Crap London

[siousxiesue]

Not crap at all is an outdoor sculpture exhibition in Regent's Park at the moment. Mixed show-something for everyone

[Robert Poste's Child]

High St Ken has become a bit crap. Westfield has sucked the life out of it. Used to go there all the time when I was younger.

[NewWave]

Robert Poste's Child Wrote:

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> High St Ken has become a bit crap. Westfield has

> sucked the life out of it. Used to go there all

> the time when I was younger.

Agree totally.

But then I feel most of our high streets are becoming more and more homogenised due to exhorbitant rents and buisiness taxes.

Thats why London is starting to consist of streets full of chain stores, chain restaurants, charity shops and in areas like Ken high st and Portobello pop up tourist tat shops.

Which actually leads me to add Portobello Road to Crap london.

I lived there most of my life and now can't bear to go as I find it so depressing thinking of the wonderful quirky buzz it used to have

[KidKruger]

Fact is, London is done, in so many ways.

There's still positives, mainly legacy features, but for years 'progess' has been crushing the prospect of individuality on a wholesale scale.

[Seabag]

Do go on the Thames Clipper. Buy a day ticket and travel from one end to the other.

When I had a houseboat on Canary Warf it was one on my favourite things and it completely rebooted my internal map of London.

The whole city makes sense when you approach it via the water, specially the approach to The Tower of London. It's even great on a dank and foggy day.

[Sue]

dbboy Wrote:

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> Send them to Hampton Court

Any particular reason?

I was going to take my grandkids there next week, but I won't if it's crap!

I remember enjoying it when I was a kid.

[Sue]

edcam Wrote:

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> Couldn't disagree more re the negative comments

> about Liberty and most especially Borough Market.

> That place needs as much support as possible at

> the moment, as numbers are down since the attack.

Totally agree.

We had lunch from Borough Market recently. There's a huge choice of quite cheap and good stuff. I would have thought tourists would love it and it's right by London Bridge and the river. And The George Inn (don't particularly like it but I it's historic) and Southwark Cathedral.

And The Golden Hynde and those old ruins, can't remember what they are.

And proper pubs at one end of the market.

And I don't know why anyone wouldn't like Liberty. You don't have to buy anything!

[Sue]

NewWave Wrote:

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> Sue Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > EDOldie Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > Am I the only on to think that the 'Pavilion'

> > at

> > > Dulwich Picture Gallery is deeply

> uninspiring?

> >

> > I like it!

> I agree-the 'pavillion' is a real let down.

> we got tickets for a friday late and were terribly

> underwhelmed.

> wouldn't bother to go again

We also went to a Friday Late.

A main attraction was free entry to the permanent collection, but I really liked the design of the pavilion.

Had an interesting short talk on some of the flower paintings, and found out about an interesting perfume company I didn't know about.

Had a drink in the pavilion but didn't eat there (or in the main restaurant) as found the food choices a bit uninspiring.

But on the whole for a free couple of hours (apart from the drinks) I thought it was great.

[Sue]

There's a Neon installation at Tate Britain (I think) at the moment which looks interesting, and you can get a boat down the river to the other Tate.

And I think the South Bank is great.

Brilliant for kids with the beach and pop up fountains, there are some good new bars, and some of the street entertainers are actually entertaining and original (yes some crap too).

The river is always good to watch.

There are food stalls round the back but I think maybe only at weekends?

If you get away from the tourist tat at the Westminster end, it's a good way to spend an hour or two. There are all those book stalls and the skate park, plus the NT, NFT, RFH, Tate Modern etc.

Birdwatching under the Tate still?

Often free music going on, inside and outside and exhibitions.

I love the South Bank, and I'm not a tourist!

[Seabag]

Sue Wrote:

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> dbboy Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Send them to Hampton Court

>

> Any particular reason?

>

> I was going to take my grandkids there next week,

> but I won't if it's crap!

>

> I remember enjoying it when I was a kid.

Hampton is great, the kitchens alone are worth a visit.

Then Kew Gardens nearby

[Muley]

Don't bother going up the Shard, far too pricey. Go to the Skygarden instead. It's free, far nicer and you can take a picnic if you like. When you're that high up it doesn't if the Shard is that bit higher, the view is still amazing (and you might be able to see your house from up there)!

[Jennys]

Holland Park is lovely and could be combined with a trip to Leighton House.

[NewWave]

Jennys Wrote:

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> Holland Park is lovely and could be combined with

> a trip to Leighton House.

Agree-both Oasis in the city

[Parkdrive]

The Geffrye museum Kingsland road, give it a try

[NewWave]

Parkdrive Wrote:

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> The Geffrye museum Kingsland road, give it a try

and they have a beautiful garden

[Seabag]

Hornimans Museum is lame. If you want to shelter from the rain or take a child somewhere to cry in a cafe, then maybe here will suit.

But for a day out, meh.

[Sue]

Seabag Wrote:

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> Hornimans Museum is lame. If you want to shelter

> from the rain or take a child somewhere to cry in

> a cafe, then maybe here will suit.

>

> But for a day out, meh.

Horniman is brilliant, and so is the aquarium.

And the gardens.

I can't understand how anybody could not like it :)

[malumbu]

Until Seabag's post I thought how positive, we've gone from saying where not to go, and now making recommendations. Many of which I agree with. Including Sue's. I chose to live near Horniman and always see it as a benefit (not perfect but still very much worth having).

[ianr]

> Hornimans Museum is lame. If you want to shelter from the rain

> or take a child somewhere to cry in a cafe, then maybe here will suit.

Admittedly it doesn't have the hardcore attractions of somewhere like the Bramber Museum http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2013/sep/13/curious-world-walter-potter-pictures-taxidermist-victorian/.

[Elphinstone's Army]

Jennys Wrote:

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> Holland Park is lovely and could be combined with

> a trip to Leighton House.

and Linley Samborne House - 18 Stafford Terrace, or the new Design Museum in the old Commonwealth Institute building

[binkylilyput]

I like the fact that some of the thread has flipped to be highlighting positives rather than negatives......otherwise it would be a right miserable post at a time when this great city could probably use some encouragement and showcasing for tourists!

[NewWave]

Elphinstone's Army Wrote:

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> Jennys Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Holland Park is lovely and could be combined

> with

> > a trip to Leighton House.

>

> and Linley Samborne House - 18 Stafford Terrace,

> or the new Design Museum in the old Commonwealth

> Institute building

Only problem with the design museum is that its VERY expensive to visit I think we paid about ?11 each admission.

The building is incredible but actually like the old design museum actually doesn't contain that much.

The Wallace collection is wonderful a little oasis in the city.

[siousxiesue]

Seabag Wrote:

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> Hornimans Museum is lame. If you want to shelter

> from the rain or take a child somewhere to cry in

> a cafe, then maybe here will suit.

>

> But for a day out, meh.

Couldn't disagree more. Some free stuff so you don't have to pay always. The new butterfly house has me excited! I'm waiting until the kids are back at school before I visit

[Sue]

The new bit of Tate Modern has a tenth floor 360 degree viewing gallery with a coffee stall.

I couldn't hack it because I don't like heights unless I'm completely enclosed by glass, but I stayed long enough to see that the views are absolutely fantastic.

And it's all free!

[KidKruger]

Yes it's a fine view up there. I love that new building too.