Shop, shop, shop!

Question of the week: “The Christmas crunch is just around the corner! Where do you like to do most of your Christmas shopping?”

"Considering my lack of patience when it comes to shopping, I'd recommend any place that is not crowded, offers great deals either because the stores are generally affordable or have items on sale and, lastly, there must be loads of eateries around so I can look forward to a reward after a day full of laborious shopping. Since no such place exists in London, I would suggest compromising your shopping times and go to Oxford St, but instead of pushing through the crowds on a Saturday morning, go on the last opening hours of a Monday or Thursday night, say between 7.30pm-9pm. Oxford Street can actually be very pleasant this time of year, as long as you miss the surge of crowds, where you can feel the spirit of the season through random choirs, blinking lights, and decorations absolutely everywhere."- Christina

* Photo by markhillary, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Shop, shop, shop!

Question of the week: “The Christmas crunch is just around the corner! Where do you like to do most of your Christmas shopping?”

"London has so many markets where you can find original, often handcrafted presents. Spitalfields market one of my favourites. The Stableyard market in Camden is a great place to shop for presents, though it gets very busy on the weekend. In the last minute Christmas rush I pop down to Borough market for edibles and consumables to make hampers, Borough Market is fantastic during the festive season."- Heather

* Photo by WTL photos, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Shop, shop, shop!

Question of the week: “The Christmas crunch is just around the corner! Where do you like to do most of your Christmas shopping?”

"Camden Town Market and Brick Lane. Loads of intriguing items available at cool prices!"- Prof Kucich

* Photo by Franco Caruzzo, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Shop, shop, shop!

Question of the week: “The Christmas crunch is just around the corner! Where do you like to do most of your Christmas shopping?”

"I’m planning a visit to Greenwich Market to finish up my Christmas shopping – lots of hand-made goodies and indie shops mean that I should be able to find jewellery that my mum will love, cute toys that my nephew and nieces will enjoy that don’t need batteries, and something my hard-to-buy-for brother doesn’t already have! I also plan to pick up some mulled cider and walk up to the top of Greenwich park, to escape the crowds and recharge my festive batteries with a visit to the deer who roam the woods there."- Miss Alice

* Photo by Ian Wilson, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Study Space

You asked about alternative study space near Conway Hall

- Heather answers,

"Most of these are coffee shop style areas (a fair few are tried and tested by myself during my masters a few years ago!)

• Royal Festival Hall - various study friendly spots in the building, free wifi 
• Imax - Benugo coffee house - on the Lower Ground floor at the Imax
• Oasis Hub Coffee House -Kennington Road (a coffee house situated inside a church building - so there is lots of space, can get busy at lunch times but tends to be quieter in the morning or afternoons, free wifi) 
• BFI - Benugo coffee house/kitchen (big sofas and comfy seating, not a lot of table space but you can sit there a long time with one coffee without being moved on, free wifi ) 
• Waterloo Library on Lower Marsh 
• Costa - Kennington Road - A fairly quiet coffee house (by Costa's standards)" 

Miss Alice adds:

"Just around the corner from the London Centre, you’ll find the Westminster Reference Library, with three floors of study space as well as specialist collections in art, theatre, law and business.

Further afield, try the Bishopsgate Library, to study in a beautiful Victorian reference library surrounded by hundreds of books on London , or the Guildhall Library, which may be less beautiful than the 15^thCentury Guildhall it sits alongside, but offers plentiful study space, and a rich London-focussed collection.

For non-Library options, you could break out the books in the British Museum’s Great Court, or make revision a pleasure with tea and cake at YumChaa on Berwick Street, where they have a capacious basement area, or a book shop cafe - maybe the Cafe at Foyles, or closer to home, the Costa upstairs in Waterstones on Trafalgar Square."

* Photo by Auntie P, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Spread The Good Cheer

Question of the week: “Can you recommend a tree lighting, jolly fair, or festive market to boost your Christmas spirit in London?”

"Whilst studying at drama school in my late teens, it was necessary for me to work all available free hours that I could find to supplement my living costs (so what’s new?). Opting for the easy solution, I took up work as a waiter and spent a number of seasons employed at my local Café Rouge in Hampstead. As many will already know, higher degrees of pay can be earned during unsocial hours and I found myself willingly working late on Christmas Eve, and for as much as I expected to have any festive spirit dashed by working those crucial hours I instead found myself flung headfirst into the Christmas atmosphere through engaging with a steady stream of extremely cheery families & well wishers.

