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June 16, 2018 by: Sunny London

P.F. Chang’s Asian Table Review- Covent Garden London

American fans of P.F. Chang’s, you’ll be excited to know that there’s a new hotspot in London just for you, and that is P.F. Chang’s Asian Table. Although I am quite familiar with the Asian restaurant which first opened in Scottsdale, Arizona, I have never been to a location while living in America or visiting.

If you are like Mr. Sunny (my London born husband), you might not know the restaurant chain. It was founded on the concept of making food from scratch every day in every restaurant. P.F. Chang’s is the first multi-unit restaurant concept in the U.S. to honor and celebrate the 2,000-year-old tradition of wok cooking as the center of the guest experience. It’s first location opened in 1993.

P.F. Chang’s Asian Table- Location and Ambience

It’s no secret that Covent Garden is my favourite neighbourhood in London. So, of course, when an American based chain opens in the area, I’m all over it. P.F. Chang’s Asian Table is inches from the Leicester Square Underground Station. This means you are positioned extremely well for London’s Theatre District, if you would like to plan a meal in between your tickets for the two Harry Potter and the Cursed Child shows.

It’s intent is to bring an L.A. loft bar vibe to Covent Garden. Having been to Hollywood many times, I definitely feel P.F. Chang’s Asian Table hits the target here. However, the dark atmosphere is a bit tricky for food bloggers because it presents a real low-light challenge for capturing that perfect image to make your Instafans drool with you.

P.F. Chang’s Asian Table- Food

We started with the Boseong Cooler and Luck + Fortune cocktails. Our server recommended the Handmade Lobster & Shrimp Spring Roll. We also enjoyed the Dragon Roll. Both were great, in fact, the lightly coated tempura in the Dragon Roll made this option extra delicious.

Next, I had the Mongolian Beef and Mr Sunny had Chang’s Chicken, which was again a recommendation from our server. Both were good and very filling.

However, the real highlight hit the table when we had desserts. At first, we did not think ordering two would be smart because our previous food, cocktails and wine surely felt like enough. But, since we were invited to do a food review for the restaurant, we felt we should experience the full range of what is offered in one meal. And let’s face it, dessert menus are tough to turn down!

Sunny friends, the White Chocolate Bomb is a real jaw dropper. It is white chocolate filled with honeycomb, cocoa nibs, popping candy, chocolate soil, hazelnuts and creamy hazelnut ice cream. Your server will pour a bomb melting toffee sauce on top and you will have about 10 seconds to watch it melt in front of you. You lucky friends who catch the sunny rays on my Instastories saw a video of the explosion.

Equally as yummy is the Pina Colada Cheesecake. Although Mr Sunny enjoyed it and recommends it, the clear winner on the pastry menu is the White Chocolate Bomb.

P.F. Chang’s Asian Table- Quality and Final Thoughts

We felt the prices for the restaurant in Central London to be very reasonable, given it is billed to be ‘casual yet elegantly playful.’ Placed just a few streets away from Chinatown means competition from smaller, independently owned Chinese food venues. Therefore, it might be more appealing to Americans already familiar with the hugely popular brand in the United States. Londoners who have already professed loyalty to a hidden, off the beaten path hideaway in Chinatown might not venture across Charing Cross Road when their Asian cravings hit. However, P.F. Chang’s Asian Table in Covent Garden seems to offer the space and social scene (due to its mixologist and his creations) that would be hard to find in a smaller venue in Chinatown.

To see more about special offers, weekend brunch, and more go to the full menu on P.F. Chang’s Asian Table website.

How many Sunny friends have visited P.F. Chang’s in America? What was your experience?

May 23, 2016 by: Sunny London

Mango Tree Review- Belgravia, London

Who would’ve guessed that Mango Tree serves the swankiest cocktail in London?

At least that’s the story I am telling after my recent experience there. Sunny friends, I am not kidding. The ‘Bangkok Fizz’ is going to be my hot new drunk of choice. That’s of course after a cold glass of champagne.

