Around Trafalgar Square

Question of the week: Can you recommend a hidden gem around Trafalgar Square?

"I'd have to say that St Martin's Lane, behind Trafalgar Square, is one of those small streets that many wouldn't notice unless by accident or if suggested by someone else. It is a small street with extensive options, such as theatres, cafes and second-hand bookshops. It's wonderful how such a narrow, relatively quiet street is home to all these things! The best part is, you don't have a lot of street traffic, as is mostly typical in other London locations, and you can buy yourself a book, go to a neighbouring cafe and enjoy your time reading or chatting with friends."- Christina

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

Around Trafalgar Square

Question of the week: Can you recommend a hidden gem around Trafalgar Square?

"I don't know how hidden it is, but I love St. James Park. It isn't far from Trafalgar Square, and it's a great place to take your lunch, or just spend some time outside."- Kris

* Photo by daiquiri_frozen's buddy icon daiquiri_frozen, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Around Trafalgar Square

Question of the week: Can you recommend a hidden gem around Trafalgar Square?

"Notes Coffee Shop, St. Martin's Lane. Not so hidden perhaps, but to my taste buds, the best cup of coffee in London, and a great place to bring a book and get some reading done."- Jamie

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

Around Trafalgar Square

Question of the week: Can you recommend a hidden gem around Trafalgar Square?

"The Strand Gallery, on John Adam Street, tucked in behind Charing Cross – this little gallery gets rented out for all sorts of events and short-term exhibitions. Most of the exhibitions are free and open to the public, and I’ve seen some really fantastic shows there. Check out their website. Oh, and tucked in behind St Martin in the Fields, and the back of an ice cream truck, Maggi Hambling’s A Conversation with Oscar Wilde is one of my favourite statues in the area – well worth the tiny detour for anyone who has any fondness for Wilde at all!"- Miss Alice

* Photo by ecf1691, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Summer freebies - Christina

Question of the week: Do you have a summer freebie to recommend?

"This weekend Trafalgar Square is hosting free live theatre in West End Live! Go see a sneak preview of top productions performed live for free! Beats having to pay for a show, and plus, it’s right here at Trafalgar Square!"- Christina

* Photo by thesolaris5, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London images - Prof O'Boyle

Question of the week: Do you have a favourite image of London you'd like to share?

Being iced in London has a totally different meaning!

Reproduced with kind permission of the photographer, Amanda Wilson

- Prof O'Boyle

May Bank Holiday Weekend in London - Miss Alice

One of the great things about summer? Bank holiday weekends! Even though Monday won't be a holiday for me, there's still something to be said for everything that's going on the rest of the time.

Tomorrow is May 1st, so the May Day Parade will be wending its way towards Westminster. Given that International Workers' Day not only falls on a Saturday but falls on the Saturday before a General Election this year, expect this to be a large and politically vocal event. (In recent years the parades have been peaceful occasions, but it's not so long since they resulted in violent clashes between police and protesters, so - go carefully).

On Sunday, Trafalgar Square will be hosting celebrations for the Sikh holiday, Vaisakhi with music, food and live entertainment from noon.

If indie music is more your thing, The Old Queens Head in Islington is hosting an all-day event with Evil Nine, New Young Pony Club, and a host of star DJs. Entry is free between 3 and 7, and a mere £5 after that.



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

London in summer - Miss Alice

Question of the week: What's one of your favourite things about London in the summer?

"When the weather gets warmer and the evenings start to lengthen, a fabulous richness of free events start to bloom along with the flowers - dance, theatre, food, music - it's not as if London was short on options to start with, but through the summer months there's an additional abundance.

The Scoop hosts all sorts - a month of free theatre, a month of free film, free music - even free fitness classes. Big Dance in July is ten days focussed around participating in dance, whilst the Greenwhich and Docklands festival in June/July focusses on amazing performances. This year there's also the Portavillion Program, bringing still more dance goodies to London parks as well.

In fact, almost every London park has it's own string of festivals and events over the summer - Paradise Gardens in Victoria Park, the Lambeth Country Show, down in Brockwell. It's not even restricted to parks - Trafalgar Square hosts dozens of events (more than they actually list here), and the Brunswick village fete on May 15th brings the fete vibe to the New Brunswick shopping centre in Bloomsbury."
- Miss Alice

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

Trafalgar Square - Kris

Question of the week: What's one of your favourite things about Trafalgar Square?


"Another of my favourite things about Trafalgar Square? The view down Whitehall to the Houses of Parliament. It's beautiful, and really makes me remember why I love living and working in London."
- Kris

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

Trafalgar Square - Miss Alice

Question of the week: What's one of your favourite things about Trafalgar Square?

"Another thing I love about Trafalgar Square? As well as all the art and events in the square, you've got so many cultural opportunities packed in so close around it - the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the Canadian High Commission's gallery, a three-story bookshop, and St Martins in the Fields church all right on the square, and a dozen more venues all within a five minute walk - not bad for what used to be the stable block!"
- Miss Alice

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

Trafalgar Square - Dr Holt

Question of the week: What's one of your favourite things about Trafalgar Square?

"Everyone seems to know where it is, so Trafalgar Square is a point of reference when directing anyone anywhere. It has also been for me these years a useful measurement to keep in my mind's eye when directing or pondering a journey around London. For example, from the Centre to, say, Tate Britain is about six or seven Trafalgar Square's away ... and so we can tell at once, is that too far for some to walk, but not for others?"
- Dr Holt

* Photo by Mr Lynch, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Trafalgar Square - Miss Alice

Question of the week: What's one of your favourite things about the Trafalgar Square area?


"Trafalar Square is so often responsible for those little moments of 'I do so love this city!' - there's always something going on, officially or otherwise. (I'm actually surprised that I only have 75 shots in my Trafalgar Square collection - clearly I've been slacking on my photo taking!)

Whatever's going on, though, you can be sure that Trafalgar Square will offer you great opportunities for people watching, which is one of my favourite things about the place - there's a coffee shop built into balustrade under the statue of George IV in the north-east corner of the square, which you might not notice if you usually come into the square from the National Gallery side.

In this weather, you'll want a nice hot cup of something to wrap your hands around as you sit at one of their tables to start observing the other people - the tourists, the school groups, the busy commuters, the performance artists, roller skaters, street dancers, and enthusiastic toddlers - all the weird and wonderful juxtapositions of London's streets collected together in London's living room!"
- Miss Alice

* Photo by Chris J, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Trafalgar Square - Kris

Question of the week: What's one of your favourite things about the Trafalgar Square area?

"One of my favourite things about Trafalgar Square is that it has become London's (and to some extent Britain's) gathering space. People filled the square to celebrate the VE Day, and Christmas in Trafalgar Square is a beautiful thing to behold - each year a huge tree is given to the people of London by the people of Oslo to thank them for freeing Norway from Nazi occupation, and a member of the Norwegian royal family comes to turn on the lights!

The gatherings haven't always been peaceful or fun, throughout the 19th Century left-wing movements demonstrated in the square to try to gain rights for the poor and underprivileged. In the 1880s there were even riots in Trafalgar Square because of mass unemployment. There have been demonstrations by all sorts of groups ever since.

Now the square is often used for celebrations, from Chinese New Year to British sporting victories, as well as festivals organized by a variety of groups from all over Britain and the world - recently including the Russian Festival and a celebration of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. There always seems to be something happening in and around Trafalgar Square, and it's just up to you to walk through and participate!"
- Kris

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