THINGS TO DO – Page 6

May 1, 2016 by: Sunny London

Royal Albert Hall Tour Review

Taking a Royal Albert Hall Tour has always been an activity on my list of things to do in London, but more so when a friend of mine recommended I checked out a Sports Hospitality, which included offers to sport and music events around London. This is probably one the best things I have ever done and this is why this city is my favourite! When I received two London Passes I knew this venue would be a part of a full day itinerary for me. I’m glad I combined it with other events that day because there were a few things I discovered on the tour that you need to know if it’s an activity you’re considering.

For the first London Pass exploration day, I hit several monuments in the City. I saved the second pass for a day of activities that didn’t necessarily require super sunny weather.

My first stop on Day 2 with a London Pass was the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre tour in Southwark. I knew out of the four attractions on my itinerary that it would have the biggest crowds, so it was best to be there as soon as it opened. Next, I took the Underground to Queensway and visited Kensington Palace. After a beautiful walk through Hyde Park, I arrived at the working theatre and music hall around mid-afternoon. Luckily, there was a Grand Tour starting in 15 minutes.

Since I had a little time to spare and was starving, I ordered a light snack in the Royal Albert Hall Cafe Bar and Verdi. I didn’t realise it would take a few minutes for them to prepare it and bring it to my table. Further, I didn’t know they would begin assembling the tour five minutes early. If you’re going to order food from the cafe, give yourself plenty of additional time. Also, know that you receive 10% off your order if you show a tour ticket.

Our tour consisted of about 10 people who were all very smartly dressed. I was probably the youngest person on it. The Royal Albert Hall tour guide was good and clearly stuck to a tight schedule for the one hour experience. One of the first points of interest on the tour was the entrance for the Queen when she attends performances.

I agree- not the most exciting pictures, but the information about Royal history of the hall is intriguing. When it was built 145 years ago upon the inception of Prince Albert people could buy a box. This actually meant they held a 999 year lease on it. With a box purchase, you received your own keys. People decorated their box, and it was fashionable to try to ‘outdo’ your ‘neighbors.’

Of course, Queen Victoria bought the first Royal seating box. The Royal box has a crown above it. It’s roped off with silk curtains and has posh chairs in comparison to chairs in other boxes. Currently, when Queen Elizabeth isn’t attending the music hall for an event, her staff uses the box. If you work for her, you can apply for tickets. Recently, boxes sold for £1.2 million and still are under ‘ownership’ for nearly one thousand years.

As a charity building, the Royal Albert Hall operates as a hall for hire. It’s had epic costume balls and concerts to raise money. Generally, it costs £16,000 to rent the hall. The BBC has it each year for ‘BBC Proms for 7 weeks, and they bring all their own kit. They remove all the chairs in the arena so people can walk around for the promenade.

One of the more epic events occurred when J.K. Rowling launched the Order of the Phoenix, book five of the Harry Potter series. She read passages from the book on the stage.

The week before my Royal Albert Hall tour, the film Raiders of the Lost Ark played, accompanied by a live orchestra. This made the venue the biggest cinema in Europe. They do about 10 of these types of showings a year.

Royal Albert Hall Tour: Need to Know

We weren’t able to take any pictures inside the hall during our tour due to a rehearsal taking place for a show. This was really disappointing to me, especially as a blogger who relies heavily on images to tell a story.

Our tour guide shared loads of information about how the stage and seats can be altered to accommodate different performances. They’ve even had a tennis court placed inside. If you are ever planning on attending an event, you definitely want to review a seating plan before purchasing tickets. Based on the placement of the stage for an event, some seats may be better than others. Also, the top seats are extremely vertical. If you experience a fear of heights or mild vertigo, these might not be enjoyable for you.

Royal Albert Hall Tour- Interesting Facts

Within 20 minutes of a show closing, the stage breakdown begins.
Trucks can drive under the stage from outside to facilitate set bulking and deconstruction.
At Kylie Minogue’s concert, the venue ran out of champagne.
The original Royal Albert Hall was built with no bathrooms. This meant people ran to the parks during show intervals.
The venue is seen to be a living memorial to Prince Albert.

If you aren’t using a London Pass, it is cheaper to buy your ticket online. This means the price would be: Adults £12.75, Concessions £10.75, Children (6 – 16 years) £5.75 (including 25p booking fee). There are several options for tours, including: a Secret History Tour, Afternoon Tea Tour, Victorian Interactive Tour, and a Story of the Proms Tour.

Have you ever been to the Royal Albert Hall for an event? What was your experience? What seating or ticket suggestions do you have?

April 18, 2016 by: Sunny London

11 Best Places to Take a Selfie in London

Planning a visit and need to know the best places to take a selfie in London? Did you know that London is the selfie capital of the world? According to the website Suggestme, it’s very true.

With that in mind, it could be a bit overwhelming trying to figure out all the best #londonselfie places on your own. That’s why I put together this list to help you. So, without further ado, let’s review the top locations in London town for you to include with your holiday smile. If you’re wanting to better your smile before you go on your holidays and taking your super selfies, you may want to look at different dental offices close to where you are, such as this Dentist Temple Terrace for example, and see how they can help you.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #1 Big Ben

The top spot to show your Facebook friends that you’re having a good time is Big Ben. Specifically, it’s the most popular backdrop for selfies in the capital. Many people try to take selfies as they cross Westminster Bridge. Time and time again when I pass these tourists, I see them struggling with positioning their picture because it’s difficult to fight the oncoming crowds of people moving across the bridge. Not to mention the oncoming traffic made of busses, taxis and cyclists.

The best location to get you and your friend Ben in the same shot is actually from the opposite side on Great George Street. In fact, you can get a two for one here because there’s a telephone booth you can position yourself inside or near that is perfect for an iconic London photo souvenir.

If you go to 12 Great George Street on Google Maps, you can see the place to which I am referring.

Here is a street view. The telephone booth featured in the pictures above is on the left.

It’s likely you’ll need to wait in a fairly organised queue to get a great shot, but it’s worth it. However, try to avoid making too much of a scene. Here’s a slice of my Snapchat (SunnyInLondon2) to show you what I mean.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #2 Buckingham Palace

If you really want a royal way to remember your trip, then you must walk a few minutes from Big Ben to Buckingham Palace. It’s pretty easy here to stand in front of the gates and get a good shot of your faux visit with the Queen.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #3 St Paul’s Cathedral

Another easy space to get a ginormous monument behind you is next to St. Paul’s Cathedral. However, take it to another level by being slightly more creative. Instead of just standing in front of the location and snapping a photo, walk from Southwark across the Millenium Bridge and position yourself with the cathedral behind you.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #4 Madame Tussaud’s

If you’re looking to be just plain cheeky, there’s a Marylebone museum designed just for selfies. Well, almost.

If you want to win an Academy Award for Best Selfie on a Holiday, Madame Tussaud’s is THE place to travel. Inside you’ll see all types of fake celebrities which will surely give your selfie stick a genuine place on the stage. From Darth Vader to James Bond to the Royal Family, you can spend hours being star struck here.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #5 Shrek’s Adventures

If you’re more focused on specific fictitious characters, then there are a few other options. While I feel Shrek’s Adventure in the South Bank area is primarily an attraction for people with small children, there is one alluring factor for adults.