Ever since then (and yes, it feels like an age ago) I’ve tried, where possible, to visit Hampstead as late as I can on Christmas Eve to indulge in the general feeling of everyone savouring the last few hours of socialising before digging their heels into some arduous ‘quality time’ with close, and sometimes all too distant family."-Hal

* Photo by Arslan, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Spread The Good Cheer

Question of the week: “Can you recommend a tree lighting, jolly fair, or festive market to boost your Christmas spirit in London?”

"The first Christmas tree lighting I saw in London was the one right next to the London Centre, Trafalgar Square, and it has since been my favourite! Every year, London is presented with a Norwegian tree as a symbol and gift reflecting Norway's appreciation for Britain's assistance during World War II. This Thursday's lighting marks the 65th year of this long standing tradition, and starts at 5pm. It will surely bolster your holiday spirit to pop out of your last class tomorrow and enjoy the festivities by listening to Christmas carols and seeing a tree lit not only by its own twinkling lights, but by the magnificent surroundings of Trafalgar Square."-Christina

* Photo by jaimelondonboy, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Spread The Good Cheer

Question of the week: “Can you recommend a tree lighting, jolly fair, or festive market to boost your Christmas spirit in London?”

"From December 7th-14th, Petersham Nurseries hosts a wonderful Christmas fair, which is lit by candlelight and accompanied by a carolling choir. Doesn't get much more Christmassy than that!"-Jamie

* Photo by Skokie Public Library, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Spread The Good Cheer

Question of the week: “Can you recommend a tree lighting, jolly fair, or festive market to boost your Christmas spirit in London?”

"It’s not a Christmas Market per se, but I always find myself drawn to Spitalfields Markets at this time of year, for the wide variety of stalls, shops, and a sprinkling of festive events. I’m thinking the Crisis Christmas Market on the 10th in particular, which sounds like fun, and for a good cause. (Crisis is a major housing and homelessness charity).

Plus, visiting Spitalfields puts you within easy reach of the Geffrye Museum, a museum about ordinary people’s homes through history. For Christmas they decorate each of their period rooms in appropriate historical Christmas style, and, especially if you haven’t already visited them, it’s a Christmas must-see."-Miss Alice

* Photo by Daquella manera, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Road Load

Question of the week: “What is your favourite road in London?”

"My favourite road is the central high street of Southall called the Broadway. It is the hub of London's 'Little India' and has incredible Indian and Pakistani food, fabric shops and so much more. It is an incredible experience visiting Southall, I recommend it to everyone!"-Heather

* Photo by gingerbeardman, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Road Load

Question of the week: “What is your favourite road in London?”

"I have so many favourite roads all over London, but I will pick one very close to the London Centre: Cecil Court. It is a one-block courtyard street lined with bookshops and print shops, located just off Charing Cross Road a few minutes walk up from the National Portrait Gallery. It’s the best single block in London for concentration of wonderful book and print shops. At Story’s Antiquarian Prints, you can still buy eighteenth-century prints for reasonable prices (they make fabulous gifts!). Travis Emery Music specialises in musical scores and early as well as contemporary books on many different types of music. Stephen Poole’s Fine Books offers many first editions of great literary works. Drummond’s Theatrical Bookseller is the best place in London for books, posters, advertisements, and all kind of paraphernalia connected with London’s theatrical world from the early nineteenth century to the present. This is just a taste of the pleasures of Cecil Court. You could spend hours there. Charing Cross Road is not what it used to be in terms of long rows of bookshops, but it still features a substantial assortment of bookshops running up from Cecil Court. "- Prof Kucich

* Photo by ulle.b, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Road Load

Question of the week: “What is your favourite road in London?”

"It isn’t particularly pretty, but Whitechapel Road, which turns into Mile End Road and then the ubiquitous ‘High Street’ as you head east. It’s been the main road home to everywhere I’ve lived in London for the past decade, and there’s just something about sitting on the night bus watching the familiar blend of history, modernity, and the ordinary slide past.

It’s a wonderful mix of personal and public landmarks for me – the side road to the studio where the band used to rehearse, the campus where my best friend went to uni - jumbled up with public history and current culture, like the Whitechapel Gallery, Altab Ali Park, Mile End’s Green Bridge, the East London Mosque, and the bell foundry where Big Ben and the Liberty Bell were cast. I wouldn’t recommend it for a picturesque tourist stroll, but if you’re heading east to Brick Lane for a curry, do take a little time to explore a little further along Whitechapel Road."- Miss Alice

* Photo by Ravages, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Road Load

Question of the week: “What is your favourite road in London?”

