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.

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.

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?

"The Museum of London.

Given that it's completely free and just a short walk north of St Paul's Cathedral, I'm totally ashamed of myself for not having made it there. The museum follows the history of London from prehistoric times right through to the present day. At weekends they even have free tours. As a fan of nice museum shops, I'm also disappointed because I hear they have a good gift shop with excellent prints and stationery with a London theme.

You could easily walk there from Conway Hall, or take out a Boris Bike - there's a docking station right by the museum."- Clare

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

London Tour on a Budget

Question of the week: Sightseeing routes organized by tour buses/companies can be quite expensive. At TFL’s unbeatable price of £1.30 per journey, which bus route would you recommend for sight-seeing purposes?

"Definitely either route 9 or route 15 for the old routemaster buses. Not only is it an experience in itself to ride on one of these old 'hop-on, hop-off' buses, but they also cover shortened versions of two fantastic routes, both from Trafalgar Square: the heritage 15 goes past St Paul's to Tower Hill; and the 9 goes to Kensington High Street via Picadilly Circus, Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall. You can't get a more classic ride in London!"- Clare

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

Architecture in London

Question of the week: London houses diverse and interesting architecture in every corner. In your opinion, which London building is most beautiful and why?

"Tough question: I'm not sure I could ever have just one favourite building in London... One building I find stirs my heart every time is the Queen's House in Greenwich. Built by Inigo Jones in the early seventeenth century, it is a masterpiece of beautifully proportioned classical architecture. Jones had been to Italy and been mesmerised by the work of Antonio Palladio, and this was the commission where he brought all those ideas back to England. The glorious tulip staircase inside is thought to be the first unsupported spiral staircase in England - and was also the location for one of the most famous photographs of what looks like a ghost, taken in 1966. The house is now an art gallery with free entry as part of the Greenwich National Maritime Museum complex. Greenwich makes for a great day trip - take a boat down the river and enjoy Queen's House, the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory, as well as views of Canary Wharf and the redeveloped Docklands area.

If you're interested in finding out more about Palladio's influence in Britain, the Royal Institute of British Architects has a fascinating online exhibition."- Clare

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

Local Cinemas

Students have asked about local cinemas, so: here's a list of some local cinemas – all under 1 mile from Conway Hall


If you’re looking for more cinemas, Time Out has a great search engine: http://www.timeout.com/film/


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‘MAINSTREAM’
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Leicester Square is the traditional heart of cinema in London, and many film premiers are hosted here.


Vue West End – 3 Cranbourn St, Leicester Square
http://new.myvue.com/home/cinema/west-end-%28leicester-square%29

In the north east corner of Leicester Square
Student tickets are £10.70 with your ID.
If you go back to the cinema within 2 weeks, you can get £1.50 off your ticket.


Empire Leicester Square – 5-6 Leicester Square
http://www.empirecinemas.co.uk/index.php?page=cinemainfo&id=27&tbx_site_id=5
On the northern side of Leicester Square
Nine screens of various sizes: screen 1 seats 1330, but screen 6 has just 26 seats.
Student tickets are £11.95 (Circle) or £9.95 (stalls and other seats) – with ID (preferably ISIC, but they might well take your ND card – try it).


Odeon Leicester Square – the huge cinema on the east side of the square.
http://www.odeon.co.uk/fanatic/film_times/s105/London__Leicester_Square/

This is the famous cinema in Leicester Square, but you pay for it… Tickets are cheaper Mon-Thurs before 5pm.
Mezzanine (student): £8.30 (off-peak), £11.45 (peak)
Stalls (student): £9.90 (off-peak), £12.50 (peak)
Rear circle (student): £11.45 (off-peak), £14.60 (peak)
Royal circle (student): £14.55 (off-peak), £18.75 (peak)


Odeon Panton St – 11-18 Panton St, SW1Y 4DP
http://www.odeon.co.uk/fanatic/film_times/s117/

This is just around the corner from the London Centre.
Student tickets: £6.80 (off-peak) and £8 (peak)
They also have special screenings (art-house, independent and foreign films) for £4.


Odeon Covent Garden – 135 Shaftesbury Ave, WC2H 8AH
http://www.odeon.co.uk/fanatic/film_times/s81/

Also an Odeon, this boasts 4 screens (most seating about 120, one seats 230) and is MUCH cheaper than Leicester Square and, it seems, the cheapest ticket in this area.
Student tickets are £6.35 (off-peak) and £7.50 (peak)

BFI Imax – the big round building in front of Conway Hall
http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_imax

The biggest screen in Britain, 500-seat cinema. This is luxury cinema-going.
IMAX DMR and digital titles: peak time (Mon - Fri from 17:00 and all weekend)
Premium: £18.50 (adult); £15 (student)
Standard: £16 (adult); £11.50 (student)

IMAX DMR and digital titles: off-peak (Mon - Fri before 17:00)
Premium: £17 (adult); £13 (student)
Standard: £15 (adult); £10.50 (student)

Buying tickets
Telephone: call 020 7199 6000. Open daily 10:30 - 19:30
Online: book tickets online at bfi.org.uk/imax
In person: the ticket desk opens at 10.30 and remains open until 15 minutes after the final public screening of the day commences
There’s a £2 booking fee if you buy online or over the telephone, so it’s worth walking 20m to the box office! No matter how you book, you’ll need to take your student ID with you.

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‘QUIRKY’
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BFI Southbank – just on the river, next to the National Theatre.
http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_southbank

Film seasons (often focusing on specific actors or directors), premieres and special screenings, as well as some classic British films. This calendar year they’ve committed to showing all 50 animated Disney films – on the big screen.
Generally you should book in advance: online or why not just pop in there on your way to class. Once booked, you can’t get a refund on a ticket. Membership is £40 for the year – you don’t have to be a member to go, but you get a discount of tickets and invitations to special events.
Evening show (except Tues) and all shows on Saturday/ Sunday
Concessions: £5.25
Non-Member concessions: £6.75
Tuesday - all shows
Concessions: £5.00
Non-Member concessions: £5.00
Weekday matinees
Concessions: £5.00
Non-Member concessions: £6.50
Concessions are available to students with ID.

