front of you before placing them on a beautifully

sines from the Americas, Europe, India, and the Far and Middle East, you’re certain to find a number of dishes to fall in love with. The buffet-restaurant has a great open plan set up and a free and easy atmosphere which makes it perfect for almost any occasion. www.jimmyspices.co.uk/

Blue Mango: Blue Mango, situated on Broad Street in Birmingham serves up high quality, well known Indian dishes with a twist, as the name suggests. The ambience inside is very refined, welcoming and is suited to a family night out (the booths are spacious and comfortable) but also accommodates everyone with its excellent bar and appetiser service. www.bluemangorestaurants.co.uk/

decorated plate. Ming Moon serves up an array of exotic curries, Chinese soups, noodles and even good ol’ chips; you can always go back up for more of what takes your fancy, so everyone should leave happy! www.mingmoon.co.uk/

Haveli: Haveli’s is a hidden gem. Located within a small shopping parade on the Hagley Road, this homely, family-run Indian restaurant serves up some of the most delicious Indian dishes that thoroughly exceed the expectations of this unassuming eatery. The service there is brilliant and the atmosphere is very personal, warm and suits both family outings as well as a private dinner for two. The highlights of Haveli’s menu were: the king prawn curry, the succulent lamb chops, and their fantastic Okra curry, just to name a few. Jimmy Spices: Taking inspiration from all of the food the world has to offer, Jimmy Spices is a culinary voyage all over the map, with its extensive selection of cui-

Jamie’s Italian: The Naked Chef has continued his famous ethic of essentially simple and rustic dishes that are packed with beautiful and delicate flavours in his first high-street venture, Jamie’s Italian; whose Birmingham chain is based in the equally famous Bullring and overlooks a bustling and vibrant city centre. The atmosphere was able to retain a personal, private quality despite our dining at a very busy period and the waiters were tremendously gracious, stopping several times to (thoroughly) explain and suggest various dishes for any of us who were unsure, or literally couldn’t choose! A few of the many highlights in the all-important food department were: for starters; the Wild Boar Salami and the Crispy Squid; for the main course; Free-range Chicken (with grilled garlic & rosemary chicken with a tomato, olive, chilli & caper sauce) and the 8oz Angus sirloin steak, dressed in peppery watercress and grilled mushrooms. Succeeding right on through till the end, Jamie’s Italian offered a delectable selection of desserts ranging from the obvious (but always wonderful) Italian Gellati and Sorbet to the delicately constructed Tiramisus and Amalfi Lemon Curd Slice (a favourite with the ladies of our party). One noted criticism of the restaurant was that they only offered bookings if your group was between eight and sixteen, well, you’ll be glad to know they now take bookings for

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parties of any size, any time!

www.jamieoliver.com/italian/birmingham

Shabab’s: It’s no wonder the Birmingham Mail said Shabab’s is ‘One of only four authentic Balti restaurants left in Birmingham’. Shabab’s is brilliant, and this is down to their amazing food and great, courteous service. The mixed grill starter was particularly fabulous and included tikka chicken, lamb and fish which were cooked to perfection. The wonderful main course dishes were served in traditional Indian copper pots which only added to the restaurant’s charm. All of the waiting staff were very knowledgeable and friendly with all of their customers and made you feel like you were welcome any day of week. www.shababs.co.uk

Ask: The Ask restaurant has a very spacious and welcoming feel to it and with such great food and gracious staff there’s no shortage of customer satisfaction. Pretty much all of the dishes we tried were fantastic but the Pastas in particular were really very good. We would strongly recommend giving Ask a visit, there’s great service, a great atmosphere and on top of that it’s very well priced. www.askitalian.co.uk/ Amazon Brazil: Amazon Brazil on Broad street showcases such an exciting Brazilian cuisine that when you leave you will wonder why you’d never heard of it before. The restaurant has a fantastic buffet system of service where you can flip your ‘indicator’ to green to have a constant flow of perfectly grilled meats (choices of chicken, beef, pork and lamb) brought to your table and you can turn it to red when your full to the brim. The restaurant also boasts great service and very efficient and friendly staff, so why not give it a try. www.amazonbrazilrestaurants.com/

