Christmas and NYE in London

It has been a while since I last posted - I'm sorry! I had all sorts of plans to do a Christmas shopping post, since I spent quite a lot of time this year struggling up and down Oxford St and Regent St - but I was so exhausted by the time I got home I completely forgot about it. So, as the new year 2012 is still in it's infancy I think I can do a short post about my December adventures!

Let's start with Christmas then.
Christmas shopping is a nightmare wherever you go. Having said that, for some reason Oxford Street in particular is just impossible to get through sometimes. A friend and I went shopping after class, and to avoid the tubes we got a bus from Waterloo to Regent Street. Easy enough, and despite the crowds Regent St is expensive enough and wide enough to cope with the traffic - both human and automobile! However, the pavements especially become more and more bottlenecked the closer you get to the junction with Oxford St. My top tip for shopping in the West End, whether it's Christmas or not, is to avoid Oxford St tube station if you can. If you're not aiming for a particular shop, go to Marble Arch instead at the top end, or Tottenham Court Road at the bottom. Alternatively, outside of rush hour Bond Steet is right in the centre of Oxford St, and is particularly handy if you want to spend time in the big flagship department stores.

Of course, if you go in the evening the Christmas decorations look beautiful and it does fill you with goodwill and festive spirit. But try and avoid it on a Friday night close to Christmas - I went shopping on a Monday and ended up walking all the way back from Selfridges, down Regent Street, across Piccadilly, through Leicester and Trafalgar Square to Charing X station just because the tubes and buses were all so busy it wasn't worth the wait - and it is quite a nice walk when you don't have anywhere in particular you need to be. The key to handling London crowds is to relax.

So, you're shopping; it's busy and you're tired and stressed and... hungry. Where can you eat? Most of the big department stores - Debenhams, House of Fraser, Selfridges etc - have cafes and restaurants within them, so if you're not bothered about the price then you can try there. The food is good too. If you want something light and quick then Starbucks is usually the go to place but coffee stops get extremely busy on Oxford Street and by the time you've got your coffee you need a sit down! Most of the chain restaurants - Bella Italia, Cafe Rouge etc - as well as some pubs are off the main beat; turn down any chosen side road and you are likely to find somewhere. Alternatively, if you want somewhere with a buzz that is a little quieter, head down the small alley near Bond Street on the Selfridges side of Oxford Street called St Christopher's Place. There is a lovely courtyard here with restaurants and more further down, as well as some shops that are never busy because people don't like to leave the main street. Two of my favourites - one I frequent and one I can't afford to go in yet, ie Kurt Geiger and Mulberry - have branches down there too so it is well worth a stroll if you want to leave behind the hustle and bustle but not the atmosphere for a while.

And, finally, a little homage must be paid to possibly my favourite store in London. Liberty of London. Located just off Regent Street, from the outside Libertys is a great tudor-looking palace, and on the inside it's a vintage designer beauty heaven emporium! If you're looking for big brands but can't handle the hell of Selfridges at Christmas/January Sales, then go to Libertys, as they stock many of the same designers. Similarly, if you're looking for something a bit more unique then I'd try here too. At Christmas they have an entire room for decorations and beautiful paper and invitations and it's not at all hectic; just very festive. They also have a beautiful fabric section too - my Mum had her wedding dress made there... it's amazing! Even if you're not interested in shopping I think you've got to visit the big 3 department stores whilst you're in London - Selfridges, Harrods, and Liberty. Liberty is probably my favourite... one day I'll do all my shopping between these 3 stores *dreams* *you wish!*

One other thing you may wish to do whilst in London at Christmas is visit the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Top tip? Don't go on a Saturday, it's heaving. I went this year on a Saturday night and we had to queue to 40 minutes to get in. If you want to avoid the queue, buy tickets for the ice skating rink, in which case you have a set time when you need to enter the park and you don't have to queue because you'd miss your ice skating! The ice rink is really lovely too - a good size and with a bandstand in the middle and fairy lights. Romantic! There are lots of ice rinks all around London. I've been to Somerset House, Greenwich and Canary Wharf all of which are lovely, but you can find a complete directory of winter ice skating in London here. The Winter Wonderland itself was not that enjoyable for me but that is probably because it was so busy. You couldn't really see any of the market stalls and you had to queue up to get on any sort of ride. Moreover, the rides were between £3 and £6 EACH GO... which is a bit of a rip off if you ask me. There is tonnes of food and drink and German-themed alcoholic beverage vendors so if you want some festive fun and aren't bothered about the crowds or the price then it's well worth a visit.

