Countdown to the Olympics

Question of the week:
Do you have any tips on how to go about seeing the Olympic Park by foot, or coach, or public transport?

"The DLR – Docklands Light Railway – offers some great opportunities to get close to the Olympic park. If you’re coming from Docklands, or from Tower Hill, the section from Pudding Mill Lane to Stratford runs right alongside the park, with some great views of the main stadium, and your only chance to see the beautiful Aquatics Centre “end on”, and so glimpse the wave form of the main building, which is hidden by the temporary “wings” from any other angle. The platforms at both Pudding Mill Lane and Stratford are high enough to give you good views, too. If you change at Stratford for the other DLR line, you can ride right through the middle of the park, to Stratford International DLR station – one of five new stations in east London created for the games. To be honest, you don’t get the most scenic views from the train – up close and personal with the side of the Waterpolo venue, and then underground for a spell – but when you come up the escalators at the station, you’re right at the gates of the Athlete’s Village. It might not be as flashy as the main stadium, but it’s an interesting development, none the less, and a big part of the legacy planning. It’s going to be the “greenest” large scale new residential development in Europe when it’s finished! What you can see rather depends on the building work going on - there’s a floating population of porta-cabins and cranes which sometimes block the view, but look out for the green roofs, and the panels from the Parthenon friezes on some of the buildings. "- Miss Alice

* Photo by Andy Wilkes, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Countdown to the Olympics

Question of the week: “Do you have any tips on how to go about seeing the Olympic Park by foot, or coach, or public transport?”

"The View Tube, located on the Greenway at Pudding Mill Lane has some of the best views going! This social enterprise project offers a café and garden, to go along with the view, as well as information and artistic responses to the park. You can even hire a bike to help you explore the area that way. (The other main viewing platform is from the other side of the park, in John Lewis in the Westfield Stratford City development – the contrast of settings is quite noticeable!)"- Miss Alice

* Photo by Andy Wilkes, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Countdown to the Olympics

Question of the week: “Do you have any tips on how to go about seeing the Olympic Park by foot, or coach, or public transport?”

"To continue from yesterday’s recommendation, you also have the option of buying a ticket for a 1.30pm tour from www.visitbritainshop.com which slightly differs from the 11am tour.

The afternoon group can meet at Leyton Underground Station at 1.30pm for an approximate 1.45pm start which would end at, approximately, 4pm. This is a much more extensive walk, and comfortable shoes and energy are essential! So, for any of you who like to add exercise into your daily routine, you can both exercise and view the Olympic Park on one go! This particular guided tour will get a closer view of the Athletes Village and the Velodrome.

The only remaining tour of this type is this coming Saturday, 31st May. So, if you want, make sure you sign up quickly if any spots are still available! The price is still at £9 per person."- Christina

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

Countdown to the Olympics

Question of the week: “Do you have any tips on how to go about seeing the Olympic Park by foot, or coach, or public transport?”

"To see the Olympic Park with a guided tour, starting 1st April, there will be a Daily Olympic Park as provided by www.visitbritainshop.com starting at 11am and another at 1.30pm. More details tomorrow on the 1.30pm tour.

If you want to catch the 11am tour, which is not as extensive and doesn’t get very close to the Velodrome, go to Bromley By Bow Underground Station at 10.45am where a tour guide will meet you (and anyone else who has booked) and walk you through Lower Lea valley and old mill paths and ends on a footpath where you can view the 2012 Olympic Park construction sight. This tour provides information on why Stratford was selected as the main site for the Olympics, venue specifics, athlete information, and what will happen to the site once the Games are over.

You must visit the website to book in advance! The price is at an affordable £9. Why not use this unique opportunity to witness the making of something as historical and grand as the Olympic Games?"- Christina

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

Sunny Saturday

Question of the week: “How do you like to spend a sunny Saturday in London?”

"If it's warm enough then there is only one place to go—Hampstead Heath! I like to take a Wordsworthian stroll around the Heath in the late morning, have a picnic on Parliament Hill for lunch, then a quick dip in the Mixed Ponds, followed by tea and scones at Kenwood House. The dream day!"-Jamie

* Photo by pj london, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Sunny Saturday

Question of the week: “How do you like to spend a sunny Saturday in London?”

"When the weather gets warmer, go for a swim in beautiful Hampstead Heath ponds. There is one pond for males, one for females, and one mixed, so you have options!"- Prof Kucich

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

Sunny Saturday

Question of the week: “How do you like to spend a sunny Saturday in London?”

