Quirky Traveller's Tales

Built on the rubble from centuries of London’s history, Canary Wharf is on the site of the famous West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs.  ‘The Mayflower’ set sail for America in the early 17th century from one of these Docks and at the height of the Port of London’s activity in the 1960s, over 60 million tons of cargo was being shipped around the globe.  Following its closure in the 1980s, unable to keep up with the advances in technology & containerisation, Canary Wharf rose from the ashes and is now one of the most important financial centres in the world.

Canary Wharf – view from apartment

There’s quite a continental café society feel to the area as there are lots of places to eat and drink, with little boutique shops alongside the famous name stores.  Cabot Square is the scene of many exciting outdoor events and in winter there’s the Ice Rink - if you get there any time until mid January you’ll be able to trip the light fantastic across the ice – not literally hopefully!  It’s just a few minutes’ walk from Cabot Square.

Cabot Square – photo by David Illife

I was in Docklands once more for the World Travel Market2012, staying with Lynne Gray, Conscious Travel PR Specialist for a few days; you can read her article about WTM2012 here.  It’s always a challenge to find decent accommodation in London and at this time everywhere is especially busy but we were fortunate to get a City Nites Apartment overlooking one of London’s most famous edifices, the pyramid-topped Canada Tower.

City Nites Apartment – Canary Wharf

 With a decent-sized lounge/kitchen and two spacious double bedrooms we were not only able to relax and enjoy the spectacular view but also have breakfast at leisure and do a bit of cooking when we weren’t eating out.  bonus points for a very helpful concierge who sorted out our heating and the incredibly fast WiFi which is one of the things all bloggers love – top marks Central London Apartments!

Gazing into the heart of Canary Wharf at all the high-rise buildings it’s almost impossible to imagine the life that was there before – but Billingsgate Market is one of the few old buildings that takes you right back to a bygone era. The smell of the fish hits you well before you get here and there’s a hustle and bustle to it that almost defies description: Roger Barton, a local fishmonger talks about his daily routine here.

Travel around this part of London is really easy.  As well as the Underground system the excellent Docklands Light Railway LDR is excellent and there are plenty of stations.  BUT be warned; Canary Wharf Station is VAST and trying to find the right exit is more difficult than getting out of the Minotaur’s Labyrinth but what a vibrant and fascinating place it is.  Towering overhead are futuristic skyscrapers and below the busy wheels of commerce turn relentlessly on, amidst designer shops, international restaurants, lively bars and plenty of waterside activity.

On the final day of WTM I took some time out to have a ride on London’s newest attraction, the Emirates Air Line Cable Car which goes from the Royal Victoria Docks and Excel Centre across the sinuous River Thames to the Greenwich Peninsula.  What an exhilarating experience that was – you can read about it here.  The city of London streams out in all directions with famous landmarks popping up all over like an enormous 3D jigsaw puzzle.  And between the spaceship prongs of the O2 Arena, Canary Wharf’s skycrapers thrust up into the blue sky proclaiming London’s metroland credentials for all to see …

O2 Arena & Canary Wharf from Emirates Air Line

There’s no denying that London is heavily tourist driven – guided tours and structured days out come ten a penny (almost literally if you see the money being shaved off them by discounts from sites like Smart Save), but where’s the fun in seeing the exact same sights as everyone else and having a cookie-cutter day-out experience? If you really want to get wild and explore, look no further than the London Wetland Centre.

London Wetlands Centre

This tranquil wildlife park plays host to far more species than you would imagine it could possibly hold: even at 105-acres! Over 200 species of bird fly in to the wetlands annually, along with seven species of bats and 20 dragonfly species – this is without mentioning the wetlands’ 450 varieties of plant, dozens of small animal types and eight species of amphibian and reptile. If you’re looking to get wet and wild in the truest sense of the term, there really is no better place.

Open all year round, seven days a week between 9.30am and 5pm (or 6pm in the summer months), the London Wetland Centre is not far from central London and has plenty of transport routes leading in to it making it easy to visit whether you’re in town for a couple of day or just a few hours.

Bat – London Wetlands Centre

If you’d prefer to explore the murky depths of the wetlands in the dark you can: to celebrate the United Nations’ Year of the Bat, the wetlands are hosting night-time bat walks. You’ll be given a bat detector which picks up the bats’ ultrasonic calls to help you spot the swooping critters in the darkness. Tour groups are kept small and in a question and answer style format so the experience feels quite intimate.

Otter – London Wetlands Centre

There are plenty of other guided tours offered throughout the day at the London Wetland Centre, or you can choose to be guided individually by an expert through the area. This is ideal for those who want to learn more about the wildlife who live there while venturing away from the set paths that rule the other guided tours.

The London Wetland Centre is a welcome break from the hustle, bustle and tourist over-saturation of central London: not only will you feel more in touch with mother earth after visiting here, you will feel like you have truly experienced something the way no one has before.

This post is brought to you by SmartSave which offers discounts at hundreds of leading attractions, restaurants, leisure activities, hotels, entertainment venues and shopping outlets.

