When visiting London...

bluedirt1 · 04.20.2006, 08:09 PM

Hi all,

I'll be in London a couple of days before All Tomorrow's Parties next month and was wondering if anyone had any tips as to what I should see/do while I'm there. Wed the 10th and Thurs the 11th are the days I'll be there.

Thanks.

Iain · 04.21.2006, 02:22 AM

Tate Modern in worth a visit if you lie art in any way. It was free to get into most stuff last time I went with a 'suggested donation' type thing going on.

There are tons of decent record shops. There are a few on Berwick street which is just off Oxford St. Sisterray (formerly selectadisc) and Reckless are both top notch. Reckless is a 2nd hand one... Rays Jazz is nice. That's in Foyles bookshop on Charring Cross road on one of the top floors. Then there is Rough Trade in Neals Yard which is pretty much Covent Garden type area. All the above record shops are within about 15-20 minutes walk of each other...if that.

I'm sure all the London based board members will be able to come up with some better stuff.

porkmarras · 04.21.2006, 08:05 AM

Tate modern is a great choice.I work near there(at the National Theatre) and whenever i get a chance i try to pay a visit cause it's a great place to lose yourself in the arts.Try also the Hayward Gallery.For records:
Berwick St(Sister Ray.Reckless,Music and video exchange etc etc),Flashback (Essex Road - Angel tube station),Camden Town(the place might be a dump but it still has some top notch record shops.If you aint got much money but you want to go to some 'Experimental' happenings/gigs pay a visit to The Foundry(Old St tube station).

wax · 04.21.2006, 08:21 AM

http://www.atpfestival.com/events/li...nt=20&view=644

thats your second date, theres black mountain the day before, dont know who they are but ,,,,, you may do.
also, stereolab at koko on 11th.

plenty of gigs constantly in london, especialy round atp time.

i dont live in london and never have so im not sure of any site that lists the good gigs, but there should be one, and there are plenty of londoners on this boards so im sure one of them will know.

you could look here http://www.drownedinsound.com/
or here http://www.upsettherhythm.co.uk/

Katy · 04.21.2006, 08:45 AM

General "visiting London" tips:

Make sure you bring more money than you think you'll need. Because you WILL need it. Buy a travelcard to get around (and ask for a tube map). Watch out for pickpockets on the tube and in stations. Don't get in any unlicensed minicabs.

As for what to see/do, that depends entirely on what you're into, where you're coming from, how much time/money you have. The Metro is a daily free paper that has listings of what's on (gigs, etc) that day all over town. If you can't find one (they go pretty fast) buy a copy of Time Out.

Free stuff?
~The Tate Modern, yes, is a great one. It's huge, has an excellent collection of modern art and is free entry.
~Camden. Costs nothing to wander around looking at all the stuff (and all the people). Plenty of record shops and small music venues.
~Soho. You'll probably get lost, but there are lots of nice porn shops and sushi bars for you to get lost in.
~Highgate Cemetery. Very very creepy. Only one side (the East side) is free to walk around. The West side you have to pay for a guided tour.
~The British Museum, The National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, The Royal Academy of Music Museum, The Natural History Museum.. all free and great.. if you like museums.

fishmonkey · 04.21.2006, 10:40 AM

London, is shit cool, i often go over there for gigs, just go all over and nowhere, get lost in the place and enjoy it, lovely people and a great nitelife

porkmarras · 04.21.2006, 10:59 AM

Avoid Picadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.If you get the chance go to Wapping in East London.It's a lovely place and there are some nice pubs round there.

PunkerViolence · 04.21.2006, 12:18 PM

London is a cool city. I live on the outskirts/suburbs where it sucks. But inner london is great. Check out Oxford street....check out the huge HMV record shop (but dont go into virgin, the cds are waay to deer) Camden town is cool. Full of the odd lukin druggy pissheads, and it smells of piss, but some groovay peeps there, wicked shops n stuff. (a good place to buy mushrooms

) The tate modern - free entry and its reaaly fascinating. London is great.

thewall91 · 04.21.2006, 12:53 PM

i loved walking around camden town, if for nothing else but superb people watching. we're talking seven years ago now, but there was a club i used to go to around highbury/islington called the garage that was open til 3 a.m. that played good alternative music. if london clubs have the same shelf-life as ny clubs i'm sure it's not there anymore, but if it is, it used to be worth a stop. i also liked all the restaurants in islington around the angel stop on the northern line, upper street. otherwise, follow the other suggestions and read a copy of timeout from front to back.