So, on to New Year's Eve!
This year, I met up with my university friends at a mate's flat in London, and although we had all the best intentions of going up to see the fireworks on the Southbank... that plan fell through when it started raining. Luckily, I did that last year (to celebrate 2011!) so I can tell you all about that experience.

Firstly, a word of warning. It is PACKED with people. If you want a good spot either on Embankment or the Southbank, get there early. Also, once you arrive, you're pretty much pinned in and at the mercy of public toilets... The trees are all numbers though so if you lose someone it is, in theory, easy to find them again as the trees provide a reference point.

All of that said, it really is a brilliant atmosphere. Everyone is in high spirits and there are lots of reporters and tv crews around filming the crowd. I don't know if it was repeated this year, but last year the fun really kicked off around 10pm when the Radio 1 Djs hosted started playing out lots of really good tunes - not just new stuff, old stuff too, something for everyone - and the whole place became a bit of a street party! Everyone is drinking and so long as you don't have any glass no one really cares how much alcohol you consume... although undoubtedly there are hidden police everywhere!

At midnight the fireworks go off around the London Eye. For 2011 they were brilliant and co-ordinated with the music they were playing at the time. All the great British musicians were represted - The Beatles, The Clash, Queen, etc etc, making it a brilliant fireworks show all in all. Apparently this year was even better - London had something to prove being the Olympics host this year.

Getting home is the main dampener on the whole evening. If you're relying on the underground then you're fine as there is free travel between midnight and 4.30am. But if you're relying on oveground trains, as I do, then it is a bit more stressful. Once the fireworks have finished everyone starts to head home and people are aware that there are only a few trains after midnight. The stations all get extremely crowded, so to avoid any overcrowding the police herd you round Charing X down a backstreet, back up Embankment and then in through the front entrance. The train we were aiming to catch was at 12.40 and we only just made it. If you don't make it, you're stuck with a night bus. By the time I got home I had forgotten to great fireworks show because the journey home had been so stressful.
You've got to try it once though.

So there we have it - don't think I have anything more to add about the festive season in London. Lots of people who live in London really hate how busy it gets here during December, but I think you have to embrace the spirit of the city at this time. Otherwise you just end up all stressed out and not enjoying yourself!

Shakespeare's Globe 2012

Just a quick post, more updates and experiences to come.

If my earlier post regarding the fabulous Globe Theatre in London inspired you, or if you were thinking of going anyway, then I have exciting news!

The bill for the new season has been announced and it looks thoroughly delectable! For details, see: http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/on-stage

Much London love!

Inamo, the touch-screen Thai

So I thought it's about time I dedicated some Blog space to one of my passions in life - good food! I'm trying to lose weight (doing fairly well, have lost 12lbs so far) but I don't want to be fully and completely concerned with healthy low fat and occasionally bland food - I didn't think it was possible to have a tasteless Caesar salad, but a rather posh hotel in London managed it.

Inamo turns a gimmick into a great dining experience - to the point where the gimmick is exciting and novel. The restaurant is relatively small and some of the tables are quite close together, but it adds to the cosy atmosphere. Although to be fair the ambience of the restaurant isn't supposed to be so cosy - lots of chilled out music and dim lights. But I think this all adds to the unique nature of this place.

The tables are entirely interactive. When you first arrive you wonder where the menu is, but once you've sat down a cursor appears which you control your side of the table screen with. From it, you order all your food and drink! You can also change the tablecloth, from a space scene and a flowery meadow to fireworks to pebbles to waves - or abstract patterns if you'd rather have something a little more arty. You can even randomise the cloth so it changes every 10 minutes or so. Once you have ordered the food, which I will explain further in a moment, that is not the end of the interactive experience. There are lots of other features, including: a kitchen cam so you can see what's going on behind the scenes; a guide to the local area and what you can go onto afterwards; a view your order function which shows your personal bill as well as the group total; and games! You can either play games by yourself (a bit antisocial...) or play Battleship against the person sitting next to you! So it's ongoing interactive fun. You can call a waiter to your table if needed, and you also request the bill once you're ready to leave!