This sexy mixture of Malibu, fresh lime juice, cranberry juice, lemonade with crushed ice and fresh mint really took me by surprise. But more on that later.

In the heart of Belgravia, literally on Buckingham Palace’s back door, is the ultra stylish Thai restaurant Mango Tree. With its original branch in Bangkok, this super spacious and feng-shui designed venue offers more than just a fun dining experience. It was featured on BBC1’s Masterchef and even has a mention in renowned Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s novel The Silkworm.

So, given all the hype, Mr. Sunny and I were excited when we received the invitation to take on this Thai food experience for a night.

We arrived just shortly after they opened, were whisked to the bar area and had colourful drinks in our hands within what felt like seconds.

And there she is, Miss Bangkok Fizz, front and centre. After the first sip, I fell in love. The smooth, silky feel of this drink hit me unexpectedly. Of course, the Malibu wasn’t too overpowering. I’ve always felt like it was like drinking suntan oil, light, luscious and tropical. It was the sheer lovely sensation of the drink and shock that it didn’t contain vanilla that resonated with me. For some reason it just seemed like it would have that ingredient hidden somewhere.

With nearly finished drinks, we headed to our table which was in a spacious area near a window. After ordering our food, a simple apple salad on a spoon arrived for each of us.

We both liked this little treat, as it had the right balance of a sweet and sour taste. Next, a seafood platter landed in the centre of the table and each bite was filled with excellent flavour. I may have taken more than my portion of the peanut sauce, but Mr. Sunny knows that’s one of my real weaknesses when it comes to food favourites.

For our Mains, I chose the Royal Pad Thai. Mr. Sunny picked the Pad Ka Pow. Now, I can guess that you’ve probably never seen a Pad Thai presented quite like this one below.

It is stir fried with lobster, Alaskan King Crab and the usual suspects for the Thai dish. For £32.50 I would’ve expected more lobster and crab, but the dish was tasty as served.

Mr. Sunny was a little surprised by the amount of chilli peppers in his minced meat dish and was happy it came with rice to ease the kick.

The Mango Tree restaurant in Belgravia, London serves genuine Thai dishes from each of the four main culinary regions: rich and mild dishes from the north, spicy food from the east, mild dishes influenced by the chinese cooking style from the central region, and hot and spicy food from the south.

We had excellent service and appreciate the complimentary experience. Naturally, I would be thrilled to return for the Bangkok Fizz and can only imagine how amazing the other drinks are until then. All the food I had was beautiful on a plate and rich with flavour. For an upscale evening of Thai food and swanky, spacious ambiance, Mango Tree in Belgravia is certainly an option.

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?

December 18, 2015 by: Sunny London

5 Tips for How to Survive the Holidays as an Expat

As an expat living in London, sometimes it is tough celebrating the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ when you’re in a foreign place. That’s why I have written a list of strategies for how to survive the holidays as an expat. Looking for more information on living as an expat? Maybe in specific locations, you could look at these Montenegro Guides that has very detailed information on living as an expat in Montenegro.

You’re not going to find all the answers to every problem expats encounter during the holidays here. However, I will list five strategies for you that have worked for me to make the holidays spirited and happy in another country.

Maybe these tips will help you, and hopefully you can add some more. I feel it helps expats to share ideas either in person or virtually with people going through a similar life adventure.

These are the strategies I’ve developed for making the holidays better while living as an American expat in London married to a British man…

1. How to Survive the Holidays as an Expat: Embrace the Place

You wouldn’t have left your home country if you weren’t adventurous and excited about other cultures and traveling. Remember that during the holidays.

Embrace all that your new location has to offer. For example, this year for the holidays in London I’ve decided to spend several days a week in November and December seeing sights and doing activities that I could never experience in Florida.

In October I researched when all the neighborhoods and streets I love were turning on their Christmas lights and having launch parties to celebrate the event. I tried to get to each one on the day it happened or soon after.

Next, I focused on ice skating. There’s no way I’m going to step on to the ice myself. However, ice skating seems like a fun (and definitely romantic) holiday activity. Seeing people enjoy it is very exciting to me.