Every group (which in my case on the day I visited was a party of one), gets a quick chance to pose with Shrek’s at the end of the experience. This photo op could make your friends really green with envy.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #6 Platform 9 3/4

For a literal camera quest, you should add this spot which will make all your muggle mates curious.

While capturing the whole ‘illusion’ of finding Platform 9 3/4 is tough in a selfie, it’s every Harry Potter fan’s dream. I had a friend take this shot of me for the blog review of Hogwarts in the Snow at Christmas. Since you would need directions for getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour if you’re just visiting London, you might want to consider just visiting a similar setup for a mystical photo at the King’s Cross Platform 9 3/4 area. Rather than take a full day of your trip to complete the Harry Potter Studio Tour, you can just hit the Central London staged setting.

Either way, both locations will let you get this picture of you that will produce magical results.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #7 London Eye

Moving up your selfie itinerary, you can grab a shot at one of London’s newest icons in the sky- The London Eye.

Before you visit, be sure to read the blog on Advice for How to Ride High. While you are there, it’s pretty easy to get a great picture if you board the carriage and immediately head to the back. This perfectly positions you for a timely picture of you and one of the world’s most famous riverside views. While at the attraction, you can also snag a sneaky Big Ben photo from a different land angle too.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #8 The Shard

For the highest horizon in Europe, you’ll have to go to the View from the Shard experience. I’ve visited twice and both times it was spectacular. From this altitude you can get a great shot of you and The Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast and the Mayor’s office.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #9 Regent Street

For all the fashion forward Sunny friends, put on your pret a porter gear and strut your stuff on this runway- the middle of Regent Street.

While you must be exceedingly careful to stage this shot, it is possible to position yourself in the center of Regent Street. I’ve actual done a Periscope broadcast from this location when I was promoting the NFL in London street party that’s taken place the past few years in the Autumn.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #10 Tower of London Bridge Exhibition

For the most death defying selfie, there is no doubt in my mind that the glass floor in the walkway of the Tower Bridge Exhibition is the clearest way to get the best selfie in London.

Again, there is a whole blog review devoted to this attraction that’s part of the London Pass. In fact, many of the attractions listed here can be a part of that money saving system.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: #11 Piccadilly Circus

At almost any time of the day, you’ll find Piccadilly Circus flooded with eager selfie takers. With the bright lights and flashy displays, this spot is always a winner. In fact, if you look closely at the couple posing below, you’ll see they’re aiming for every angle.

Places to Take a Selfie in London: Final Thoughts

There is one spot in London that I have intentionally left out and that’s Trafalgar Square. It’s certainly populated with tons of tourists every day fighting to take pictures on and with the Nelson’s column monumental bronze lions.

It’s just not something I would advise. There doesn’t seem to be a safe way to get to them and planning a selfie seems dangerous because there’s no railing and minimal space to balance your feet. There is no doubt that it is a great photo location. But, I wouldn’t count on a selfie stick producing concrete results. Well, unless you want to be on one of those viral videos that shows you falling off the statues.

What are your thoughts, Sunny friends? Where would you suggest is a great selfie spot in London?

April 4, 2016 by: Sunny London

Covent Garden London- Restaurants, Pubs and Attractions

What’s so amazing about WC2? It’s the postcode for Covent Garden, London and has the best restaurants, pubs and things to do in the town.Well, obviously I am a biased because it’s where I first lived when I moved to London as an American expat. However, this neighborhood represents an amazing selection of food, attractions, culture and history. Since the first day I published a blog post, I’ve been clear that it’s my favourite area of London.

Living on Great Russell Street next to the British Musuem and working in Bedford Square, when NBC News was located there, means I have spent quite a bit of time in WC2. Therefore, creating a guide to Covent Garden for you is not only fun but also fairly easy to do. And, recently I added a ‘Secret Things To Do in Covent Garden‘ video to the Sunny News YouTube channel too that can show you hidden activities. Below, you will find information about:

History
Hotels
Pubs
Restaurants Reviewed
Restaurants Others Recommend
Shopping
Street Performers
Things to Do

Covent Garden, London- History

We can consider the area to be between St. Martin’s Lane and Drury Lane, which is on the eastern fringes of London’s West End. From North to South, generally it starts around the High Holborn area down to The Strand. The Northern ‘border’ is a little blurry.

The central square is now a popular shopping and tourist site, but it originally was a fruit and vegetable market. Since the 1600’s it transitioned from this to a place filled with taverns, theatres and brothels. In the 18th century it had become a red-light district. However, an Act of Parliament assisted with organizing the market and moved it to be an area containing cafes, pubs, small shops and craft markets.

Currently, Covent Garden still demonstrates an array of its rich history through the street performers, attractions and overall vibe. It always seem to present an energetic, playful atmosphere full of seasonal surprises.

You also never know what will happen in the piazza. For example, in the summer of 2015 there was an art installation which featured over 100,000 balloons.

Covent Garden, London- Hotels

Covent Garden isn’t particularly known for a wide selection of hotels. For this reason, there is a just a few on this Guide.

Bloomsbury Hotel– While technically just outside the northern edge of Covent Garden, this hotel is on the street where I first lived in London. If you’re a literary fan, this is the hotel for you. It has an academic theme, reflective of this popular literary hub in London near where many authors like Charles Dickens lived.

Corinthia- This is a five-star hotel whose spa has been rated as the best in London. I enjoyed their Christmas afternoon tea here once and can certainly say it is very luxurious. For an exceptionally perfect New Year’s Eve location, choose Corinthia. Year round its proximity to other London attractions is an additional bonus.

Covent Garden Hotel- Part of the Firmdale Hotels, this London hotel franchise is by far the most beautifully decorated that I have ever seen. Their afternoon tea both here and on Charlotte Street are the best quality for the price.

One Aldwych– It’s countless how many times I have been to this hotel for cocktails, food and a staycation. The spa is impressive, and it has the coolest pool in town!

Just across from Waterloo Bridge, it’s location makes it perfect for a stay that features theatre trips. Also, it’s less than a five minute walk to Trafalgar Square. Regent Street and Buckingham Palace aren’t too much further either. This hotel has had rockin’ success with their Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired afternoon tea too. If it’s something you’d like to do, be sure to book well in advance, as it’s often full.

The Savoy- For one of the most luxurious stays in London, see The Savoy. I’ve only had dinner at one of their restaurants. I can only imagine how wonderful an evening or extended weekend/trip could be at this swanky spot.

Covent Garden, London- Pubs

Any Londoner or British person will tell you that not all pubs are equal. My husband, ‘Mr. Sunny’ was born in London, as were his parents. He prides himself on a deep knowledge (based on countless hours of research) of beer and pubs in London and around the world. All of the blog information about these two categories is his work. His recommendations for a ‘damn good pint’ and possibly food to go with it are below.

Cross Keys- All Londoners know this pub. It’s striking exterior makes it an easy place to find. However, inside is surprisingly dark and seemingly full of local Londoners.