"One of my favourite roads/streets is Great Russell Street. Surely the imposing British Museum and its majestic front entrance is a valid reason for liking this street, but it's also the petite and quiet subtlety that make it memorable. It is decorated with shops and cafes opposite the museum, along with charmingly built residential flats. The street is almost always crowded with sounds of cameras and flashes of light, but if you care to stroll after the museum closes, the experience of walking through transforms from crowded to restful. And the fact that Oxford Street is just around the corner, doesn't hurt ;-)"- Christina

* Photo by gorgeouxness, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Road Load

Question of the week: “What is your favourite road in London?”

"If you look on a map you'll see that The Mall, The Strand, Fleet Street, and Ludgate Hill form essentially one long road that runs all the way from Buckingham Palace at one of its majestic end to St. Paul's at its equally majestic other. If we could count that as continuous whole then I think it would take some beating. Not the prettiest road in London perhaps, but certainly the grandest!"- Jamie

* Photo by markhillary, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

British Sunday Roast

Question of the week: “Can you recommend a place that serves a tasty British Sunday Roast?”

"The Bull in Islington is a yummy place for a Sunday Roast. This relaxed pub is located on the corner of Upper St and Theberton St, a great location for both good British food and people watching! Upper Street is full of joggers, couples, friends, and strollers on Sunday mid-morning/afternoon. I would recommend the aged beef with the Yorkshire pudding and a refreshing drink to top off this ultra-British experience."- Christina

* Photo by littleghoti, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

British Sunday Roast

Question of the week: “Can you recommend a place that serves a tasty British Sunday Roast?”

"This is a tough question for me, especially as a vegetarian, Mildred’s in Soho do some appropriately ‘traditional English’ veggie dishes (like their mushroom and ale pie answer to the traditional steak and ale), but they’re not open on a Sunday. I hear good things from my omnivorous friends about Hawksmore Seven Dials – not cheap and very meat-based, but recommended by several groups of friends.

I think this is definitely one of those areas where learning to cook can pay off many times over. The trick is getting everything to be ready at the same time. Nigella Lawson has an excellent timetable in “How To Eat”. I highly recommend it: it makes everything so simple & I’ve edited my copy to cover the timings for a Quorn roast with all the trimmings ;p Once you’ve got a timing plan, it’s a very impressive meal but relatively simple - and inviting friends and family round for a Sunday roast is always going to get you top hospitality scores!"- Miss Alice

* Photo by sea turtle, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

British Sunday Roast

Question of the week: “Can you recommend a place that serves a tasty British Sunday Roast?”

"Room 1-03, Conway Hall, Waterloo."- Jamie

* Photo by andybullock77, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

British Sunday Roast

Question of the week: "Can you recommend a place that serves a tasty British Sunday Roast?”

"Conway Hall is very near one of London's top Sunday Roast spots! The Anchor and Hope (on the Cut) is renowned for serving up incredible food and outstanding Sunday lunches. There is only one sitting on a Sunday (at 2pm) and you will need to book. However it is fairly pricey, so for a cheaper local roast head down to the Dog House in Kennington, a great pub for a relaxed Sunday afternoon."- Heather

* Photo by tomylee, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

New Annual Celebrations?

"Just to follow up on Miss Alice's recommendation to commemorate the Great Fire of London, I would suggest visiting The Monument, located on the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill. Only about sixty metres from the place where the fire started back in 1666, you can climb the 311 steps up to the top of the Monument where you can enjoy great panoramic views of the city!"- Christina

* Photo by Thamer Al-Hassan, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

New Annual Celebrations?

Question of the week: Guy Fawkes Day has just passed reminding us all of his failed plot! In your opinion, which historical event deserves an annual day of commemoration in the UK?

"I think you could make that case that Remembrance Day (11th November) should be a public holiday, although it is already an annual day of commemoration, and sometimes two : a two minute silence is traditionally held at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, whilst wreaths are laid and services held on the nearest Sunday. Originally the anniversary of the end of the First World War (Armistice Day) Remembrance Day now commemorates the memory of those who have been affected in all conflicts.