In my home state of Florida, there are no outdoor ice skating rinks, even in December.

My research lead me to several other things to do in London for Christmas that I didn’t know about (including the Hogwarts in the Snow Harry Potter Studio Tour). Many of the activities I found are free too!

2. How to Survive the Holidays as an Expat: Get Up and MeetUp

I’ve always been keen to gather expats together for social events. Most recently I organized a fun, casual dinner for 7 American expats I’ve met as a London blogger.

We agreed to leave the cameras outside and met at Dirty Bones in Kingly Court of Carnaby in London last week.

During our evening, we talked about being married to British men, UK Schools vs American, benefits of acquiring UK citizenship, and confusing things British people say and do. BTW American friends from dinner, I still can’t figure out the different interpretations you suggested for closing an email to a British person… ‘Kind regards’?

If aren’t a blogger and haven’t connected with people through that pathway, you should investigate Internations. I’ve attended a few of their events and definitely recommend it to expats in large cities all over the world.

You might find it’s more for single people, but if you’re an expat living on your own in another country this will likely be your target audience for friends, so give it a go!

3. How to Survive the Holidays as an Expat: Get Crackin’

It helps to learn about your new culture as quickly as possible. While you’re making friends from international backgrounds, don’t forget to integrate the new ideas of your resident country. Learn about how people celebrate Christmas or other holidays in this town and see if you would like to adopt any of these activities as new traditions.

In England, I’ve become quite intrigued with Christmas Crackers, even though at first I thought they were really silly.

4. How to Survive the Holidays as an Expat: Make and Bake

After three long years of waiting for all my personal belongings to arrive in London, I will finally reunite with the contents of my townhouse in the US in mid-January 2016. I’ll write a blog post about the international shipping process later, as well as a review of the international shipping company I am using. I’ll include why I’ve waited three years to send all of my items in these blog posts too.

When my 45+ boxes arrive in London, I will finally have all my baking pans and dishes that I used faithfully every year in America before I moved to London. Some expats, recommended US Citizens opening a bank account in the UK
before leaving America, in a bid for you to be able to embrace all the British festivities as soon as you arrive. Additionally, they said it helped relieve initial money worries and helped them find their groundings in a new country more efficiently.

This means next year I will be baking all my favourite Italian Christmas cookie recipes for my husband (Mr. Sunny), his family, my friends, and all his work mates.

If you like to bake and cook, this is a great way to make the holidays special no matter where you are. Yes, you’ll have to struggle a bit to find all the ingredients to which you are accustom, but along the way you may learn about some new ones that might spice up your life too!

Now, I just have to hope that all my roasting pans and cookie sheets fit inside my tiny London oven!

5. How to Survive the Holidays as an Expat: Find Your Flicks

When I’m not out exploring London’s Christmas events and I want to avoid the holiday crowds, I watch Christmas movies from America in my flat so I can be in the holiday spirit.

Unlike in America, Christmas specials and movies aren’t on often in London, so I have purchased many American Christmas Movies through Amazon UK. I lost count how many times last year Mr. Sunny watched Fred Claus with me. It’s my favourite.

How to Survive the Holidays as an Expat: Final Thoughts?

Sunny friends, those are a few tips that work for me during the holidays living as an American expat in London. Since I really do believe that it helps to make virtual friends in the expat community, I’d love it for you to leave your strategies below.

Please make sure to include where you are from and where you are living. I look forward to everything you will share!

You can find more of the blog’s Christmas features here. There are also many posts on Expat Life too, plus one that includes an international shipping discount. If you’re interested in a weekly newsletter about London and don’t want to miss any Sunny news, you can subscribe here.
Happy Holidays!

November 15, 2015 by: Sunny London

Hogwarts in the Snow- 5 Reasons You MUST Go!

Have you seen Hogwarts in the Snow?

If you love Christmas and you’re a true Harry Potter fan, then you must get to the Warner Bros Studio Tour outside of London during the holiday season!

