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ONLY BE LONDONER
Only-Be Londoner
The Thames below Your Feet
If you’re thinking about visiting London soon, don’t miss the opportunity to view the Thames below your feet thanks to a new glass walkway with a stunning view from one of the most famous bridges in the world: the Tower Bridge in London. Following in the footsteps of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the famous London Bridge has now also unveiled a glass walkway with views from 42 meters above the Thames. At 11 meters long and 1.8 meters wide, it allows visitors to enjoy a new perspective of the drawbridge and its traffic, including the city’s iconic red buses and numerous pedestrians, as well as the views of the River Thames and the boats that ply its waters daily. Access to the gateway is included in the regular ticket price of visiting the popular bridge (10 euros /8 pounds), which is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm from October to March and 10 am to 5:30 pm from April to September. This new attraction is located on the west side of Tower Bridge, and a second walkway with identical dimensions is planned for the east side. The opening of this gateway coincides with the 120th anniversary of the opening of the iconic bridge, which was designed by Horace Jones and John Wolfe Barry and receives more than 600,000 visitors...
The Notting Hill Carnival
The Notting Hill Carnival: An opportunity to visit London
Literary Pubs in London
If writers in olden times met in taverns to chat and exchange ideas and opinions, it’s now their legacy that remains in these establishments. Some parts of the history of literature have been forged in the pubs we are going to tell you about, and many are located in London. With something for everyone, we’ll start our “Route of Books and Drinks” in the British capital. If we want to talk about literature in connection with London pubs, we must, of course, discuss the Cheshire Cheese. With its dark lighting, wooden interior and low ceilings, it’s definitely worth visiting. Built in 1666, it was frequented by the “cursed poets” and the Rhymers Club, including Ernest Dowson and Lionel Johnson (who is said to have died there after falling off a stool). And, of course, Oscar Wilde and Charles Dickens are also said to have been seen there on occasion. What secrets do the tables and chairs guard? The only way to find out is to visit. In Northumberland Street you’ll find the Sherlock Holmes pub, which, as you might imagine, has been designed and decorated in the style of a detective novel. On the first floor there is a replica of the room where Dr. Watson kept his books and bottles. And among the many things that will inspire you on this Sherlock Holmes path is a portrait of the author overlooking one of the rooms of this curious London venue. Then there’s the Fitzroy Tavern (16 Charlotte Street), where Dylan Thomas used to get drunk and write poetry on the coasters. Other literary greats that passed through include...
Wimbledon
Known as The Championships, the Wimbledon Championships, or simply Wimbledon, it is one of the four Grand Slams of tennis season, alongside the Australian Open, Roland Garros and the U.S. Open. Of the four, there is no doubt that Wimbledon is the most prestigious, not only because it’s the oldest but because it is the most difficult of all. The grass of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club gives the game a speed that cannot be equaled on the clay of Paris or the fast surfaces of Melbourne or New York. By alphababy The first championship was held in 1877, and since then it has enjoyed unparalleled prestige in the world of sport. Everyone who has gone to Wimbledon agrees that the resort’s atmosphere is incomparable, an environment in which the true tradition of tennis thrives. This tradition has been carried to the grass, where both male and female players are required to wear pristine white clothing throughout the tournament. One thing that has changed in recent years is the main court, Centre Court, which due to the unpredictable British summer weather has undergone a metamorphosis with the addition of a retractable roof that can close completely in 8-10 minutes. This allows the game to continue even if it is raining, a problem that the tournament has experienced since its inception. There are three male players in history that have dominated Wimbledon. With 7 titles each, William Renshaw (Britain), Pete Sampras (United States) and Roger Federer (Switzerland) have been the reigned on the grass in their respective decades. Renshaw won six consecutive tournaments between 1861 and 1886,...
The ABCs of London: Part II
Notting Hill : Many people know this beautiful area of London from the film starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, but Notting Hill is also worth visiting for its world famous Carnival and alternative shops. Oyster Card: This is a must if you travel around London by public transport and don’t want to pay a fortune. Money can be added to the blue card, which allows you to travel by subway or bus without paying the full price. Pubs: The pubs of London, and England in general, are where people congregate to socialize. Some are older and others modern, but they all offer good beer and a pleasant atmosphere. And they’re quintessentiallly British. Queen: The Queen of England is one of the country’s most key figures and the most important representative of Britain. You can find all kinds of souvenirs with her face on them, especially if you like rather tacky items. River: The Thames zigzags across the city of London and is a large part of of its image. There are also famous bridges (Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Millennium Bridge…) and the heated regatta held between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Shard: This 87-storey building was completed in 2012 and is the tallest building in the European Union at an impressive 306 meters. It stands above the other skyscrapers in the city and is an icon of modernity in the historic city. vía George Rex Taxi: Taxis in London are an icon of the city. They are black, spacious vehicles that can take you rapidly from one place to another. The drivers are very talkative and know the...
