Sunday Sing Along

If you’re looking for a fun night out with the locals then head for the “Duke of Kendal” pub at 38 Connaught Street, close to Marble Arch and Hyde Park.

Every Sunday round 8pm it’s sing along time with traditional English songs and Jennie on the piano (90 years old!)…. One of the few remaining “knees ups” in London! (Live music also most Saturdays).

Of course if you get hungry after all the singing, then there’s good value food too!

Don’t worry if you’re not in London over the weekend, you can always try “The Golden Eagle” at 59 Marylebone Lane, another pub that has live music on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Find your way to Duke of Kendal with our Britain Map.

“Happy Singing” and “Skål”

/Jackie

Dine with the stars

If you want to dine with a British star, where is the place to go? To one of the 137 Michelin starred restaurants in the United Kingdom of course!

And so it happens that the centenary edition of the UK and Ireland Michelin Guide was announced on Tuesday – and good news, there are more stars than ever!

For 2011 there are a total of 137 Michelin starred establishments in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Yum, yum, I’m getting hungry now!

All the 12 new stars is for restaurants in England, but there are still 125 other restaurants in the whole of UK you could try out. There are a couple of new stars in the East End of London: notably Viajante, run by the acclaimed Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes, and Galvin La Chapelle in Spitalfields.

And one of my own favourites, the quirky Petersham Nurseries Café in Richmond …a perfect place for  a day trip, in a calm and relaxing environment.

The new 1* restaurants:

England, outside London
The Curlew, Bodiam, Sussex

The Pony and Trap,  Chew Magna, Somerset

Adam Simmonds at Danesfield House, Marlow, Buckinghamshire

The Black Rat, Winchester, Hampshire

Paris House, Woburn, Bedfordshire

London:

Kitchen W8

Petersham Nurseries Cafe (Richmond, see image below)

Viajante

Galvin La Chapelle

Petrus

Seven Park Place, at the St James Hotel and Club

Gauthier Soho

The two new 2* restaurants:

Helene Darroze at The Connaught, and Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, at Rock in Cornwall.

Bon Appétit!

-Helene-

Grease Is The Word!

They say you can’t go to London without seeing a musical, which is so true! So this time I chose Grease at Piccadilly Theatre. I love the film and the music and it was electrifying!

They say young romance is timeless and universal…how true, should have seen me (46) dancing away in my seat along with a whole school class of 12 year olds.

Our singing wasn’t bad either! We joined in the fun with the groovy “T-Birds”, the “Pink Ladies” and the whole gang from “Rydell High” for a rock ‘n’ roll party of the year!

So all you fans who are hopelessly devoted to Grease book your tickets here (there are some good offers on at the moment!) and see you there, cause I’ll be back and might bring my 91 year old grannie along!

/Jackie

Derby at White Hart Lane

Tottenham fans, White Hart Lane

Going to a football match in Britain is something else. It is not just a football match – it is a unique experience.

I have been at White Hart Lane, the home of Tottenham Hotspur, in North East London a few times now and every time I go there I get blown away by the atmosphere. The cheers from the crowd roaring inside the stadium can be almost deafening and people are singing during the entire match. What is different with Barclays Premier League from many other football leagues is that it is not only the biggest matches between the biggest teams that attract big audiences. Almost every match is packed with people and the atmosphere can be just as intense – if not more intense – in a smaller stadium than in the major ones.

Chelsea stars Drogba and Cole

I recently visited a friend in London and went to the derby match between Tottenham and Chelsea. We started off by having lunch (classic football food: burgers and chips) close to the stadium with some other fans, discussing possible starting lineups, goal scorers and final score. The match ended 1-1 with Chelsea missing a penalty late in the game – to my great relief.

After the match we walked with the rest of the crowd (most of them still singing) to the bus stop and took a bus to Angel where my friend lives. We ended the day with a really nice dinner at a the local gastropub around the corner, called The Alma. London really is packed with great pubs!

The Alma, a great gastropub in Islington

So, even if you are not that much into football, I can definitely recommend you to go to a football match in Britain. Tickets vary in price but doesn’t necessarily have to cost more than they do in the Nordics – but the entertainment is so much better!

Read more about the league and how to see a match at our football website.
See where White Hart Lane is located on our Britain Map.
Find The Alma on our Britain Map.

Come on you Spurs!
/Carl

Daylesford Farmshop & Café – An organic piece of heaven

A couple of weeks ago, the Danish journalist Hanne Høiberg visited Daylesford Farmshop & Café in London. Here’s her review.

“- Want to try a piece of brie with truffle, we just made it?

The waiter behind the bar must be a mind reader. I was just thinking, full of a fantastic pumpkin risotto and a glass of the house wine from their vineyard in Provence, that I might want a little piece of cheese to go down with the rest of the wine. So of course I say yes and complete the meal with a perfect little piece of mature soft brie, together with some mascarpone and truffle oil – on the house.

The staff here at Daylesford Farmshop & Café in Notting Hill is without a doubt passionate about their work and want to share their passion with a Danish journalist doing a research trip. Not that I told them I wanted to write about it. In their eyes I’m just one of all the tourists coming through, who looks like they’re enjoying the food and the beautiful surroundings. And they are perfectly right.

It was a total coincidence that I wandered into this hidden pearl on cosy Westbourne Growe – a vegetable shop, bakery, butcher, cheese store and café, all in one. And everything is organic! Actually, I originally just popped in for a quick cappuccino, the best I’ve ever had in London and enjoyed the sight of the bulging cabbages, crispy carrots, homemade raspberry vodka and yellow cheddar on display in the light rooms decorated in with a Nordic design, while feeling the delightful smell of newly baked bread. After that experience, I just had to come back for breakfast.