It officially opened on November 13th. Luckily, I had the chance to visit the very next morning. Since I have already reviewed the London Harry Potter Studio Tour on the blog and also created The Dueling Challenge: Harry Potter London vs Orlando, which compares both attractions, I returned to the London Studio to see the Harry Potter holiday spirit.

My friend and I spent the entire recommended three and a half hours touring the attraction, which is actually about an hour longer than I spent there the first time I went with Mr. Sunny in the summer. She and I just didn’t want to leave!

For this reason, I recommend that you go online and book your tickets before the festivities end on Sunday, January 31, 2016. There are also five other reasons you must go to see Hogwarts in the Snow…

Hogwarts in the Snow- The Great Hall

When the doors open to The Great Hall, you see all the tables decorated in festive food for the holidays.

They are the actual items used for the films. In fact, you learn during the tour that they originally tried using real food for scenes, but after several days of filming they realised that the food was a bit foul.

For a few seconds when you’re in The Great Hall, they light the Christmas pudding on fire. I caught a shot of it in the YouTube video you can see below. Yes, the flames are real.

Christmas trees are in nearly every corner of The Great Hall, and the costumes are spirited too.

Hogwarts in the Snow- Seasonal Sets

Once you finish your time in The Great Hall, you are on your own to explore the sets, costumes and special effects areas of the studio. Several of the film sets have also been adorned with holiday cheer.

Hogwarts in the Snow- See Snow

Once you depart through the snow drifts stationed in Diagon Alley, you can enjoy some Butterbeer in the snow.

In the area outside between the two sound stages where you can find the Knight Bus and Harry’s house on Privet Drive, it is snowing.

The YouTube video at the end shows the sneaky secret to what’s actually happening in this outside area.

Hogwarts in the Snow- The Christmas Covered Castle

After your journey through the Creatures area and other special effects departments, you have a chance to see several models used for the film.

And that’s when something else starts to happen.

Moving up this corridor, you start to notice the scent of Evergreen filling the air. The gorgeous Christmas smell intensifies as you move up the ramp. Eventually you reach an outlook area where a stunning view of the giant scale model of Hogwarts that was used for filming shots over the school.

The castle is covered in ice effects and snow, which artists added by hand.

It’s easy to spend a whole half of an hour taking pictures and walking around all the levels of the castle. During this time, you’ll notice the lighting change too. The idea is to show guests of Hogwarts in the Snow a serene scene that takes place from sunrise to sunset.

Hogwarts in the Snow- Santa’s List

Once you peel yourself away from the castle, you are directed to a magical wand room. Every actor from the films has a box which keeps his/her wand stored safely.

With that final temptation of being able to leave the muggle world with your own Harry Potter wand, you enter the Gift Shop.

Fans have the chance to buy every item imaginable connected to the Harry Potter Books and the Harry Potter Films.

They have Maurauders Maps, items for Lord Voldemort, and Mugs for Muggles. I think I even saw an Invisibility Cloak.

The Harry Potter Merchandise you can buy or put on your Christmas list is endless. My friend made sure to pick up a Christmas ornament for herself as a keepsake from our fun day. I think Mr. Sunny would like this beer tankard. Don’t you?

I received press passes for my visit, but you can learn more about ordering tickets here. This is a holiday event near London that you just don’t want to miss! If you can’t make it to London for the Christmas season, grab a glass of wine or champagne like me, and take a look inside the studio here by watching here…

Have you visited the Harry Potter Studio Tour, Sunny friends? What was your favourite part of the attraction?

October 25, 2015 by: Sunny London

The 10 BEST Things to Do in London at Christmas

What are 10 of the best things to do in London at Christmas? The list of possibilities is quite extensive. After all, Charles Dickens invented Father Christmas, didn’t he? 😉

Ok, ok, that’s a bit big, but really, when you think about the spirit of Christmas and the whole idea of gift giving and the celebration of the event, London is absolutely one of the places in the world that you want to be.

So what are the things to do in London at Christmas that MUST be on your list of activities? Let me show you, Sunny friends…

Things to Do in London at Christmas: Winter Wonderland

As a girl who grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida and spent tons of time at Disney World, I can safely say that you should ‘Let it Go!’ when it comes to your reservations about Winter Wonderland rides in London at Christmas.