Pizza Express: One of the most popular places to go for a Pizza is Pizza Express, and don’t they do it well. They have a marvellous range of dishes to choose from; great pastas, fresh salads and of course their incredible selection of pizzas (plus they now serve a variety of ‘Leggera Piz-

zas’ which have only 500 calories each!). With fast service, good communication from the waiting staff and affordable prices, Pizza Express never ceases to impress. www.pizzaexpress.com/

The Hotel Latour’s. Aalto Restaurant: Hotel Latour’s Aalto Restaurant is simply one of the best, on every level. Their food is of the highest quality and the service they provide matches up to, and supports it perfectly. A flight of incredible, modernclassic English dishes are at your fingertips, with choices such as the Lake District Beef rib-eye steak, Confit belly of Lamb, and the Abbot’s Ale battered cod (which is marvellous), not to mention a fantastic array of exquisite starters and desserts. On to the service! A youngster in the group had a bad cold on the day and to our amazement the manager - with excellent tact and care - personally prepared for him a special remedy to try and getting him feeling better, but not only this, he provided an Ipad for him to play with during our stay. Do we need to say any more? www.hotel-latour.co.uk/restaurant/

Nandos: By now almost everyone knows (or can at least appreciate) the greatness and unique take on food that Nandos has provided. With their world famous, flamegrilled Peri-Peri Chicken – which can be devoured in many shapes and sizes -in burgers, pittas, wraps, salads or of course classically served on a simple plate along with great sides- and their fantastically lively service, Nandos can most certainly say it rules the roost. www.nandos.co.uk/

Carluccio’s: Italy has always produced fantastic restaurants, fantastic chefs and of course fantastic food; and why should Carluccio’s be any different?! A relaxed informality can be found at Carluccio’s where warm customer service, affordable prices and mouth watering dishes are brought together making it one to return to again, and again. Something special that

we noticed about the restaurant was that it has a very extensive menu which includes the likes of; a beautiful breakfast menu, a ‘small Italian plates’ menu, a Gluten Free range and you can even order their Picnic hampers online! This place is a must visit. www.carluccios.com/

The Swan Pub, Birmingham: The White Swan Pub on Harborne Road has a warm and hearty atmosphere which suits almost any occasion and their selection of food is wonderful. They have a vast range of dishes to choose from, and we’ve found that it’s not only classic British cuisine that they serve, but there’s also a great selection of Italian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean in the mix too! Along with a great bar service and a fantastically extensive drinks list, this ‘Pub & Eating House’ is definitely one to watch out for. Piccolino: Any restaurant that is under the umbrella of the Individual Restaurant Company is bound to have a very high level in every regard... and Piccolino’s doesn’t disappoint. The service here (and at its sister restaurant Bank) is simply ‘Of the very highest standard’. The food is sublime and their fish (which is delivered fresh, every day from ports in the British Isles) is just amazing. Their passion for high standards, is reflected in the service. Boasting an extensive fine wine and cocktail selection, Piccolino’s really are second to none! www.piccolinorestaurants.co.uk/

Bank: The fantastic, gracious waiting staff at the Bank restaurant, create a very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, which is sometimes hard to find in such a quality fine-dining establishment. They are renowned for their superb cuisine which has a fantastic fixed menu or if you like you can choose from a delightful a la carte menu whose dishes range from sublime pasta and risottos dishes to some very tasty Italian starters. And to top it all off they have some of the most amazing cocktails around. www.bankrestaurants.com/