When you think of London you think Big Ben, the Queen, Hyde Park, maybe the Imperial War Museum– not an underground movement of urban art slowly crawling its way across the city like a politically colourful Japanese Knotweed. It’s time to see London differently, so set up base in a hotel in central London and head out into the ever-changing world of urban art. 

London Street Art (Stock Images)

The street art scene is slowly but very surely taking over the pavements, walls and tube stations of the city – in almost every corner of every road and building you’ll be rewarded by Space Invaders and miniature heroes, political statements and Banksy wannabes (and Banksy himself, of course).  Street art in London has only recently been recognised as art, probably thanks to Banksy and his blossoming worldwide fame, and is steadily progressing from being an impermanent and uncontrollable pest to a force to be reckoned with. However, this art of recklessness and anti-establishment is being lost behind panes of Perspex and a rise in legal walls around the city – it’s good to see that creativity is being appreciated, but can it really be controlled? 

To get a glimpse of the originality that lurks in London Town, head to a dark alley called Blackall Street just off Old Street. You’ll find yourself under the glaring eyes of neon monsters, blushing whilst passing by an embracing couple and giggling at Stik men childishly scrawled on shutters. The remains of an Invader casually surveys the scene like a surreal CCTV camera and BOREDOM IS COUNTER REVOLUTIONARY loudly remarks the statement this street once subtly claimed.

Shoreditch is the place to go to find a mixture of London most appreciated al fresco art – from the weird and the wonderful, political and sickly sweet to outright rude, Shoreditch is a melting pot of imagination and vulgarity. Look out for samurais, Mickey Mouse and a giant hedgehog to get you going – and remember to keep an eye on the ground; you never know who you’ll see lurking on street corners.  For the Banksy fans out there, London’s Shoreditch is the ideal starting point – you’ll find the evolved Pulp Fiction, the Rat Race and the Chopper all at home here, as well as designated graffiti areas around most corners and prying policemen fading and failing to stop the art revolution.

London Street Art (Stock Image)

However, street art doesn’t have to be limited to 2D paintings on out-of-reach walls – Covent Garden is home to the Big Smoke’s best street artists. Here you can find a bunch of loud performers offering many laughs and gasps, all competing for your attention (and change) whilst you shop, eat and drink. To enjoy some in-the-flesh art in London, find a table outside one of Covent Garden’s hotels, sip on a cocktail, and be prepared to part with any loose change in your pocket.

Juggler 'The Great Dave' Covent Garden by Aqwis

‘This post is brought to you by ‘Grange Hotels’.

Photo c/o thediamondjubilee.org

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II looked up at her son and smiled, nodded to a gold-clad footman and stepped carefully into the 1902 open-topped State Landau.  Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (who’d have thought it?) got in beside her and Prince Charles settled opposite.  Dark rugs were placed carefully across their laps and they set off on the Carriage Procession from Westminster Hall to Buckingham Palace.  For many people in the waiting crowds, this was the highlight of three days of glorious celebration.  Proud Guards stood tall in their gleaming uniforms, beautiful horses with bridles jingling carried bands playing stirring music.  Flags fluttered from buildings and in people’s hands everywhere.

So what if rain threatened? They’d already coped with the most tremendous downpour on the Sunday, when the heavens didn’t just open, but threw down every kind of rain and wind on the most historic river pageant held anywhere for over 300 years.  If the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh could manage to stand for over four hours aboard the ‘Spirit of Chartwell’ then nothing was going to stop the crowds from making the most of this magical occasion.

On that day the River Thames was filled with sea-going craft of every kind imaginable, from all around the British Isles and across the Commonwealth.  Now it was a river of people flowing along the streets of London, down the Mall to the front of Buckingham Palace.  The night before, singers and muscians from 60 years of the Queen’s reign had performed an ear-splittingly varied and vibrant concert, culminating in Madness singing ‘It Must be Love’ and ‘Our House’ on the Palace roof – how appropriate. The fireworks that ended the show were diamond-bright and glorious.

For many of us in this country and around the world, the Diamond Jubilee has been a wonderful opportunity to show our appreciation to the Queen who has been a steadfast, stoical presence for most of our lives.  Oh and, of course, an excuse to party – which, let’s face it we need to do in these somewhat austere times.  Like it or not, the monarchy and especially the Queen, are hard-wired into this country’s DNA.   I have always loved the pomp, circumstance and yes, quirkiness, of it all.

As a little girl, my grandmother used to show me pictures from a huge red and gold covered book called ‘England Under Victoria’, published in 1886. In the first chapter there’s an engraving of ten-year old Princess Victoria clasping a boa-feathered hat and looking wistful. Nana told me she was our Queen’s Great Great Grandmother, something I found very hard to believe.  For many years we watched the Service of Remembrance and the Trooping of the Colour on TV; these ceremonials became part of the more colourful fabric of home life.  I was at Dudley College of Education, training to be an English teacher, when the Queen visited on her Silver Jubilee tour in 1977. I can vaguely remember my boyfriend heaving me up in the air to catch a glimpse of her as she did a quick walkabout.

