to see in London?

tallulah · Post by **tallulah** » Fri Aug 01, 2003 9:18 am

I know I am NEW but I wanted yur help - I am going to London for 10 days in October and would love any suggestions of cool things I MUST see. Nothing is too big or too small...

Cheers!

so lacklustre · Post by **so lacklustre** » Fri Aug 01, 2003 10:19 am

A bit obvious, but the Tower of London is brilliant if a little touristy, and the London Eye is worth a trip on a clear day.

Other than that, just keep looking up, the architecture is astounding.

tallulah · Post by **tallulah** » Fri Aug 01, 2003 10:37 am

Thanks!

I have actually been to the Tower of London - but have not experienced the London Eye, so I will check it out.

PlaythingOrPet · Post by **PlaythingOrPet** » Fri Aug 01, 2003 11:39 am

London is incredibly expensive so the free Tate Modern is a must, and while you're there take a look at the Globe Theatre, a 5/10 minute walk away. The Japanese Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park is a (sorta) well kept secret. It was free when I went a few years ago but I think you may have to pay a small admission fee now. And the National Portrait Gallery is a personal favourite.

Do you like jazz? Not sure if this still goes on, but my ex-boyfriend and I used to go to the free concerts at the Royal Festival Hall then walk along the South Bank on warm evenings. It'll probably be too damp and cold in October to do that. But the free music bit is a must

. God, we were so cheap!

shabbydoll · Post by **shabbydoll** » Sat Aug 02, 2003 4:38 am

Saturday, Oct. 18th, London Brixton Academy, The Super Furry Animals!

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Sat Aug 02, 2003 12:56 pm

Shabby - you have a one track mind!

Cool recommendations Plaything. Don't know those Kyoto gardens. Gonna go. Agree Tate Modern is a must, and a lovely contrast to the Nat Gall, which is a free must alongside the Nat Port Gall. You could go for the London Eye at night if towns at night float your boat. And Cambridge is only 50 mins on a train.

shabbydoll · Post by **shabbydoll** » Sat Aug 02, 2003 1:16 pm

Otis, at the moment, yes. When Elvis comes back around these parts then it may divide.

bambooneedle · Post by **bambooneedle** » Sat Aug 02, 2003 3:43 pm

PoP, just saw a doco about Rothco paintings, some of which are at the Tate. I'd love to see them up close. If you've had a chance to see them, did they get your attention?

PlaythingOrPet · Post by **PlaythingOrPet** » Sat Aug 02, 2003 5:32 pm

Yeah, I remember seeing one of Rothko's at the TM, Bamboo. Fabulously lit, with one whole wall to itself. Can't recall which one it was because, let's face it, they all look the same. I like him though my brother is the bigger admirer.

girl out of time · Post by **girl out of time** » Sat Aug 02, 2003 11:12 pm

make sure to catch a show at the shepherd´s bush empire or ronnie scott´s.....

Poppet · Post by **Poppet** » Sun Aug 03, 2003 4:30 pm

PlaythingOrPet wrote:Yeah, I remember seeing one of Rothko's at the TM, Bamboo. Fabulously lit, with one whole wall to itself....

i adore Rothko. some time not long after i got married, the Sackler Museum in Cambridge MA exhibited Rothko's murals for the Harvard Faculty Club, which were taken down a number of years ago, because the paint he used wasn't ageing well at all. they had their own room, and it was like religion seeing them. somehow Rothko paints the mysteries of faith, the glory and depth and pain of life, all in those silly color field canvases.
i tried doing my own color field painting for art class, and it was just dull in comparison. amazing stuff, yet one more thing that floats my boat.

bambooneedle · Post by **bambooneedle** » Mon Aug 04, 2003 7:18 am

That's why I'd like to see a RothKo up close, for the full impact. Even on TV they were affecting; just the absense of anything but the purity and composition of powerful colour on that scale. There was a dark one I particularly liked, done just before he died. There's nothing else like them. In the doco they told a someone visiting his studio to look at Rothko's paintings for the first time. They looked around and said, "where are they?". They were leaning close by on just about every wall. He got a kick out of that.

tallulah · Post by **tallulah** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 1:00 pm

Thank you all for your suggestions! I appreciate it. Now counting the days to my trip...

HungupStrungup · Post by **HungupStrungup** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 1:35 pm

Make sure you go to the theatre at least once. Whether you see a big, splashy musical or a modest one-act play at a local fringe venue, the theatre in London is a joy. Pick up a copy of TimeOut and read all the listings - you're bound to find something unexpected and worthwhile.

Poppet · Post by **Poppet** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 1:49 pm

the half price tickets booth, at piccadilly circus i think, was excellent for getting seats. if i'd had a BRAIN i could have seen Alan Rickman on the boards when i was there last. (i am an IDIOT.)

do not, do NOT go see Fame. it stinks. hopefully it will have closed aeons ago. i know, it sounds silly, but The Lion King was excellent. I totally groove on costumes, and the costumes were *outstanding* - and, i think the story actually worked better as musical theater. lovely stuff.

Gillibeanz · Post by **Gillibeanz** » Wed Aug 06, 2003 2:11 pm

My Mum and Dad who are ancient works of art!!

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to see in London?

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