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Chennai Dosa on Hagley Road: Chennai Dosa on the Hagley Road has most certainly lived up to its great standard of delivering high quality South Indian food, quality service and the best value for money. The company has successfully introduced (not only to Britain but also to the whole of Europe) the marvellous South Indian Dosa, a pancake like dish, which is served with either vegetarian or non-vegetarian options including, Masala Dosa, Podi Dosa, Hot Chutney, Chicken Dosa and Mutton Dosa. The cuisine is exciting and full of flavour and the staff are consistently courteous and warm; and this is why we strongly recommend Chennai Dosa. www.chennaidosa.com/

Strada: Strada is another marvellous Italian restaurant that really champions the fantastic Mediterranean diet, where the food is consistently brilliant and a welcoming atmosphere is always guaranteed. They have some wonderful stone-baked pizzas (particularly the Bufala and Fiorentina) and the intriguingly delicious Black cuttlefish ink Pasta was surprisingly superb. With its sheltered outside area also providing a choice of al fresco dining, Strada covers all the bases. www.strada.co.uk

Cielo: Repeatedly deemed ‘the finest Italian restaurant in Birmingham’, Cielo definitely lives up to its reputation. The service is excellent; fast and courteous, and the food, (the portions of which are brilliant) is absolutely exceptional- we would strongly recommend the Barnsley Lamb chop, the smoked salmon starter and the Seared black Pearl scallops, just to name a few! Whether you’re eating from the A La Carte or the fixed menu, the whole experience is fantastic and as always, the pricing is unbelievable (£15.95 for 3 courses!). www.cielobirmingham.com/

Pinocchio restaurant, in Harborne: Pinocchio’s Italian restaurant in Harborne serves up ‘the very best of Italian cuisine in a relaxed and friendly setting.’ The mem-

bers of staff are all friendly, warm and attentive, the service is prompt, and the food is marvellous (if you’ve never had Veal, this is definitely the place to try it!). With a tremendously well-priced menu and such a welcoming and cosy ambience, there’s not much room to go wrong at Pinocchio’s Italian! www.pinocchiositalianrestaurant.co.uk/

Caribbean Scene: Caribbean scene really reflects the wonderful diversity of the Caribbean cuisine, offering a nutritious, healthy and of course delicious range of dishes from across the islands. They have three fantastic outlets in London; Caribbean Scene Royale in the Docklands area which offers the ultimate ‘Carib-chic cuisine experience’; Caribbean Scene Family in Stratford where are fantastically designed menu is orientated more towards family dining; and lastly Caribbean Scene Quick, located in Westfield Shopping centre, Stratford, offers a brilliant ‘grab & go’ service for when you need a quick-fix! www.caribbeanscene.co.uk

Akbars restaurant (Chain): Brilliantly priced, high quality South Asian food is exactly what you get (every time) from Akbar’s restaurant and this is why it unquestionably lives up to the name: ‘King of Curry!’ With an excellent selection of dishes to choose from – including, original chicken, keema, lamb and prawn baltis; seafood, vegetable and meat starters as well as complete vegetarian options – as well as friendly service, it’s no wonder Akbar’s has gained such a great reputation. akbars.co.uk/birmingham

Hennessey’s Bar: Hennessey’s Bar on the Digbeth High Street provides a fantastic atmosphere and boasts an equally impressive selection of food. They have an extensive drinks and food menu with great dishes ranging from, homemade burgers, delicious soups, grilled meats, tortilla wraps, Buffalo wings, salads, lamb koftas and much more (sound appetising?) On top of this they have a wonderful

bar service and can even help you create your own, personal bespoke menu! Hennessey’s is brilliantly priced and filled with enthusiastic staff dedicated to offering the very best in casual dining. www.hennesseysbar.com/

Shimla Pink Broad St: The award winning Shimla Pinks, one of the most renowned Indian restaurants in Birmingham marries traditional and modern Indian food in spectacular fashion. With its intimate atmosphere and perfect service dedicated to providing you the best in Indian cuisine, Shimla Pinks is hands down one of the tastiest dining experiences in Birmingham. www.shimlapinks.com/

