What to do...again

Question of the week: If you only had two weeks left in London, what would you make sure to visit or see again?

"A performance at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre."- Prof Kucich

* Photo by I am I.A.M., used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Outdoor London

Question of the week: Can you recommend a cafe or pub with an outdoor patio or rooftop terrace that you think is worth seeing?

"The Lamb, on Lamb’s Conduit Street, one of the best pubs in London, and even better, my local!"- Prof Kucich

* Photo by Cian O'Donovan, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Easter in London

Question of the week: Are there any Easter-related activities you would like to recommend?

"Check out The Old Vic Tunnels, which is planning to host an underground Victorian Era Easter theme park."- Prof Kucich

* Photo by guioconnor, 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.

London Poems

Question of the week: In light of this week’s mood, what is your favourite London poem?

"The lyrics of 'London Pride' by Noel Coward"- Prof Kucich


London Pride has been handed down to us.
London Pride is a flower that's free.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.
Woa, Liza,
See the coster barrows,
Vegetable marrows
And the fruit piled high.
Woa, Liza,
Little London sparrows,
Covent Garden Market where the costers cry.
Cockney feet
Mark the beat of history.
Every street
Pins a memory down.
Nothing ever can quite replace
The grace of London Town.
INTERLUDE
There's a little city flower every spring unfailing
Growing in the crevices by some London railing,
Though it has a Latin name, in town and country-side
We in England call it London Pride.
London Pride has been handed down to us.
London Pride is a flower that's free.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.
Hey, lady,
When the day is dawning
See the policeman yawning
On his lonely beat.
Gay lady,
Mayfair in the morning,
Hear your footsteps echo in the empty street.
Early rain
And the pavement's glistening.
All Park Lane
In a shimmering gown.
Nothing ever could break or harm
The charm of London Town.
INTERLUDE
In our city darkened now, street and square and crescent,
We can feel our living past in our shadowed present,
Ghosts beside our starlit Thames
Who lived and loved and died
Keep throughout the ages London Pride.
London Pride has been handed down to us.
London Pride is a flower that's free.
London Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.
Grey city
Stubbornly implanted,
Taken so for granted
For a thousand years.
Stay, city,
Smokily enchanted,
Cradle of our memories and hopes and fears.
Every Blitz
Your resistance
Toughening,
From the Ritz
To the Anchor and Crown,
Nothing ever could override
The pride of London Town.

* Photo by Emanuele Rosso, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Share Your View

Question of the week: “In your opinion, where can you find the best view of London?”

"Two great options:

1) The lounge of the Oxo Tower Restaurant, tres chic, but affordable if you just buy a sparkling water. Drop dead views from the glass enclosed tower looking out on the riverscape. A 10 minute walk from Conway Hall.

2) From the road in front of the Holly Bush pub in Hampstead, on Holly Bush Hill. One of the most beautiful and little known spots in London. Night views are best."- Prof Kucich

* Photo by James UK, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

So Much To See...

Question of the week: “What London event are you most looking forward to in the next four months?”

"The flotilla on the Thames in celebration of the Queen’s 60th anniversary, for which the spirit of Handel may be summoned up to produce some new Water Music."- Prof Kucich

* Photo by c@rljones, 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.

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.

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.

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.

Museum Waiting To Be Seen

Question of the week: Can you name a museum you have yet to visit but would like to visit very soon?

"I would like to visit the All Visual Art Gallery in the King’s cross area (2 Omega Place). It specialises in highly innovative contemporary art, now featuring an installation on intricate interior living and library spaces by the French artist Charles Matton, which is commended in this week’s Time Out as the ‘Exhibition of the Week’. The King’s Cross area, once very run down, is going through a stunning transformation with new galleries, performance spaces, and cool restaurants emerging at such a rapid pace that some have dubbed it (you will get the joke) ‘North Bank’. At the heart of it all is the British Library, which offers in addition to its world renowned book and manuscript collections a striking (free) public gallery displaying such rare items as an original Magna Carta, a Shakespeare First Folio, illuminated Chaucer manuscripts, antique maps, of course manuscripts by JOHN KEATS (!), and many other riches."- Prof Kucich

* Photo by 303db, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Introductions - Prof Kucich

Question of the week: Introductions: who are you, what do you do in the LUP, and what do you enjoy most about living in London?

"As Director of the London Undergraduate Program, I have the great pleasure of working with all students and developing important academic links for Notre Dame in London as well as stimulating cultural events for students. I am a Professor of English, and I LOVE to talk about British Romanticism, in classes, walking down the street, hanging out at cafes. One of my great joys in London is the excitement of all the marvellous literary associations scattered everywhere. The past comes alive on so many streets in London, as one walks with one foot in the present and one foot in the rich cultural history of Britain. It's a constant high for the creative imagination! Exploring cool restaurants, cafes, and avant-garde theatres keeps the imagination inspired as well!"-Prof Kucich

* Photo by Rupert Ganzer, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.