Newham Council have developed four free local audio walking tours around east London.
Perhaps worth doing before it gets too much like a building site out there, what with the olympic developments going on.
The October Gallery is holding an exhibition this month from the 11th of September to 11th of October.
SAMANTHA HOBSON: Our life … is land … is culture At 27, Samantha Hobson is one of a handful of young celebrated Aboriginal artists exhibiting widely both in her native Australia and overseas.
Q: We intend to come into London on 1st or 2nd August and we will have free time until Tuesday 5th August.
Do you have any suggestions for good but inexpensive accommodation in or near London My wife and I would be interested in possible tours or a Thames cruise in or around London.
We have seen some of the obvious attractions like St Pauls Cathedral, Westminster Abbey Tower of London, Victoria and Albert Museum.
Possible points of interest could be Cambridge or Windsor Castle. We can consider events which involve modest costs To put you in the picture I am a retired Anglican clergyman age 71. We are able bodied but anything involving strenuous excercise would be beyond us.
We look forward to your advice.
A: In terms of accommodation, I’d recommend staying on the south side of the river near the south bank or bankside. There are a few hotels in this area and I suspect they would be a lot less expensive than the ones on the north side.
For example, there are two fairly new hotels just on the south side of southwark bridge, really good location for siteseeing, just behind the Tate Modern. I think one might be called the London Rose or something like that.
To do a Thames cruise, rather than paying loads for an organised one, go to Westminster Pier and ask for a return ticket to Greenwich on the regular ferry service. Naturally, you won’t get the running commentary on the journey, but if you don’t mind this, the regular service is I think much cheaper. (Check return times for boats though.)
A day trip to Windsor is nice. I would say there might be more to enjoy there than at Cambridge, though both are worth visiting if you have the time. I think you can get a train to Windsor from Waterloo station (easy walking distance from the south bank, if you were to stay in that area.) Windsor is nice, and so is Eton, nearby.
London for Free FAQs (part of www.londonforfree.net)
Fitzrovia dates back to the 18th century and has been for many years well known for its writers and artists. From H.G. Wells and George Orwell, to Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf – its inhabitants have left an indelible mark.
Although it is well known that the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw resided in Fitzroy Square, it is a lesser-known fact that he also lived with his mother on the 1st floor of 37 Fitzroy Street from 1881-1882.
75 years later, writer and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard made 37 Fitzroy Street his London base. Ron Hubbard wrote many of his best-known works whilst in London.
With a number of New York Times Bestellers and the Guinness Book of World Records Title for most published author, he is one of the most prolific writers of his time.
However, Ron Hubbard cannot be so simply categorised. Whilst first and foremost a writer, he worked as a professional in over two dozen fields including photography, horticulture, sea captaining, music making and exploration.
All this was in addition to his work in the humanitarian fields of drug rehabilitation, criminal reform and education.
You are welcome to visit Fitzroy House.
It is open to the public by appointment daily. info@fitzroyhouse.org, www.fitzroyhouse.org
Thought these two recent announcements might be worth sharing.
Firstly, the Museum of London and the Times news have worked together to create a map showing places in central London where there are skeletons still buried.
Its a fascinating map and you can zoom into certain areas. No signs of any body parts, though the article claims that some of the bones will be put on display soon as part of the Wellcome Collection.
Not sure if that is the same collection that resides in the Science Museum, but the exhibition opens in late July and runs until September.
Another recent announcement is the opening of the big ferris wheel in Greenwich.
Unfortunately its only open over the summer, and unfortunately like the London Eye, its not free. However, apparently its been put up to provide tourists with something to do while the Cutty Sark is being renovated.
A couple of ideas for things to do over the summer, then……
For those interested in Jack the Ripper, the police files and related pieces of evidence are to go on public display from May 2008 at the Museum in Docklands.
More about it here.
Q: Is there a motor cycle speedway track in London, If so where is it.
Location Australia
A: I’m not aware of any in London but there are two that are only a couple of hours drive away:
- Donington Park
- Silverstone
Here’s a link for more info,
http://www.hottrax-online.com/product_info.php?products_id=15228
London for Free FAQs (part of www.londonforfree.net)
Q: Thank you for your site with friendly suggestions. As a teacher, I will visit London with a group of 30 students and I was surprised by the expensive tickets for tube.
We are staying 4 days. Can you tell me more about Group Day Tickets (for groups of 10 or more). Is it a good idea ? Can we buy in advance ?
Thanks
Location Belgique
A: Yes, group day tickets seem to be good value, especially if you intend travelling on the tube more than once a day.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/oneand3daytickets/2906.aspx
I’m not sure you can buy them in advance but you should at least be able to buy them once you get to London, from any tube station.
London for Free FAQs (part of www.londonforfree.net)
Q: I liked your site! But I wounder if Easter is a good time to visit London? I saw that you liked it! Thats how I found your site but I suspect that everything is closed during Easter? Museums and shops? My husband and I are planning to go the 20-23 of March. But are there anything open then? I would like to visit the Roof Garden if possible. Are restaurants and bars closed? Do you have any recommendations?
A: Yes, easter is a very good time to visit London in my view – its not too cold and not too hot (though sometimes it is rainy), and you avoid the big crowds of summer.
And no, most shops and museums are open even on easter Sunday. The only day most places are usually closed is christmas day, so if you visit at easter you should find enough places open to keep you entertained, fed and catered for!
London for Free FAQs (part of www.londonforfree.net)
Q: The Oyster pass for the trains/buses. Can you buy one in London or can you only buy online? Online is hard for me as they want a UK address and I don’t have one.
Location New Zealand
A: You can buy an oyster card for immediate use from any tube station when you arrive in London.
London for Free FAQs (part of www.londonforfree.net)