Katy · 04.21.2006, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyperstation

Check out Oxford street....check out the huge HMV record shop

Heh. I'm banned from there. Got caught stealing quite a large quantity of merchandise when I was 16. I've hated Oxford Street ever since.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyperstation

Camden town is cool. (a good place to buy mushrooms

)

*sigh* Not anymore it's not. All the stalls shut up shop last summer when the government closed the loophole in the drug laws. I miss the Psyche Deli...

Katy · 04.21.2006, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thewall91

i loved walking around camden town, if for nothing else but superb people watching. we're talking seven years ago now, but there was a club i used to go to around highbury/islington called the garage that was open til 3 a.m. that played good alternative music. if london clubs have the same shelf-life as ny clubs i'm sure it's not there anymore, but if it is, it used to be worth a stop. i also liked all the restaurants in islington around the angel stop on the northern line, upper street. otherwise, follow the other suggestions and read a copy of timeout from front to back.

The Garage is still there and still plays good alternative music. (It's only about 15 minutes from my house.) http://www.meanfiddler.com/displayPa...asp?PageID=358

Club Motherfucker, one of the best club nights in London at the moment, is held Upstairs at The Garage. http://www.clubmotherfucker.com/

bluedirt1 · 04.22.2006, 08:19 PM

Thank you, everyone!
I'm going to see Stonehenge too.

porkmarras · 04.23.2006, 11:20 AM

Give Julian cope a call then.He would be a good tourist guide for that

PunkerViolence · 04.23.2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katy

Heh. I'm banned from there. Got caught stealing quite a large quantity of merchandise when I was 16. I've hated Oxford Street ever since.

*sigh* Not anymore it's not. All the stalls shut up shop last summer when the government closed the loophole in the drug laws. I miss the Psyche Deli...

I was very very close to stealing a couple of Cds (Nofz's punk in drublic, and mudhoney's self titled) but saw the huge bald black guy at the doors and though noo way. Another time I was with a couple of 'mates' who were stealing from there. I saw them put stuff into their pockets....so i walked up behind them....and me being over 6" tall said "Excuse me mate, could you empty your pockets for me please" in a typical cockny security guard accent.....they turend round with shock and giggled

And yeah, those shops are now closed. I usd to go into that shop with the basement and get loads of fungus.....from the huge fridges. I had some great times on shrooms.

SpankMarvin · 04.23.2006, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porkmarras

Tate modern is a great choice.I work near there(at the National Theatre) and whenever i get a chance i try to pay a visit cause it's a great place to lose yourself in the arts.Try also the Hayward Gallery.For records:
Berwick St(Sister Ray.Reckless,Music and video exchange etc etc),Flashback (Essex Road - Angel tube station),Camden Town(the place might be a dump but it still has some top notch record shops.If you aint got much money but you want to go to some 'Experimental' happenings/gigs pay a visit to The Foundry(Old St tube station).

That whole area on the South Bank is possibly my favourite place in the world. I'm currently away from London so am not sure of the current state of the Royal Festival Hall (was being refurbished when I left) but it's a buzzing place, and if you're lucky there are free music performances in the bar area.

If you're looking for cool places to drink, I'd suggest the plethora of bars along Upper St, between Angel tube station and Highbury and Islington tube station.

SpankMarvin · 04.23.2006, 04:38 PM

Oh and try out Fopp records too. They have a mammoth sale section which is actually pretty good. Walk down I think Charring Cross Road from Oxford St and Tottenham Court Road, it's on your left.

04.20.2006, 08:09 PM	#1
bluedirt1 empty page Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: i live in the swamp Posts: 13	Hi all, I'll be in London a couple of days before All Tomorrow's Parties next month and was wondering if anyone had any tips as to what I should see/do while I'm there. Wed the 10th and Thurs the 11th are the days I'll be there. Thanks.
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04.21.2006, 02:22 AM	#2
Iain invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,544	Tate Modern in worth a visit if you lie art in any way. It was free to get into most stuff last time I went with a 'suggested donation' type thing going on. There are tons of decent record shops. There are a few on Berwick street which is just off Oxford St. Sisterray (formerly selectadisc) and Reckless are both top notch. Reckless is a 2nd hand one... Rays Jazz is nice. That's in Foyles bookshop on Charring Cross road on one of the top floors. Then there is Rough Trade in Neals Yard which is pretty much Covent Garden type area. All the above record shops are within about 15-20 minutes walk of each other...if that. I'm sure all the London based board members will be able to come up with some better stuff.
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04.21.2006, 08:05 AM	#3
porkmarras invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London - UK Posts: 14,313	Tate modern is a great choice.I work near there(at the National Theatre) and whenever i get a chance i try to pay a visit cause it's a great place to lose yourself in the arts.Try also the Hayward Gallery.For records: Berwick St(Sister Ray.Reckless,Music and video exchange etc etc),Flashback (Essex Road - Angel tube station),Camden Town(the place might be a dump but it still has some top notch record shops.If you aint got much money but you want to go to some 'Experimental' happenings/gigs pay a visit to The Foundry(Old St tube station). __________________
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04.21.2006, 08:21 AM	#4
wax the destroyed room Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: brum - england Posts: 554	http://www.atpfestival.com/events/li...nt=20&view=644 thats your second date, theres black mountain the day before, dont know who they are but ,,,,, you may do. also, stereolab at koko on 11th. plenty of gigs constantly in london, especialy round atp time. i dont live in london and never have so im not sure of any site that lists the good gigs, but there should be one, and there are plenty of londoners on this boards so im sure one of them will know. you could look here http://www.drownedinsound.com/ or here http://www.upsettherhythm.co.uk/
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

