Handstands in Stratford
I recently had the pleasure of taking an extended family group on a tour of Stratford and Warwick. They had a very novel way of photographing their experiences. Two of the youngsters are budding gymnasts and insisted on doing handstands in front of every tourist attraction they visited. Here they are ‘performing’ outside of Shakespeare’s birthplace!
- Michael
Michael is one of the expert British Tours guides
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I’ve noticed a new name recently appearing in our “Best of Britain Poll” results, near to “fashion” and “pop music” … a certain Robert Pattinson.
According to some of our voters, the new Hollywood protégé, Robert Pattinson, is one of Britain’s best exports. Born in 1986 in London, he attended Tower House School in Richmond, London, and Harrodian private school in Barnes, London. The Harrodian School is known for offering a wide range of extra-curricular activities including drama productions, art exhibitions and musical events. Robert was 15 when he started acting in amateur plays with the Barnes Theatre Company.
In 2005, Robert took on the role of Cedric Diggory in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and was named “British Star of Tomorrow” by The Times that year.
But I suspect the mention of his name as the best thing about Britain in our poll has more to do with his latest role as vampire Edward Cullen in The Twilight Saga (Twilight 2008, New Moon 2009, Eclipse 2010) based on Stephanie Meyer’s novel. This made him worldwide famous and Pattinson has since been offered several lead roles, including British comedy “How To Be” for which he performed some of the songs, as he did for The Twilight Saga.
Bar Italia Soho
Last but not least, he was named one of the “Sexiest Men Alive” in 2008 by People magazine and in 2009, through a poll conducted by Glamour magazine. This would explain why he has to hide in hotels even when he comes back to his “home” town of London.
But you might have a chance to catch him in 2010 in London as he will appear in a theatre show produced by David Pugh, who previously brought Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) to London West End in his production of Equus.
As revealed in a recent interview, he moved from the family home in Barnes to live in Soho, the vibrant heart of the city. On a personal tour of London, ask your guide to take you for a beer at the The French House pub or a coffee at Bar Italia, one of Robert Pattinson’s favorite hangouts and a landmark of Soho since it opened in 1949.
The French House
On a recent visit to London, Pattinson dropped by a Soho pub holding an open-mic night and played 2 songs to a surprised but delighted crowd. Soho is full of these basement bars/small music venues such as The Spice of Life or The Blues Bar, offering live music and open-mic nights, with unexpected surprises…
Also your private tour guide could take you for a walk in Green Park, one of London’s Royal Parks and Robert’s favorite park where he used to spend a lot of time, before fame struck…
Finally, stop by the London Library in St James’s Square, where Robert used to spend hours browsing through the impressive and varied huge collection of books, occasionally getting lost in the maze of its building. “There’s nothing like it anywhere in the world” he said. With some advance notice British Tours could arrange for you to have a tour inside this library otherwise only open to its members.
- Aline
British Tours Ltd
You can include the Soho sights on one of our personal London tours by day or night. Your guide will collect you by car or coach from your hotel.
Posted in london | Tagged cedric diggory, David Pugh, edward cullen, london, robert pattinson, soho, stephanie meyer, twilight, vampire | 3 Comments »
© Imperial Imperial War Museum. 10 May 2010 is the 70th anniversary of Churchill becoming Prime Minister.
One of our readers, after reading about the 65th D-Day Anniversary in Normandy asked whether there will also be a 65th anniversary for V.E day in London.
It’s a very good question. We couldn’t find that much happening this year to mark the 65th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, the date on which the Allied Forces accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany.
I spoke with a helpful chap from the Ministry of Defence who said it was currently “being reviewed” however, if “something is arranged it will be no way near the scale of the 60th anniversary”.
The official MOD policy is to commemorate the 25th, 50th, 60th and 100th anniversaries, so this year’s V-E Day does not hold special significance. Occasionally however existing ceremonies are ‘enhanced’. For example, the 90th anniversary of the end of WW1, commemorated on Remembrance Sunday on 11 November 2008, was given special emphasis as there were only 3 surviving veterans from the First World War – Henry Allingham, 112, Harry Patch, 110, and Bill Stone, 108. A year later when they passed away there was special service at Westminster Abbey, “Passing of A Generation“
Grow Your Own Food, Abram Games, 1942, IWM PST 2893 © Imperial War Museum From the forthcoming "The Ministry of Food" exhibition
The Imperial War Museum London , The Cabinet War Rooms, and Duxford have no special ceremonies planned for this year‘s VE day, partly falling in line with the MOD but partly also because there are a number of important 70th anniversaries of WW2 events coming up this year which will be marked.
The Cabinet War Rooms commemorate the 70th anniversaries of Churchill becoming Prime Minister (10 May) with a series of events, and Churchill’s famous speech ‘The Few’ (20 August) with a timed RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight fly-past of the war rooms by two Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft.
