The London Traveler

The London Traveler has been “live” now for just over a month, and I’ve been pleased with how many people have read more about this amazing city of London that I call home. There are a few of the posts that have been quite a bit more popular than others, and I wanted to feature them now that it’s the end of the month.
Shibboleth at the Tate Modern –
I am a HUGE fan of the Tate Modern, and have seen virtually every exhibition in the Turbine Hall since moving to London. As always, I highly recommend going …read more

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One of the best things about living in London is seeing the pageantry around centuries-old traditions. From the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London to the Trooping of the Colour for the Queen, the pomp and circumstance is wonderful to see.
As a little bit of history, the City of London is a bit different than what many people think of as London. The City of London is commonly referred to as the “Square Mile,” and is the heart of the original Roman London settlement. It is now largely one of the two main business …read more

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One of the more scenic and popular markets in London is the Covent Garden Market. This market is in the true heart of tourist London, just a short walk from Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. While you might not find the best deals in the city there, you will most certainly find some very unique gifts for yourself or your family and friends.
The area has had a market since Roman times, and was known for several hundred years for its flower, fruit and vegetable market. In the mid-70’s traffic congestion moved the main marketplace a few miles …read more

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I recently posted about the Christmas Lights that will kick off on Oxford Street (Wednesday, 7 November.) Those aren’t the only Christmas lights in London, though!
On Thursday, November 15th, lights will turn on with a celebration on Marylebone High Street. Just a short walk from Oxford Street, Marlebone High Street is a more quaint and upscale shopping area. As always, there are fantastic shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants everywhere.
For the Christmas lights event, the area is typically shut down to vehicles, allowing an even more pedestrian-friendly environment than usual. It’s always fun to see Londoners come …read more

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Each year on November 5th, Guy Fawkes is remembered across the UK. Why? Back in 1605, he led a plot that attempted to blow up Parliament!
The goal of the “Gunpowder Plot” was to destroy Protestant rule in England by killing off the Protestant government and King James I, a Protestant King. Fortunately for the government, the plot was discovered shortly before the fuse was to be lit. Guy and the rest of the conspirators were caught, tortured, hanged, drawn and quartered. (Quite a nasty end!)
Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated every year to commemorate the foiling …read more

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London really does know how to dress up its best shopping areas for the holidays. Since we don’t have the Thanksgiving holiday as a psychological “start” to the Christmas season, things like Christmas lights up up a lot earlier than you might find in North America.
This year, Oxford Street will be kicking off the season of Christmas lights on Wednesday, November 7th with the initial lighting ceremony for this years display.
Each year there is a theme around the lights, depending on who pays for them! This years’ Christmas lights on Oxford Street are being sponsored and themed around …read more

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Before I write anything else, if you are offended by more adult-ish jokes and language, read no further. I won’t be making any of these jokes, but will be talking about one of the more hilarious theater productions currently on in London’s West End.
That production? Avenue Q. It’s absolutely laugh-your-bum-off funny. The premise looks rather child-friendly… it’s got puppets that look like Muppets! (They are clearly not the Muppets, as many disclaimers in the programme point out.) But those puppets have some of the most vulgar things come out of their mouths.
The production is …read more

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Fall in London is a great time of year. The air is crisp, and Londoners are getting ready for the various winter holidays (Halloween, Guy Fawkes Day, Christmas and New Year).
There’s only one down-side to fall… the end of Daylight Savings Time. This Sunday the clock turns back an hour, making it more light in the morning but darker much earlier in the evening. People that get up early in the morning (such as my fellow rowers) will like how it makes training a little easier in the morning, though everyone starts to get a little down …read more

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Will you be visiting London this December? Then think about stopping by the “Winter Wonderland” event going on in Hyde Park.
From December 1st to January 6th, Winter Wonderland will be taking place in Hyde Park. It will feature:

London’s largest outdoor ice rink
A German Christmas Market
50 meter tall Ferris wheel (not as big as the London Eye, but still!)
Santa Claus (called “Santa’s Grotto” in the UK)
Toboggan slide
Bars and cafes
More!

This isn’t an event that has ever taken place in London before, so it should be a very interesting and very unique experience. It’s co-sponsored by a number of newspapers, …read more

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Camden Lock Market, and the associated streets and markets in the area, is one of the largest and most famous market areas in all of London. Filled with shops, food, and interesting scenes, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon.

The original anchor of the area is the Camden Lock Market. It was built on the side of a canal, part of a canal system that runs throughout London. Camden Lock Market consists of outdoor stalls, an indoor hall, and a virtual maze of shops and food. There are some really interesting shops here, and you …read more

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