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Post by joeinnewyork on Dec 29, 2018 15:00:16 GMT
We're planning to be in London March 23-29. So far, we have tickets to "All about Eve," "Company," "Follies," "The Price," "Berberian Sound Studio," "The Twilight Zone," "Equus" at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, "Richard III" at the Alexandra Palace, "Orestes" in a Guildhall production at the Barbican, and "Richard II" and "Edward II" at the Wanamaker.
The above list, to be honest, is partly a function of which shows went on sale first, since we tend to try to buy tickets as soon as they become available because of FOMO. At this point, we're not sure if we'd have been better off with "Home, I'm Darling," "Alys, Always," or "Betrayal" (or something else) instead of one or more of the things we do have tickets to. Any recommendations about substitutions for the shows we're slated to see now?
Also, any advice about the best way to see the Inns of Court? Should we go by ourselves, or take a guided tour? Any other sightseeing tips, especially about medieval and Tudor-era sites, and restaurant ideas, especially in the West End or near the Alexandra Palace, would be much appreciated as well. (Replies via Message welcome if you prefer.)
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Post by lynette on Dec 29, 2018 18:48:38 GMT
First trip to London? Then you will need an Oyster card on arrival for transport and a tube map. A street guide , paper or on phone for central London too. Eating anywhere can be surprisingly expensive. I’m sure people on the Board can suggest a few places but be prepared. You can picnic in the parks. If it is your first trip, then The Tower of London is a must. There are many good guides and guiding companies for London, walking tours and so on. Do a bit of research. A walking tour of the East End and the City would both be good.
I’ve just discovered the Mithras Temple under the Bloomberg Building, free and very interesting. Combine with visit to Roman amphitheatre under the Guildhall. Layers of history.
Keep in touch, the guys on here really know their stuff.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 29, 2018 19:32:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2018 20:15:39 GMT
First trip to London? Then you will need an Oyster card on arrival for transport and a tube map. A street guide , paper or on phone for central London too. Eating anywhere can be surprisingly expensive. I’m sure people on the Board can suggest a few places but be prepared. You can picnic in the parks. If it is your first trip, then The Tower of London is a must. There are many good guides and guiding companies for London, walking tours and so on. Do a bit of research. A walking tour of the East End and the City would both be good. I’ve just discovered the Mithras Temple under the Bloomberg Building, free and very interesting. Combine with visit to Roman amphitheatre under the Guildhall. Layers of history. Keep in touch, the guys on here really know their stuff. I recommend an app called Citymapper. |
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Post by theatrescribe on Dec 29, 2018 21:17:57 GMT
I would consider these 'must dos' - Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the walk down the South Bank (from Tower Bridge to Westminster Bridge - especially at night, maybe after you go the Globe as it's en route), St James Park (or any London park really), Covent Garden, Borough Market.
If you are into museums then nearly all London museums and galleries are free; I'd particularly recommend the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A given your interests. Also as you're interested in Tudor history a day trip to Hampton Court Palace would fit the bill - where Henry VIII used to live.
Agree with recommendation of CityMapper - everyone in London uses it! If you are in London for 6 days you will find a weekly zone 1-2 Oyster card to be good value - around £35 and will cover most of your travel for the week - I'd also add £5 contingency in case you do decide to stray outside those zones.
Your list of plays look good - keep an eye on the TodayTix app as often cheap tickets come up on there (and they have some very good offers and lotteries).
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Post by theatremad on Dec 30, 2018 11:31:29 GMT
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Post by joeinnewyork on Dec 30, 2018 14:10:45 GMT
Wow! Thanks for all the recommendations - you people rock!! I've now installed the Citymapper app (and in fact have begun using it here in New York).
Re: likes/dislikes, @burlybear, (I can't seem to get the upper-case letters to stay, so I'm not sure the link will work) - We like pretty much everything (well, maybe not jukebox musicals), but what we really, really, really, really, really like is Shakespeare. We're also into musicals, especially Stephen Sondheim, the Broadway classics from the 1940s through the 1960s, and the two Tim Minchin-Matthew Warchus shows. And we're big Ivo van Hove fans.
