THINGS TO DO – Page 3

May 18, 2017 by: Sunny London

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Exposes Great Britain!

How is a film review of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword on a travel and food blog? It’s not because it was a ‘slow news week’ due to a slightly dreary and rainy May. I’m writing this film review because this film makes you want to travel to Britain. No joke.

Aside from being a masterpiece from director Guy Ritchie, this film has epic scenery highlighting the gorgeous land in England, Scotland and Wales. I’ve learned that’s something that Americans visiting Britain don’t really know. It’s insanely picturesque here outside of London! Don’t believe me? Well then, you’ll have to see the film for yourself 😉

I have always been a fan of Guy Ritchie. I think the best acting of Brad Pitt’s career was when he worked with Ritchie on the now cult classic film Snatch. Ritchie’s editing and ability to rock a film soundtrack have exploded since that 2000 production.

While I did work in the film and television industry, I am not going to dissect the cinematic attributes of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. It would be uncharacteristic of what you expect from Sunny in London. Rather, let’s chat about the ‘sets’ and British views the film shows you.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Sights to See

I was delighted when Visit Britain sent me an invitation to a private press screening of the film. To prepare for the event, I went to see the stars arriving on the red carpet the night of the London premiere on 10th May. If you’re curious of what stars do at these, watch the video of me sharing all the tips of how to get selfies with celebrities on the red carpet.

That night I was particularly impressed with how much time Guy Ritchie and the film’s star Charlie Hunnam spent with fans. Aidan Gillen did as well, but there’s only so much commentary a YouTube audience can handle, so I don’t highlight it in the video. David Beckham spent about as much time with people in my press area as he has screen time in the film.

Just before the exclusive press preview started on 16th May, the two lead location scouts for King Arthur: Legend of the Sword did a Q&A with our small group. They discussed how they wanted to present all locations within Britain to the director. This is because of their interest in aligning with the integrity of Arthurian legend. Smart move!

They revealed some of their favourite locations used, which obviously were from each of the countries featured (England, Scotland and Wales).

king-arthur-legend-of-the-sword-review-Visit-Britain

As they talked, we all were envious of what their job involves on a daily basis, even against a blogger’s alleged ‘glamorous’ life! After seeing the movie, I was even more jealous.

I loved the film. If you like Guy Ritchie’s style, looking at eye candy like Charlie Hunnam, Game of Thrones and films based on literary characters, don’t miss this movie. It hasn’t been received surprisingly well by critics, but don’t let that deter you. I look forward to seeing it again in a theatre with Mr. Sunny, who was gutted about not going to the preview with me. This isn’t one that you wait to see at home on a TV. The effects and sound (plus Charlie’s six pack) are best viewed in a cinema.

If someone wanted a ‘criticism’ of the film, I would say that it might not get full marks for accuracy. Some dialogue and costumes probably weren’t characteristic of the time period. Rather than finding it distracting and disappointing, I felt it gave the film a modern vibe and occasional humor. There are scenes that will make you giggle a bit, especially Beckham’s. I don’t think our audience found comedy in David Beckham’s acting portrayal. If I could guess, I think the light laughs were due to the prosthetics applied to his face for his character. Let’s just say it isn’t his best look. 😉

If you’re planning on visiting London and want to take your trip to an epic level, the Visit Britain website has an interactive map showing areas used for the film. My favourite scenery was from Snowdenia. Don’t be surprised if you see some of these places popping up on the Sunny News YouTube channel. After all, seeing is believing. You can get a little view of what I mean in the video below. It’s what they showed us just before the film. And there’s more to read about the legendary travel opportunity here.

If you have a chance to see the film, please leave your comments below. The people I know who have seen it, loved it.

May 13, 2017 by: Sunny London

London Film Premiere Tips- How to See Stars on the Red Carpet!

What happens on the Red Carpet at a London film premiere? When Visit Britain invited me to see a small press preview of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword on 16th May, I started thinking. I lived in Covent Garden, which borders Leicester Square, and have seen the set up for premieres happening so many times. Yet, I had never tried to go to one.

Out of curiousity for what happens ‘behind the scenes’ at London film premieres, I headed to Leicester Square on 10th May to see what I could discover at the official red carpet premiere. I had wanted to be earlier, but due to a prior meeting I couldn’t get there until around 4:30.