The exhibition “Undercover: Life in Churchill’s bunker” marking the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Cabinet War Rooms in 1939 continues till September with the story of working under Churchill in the bunker told by those who worked there. See The Cabinet War Rooms for other 70th anniversary events.
The Imperial War Museum London is opening The Ministry of Food, a major new exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of rationing, to show how the British public adapted to a world of food shortages by ‘Lending a Hand on the Land’, ‘Digging for Victory’ and taking up the ‘War on Waste’. See http://food.iwm.org.uk/ and some interesting footage about war rationing
Historic aircraft will take to the sky at Duxford to commemorate The Battle of Britain.
The Imperial War Museum Duxford commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain with a number of events in 2010. Notably, on Saturday 15 May you will be able to see the legendary aircraft of the Battle of Britain on ground display alongside contemporary Royal Air Force aircraft. RAF pilots and personnel will meet and mingle with visitors, who will also have the opportunity to chat with Battle of Britain veterans.
There will be a thrilling air show the next day on Sunday 16 , with The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as its highlight, where historic Second World War aircraft and modern RAF aircraft take to the sky. Other special events at Duxford include The Battle of Britain Air Show (Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 September). For more information, see Imperial War Museum, Duxford
There is one Victory in Europe Day exception in Britain which is worth noting. The annual ceremony by The Soviet War Memorial Trust (SMTF) will be held in the gardens of the Imperial War Museum on May 9; held a day later due to the time difference in Moscow at the time of the German surrender. Although a mainly Soviet memorial, it will be attended by British veterans from the Arctic Convoys which travelled to the Northern ports of the Soviet Union with vital supplies during 1941 and 1945. Winston Churchill described the convoys as the most dangerous of the entire war, and the seamen as among “the bravest men afloat“. A memorial to them was unveiled last August in Orkney, see some of the veterans interviewed.
You might be asking, if only the 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th and 100th anniversaries receive special attention why was the 65th Normandy D-Day landings commemorated last June. The initiative for that celebration was actually taken by the French and the Normandy Veterans Association. Barack Obama had very recently become President and so there was an opportunity for President Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Brown of Britain and President Obama to meet.
Please let us know if you know of any VE day, 65th anniversary news – news @ britishtours.com
Ask your tour guide to include the Imperial War Museum, the Cabinet War Rooms, HMS Belfast on your London tour, or include Duxford on a Cambridge tour . Also see Normandy tours from London and Paris
- Jason
British Tours Ltd
Also see:
5 years ago, VE day’s 60th anniversary
Spitfires at Duxford, Quicktime VR
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I investigated the site of “Bluehenge” with our client John Norwood for the first time last Friday.
Bluehenge is a crucial link point in the proposed journey from the “Land of the Living” to the “Land of the Dead“. When formed in the neolithic period it consisted of a circle of 27 bluestones brought from the Preseli mountains in Pembrokeshire on a slightly ramped platform next to the apparently sacred River Avon. It may have been where bodies, after passage down the Avon, were cremated. However, at the time of the Phase II remodelling of Stonehenge, the Bluehenge stones were plucked up and taken away, probably to Stonehenge. Thus there is little to see at the site of Bluehenge except the possibly artificial platform.
This is on private property with no right of access, but it can be viewed through a wrought iron gate on the lane through the quiet hamlet of West Amesbury, or by using the path along the opposite ban of the River Avon which is used for access by fishermen.
Incidentally, I have a suspicion that the field itself belongs to Sting, along with the 17th century manor house on the other side of the lane.
- Keith
British Tours Ltd
KEITH is one of the expert British Tours guides, with a number of published works on Archaeology. You can request for him to take you on one of our personal tours in and around London, or extended tours of Britain.
Also see tours of Stonehenge and Stonehenge at Dawn.
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London is going back in time this Christmas, to the 19th century and Charles Dickens to celebrate his classic tale A Christmas Carol.
The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, recently announced the plan to bring Dickensian cheer to London this Christmas, coinciding with Disney’s new version starring Jim Carey as Ebeneezer Scrooge, Colin Firth and Bob Hoskins. All three will take a part in switching on the Christmas lights this year ; Colin will be in Regent Street (so is our office so we’ll try and get a pic of Colin tomorrow) and Jim Carey in Oxford Street. Bob will be on stage for a spectacular light show at St Paul’s Cathedral. The lights in Regent Street and Oxford Street will for the first time ever have the same theme. After the lights go on, the stage will be set for a world record carol singing attempt led by St Paul’s Cathedral Choir.
The world premier of the film will follow in London’s Leicester Square, with the stars of the show gracing the red carpet.
All this will happen tomorrow on Tuesday 3rd November, catapulting us ever earlier into Christmas.
The spectacular array of events will raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, of which Dickens was a founding patron. Dickens having led a tough life was concerned with social justice and particularly with the poor children of London and the injustices in life that they suffered, which is emphasised in this great classic.