So onto the food. I can't say I'm a Thai food expert, but I can say this is absolutely delicious food. I haven't tried everything on the menu - I'm not fond of prawns so that writes some things off - but what I have tried I have thoroughly enjoyed. The menu is divided into several sections, so you can either choose one large dish and side dish or several smaller dishes, which you can share with your company or indulge yourself! My favourite dishes have got to be the Thai Beef Salad, which is spicy and had a variety of leaves assembled in a tower of deliciousness, and the spicy aubergine side dish, which is sweet and scrumptious; an excellent compliment to my salad. I usually accompany these with some rice. On my last visit I also sampled the seafood gyoza, which I was apprehensive about considering I'm not partial to ocean cuisine! But it was soooo tasty! I also tried the chef's take on duck pancakes, which comes with traditional plum sauce, but in a slightly fishy seaweed case rather than pancakes. I couldn't eat too many of these but what I did eat was tasty. I'm not a food critic so it's hard for me to properly describe it, so you will just have to go there for yourselves! The coffee and cocktails are also top drawer.

The restaurant is at the Oxford St end of Wardour St, although it's not a long walk from Leicester Sq/Piccadilly Circus! The nearest underground station is Oxford Circus. Also, handily opposite for dessert is a branch of the Hummingbird Bakery who make the most luxurious cupcakes imaginable! Alternatively next door to that is another cake house bakery, displaying all the beautiful desserts in the window - the epitome of temptation!!!

The only bad thing I can say about this lovely restaurant is the fact that they automatically add 10% service charge onto your bill, even though you do all the ordering yourself! But it still doesn't make for a massively expensive meal out, my bill has always been between £15 and £25.

Update - forgot to post the link to the site where you can book a table! Click here

The IMAX, the Oxo and the in-between!

Further to my previous post, here is a little update on the bits of the Southbank I couldn't clarify in my last post! Also, I'm writing this on my iPhone and for some reason I can't turn the keyboard round to landscape, so I may have to come back and edit the mistakes at a later date!

The IMAX, as aforementioned, is part of the British Film Institute, and it boasts the larger cinema screen in Britain. Mum and I went to see Disney The Lion King in 3D. The Lion King was the first film I ever saw at the cinema when I was little. I was 3 or 4 years old and I found the noise (and Scar) terrifying! I'm not even sure I made it all the way through the film! Hope I did because this is an absolute gem of a movie. On a sidenote, if you grew up watching Disney films like I did I would definitely recommend rewatching them now you're older - there are lots of adult themes in these films, especially the nazi Scar scene! The 3D experience at the IMAX is worth going to, although I expect you really feel the full effect of the 3D better in a real film rather than an animated one. The 3D glasses are also pretty funny! It was still brilliant though, and very comfortable. There was a little girl in the cinema today who cried at the noisy scary scenes today. I could totally relate to her haha!

To enter the IMAX you have to go down into the underground subway, and you exit the same way. Exit 1 leads you out towards the river, up the steps and then back past Royal Festival Hall. This is where my filling in the gaps exercise began. Past the National Theatre there is another building of very much the same character and style but it wasn't marked or named, so I'm afraid i can't shed light on it's use. There are many anonymous mysterious buildings along the river bank; only the most knowledgable tourguide would be able to tell you their purposes! The Oxo tower is actually not far at all past the theatre, but just before the complex is the Market I mentioned in my previous post, which is called Gabriel's Wharf. If you're looking for a unique gift for someone this is a great place to come - as well as some independent fashions stores there are also several jewellery designers, most of whom actually make their pieces in their shop. And it's so much cheaper than what you would find on the High Street, and undoubtedly more original. There is a lovely looking restaurant on the corner called The Wharf which must be buzzing in the evenings, as well as an Italian too. From Gabriel's Wharf you approach the Oxo Tower, which houses lots of independent art dealerships and florists and fashion outlets, as I mentioned before. I only explored the ground level but I'm sure it is just as intriguing and offbeat on the upper levels. The tower was built (I overheard from a passer by...) because advertising wasn't allowed in London on buildings, so Oxo had their name built into the brickwork. Crafty. Don't take my word for it though, definitely Wikipedia it!