Almost everything in both the shop and the café comes from Dayleford’s organic farm in Gloustershire. Not only the beef, chicken, fruits and vegetables are made here, but also the milk, yogurt and cheese, because Daylesford also has their own creamery. And the few ingredients that are not produced at Daylesford, are all from farms living by the same philosophy of organic foods and sustainability.

The Daylesford products have won more than 80 national and international gastronomic prizes. So if you value good fresh food in a beautiful environment, Daylesford Farmshop & Café is a must, when you are in London. “

Daylesford Farmshop & Café in Notting Hill is open Monday to Saturday 8.30am – 7pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm. Get directions in our Britain Map or visit their website www.daylesfordorganic.com for further information about their farm or other shops.

Enjoy!

/Towe

Year of the Rabbit and Crispy Duck

Chinese New Year is the Year of the Rabbit and falls on the 3^rd February this year! If you want to take part, major celebrations are around Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Chinatown, being the largest celebration outside Asia! Fireworks, music, Chinese dragons, lions and Chinese acrobatics…visit London town’s website for further information.

While you’re there (and if you love authentic Chinese food!)  then Chinatown is the place to be, with flavours you can’t find elsewhere!

Almost 80 restaurants fill the lively and vibrant area and one of my particular favourites is the first restaurant you come to on the corner of Gerrard Street, “Gerrard’s Corner”.

Try their crispy duck…finely sliced duck (done at the table in no time!!) put in a sort of pancake along with finely sliced cucumber, spring onion and sauce. Fold it all together and enjoy! It might sounds strange but it is something different to what we are offered at most Chinese restaurants in Sweden!

There is also an exhibition on at the moment until February 27^th at  the Victoria and Albert Museum: “Imperial Chinese Robes From The Forbidden City”, here you can see robes worn by emperors and empresses of the Qing Dynasty, the last ruling dynasty of China will be on display for the first time in Europe. Admission is only £5 and more information can be found here.

Happy Chinese New Year!
/Jackie

Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition

The “unsinkable ship” Titanic set off on her maiden voyage on 10th of April 1912. She was supposed to sail from Southampton, England to New York, USA on a four day crossing, but collided with an iceberg on the 14th of April and sank with only 706 people surviving in the freezing water.

Now, almost 100 years later, the largest exhibition of Titanic artefacts are shown at the O2 in London. View over 300 artefacts from the ship, recreated first and third-class cabins, exclusive footage from the 2010 expedition to rescue artefacts from the wreck and much more.

The exhibition at the O2 is open until the 1st of May 2011. Buy tickets for the exhibition on VisitLondon’s website or go to www.titaniclondon.co.uk for further information.

Get there
Take the Jubilee line to North Greenwich and walk 200m from the underground station to the 02. For directions, find the O2 on our Britain Map. For Oyster Cards and other transport tickets, visit our online shop.

For more information about transport or other events at the O2, please visit www.theo2.co.uk.

/Towe

London in January = SALE

If you’re a true shopaholic, you know that London in January means only one thing – SALE! And in case you don’t get the Christmas gifts you wished for – book a trip to London in January and shop till you drop. Get up to 30 – 75% discount on clothes, shoes, electronics, toys and everything in-between! Many high streets and department stores start their sales immediately after Christmas.

Here are a couple department stores you should not miss:

Sales starting December 26
Harvey Nichols
Get great discounts on designer brands, accessories, beauty, home and much more.

John Lewis
With nearly half a million products, ranging from buttons to cufflinks, beds to pillows – it’s no wonder this is a popular destination during the January sales.

Liberty
At this beautiful department store you can find everything from books to shoes by Manolo Blahnik.

House of Fraser
This is the place for the younger audience with high street names such as Miss Sixty and Warehouse. House of Fraser has great discounts during the January sales.

Debenhams
Offers British designer brands such as Jasper Conroan, Frost French and many more. Debenhams also has 153 stores across the UK and Ireland.

Selfridges
Here you’ll find everything from the world’s biggest shoe destination to household products.

Sales starting December 27
Fortnum & Mason
Renowned for their fine food, hampers, tea and wine. This is your chance to buy luxurious food on sale.

Harrods
Visit one of the world’s most famous department stores and get up to 75% discount.

Date to be confirmed
Westfield
With over 265 shops under one roof – you won’t be walking out of here empty-handed when it’s January sale.

…I can go on forever, but you get the picture – there are a lot of great bargains to be made if you’re heading to London in January! I’m already looking for tickets, are you?

Useful links:
> VisitLondon’s Shopping News
> Department stores in the UK
> London shopping guide

See you in London!

/Siska

Calling all Chocoholics

Do you have a sweet tooth for dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, chocolate filled with caramel, chocolate cake or chocolate biscuits? No matter which chocolate you prefer, one thing is for certain – chocolate always taste like a little piece of heaven! Well, for me it does.

If you fall under the same category as me – you’re a chocoholic, you’ll love this! The Chocolate Festival returns to London for one weekend in December and has free admission! During 10 – 12 December you can go around the stalls and taste some of the best chocolates you’ve never thought existed. Also, there will be several activities for the whole family and award-winning chocolatiers such as Paul Wayne Gregory, William Curley and Damian Allsop will be at the festival.  More information about the chocolate festival can be found here.

Find your way to this sweet festival with our Britain Map

/Siska