Lamb and Flag– This pub is a bit tricky to find, but if you’re looking for a true British pub that isn’t full of tourists, this one’s for you. However, we’ve only had drinks here. It isn’t one that I would suggest you have a meal too.

The Porcupine- When I first lived in London, my friends and I met at this pub often, so now it’s where Mr. Sunny and I chose to rendevous if we’re meeting after work. The reason is the fact that it’s right outside Leicester Square underground station so it’s easy to find. If you’re trying to catch up with someone who may not have access to wifi or a mobile network, this is a great meeting place to have a drink and start an evening.

Shakespeare’s Head- While there is a pub in Carnaby with the same name, this is a Wetherspoon pub. Mr. Sunny likes this place because it’s generally cheaper than other pubs. It tends to get crowded, and it is very large. It’s a short walk from Holborn underground station on the Piccadilly line and Central Line.

The Harp- Of all the ones listed here, I think Mr. Sunny likes this one the best. It’s a Fuller’s pub that has a choice of ten hand-pumps. Again, beer only. I’ve had a few glasses of wine there, and let’s say that and food are not their specialty.

The Salisbury- This is the pub I pick for having traditional English pub food if you seek it in Covent Garden. (Another great one is Porter House, which is in the pub crawl listed below). I’ve eaten here and definitely recommend the fish and chips. It’s part of the Taylor-Walker chain.

The Ship Tavern– one of the best pub meals we’ve had is at this location in the restaurant upstairs. Drinks and bar snacks on the main floor are highly recommended too. It’s on a very secret street just around the corner from Holborn underground station.

Pub Crawl- For a Canadian, Irish and British pub that are in close proximity, you can take one of our first pub crawls published on the blog. There is also another pub crawl which features pubs that have sun-themed names and several are in Covent Garden too.

Covent Garden, London- Restaurants Reviewed

While you can find many of London’s popular chains throughout the neighborhood, there are also tons of individually owned restaurants that offer excellent food, both from a British or international cuisine.These are the ones I have reviewed and recommend to Londoners and visitors.

Bill’s Covent Garden Restaurant– There are two locations for Bill’s in Covent Garden. I enjoyed their afternoon tea at St. Martin’s Courtyard when I first started the blog. The restaurant is colourful, and the food is reasonably priced.

Byron Burger– A casual chain in London, my husband and I popped in this location while spending an afternoon in Covent Garden touring Christmas decorations and activities. A popular feature on their menu each year during this time is their Cheesemas burger. The extra calories for this one are truly worth it.

Five Guys– this location was one of the first to hit London. The popular American chain has since launched several other spots so the lines no longer stretch around the building. Having eaten at both this one in London and America, I can say they’re exactly the same.

Indigo Restaurant– Inside the One Aldwych hotel is where I had one of the best pieces of lamb I’ve eaten in London. Further, I’ve had cocktails in One Lobby Bar at the hotel and feel it’s a swanky place to chill both before and after dinner.

Le Garrick– The love story behind this French restaurant is endearing, and the food is fabulous.

Le Pain Quotidien– For a Belgium bakery found many places around London, I was pleasantly surprised at how healthy the menu is. This particular location spans several floors and has an outside seating area near the piazza.

Salvador and Amanda– For Spanish tapas, my husband and I have hit Salvador and Amanda several times. Aside from having Flamenco dancing several times a week, the restaurant and bar offer great drink specials during specific hours.

Shake Shack– A popular American chain, this casual burger place is one of my favourite in London. For a burger that is more affordable than other places, my husband and I love Shake Shack and treat ourselves to it as often as possible. They’ve added a few other spots around London, but the one in the Covent Garden Market still seems to have a regular queue at nearly all times of the day.

The Real Greek– You can hit this Greek restaurant either on Long Acre or St. Martin’s Lane. We’ve eaten at both and feel it offers a big, fat Greek experience that rocked both times.

The Savoy– While their afternoon tea is supposed to be incredible, my husband and I went to Kaspar’s Seafood Bar and Grill at The Savoy. We were able to reduce costs through an opportunity at Bookatable, so I suggest you explore this if you’d like to eat rich but save money.

Wildwood Kitchen– If you’re near Seven Dials and are looking for a rustic Italian experience, you can try this restaurant.

Covent Garden, London- Restaurants Others Recommend

There is a list of places in Covent Garden that I am aiming to review because I have heard great feedback about them, so I have included them here.

Big Easy– This American dining restaurant ‘provides the taste of Southern states.’ It seems like a fun place to enjoy a meal if you’re seeking a bit of American culture.

Flesh and Buns– This restaurant is brought to you by the people behind Bone Daddies Ramen and Shackfuyu. It is their Japanese Izakaya bar & restaurant. Everyone I know who has been here is impressed.

Fire and Stone– This pizza place seems fairly casual, as one would expect. There has been quite a few times I’ve seen representatives passing out flyers or coupons for it in various streets of Covent Garden around the restaurant.

Frenchie Covent Garden- opening on March 27, 2016 this restaurant is receiving a lot of hype from media and has the area buzzing. If you’ve been there and can leave some feedback in the comments, that would be appreciated. In fact, at the time I published this Guide to Covent Garden, they didn’t have a full website running.

Homeslice– for pizza that is as close to New York style that I can find in London, read this review and visit Homeslice.

Rock and Sole Plaice– This is the one fish and chips shop in London that’s the highest on my list to try. It’s always busy when I pass it, and the creative name has me very intrigued.

The Ivy Restaurant– Having eaten at The Ivy in Hollywood, I can say that I am a bit curious about this London location. It seems to have the same prestigous allure in the UK. However, since my LA experience was more about star spotting than food quality, I haven’t ventured to either London location for The Ivy yet. However, Londoners seem to think it’s a great place to eat, especially pre-theatre.

Covent Garden, London- Shopping

While I would say the best street to shop on in London is Regent Street, Covent Garden has a good selection of specialty stores that would make for a fun day too.

Seven Dials Shopping– This section of Covent Garden can be a bit confusing because it literally is formed by seven roads meeting at a roundabout. If you are planning on being in the area, I suggest you visit their website for any scheduled activities, as they frequently have summer and winter events. Specifically, they have a shopping party each year before Christmas and make the discount promotion for the evening available on their website.

St. Martin’s Courtyard– Perhaps most popular to Americans in this secret spot is Banana Republic. As a former car park, this section of Covent Garden has a handful of shops, restaurants and other services. It’s very small, so it’s not a place where you would spend a few hours.

Covent Garden, London- Street Performers

One of the most popular places to see street performers on a regular basis in London is Covent Garden. They audition at various times during the year. There is a judging panel made up of representatives from the Courtyard Musicians Association, Street Performers Association and the Capco Covent Garden Management Team.

The Courtyard pitch is for classical vocalists and instrumentalists. They don’t allow any wind instruments, brass instruments, electric guitars, drums, accordions, bagpipes or didgeridoos to be played at Covent Garden.

Covent Garden, London- Things to Do

Christmas- Covent Garden is one of the most beautiful places to visit in London during the holidays. Their installation of decorations kicks off the start of the Christmas season each year.

It’s also one of the locations that you can go ice skating during the holidays. Here you can see a bit of what the Somerset House experience is like.