If you wanted something London-based, then maybe the anniversary of the Great Fire of London should be celebrated each September – the accidental fire has had so much impact on the architecture of our City, although I guess fireworks and bonfires would be pretty inappropriate."- Miss Alice

* Photo by jon smith, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

New Annual Celebrations?

Question of the week: Guy Fawkes Day has just passed reminding us all of his failed plot! In your opinion, which historical event deserves an annual day of commemoration in the UK?

"Just as Armistice Day (11th November) and VE Day (8th May) are poignant landmarks in British history, commemorating the end of some of the bloodiest periods that contemporary records will reflect, Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo (18th June) marks the welcome closure to one of the more violent and prolonged stretches of attrition that made much of Europe and its surrounding environs a battleground for over a decade – technically lasting longer than either of the 20th century’s World Wars.

Wherever your sympathies lie, it’s undeniable that the end of the Napoleonic era had a considerable effect on the world, be that in simple terms such as the threat to young men’s lives or to more subjective terms such as the arts & culture in general. With so many casualties amassed on both sides and with such a landmark shift in near-global politics attributed to it, it seems a pity that this date may pale into eventual insignificance.

For those less inclined to commemorate the Napoleonic Wars in particular, you may note it’s also the date that the Americans officially declared “war” on the British (which arguably has yet to be resolved) alongside being the date seminal rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix burnt his Fender Stratocaster onstage at Monterey."- Hal

* Photo by Simon D. Gardner, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

New Annual Celebrations?

Question of the week: Guy Fawkes Day has just passed reminding us all of his failed plot! In your opinion, which historical event deserves an annual day of commemoration in the UK?

"Would it not be nice if we could celebrate William Shakespeare by having an annual day of rememberance? All offices/businesses should close and England can join in a national celebration of one of Britain's greatest treasures! It's not very common to have a day dedicated to a literary figure, but there's no harm in acknowledging the massive impact Shakespeare had and continues to have on literature, culture and universal truths."- Christina

* Photo by Lincolnian (Brian), used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

House or Museum?

Question of the week: Can you suggest a house-turned-museum based in London?

"The Georgian home of Charles Dickens in Holborn is a biased recommendation! 'Oliver Twist' was one of those books I read countless times as a child and luckily enough, this house-turned-museum is where Dickens wrote the book from start to finish. Although Dickens only lived at this residence for two years or so as he then moved on to homes that more closely reflected his increasing wealth, it is the only one still standing. The museum displays paintings, manuscripts, and orginal furniture--and of couse, a persevering sense of literary creativity."- Christina

* Photo by NezTez, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

House or Museum?

Question of the week: Can you suggest a house-turned-museum based in London?

"Top of my list to visit is Two Temple Place. It’s just down the road, looks absolutely stunning, and I’ve never been there – because it only opened to the public this past weekend!

It used to be William Waldorf Astor’s London home, and the building itself is ornate, luxurious, and beautiful. It’s now going to host exhibitions of world-class art from regional British collections, and they begin with an exhibition on east-London arts and crafts star William Morris. Which makes this a two-for-one. The William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow is lending the art and objects for this exhibition as they’re currently closed for refurbishment, and they are also one of my favourite houses-turned-museums: William Morris’ own.

I know I’ll be paying this house a visit as soon as I get back to London – if you beat me to it, let me know what you thought. "- Miss Alice

* Photo by ramseyarnaoot, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

House or Museum?

Question of the week: Can you suggest a house-turned-museum based in London?

"I recommend the Freud Museum in West Hampstead. It's the house he spent his last years in and much to the annoyance of Freud museums elsewhere they have managed to hold on to most of his personal possessions, including (most importantly) his famous couch!"- Jamie

* Photo by Pitel, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

House or Museum?

Question of the week: Can you suggest a house-turned-museum based in London?

"18 Folgate Street in Spitalfields (near Liverpool Street) is a time capsule of Georgian life. Each room of the house has been designed to look as though its occupants have just left so there is a lot of atmosphere!"- Heather

* Photo by Mallix, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Halloween

Question of the week: "How do you like to celebrate Halloween in London?”