When taking one of our London tours be sure to ask your guide to drive down the famous streets to see this year’s Christmas lights. See London day tours and London by night
- Nikki
British Tours Ltd
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Ceremonial Anglo Saxon Helmet from Sutton Hoo with kind permission of The British Museum
The largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found has been discovered by metal-detector enthusiast, Terry Herbert on his friend’s farm in Staffordshire.
This is the most significant Anglo-Saxon find since the discovery at Sutton Hoo, by Mrs Pretty in 1939 of a 7th century Anglo-Saxon King’s burial. Probably King Raedwald, he was buried with a rich collection of weapons and armour.
Terry Herbert’s hoard consists of about 1500 pieces of gold and silver, which include weapons, sword pommel caps and other military artifacts some inlaid with precious stones, possibly reflecting the wealth and warrior status of the owner? This phenomenal find has sent British archaeologists and historians into a frenzy. It is said that the treasure could revolutionise our perception of the Anglo-Saxons – the people that ruled the various areas of Britain from the 5th century to the Norman invasion of 1066.
The treasure is also almost certainly from the 7th century, a period in our history known as ‘The Dark Ages’, but this suggests that it wasn’t so dark after all and historians are likely to debate the find for decades to come.
Mr Herbert and his farmer friend are set to receive a very large sum of money from the discovery. The find has been classed as treasure, which means it is the property of the crown and will be valued and sold off to a museum with the proceeds to be split between Mr Herbert and friend.
Unlike Sutton Hoo, which was not considered a treasure trove as it had not been buried with an intention of being found, but as part of a burial of a person. Fortunately, Mrs Pretty donated the whole find to the nation and the remarkable Sutton Hoo collection can be viewed on a tour of the British Museum.
British Tours offers a 2 hour, private highlights tour of the museum or you can visit the museum during one of our London tours.
- Nikki
British Tours Ltd
Posted in england, london | Tagged anglo saxon, antiquities, antiquity, archaeologists, archaeology, britain archaeology, british museum, staffordshire, The Dark Ages’, treasure | Leave a Comment »
This month we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the airing of probably the best loved US sitcom, Friends.
Looking perky
In London, the Central Perk coffee shop has been recreated on Broadwick Street, Soho. The drop-in coffee lounge is a replica of the coffee shop in the hit TV series. I have not yet seen any of the Friends there, but this lunch time, the real Gunther was in prime position on that famous sofa as a line of people queued outside for the chance to have a coffee in one of the world’s most famous hang-outs.
"Friends" - my new friend Gunther!
Central Perk is not a permanent fixture in London; it will be open daily from 8am to 6pm for the next two weeks, until 7th October. Pop in for a coffee when you take one of our personal London tours!
- Nikki
British Tours Ltd
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That's 4 done, just 85 more to go ... a patient van driver at Abbey Road.
Hundreds of Beatles fans congregated at London’s Abbey Road on Saturday 8 August to mark the 40th anniversary of the Abbey Road photo shoot – quite spectacular, the place was really overrun, and a few Beatles lookalikes turned up too.
John, Paul, George and Ringo were photographed walking across the zebra crossing on the 1969 Abbey Road album cover and no day goes past without re-enactments by the public.
Abbey Road London, The Beatles
The album was originally going to be called Everest after the recording engineer’s favourite brand of cigarettes and there was talk of a photo shoot in the Himalayas. In the end they decided on the pedestrian crossing outside the Abbey Road studios in North London where they were recording, not only creating the iconic cover but also an easy to reach site for Beatles pilgrims (apart from the Nepalese ones ..)
Ask your guide to include Abbey Road on one of our personal London tours by car or minibus.
Also see our Quicktime 360 panorama of Abbey Road
http://www.britishtours.com/360/beatles.html Incidentally the street sign featured in the VR is no longer there – the council removed it to save the expense of it being graffitied and/or walked off with by members of the public.
What’s the BEST thing about Britain? Vote now!
- Jason
British Tours
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Staff at Hamleys stopping the crowds
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, the 6th film in the series has now hit the big screen and the wizard is as popular as ever. Evidence of the phenomena is everywhere. On my way in to work in our Regent Street Office, I pass a gaggle of tourists photographing the staff at the famous toy store, Hamleys, who are dressed as characters from the film. Kids and adults alike are seduced into the Harry Potter world, as they find Harry et al … welcoming them into the store. Hamleys has a section on the 5th floor – wands, Hogwart’s pins, even Harry Potter’s Levitating Wand Pen – Harry Potter toys at Hamleys
At British Tours, we have been busy adding the new settings from the latest film to our already wildly popular Harry Potter filming locations tours.
In London, the Millennium Bridge is one new addition. Outside of London, the picturesque 13th century Cotswolds village of Lacock was once again heavily featured, including the beautiful Abbey and historic Angel pub.
British Tours offers a wide range of tours of the film locations to suit all Potter fans requirements, whether it be a 3 hour tour of the London sights or a full day out in the country to see such places as Oxford, Gloucester and Lacock.
- Nikki
British Tours
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