04.21.2006, 08:45 AM	#5
Katy the destroyed room Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London, UK. Posts: 643	General "visiting London" tips: Make sure you bring more money than you think you'll need. Because you WILL need it. Buy a travelcard to get around (and ask for a tube map). Watch out for pickpockets on the tube and in stations. Don't get in any unlicensed minicabs. As for what to see/do, that depends entirely on what you're into, where you're coming from, how much time/money you have. The Metro is a daily free paper that has listings of what's on (gigs, etc) that day all over town. If you can't find one (they go pretty fast) buy a copy of Time Out. Free stuff? ~The Tate Modern, yes, is a great one. It's huge, has an excellent collection of modern art and is free entry. ~Camden. Costs nothing to wander around looking at all the stuff (and all the people). Plenty of record shops and small music venues. ~Soho. You'll probably get lost, but there are lots of nice porn shops and sushi bars for you to get lost in. ~Highgate Cemetery. Very very creepy. Only one side (the East side) is free to walk around. The West side you have to pay for a guided tour. ~The British Museum, The National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, The Royal Academy of Music Museum, The Natural History Museum.. all free and great.. if you like museums.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

04.21.2006, 10:40 AM	#6
fishmonkey invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 2,670	London, is shit cool, i often go over there for gigs, just go all over and nowhere, get lost in the place and enjoy it, lovely people and a great nitelife __________________ "Pescescimmia ha grandi bulbi oculari blu, ognuno attaccato su un lato della sua testa, in modo tale da risucire a guardare indietro senza girare la sua testa pesciosa"
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04.21.2006, 10:59 AM	#7
porkmarras invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London - UK Posts: 14,313	Avoid Picadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.If you get the chance go to Wapping in East London.It's a lovely place and there are some nice pubs round there. __________________
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04.21.2006, 12:18 PM	#8
PunkerViolence stalker Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 432	London is a cool city. I live on the outskirts/suburbs where it sucks. But inner london is great. Check out Oxford street....check out the huge HMV record shop (but dont go into virgin, the cds are waay to deer) Camden town is cool. Full of the odd lukin druggy pissheads, and it smells of piss, but some groovay peeps there, wicked shops n stuff. (a good place to buy mushrooms ) The tate modern - free entry and its reaaly fascinating. London is great. __________________ "Daddy, Daddy!! Did you bring us anything??" "Retribution, you worthless little shits" Dysfunctional Family Circus
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04.21.2006, 12:53 PM	#9
thewall91 children of satan Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 383	i loved walking around camden town, if for nothing else but superb people watching. we're talking seven years ago now, but there was a club i used to go to around highbury/islington called the garage that was open til 3 a.m. that played good alternative music. if london clubs have the same shelf-life as ny clubs i'm sure it's not there anymore, but if it is, it used to be worth a stop. i also liked all the restaurants in islington around the angel stop on the northern line, upper street. otherwise, follow the other suggestions and read a copy of timeout from front to back.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

04.22.2006, 08:19 PM	#12
bluedirt1 empty page Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: i live in the swamp Posts: 13	Thank you, everyone! I'm going to see Stonehenge too.
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04.23.2006, 11:20 AM	#13
porkmarras invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London - UK Posts: 14,313	Give Julian cope a call then.He would be a good tourist guide for that __________________
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04.23.2006, 04:38 PM	#16
SpankMarvin little trouble girl Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 35	Oh and try out Fopp records too. They have a mammoth sale section which is actually pretty good. Walk down I think Charring Cross Road from Oxford St and Tottenham Court Road, it's on your left.
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