London Experience

  All the fun of the flower show

Advantages: Flourishing, full of features, family-friendly
Disadvantages: Almost too much to take in; transport links

In the palace at old Hampton Court Henry VIII flashed his hampton for sport; Young Anne Boleyn saw it And knew she was for it, Lost her head and became his consort (though not in quite that order). Sorry, couldn’t resist slipping that one in. And since so much of the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this year was themed on Henry VIII, it’s almost relevant. Hampton Court Palace is famous for many things: its history, its architecture, its maze, ...
...the more prestigious event, its Hampton Court counterpart covers more ground, has more exhibitors and encompasses a wider variety of features and themes. There is a contrast, too, in the atmosphere of the two shows. Chelsea, it seems to me, is for serious horticultural devotees, for the garden design in-crowd, for fashionistas and for socialites. Hampton Court is more for the everyday gardening enthusiast, and for families. A day out at Chelsea can ...

torr 28.07.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, London

(Drag) Queen of the Musicals

Advantages: Costumes, performance, music, choreography…
Disadvantages: Shys away from the darker side of the original film

Having seen the original film in the late 90's I was keen to see how this would be translated into a stage musical. Add to the fact that Jason 'Scott' Donovan was taking a leading role and I was itching to book my seats! (If you don't get the 'Scott' reference you are clearly not a big enough fan of early episodes of 'Neighbours'!) Background The film, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, was first screened in 1994 at the San ...
...at Cannes there were fights to get to the best seats in the auditorium. In only a matter of day's distributors from all over the world secured the rights to screen it and it went on to win a bevy of awards including BAFTAs for costume and make-up design. The film became one of the most successful Australian films ever made. In 2002 Alan Scott, a UK screenwriter, began to see the potential of the film as a musical and teamed up with Michael Hamlyn ...

jonescraiga 27.04.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Priscilla Queen of the Desert - The Musical

A man with a plan, a big moustache and some big big mosques

Advantages: Fabulous insights into one of history's great leaders
Disadvantages: No realy heart-stopping block-buster items

...of exhibitions on great leaders. Shah Abbas is in good company and follows in the footsteps of the first Chinese Emperor (he of the Terracotta Army) and the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Apparently the fourth in the great leader series will be Montezuma later this year. The exhibition opened on February 19th to a fanfare of publicity. I knew it was coming a long time ago because I subscribe to the British Museum's e-mailing list and I've been looking forward ...
...may not know even who Shah Abbas was, but I'm sure the painting they've used to publicise the exhibition will soon make him the second most recognisable moustachioed historic figure (I'm thinking Hitler will still keep the top spot for now!) For many years I've been recommending the BM to any foreign visitors who want to know what to see or do in London. I tell them to go, I wax lyrical about what a great place it is and how they'll be able to see ...

koshkha 13.03.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Shah Abbas: The Remaking of Iran (British Museum)

Harrow, a different experience

Advantages: cool, green, quiet, less populated with lower tourist around
Disadvantages: Far from central london

...stops of harrows are North harrow, South harrow, West harrow, Harrow on the hill. It is surrounded by wembley, kenton, neasdon, kingsbury,queensbury etc. All of these areas have major population of asians specially Indians. Harrow is one of my favourite area in London because it is very cool. No hassles of city life as in central london. Most of residential area are quiet. It contain lots of green patches. So it looks like country side of England ...

imwhoever 18.09.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Harrow, London

A real sense of history.

Advantages: Superb sense of history, close up view
Disadvantages: crowds

...ago that we heard that The Terracotta Army was to leave the shores of China for the first time and take up temporary residence in The British Museum. This was an opportunity that simply could not be wasted as this exhibition may never find it's way to these shores again. We therefore booked tickets on-line and had a wide choice of availability in terms of time slots/dates given we were booking so far in advance. Tickets cost £12 adults/child under ...
...23 March 2008). However, given the exhibition is nearing an end all advanced tickets are sold out although up to 500 tickets (Monday - Friday) or 700 tickets (Weekend) are available on the day from the Museum. At the time we went there were few people in the queue for on the day tickets so try and get there as early as possible. ***History*** The First Emperor, Ying Zheng, was born 259 BC and was one of the world's great rulers. At the age of 13 ...

TheWizardsSleeve 25.03.2008 · Read full review
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Review of The First Emperor (China's Terracotta Army), British Museum