"Out walking – almost any stretch of the Thames path has much to recommend it, or the Greenway as it runs up past the Olympic site, or exploring one of London’s parks: Crystal Palace in North London, and Nunhead Cemetery in South London both have satisfying hills to climb, and fantastic views back over the city to reward you.

The walk down the river from Conway Hall to Greenwich , for example, is a fantastic way to spend a day walking and talking and photographing with friends, and you can stop off at Borough market on the way to pick up a gourmet picnic."- Miss Alice

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

Sunny Saturday

Question of the week: “How do you like to spend a sunny Saturday in London?”

"Sunny Saturday:

My favourite way to spend a Saturday is to start slow, and head to the Real Food Market behind Royal Festival Hall for lunch. After seeing what's happening on the South Bank, I like to enjoy the weather and take a walk - it doesn't matter where. I'll likely take a couple of breaks along the way to sit and enjoy the view, a coffee, or a chapter or two in my book. Maybe I'll head to an area I haven't been to before, maybe I'll go somewhere familiar. Once I get tired, I head home. Nothing exciting, but I enjoy it!"- Kris

* Photo by Tomasz Tom Kulbowski, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Sunny Saturday

Question of the week: “How do you like to spend a sunny Saturday in London?”

"I usually spend the first part of a sunny Saturday shielding my sleepy eyes from the bright rays that creep through the window. It doesn’t take long, however, to get out of bed and prepare to get out in the sun and what better way to do that than at one of London’s glorious parks? Primrose Hill is one of my favourite picnic spots, along with St James’s. A park in London is the equivalent of a beach in any coastal city. Though there is no swimming, you will find people sunbathing, eating, socialising, playing all sorts of games, jogging, cycling, reading, and the list goes on and on. It’s a cheerful atmosphere, and the greenery all around you is mesmerizingly soothing as the bustling sounds of the city are muted by the vastness of green space."-Christina

* Photo by damo1977, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Spring Break 2012

The blog will be on break while many of you travel for Spring Break. We will be back next week, but in the meantime, we wish you safe travels and look forward to the second half of the semester!

* Photo by Stephan Geyer, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Shakespeare Festival

Question of the week: Spring sees numerous festivals in London. This Spring, in particular, the World Shakespeare Festival will host international theatre companies performing works of Shakespeare in different languages. Which international production would you be curious to see?

"Cymbeline in Japanese.

If I could see any of the World Shakespeare Festival productions, I would want to see Yukio Ninagawa's take on Cymbeline. Cymbeline is not performed as often as some of Shakespeare's other plays, so seeing it live at all is a treat - but Ninagawa uses Japanese cultural references to interesting effect when he stages Western dramas. Japan's formal and honour-based culture resonates with Shakespeare's 'historical' tragedies, and I'm sure that Cymbeline will be amazing."- Kris

* Photo by World of Good, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Shakespeare Festival

Question of the week: Spring sees numerous festivals in London. This Spring, in particular, the World Shakespeare Festival will host international theatre companies performing works of Shakespeare in different languages. Which international production would you be curious to see?

"I’m really tempted by the idea of watching a play I know in a language I don’t - Richard III in Mandarin Chinese or The Merchant of Venice in Hebrew are my top two at the moment. The hip hop Othello is pretty tempting, as well."- Miss Alice

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

Shakespeare Festival

Question of the week: Spring sees numerous festivals in London. This Spring, in particular, the World Shakespeare Festival will host international theatre companies performing works of Shakespeare in different languages. Which international production would you be curious to see?

"I'm always a sucker for a good production of King Lear (by a long distance my favourite), and so I'm particularly looking forward to the staging that the Belarus Free Theatre are planning for the play. The BFT was founded in 2005 by Nicolai Khalezin and Natalia Kaliada, and back in their home country their performances have to be held secretly due to the risk of persecution and harassment by the government. Despite these constraints they have has won widespread critical acclaim for the quality of their productions and I'm sure that this summer's Lear will be no exception."- Jamie

* Photo by Tracy Lee, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Free Options in London

Question of the week: Are there any upcoming free events you would like to recommend?

"Tate Britain has an exhibition on Picasso and Modern British Art which displays the influence Picasso had on the acceptance of modern art in Britain. Though this exhibition is not free, a performance by the English National Ballet is! Influenced by Picasso's art, the English National Ballet will perform for any interested visitors for free tomorrow night. There are four performances lined up: 6.30pm, 7.15pm, 8pm and 8.45pm. It is always interesting to see art interpreting another form of art, and am curious to see how ballet has captured the modernity of Picasso. You should check it out!"- Christina

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