Covent Garden Academy of Flowers– One of my most cherished experiences in London is the day I took an extensive floral arrangement course at this academy. They offer evening workshops for anyone mildly interested in learning about floral design. Vouchers for one of these sessions is one of the top gift ideas I suggest for the girl who has everything.

Hotel Chocolat– Who doesn’t love chocolate? My husband and I are guilty as charged for this. It’s why we loved the class we took at Hotel Chocolat so much. If you’re looking for a super fun date night idea, taking a chocolate course here is perfect.

London Coliseum– This is the home of the English National Opera. You can see what’s currently on the stage through their website, as it changes often.

London Film Museum (Bond in Motion)- This current Exhibit features cars and numerous other artifacts and props from James Bond films. It’s absolutely for people who enjoy and appreciate the franchise. As it is probably designed in honour of the release of Spectre, you will want to check their website to see if it’s still offered before you plan a visit.

London Transport Museum– If you’re even mildly interested in how people get from one place to another in London, this museum is worth your time. It’s also an excellent activity for kids and part of the London Pass discount plan for touring the town.

Olivier Awards- This ceremony is the British equivalent to the Broadway’s Tony Awards. Their given to individuals in West End productions and other leading non-commercial theatres based in London. They’ve been held at the Royal Opera House since 2012, and the most recent ceremony was April 4, 2016. Fans frequently fill the red carpets to watch stars as the enter.

Neal’s Yard- This is by far the most ‘Instagrammable’ location in London, after all the iconic attractions. It’s not an area you would just stumble upon, as it’s a bit tricky to find. However, it’s an explosion of colour and great food that real Londoners know exists and love.

Royal Opera House- Home to The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet — this is the place to watch and learn about world-class opera, music, ballet and dance.

Horse-drawn Omnibus Tours– Stanfords offers an authentic horse-drawn tour through the streets of London. It’s something you would want to book in advance and is geared toward someone who doesn’t have a strong existing knowledge of London.

Theatre Royal on Drury Lane- This location is currently showing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Covent Garden, London- Final Thoughts

You can get to my favourite neighborhood easily on the Piccadilly Line. However, the shortest journey on the underground in London is between Leicester Square and Covent Garden, at a distance of 300 yards. So, if you’re coming via the Northern Line, you may just as well exit at Leicester Square and walk less than five minutes to the heart of Covent Garden. Even though, the Covent Garden underground station has the best staff in London. (Trust me, they’re a very entertaining bunch.) You can see all their fun each day on Instagram.

Don’t miss the ‘Secret Things to Do in Covent Garden’ video added to the Sunny News YouTube channel also. It has things Londoners don’t even know exist! 😉

If there’s anything you can add about your recommended places in Covent Garden, I do hope you include the ideas in the comments below. Also, if I can answer any specific questions for you regarding the area, please give me a shout out! If you’re visiting London for the first time, you may also wish to see my Guide to London.

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.

April 1, 2016 by: Sunny London

Shakepeare’s Globe Theatre Tour in London

Is Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre tour on your bucket list? As a former theatre and acting teacher, this experience was certainly part of my list of things to do in London. However (and this is the part where you probably won’t like me), seeing another Shakespearean play performed is not on my list. That’s the reason why it took me a few years to head to the Globe Theatre Tour in London.

You see, I had expected it would entirely focus on information overload about Shakespeare’s plays, so I hesitated to commit to the time. I was very wrong about this anticipation and want to help you make the best decision on whether or not the Globe Theatre Tour would be for you.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Tour: History

The most pleasant surprise was that the tour’s focus is the theatre and not the plays. In fact, it helps to have a good knowledge of Shakespeare’s life and work prior to attending because I think you will better understand the information speedily given throughout the thirty minutes you are with your guide.

This means that you will know that you are not planning on visiting the actual globe theatre in which the Elizabethan actors performed. That building was built in 1599, destroyed by a fire in 1613, rebuilt in 1614 and demolished in 1644. So, the place where you will visit in London is an informed guess on what the buildings of 1599 and 1614 featured.

That’s the other reason I didn’t rush out to this ‘tour attraction’ in London as soon as I moved here a few years ago. There was a part of me that felt it wasn’t authentic.

There are modifications in terms of safety requirements to the ‘new’ structure in the London Borough of Southwark. Foremost, this version of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre accommodates 1400 audience members, not 3000 like the original building. My tour guide humorously pointed out to us that Shakespeare’s crowd was likely filled with thousands of drunk commoners, much different from the generally sober, more scholarly theatre goers of today. But, more on that later.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Tour- Crowd Control

Like all attractions I review in London, this is one for which you must arrive early. In fact, when I started researching the tour, I noticed it opens a bit earlier than others. Generally, you find 10:00am as the standard time for gates to open. The Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Tour experience can start as early as 9:30am. This was good for me because I was using a London Pass this day and hit four attractions in London.

You do not have to book in advance, but you need to pick a tour time when you arrive. Tours depart every half hour and run from 9:30am-5:00pm. As with anything in London, you want to check their tour and ticket information prior to attending to make sure you don’t hit any royal snags due to closures or other planned events.

The website advises about large crowds and arriving early. I got to the theatre around 10:10am and was able to book on to a 10:30am tour. That was probably pretty lucky because it was during the Easter Bank Holiday. The attraction does a nice job of managing your extra time through the Exhibition. While it’s not a ‘Shakespeare museum’, you can spend some time walking through the area learning about Elizabethan theatre and seeing wardrobe and costumes.

If you have a lot of time before you can get on a tour, you’ll likely want to visit the Borough Market, which is a five-minute walk away.

Also, since the focus of your Globe Theatre Tour is literally on the theatre, that’s where you receive all of your information. The guides move groups of about 20-25 people through different locations in the playhouse. This movement allows for more people to see the theatre at a time and gives you the perspective of audience members from many different angles.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Tour- All the World’s a Stage

What do you learn during the tour? My guess is everyone could have a different theatrical experience. The tour guide had the fun personality for which you would hope. In fact, his two-minute monologue on male actors playing female characters in scenes that featured female characters playing men (Portia in Merchant of Venice) was wildly entertaining. Equally as impressive was his spontaneous knowledge. There were several opportunities for question and answer sessions as we moved to different locations. However, no one is ever allowed to stand on the stage.

Some of the tour topics include learning what types of people attended the shows and what watching a performance would be like during Elizabethan times. Our tour guide equated it to being like the ‘Las Vegas’ of the world. As someone who’s been to Vegas a few times, this was interesting (and maybe not entirely accurate, but the connotation was appreciated).

He explained that a trip to the theatre was like a night at a bad nightclub, minus the toilets because of course they didn’t have those then. People who attended weren’t society’s finest. Shows were 2,3 or even 4 hours long. This means actors were responsible for tons and tons of material. Since books weren’t as freely dispensed as they are now, actors didn’t receive printed scripts in their entirety. Instead, they had to learn lines based on pages that included a few lines before and after their dialogue, so continuity barely existed. Musicians played on the top balcony section.

At the time of the shows, the cost was one pence. This equates to about £7 now (or $10 for American readers). Also, unlike the Royal Albert Hall that I toured later in the day, there is no seating box which belongs to the Royals. When Queen Elizabeth reigned, royalty brought the theatre to their court because the audiences at the actual playhouses consisted of rowdy, drunken parties.