SoBar: SoBar in Birmingham’s Arcadian Centre is a vibrant spot bursting with character and a sophisticated atmosphere. With an exciting menu including a variety of delicious gourmet burgers and pizzas, an expansive list of cocktails and an eclectic collection of music mixed by top DJ’s, it’s a perfect location to chill out during the day, have an amazing night... or both. www.sobar.co.uk/

Bella Venezia: Bella Venezia shows off an incredible and authentic Italian cuisine, with great dishes such as their Avocado and Prawns (which is highly recommended), Vitello Pizzaiola (a sublime Veal dish) and their immensely tasty selection of pizzas. With a refined yet rustic atmosphere and very attentive staff Bella Venezia is definitely one to visit! Piazza Restaurant WC2: The Piazza, a brilliantly unassuming Italian restaurant just off Leicester square tube station in London, specialises in a fantastic range of Italian dishes such as; Char Grilled meats, fresh homemade Pizzas, succulent fish dishes and amazing fresh pasta. One of the many highlights was their incredible mussel dish whose sublime sauce simply made it one of the best dishes we have ever tasted. Isabella, the waitress we had for that night, was exceptional, as were the rest of the

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waiting and management staff who provided friendly and courteous service as well as a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Imlees, Moseley in Birmingham: Imlees Indian restaurant has definitely made its mark on Moseley’s dining landscape since recently replacing The Jewel in the Crown. They serve a hearty Indian Cuisine which ranges from tasty traditional curries and baltis to fabulously grilled fish (which was cooked to perfection!); they also have a group of waiting and management staff that provide very good customer service. Along with their dazzling interior design Imlees is quickly becoming the new, must-see Indian restaurant in the area. http://imleesrestaurant.co.uk

Cafe Soya, Arcadian: Cafe Soya is an exciting restaurant at the heart of Birmingham’s Chinatown and offers an intriguingly tasty Chinese-Vietnamese cuisine. They serve a great selection of dishes including, fantastic noodle soups, Vietnamese spicy rice dishes, stir fry noodle chicken, beef and pork dishes and many more.. not to mention their complete vegetarian menu! Their impressive philosophy of ‘happiness starts with healthy eating’ really translates in their gracious service, welcoming family atmosphere, and of course, delicious food. www.cafesoya.co.uk/

LaScala: La Scala, located in Sutton Coldfield, with its intimate atmosphere and fine décor certainly impresses visually; and taste-wise it doesn’t fail to deliver. La Scala prides itself on using the freshest and finest ingredients which are accompanied by a selection of fine Italian wines. With expertly crafted dishes from their classic Italian menu and their dedication to providing a brilliant dining experience, La Scala is definitely one to visit. lascalasutton.co.uk/

From Left to Right: Jamies Italian, Strada, Nados.

VISUAL ARTS

Celebrating the cultural Olympiad

A SPECTACULAR programme of arts is always available in London’s incredible galleries. Outside of the capital there are an intriguing number of projects vying for your attention. Investigate and be rewarded. Royal Academy: The summer exhibition features contemporary work from more than 11,000 entries. Feeling like something more stately – the academy is celebrating the Queen’s diamond jubilee and connections with monarchs dating back to its foundation in 1768. Both until 12 August. www.royalacademy.org.uk 0207 300 8000

Tate Britain and Tate Modern: Two galleries, two distinct characters. Modern has an iconoclastic factory feel, while Britain is classical and sedate. Britain holds masterpieces by Hogarth, Bacon, Whistler, Millais and Turner. Modern has Picasso, Rothko, Dali, Matisse and Cezanne. Damien Hirst has more than 70 works on display at Modern, including his shark in formaldehyde, spot paintings, butterflies and pharmacy. Until 9 September. www.tate.org.uk 0207 887 8888

National Portrait Gallery: Sculpture, drawing, photography and painting of famous historical figures. ‘The Queen’ features 60 portrait images of the monarch from, among others, Lord Lichfield, Andy Warhol, Lucian Freud and Pietro Annigoni. Until 21 October. Also the BP Portrait Award for contemporary artists. Until 23 September. www.npg.org.uk 0207 306 0055

