London Tourist - Part 2

Last year I blogged about a family daytrip I made to London whilst the Paralympics were on - click here if you fancy having a nosey.

For those of you who don't know, I'm originally from London but have lived up North for quite a few years. I love going back to catch up with friends and family but just lately, when we visit, we've been making more of an effort to do some 'touristy things'.

When you live in a city it's easy to take the sights for granted.  In fact you're more likely to avoid tourist attractions because of how busy it gets!  Now that I don't live in London I definitely appreciate so many things it has to offer.  Tourist attractions now being one of them!!!

This particular weekend the Boyf and Little Man were busy which meant I got to spend some time with my Dada.

Normally we visit family, go out for dinner etc so he was surprised that I fancied going into town. In fact as someone who has to drive around London on a regular basis he wasn't exactly thrilled at the prospect!  However, us daughters have a way of talking our dads round and we were soon on the tube heading to our location.....The London Aquarium!

A few Twitter friends suggested the London Aquarium and I can't believe I hadn't thought of it!  It was perfect.  Somewhere neither of us had been before and could chat whilst looking at some amazing fish!

If you haven't been before then get your backsides down there !  We literately spent hours there!  Here are a few pics I took on my phone.  I wish I'd taken my 'big' camera because it really is a great photo opportunity although my dad might not have appreciated me spending hours snapping away!!

All in all it was a great day and I really enjoyed spending some quality time with my dad.

Next time you're in London you should really try and visit.  It's great for families, outings with friends, first dates etc.

Have you done anything touristy lately?

There's a Detective in Town

 

Recently I'd arranged to have a girly weekend in London with one of my closest friends.  We've known each other for 23 years.  Long time eh.  Due to us now living in different parts of the country and both having fellas we don't get to spend much time together without the boyfriends in tow.  This particular weekend though we ditched our fellas and headed into London Town.  Wooo let the excitement commence. 

We had an awesome day out.  We drank Raspberry Martinis, ate tapas, people watched from street side restaurants and chatted our hearts out.

We then headed over to the V&A where we were lucky enough to get tickets for the Hollywood Exhibition.  To say I was excited was an understatement!  This is a must see exhibition.  Where else can you see Marilyn Monroe's infamous white dress and Dorothy's ruby red slippers?  There were so many more iconic outfits from films such as The Blues Brothers, Chicago, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Elizabeth, etc the list is endless.  What I loved most about this exhibition was how the V&A went to so much effort to describe the relationship between the characters, costume designer and director.  It certainly makes me appreciate a characters outfit a lot more.  If you going into London head over to the exhibition but make sure you books tickets in advance, they're selling out quick!

After the exhibition we felt a drink was in order.  We'd heard about a very special bar off Earls Court Road where all was not as it seemed.  Let me introduce you to the Evans & Peel Detective Agency.

Off Earls Court Road down a side street is a locked black door, lit by an overhead lantern.  People are hovering around outside waiting to get in.  The sign on the door reads 'Evans & Peel Detective Agency'.

Eventually the door opens and a woman dressed in a 1920's outfit looks us up and down and asks about our 'case'.  We tell her we are looking to acquire some drinks and she finally agrees to let us in.............

* * SPOILER ALERT * *

Now if you're the kind of person who goes to London a lot and are considering going to this bar, stop reading!  The element of surprise was one of the many things I loved about this place.

After the door was locked and bolted behind us we were taken down the winding stairs into the 'office'.  Here we were interrogated about our case.  When we told her we were just looking for a drink she rolled her eyes and quipped 'you do realise this is a detective agency don't you?' and so the role play began.  After much hilarity and dodgy acting on our part she finally agreed we could go through to the bar.  She handed us our case files, which were actually menus and pushed open the bookcase, which of course was actually door through to the bar!

We sat at the bar and took it all in.  The 1920's decor, the blues playing in the background, the beer which is poured through a radiator, the cocktails served in china cups and the fabulous staff make this place.  I loved everything about it.  Ok so prices weren't cheap at £10 a cocktail but I have to say it was worth every penny for it the overall experience.

So next time you're in London and you feel there's a case to be solved head over to Evans & Peel Detective Agency for an experience you wont forget!

What have you been up to lately?  Have you been to anywhere as random as Evans & Peel?

London Tourist

A couple of weeks ago I wangled a day off work and went on a daytrip with the family.

Woo commence extreme excitement because the daytrip was to LONDON!!  Being from London you'd think I wouldn't get that excited about it but a day off work, spending time with the family, visiting the olympic park, going on a London Duck Tour and squeezing in a trip to Westfields is right up my street!

As soon as I stepped off the train I turned into some kind of crazy photo taking tourist.  My London friends would most likely have walked off and left me, but I didn't care and besides, they were all at work!!

Anyway I thought I'd post a few of my pics so you could share my excitement. Oh and by the way, did I mention I met Patrick Anderson, the worlds greatest wheelchair basketball player AND he let my son wear his jacket!!! SWOON!!

Did any of you get Paralympic Fever??  Where was your last daytrip?

Big Ben, London Duck Tours, Olympic Stadium (made out of lego), Little Ben

My purchase from Bershka

Patrick Anderson (Team Canada), Being Tourists, The Orbit, London Eye



This Sleepy Town Called Home

As a Londoner now living up north I sometime miss the hustle and bustle of the city.  Yesterday I took a daytrip to London and I loved every moment of it.  I miss the shops! The diversity! Even the tube!! Yet a part of me couldn't wait to get back home.  It's daytrips like this that make me appreciate what we have on our doorstep.

Although my life is completely different now to how it was in London I'm glad I've had the opportunity to experience both the city life and this sleepy town I call home.

We do things we wouldn't necessarily do if we lived in London.  The weekends often involve making up a picnic and going on random walks with the family.  You never know what you're going to find and it always feels like an adventure.  It's completely different to the way I grew up where Camden and Carnaby Street were a stop off after school. But you know what?  As long as I get a few daytrips in here and there, I've come to realise I wouldn't trade this in for the world (or the city).

One of our random walks with the boys in my life!!