If you’re a fan of theatre, this tour in London should be on your list of things to do. For £15 it’s an enriching experience because you are certain to learn a few new things about this form of entertainment. For example, I had no idea that actors would fill a pig’s bladder with blood and use that for ‘special effects’ during sword fight scenes. I also didn’t know that all the names in the stones outside the theatre are sponsors.

There is also a really good reason why John Cleese has a smaller stone than his Monty Python co-star Michael Palin. But, you’ll have to take the tour to learn what it is. 😉

The attraction is very organised and provides a nice opportunity for those interested in British culture and theatre. Of course, they have a small gift shop on site, which has fun items connected to the plays like this towel featuring a quote from Macbeth.

However, you could likely find a wider selection of fun Shakespeare merchandise on Amazon.

I don’t think small children would really value from attending the tour, but it isn’t too long of an experience for them to sit through if you can’t make other arrangements. Having attended a performance of Romeo and Juliet (my favourite Shakespearean play) and Love’s Labour Lost at other venues years ago, I won’t be purchasing tickets to attend a show at the Globe Theatre because the plays are just too long for me. I have a two and a half hour cut off for film length tolerance too. However, if you are passionate about seeing Shakespeare performed live, I can’t imagine there’s anywhere else in the world that could be better than Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.

What are your theatre experiences? Have you visited this attraction? What’s on your London Things to Do list?

Have you used a London Pass to tour the town? These are my experiences with it.

March 25, 2016 by: Sunny London

The Sexiest London Food Tour for #FoodPorn Fans

What makes this London Food Tour the sexiest in all of food land, Sunny friends? Everything. It beautifully pairs food and London’s most intimate neighborhood, making it the ultimate #foodporn experience. I’m sure if you were to type foodporn into a site you might Visit tubev today to enjoy high-quality free content you will find yourself in a completely different barrel of fish.

Now before you get your panties in a twist, let me remind you this blog isn’t for kids but it is pretty PG. Well, except for the frequent champagne, wine and beer mentions.

Two years ago I took the Eating London Food Tour, which hits the highlights of East London cuisine. When I heard they started a sister tour in Soho, I couldn’t wait to wrap my tongue around it.

Soho, London Food Tour: Foreplay

Having lived in the Covent Garden/Bloomsbury area previously, Soho is a nearby neighborhood that has good and bad traits. Yes, it’s where you find most of London’s theatres and a high concentration of restaurants. However, it also has a very dark, dodgy side which includes sex shops and scandalous stores.

The first stop on this London Food Tour is a Mexican restaurant that isn’t for the faint of heart. I first visited La Bodega Negra two years ago when it opened. It was a wild, tequila filled day that bled in to early evening, followed by a painful morning.

On the Twilight Soho Food Tour you have the chance to try a succulent frozen margarita and several tacos. London isn’t known for great Mexican cuisine, but if you give La Bodega Negra a shot, you won’t be disappointed. (Just don’t make them tequila shots dropped in champagne filled glasses. Trust me!) These are a few phallic served tacos for you voyeurs….

For those of you who aren’t aware of the restaurant’s cheeky back, your tour guide will show you the secret faux ‘sex shop’ entrance on the other side of the building.

Soho, London Food Tour: Main Course

As you move through the streets of Soho, your tour guide will point out the highlights of area’s history which involves dark features too. Aside from culinary delights, there is a naughty side which doesn’t showcase London’s finest. In fact, as my tour group stood hearing the secrets of Soho Square, a man with bright red lipstick and a St. Nick hat decided to crash our tour. This hardly secret Santa clearly had taken on one too many afternoon delights. Our tour guide Hannah handled the situation with grace, humor and quick redirection of our group.

There was no debate that after this rendevous, we were all ready for a stiff drink.

While visiting the London Gin Club on the tour, you will receive not only a gin and tonic but also a gin-infused beef pie. The venue is steeped in rich history and they make their own gin.

Moving along, you will hit Enrique Tomas, a family-run business which began as a huge success in Spain. The walls are covered in curing, hanging meat. Here you will try several selections of Jamon and a gorgeous, gorgeous glass of Spanish red wine.

In fact, I made sure to find out that it comes from Spain’s Huesca region. Through your tasting, you will learn quickly about the curing process and have Manchego cheese to compliment your jamon.

My favourite stop on the tour is next- Pix Bar. I’ve never seen or heard of it and found this spot incredibly sexy. This is mostly because it’s dark and full of tall temptations. Mr. Sunny and I will be booking a table here soon, and I will recommend it to anyone seeking a sultry hideaway for supper.

A ‘pincho’ is Spanish for thorn/spike. The ‘pinxtos’ is Northern Spain’s response to tapas. They’re typically eaten in bars.

Each of the ‘pixy’ sticks I chose had a tongue tickling treat at the end. It’s the first thing I told Mr. Sunny about when I teased him about my food tour that night.

Soho, London Food Tour: The Climax

‘Smoke if you got ’em’ they say. The next stop on the Twilight Soho Food Tour is Opium. Located technically in Chinatown, Opium is an Oriental opium den. It’s not easy to find and there’s a tough climb of several flights of stairs to make it, but if you like delicious dim sum and Chinese tea, don’t miss this dark haven.

I don’t have any pictures for this experience. Some things just have to be left to your fantasies. Our group had the opportunity to have white peony tea and several varieties of dim sum. We also sipped on Lapsang souchong, a tea made by smoke-drying lapsang leaves over pinewood fires. It’s truly an acquired taste. In all honesty, I felt like I had just licked someone’s fireplace. No pun intended.

Finally, the tour hits the sweet spot with a toast at Said Chocolate. Imported from Rome, this chocolate cavern offers tour guests a tiramisu, which translates to ‘pick me up’ in Italian. The favourite dessert of both Mr. Sunny and me- it’s exactly what I needed after a night of engaging in a wild night of touring #foodporn in Soho.

As a final farewell, each tour guest gets a flavoured hot chocolate. I chose hazelnut and can best summarize it with another tour guest’s quote, ‘If I didn’t think it would end up on a social network, I’d scrape my tongue around this cup to get every last drop.’

Amen, sista!

Soho, London Food Tour: When Harry Met Sally

If this review and all its innuendos made you uncomfortable, the Twilight Soho Food Tour might not be for you. Two other guests on this tour who had experienced both tours like me indicated that they preferred the East London tour over Soho. I disagreed. However, depending on who asked, I would recommend them accordingly. They tours are different, so I would consider people’s preferences.

Both tours highlight culinary information of the food and drink items served, and the tour guides give tons of historic and cultural information through enthusiastic, personable presentations. However, you do have an alcoholic beverage on nearly every stop on the Twilight Soho Food Tour. You also pass several adult themed venues in the Soho area in the evening. While it’s also not the norm to be approached by random men wearing lipstick at 5pm in London, it’s not that shocking that it happened on our tour while we stood in Soho Square.

I had an explosively fun evening with Eating London Tours because of Hannah the tour guide, the expertly picked places and the fantastic people who were part of our eight person group. This tour does feature adult content, but rest assured, it is presented and conducted very, very tastefully.