London Film Premiere: Timeline

4:45 Red Carpet set up, press arriving
6:15 Crowd entertainer circulates to get people excited, distributes some film gift bags
6:30pm Celebrities begin arriving, signing autographs, doing interviews
7:00pm Doors open in the cinema, crowd begins to leave because premiere takes place inside

In the video below, I explain how security let me in to the press area. It seemed like quite a few people were really just fans and not officially with any organisation. I think if you follow my suggestions, you could likely have the same experience as me. You can see all the great video I was able to get of Guy Ritchie, Charlie Hunnam and David Beckham.

Watch the video and let me know what you think. Leave comments here or on the Sunny News YouTube channel if you have ever attended a London film premiere or if you have questions and ideas. While every premiere can be different, knowing the suggestions I have for what to do ahead of time could better your chances of getting a selfie with a celebrity. Those tips are after the video link, so don’t miss them!

London Film Premiere: Tips for How to Plan Ahead

Visit websites to find out when the premieres are happening. Full details are usually released a week before.
Have big pictures of the stars to attract their attention and for them to sign.
Bring sharpies and pens for them to do this. A clipboard isn’t a bad idea either.
Wear comfortable shoes because you will stand for several hours- longer for an anticipated blockbuster.
Bring an umbrella or jacket. You’ll see my camera footage is bouncy because I was nervous and even though it was 65 and sunny, once the sunrays were blocked by buildings, it was freezing outside and my hands were shaking.
Think about your shirt choice because if you get a picture with Beckham you may be looking at it for a LONG TIME!
Make sure your phone and camera battery are charged. Bring at least one back up battery for each.
Arrive early. Here is the timeline for the King Arthur: Legend of the Sword premiere.
Research the stars and think of what you’ll say to them if they’re near you to get their attention.
If you sneak in like I did, you won’t get a wrist band. That means once you’re in, you must stay or forget it.
Your bag will be searched because, well, you could have contact with celebrities. You’ll see a celebrity hug a fan in my footage.

London Film Premiere: Extra Tip

One thing I don’t mention in the video is that you do have to be a bit aggressive. People waiting near me were generally nice. However, at one point they invited a small group of people in my area to go even closer. I wasn’t fast enough and didn’t cut in front of people. They literally stopped the ‘volunteers’ when they got to me. Security said they could only take 15 people, and I was 16. Bummer!

I look forward to attending the press event in a few days to see the film and will include a review of it on my blog. The official opening in London is on Thursday 18th May. You can learn about the locations used in the film on the Visit Britain website.

The Sunny News YouTube channel shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes safety tips, pub advice, and a shopping guide. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

May 10, 2017 by: Sunny London

Tips for Visiting Kew Gardens in London

Visiting Kew Gardens is a nice, relaxing escape full of fresh air if you are looking for fun things to do in London. It is just a short train ride away from Central London. As I am sure you can guess, it is certainly an activity you want to do on a sunny day. Even though it has 40 historically important buildings, most of your day on the 326 acres which make up the Royal Botanical Gardens is obviously spent outside. This means my biggest tip is to skip visiting Kew Gardens on a rainy day.

Tips for Visiting Kew Gardens:

This London attraction isn’t just for botantists. However, someone with a curiosity and interest in plants certainly would gain more from spending time at the Royal Botanical Gardens. If you’re like me, you might just be happy taking pictures of fresh flowers and seeing something new.

The Royal Botanical Gardens are a short walk from the Kew Gardens underground station in a beautiful area on the rim of Central London. As our train arrived at the station, Mr. Sunny noticed a pub right on the platform!

We stopped at the Coach and Horses Pub for a quick lunch just before entering. However, there are several places inside Kew Gardens at which you could eat as well. Of course, we did pop in to the pub above for a few before we left too.

If you plan on visiting Kew Gardens on a week day during the school year, you are likely to bump in to a few school field trips. But, the attraction is so huge that it shouldn’t be hindering.

And, you will likely have the chance to meet a few other curious creatures too. This guy was quite the show off! When you watch my video of highlights from the visit, you will see exactly what I mean. The phrase proud as a peacock has a much deeper meaning for me now. He actually is a bit sneaky in a photo below too. See if you can spot him.

Kew Gardens is mostly flat, but some of the areas are not accessible for wheelchairs or strollers. For example, you aren’t able to take either of those up to see the views of the Treetop Walkway. And, you would probably have some trouble maneuvering them through many of the greenhouses too.

While I’ve read articles about the events hosted at Kew Gardens during the Winter, I think the best time to visit would be mid-Spring through Summer. But, if you have been there during Autumn, I would love to have your thoughts on the experience in the comments below. You might also want to keep in mind that they host events throughout the year.

