Around London

Dave Morgan comments on shopping in Camden Town...
"For me a must see has to be Camden! There is so much to see and do there you can hardly keep up with all the colours. Shopping wise - Camden is famous for its market and there are plenty of bargains to be nabbed or quirky individual items! If you just want to have a wander and chill out there are plenty of food stalls and restaurants serving whatever you fancy. I just love sitting in one of the small coffee shops and watching the world go by and seeing what crazy items of clothing everyone is wearing."

Imogen Cross comments on shopping in London...
"If you're a bit of a shop-a-holic then Carnaby Street is well worth a visit. With over 150 shops in the area including many independent fashion boutiques you're bound to find something that catches the eye "

Elizabeth Marlor comments on London...
"My son loved the Natural History Museum so much that he keeps asking when we can go back again!  After we finally managed to persaude him to venture further than the huge diplodocus in the main hall, we spent most of our time looking at the dinosaurs in the "Blue Zone".  There's so much to see and do that I feel we barely scratched the surface. The children's adventure packs were a great idea - my son loved his safari pack and the quiz encouraged him to read about the displays."

bradstow2 comments...
"If you love flowers, bric-a-brac and cosmopolitan atmosphere, try Brick Lane (fine filled bagels, coffee shops, retro clothing stores, market stalls and barrow boys, loads of cheap fruit, ethnic goods, used clothing, bits and pieces... For the flowers, it's a short walk to Columbia Road. Sunday mornings are best, you can park easily at the old college nearby, but get there early (say 7.30) if you want to buy pot plants, boxes of bedding plants, rare ornamentals, seedlings... Interesting coffee shops, a couple of pubs smack in the middle. Go in old clothes. A great photo shoot!"

Paul comments...
"If any tourist or visitor wants to see some great sites in London combined with a high speed trip along the Thames from Tower Bridge to the Thames barrier I would thoroughly reccommend the Jet Boat by flying fish tours. You get to see so much more and learn loads more of London as well. if you get there on the early tour, obviously you get to go further up towards the London eye and Westminster. Exillerating, Fantastic! "

Lucy Strutt comments...
"SEE A SHOW! You can't not visit London without taking in one of the fantastic WEST END productions. Some of the newer productions - Hairspray, Wicked, Dirty Dancing - or stick with the trusted favourites - Les Miserables/Oliver and even the wonderful Lion King (I was amazed)! - it's an experience that makes the hairs on your arms stand up...don't miss it. "

Sue Jones comments...
"London is a fantastic place to visit with such a variety of attractions and so much history. A relaxing boat trip on the Thames combines seeing so many of the famous monuments with learning some of the history of our capital city. There are many museums, attractions and tours to take in and exciting days can be rounded off with a visit to one of the many theatres London is home to watch a show or play. I visited London many times as a child with my beloved Grandad and I'm still fascinated today by the variety and excitement it offers. "

I McConnell comments...
"East London is a great place to explore on a Sunday. For free is the Geffrye Museum (Kingsland Road) which is a great museum. It has a number of rooms decorated as normal people would have had their homes covering the past 500 years or so. At Christmas they decorate with appropriate Christmas decorations as well which is really fascinating. It is a lovely building and really interesting visit. Nearby Columbia Road flower market is open on Sun mornings and is great to see the flowers and other things for sale. There is a real eclectic mix of shops with some really unusual items. Another nearby attraction is Dennis Severs House which is only open on Sundays (near Liverpool Street Station). It is hard to explain but is an atmospheric house preserved from years ago. You walk around in silence and take in the ambience, the sounds, the smells. It is a fantastic cross between a theatrical experience and a visit to an historic house! This is right by Spitalfields market which comes to life on Sundays with all the stalls selling amazing clothes, homewares and many other things. Plus plenty of lovely food stalls and cafes. "

Something Fishy comments...
"Do something completely different in London. Get up early 05.30am, hop into your Carhire 3000 car and drive to Docklands E14. Leave the skyscrapers till later, first visit Billingsgate Fish Market. Fish from all over the world is on sale to the trade and to the public.(closes before most of us get up) early every day except Sunday & Monday. Kippers for breakfast anyone?"

C M Fletcher comments...
"There's also the Ragged School in the East End, which takes you back to the classrooms of a hundred years ago. The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green has wonderful doll's houses and much besides. And in Hendon there's the Royal Airforce Museum - free - with a fascinating history of flight, complete with real planes from famous battles of both World Wars."

David Armstrong comments...
"Where ever you go that is a tourist attraction ask about discounts for Oap's and the disabled Eg the tower of london gives a discount for the oap's and if your disabled there is areduction for you and your helper gets in free . this policy is avalible all over london.

Also if booking a show with some one disabled some places give discount and have special areas of seating for the disabled and helpers usualy with the best views of the stage."

C Hart comments...
"Park Life... where the joggers go round and round and round..... and you can take a breather from the fast pace of the city and the hot hot underground. Regents Parks offers lovely flower beds as well as lots of grass for playing frisbee. Watch the in line skating regulations though. Head to Primrose Hill for fantastic view over the city and a romantic spot, or the zoo for a day out with the kids. Hyde Park is a famous one to stroll around. Visit the lake, hire a boat and listen to the interesting characters at speakers corner."

Andrew M-M comments...
"The London Eye is, of course, a must see and well worth booking ahead for a flight! But then, keep walking along the South Bank (away from the Houses of Parliament) for a fantastic afternoon (o morning!) walk. You'll go past all the street performers by the Eye, and then past the renovated South Bank Centre with plenty of places for lunch or drinks. Then keep going for the fab second hand book stalls (very Rive Gauche!) outside the National film Theatre, and onto the OXO Tower with an opportunity for drinks, and the free photography gallery on the corner as you approach. Then there's Tate Modern which just has so much to offer from the amazing turbine hall with constantly changing exhibits, to a great cafe on the ground floor for tea and more! Next you'll hit Bankside with Shakespeare's Globe, more eateries, and the approach to the Clink, the gory prison museum, the 16th century Golden Hinde ship and Southwark Cathedral. Passing London Bridge you'll head down through the Shad Thames area with loads of interesting places to eat and drink, before hitting the new home of London Government, City Hall, otherwise known as the glass egg or simply the testicle!! And finally, a great view of the majestic Tower Bridge which itself is surrounded by interesting little pubs and various places to eat - all of which you'll have deserved after a decent walk!"

Heike comments...
"The best way to travel from Greenwich back into Central London is by Rivertaxi! It works out cheaper for a whole family, and the children will love speeding across the waves and past all the famous sights. The boat is fully enclosed so you can take it in any weather. We picked up some fresh sushi rolls from Greenwich Market and had lunch on the boat. Our little girl tried sushi for the first time, and she coped well with using chop sticks and soya sauce from a tiny fish shaped bottle. She still remembers eating sushi on a boat in London, it turned out to be a lovely and memorable trip, and not expensive at all. Make sure you go to the 'Rivertaxi' booth for your tickets, as the more expensive pleasure boat rides are sold right next to it."