"I’ve had my eye on the Ham House out in Surrey. I realize it’s a bit far, but it’s nothing a short, weekend trip couldn’t handle. This one hour tour of what is one of England’s oldest and spookiest houses is followed by a reception with drinks and canapés. Since I scare easily, a relaxing, canapé filled follow-up doesn’t sound too intimidating—the unexplained and scary have to be balanced with something refreshing! Booking is essential, and the price is a bit steep, but then again, when will you have the chance to navigate a house that is allegedly haunted by the Duchess of Lauderdale and her spaniel? "- Christina

* Photo by ricoeurian, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Halloween

Question of the week: How do you like to celebrate Halloween in London?

"Being in the British Isles, there’s thankfully no end of relevant acts that one can indulge in to commemorate the Festival of the Parentalia. Given that it’s probably a little too much bother to hitch a ride to your nearest Neolithic stone circle, don some animal skins and see the Samhain through like a good old fashioned Celt, I find you can do worse than to invest in some moderately priced makeup & prosthetics and brush up on your ‘zombie with severe wounds’ special effects tutorials. Charles Fox (http://www.charlesfox.co.uk/) of Covent Garden are particularly adept at providing what’s needed, they come in great use for some materials & advice for much the same whilst I studied at Drama School. Once you, and some other willing friends, have reached a point of expertise at appearing to be undead, select a number of pubs in line with each other and see which of them ‘get the joke’ when you walk at death’s pace towards the bar, moaning “graaains... fermented graaaiiins...”. Works a treat, if not a little tricky."- Hal

* Photo by sunface13, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Halloween

Question of the week: How do you like to celebrate Halloween in London?

"I love exploring some of London's eerie and mysterious venues at Halloween. This year(until the 25th only) there is the Minotaur, an atmospheric 'resto-gallery' at the Old Vic Tunnels, a collaboration between artists and culinary experts themed on depictions of the mythical bull-headed creature. I also love going one of the food markets around town (Borough market or Lower Marsh) in search of the perfect pumkin for some crafty carving. Fortnum and Mason even have a pumkin carving competition on the 28th October!"- Heather

* Photo by renecunningham, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Halloween

Question of the week: How do you like to celebrate Halloween in London?

"I've never been a great fan of Halloween, but the "Halloween Screamings" at the Round Chapel look quite fun this year. They're showing The Exorcist at 7:30 on Friday, 28th October. I may go along."- Jamie

* Photo by Hourman, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Halloween

Question of the week: How do you like to celebrate Halloween in London?

"It’s no secret that I love Halloween, but how I celebrate varies a lot, year to year: gigs, fancy dress nights out, seasonal film showings, ghost walks, or bat watching. There are so many historical horror stories embedded in London’s past that ghost walks and graveyard tours have to be high on the list."- Miss Alice

* Photo by V O N, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London Calling

Question of the week: When traveling outside the UK, what do you miss about London the most?

"When away from London, I miss the ability of being able to switch from the dense urban sprawl of the West End to the rich & verdant rural landscapes of Hampstead, and its surrounding areas, within a few simple minutes on the tube. Additionally, though England’s capital hasn’t historically been credited for maintaining much of a 24 hour society, that’s certainly changing. Whether you choose to take that as meaning you can still find a bite to eat in the small hours or taking the opportunity to do something breathtaking such as walking through the City of London at 1am or crossing one of many of London’s bridges late at night."- Hal

* Photo by pic fix, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London Calling

Question of the week: When traveling outside the UK, what do you miss about London the most?

"I could say the transport system, but I really enjoy getting to know public transport systems in new cities, so I’ll say “how easy it is to eat out”. I’m sure it’s at least as much a function of familiarity as it is the range of restaurants on offer, but I very rarely feel that being vegetarian limits my dining choices in London, but it can make eating out on holiday a bit of a logistics nightmare, especially if I’m somewhere where I don’t speak the local language. "- Miss Alice

* Photo by modenadude, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London Calling

Question of the week: When traveling outside the UK, what do you miss about London the most?

"What I miss about London is how a mere walk on the street can spur intrigue because of some historical fact posted on a wall, or a sign, or a plaque. Every garden has a story, practically each building is entrenched in history, and even benches have engraved memorials to someone or something. I guess what is mesmerising about the history is not so much how extensive it is (considering other, older countries), but rather, how the history is engraved into the city itself, in a modern and commemorative way. Since history, literature, and quotes are constantly around you, it’s hard not to learn something new every single day."- Christina

* Photo by Steve Hunnisett, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London Calling

Question of the week: When traveling outside the UK, what do you miss about London the most?

