The best free apps for travelers in London

Posted on February 26, 2013 by sgperry

Whether you are a foreigner traveling to London or a local, no doubt that in order to keep your idle times when on the road, one sure thing to break the boredom is through your mobile phone. Indeed, with the innovations of smartphones nowadays, entertainment applications are certainly the first things we all look up to.

I love to travel back and forth my favorite spots in London. Regardless of my purpose – business or leisure, I never miss to take my most important gadget that’s my Iphone. Taking your Iphone or any smarthphone with you will lead you to many things to do. But, before you consider your itinerary, make sure that free smartphones apps when in London are already available in your phone. Truth is, packet data fees may blew your mind. So, take advantage of these free apps and download them before leaving.

The Official London or Inclusive London Applications – These apps are free for Android or Iphone users like me. With either of these apps installed on your phone, you’ll get the taste of the most recommended spots and places wherever you are in London. For instance, if you get hungry and you are at Westminster Abbey, just browse the app and it will show you the restaurants nearby.

The Hailo Back Cab Application – Exploring London can be tiring to include getting a cab. But, worry no more with Hailo App. Have this app on your next tour to London’s finest spots and you’ll not worry of wasting your time where to get a taxi to escort you where you go.

The Free London App – If you are on a tight budget, there’s no reason for you to frown. You can find cheap restaurants, free tour on museums, cheap or even free theater tickets, and also cheap accommodations. Get this app to be informed of where you can save your money.

Vacation Slots app, Live Roulette app or Tournament Blackjack – These 3 apps are certainly something you have to download free on your smartphone. When you are exploring the entire London, some game apps may keep you entertained.

Most of all, there are some fun and free apps that will help you pass the time when you are waiting a bus or in the subway, one of them is casino app. If you like casino games, you can find the best no deposit mobile casinos apps in this site.

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Tips for getting the best London theatre tickets

Posted on December 26, 2012 by sgperry

Every day, for the past 30 years people have been coming to me to buy tickets for West End show – even at the weekend a friend or family member will call me and ask for tickets – “because you can get good tickets right? Simon?” Well yes, I can.

And every day for the past 30 years I’ve been asked questions around going to the theatre: what is the best show? What is the closest tube station? Do they have toilets? I’m going on a weekend break, where’s a good hotel?

So earlier this year I decided to write a book. Nothing complicated, just some of the general information I have picked up over the last thirty years of working in the theatre industry. So I started typing and 40 pages later I thought I better stop before I start to bore people! Do I go on so much when people ask me for information? Do they start to flag half way through my answer? Because I do get carried away: it is interesting that although the easy access for the St Martin’s Theatre is in the dress circle, the easy access at the Victoria Palace theatre is in the stalls.

This is not only important for those who need easy access – wheel chair users, the elderly etc. It is also useful to know because if you sit in those areas you will get to the bar first, or the loo (especially important for ladies as there is always a queue at the interval and everyone wants to be the smug person coming out rather than the desperate person going in – remember, all the time you are queuing the ice is melting in your Gin and Tonic!)

And it is not just about the theatres. What about the best places for a pre-theatre meal, the close ones not only give you the chance to pick up your tickets whilst you wait for your starter but getting one close by means you don’t have far to waddle to get to your seats – no one likes to dash across town on a full stomach! And these restaurants will specifically cater for people going to the theatre. They will know when you need to be out and they will probably have a good deal. They are also a great place to return to after the show for dessert and coffee… and maybe a nightcap! How civilised it would be not to have to neck the rest of the bottle of wine as you pay the bill, but put it aside for later?

But what London theatre is not, is FREE! It can be cheap though, or rather ‘cheaper’, so whether you want a deal or just cheaper tickets, the book talks about that too!

Most Important Tip

When buying tickets ALWAYS ask what seats you will be getting and what their “Face Value” is. The only time this is not always possible is when dealing with a holiday company selling theatre breaks, but as long as they have the STAR badge you can trust them to give you a good ticket… but back to what I was saying: always ask where the seat is and what the face value is. “Face Value” is an industry term for the price the ticket would normally cost at the theatre’s box office. By knowing this you know whether the price you are paying is fair. Under an industry agreement, agents can charge up to 25% so never pay more than that and if you shop around you should pay no more than £3 to £5. During the week many shows are discounted, so unless you are desperate to see a particular show, you should be able to save a nice amount of money – up to £30 per ticket in some cases – or at least get a free meal…

Crikey do I go on or what!?

