“What is your favourite location in London?”
We often get asked whilst in “Guiding Mode” - “what is your favourite location in London?”. Such a hard question for any Professional Guide to answer.
Of course the truthful answer involves responses to a couple of questions from us. “What time of year are we talking?” And “What time of day?”
In reality there is so much going on at any one time in this great city effected by so many customs, traditions and celebrations at any one time. We as guides are always thinking of ways to share locations, minus the pressure of crowds. And crowds gravitate to the happening moments in this city. They move like a Leviathan through the streets - different to New York, Paris or even Tokyo.
In this newsletter, thinking of locations and times of year, we want to celebrate a few areas through a small sample of the delights and details there are out there to enjoy.
COVENT GARDEN AREA.
This area is simply glorious at Christmas Time.
If you can see beyond the fabulous shops, a must see is the Christmas Tree and decorations, positioned at one end of the Piazza Square. London’s first Piazza was commissioned by the 4th Earl of Bedford in the early 17th Century, the family having been granted the land by Henry the VIII’s son, King Edward the VIth.
That centuries old square is now surrounded by high end shops and restaurants. So many places to loose oneself in that you could literally spend a day exploring.
Covent Garden sits to one side of our Theatre District known as The West End - walking there from Covent Garden you can not miss St Martin’s Theatre - the location of the longest running show in the world.
The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie - first performing in 1952 (moving to The St Martin’s Theatre in 1974), the year before our late great Queen was crowned (Queen Elizabeth the Second).
Just down the road is a monument to Agatha Christie, the author of The Mousetrap - Agatha Christie’s works are apparently only outsold by first The Bible and then Shakespeare.
This area just to the West of Covent Garden is also known for many Harry Potter Film Locations - to be covered in our next Newsletter by Ollie.
Foodwise the great go to and must try here that people queue to get a table for is Dishoom. Dishoom pay homage to the cafés of Bombay and Persian street food that's popular in the area.
Another great Indian Option (and often gets a look over in favour for Dishoom) Marsala Zone is chain of restaurants in London. The space that was once the Criterion Theatre is the best location to sample the delights of this chain.
Andrew Edmunds for the height of French Cuisine in London and a wonderful wine list. The restaurant is like a little bit of Paris in Soho.
And finally who can forget Rules, purporting to be the oldest restaurant in England, this features in the James Bond Film Spectre, as well as being the location where “apparently” King Charles proposed to Queen Camilla.
There are many other great restaurants to recommend and taste in this area which even if you choose not to tour with us send us an email or give us a call and we would be delighted to share insights with you.
If you happen to be in central NYC on the 25th - 26th January, Sam and James will be at the Travel & Adventure Show at Javits Center, why not come and join us for a English Sparking wine tasting. Email us for details!