Leaving the Oxo Tower, you pass a lively multilevel pub on the corner of Blackfriars bridge. The bridge is currently undergoing renovation, has been for a long time now (wonder when it will be finished!) which means there is a brief diversion off the river walk around the building work. You rejoin the Thames at the Tate Modern.

So there we go, gaps filled in and wisdom (ha) shared! As said before, there is much more to the Waterloo area than what I've described here, but there's so much to see in London you could easily spend a whole day just on what I've already described! Happy exploring.

A Saunter down Southbank

So it has been a while since I posted on this blog, mainly because I've been flooded with work for uni but also because I have been enjoying my new surroundings at the Southbank. When I was younger, still in secondary school, I used to listen to Johnny Vaughn's Capital Radio Breakfast show in the mornings, and one thing I've never forgotten is a particular feature he did one morning. He invited people to call or email or text in if they had NEVER been to the South, or North (depending on where they lived) side of the River Thames. I just couldn't believe that there were actually people in London who hadn't ever crossed the Thames. London has so much to offer someone, and I'm sure you could content yourself just on the north side of the river. But you would miss out on so much. This post, coupled with my previous post about the Globe Theatre, features some of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole of London, and a definite reason to cross the Thames's murky waters!

My college building is right behind the iMax cinema near Waterloo station, and at first I was a bit apprehensive about the location. I wasn't sure how buzzing it would be. I know there's a lot going on around Royal Festival Hall and Jubilee Gardens, but apart from that I didn't know much about the area, and to be honest I was very thankful that the more familiar Trafalgar Sq, Leicester Sq, Piccadilly and Covent Garden area is just a short walk across the river. I've been frequenting that area since I was about 15! However, it was actually on a walk across the river to Charing X station that I actually began to appreciate the Southbank a little more. At night, on a clear winter's evening, it must be one of the few places in London where the air is clear enough for you to actually be able to see the stars! The footbridge on either side of Charing X bridge gives you a really amazing view both ways down the River Thames; either towards St Pauls and the City, or overlooking Parliament at Westminster. I really love how architects and town planners have thought to illuminate some of the most beautiful buildings along the river, because honestly it's not until you see them in this light that you really appreciate how delicate and varied the buildings along this stretch of the river are. All you need do is simply contrast something classic and elegant like the Savoy with the harshness of the Hayward Gallery and Royal Festival Hall. Indeed, many people dislike the latter buildings and see them as an eyesore, but I think they represent an important part of London's artistic history. Of course in this vicinity there is also the London Eye, and right now at night it's pods are decorated with electric blue lights that give it this haunting ferris wheel aura. I've been on the Eye at night, and it is something I'd really recommend doing. London is splendid of course during the day but at night you really appreciate the blood and life of the city. New York isnt' the only city which never sleeps! I took the picture on my phone a couple of days ago, so apologies for the poor quality, but even in this amateur perception it still looks rather dazzling!

To attempt an entire description of the whole Southbank area would be both foolish, because there's simply so much to talk about, and well out of my current experience! There is so much of the area I have yet to explore. Still, I actually know a little bit about Jubilee Gardens and the Royal Festival Hall, so aside for the brilliant lighting features let's start here. The London Eye is of course buzzing every day with tourists eager to experience it's aerial sights, and rightly so - this is the legacy of the millennium which everyone casually forgot in the furore over the Millennium Dome, simply because this structure has lasted and become part of the accepted landscape. The copycat wheel in Manchester leaves much to be desired! If you venture South from the Eye you come across lots of restaurants and bars which are teaming with punters. Indeed, all the restaurants around Royal Festival Hall are absolutely packed in the evening - if you want dinner there I strongly suggest you book. Jubilee Gardens itself is the patch of grass underneath the London Eye, and frequently there are things going on there. Currently the area is closed off, something new is being developed, probably for the Olympics, but I'm afraid I can't disclose what!