Visiting Kew Gardens was mentioned in my Things to Do in Spring video. For a more detailed look in to the sights you could see and a few more bits of advice (including something that could actually ruin your trip if you don’t know about it) take a look at this…

As I mention in the video, make sure you have a good look at the map before you go. This is the copy from the Visitor’s Guide to Planning on their website.

May 7, 2017 by: Sunny London

Can’t Miss Tips for Your First Trip to London

Are you ready for your first trip to London? Whether you have been planning your whole life or just found out through work that you have a business trip across the pond, your travels will be easier if you read this.

As an American, I first moved to London on a study abroad program. I later returned to marry a British camera man I met while interning at NBC News- London Bureau. There were also many trips in between.

On the Sunny News YouTube channel, I have tons of videos sharing what I have learned about London through the decades. My husband ‘Mr Sunny’ and his family contribute content too.

London Tips: In Addition to the Video

Don’t share your fake British accent with people here. You’ll see in many video comments that people make fun of mine. My YouTube schtick does involve a bit of comedy, so the over the top Madonna accent is sometimes intentional. Londoners will say you sound like Dick Van Dyck. That’s a reference to the original Mary Poppins film. It isn’t a compliment.

Recognize that you are in a different culture. Wait until you get back to your hotel room to openly criticize how things are different here, if you don’t like something.

Don’t count on wifi. While free wifi is getting better in London, it’s not great. Up your text messaging plan or get an international package before you arrive.

Learn how to ask for the bathroom. Here people say ‘Loo’ or ‘toilet.’ The later one is a bit crass sounding to Americans. But- just go back to the second bullet point. As a side note, if you need one urgently, hit a pub. Just be sure to buy a drink before you leave. As Mr Sunny and all of London say, ‘It would be rude not to.’ 😉

London Tips: 10+ More Bits

For more important tips, including advice for what happens when you arrive at the airport, watch the Visiting London for the First Time video. Be sure to ask questions of the Sunny in London News community. There are tons of Londoners and other London lovers who watch and contribute information.

Subscribe so you don’t miss any future updates and tips for visiting London too.

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes safety tips, pub advice, an afternoon tea etiquette guide and a shopping guide. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

April 21, 2017 by: Sunny London

10 Things to Do In Hyde Park, London

When it’s sunny in London, you can fill an entire day with things to do in Hyde Park. In fact, you will need more than just one day to accomplish everything that is on the list of possibilities. How do I know? Recently, I gave it a go.

I spent several hours sort of wandering through this ginormous royal park in London. I say ‘sort of’ because I had a prepared list of things to do in Hyde Park. However, I also wanted to give myself flexibility to have a few spontaneous adventures during the day. In fact, as the time went on, I put away my camera and just strolled through the paths and absorbed as much as I could without the stress of capturing every single beautiful view on film. Still, I returned to my London flat at the end of the day with hundreds of photos and video clips.

Things to Do in Hyde Park, London

The Rose Garden:

I read that this location is available to see all year. However, I was there the first few days of April and can’t say that it was bloomin’. You would probably be better off checking it out mid-May at the earliest in the calendar year. It’s located in the south-east corner of Hyde Park, south of the Serpentine Road near Hyde Park Corner. It opened in 1994 and the concept includes horns sounding one’s arrival into Hyde Park.

Speaker’s Corner:

As a traditional site for public speeches and debates, you can find this area in the north-east part of the park. In history, Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and George Orwell exercised their right to free speech in Speaker’s Corner. As long as the police consider what you are saying is lawful, you are free to say whatever you wish, usually as loudly as you wish. Whether or not people care to hear your ideas is a completely different story. Generally, you will find the crowds gathering for this purpose on Sunday mornings.

Sports:

As with most public parks, physical activities are extremely possible. On a sunny day in London, you’ll find people roller blading, cycling, walking, jogging, throwing frisbees, and even swimming.

Princess Diana Memorial Walk:

90 plaques set in the ground create a seven-mile-long-walk which takes you within sight of locations associated with Princess Diana during her life. In the southwest corner of Hyde Park, you’ll find the fountain. It symbolises her openness and has three bridges which will lead you the its heart. For a look at how beautiful the water flows, make sure you watch the video below. It also shows many more activities and things to do in Hyde Park, including the coolest winter activity on the planet! Well, according to me 😉

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

The Sunny News YouTube community is full of Londoners, Americans, and people preparing to visit London. It’s a great place to ask your questions and get authentic answers from not just me but tons of people who know about London. I hope to see you there. Of course, feel free to leave questions in the comments here too!