"I spend a lot of time on the Southbank and love the way that you always stumble across an unexpected street performance, fair or festival. There is always such a sense of vibrancy, creativity and movement. So, when I travel I miss being able to wonder out of my front door into such a dynamic space. Of course there are many places you can visit that are full of creative activity around the world but the Southbank has something very special. More generally, I miss the cultural diversity of London, which is often made so accesible through food, exhibitions, markets, festivals and events.

I have also found I miss the coffee - once you have tasted Monmouth Coffee in Covent Garden, it is hard to find a match elsewhere!"- Heather

* Photo by swh, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Delicious Dinner on a Budget

Question of the week: Can you suggest a place for an affordable and delicious dinner?

"Food for Thought in Covent Garden. Located on Neal Street, this small eatery is a veggie haven and is affordable, too. I am not a vegetarian, but I find myself visiting the place time and time again only to taste one of their delicious, freshly-cooked dishes at a reasonable rate. The food looks and tastes like it's home-made, which agrees superbly with my taste buds! This tiny restaurant is not very roomy, and many times, you might even have to share a table with strangers. This might sound odd, but it boosts a positive, almost familial, experience while you enjoy a plate of great food."- Christina

* Photo by Yukino Miyazawa, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Delicious Dinner (or Lunch?) on a Budget

Question of the week: Can you suggest a place for an affordable and delicious dinner?

"I'm going to cheat (again). I think the best way to get delicious food at an affordable price in London is to go for lunch and not dinner. There are dozens of excellent and other wise prohibitively expensive restaurants that do amazingly good set meals for lunch. The choice is often somewhat restricted and you should still expect to pay upwards of £15, but for the quality of food you get, and the chance to experience some of London's finest eateries, it really is worth it. "- Jamie

* Photo by Wootang01, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Delicious Dinner on a Budget

Question of the week: Can you suggest a place for an affordable and delicious dinner?

"Cheap, tasty, and close to the flats – Marie’s Café on Lower Marsh. It doesn’t look much, but where else can you get both a solid fry-up for breakfast, and delicious home-made Thai food of an evening? I’m told they do good lunch food too, but I mostly go there for the Thai – they do a fantastic black rice pudding desert, as well as all the usual savoury dishes. "- Miss Alice

* Photo by Pabo76, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Delicious Dinner on a Budget

Question of the week: Can you suggest a place for an affordable and delicious dinner?

"For an exotic, delicious, and not expensive meal, go to Konaki, a lovely Greek restaurant tucked into a small street close to the British Museum: 5 Coptic Street; 15-20 minutes walking time from the London Centre. Just say ‘Yassou!’"- Prof Kucich

* Photo by ZagatBuzz, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Delicious Dinner on a Budget

Question of the week: Can you suggest a place for an affordable and delicious dinner?

"There are so many - EV Deli on Isabella Street (just of The Cut) is one of my favourites and is a short walk from Conway Hall. It serves turkish salads and some delicious hot food as well. Set in a railway tunnel, off the beaten track, it has great atmosphere, is open late and is very reasonable!

Vouchercloud.co.uk is a must for anyone looking for a cheap eat as it lists all of the deals in and around your local area!"- Heather

* Photo by John Fraissinet, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Movie Time

Question of the week: In celebration of the upcoming London Film Festival, can you recommend a British-based literary adaptation film?

"‘The Company of Wolves'. Adapted from Angela Carter’s collection of short stories, ‘The Bloody Chamber’, this 80s classic managed to push the envelope from within a genre of fantastical horror that, up until its release, had arguably been suffering from stagnation & stereotype. Directed by Neil Jordan (Michael Collins, Interview With The Vampire etc.) it’s rife with symbolism, suggestion and some gloriously non-CG effects and manages to weave a series of counter-plots that reflect Carter’s inimitable use of layered storytelling. Incidentally, the cast reads like a Who’s Who of future and formative stars from both the mainstream (Terence Stamp as the Devil) to the underground (seminal avant-goth experimentalist Danielle Dax as a child She-Wolf). Leave your gritty realism at the door and enjoy some heady escapism from the yester-decade."- Hal

(The DVD is now on order for the LUP Library)

* Photo by Cpt, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Movie Time

Question of the week: In celebration of the upcoming London Film Festival, can you recommend a British-based literary adaptation film?

"Firstly, a thank you to everyone for such a warm welcome. It is great to be part of the London program and I look forward to getting to know you and doing all I can to support you during your time in this amazing city.

