Wouldn't It Be Loverly to Go to London?

No frills, a single room is just that--a twin bed. You do have your own bathroom and they serve breakfast [if you're a breakfast person--which I'm not]. If you need a pillow thicker than a pancake, bring you're own. It's not too far from the tube station, but if you're a single female--walking back at night is an interesting experience. It's a good place to crash after a long day.

Stand in line at the half-price ticket booth and you have the opportunity to get tickets to many of the latest shows and even the possibility of front-row seats! [Got to see the Full Monty--really the Full Monty in the front row!] They have a good selection of musicals and straight plays.

London's a great place to see your favorite actor in a play. HOWEVER, get your tickets in London. I bought my ticket online thinking it would be hard to get a ticket, and when I went to the box office they had trouble finding my reservation and I was lucky to have my printout confirmation with me. So I got to see Matt Damon. But I could've seen him anyway if I had gotten a ticket that day--planning ahead doesn't help. Also, for free you can see the stars on the street between shows and not have to see the uninteresting shows that they're in.

Ok, I have this little habit of going places for the food. One of my favorite chocolate treats is an orange Kit Kat or Terry's Siesta bar [see photo]. I go to the supermarket and stock up. I come home and store them in my freezer. As for tea, the most popular brand in London is Twinings--but really--do you think I traveled all that way to get something I could get in America? Try some other brand.

It's a nice little place to go if you love theatre or want a fun place to take kids, and it's free. Watch or become a part of the demonstrations or check out rare footage of Kenneth Branagh in the theatre archives.

I went when it first opened. I was a groundling and it was so much fun. I'm short and I still found a good place to stand. The performance in the photo was the beginning of Henry V. Mark Rylance was in the starring role and his performance was superb. Unless you have physical impediments, I suggest being a groundling. If you want to sit and be away from the action, go to the National Theatre or the Swann Theatre. The only problem you'd have is if you bought your tickets in advance and it rains--because the play goes on! So buy it when you get there.

When you get to the opening of Covent Garden, you reach a gateway between the past and the present. While you will not see ladies selling flowers on corners as in MY FAIR LADY, new forms of street vendors and entertainment have popped up. In front of the main building at Covent Garden you might be fortunate to see a Punch and Judy puppet show, as in the old days. Inside, modern commerce has embraced this old building for its own purposes. From a huge Doc Martens megastore on one corner to quaint candle making shops in the far corners of the "piazza", Covent Garden is a great place to brush up on your window-shopping skills while appreciating beautiful historic architecture. On the bottom level, the market has flea market like stalls to peruse for your enjoyment.

The market also has many restaurants, but there is always the caution of it being a tourist area and therefore prices will tend to be higher. A free enjoyment is the various musicians that play in yard during the day. At night, besides various pubs, the street leading out of Covent Garden is Drury Lane in which several prominent theatres are located. During the day, you can visit the Drury Lane Theatre and take a tour of one of the oldest theatres in London and hear the tales of the ghosts that haunt that hall. In addition, the Theatre Museum is located near the Drury Lane Theatre.

While it is somewhat cheesy, the long running production of THE WOMAN IN BLACK runs in this area at the Fortune Theatre of Russell Street between Bow Street and Drury Lane. The box office phone is 020 7369 1737. Although it is somewhat predictable, it is a fun thriller for the whole family to enjoy. Students can get discounts at the box office.

Whether it is walking and enjoying the performances and the people or soaking up the nightlife either at the pubs or the theatres, Covent Garden is a pleasant stroll that is relaxing and memorable.

"I was walking through the park on day/ in the merry, merry month of May…" [British pronunciation med-dy med-dy]. After a few steps into Regents Park, you may very well wonder if you’ve stepped into the tale of Mary Poppins. Rolling manicured lawns sprawled with people in their Sunday best picnicking on fine little sandwiches---WAIT—Before you start running in the other direction, these formalities are optional and more a symbol of the upper-classes and you will not be begrudged for your simple dress [unless you decide to sit down with them for a cup of tea…]. The park is quite peaceful and consummately British.

What you will find as you walk along are many beautiful pathways meeting with a lake, a canal, and the London Zoo. One of the most delightful areas is the rose gardens with dozens of species of that regal flower in even more sizes and colors. Anywhere you find to sit in the park will provide you with a peaceful [and if you are so inclined romantic] place to relax. You may decide to take a page from the countrymen and take a blanket and some snacks for a pleasant picnic. There are several cafes and refreshment points throughout the park, but I always go with the rule of convenience—if it’s close by, they’re going to make you pay for it.

As you walk through the park, you will see people engaged in many different sports. If you’re interested in tennis you can go to the tennis center and get a temporary membership to play on their courts. In addition, you can watch people playing cricket and softball in certain areas of the park.

My favorite area of the park is the Open Air Theatre [which if you’ve read any of my other journal entries that should not come as a surprise]. The beautiful Roman inspired theatre hosts several plays [at least two Shakespeare] from the end of May to the beginning of September. You can get tickets at the box office the day of the show and even the farthest seats give you a clear view of all the action. In my opinion, see as much Shakespeare as you can in England—they know how to do it right.

Other entertainments include many musical performances at the bandstand [that is where a lot of the picnickers set up camp. Whether you are looking for activity or rest, Regent’s Park provides a beautiful, restful spot to spend from a couple of hours to an entire day [and with the exception of the theatre and a few of the other activities almost completely free which is always good].

On the Bakerloo line on the Underground you can get off at the Regent’s Park stop and be right there.