Want a Food Freebie in London?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London weekly email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads that will guide you through trip planning, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

March 19, 2017 by: Sunny London

British Things to Do in London

Putting together a list of things to do in London for a visit, can quickly be overwhelming. This is especially true if it’s your first trip. Wouldn’t it be great to ask someone who lives there for help? Here is an even better one- what if you could ask a British person born in London for ideas?

My husband, Mr Sunny, and generations of his family were born and raised in London. As an American expat living in London, I rely on their advice often when planning things to do for myself or for creating Sunny in London blog content. They haven’t let me down yet!

In fact, recently my father-in-law suggested a London pub for our Best Hidden London Pubs video that even my husband didn’t know about. If you’ve read our pub crawls or any restaurant reviews, you know my husband is a self-proclaimed pub connoisseur.

Naturally, when I started thinking about creating a video that moved away from the ‘first time visiting London tourist’ planning persona, I consulted the Sunny-in-laws. You’ll have to judge how much time you have on your trip and what your priorities are when you review the possibilities they listed. It’s doubtful you could do everything suggested in one go. It would also depend on the time of year you are here too.

We tried to keep a bit of everyone in mind when creating it. There are sports activities and food suggestions. Our list is for both guys and girls too. One thing that isn’t mentioned in the video is renting a ‘Boris Bike.’ Poor coordination and the genuine lack of still not knowing which side of the road cars are coming from has prevented me from doing this. I’d love to know if you’ve done it though.

Let me know your thoughts on the video and what else you would like to learn about London. There is also a great community of Sunny News watchers on YouTube that have left their British Things to Do suggestions in the video comments too for you.

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes tips for riding the Underground, pub advice, an afternoon tea etiquette guide, a shopping guide and cultural differences between the UK and USA. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

February 19, 2017 by: Sunny London

10 Foods You Must Eat in London

What to eat in London can almost be tougher to decide than what things to do. When I first moved here as a study abroad student, eating British cuisine wasn’t really preferred or popular.

The options for delicious food has certainly increased since then.

On a recent day off, Mr Sunny and I decided to revisit one of our favourite food places in London, Borough Market. It’s featured in my Things British People Eat for Christmas video. Because it has such a great atmosphere and is full of mouth watering colour, it inspired another idea for a YouTube video. This one is a must watch for a person visiting London or moving to London as an American Expat like me.

Foods to Eat in London – The List

I can’t say that I would eat everything on the list. In fact, there is one thing my London born husband contributed that I will never eat. And, if you know Mr Sunny, of course it’s also a bit funny.

After you watch the video, there are two things for which I would love feedback. And- I hope to hear from both Londoners and visitors, especially Americans. They are:

Do you agree with where I say you should never eat in London? What are your thoughts about the British food I say you should never eat?

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London.

SUBSCRIBE to the Sunny in London weekly email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads that will guide you through trip planning, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

February 15, 2017 by: Sunny London

The Best Hidden Pubs in London

Finding the best hidden pubs in London is not easy, especially if it’s your first time visiting.

One of the most popular reasons people read Sunny in London is for recommendations from an insider when they are planning a trip to London. As an American Expat married to a British man born in London, I have a big advantage. Since he and his dad are passionate beer drinkers and have lived their whole lives in London, they know which pubs to go to for different reasons. I have a personal pub tour guide that I can share with you!

We’ve put together quite a few pub crawls. For example:

The hidden pubs in London list should not be mistaken for a pub crawl because the pubs are all over Zone 1 and even Zone 2 of town. It’s also not a comprehensive list. We wanted to leave room for your suggestions.

While 99% of the time I feel like my husband has had beer in every London pub, twice, there is an occasion when he learns about a new beer venue. You’ll see an example of this is the YouTube video below. His dad told us about one that we actually had to ask someone in the street to help us find. Then, we learned it’s one the most haunted pubs in London!

I did leave on pub out of the video but am sharing it with you here…

– Waxy O’Connor’s. I left this out of the Hidden London Pubs video because it’s right in the middle of Soho on a busy street. However, you would never in a million years guess that the pub is so big that there’s a full blown tree inside of it. I think it’s one of London’s best kept pub secrets. It also has a swanky sister pub nearby.

The video starts at The Admiralty pub and explains why it’s the easiest pub to find in London. It shows you what delicious pub food looks like in London (it’s even open for breakfast!) and you can read our review to learn more too.