Walking East down the river you go underneath the foot and railway bridge leading to Charing X station, past numerous street entertainers and fairground rides, and come across more busy restaurants and bookshops underneath Royal Festival Hall. The Hall has recently been renovated to modernise it and attract people back to the Southbank, and it has definitely worked, with the area now becoming one of the most visited by tourists in London. There are bookshops (including an outside second hand book sale where you can pick up some real gems) and restaurants and chic bars all to enjoy, but be aware they are always busy in the evening. Continuing on one reaches the Hayward Gallery, and underneath there is a skate park. Here one can see some of the best graffiti artwork in the whole of London - indeed the Festival Hall gave up it's fight with the skateboarders for this land because they realised that actually it brought something urban and anti-haughty to the area - something raw. Past various buskers, next you reach the British Film Institute. This is a place I would really like to explore more - I ventured in for the first time this week, and contented myself in the gift store, although most of the merchandise and books were far too artistically technical for a simple film lover like me. One thing I do want to take advantage of at the BFI is their free cinema, where you can choose from hundreds of television programmes and films and just sit in there and watch them for free! There's also a rather swanky looking bar inside which I would like to test one day in the future. If you turn right at the BFI, and go up the ramp, you come to a big road roundabout, in the middle of which sits the iMax cinema. Indeed, to access the iMax you need to use the underground subways which feel like a little hidden oasis, with rainbow lighting effects and trees and branches obscuring the road above with their tendrils. The iMax is the most famous 3D cinema in the UK, mostly for the fabulous advertising purposes it serves through it's 360 degree shell (currently sporting a panoramic view of the Amazon encouraging you to visit Brazil!). I'm going to the iMax on Sunday to see the Lion King in 3D, so I shall update more on that once have actually visited the place. One thing I will say about it is that it is not cheap! But you will find it hard to score a cheap cinema ticket in London, student or not!

Back on the river, if you walk past the BFI, you reach the National Theatre, which is where Jubilee Gardens and the Royal Festival Hall's land ends. I've never been to the National Theatre - there are so many beautiful theatres in London (including the aforementioned one in the post below!) that this modern building is a bit of an anomaly. But I've heard their productions are truly inspiring, and their youth department is one of the best places for aspiring actors and actresses. A place in this company is much coveted. Once you pass the National Theatre, I come to a blankspot in my mind. I know that if you keep walking you eventually reach the Oxo Tower, where you can find lots of independent artist's shops and perhaps a boutique or two, as well as a market on the riverside. And, should one continue walking, you will come to the Tate Modern, the Millennium Bridge, and the Globe Theatre! But I'm a bit confused as to what happens in between. This definitely warrants further exploration, and I shall attempt to enlighten the reader in a future post as to what other delights the Southbank can offer.

Of course, what I have covered today is just a minute part of the Southbank. The area does not just cover the river boundary, and I'm sure there's much more going on that what I have described, and much more to see and visit. Certainly, if one had chosen to walk in the other direction from the London Eye you would have come to the London Aquarium - I went to the Aquarium when I was little and I desperately want to go back now, since I love all things fishy and marine! Perhaps on a Friday afternoon after class I can persuade someone to join me in that adventure. Nevertheless, if you're a new visitor to London and want to visit the Southbank (and see what excitement and entertainment lies south of the Thames!) then this area is a great, busy, beautiful place to start.

Shakespeare's Globe

Thought is free when all the world's a stage.
(The Tempest & As You Like It)

Shakspeare's Globe Theatre was reconstucted in London and reopened to the public in 1996. It is not on the original site (moving boundaries of the Thames, changing structural landscape around the Southbank, etc) as it would have been in Shakespeare's time, but it is close. The original Globe Theatre burnt down in 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII when a cannon was set off from the roof gallery. Located on the South side of the Thames specifically (out of the reach of the Puritans of the day who would have closed all theatres down) opposite the majestic St Paul's Cathedral, this theatre has become a temple for all Shakespeare lovers. The Puritans did eventually get their hands on the Globe in 1644, and it was pulled down to make room for housing. Fastforward to the 20th Century, when the project had to obtain special permission to have a thatched roof installed after they were outlawed in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London in 1666. Since it's reopening in 1996, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre has pride of place on the Thames, flag flying high during the season which runs from April through to October. This year I was priviliged enough to be a part of the season.

