Archive for April, 2008
Harrods
Harrods is the most famous department store in London, ‘the top people’s shop’, frequented by royalty, the wealthy as well as the ordinary shopper.
Located on the Brompton Road in the fashionable Knightsbridge area of west London just to the south of Hyde Park, Harrods has made its reputation over more than 150 years by selling the finest quality products and providing the highest standard of service with the store’s motto being ‘Everything for Everybody Everywhere’.
Date: April 30th, 2008 |
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Heathrow Airport transportation
Heathrow is Britain’s biggest and the world’s busiest international airport, and is located about 14 miles to the west of central London in the Borough of Hillingdon. Heathrow is still expanding with a new Terminal 5 opening in March 2008 and a third runway and possible sixth terminal under discussion.
There are a number of ways for visitors using Heathrow to get to and from the airport, here’s a look at the options should you be going through there.
London Underground One of the first views of London
Date: April 29th, 2008 |
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Ashlee House Hostel in London - Trekker’s Hostel Highlights
Sticking with the well connected Kings Cross Station area here is a little blurb about Ashlee House, a hostel for the more quiet inclined backpackers.
Designed by Amsterdam 24-H architects about 10 years ago, initially you might get the sense that some updating might be in order and that there is a feeling of it being a little drab. However, Ashlee house is in a good spot and has a lot of potential, barely a 2-minute walk from Kings Cross Station and just round the corner from lots of shops and restaurants. Right by the front desk is a great board listing all the activities and tours available from the hostel. Even though it is one of the smaller London hostels with only 171 beds, Ashlee House also offers a laundry, family rooms and basic breakfast.
Date: April 25th, 2008 |
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How to swear like a London local
British people like to have the image of themselves as courteous and polite even if that image has taken a bit of a battering over the last few decades with anti-social behaviour, lager louts and football hooligans becoming more the norm. The use of of swearing and bad language, while always being present, seems to have become way more excepted in every day life, from kids using it to casual swearing on regular tv programmes.
Here’s a look at some of the most common swear words a visitor is likely to here on an every day basis, with some people almost in every sentence.
Date: April 23rd, 2008 |
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Real Food Festival
Food lovers and anyone who enjoys cooking should get along to Earls Court this week for the Real Food Festival 2008. The event has invited 500 of the best small food and drink producers from the UK and around the world who will on hand to explain and answer questions about their produce as well as sell it.
Among the other show attractions are the biggest farmer’s market in Britain, food workshops and tastings, sustainable food guru Barny Houghton running a cookery school, and top chefs giving demonstrations in the Real Food Theatre where sessions are free on a first come, first served basis.
Date: April 20th, 2008 |
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Generator Hostel in London - Trekker’s Hostel Highlights
Prepare for a sensory overload when you enter this establishment. This is the biggest hostel I have ever visited, with enough space to bed over 800 people. All the floors and most of the walls are covered in stainless steel with the non-slip tread, there are neon blue and red lights through-out and security at the door, so this flashy place definitely goes for the party hostel feel.
If you are interested in this sort of an environment while traveling then you will love the full bar with happy hour, pool tables, travel shop and £5 dinners including a pint! There are daily events and parties at this London hostel, including the “Hard Man” competition on Friday nights, where the boys vie for the honor of being the buffest guy at the hostel and the girls get to swoon … or laugh.
Date: April 29th, 2008 |
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Speaker’s Corner
In modern London with its vast growing web of cctv cameras on almost every major street and expanding police powers, anyone spontaneously gathering a crowd to lecture them about what whatever’s exercising your mind that day will pretty soon be brought to a halt by law enforcement, offered the chance to donate some DNA and probably quizzed about any terrorist connections.
One place where those with the desire to address the masses can still do so almost unhindered is the famous Speaker’s Corner on the northeast side of London’s Hyde Park where Park Lane meets Cumberland Gate.
Date: April 27th, 2008 |
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London Sightseeing Bus Tours
Taking a sightseeing bus tour is a great way for tourists and travellers, especially those new to London, to get a feel for the city, get themselves orientated, and take in some of the fantastic attractions and places that London is famous for. When someone else is doing the navigating and driving you have the chance to take in much more of what’s passing you by, and an open top bus is the ideal platform to view a city famous for its landmarks such as London.
Here’s a look at some of the main companies offering bus and sightseeing tours of London, what they consist of and how they compare on price.
Date: April 24th, 2008 |
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Clink Hostel in London - Trekker’s Hostel Highlights
Greetings and salutations, fellow travelers. Over the next few weeks I hope you will join me as I explore the UK and Ireland. During this time I will be writing thumbs up or down on the numerous London hostels and others scattered throughout these regions. Due to the high number, I was unable to stay at them all so these reviews are my initial take on the vibe, the cleanliness, how friendly the staff was and all that jazz. Feel free to comment, or if there is a hostel you want to hear more about be sure to let me know.
To start with we will wander around London for a few days, deciphering the tube maps, shouldering your way through crowds and taking in the sights.
Clink Hostel
Opened July ’07, this impressive hostel is built inside a 200-year-old courthouse. Unlike most places that would have gutted the law-related history in the building, Clink has made it their own. From the court room internet café (you want to sit in the judges chair) to the soon-to-be opened “cell” rooms with heavy duty doors and all, present capacity is 400 to 500. But May 2008 they hope to have their capacity up to 650, which makes it an ideal spot for groups. Alcohol is allowed and there is a bar being built as we speak. There is no curfew, and a basic continental breakfast. The beds all have a small locker under the bed, individual lights and a nifty little locker by your head for passports and small valuables. Some of the bigger dorms have high-tech pod-style beds, which for some, could be a little claustrophobic. The halls are painted bright colors and each floor is a different color (this helps when trying to find your room).
Date: April 22nd, 2008 |
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Terminal 5 Song
Everyone travelling to London must be familiar with the story of the chaotic opening to the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport. There’s a story in today’s Evening Standard about British Airways sending lost baggage to Italy to be sorted and then sent on around Europe to its owners, only for it to be returned to T5 because the customers had already finished their holidays.
The above clip was made by two Kiwis, a bridegroom and best man, whose bags had been lost by BA on the way to …
Date: April 17th, 2008 |
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