London ABC part I
Buckingham Palace: The Queen’s palace is a place that no visitor to London can miss. You can visit some rooms inside the palace, but if you come with the intention to meet the Queen for a cup of tea, you’ll be disappointed. Bus: There´s nothing more symbolic in London that its red double-decker buses. Other famous symbols of the British capital include its picturesque phone booths and black taxis. Riding a double-decker bus is a must in London. via jimmyharris Downing Street: This is the street where the British Prime Minister lives, in the number 10 to be more precise. This street used to be open to the public but closed at the moment. However, you can still visit the street entrance. Eye: The London Eye is the famous ferris wheel on the banks of the river, which provides its visitors with an incomparable view of the city. The total height of the wheel is 135 meters and a full rotation takes about half an hour. It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe and receives about 3.5 million visitors a year. Fish and Chips: Although more typical of coastal cities, no one can go to England without eating this traditional dish. Fish and chips are nothing but crispy fried cod with fries. Anyone who has not tried is missing a lot! Globe: William Shakespeare was born in the beautiful town of Stratford upon Avon, two hours from London, but it was in the English capital, where the theaters displayed his works. The Globe is a wooden theater that recreates the theaters exactly how they were at Shakespeare´s time....
The London Metro: Key Stations and Interesting Facts
The Metro, “The Underground” or “The Tube” in the British capital lacks nothing that any of its neighboring countries has. With more than 350 stations, it is worth a tour in and of itself. One could almost say that it isn’t necessary to go outside to get to know the map of London. It is the world´s oldest metro, and its first line (the Metropolitan Line) was constructed in 1863. via Nick-K (Nikos Koutoulas) The lines of the “London Underground” Here are some interesting facts: The Central Line, starting in West Ruislip and ending in Epping, is the longest in existence. In fact, the London Underground is the third most extensive subway system that has ever been built, after Beijing and Shanghai. The most popular route, which is also full of tourists, is the one from Leicester Square to Covent Garden on the famous Picadilly Line, but that journey is actually so short that you could easily walk. To give you an idea, it takes about 20 seconds to travel (so about 250 meters). Why not stop at each of the stations? All of the Metro stops have escalators, but one really stands out above the rest. I’m talking about Angel, the Northern Line, which boasts a height of almost 60 meters and more than 160 steps. And if you’re a data geek, you’ll be interested to know that the moving escalators cover a distance equal to around the world twice a week. There are 426 across the entire network. Yes, they go up and up. And when you leave a train car, you’ll hear a sentence that...
Best rooftop bars London
Having a drink on a rooftop is one of the best activities to do, when you want to relax in London. The exciting experience of watching the English capital from a skyscraper will inspire you to explore the entire city. Today we want to share our most favorite rooftops in London. Here are the best bars to get the most out of the summer in the British capital. Foto: Dalston Roof Park, source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ Dalston Roof Park Inspired by those who enjoy chilling in relaxed places with a colorful and modern atmosphere, Dalston Roof Park is one of the most charming rooftop bars in the English capital. Decorated with artificial grass, colorful chairs and a large flamingo in the center, this place is ideal to enjoy an outdoor movie or one of the many unplugged sessions that are often performed there. Address: The Print House, 18-22 Ashwin St, London E8 3DL, United Kingdom Queen of Hoxton For those folks who love barbecues and other outdoor activities, Queen of Hoxton is the best option in town. This famous rooftop offers constant activities including the open-air screening of classic films, as well as the famous Sport day during the summer. Adorned with white wrought iron furniture and artificial turf, this bar has a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for a drink after a long workday. Address: 1-5 Curtain Rd, London, Greater London EC2A 3JX, United Kingdom. Radio Rooftop Bar Formerly known as the Marconi House, the luxurious ME Hotel hosts the famous Radio Rooftop Bar on the tenth floor. Adorned with large, comfortable sofas, the bar offers the best views of the city including...
Notting Hill Carnival
It was 1966 when the first Notting Hill Carnival took place, a carnival organised by the Caribbean community in London who, almost 50 years later, has turned it into one of the most important street events and celebrations in the whole world. The carnival takes place in the famous London neighbourhood of Notting Hill, in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in the western part of the city. Photo: Cristiano Betta The Caribbean essence For two days at the end of August, over a million people go onto the streets to celebrate the carnival. Today, it´s still the Caribbean community who organises the whole event, so you can especially enjoy the music from that part of the world, with plenty of percussion and rhythm. There are various genres that you can enjoy during these couple of days: the calypso, a genre that goes back to the days of African slaves who were taken to work in plantations in Trinidad and that used this music to make fun of their masters; then comes the soca, a genre that bases itself on freedom of expression and sexual freedom, always through metaphors; finally, the steel pan, a genre in which bamboo sticks are used for percussion with different tones and melodies. All in all, Caribbean music is the essence of the Notting Hill Carnival. Also, on the streets there´ll be plenty of Caribbean food stalls, a great chance to try the exquisite flavours of their cuisine that have been prepared by Caribbean people, since many West Indian families emigrated to London during the 20th century. Don´t miss out on trying the jerk chicken, a chicken...