In fact, if you ask me, the rides at Winter Wonderland are more exciting than those at Disney World. Scout’s honour! That’s if you’re interested in being flipped and tipped. It’s my favourite holiday activity, as you’ll see in this video.

Make sure if you are going to Winter Wonderland and want to make it extra special, that you read my review on How to Make Winter Wonderland Wheely Fun! 😉 It’s about the VIP experience on the Wheel.

Things to Do in London at Christmas: Ice Skating

Another fun activity that you will find in many festive Northern climate cities during the holidays is ice skating. In London, during the holidays there are many places to slide across the ice (hopefully on your skates and not your bum!).

You can join the crowds at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland or visit Somerset House. Other options for ice skating in London include: Broadgate Ice Rink, Canary Wharf Ice Rink, Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink, Ice Skating at Wembley Park, Natural History Museum Ice Rink, and the Tower of London Ice Rink.

Things to Do in London at Christmas: Shopping

Of course, there’s the obvious things to do in London at Christmas, which is shopping. To keep it simple, you’ll want to stay focused on the shops on Regent Street, Carnaby Street, and Seven Dials. Make sure you watch out for the shopping nights in these areas because they offer discounts to customers that are really valuable!

I’ll be sure to announce the shopping nights in my newsletter. In fact, I already sent the Seven Dials Christmas Shopping party with 20% discount information to subscribers. To make sure you don’t miss the other ones, subscribe here.

Things to Do in London at Christmas: Afternoon Tea

Who is able to visit London and skip afternoon tea? Not me!

There are many hotels that pride themselves each year on their festive Christmas afternoon teas. This year, you may wish to visit the Conrad St. James Snow Queen Afternoon Tea. It’s offered from November 23 2015- February 11 2016. I had the chance to preview it in October. My review will thoroughly explain why I choose it for this year’s Queen of the Christmas Afternoon Tea!

Although, that afternoon tea is certainly riveled by the One Aldwych Hotel’s long-standing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired afternoon tea, which will be offered at least until the remainder of this year.

Popular Christmas afternoon teas from 2014 include the Corinthia Hotel and the Sofitel St James, who offered the Buche de Noel French inspired tea in honour of the hotel’s French ownership.

Things to Do in London at Christmas: Hogwarts in the Snow

One of the newest iconic things to do in London at Christmas is visiting the Warner Bros Studio Tour. From November 13, 2015 – January 31, 2016 the ‘Hogwarts in the Snow’ tour is offered. Iconic sets are decorated for festive scenes, the Great Hall is lined with trees, and the Hogwarts castle model is covered in a blanket of filmmaking snow.

Unfortunately, the Christmas dinner in the ‘Great Hall’ for December 3, 2015 is already sold out, Sunny friends. Make sure you read my blog post on what the studio tour involves before heading to Watford, London.

Things to Do in London at Christmas: Charles Dickens Museum

Visiting the Charles Dickens Museum is a great activity any time of the year. Aside from touring the inside of one of Dickens’ homes, the museum has year-round activities for literary lovers. They offer Dickensian Walks, Costumed Tours, and a reading group. You can read my review of the Charles Dickens Museum to learn more about what’s inside for you.

Things to Do in London at Christmas: Elf

Just a few streets away from the Charles Dickens Museum is the Dominion Theatre on Tottenham Court Road. From now until January 2, 2016 the show based on the 2003 hit film starring Will Farrell is running in the West End. You can see a trailer of the show here.

Things to Do in London at Christmas: See Santa

Seeing Santa at Christmas is everyone’s dream. There are many places around London this is possible. At Westfield London you can climb aboard Santa’s sleigh for a cinematic adventure. Santa’s Snowflake Grotto this year at Kew Gardens will have dancing lit-up fountains, a choir of holly bushes and a scented fire garden.

Royal Albert Hall has children’s tours with Victorian-themed stories and activities. If you’re a Florida girl like me and sometimes prefer a tropical climate over a snow storm, Santa’s Grotto at the Rain Forest Cafe might be something you consider too.