Over the Diamond Jubilee weekend I stayed in the Cotswolds.  The whole area seemed to be en fête.  We went into Bath for the day and it was lovely to see all the shops decked out in patriotic finery.  One of the busiest places was the Highgrove Shop, where expensive but deliciously crunchy biscuits nudge up to luxurious bath soap and garden implements for people with more money than sense.  Of course, we bought our souvenirs here – after all, that ornate tea caddy and mint tin have been given the Queen’s seal of approval –and that’s good enough for me.

The Thames River Pageant, the Jubilee Concert in front of Buckingham Palace, the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, the State Carriage Procession and the Balcony appearance and flypast, are all events that we can share in as a nation and as individuals.  Street parties were packed with people determined not to let a bit or rain stop their fun.  Pubs, clubs and restaurants had patriotic food and drink, village greens had marquees tethered extra strong to resist the June winds and there was bunting, bunting everywhere.  For a short time, the Union Jack (can’t call it ‘Union Flag – not so personal) was reclaimed from the football fans and right wing jingoists so that ordinary people throughout the country could display their loyalty.

As well as taking part in various festivities including a Jubilee dinner and afternoon tea (delicious cakes) at Broadway village Jubilee Fair, I watched a lot of TV.  It was a great way to see all the events – in spite of some very poor BBC coverage, especially of the River Pageant – and keep dry. Shivering in sympathy on the river, singing along with Suggs at the concert, admiring  St Paul’s awesome setting during the Service of Thanksgiving, sharing photos and thoughts on Twitter and Face Book.  It all helped to connect and give a sense of common purpose and celebration.  It’s on occasions of magnificence and unrestrained exuberance like this that I am most delighted to be be British and so very appreciative of all that our royal heritage brings to this country.

When it comes to an out of the ordinary stay in London there is no rival to the recently refurbished St Ermin’s Hotel in Westminster.  The hotel’s history is enough to entice many visitors – throughout the 1920s and World War II the hotel was home to the whispers and plots of Winston Churchill’s British Intelligence Services and Special Operations Service, each of which occupied a floor of the hotel.

Additionally, in the 1950s, one of the Cambridge Five, the notorious double agent Guy Burgess, handed over national secrets to his Russian colleague in the adjoining Caxton Grill’s bar.  There’s also a secret tunnel from the hotel to the Houses of Parliament!

If the hotel’s quirky history isn’t enough to entice you, then its incredible baroque plasterwork interiors and grand exterior architecture surely will.  Each time arriving guests walk into the courtyard, they never fail to look up in wonder at this amazing piece of history.

Another quirk of this rather unique hotel is its colony of 75,000 Buckfast honey bees which reside on the roof and provide honey for the Executive Head Chef’s recipes in the hotel’s restaurant – the Caxton Grill.

The staff and current owners of the property are incredibly proud of how St Ermin’s Hotel has kept hold of its original feel whilst at the same time morphing into a modern, luxury hotel.

This post is brought to you by St. Ermin’s Hotel in Westminster- a truly unique experience unlike any other in London.

When thinking of Windsor, people tend to think of Windsor Castle and the home of British royalty but there is so much more going on in this historic town. Windsor is also the home of LEGOLAND which has become one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations, and the Royal Windsor Wheel, a semi-permanent Ferris-wheel that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. It is an idyllic and beautiful tourist town well suited for weekend breaks with a great range of hotels. If you are seeking royal treatment in this royal town however, then Millennium Hotels come as recommended for a Windsor hotel – their offering of the Copthorne Hotel, Slough Windsor is situated within easy reach of all the local attractions and major transport hubs and is a bit of an attraction in itself!

Once you’ve settled in to your accommodation, here are some tips on where to visit and how to make the most of your time in Windsor.

Windsor Castle by Konqui

1)   Windsor Castle: the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle and the favourite home of the Queen. The castle is much larger than would be expected so it is well worth paying for a tour. The highlight of any trip here will be the famous ‘changing of the guard’ ceremony whereby the guards change accompanied by a marching band.

2)   Windsor town centre: with the castle situated in the heart of the town it is worth exploring the rest of Windsor. This town is full of history with sights such as the Old King’s Head which has a plaque recording the execution warrant of King Charles II and the Guildhall built by Christopher Wren. With cobbled streets and tea rooms, the town centre evokes charm and wonder representing the epitome of English culture.

3)  Legoland: one of the UK’s most popular tourist attractions and is a perfect day out for the family. The theme park has over 50 rides, as well as live shows and building workshops that will no doubt leave your children wanting more.

4)   Ascot Race Course: the world renowned race is just down the road and easily accessible.  It’s well worth the trip if you are looking for more adult entertainment. The races here are the epitome of high society in England and the highlight of the racing calendar.  Well worth the money if you want to dress up for the day and enjoy some fine wining and dining.

This article is brought to you by Millenium Hotels.