Standby tickets
Subject to availability, there may be standby tickets available for sale half an hour before each performance – but only in person at the box office.


The Prince Charles Cinema – 7 Leicester Place, north east corner of Leicester Sq
http://www.princecharlescinema.com/

If you’re tired of Odeon, try this place! They play ‘repertory’ films as well as new releases. The rep films are cheaper. Tickets are also cheaper if you become a member. You don’t have to be a member to go, but annual membership is just £10, or a mere £5 for concessions!

New releases:
Weekday Matinees - £8/£6 Mem
Eve/Wkend/Bank - £10/ £6 Mem
Rep films:
1st Weekday Matinees - £5.50/£1.50 Mem
2nd Weekday Matinees - £5.50/£2.50 Mem
Eve/Wkend/Bank - £6.50/£4 Mem

Roxy Bar and Screen, London Bridge
http://www.roxybarandscreen.com/listings.php

Fancy dinner and a cocktail with your film? Then head to the Roxy, who offer an eccentric selection of themed double-bills, art-house, and live sport on the big screen, with comfy sofas and table service to boot. Membership gives you free entry and the ability to book tables, or just turn up early to get a good seat. Screening prices start from £3.

* Photos by Andrew Woodyatt and Ard vd Leeuw, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Question of the week: Autumn is fast approaching, and leaves are slowly falling. What is your favourite thing to do on a crisp, London afternoon?"

"The Jubilee Walkway. If it's a lovely (dry!) afternoon, what better than to wander London on foot, and few itineraries can beat the Jubilee Walkway which links all the main attractions and sights in London. It was first laid out as part of the celebrations for the Queen's silver jubilee in 1977 and it was rejigged slightly to mark her golden jubilee. Part of the walk between Conway Hall and the London Centre is on the route - but it's only a small part of the whole thing. Starting and ending by Leicester Square, if you're feeling energetic the 9-mile route is a great way to spend an afternoon and really gives you a view of London. If you don't fancy the whole thing, every part of the route is easily accessible by public transport so you can do sections of it as you like. The entire route is marked out by silver 'Jubilee Walkway' discs on the ground about every 30m so it's hard to get lost. The Walk London website even has audio guides to download for free.

If you're inspired by this walk, check out that website for other led walks that will be offered free over the weekend of 24-25 September as part of Walk London's 'Autumn Ambles Weekend'."- Clare

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

Current Oyster fares

During our optional orientation session on living in London on a budget, the cost of current Oyster Card fares for travel came up, so:

For FULL details go to http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14825.aspx

BUSES:
If you can make your whole journey just using one bus, this will be cheaper than using the tube. A single bus ride is every time you get on a bus, regardless of how long you stay on the bus. This is not always the case overseas, where you often get tickets that are good for any amount of travel within a set length of time.

You MUST buy a ticket or have a topped-up Oyster card BEFORE you board a bus.

Without an Oyster card: Cash price for a single one trip on one bus: £2.30

With an Oyster card: Single trip: £1.30

If you only use buses one day, there is a daily cap on your Oyster card of £4.00.

This means that once you have made £4 worth of bus journeys, you won’t be charged any more that day. So, you’d be charged £1.30 for your first 3 bus journeys that day, then just 10p for the fourth journey and nothing for any further bus journeys. The price cap day ends at 4.30am the following day, so includes travel on late night buses.


TUBE AND OVERGROUND TRAINS IN LONDON
(including the Docklands Light Railway, or DLR):


(NB - prices correct 29/8/2011, information taken from TfL's website)

Things to bear in mind –

PEAK TIME on London transport:
6.30am – 9.30am and 4pm – 7pm Monday to Friday.

OFF-PEAK TIME on London transport:
9.30am – 4pm and after 7pm Monday to Friday.
ALL DAY on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays

If you use both buses and trains in one day, you’ll be charged up to the train/tube price cap.


16-25 RAILCARD

If you use your ISIC to buy a 16-25 Railcard (£28 from a railway station: it gives you 1/3 off off-peak national rail travel), you can also go to the ticket office at a tube station and have them put a 1/3 discount on your Oyster card which will then apply to the off-peak daily price cap.

Go to: http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/ for more information.

If you’re planning to do even one or two rail journeys to visit places in the UK, then just those trips might save you more than the £28 for the railcard – but plan ahead and check that out).


NATIONAL RAIL TRAVEL:

Finding out times and prices: You can look for train tickets and prices on the National Rail enquiries website: www.nationalrail.co.uk The site also has a cheapest fare finder tool. Click on “add railcard” to see what difference a 16-25 railcard would make to the cost of your journey.

* Photos by wecand and sharkbait , used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Introductions - Clare

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?" "I'm Clare Ashdowne. I work with Jamie as one of the two rectors for the London program. We live in Conway Hall with y'all and are there to help you stay safe, live happily, and make the most of your time in London.

I enjoy lots of things about living in London, but one of the best things is that I'm in the city for longer than the tourists and the commuters and get to see her landmarks at all times of the day. Of course London by night is a marvellous sight, but so too is London on a foggy winter morning, before the streets are crowded with people. The best thing about living in London is being part of London, whatever time of day or night, the popular places and the quirky and odd places, and the moments and spots of quiet when you least expect them. It's a city that belongs to the world, but whilst we live here it's our backyard, day and night." - Clare

Photo used under Creative Commons, with thanks to Fabbio Venni