How to Have an Unforgettable 48 hours in London, England
Friday night
Start the weekend with a glass of wine and dinner at Butlers Wharf Chop House and enjoy its spectacular views over the Thames, the Gherkin and Tower Bridge. If you fancy a few drinks in an authentic London pub, head to Prospect of Whitby one of London’s oldest pubs. Join past drinkers such as Charles Dickens and Samuel Pepys (maybe he was drinking here whist London was burning in 1666) and order a pint of cold beer. Then join London’s trendy fashion set at Mayfair bar Funkybuddha and dance the night away to some great RnB. The perfect introduction to London.
Saturday
Start with a trip to the London Eye for amazing views over the city. You can see all the famous landmarks including Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral and The Houses of Parliament. Then watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace before wondering around its grand halls soaking in the royal history. Afterwards, hop into one of those famous London cabs and go shopping in swanky department store Harrods. Spoil yourself or your friends with some exclusive luxury items. Have a cosy dinner at Cafe des Amis in Convent Garden (the prix fixe menu will let you eat for under £20) before catching a show at London’s glittering west end.
Saturday Night
London is the party capital and there are hundreds of bars, pubs and clubs to choose from. Start the night off at Lost Society in Clapham and explore themed rooms including the library bar, black and white room and secret garden. Go to the American Bar in the Savoy Hotel which dates back to the nineteenth century and listen to the live jazz band. Move onto No 5 in Cavendish Square or Embassy London in Mayfair for some cocktails and celeb spotting. For a more up-tempo night head down to super clubs Ministry of Sound and Pacha for some of the best club experiences in Europe. You’ll be dancing well into the night.
Sunday
Nurse that hangover with a Full English Breakfast at the New Piccadilly Cafe in Piccadilly Circus. The Cafe still retains an authentic Soho 1950’s feel with original decor and menus. Afterwards take the morning easy with a wander through Camden market and pick up some vintage clothes and jewellery. No trip to London would be complete without High Tea at the Ritz where you can sample the many teas, delicate sandwiches and cakes on offer. Next it’s off to the National Gallery where you can take in famous paintings like Van Gough’s Sunflowers and Monet’s The Water Lilly Pond. Finish the weekend off by getting some fish and chips and watch the sun go down over the Thames.
Does London swing? Probably, but I can definitely say, “it rocks”.
London is number 6 on my list of top 10 BEST places to visit in the World!
Book reviews: Camras Peak District Pub Walks, by Bob Steel
It was with great interest that I picked up a copy of one of the latest books to come out of the CAMRA (CAMpaign for Real Ale) bookshop. As a beer drinker and someone who loves the area I live in, it was the perfect book for me to read! Written by Bob Steel, beer enthusiast and author of the popular London Pub Walks, Peak District Pub Walks is a pocket-sized guide to some of the best pubs and walks in the Peak District. The book features 25 walks of varying lengths and levels; all with ONE thing in common – the offer of a few decent pints of Real Ale on the way!
As well as interesting walks, the guide also offers useful information on local pubs and breweries and explores local history, heritage and attractions. Peak District Pub Walks has easy to use Ordnance Survey maps, cycle routes, bus information and pub listings. These pub listings are really good because they are complete with opening hours and meal serving times; in fact, everything you could need to experience a great day out in our beautiful countryside….with a beer thrown in for good measure!
The book is well presented in full colour, with stunning photographs of the local landscape. There are also some pictures of pretty stunning pubs too! On opening, you will find the book is divided into sections. It starts with a useful overview, about how to use the guide and how to get the most from reading and using it. Before you get to the actual walks themselves there follows a brief introduction, followed by features about Peak District pubs, local breweries, historic pub interiors and walking safety. All are well written and interesting – not just for people with local knowledge either because they are also aimed at visitors to the area.
The main body of the book covers the 25 featured walks. These are spilt into handy areas – ideal for if you are staying in or visiting a particular region of the Peak District. Each section contains two or three routes to walk, each one prefaced by a map, length of walk, difficulty level, etc. The map also highlights which pubs you can call in on route and the following text describes each walk in detail, giving some historic information and tells the reader of some sights they will see on the way. At the end of each walk you will find a list of the pubs, with relevant information – there is also a useful “Try Also” section, showing any other noteworthy pubs en route.
The guide ends with yet more useful info about beer styles, accommodation in the area