I'd say the Globe is a must-see destination for tourists to London (also, did you know that London attracts more tourists every year than New York, Paris and Sydney put together?! Kudos to my capital!). By the looks of it, many visitors to my home agree, because the vast amounts of people who come to see the theatre, and come to see the plays, as well as the largest exhibition on Shakespeare in the world, is truly phenomenal. Whenever I have visitors I am always sure to take them there. Just goes to show how global and important Shakespeare has become. A great Englishmen indeed. The nearest railway/underground station to the Globe (in my opinion anyway, not sure if it actually is geographically, but this saves crossing the river) is London Bridge. And the walk from London Bridge to the theatre is truly charming on a beautiful day like today. Once you have come out of the station and crossed the main junction at London Bridge, head across Southwark Cathedral's courtyard. Southwark is evidently not the biggest or most famous religious structure in London (and who can argue with that when Westminster Abbey and St Paul's are its competition?!) but it is a lovely traditional Church and still imposes on it's surroundings. Alternatively, you could go down the steps and around Southwark Cathedral, therefore skirting Borough Market. Borough Market is somewhere I hope to explore more over the next couple of years, but what I have seen of it seems intriguing. Once you leave the cathedral grounds, turn right and follow signs for the Globe. This will bring you to the Golden Galleon; a brilliant reconstruction of Francis Drake's ship, the great Elizabethan explorer. You can take guided tours of the vessel, and since the destruction of the Cutty Sark a couple of years ago it is one of the best historical ships to see in London. Go down the passageway past the ruins bedraggled ruins of a palace which I have never stopped to read about (terrible I know) and past the Clink Prison museum on your left. I've always thought that museum looked a lot of fun, if it truly is a real reconstruction of a medieval prison. I get the feeling the London Dungeon steals the interested tourists away though. There always used to be a skeleton hanging in a cage above the archway which you walk through once past the Clink Prison, but when I was there today it was gone! At the end of the tunnel turn right, past the usual chain restaurants and the quintessential English pub (perhaps nice for a drink on a summer's day by the river, but always noisy and a throughway for tourists). Walk along the river and under the bridge, and please pause to view the lovely engraving depicting the frozen Thames.

Continue on along the river, past a few restaurants, and within 2 minutes you will have reached the Globe Theatre. The large glass doors are the shop and foyer entrance, as well as the Box Office. If you continue a few paces further along the river, you will come to what is know as the Groundling Gates. The metalwork on these gates is truly sensational, with numerous little characters and charming flowers adorning the ironwork. If the gates are open, step in and behold, an Elizabethan theatre. If you want to learn more about Shakespeare, and the construction of the Globe Theatre, a few metres beyond the Groundling Gates along the river is the Exhibition and Guided Tours entrance; well worth doing if you want to get inside the theatre. I would love to tell you endless anecdotes about this wondrous place, but unfortunately we have reached the end of my knowledge.

I have spent the last 3 months volunteering at the Globe Theatre as a Steward. The Theatre doesn't receive any funding from the government, and in the interests of keeping the experience of the Globe as authentic as possible, the company has tried to keep tickets to a very low price. There are few other theatres in the world where you can experience productions of the calibre displayed here for as little as £5 for a standing ticket. If you're willing to brave the unpredictable English weather - the continuing bane of the theatre's front of house team! Anyway, with this in mind, the company cannot afford to pay numerous ushers, and would need to employ far more than in a usual theatre because of the unusual design and obviously the materials (wooden... thatched roof...). Every year, a group of about 500 people of all ages (although I have noted many are probably retired) dedicate some of their evenings and afternoons to working at this theatre; checking tickets, showing people to their seats, maintaining a pleasant atmosphere during the perfomances, selling programmes, but, more than anything, lapping up the Shakespeare!