It’s not your mother’s walking tour. 😉

January 29, 2016 by: Sunny London

How to See 4 Attractions at London South Bank

‘London South Bank, you’re it!’ That’s what I thought when a TravelEx representative contacted me about what I would do if I had the equivalent of $150 to spend in London on one day.

When I first moved here, the London South Bank area wasn’t nearly what it is today. For that reason, it’s always been curious to me. Seeing the London Eye transform the skyline and become such an engrained image so fast in a city so old is amazing.

To start my London South Bank attraction marathon, I first hit the Russell Square TravelEx branch on a Friday afternoon to pick up the Multi-currency Cash Passport. The currency app I use predicted that $150 would equal £105 on that day’s rate. I was ecstatic when the TravelEx rate translated to the card having a £114 balance. Wahoo!

I already felt like a winner.

That rate is better than anytime I’ve transferred money over from a US bank to London. And it’s better than any rate I’ve received here with an American credit card.

With my cash passport and a hefty bag of electronic blogger equipment, I left my flat to hit London South Bank on a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning.

London South Bank: The London Eye

I enjoyed a 30-minute rotation on this London attraction in 2014. But, it made sense when playing tourist in the town for a day to kick off with something iconic.

Arriving at Waterloo Station at 9:20am, I walked to the London Eye Ticket Office to purchase tickets for all four attractions a bit before the scheduled opening office time of 9:30am. If you want to save money through purchasing combination tickets, you can do that there. You can save even more by doing it online days in advance. Either way, you physically have to pick up combination tickets at this office.

I followed the Advice for Riding the London Eye that I posted after the first visit.

Sure enough, all my suggestions worked. I knew exactly where to stand and what to do.

Great shots and great view.

I just had no control over the morning dew.

My fingers frantically notified all my social media networks of this exciting quest. Snapchat (SunnyInLondon2), Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook ignited with the news of my four attraction day affair in the South Bank London area.

London South Bank: Shrek’s Adventure

A little after 10:30am when I left The London Eye, I walked over to Shrek’s Adventure to book a show.

When set for the 11:15am tour with Shrek and Donkey, I went to London Dungeon and booked a 1:00pm show. My combination tickets allowed me to use the priority line at the Aquarium, so I didn’t need to book in advance there.

Since I hit Shrek’s Adventure on a Saturday, it was covered with kids. I can only imagine what it’s like over the summer holiday. While I enjoyed the experience, this could be the one to skip if you aren’t passionate about Shrek or being surrounded by small children for 90 minutes.

You begin your tour with an exceptionally enthusiastic tour guide. She sends you and a group of about 25 other guests off to the adventure.

You board a Magical Bus that is billed as a ride, but it barely moves. Instead you watch a 4D film which sets up the premise of the adventure and creates the feeling of movement and flying.

The movie is fun, but I kept peeking around my movie glasses to see if we were perhaps going to move through a screen and travel a bit on the magical bus. It didn’t happen. 🙁

When the film ends, you walk to another room and are greeted by Princess Fiona. Your group then travels from room to room on a quest to find Shrek. Various characters from films entertain you at each location change. Their performances are energetic and audience involvement is key.

At the end you amare rescued by Shrek and each person has a chance to take a picture with him. That rocks!

London South Bank: London Dungeon

I had friends who visited the London Dungeon the weekend before and really had fun.

Since the entire attraction takes place in the dark, you can’t get good pictures even if you were permitted to take them. Therefore, I just have these two ‘clowns’ as my digital memory of London Dungeon.

The queue process is long on busy days.

Similar to Shrek, you travel from room to room with different ‘hosts’ who either reenact or involve audience members in the history of London’s dark side. You explore Medieval torture scenarios from The Tower of London, life during the Plague, and highlights from Jack the Ripper’s rampage.

The script for the show is well-written and loaded with puns that people familiar with London’s history will appreciate. This is especially true of the Sweeney Todd scenes.

While this tour is indicated to be 90 minutes, I was at the attraction for two hours. This included my 10 minute stay at the attraction’s pub.

I’d advise anyone who is claustrophobic or not comfortable being in very dark places for long periods of time to skip this venue.

London South Bank: SEA Life London Aquarium

The priority line pass here is fantastic. It enabled me to skip a substantial queue after 3pm. However, this is where the Florida girl failed if you’re looking to learn all kinds of marine info from this blog.

Since I hadn’t eaten and was exhausted from continuous social media updates, I rushed through this attraction like a tidal wave. I didn’t read any exhibit signs and focused solely on taking pictures of the beautiful sea life at the venue. The fish were really entertaining. Between sharks who kept photo bombing my shots and this little ham below…

I was really entertained.

There are several opportunities to see stingrays and turtles. However, I only found one exhibit of penguins.

Sea life (especially when you’re separated from it by glass when you’re a chicken like me) is mesmerizing. I wish I had been there when it was less crowded and was able to concentrate.

Watching and hearing small children’s reactions as a giant shark whizzed by them in the tank was fun too.

In fact, I would love to go back to see the Shark feeding exhibit.

Souvenir Shopping:

Weak and weary, I travelled to an area near where I first lived in London because I know it so well- the West End. After crossing through Trafalgar Square, I went to a London souvenir shop I love in Piccadilly Circus- Cool Britannia.

Aside from pictures, buying artifacts from a trip must always be on your travel to do list. You’ll have to wait and see the vlog I post on the adventures of the day to find out what a Florida girl picked to remember this awesome day from Travelex. But, I can tell you that I did not get Mr. Sunny either of these…

London South Bank: Final Thoughts

– You must visit the London Eye the day you schedule or purchase the tickets. The other 3 attraction tickets can be used within 30 days.
– The exchange rate from sterling to dollar changes daily. At the time of this blog post it is exceptionally low compared to what I’ve seen in the past three years while living in London. While your rate might not equal what I received, I do feel what TravelEx provided as an exchange rate between the two currencies beat banks and credit cards I have used in the past. Your experience could be different.

My day was complimentary via TravelEx. This has no impact on my opinion. How could you not love getting a great exchange rate on currency? 😉

January 18, 2016 by: Sunny London

Tour the BBC Broadcasting House in London

Where can you really find out everything that’s happening in London? Behind the doors BBC Broadcasting House when you go on tour!

As an invited guest of the world’s oldest and most respected broadcasting organisations, I had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and participate in the creation of world news. This is the breaking news story of what happened.

I arrived fifteen minutes ahead of my scheduled BBC Broadcasting House Tour and went through the security check in reception.

As I waited in the Media Cafe for the tour to start, I was privy to one of the most exciting views in London. It wasn’t necessarily scenic, like that of standing at the View from the Shard, but to me it was memorizing.

I’ve mentioned many times on the blog that I met my husband while at NBC News- London. As a former journalist, watching the buzz of the news room put me in a trance of memories.

As you wait for the tour to begin, you stand over the BBC News Room. I can’t show you a picture of this due to the Charlie Hebdo tragedy that took place in January 2015. Since then, security and the areas in which you can conduct personal photography in news centres are even more restricted.