National Gallery: Displaying more than 2,000 western European paintings from the middle ages to the

20th century, including Leonardo da Vinci, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Turner and Rembrandt. Features ‘Metamorphosis: Titian 2012’ a collaboration with the Royal Ballet and contemporary artists. Until 23 September. www.nationalgallery.co.uk 0207 747 2885

V&A: Probably London’s best permanent exhibition of sculpture, design pieces, ancient, classical and modern art. In Olympic year the V&A (Victoria and Albert) is hosting the best of British art and design since London last held the games in 1948. Until 31 August. www.vam.ac.uk 0207 942 2000

Somerset House: Houses the world famous Courtauld Collection, ranging from Gothic and medieval art through Baroque and impressionist painters to the present day. ‘The Rolling Stones: 50’ is a look at the career of rock’s enduring performers through unseen and rare material, including live footage and reportage photography. Until 27 August. www.somersethouse.org.uk 0207 845 4600

Hayward Gallery: The only gallery in the world designed in the Brutalist style of architecture. Not easy on the eye, but a reputation to envy. ‘Invisible: Art about the unseen’ is half a century of ideas related to the invisible and hidden, from the amusing to the philosophical. Until 5 August. www.hayward.org.uk 0207 960 42

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Design Museum: Designed to Win: explores the way sports design has shaped the worlds of fashion, business and human endeavour. Performance, fashion, technology, art and culture are examined through the work of visual artists, photographers and designers. Until 18 November. www.designmuseum.org 0207 940 8790

Serpentine Gallery: Small yet wellvisited gallery sited in the finery of Kensington Gardens. Presents Yoko Ono’s first London exhibition in 10 years as part of the London 2012 Festival, exploring her work in film, art, music and performance. Until 9 September. www.serpentinegallery.org 0207 402 6075

ACROSS THE UK London 2012 festival Art and performance to celebrate the cultural Olympiad

Birmingham and Nottingham (Midlands): Mandala, a 3D architectural project fused with south Asian dance and music, 7 and 9 September. Scarborough (Yorkshire): Sea Swim, meet at the Beach Huts for sea swims and creativity, until 2 September. Bradford (Yorkshire): In the Blink of an Eye, capturing movement through photography, film, television and new media, until 9 September. Hadrian’s Wall (Northumberland): YesYesNo from New York present ‘Connecting Light’ to send messages along Britain’s ancient Roman frontier, 31 August – 1 September. Edinburgh (Scotland): NVA presents Speed of Light, join hundreds of walkers in glowing suits to light up Arthur’s Seat at night, 9 August – 1 September. Clockwise from top left: Royal Academy, National Portrait gallery, V&A, Tate Modern, Somerset House, Hayward galery.

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PURE DRAMA

London in theatreland

WHETHER you are an aficionado of the Bard or an aspiring chorus singer, London has so many renowned theatres and productions that you’ll find it hard to decide on just one. theatre venue, red velvet and burnished gold with life size statuary representing comedy, tragedy, poetry and music on the boxes. Designed by Bertie Crewe, a Victorian architect responsible for some of Britain’s finest theatres. Showing the musical ‘Rock of Ages’ until 20 October. www.shaftesburytheatre.com 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP 0207 379 5399 Tube: Tottenham Court Road, Holborn

Noel Coward Theatre: Formerly known as the Albery, it was renamed after one of Britain’s greatest playwrights and actors on its reopening in 2006. Designed in the Louis XVI style in white and gold. Showing ‘Julius Ceasar’ and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ – with Meera Syal – as part of the World Shakespeare Festival (August – October). www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/Theatres/ noel_coward_theatre.asp St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4AU Tube: Leicester Square 0844 482 5141

Victoria Palace Theatre: West End theatre that has its roots in 19th century music hall. Demolished and rebuilt in 1911. Gorgeous interior, with the added attraction of The Old Masters Restaurant and Grill Room. Showing the award-winning musical ‘Billy Elliot’ until 15 December.