We’re always eager to discover new pubs in London, so if you live in London or visited and went to a damn good pub (that you remember) let us know in the comments here or on YouTube.

If you don’t want to miss the Sunny News in London, make sure you subscribe. Highlights so far include: afternoon tea etiquette in London, British brands to buy, saving money through VAT refunds, and advice for visiting pubs.

There is an Expat Chat playlist which is also devoted to sharing USA vs UK differences like these:

January 15, 2017 by: Sunny London

What Electronics to Ship When Moving to London

When moving to London from the US, you might be confused about what to ship. Moving to London is much simpler than you may have thought. Man And Van Hire In London make moving across London extremely simple once you have settled on a permanent base here. Four years ago I sold my townhouse in New York and packed up 45 boxes and a few small furniture pieces. Making decisions about clothes to take to was easy because I had lived in London short-term a few times previously, so I knew what I would need and not use. I also knew I was taking all of my dishes, glassware, silverware, baking pans and other kitchen items.

The process of moving to London was fairly smooth, aside from unforseen problems that happened with my fiance visa. What I didn’t realise until after I was reunited with my boxes was that I could have kept quite a few of my electronic appliances in my kitchen.

Moving to London Advice for Electronics:

Just because the voltage is different between the US and UK doesn’t mean you need to abandon all electronic items. If it’s feasible to ship them, you might want consider doing that rather than selling everything or giving it away before you leave. Check out PHS Teacrate and get some crates to put all of your belongings in. Now, of course there are variables like whether you are planning on moving to London permanently or just a few years on a work transfer. And, like I discuss in the video below, you might have sentimental attachment to items that perhaps were gifts or be curious about the quality of what you’ll find in the UK.

These are the decisions I made and what went well and what electronic appliances I regret leaving behind. I also show what happens when I use this transformer in the UK with some US electronics.

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes safety tips, pub advice, and a shopping guide. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

If there are specific questions I can answer for your about moving to London or if you need a recommendation for the shipping company I used, please don’t hesitate to use my Contact page, the comments, social media, or YouTube to get in touch!

Moving to London Helpful Blog Articles:

Finally, my video on the UK Visa Process for Living in the UK (after Brexit Vote) is really popular and could help you too.

December 22, 2016 by: Sunny London

The Best Places to Propose in London

When you’re considering which of the best places to propose in London, you will think about a number of different things. First of all, you might be deciding between an oval or a cushion cut engagement ring, but once that is out of the way, there are more questions about the location that need to be answered. Where is the most romantic? Most unique? Most memorable? If you quickly google ‘best places to propose in London’, you’ll find tons of lists that target the same places.

This is why I chose to feature my husband, known for years on this blog as ‘Mr. Sunny’. We regularly share his wit, humour and lifelong knowledge of London. But, he’s never made an appearance- until now. Below we share the story of where and how we got engaged in London.

In our first YouTube video together, I highlight the standard ‘best places to propose in London’. Mr. Sunny’s list has an entirely different thought process and he picks places you’d never guess!

5- The London Eye

With packages you can purchase to set up and celebrate the engagement, The London Eye tops nearly everyone’s list who is looking for a very quintessential ‘London’ experience. Perhaps you are an American visiting London and want something truly representative of the city while having a great view of its most popular landmarks as you propose in your own pod?

4- The View from the Shard

I’ve been to this attraction several times and feel its truly majestic. Again, with the highest views of London, aside from a helicopter ride, its off the charts for showing you the city. Oh- and you’ll want to watch my helicopter review video to literally see my advice on this activity. It’s not listed here for a best places to propose in London for a big reason. The View From the Shard has numerous special events, is available for private hire, and has marriage proposal options on their website.

3- SEA LIFE London

This aquarium is actually a very popular place to propose in London. They offer it as one of their VIP Experience packages. I included it as part of the ‘How to See Four London Attractions‘ earlier this year.

Best Places to Propose in London- Final Thoughts

That’s the start of my suggestions. For the final choices (and I guarantee you won’t find my top location on any other list), you’ll have to watch the video.

Mr. Sunny provides his own five funny choices to counter mine. He also provides cheaper alternatives and ideas for what to do if your partner says, ‘NO!’

We’d love your thoughts on how romantic you think his actual proposal to me turned out to be. If you’d like to see more of Mr. Sunny in future videos, let us know that too by liking the video, sharing it, and pinning it.

For more lists about things to do in London, watch and subscribe to the Sunny News on YouTube.