If you watch the BBC News 6pm nightly news broadcast, the view you see behind the news desk is what you overlook at the Media Café. Through the glass walls of the Media Cafe, you see a sea of journalists working hard to cover the breaking news of London and the world.

The areas of the floor are divided in to UK news and international news. People assigned to these realms of coverage sit together in teams. Many have panels of monitors surrounding their desks, understandably.

My group had two tour guides taking us through the building. Both were extremely knowledgeable, entertaining and friendly. They stick to a clear schedule.

BBC Broadcasting House Tour: What You Will Learn

A brief history of the BBC and building, including a radio replay of the building being bombed during World War II while reporters were on air.
How teams work together to create the news and weather forecasts for regional and global coverage.
How the BBC Radio Drama is made. Since our group was small, we each had a part in reading from a radio play into directional microphones. As we read through our scripts, the tour guides added sound effects via a small foley stage. The playback of our radio drama certainly is entertaining!

BBC Broadcasting House Tour: What You Will See

Some of the studios broadcasting to the Nation.
The One Show studio. At the very least, you can see the studio from outside on your tour. However, depending on your tour time, you might be able to sit on the famous sofa and have your picture taken where countless celebrities have been. Weekday tours from 3:30pm onwards don’t have access due to production schedules. Since my BBC Broadcasting Tour started at 4:30pm, I didn’t get this opportunity. However, I was invited to a broadcast of the show as an audience member.
A restored Radio Theatre, if production schedules permit. While we visited the Radio Theatre, we learned that all show guests must be paid at least £71. This isn’t a random number. It’s the minimum amount an entertainer must be paid according to his/her union. Justin Timberlake had the biggest entourage to show up and perform. Every member with him had to receive this payment.

BBC Broadcasting Tour: Fun Facts

The BBC News Channel has 250 correspondents around the world.
Anchors at the desk of the BBC News Channel and BBC One are journalists. Not ‘television personalities’. They each have a laptop and earpiece and generally write 85% of the stories they read. It’s their job to research their stories. Although some of these journalists are employed solely by the BBC News Channel, others find work as Freelance editors and can, therefore, produce content for other news stations or current affairs television shows. Working freelance has a number of unique perks including the ability to work from home if necessary. On your tour you might have the chance to sit at a news desk and see what it’s like to deliver a short broadcast.
They have a four-hour stint at a time on television.
Many celebrities stay across the street at luxury hotel Langham London when they are doing promotions or interviews with the BBC. Lady Gaga caused quite the chaotic mess when she tweeted about staying at the hotel prior to one of her appearances. An onset of crowds hoping to see her arrived in the street between the buildings. She missed the show for which she was scheduled because she couldn’t get through the crowds her own tweet initiated. #BadMonsters
Meteorologists make their own broadcasts. There are no ‘Weather Guys and Girls’ at the BBC. They don’t use scripts in the event their segments have to be altered due to other breaking news. The camera that they stand in front of auto adjusts to their size, skin tone and sound (voice). Wow!
You can email your stories to the BBC (both written and video) for the possibility they will be used for coverage. However, be assured that two people verify every piece of ‘citizen journalism’ that is chosen for use.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, the tour coordinator for my experience contacted me in early July of 2016 to indicate the BBC Broadcasting House tour stopped running in April in London. However, the other tours of BBC buildings around the UK continue to operate.

If you’re interested in media and perhaps need something different while visiting the UK, perhaps one of these tours would be of interest to you.

I’d like to give a big thank you to @BBCShowsTours for having me as a tour guest.

It was also great fun to see The One Show with hosts Alex Jones and Matt Baker. It was very entertaining watching their interviews with guests Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke, stars of British sitcom Birds of a Feather. The show is also nominated for a National TV Award.

Now, if I could just get a spot as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, life would be complete!

January 5, 2016 by: Sunny London

How to Get to the Harry Potter Studio Tour London

Is the Harry Potter Studio Tour London on your bucket list?

Before you get too excited, you need to realise it’s not an easy place to visit. Sadly, it’s like Stonehenge because it’s isolated from everything.

Many people know about the Warner Bros Studio Tour where you can see so many treasures from the Harry Potter films. However, they don’t know the quest for getting there is worthy of its own adventure novel… well at least a chapter in one!

I was lucky to go with my British husband the first time I visited Warner Bros, because he drives. However, when I went to see Hogwarts in the Snow, the special Christmas event at the attraction, he wasn’t available to chauffeur.

Warner Bros Studio is 20 miles northwest of Central London. As an American expat living here, I haven’t tried driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road yet. I imagine most travellers to London aren’t renting or hiring cars for their holidays either.

The Harry Potter Studio Tour review I wrote regularly triggers questions from readers about location. Nearly everyone asks about options for how to get to the Warner Bros studio.

You can visit the Studio’s webpage for directions. However, they aren’t as simple as they appear. As an American expat living in London, I’ve put together a list of what happens with each option.

Getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour London- Hire a Car

This is clearly the most expensive. When I entered the Central London location (Great Russell Street WC1B ) on Uber to inquire about a cab price cab one way to the Warner Bros Studio, I received this result:

Ouch! Can someone get me a broomstick to try flying first? 😉

Google Maps estimated the drive to be 41 minutes, with no traffic. It also indicated there were toll roads.

Getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour London- Take Trains

The website indicates that public transport links serve the attraction and a shuttle bus from Watford Junction is available. It costs £2 per return journey. These facts are simple, but there’s a huge hole that’s missing that you need to know. The time in between making connections can be significant!

When I had to get there myself, I relied on public transportation and had a disaster which nearly caused me to miss the Hogwarts in the Snow experience.

I used the London Underground app, which I use daily. It estimated the journey to be 81 minutes with three station changes. I live in Zone 4 and had to travel in to Central London and back out to get to Watford Junction.

What I didn’t consider, because I rarely use the Overground line (the orange one), is that these trains don’t run as rapidly as Underground trains. In fact, since an employee at a station gave me the wrong directions to a platform, I missed my train by one minute. The next one didn’t arrive for 20 more minutes.

When I did arrive at Watford Junction, luckily the shuttle to Warner Bros Studio had not left yet and was parked right outside the station. My friend had been waiting for nearly a half an hour in the rain in line to board the shuttle.

Again, the shuttles don’t travel between the station and the attraction that often.

We had tickets for the 9:00am tour but didn’t get to the Harry Potter Studio Tour London until 9:45am. If trains ran fluently, I would’ve arrived at Watford Junction at 8:15am. My journey that day cost me £4 each way (Zone 1-8). It was off-peak as it was a Saturday. On my return, I was able to get a train that went directly to Euston and this saved me 40 minutes. Here’s the 2016 Journey Fare Finder by Zone so you can calculate your trip.

Getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour London- Ride in a Coach

When I researched this option, I discovered Golden Tours is a preferred partner of the Warner Bros Studio Tour London. This is their pickup schedule and locations, which are near Victoria Station and Baker Street Station in Central London. Including transportation and time at the studio, the experience lasts approximately seven hours.

Roundtrip tickets cost about $100 per person. This is at the exchange rate of £1=$1.49. If you’re in the UK, the price is about £68 for roundtrip transportation and admission to the Harry Potter Studio Tour London.

Getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour London- Drive Yourself

There is no need whatsoever to rent (hire) a car if you’ll only be in Central London for your holiday. Therefore, it would be silly to do so just for one day for the purpose of visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour London.

However, if you’re travelling from Warner Bros from outer London, or somewhere else in England, driving yourself would be the best of all options for a no hassle experience.

Getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour London- Be Creative

Of course, there’s always a horse if you want to go old school.

Or maybe you might even try your luck jumping through Platform 9 3/4 if you’re feeling particularly inspired.

But, I would strongly suggest you look in to one of the above suggested options first, because this is as far as I got…

Getting to the Harry Potter Studio Tour London: Final Thoughts

No matter how you arrive, this attraction in London is absolutely worth the effort if you’re a fan of the Harry Potter books or Harry Potter movies. If you can’t make it to the Studio, there’s also the Brit Movie Tours Harry Potter Bus Tour. Below are videos of 10 Harry Potter Things to Do in London and highlights of what you’ll see at the studio tour. Also, I have published a video on 5 questions to ask yourself to determine if the Harry Potter Studio Tour is Worth it for You.

If you’ve been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando’s Islands of Adventure, the Dueling Challenge: London vs Orlando is a blog review on how the two attractions compare. And, to see what the studio looks like for the holiday season, you can read my review of 5 Reasons You Must See Hogwarts in the Snow.

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.
A Guide to London for Americans Visiting for the First Time

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December 31, 2015 by: Sunny London

Ode to 1995: A 20 Year Old London Blogger Love Story

Did you notice some sneaky stories from this London blogger in 2015?

2015 was a very special year for me. It marks my twenty year celebration of falling in love in London.

My About Me page tells the story of when I moved to London from Florida for the first time in 1995. It was for work experience with NBC News. At the international bureau, I met a young camerman and was enamored by him and London.

Distance didn’t work in our favor when I returned to the US after the position ended. Our lives went different directions. However, we reconnected many years later and married in 2013.

To recognise this exciting anniversary of meeting my husband and discovering London, I revisited five experiences I had in 1995 and blogged about them during 2015. Looking back at each of these adventures, you can see what has and hasn’t changed in London over the years.

A London Blogger Reunion Tour: The Tower of London

In 1995 I had some really fabulous adventures with my mother when she visited me in London and I played tour guide for her. The Tower was her favourite attraction. She’s a huge fan of English history and is fascinated with the stories of the country’s Kings and Queens.

This attraction has hardly changed in between the twenty years I visited. It’s not surprising given it’s historic significance.

However, for the 2015 trip to the attraction as a London blogger, I felt I could’ve stayed the entire day learning more about the scandals and triumphs that took place around the Tower.

During both visits the Beefeater leading the walking tour was fun, informative and memorable. Taking time to tour the Tower of London will always be one of London’s best experiences.

A London Blogger Reunion Tour: Tower Bridge

Twenty years ago my mother and I walked over the Tower Bridge. In 2015, as a London blogger I not only went up inside the bridge but also was able to take pictures through the relatively new glass floor that’s been added.

For this reason, I declare it’s the best place to take a selfie in London.

A London Blogger Reunion Tour: Madame Tussauds

Not only did I return to this world-renowned attraction in 2015, but also I tried to take some of the same pictures at Madame Tussauds that my mother and I took in 1995. Take a look at the differences between 1995 and 2015…

This was certainly the attraction that changed the most between my visits. But it stands to reason. There’s quite a line up for the Royal Family, and now Princess Diana is on the other side of the room. 🙁

There are also a few new wax figures at the museum that I hope are rotated out of circulation really soon.

A London Blogger Reunion Tour: Raves

In 1995 raves had really hit a peak. As someone who loves electronic music and dancing, I frequently hit clubs in Central London and loved raves.

A few years ago in London, Morning Gloryville began morning raves to promote healthy lifestyle. They happen once a month on a Wednesday and one weekend a month.

Arriving to ‘a club scene’ at 7:00am is certainly a novel experience. The rave scene is quite different now. You can either read about it or watch it on YouTube here…

A Longon Blogger Reunion Tour: Magical Mystery

Finally, on a cold December Sunday morning in 2015, I headed to the most important stop on my Tour. The street where it all started, Great Russell Street.

This is where I lived in Bloomsbury in 1995. The shop that I visited every morning at 6:45am to pick up a croissant before walking around the corner to NBC News is still there. Eve’s Cafe. However, it looks like it’s receiving some updates inside.

The YMCA is now the Bloomsbury Hotel and a few other shops have left the street entirely. And, of course, the streets sure weren’t lined with Boris Bikes in 1995.

At the end of the street in front of Tottenham Court Station at 11:00am each Sunday, you can still take the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour with walking guide Richard Porter.

My mother and I loved this experience in 1995. Here’s how I ended the two and a half hour walking tour back then.

To show the change in time, I didn’t ask someone to photograph me crossing London’s most famous crosswalk. Instead, I celebrated as a London blogger by snapping a selfie and doing a Periscope broadcast of me crossing Abbey Road.

On the 2015 trip I noticed Richard still shared many of the same pictures he passionately showcased years ago. He even goes to many of the same locations.

However, in the time that has passed, he’s acquired the Beatles Coffee Shop outside St. John’s Wood station. He still clearly remains the Central London authority on the fab four’s legacy.

A London Blogger Reunion Tour: X Marks the Spot

One location proved to be a huge disappointment in 2015. After covering countless afternoon teas in London as a London blogger, I wanted to go to The Ritz.

It’s the one place my mother and I had afternoon tea when she visited in 1995. It was exquisite.

I contacted The Ritz in April to inquire about writing a feature on them as a London blogger. Specifically, I wanted to talk to them about how their afternoon tea has held its prestige through the years and what they’ve kept and changed during this time.

They responded that they were just too busy to discuss any stories about this iconic experience. It was disappointing for me. That email definitely affected my interest in ever going there again.

Since 1995 afternoon tea has become a real phenomenon in London hotels. With all the wonderful choices available in the seasonal themed menus around town, I sure won’t feel limited by skipping The Ritz for afternoon tea when my mother visits again.

A London Blogger Reunion Tour: What’s on Your List

You wouldn’t think a city with such a long history in comparison to the US would have so many changes. From the big to the small, there are many to recognise. Perhaps the most obvious is this landmark below that’s become so iconic in the short time?

And of course, there’s the yearly changes to Christmas displays in shop windows for the holidays. Here’s a picture I took during the January sales of 1995…

A London Blogger looks at five attractions from 1995-2015

Liberty Christmas Window Display 1995

And the Selfridges windows of Christmas 2015…

Sunny friends, have you ever lived in a city several times or visited over a period of years and noticed changes? What attractions or events were special to you and made your ‘return bucket list’?

What’s your love story?

Finally, as an Ode to 1995 in honour of my 20-year old love story with my husband, I’m sharing a picture of the one trip outside of London that we took together that year. It’s the only picture we have together from the year we met. Digital cameras sure have changed that the amount of pictures we have now in 2015!

Can you guess where we took this picture? This country is on our 2016 bucket list!