So for a FREE copy of my book click the link below and start getting the very best out of your London theatre-going.

Author Simon Harding runs a suite of sites that promote theatre breaks around the United Kingdom. He also recently wrote London Theatre and Theatre Breaks, a downloadable guide to getting the best out of London’s Theatreland.

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Flight Delayed? Places to visit near Gatwick Airport

Posted on December 26, 2012 by sgperry

The trouble with airports is that everyone sees them as a link; a checkpoint you need to pass through in order to get somewhere a little more desirable. Well, if you’re checking into Gatwick any time soon, it might be worth taking a look around its surrounding areas rather than zipping off on your next adventure.

At best you’ll be spending an afternoon touring some of Britain’s best kept secrets, while car hire allows you to decide on a suitable location as you travel. On the other hand, you might have a few extra hours to kill before your flight at Gatwick. In which case you could take a quick tour around the cities and towns nearby; an adequate replacement for spending all day in the on-site chain pub, perhaps?

The advice here is that an airport is often located at the most convenient place for all concerned. It’s designed to be accessible and you should always open your eyes to the nearby attractions before setting your sights elsewhere.

Without further ado, for those who have already looked into the offerings of car hire Gatwick has on its premises, you might want to consider a short trip to the following..

Horley

If you’re really short of time then Horley has to be your safest option. This little town in Surrey is situated south of Redhill and north of Gatwick itself. There’s a selection of pubs near the centre where you can settle for some British favourites, or you could try the local Indian, Italian, Spanish and Chinese offerings. You could do worse on Saturday afternoon then catch a fixture at the local football club, while the productions at Horley’s very own Archway theatre could come in handy if your plane gets delayed into the evening.

In fact, if you’ve booked up with a hotel near to Gatwick you might have found yourself within walking distance of the town centre. GPS your location and take a look around!

Brighton

Located just 28 miles away from the airport, the seaside town of Brighton is another step up in terms of nearby entertainment. Its world famous coastline not only provides sun, sea and sand, you can enjoy many attractions along this picturesque strip too.

With award-winning restaurants, boutique shopping and heritage buildings like the Brighton pier also within walking distance of the coast, parking up in Brighton really is a no brainer.

Hever Castle

Aside from the nearby towns we have our attractions. You can drive to Hever Castle in the space of 30 minutes and enjoy the acres of green space on offer. Alternatively you could wait in a hectic departure lounge with a can of warm cola. Your decision, as always!

What makes this different from any other castle you can visit along the way? Well, the Hever is perhaps best known as the building where Henry VIII’s wife, Anne Boleyn, spent the majority of her childhood. Within its well-kept grounds there are several special events that place throughout the year, so it might be worth checking when your flight gets in.

Nymans

With all the hustle and bustle inside Gatwick, it’s hard to think that you can travel to the Nymans estate in just under 20 minutes. Nowadays the site and its beautiful gardens are listed as National Trust property, so you’ll never have seen the estate in better condition past the 19th century.

The variety of floral displays and awe-inspiring views across West Sussex really puts the mind at ease, providing the perfect base point to decide what’s next on the agenda. From there you can go on to other areas of the county, like Worthing, Chichester or Crawley. When your behind the wheel, anything can reached! 

 

Max Pricer is a keen
traveller who frequently takes trips, both for business and pleasure. He now
writes travel related blogs in his spare time as well as walking his dogs and
looking after his baby daughter 

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Free walks around East London

Posted on September 7, 2008 by sgperry

Newham Council have developed four free local audio walking tours around east London.

free local audio tours

Perhaps worth doing before it gets too much like a building site out there, what with the olympic developments going on.

Life in London (part of www.londonforfree.net)
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Free Aboriginal artist exhibition

Posted on September 7, 2008 by sgperry

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.

Life in London (part of www.londonforfree.net)
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Accommodation and day trips

Posted on July 14, 2008 by sgperry

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.

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London for Free FAQs (part of www.londonforfree.net)

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Fitzroy House open for visits

Posted on July 10, 2008 by sgperry

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

Life in London (part of www.londonforfree.net)
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Bodies under streets and wheels in the air

Posted on June 30, 2008 by sgperry

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……

Life in London (part of www.londonforfree.net)
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Jack the Ripper files to go on public display

Posted on March 9, 2008 by sgperry

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.

Life in London (part of www.londonforfree.net)
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Motorcycle tracks in London

Posted on February 22, 2008 by sgperry

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

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London for Free FAQs (part of www.londonforfree.net)

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