victoriapalacetheatre.co.uk Allington Street, Westminster SW1E 5EA 0207 834 1317 Tube: Victoria

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre: An experience straight from Shakespeare’s era. The Globe is a faithful reconstruction of the Bard of Avon’s own theatre from 1599. One of Bankside’s most iconic buildings. Audiences stand throughout the plays but aficionados say this involves the audience more and heightens the drama. www.shakespearesglobe.com 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT 0207 401 9919 Tube: London Bridge

Shaftesbury Theatre: Everything you would expect from a historic

Theatre Royal Drury Lane: Beautiful Grade I listed building near Covent Garden and one of London’s sumptuous theatre nights out. Celebrate a special occasion with the in-house hospitality of the VIP Experience in the elegant Grand Saloon. Showing ‘Shrek: The Musical’ until 21 October. www.drurylanetheatrelondon.com Catherine Street, London WC2B 5JF 0871 733 1000 Tube: Covent Garden, Holborn

period as a Mecca ballroom and a pop venue. Showing ‘The Lion King’ musical.

www.lyceumtheatrelondon.com 21 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7RQ 0208 584 0059 Tube: Temple, Charing Cross

Fortune Theatre: Since 1989 the Fortune has hosted the long-running play ‘The Woman in Black’, which was turned box-office gold by young English actor Daniel Radcliffe from the ‘Harry Potter’ films. Billed as the most terrifying live theatre experience in the world. www.fortunetheatrelondon.net Russell Street, London WC2B 5HH 0208 584 0059 Tube: Covent Garden, Holborn

New London Theatre: A modern building that was the site for the debut of the world famous Lloyd Webber musical ‘Cats’ in 1981. Classy 1,000 seater auditorium. Showing the excellent ‘War Horse’, much praised for its lifesize puppets, theatrical effects and uplifting plot. www.reallyuseful.com/theatres/newlondon-theatre 166 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PW 0844 412 2708 Tube: Holborn, Covent Garden

Her Majesty’s Theatre: The Phantom of the Opera is simply one of the most spectacular and moving theatrical experiences you’ll ever see. This classic love story tells the tale of Christine Daaa beautiful soprano singer who becomes the love interest of Erik the Phantom, a mysterious disfigured musical-genius who torments the Paris Opera House. The captivating musical score by Andrew Lloyd Webber never loses any of its magic and power and with such a superb cast, Phantom will continue to be the most successful theatrical show in history. www.her-majestys-theatre.co.uk/ 57 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4QL 0844 412 4653

Lyceum Theatre: Stately frontage in white marble on this 2,000-seater in the West End. A Lyceum Theatre has been in this location since 1765. Restored in 1996 after a long

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From top to bottom: Phantom of the Opera, Theatre Royal Drury Lane

CLUB GUIDE

London non-stop

CREATE your own 24 hour party places with our pick of the capital’s bars and clubs. Fabric: Swept in at the end of the ‘superclub’ era to establish dominance. Excellent series of DJ mix CDs enhance its reputation as the premier venue for anyone into electronic beats and bleeps. Friday 3 August is a bass heavy Hessle Audio launch party for Oneman; 4 August for veterans Dave Clarke, Terry Francis and Craig Richards; huge drum and bass jamboree on 10 August with High Contrast, Calyx & Teebee, Total Science and Zero T. www.fabriclondon.com 77a Charterhouse Street, London EC1M 3HN Tube: Barbican

Plastic People: Bit o’ thump from this raw Shoreditch venue. Progenitor of the UK dubstep scene, it hosts the excellent Forward night every Thursday. Fridays is a lucky dip of Lost’s hypnotic tech grooves or Huntleys & Palmers jackin’ disco. Big name Saturdays at Balance include recent spinners Theo Parrish and Kieran Hebden (of Fourtet fame). www.plasticpeople.co.uk 147-149 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3QE Tube: Liverpool Street, Old Street Image above: Fabric

