London Travel
  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. London Travel
Laura Porter
Laura's London Travel Blog

By Laura Porter, About.com Guide to London Travel

See More About:

Kensington Roof Gardens Photos

Tuesday November 24, 2009
Kensington Roof Gardens is London's equivalent of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

In the unlikely location 100ft above street level, on top of a department store building in the busy Kensington shopping area, you'll find a tranquil garden planted in the 1930s. It includes a Spanish garden, a Tudor garden, an English woodland garden and resident flamingos! Best of all, you can visit for free. Enjoy these latest Kensington Roof Gardens Photos and find out more about how to visit Kensington Roof Gardens. Image: © Bryce Edwards | London Travel Blog | Follow AboutLondon on Twitter

Harrods Christmas Grotto Review

Monday November 23, 2009
I visited Harrods Christmas Grotto, for the first time, last week and can confirm it was magical. This year they have a Wizard of Oz theme, and long time readers of this blog will know how much I love that story (my daughter's middle name is Dorothy!)

There were big problems with the online booking system this year and I told you back in September that I had succeeded in making a booking by calling and calling and calling. It may seem astonishing that I would need to book so far in advance but the Harrods Christmas Grotto is the one to visit and it's free too.

The Christmas Grotto is on the fourth floor and you enter via the 'Emerald City'. Father Christmas was perfect and calmly listened to my daughter's present requests and was unfazed when asked for a wolf cub as she loves the 'Peter and the Wolf' story.

We had our photo taken with Santa and he gave us all a large badge to prove we'd met him, plus a copy of the Wizard of Oz, which he signed, and a Harrods chocolate coin. With no charge, that really is exceptional and I was happy to make a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital, Harrods' chosen charity this festive season.

Parents and children will be pleased to know the Grotto is on the same floor as designer children's clothes and Toy Kingdom. Image: © Laura Porter | London Travel Blog | Follow AboutLondon on Twitter

Guy Ritchie's London Pub

Monday November 23, 2009
The Punch Bowl is a traditional pub in the heart of Mayfair. It was built in the 1750s on the grounds of Hay Hill Farm, hence the Farm Street address. It is a Grade II listed building and retains many original features and can only be sympathetically renovated.

These days many visit because of it's celebrity owner, Guy Ritchie (Madonna's ex), who is often in the bar. This may also explain the steep food prices but the food is good and it's still worth a visit.

Have you been to The Punch Bowl? Add your review here... Image: © Laura Porter | London Travel Blog | Follow AboutLondon on Twitter

Cecil Court Festival

Sunday November 22, 2009
The Cecil Court Festival is on Saturday 28 November 2009 with events throughout the day. You'll see Peter Moore, London's Town Crier, and many more special guests including Larry Barnes, the Pearly King of Thornton Heath.

The Regent Hall brass band of the Salvation Army will play festive tunes from 12.30pm to 2.30pm and there are book signings, workshops, competitions, and free tarot readings. All this plus great discounts at the Cecil Court stores.

Cecil Court is the London destination for books, maps & prints & unusual items: books old & new; rare & secondhand; art, antiques & bygones; jewelry, coins & collector's items. Perfect gifts for everyone on your Christmas shopping list!

I've posted the full details in the About.com London Travel Forum. Remember to check there regularly for fun and unusual events in London. I've also included this event on the Christmas 2009 pages. Image: © Laura Porter | London Travel Blog | Follow AboutLondon on Twitter

Dover Street Market

Sunday November 22, 2009
Dover Street Market is the brainchild of Commes des Garcon's founder, Rei Kawakubo, and features over 50 designers in a six-story Georgian-fronted building in Mayfair.

DSM (as the cool kids call it) seems most popular with Japanese visitors (whenever I visit). It really has that industrial thing going on with paint-splattered concrete floors and stairs and portable toilet changing rooms. It's considered a hip place to shop and to be seen shopping.

Have your visited Dover Street Market? Leave your review here... Image: © Laura Porter | London Travel Blog | Follow AboutLondon on Twitter

Christmas Fair at The O2

Saturday November 21, 2009
The O2 is going to be the best place to be this Christmas as on top of the fantastic shows, such as Peter Pan, they have created a winter fairytale with rides and a traditional German Christmas Market.

Christmas Fair at The O2 is on from 21 November 2009 to 3 January 2010 and is indoors and out so you can visit whatever the weather. And from 1 December, take the kids to meet Santa for free.

Passes are available for unlimited access to the 25+ rides and are better value when bought in advance. Find out how to buy tickets and all your need to know about the Christmas Fair at The O2. Image: © The O2 | London Travel Blog | Follow AboutLondon on Twitter

Rhodes W1 Brasserie and Bar

Friday November 20, 2009
Rhodes W1 Brasserie and Bar, located at the front of the Cumberland Hotel, is a stylish venue to meet for a drink or light meal. It's a large space with a funky feel but it's not 'neon-modern'. There's excellent service and cuisine is Modern European with a British twist.