However, I’m told one of the best experiences for adults and children hoping to see Santa is at Leeds Castle, but that is a bit outside of London.

Things to Do in London at Christmas: IceBar London

If you’re thinking that it’s not appealing to subject yourself to -5° Celsius on purpose when it’s already very cold outside, you obviously haven’t been to the IceBar in London.

Soon after Mr. Sunny proposed to me, we visited the IceBar on a cold night in December. It features a ‘cold sensory experience where the walls, bar, table and even your own personal glass are made from Torne River ice which is harvested from the pristine winter wonderland of Jukkasjärvi in Northern Sweden.’ We also stayed for dinner after enjoying the subzero drinking experience. You can read more about my thoughts on the food and review for the Icebar here. Mr. Sunny and I highly recommend it!

Things to Do in London at Christmas: Drink Beer and Mulled Wine

Finally, something the British people do year round is drink. So, the holidays means you can enjoy festive ales at pubs while you’re sitting by the fireplace at your favourite local. You can also experience the traditional autumn/holiday beverage, mulled wine (AKA ‘Viking Blood’).

Ok, before you panic and feel like I’ve drained all the fun out of Christmas with that last picture, let me clarify that mulled wine is made with a recipe of red wine, various mulling spices and raisins. It’s not a drink for me. The smell is quite strong. However, it seems to be quite popular with everyone else in London at Christmas time.

If you haven’t visited the Sunny in London recommended Pub Crawls yet, make sure you do that too. Mr. Sunny and his father (both life-long Londoners) also recommend The Good Pub Guide 2019.

Things to Do in London at Christmas: Shopping Guide

If you’re visiting London and need shopping advice, you can watch the videos below. For printable maps of the areas I recommend, visit here.

Things to Do in London at Christmas: Your List?

That’s a quick list of my must see and things to do in London at Christmas. What do you suggest, Sunny friends? Don’t miss the 2016 video on ‘Christmas Things to Do in London That You Can’t Do in NYC‘ on the Sunny News YouTube channel!

Please leave your thoughts, experiences and questions in the comments below. Of course, if you found this valuable, I’d love it if you pinned it or shared it on your other social networks!

Happy Holidays to you!

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.

October 23, 2015 by: Sunny London

James ‘Bond in Motion’- The Bond Wagon

What’ the biggest British film being released this year in London? Spectre. And the Bond in Motion exhibition at the London Film Museum in Covent Garden offers an avid 007 fan an upclose look at the cinematic life of the world’s most famous secret agent.

Sunny friends, I jumped on to the Bond wagon a bit late. My friend had a New Year’s Eve party in 2007 in which guests had to dress as Bond characters. It was a blast, but I didn’t really know much about the franchise so I tried to dress as the latest Bond girl from Casino Royale.

When I saw Skyfall in the theatre with my mom and dad in 2012, I became a franchise fan. My dad really enjoyed Bond films.

Daniel Craig isn’t hard on the eyes, so I made sure to grab a smooch with him at Madame Tussaud’s earlier this year.

And then I visited Bond’s history at the London Film Museum.

Bond in Motion- What You’ll See

Upon entering the building in Covent Garden, you’ll see a model of the helicopter used in Skyfall suspended in the air just beyond the entrance. Inside you will get close to over 100 individual original items never seen before, like the bloody tuxedo from Casino Royale, passports for 007, and more.

The exhibition takes place over two floors. The top is devoted to sketches, storyboards, a few props, and models used in creating some of the James Bond movies.
As a press guest of the museum, I received complimentary entry and an audio device which played supporting information for the displays.

After touring the top, I visited the lower level. It included a cafe, gift shop, some costumes, cars and other vehicles from the James Bond films.

Bond in Motion- Dr. No or Should You Go?

As a girl growing up in Daytona Beach (the home of stock car racing), I learned to love fast cars and the rumble of motorcycles. However, not living those years watching Bond films was a deficit for me at the Museum.

How do you know if you should go?

Take the short test below.

