The Rolling Eye

Whenever I think of Big Ben I think of World War II and Virginia Woolf. The story goes that when the Nazi Luftwaffe bombed London, the clock kept chiming regularly.

In Mrs. Dalloway Big Ben is ubiquitous. It seems ominous in this novel because all the characters are people living on borrowed time, most of all the veteran Septimus whose dead friend stalks him day and night. But in real life, Big Ben looks more like a fancy Swiss watch than Septimus’ death knoll.

The Natural Sciences Museum

You can go inside and see fossils in the Natural Sciences Museum or just linger here on the grass, staring up at the variegated façade. Or, just stare at the people. It’s a great place to watch life as it happens. Parents and children. Lovers and their books in hand, as if they would actually read!

The British
Museum

The British Museum houses a bountiful lot of Greek artifacts including the Nereid tomb (below). It was the first example of a tomb-temple ever found. Dedicated to the water god Nerus, the building served as a resting place and whorship ground.

The Museum also owns numerous pieces from the Greek Parthenon. A Lord Elgin took the pieces to Britain, for safety reasons, he said, when the Turks were bombing Athens. The British government bought the precious stones in 1799.

Here you can also buy china and vintage silverware for your old aunt who still thinks gold and silver are the best monetary currencies.

Hyde Park

Old couples gaily sauntered through the reeds and kids swung from the trees. It was lovely to be together and not overwhelm each other with words.

It was delightful to be in a space where people were living for living’s sake; we were not trying to get anywhere.

It was so beautiful that even though it started to rain, I walked in my cheap sandals under the drizzle. My blue umbrella knocked against my head as I bent to smell (and photograph) the fragrant flowers.

Gloucester & Paul

In Paul, some of patrons spill out to the outdoor tables.

There is no music but for the medley of voices.

Many of the patrons are French. Some look like locals; others are French from France who’ve come here for a taste of home.

Pub Crawl

Maybe the only Europeans who love beer more than the Brits are the Germans, especially those from Munich, the host of the revered or reviled – depending on your disposition – annual Oktoberfest. Once you’ve got quality beer between your fingers, you can start to make some interesting pairings. {I’m still talking about beer but I guess that goes for people too!}

This brew is not just for chips and fish. Beer is also a winner with desserts.

The caramel, coffee and chocolate notes of a porter, like Pitfield’s Organic 1850 London Porter, is magic with dishes like tiramisu and dark chocolate gateau. Fruit beers like Früli, a more obvious choice perhaps, work with Black Forest gateau, while a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale that I tried recently would definitely hit the spot with vanilla and cherry cheesecake. - Guardian Food

Principles of the Ambitious Traveler

Make a daily itinerary but make it loose enough so you can change it on the go.
Forget that you are a foreigner than to see everything at a breathless pace and forget it all by the time you hand your ticket to the flight attendant.

A place is nothing but empty space without those who live there. Get to know people, whether they are passing through or have lived in the city their entire lives.

Every one is an immense resource with knowledge and experience that will enrich your journey and who knows maybe your life!

London Cheap Sheet

Easyhotel. When I first heard of EasyHotel, I thought it was a joke. The rooms are boxes without windows. The biggest room is 12×14 feet and FRODOR’S GUIDEBOOK warns: “not recommended for claustrophobics.” But for at 17 pounds per person per night this hotel is excellent.

London Oyster. Depending on where you are going and time of day, a metro pass can cost up to 15 pounds but with the Oyster card it cost 2.70 per ride. Great explanation here. If you are not in a hurry it’s best to get the Oyster card at the airport and get on the train for 4.80 pounds. The other option is the Heathrow Express which will set you back 23 pounds or 36 dollars.

London Pass. Go to the booth and look at the brochure. It lists the prices of most of the top attractions. Do the math. If what you’d pay for your choices will be more than what the card costs, get the card. In most cases it will be cheaper to buy the pass, unless you’re not on the tourist track.

London Discounts. When you get the London Pass make sure you get a booklet of discounts at the booth. This book tells you the places that will give you a discount for buying the London Pass. For example, the excellent Cafe Pasta in Covent Garden.