There's nothing better than standing inside that theatre and watching the Bard's work, for free, because you're willingly giving up your time to be there. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. This season, I was lucky enough to see a fabulous production of Much Ado About Nothing, a charming rendition of All's Well That Ends Well, a thought-provoking Doctor Faustus (by Marlowe of course, not Shakespeare) and the Globe Mysteries (not ghost stories, but Bible stories in middle aged Yorkshire dialect... an acquired taste!). I only saw 4 out of 9 productions this season but they were all fantastic. I've signed up to do it again next year because I think the Globe is a really great thing to be a part of. I know some people don't like Shakespeare but I honestly think if more people came to watch the plays, rather than just read them and analysed them at school, they'd see how the clever written word translates onto the stage to evoke more emotions than one thought possible in one play. It may be complex and occasionally ridiculous, but these works are truly timeless, and they wouldn't be studied and admired all over the world if they weren't worth it. My first trip to the Globe was with my school (they have a wonderful Education centre at the theatre also) but my friends took me there for my 18th birthday to see A Midsummer Night's Dream, and from that day on I knew I wanted to contribute to the project.

If you want a true taste of English culture, something that has lasted centuries and still entertains the best part of half a million people every year, then visit the Globe Theatre.

September Sunshine Student

It's been the hottest days of the year so far this past week. England as a whole has such strange weather, but London is a particularly strange weather. In Manchester, you can rely on it to be raining... usually. Down by the coast you can rely on it to be a bit breezier and therefore slightly colder. But London is just completely infrequent. It was wet and dull for long periods of July and August, and now we're enjoying a heatwave?! It is so inconvenient for my winter wardrobe - I was all ready to embrace autumnal fashion, and now I'm in t shirts and Havaianas again! Still, I shan't complain about it, and to talk about it constantly would be rather quintessentially English, wouldn't it?

I have been enjoying myself in the city these past few days, beginning my life as a student in London. I have lived in London and explored London my whole life, but I have previously been a student only in Manchester and Boston, USA. Boston was a bit different, but Manchester offers a definite point of comparison. Whilst studying there for 3 years, I really felt the city was totally student friendly. The universities had pride of place along one of the main veins into the city centre, and so many of the buses had "Universities" marked on them - student life felt like a focal point for the whole city. Manchester isn't as big as London either; you could walk from the universities to the main shopping area really easily, and all the shops were geared up for student shoppers. The cinema (and the alcohol!) was cheaper, and there were literally hundreds of student nights out at clubs, sometimes even for specific universities.

I don't think London is going to be like that. London is such a large metropolis; you can't really say that any one group really dominates or characterises the city. Students are just one part of that, and the university buildings reflect that. There are so many education institutions in central London alone, not including once you start moving a bit further out. It would be ridiculous if they all had a really distinctive campus or hundreds of exclusive buildings - they would completely take over the city, and there's not the space for it. My new university is concealed within what looks like just a normal office block, albeit close to some other university buildings belong to King's. There's a sign outside but apart from that it's not marked out from everything else, and the area definitely isn't a student area - it's right on the River Thams and a stone's throw away from London landmarks like the London Eye. Brilliant location! This probably means that not everywhere is going to be geared up for students like it was in Manchester, because in London the students aren't a defining feature, they are just part of the vast swathes of different types of people that inhabit or come into the centre every single day. I'm just going to be like any normal commuter - I just won't be wearing a suit! I think it's going to be really exciting to be a student in London, there will be so many more swish bars (though they'll probably be too expensive for me, the downside to London) or little coffee shops where we can all hang out, and I'll meet so many more different types of people, I think. It will definitely be a very different experience, probably a more mature one as well since I'm a postgraduate now... hope it isn't too different though! I still get the student discounts in all the shops (thank god).

London looks really beautiful in this autumnal sunshine. The sky is so clear at this time of year - the sunlight almost seems brighter and more penetrating, less hazy and humid than summertime. Getting the train from Charing Cross, you go over the railway bridge and to your right you can see the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye, London Aquarium, and to the left just about round the bend the spire of St Paul's peeps out and imperious buildings like the Savoy line the river bank opposite Royal Festival Hall. It's one of my favourite sites in London; you can see so much character and diversity pinned by the constance and fluidity of the Thames as it winds through the city, and in the sunshine the brown water becomes sparkling, almost inviting (not enough though!) Such a beautiful city, and there is so much more to see and explore. I wonder where my new student credentials will take me.