If you can name all the cars and the films in which they were featured, then missing the Bond in Motion exhibition would be a wreck for you.

Mr. Sunny scored a 100 on the test, as he reviewed all my pictures when I returned home that night. I had taken a picture of each plaque on the wall with exhibit information so I would know the cars when I got home. He didn’t need any of my ‘notes’ to match the film to the car.

Bond in Motion: Have Some Pun

I’m happy I visited the exhibition. It’s an inside look at the history of one of 2015’s biggest film events. However, being a bit of a prankster myself, I decided to wind up the staff a bit before I left.

I walked over to the cafe to see if they’d taken any creative liberties with the menu. First, I asked if they served Octopussy. The staff member was neither amused nor entertained with that or my follow up, ‘How about a juice, shaken not stirred?’

Next, I made a stealthy move for the gift shop. Again, there wasn’t much of a smile when I asked the clerk if he could gift wrap a goldfinger for me.

Bond in Motion: The Money Shot

I think it would be great if the Bond in Motion exhibition had a green screen area for guests. Instead of playing Quidditch, like guests do at the Making of Harry Potter Tour at Warner Bros, perhaps guests could engage in a high speed car chase? Maybe jump from train to train in a chase and then fall hundreds of feet in to the water only to save the world from terrorists moments later?

That’s probably a bit too technical.

They do give people a chance to jump in front of the iconic gun barrel image and make their best Bond impersonation as a souvenir.

These two chaps seemed to have Bonded quite well over that fun opportunity…

Bond in Motion: Final Thoughts

This exhibition at the London Film Museum has been extended due to its popularity. Before you put it on your holiday itinerary, check the website to see if it’s still happening.

While you can’t really take pictures standing next to the cars or other memorabilia, it’s certainly worth a visit for those who’ve been held in Bondage through the years. No! not bondage like you might find on sites like www Nu Bay or similar.

Thank you again to the London Film Museum at 45 Wellington Street, Covent Garden for having me as a guest.

I’m wondering if my sister, an avid motorcycle rider, can name these? Or maybe you can help? How many pictures above could you guess?

August 14, 2015 by: Sunny London

NFL Games in London- A Player’s Perspective

What would you ask a professional football player about his NFL Games in London experience?

In my American expat adventures around London, I find that people on both sides of the pond want to know about life on the other side. When I scored the chance to have an exclusive interview with an NFL player, I set the questions around the London game experience and his perception of London.

Recently, I spent an entire day with the Jacksonville Jaguars as they prepare for the upcoming American football season. You know, the kinds that likely know about the best guide we have seen to Peyton Manning gear or other options for their sport. After being on the field watching a gruelling practice in the sun and 90 degree temperatures, I hit the locker room with other media members for a chance to talk to players and get the lowdown for those who are interested in finding out fantasy football news.

Ok, I didn’t actually hit the locker room. The PR team for the Jacksonville Jaguars figuratively pushed me.

I’m not a sports journalist so my balls were a bit deflated when it came to approaching half dressed, sweaty men to ask them questions especially when some of these men are seen as icons, working with places similar to Playing Field Promotions as motivational speakers. But, I quickly learned it was the only way I would get direct access to this story. I couldn’t just stand around and wait for cool stuff to happen.

As #21 Toby Gerhart sat exhausted at his locker, I approached him to see if he had some time to talk to me about London. He was fully dressed and mixing up a protein drink. It was a safety zone for me. He wasn’t hard on my eyes either, if you know what I mean.

After he looked at my ‘I make champagne disappear. What’s your super power?’ shirt with a bit of amusement, he agreed to entertain my questions. Surely he wondered how the hell I got in the room, but he didn’t indicate these thoughts to me.

In my best hard-hitting tough blogger with a media pass pitch I said, ‘I’m a Daytona Beach, Florida girl living in and blogging about London. I want to know how you and your team are preparing for the Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills game on October 25th in London.’

With no hesitation, he said the team prepares hard for every game.

‘Damn. Now what?’ I thought. I was verbally sacked like a rookie quarterback.