The Big Chill: Erudite festival organisers and bona fide bar owners, The Big Chill Bar (Shoreditch) and Big Chill House (Kings Cross) offer an eclectic mix of musical genres, everything from New York disco to jazz noodle, hip hop, Chicago and Detroit grooves, and the odd indie track thrown in. Dig into the cocktails and cut a rug. www.bigchill.net/bar Shoreditch: Dray Walk, London E1 6QL Kings Cross: 257-259 Pentonville Road, London N1 9NL Tube: Shoreditch, Kings Cross St Pancras

Egg: Kings Cross’ big bad Egg. No sooner have Shake It! put on Layo and Bushwacka’s tech grooves on 3 August, than a Smirnoff weekender kicks off 10 August with the inimitable glamour puss Felix Da Housecat and his Rude Photo Party. Can it get better? Gregor Tresher reigns on Saturday 11 and then two weeks later Francois K crushes it. www.egglondon.net 200 York Way, London N7 9AX Tube: Kings Cross St Pancras

East Village: Intimate bar and club space with great selection of soundsystems. Massive Olympic reggae special 3 August with the irreplaceable Ashley Beedle; 5 August has AtJazz at Playback Re:Loaded going

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afrobeat, funk and much more; UK funky gets its showing on 8 August with Terror Danjah and Ill Blu; but On the Real top the lot by bringing the hip hop and everything else massiveness of Nextmen on 10 August. Boss. www.eastvillageclub.co.uk 89 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3HX Tube: Old Street

Proud2: Head out Greenwich way to this O2 arena venue. Hip happenings include an Eastern Electrics Festival after party on 4 August, with Mosca and friends, followed by a Houseproud terrace party on 18 August celebrating the Balearic vibe. Or wait for the bass antics on 26 August with jungle meisters such as Ragga Twins and Bryan Gee. www.proud2.com Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX Tube: North Greenwich

Cargo: Offers a more refined clubbing experience with fine food and live music, as well as its fair share of dancefloor-friendly fare. Monday through Saturday there is music to suit your mood – everything from Ibizan promoters Wildlife to the naughty Jimbo Jangles. www.cargo-london.com 83 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3AY Tube: Old Street

FILM AND MUSIC

Sporting celluloid and vinyl glory

IF you want to get in the mood for the Olympic athletic supremacy coming our way, then this run down of the best sporting films will put you in the mood with some great underdog victories. Our sporting soundtracks add some icing to the inspiration cupcake. The Longest Yard (1974) Director: Robert Aldrich Starring: Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter Former pro quarterback Paul “Wrecking” Crewe (Reynolds) is sent to prison and sets up a prisoners football team, including serial killers and violent criminals, recruiting them by telling them they can inflict as much physical violence on the guards as they like. After a murder and some dodgy tactics, the prisoners win and stick it to the man.

Weathers In the mother of all training montages, small time boxer Rocky (Stallone) gets the chance to fight undefeated heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Weathers) and is coached 1920s style by Micky Goldmill (Meredith). Mostly by running up lots of steps and punching some meat (surprisingly, not a euphemism). Best line Adrian Pennino: “Beethoven was deaf. Helen Keller was blind. I think Rocky’s got a good chance.”

Best line Nate Scarboro: “You spend fourteen years in this tank, you begin to understand that you’ve only got two things left they can’t sweat out of you or beat out of you. Your balls. And you better hang onto them, because they’re about the only thing you’re gonna have when you get out of here.”

Rocky (1976) Director: John G. Avildsen Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Burgess Meredith, Talia Shire, Carl

The Karate Kid (1984) Director: John G. Avildsen Starring: Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki ‘Pat’ Morita, Elisabeth Shue

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When Daniel (Macchio) moves to a new town and gets picked on by the kids from the local dojo, Mr Miyagi (Morita) reluctantly agrees to train him for a fight against his archenemy, coaching him and getting his house renovated into the bargain. Best line Keisuke Miyagi: “First learn stand, then learn fly. Nature rule, Daniel-san, not mine.”