'The Railway Children' would seem a fitting recommendation given that it has been re-adapted for the stage and is currently playing at Waterloo Station Theatre, practically on Conway Hall's doorstep.

For those who enjoyed the History of British Football talk on Monday, 'The Damned United'(on order for the LUP Library, and available from Westminster Public Libraries) might appeal. I haven’t seen it yet so let me know what you think if you watch it!"- Heather

* Photo by markhillary, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Movie Time

Question of the week: In celebration of the upcoming London Film Festival, can you recommend a British-based literary adaptation film?

"At the moment, definitely 'Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy'. It's an adaptation of John Le Carre's clasic 1974 spy novel of the same name. Dark, complicated, and beautifully filmed, it features some of the best British actors around. Don't be fooled into thinking James Bond and Johnny English are as far as our spy films have got!"- Clare

* Photo by whatleydude, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Movie Time

Question of the week: In celebration of the upcoming London Film Festival, can you recommend a British-based literary adaptation film?

"Any of the old "Merchant & Ivory" films are well worth watching, but I think particularly their adaptations of E.M. Forster's novels. My favourite is Howard's End, which features fantastic performances from Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, and a very young Helena Bonham Carter."- Jamie

* Photo by Treesiepopsicles, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Movie Time

Question of the week: In celebration of the upcoming London Film Festival, can you recommend a British-based literary adaptation film?

"Children of Men. It’s a haunting, dystopic, intensely human PD James novel, and the adaptation – staring Clive Owen – makes quite a lot of changes to the specifics but remains absolutely true to the spirit of the book. Not your typical period drama – the period is “a few years from now” – but beautifully shot, scripted, and acted, and the Britishness is intrinsic.

(The DVD and the book are both in the LUP Library)"-Miss Alice

* Photo by fliegender, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London Getaway

Question of the week: London is a big, bustling city full of small, peaceful surprises. Where is your favourite London getaway?

"Camden Passage in Angel is one of my preferred London getaways. Hidden behind noisy and crowded Upper Street, Camden Passage is a tiny, quiet village full of antique stores and vintage shops. You can either stroll through the passages and please your eyes with the shop dispays or sit at one of the delectable cafes where a late brunch is ideal."- Christina

* Photo by Roubicek, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London Getaway

Question of the week: London is a big, bustling city full of small, peaceful surprises. Where is your favourite London getaway?

"My favourite type of getaway to a quiet, secluded place in London is to visit churchyards. Two such lovely places of repose very close to the London Centre are the churchyards of St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden (the ‘Actors’ Church’), and St James’s Piccadilly."- Prof Kucich

* Photo by CornholioLU, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London Getaway

Question of the week: London is a big, bustling city full of small, peaceful surprises. Where is your favourite London getaway?

"It’s not exactly small, but my favourite moving meditation in London is to walk the Thames path – even on busy days and even in the centre of the city, it’s not uncommon for me to have a good stretch of path – or beach – to myself, and walking by the water is my great escape from the stresses of London. If you take the South Bank path upriver, past the Houses of Parliament, you’ll find yourself in Battersea Park – the pagoda there is a beautiful place to sit and breathe. The Chelsea Physic Garden, just across the river, is a smaller gem, but beautiful and peaceful with it."- Miss Alice

* Photo by a shadow of my future self, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London Getaway

Question of the week: London is a big, bustling city full of small, peaceful surprises. Where is your favourite London getaway?

"What amazes me about London is that you find these little sanctuaries of peace and tranquility just a stone's throw from some of the busiest places in the city. Two that spring to mind (joint favourites perhaps) are Golden Sq., which is about 30 seconds walk from both Piccadilly Circus and Regent's Street, and the garden of St. John's Waterloo. For those Conway Hall residents who haven't visited the latter yet, you really should!"- Jamie

* Photo by Gary Simmons, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London Getaway

Question of the week: London is a big, bustling city full of small, peaceful surprises. Where is your favourite London getaway?

"One of my favourite things to do to get away from it all in the city is to head to a quiet gallery and spend time in a peaceful cafe. One of best in London is the cafe at the Wallace Collection. The gallery itself (which is just a stone's throw north of Oxford Street) is open daily 10am-5pm and entry is free. The cafe is in a beautiful, tranquil courtyard - a really wonderful, relaxing spot. Glorious!"- Clare

* Photo by Rain Rabbit, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.