For the next 15 minutes, we instead had a truly lovely chat about what NFL players do when they visit London.

Let me assure you Sunny friends, when the Jaguars cross the pond, their focus is ON. THE. GAME. Specifically, they want touchdowns and field goals in the End Zone.

Buuuut, when they do have a window of free time, this is what happens…

Playing in the NFL Games in London: Attractions

Toby said he really enjoyed taking his wife on The London Eye, seeing Buckingham Palace, and taking pictures in front of Big Ben (the monument not the Burgh boy, if you’re a confused Steeler fan). He also said last year they were playing around Remembrance Day so their trip to see the Tower was extraordinary because it was when it was surrounded by a sea of poppies.

I also learned from a team representative that quite a few players hit the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour since their first hotel was in Watford.

Playing in the NFL Games in London: Beer

Since pub crawls weren’t possible due to the nature of his visit and obvious game focus, Toby said he only saw a limited amount of pubs but thought they were really interesting.

He said a friend of his living in London took him to one but he couldn’t remember the name. He said he thought it was the oldest one in London. Hmmm. I didn’t tell him that ‘fact’ didn’t narrow it down much for my readers 😉 Ye oldest pub in London is kind of on every corner.

Playing in the NFL Games in London: Ball Boy

Toby said the British were pretty swift in spotting him as a professional American football player. However, when they asked what position he played, they generally had no idea what to do when he said ‘Running Back.’ He said that once he explained to them that his primary job is to catch the ball and run, they thought he was bloody brilliant. (My language translation there, not his.)

Playing in the NFL Games in London: Royal Flush

At Kensington Palace, Toby and his wife had a chance to snack at the royal residence but didn’t see anyone rocking a coat of arms that they could recognize. Apparently his wife and I (and most American girls) share a Kate obsession too! She had hoped to catch a glimpse of a royal family member while in town.

Playing in the NFL Games in London: Tea for Two

Toby didn’t join his wife for afternoon tea last year during his NFL trip. Obviously, she had more time than him to dine and live the London life. I absolutely offered to take the NFL wives to my favourite afternoon tea and food spots when they return this year and hope they take me up on the offer.

Playing in the NFL Games in London: Here Comes the Sun

Another highlight of Toby’s trip included walking across Abbey Road. He said he made room for a little ma-ma-magical mystery tour on his free day and hit the infamous Beatles zebra crossing. And yes, he made sure his mom watched a video of his walk in the road too.

Playing in the NFL Games in London: Eleanor Rugby?

Toby spoke very favourably about his trip to London and looks forward to this year’s game when he can return. The team will be there for a much shorter time than last year.

He hopes to attend a British football game (AKA soccer) but doesn’t know if the team’s schedule will permit it. Since the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars also owns the Fulham Football Club, I would guess getting tickets wouldn’t be a problem.

If he had the chance to hit a rugby game too, he said that would be great.

Playing in the NFL Games in London: Tackling the Tube

The team stayed outside of London for most of the 2014 trip. However, they stayed in Central London for a few days too. Toby loved walking around Hyde Park and didn’t throw up any flags when it came time to taking the Underground. He seemed to think this mode of transportation that most Londoners dread was ok actually. I imagine with his massive size, people probably didn’t get in his way too much during his journeys.

Stand on the right, pass on the left?

Playing in the NFL Games in London: Overtime

I chose not to ask this very congenial and Stanford smart NFL player for a selfie with me when we finished our chat. After all, I was a girl in a mens’ locker room. It didn’t seem professional or the right setting. So, I stuck to using the shots I took during the practice on the field for this blog feature.

What are your thoughts on that?

Upon leaving the NFL players’ locker room, I was whisked away to the Director of Football Logistics and Facility for a play by play rundown of how they plan for the NFL Games in London. I’ll have a separate post on that published for you soon, Sunny friends.

Be sure if you are American and visiting London for the first time and want a little help on what to do and where to go that you give my Guide to London for Visitors a good look. Leave questions or comments below about an NFL player’s perspective on London and anything you need from me to prepare for a trip to my favourite town too!