I went to the launch party earlier this week and really like the feel of the place. Being a large space they can easily adapt it for different events. The staff were excellent and I got to try some rather yummy canapes, although there's never enough for a vegetarian, is there? I discussed with other guests whether they thought they'd return and everyone wanted to come back so they've got it right.

The new bar menu includes Gary Rhodes' modern twist on the traditional club sandwich. The key elements have been deconstructed so that the 'Rhodes Club Sandwich' is served on brown bread and layered with salad, a char-grilled chicken breast, some juicy bacon and topped off with a soft poached egg. I can see that becoming a new 'classic' very soon.

Have you been here? You can add your review to the Rhodes W1 Brasserie and Bar page. Image source: Adhoc PR | London Travel Blog | Follow AboutLondon on Twitter

Marmite Pop Up Shop - 2nd Visit

Friday November 20, 2009
I visited the Marmite Pop Up Shop on Regent Street last weekend and then I complained about the prices on this blog. The shop contacted me and I wrote a follow up and agreed to visit the store again.

So, this morning I set off in the rain knowing a mug of tea and toast with Marmite would be mine when I got there. The store is easy to find as it's only two minutes walk up Regent Street from Piccadilly Circus tube station (on the right). I arrived minutes after they opened so it was quiet enough to have a chat. (When I first saw the store it was a busy Saturday afternoon with a lot of people dashing in from the rain.)

Over tea and toast I asked questions about the products and the management team and discovered a man who very recently left Cambridge University and has a real passion for this project. He designed the Marmite Warholian images himself and has made a real effort to use smaller British companies to create his products. The project took over a year of preparation yet they had less than a week to get the shop ready once it got the go ahead. He recruited two friends and they run the shop together. Stock is selling fast and there were lots of deliveries this morning to prepare for another busy weekend. And here they are on one of the world's most famous shopping streets - Regent Street is actually owned by the Queen - with their first ever venture into retail.

I may have been too 'bah humbug' on them when I first visited as it was a miserable day and it was too busy to look around. Today I had the store to myself for a short while and saw items I could afford which was lucky as I needed a birthday present for a Marmite lover.

Upstairs in the cafe/art gallery children will love the cafe table which you're allowed/encouraged to write all over, and I've chosen a canvas Marmite artwork for a special gift so I'll have to go back again soon.

My purchases today came to £15 and I got a cake tin, biscuits, 2 packets of crisps, rice cakes, and a Christmas card (all card profits got to charity). That is a pretty good haul, isn't it?

Their lease only runs to 27 December so do show them your support. Image: © Laura Porter | London Travel Blog | Follow AboutLondon on Twitter

Great Christmas Pudding Race 2009

Friday November 20, 2009
The Great Christmas Pudding Race has been a London annual event since 1980 so this year is the 29th Great Christmas Pudding Race on Saturday 5 December 2009 at 11.30 am.

Teams of contestants wearing fancy dress have to run around Covent Garden piazza while trying to balance a Christmas pudding on a plate! Obstacles, such as balloons full of flour, are put in their way to make it even more fun to watch. It's a charity event to raise money for Cancer Research. Image: © Laura Porter | London Travel Blog | Follow AboutLondon on Twitter

Marmite Pop Up Shop - Follow-Up

Thursday November 19, 2009
**Update: Marmite Pop Up Shop - 2nd Visit (20 Nov)**

Following on from my blog about the Marmite Pop Up Shop a few days ago the shop has been kind enough to get in touch. My major gripes were the high prices of the merchandise and the lack of special edition Marmites. They have explained the shop is an independent business and is not run by Unilever, the Marmite producer.

The products have been sources from independent suppliers and the mugs, for example, "are made by a small ceramics designer in the West Country. Both the shape and graphical design were specially designed for the brand as opposed to branding a blank. Working with a small craft producer and creating a bespoke has an associated cost."

This is great to hear as the fact a British manufacturer has been used certainly explains the higher prices. I'd much rather pay more knowing a Chinese child didn't have to work in a factory to make something frivolous for me.

I'm still sure if their prices are competitive but it's good to know they are trying to "price match against high street retailers who are selling similar products".

Regarding those special edition Marmites, as suspected, they are simply no longer available, and they have tried to track down stock to no avail. An exciting bit of news though is if the store becomes permanent they would like to have a special Marmite designed for them. I wonder what flavor they would choose? I hope they take suggestions as I reckon we could come up with some good ideas.

I'm going to go back to the store and check out the manufacturers of the items and see if that is a good justification for the prices. I also have a friend who loves Marmite even more than me and they've got a birthday coming up this weekend. Image: © Laura Porter | London Travel Blog | Follow AboutLondon on Twitter
Read Archives
Explore London Travel
About.com Special Features
Vacations Made Easy

Find travel inspiration and get the best tips and reviews for your next getaway. More >

When to Go on Safari

The best times to visit East and Southern Africa. More >

London Travel
  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. London Travel

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.