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Post by peggs on Dec 30, 2018 14:45:02 GMT
Are you planning on visiting the Globe exhibition if you're Shakespeare fans, I note you're going to the indoor playhouse? I think you get a discount if you already have a ticket to see something, it's worth a visit and that way you'll get to see the outdoor theatre too.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2018 14:51:44 GMT
what we really, really, really, really, really like is Shakespeare. In that case have you thought about a trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon? It's a couple of hours by train from London, you can do it in a day and have time to see the main sights in the town centre and fit in a matinee at the RSC. |
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Post by eatbigsea on Dec 30, 2018 15:03:59 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2018 17:42:59 GMT
With the Oyster card, make sure you always swipe-out when leaving a station otherwise they charge you the maximum for that day.
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Post by joeinnewyork on Dec 30, 2018 18:03:26 GMT
Am I correct in assuming that your interest in the Inns of Court is Shakespeare-related? Yes. Also, we like anything old of the sort we can't see in the U.S. |
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Post by mistressjojo on Dec 30, 2018 23:30:35 GMT
Definitely recommend London Walks www.walks.com - they do a 'Legal & Illegal London' walk that takes in Lincolns Inn and Temple and usually takes you inside the Royal Courts of Justice. If you are lucky Temple Church may even be open - it has very sporadic opening hours. Middle Temple Hall do private tours on demand, but you do need a minimum of 10 people. www.middletemple.org.uk/about-us/tours Unfortunately the only matinee at the RSC that week is an understudy rehearsal, but you could still visit Stratford for the day for the Shakespeare Houses and RSC exhibition spaces. If you get in early you can get a return train fare for £11. |
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Dec 31, 2018 9:36:47 GMT
Am I correct in assuming that your interest in the Inns of Court is Shakespeare-related? Yes. Also, we like anything old of the sort we can't see in the U.S. You'll love how we queue here then |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 31, 2018 11:29:39 GMT
Question for me personally, why is Citymapper better than Google Maps? I use google when I’m in an unfamiliar place and it’s rarely let me down, in the UK or abroad. What does Citymapper offer over and above?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2018 12:49:14 GMT
Question for me personally, why is Citymapper better than Google Maps? I use google when I’m in an unfamiliar place and it’s rarely let me down, in the UK or abroad. What does Citymapper offer over and above? I'd never heard of Citymapper either but here's a good comparison of the two inews.co.uk/news/technology/which-is-better-citymapper-or-google-maps/Sounds like Citymapper is a bit smarter about public transport options than google maps, but only covers a restricted set of areas. |
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Post by dani on Dec 31, 2018 12:54:08 GMT
Citymapper is very useful when you're trying to negotiate the public transport network, especially in a city where you're unfamiliar with the geography.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2018 12:56:22 GMT
Question for me personally, why is Citymapper better than Google Maps? I use google when I’m in an unfamiliar place and it’s rarely let me down, in the UK or abroad. What does Citymapper offer over and above? I'd never heard of Citymapper either but here's a good comparison of the two inews.co.uk/news/technology/which-is-better-citymapper-or-google-maps/Sounds like Citymapper is a bit smarter about public transport options than google maps, but only covers a restricted set of areas. The only real advantage is that CityMapper is more public transport oriented (I think that's what it was originally designed for) so it's very good when there's disruption at offering alternatives- and is generally more initiative about it- whereas google maps is still more walking/driving oriented so sometimes doesn't offer the best public transport routes. No major disadvantage to sticking with googlemaps- I still open that almost by default anyway. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2018 13:00:05 GMT
Just had a play with citymapper and it does have some nice features which google maps doesn't have - for instance advising on the best end of the tube train to sit in for your next platform change, which entrance and exit to use from tube stations, etc. Looks like it will also warn you of disruptions to your route in real time too.
Thanks for the tip!
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Dec 31, 2018 14:33:41 GMT
Question for me personally, why is Citymapper better than Google Maps? I use google when I’m in an unfamiliar place and it’s rarely let me down, in the UK or abroad. What does Citymapper offer over and above? Citymaps pay their taxes? |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 31, 2018 15:46:50 GMT
Thanks all!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2018 17:21:44 GMT
CityMapper also tells you where to sit in the tube (if you can find a seat, anyway), front, back, or in the middle, so that you can exit the station/change quickly.
Oh, Xanderl just said that.
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