A League of Their Own (1992) Director: Penny Marshall Starring: Madonna, Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Rosie O’Donnell The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) is put together when World War II inconveniently takes most of the Major League Baseball players out of the game. The women impress with their sporting prowess and perfectly curled hair. Feminism, war and baseball, what’s not to like? Best line Ernie Capadino: “You know, if I had your job, I’d kill myself! Wait here, I’ll see if I can dig up a pistol.”

The Mighty Ducks (1992) Director: Stephen Herek Starring: Emilio Eztevez, Joss Ackland, Lane Smith The story of an arrogant lawyer, Gordon Bombay (Estevez), who learns humility and rediscovers his love of ice hockey through coaching a pee-wee team of outcasts. The kids in turn gain confidence and manage to beat the posh kids to get a chance to play in the minor leagues. Best line Gordon Bombay: “I hate kids. They’re barely human.”

Kingpin (1996) Directors: Peter and Robert Farrelly Starring: Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Vanessa Angel, Bill Murray Amish bowler (Quaid) is convinced by former champion bowler, now hook-handed drop out, Munson (Harrelson), to compete in a bowling tournament. On a road trip that takes in strippers, gangsters and a run-in with Munson’s bowling nemesis McCracken (Murray), the pair find love and redemption in some fairly disgusting ways. Best line Ernie McCracken: “It all comes down to this roll. Roy Munson, a man-child, with a dream to topple bowling giant Ernie McCracken. If he strikes, he’s the 1979 Odor-Eaters Champion. He’s got one foot in the frying pan and one in the pressure cooker. Believe me, as a bowler, I know that right about now, your bladder feels like an overstuffed vacuum cleaner bag and your butt is kinda like an about-to-explode bratwurst.”

Starring: Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman Former boxer Dunn (Eastwood) trains Maggie (Swank) as a welterweight boxer, taking her from obscurity to a million dollar bouts. Just as she reaches the top of her game, Maggie breaks her neck and is left paralysed. An emotional rollercoaster.

Best line Eddie Dupris: “The body knows what fighters don’t: how to protect itself. A neck can only twist so far. Twist it just a hair more and the body says, ‘Hey, I’ll take it from here because you obviously don’t know what you’re doing... lie down now, rest, and we’ll talk about this when you regain your senses.’”

THIS SPORTING LIFE Soundtracking glory

MUSIC is written about the big themes in life. Race. Love. Religion. Politics. But when it partners up with sport the results can be, by turns, hilarious, motivational, cringeworthy or spine-tingling. If you need a tune to get your game face on, check out this sporting playlist. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor If you’re the hungry underdog this is groan-inducing but still a classic. For those moments when your training is missing that little bit of epic, just whack this on. Prepare for funny looks when you’re throwing punches on your jog through town though. To Be The Best – Tenacious D One minute of sheer motivation. Whether it’s the last set in the gym, the final straight of yet another practice lap, or between rounds in a field event final, this will give you that little bit extra. Perfect listening after a dodgy throw to get you going for the next one. Survival – Muse This official Olympic Games anthem has had its fair share of criticism, but walking into that 80,000 seat stadium with cameras and people screaming all around you, the crazy backing vocals, hummingbird guitar and stomping bass will seem all the more appropriate. Gold – Spandau Ballet Preferably sung standing on a table, drink in one hand and the medal you fought so hard for in the other. Fair warning though – this will be incredibly awkward for your guests if you only got the bronze. Scar Tissue – Red Hot Chili Peppers Scarring isn’t relaxing you say?! Good point, but being an athlete is hard work. Their bodies suffer for their craft, and they’ve probably got training again tomorrow – they don’t want to be too relaxed.

Million Dollar Baby (2004) Director: Clint Eastwood

Top to bottom: Tenacious D, Muse, Spandau Ballet, Red hot Chili Peppers

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