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

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

Harry Potter – Film Locations Map

It’s the film of the year all muggles have been waiting for – “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—Part 1″ will be in theatres 17 Nov (Denmark and Sweden) and 19 Nov (Norway and  Finland). This film picks up where Harry and his friends left the audience in suspense when they decided to take matters into their own hands and start their dangerous adventure… to take down Voldemort. What a cliff-hanger!

The film begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione set out to track down the Horcruxes while being chased by the Death Eaters. This is the seventh and final film, but it will be told in two parts and we have to wait until next summer before we get to see Part 2.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—Part 1″, as well as the former Harry Potter films has been shot in Britain. One of the most memorable scenes in the new movie takes place at Piccadilly Circus, one of London’s most famous landmarks. Since we in the office are huge Harry Potter fans we’ve gathered the top Harry Potter film locations in Britain. Check out the map and see where you can visit the Platform 9-3/4, Hagrid’s Hut, Hogwarts and much more.
Click here to see Harry Potter’s world map

If you are travelling to UK and looking for the full Harry Potter experience I recommend you read the following blog post for inspiration and useful tips before you go:
> The Harry Potter Sensation
> Harry Potter’s England
> The Mysteries of Potter’s England

/Siska

a-ha Says Farewell to UK – Ending on a High Note

If you haven’t already heard the word on the street, I’m sorry to be the one to bring you the bad news. a-ha, one of the most famous bands Norway has ever seen with hit songs such as “Take on Me” and “Hunting High and Low”, are ending their 25-year career!

Their songs bring back good memories from the happy 80’s, not mention their “Take on Me” music video, that’s when I and probably thousands of other teenage girl got a major crush on Morten Harket.

Fortunately, a-ha are not one of those bands that just retire without saying proper goodbye to their fans. I’ve been ‘Hunting High and Low’ for tickets for their concerts in Oslo, but unfortunately they’re sold out! However, they seem to love the British fans and they will be performing at 10 different venues across UK! So I just have to realize that I’ll have to travel across the pond to see my favourite 80’s band perform for the last time – which I don’t mind, at all.

Tour dates, venues and where to buy tickets can be found here.

/Siska

Tube Map – Now also as a Film Map

Do you want to see where movies like Casino Royal, RocknRolla and Harry Potter was filmed? With the Underground Film Map you can visit British film locations in your own pace. And best of all it doesn’t cost much.

The Underground Film Map looks just like the regular tube map, except, all the station names has been named after films shot at or near the London stations in the past 70 years. The map has been created by Transport for London, Film London and BFI London Film Festival.

Take a look at the map here

If you’re on a budget, this is a great alternative instead of going on a guided tour. All you need is an Oyster Card and the map. The film map cost £9.95 at the Tfl online shop, but you can also buy it at the BFI at Southbank and London Transport Museum.

Other film locations for you to visit:
> Harry Potters England
> Sherlock Holmes England
> Top Brit flicks, complete with great British locations

/Siska

Damn good coffee!

After my dad had been on my back about it for a while, I finally started watching the classic tv crime series Twin Peaks a few weeks ago. I never watched it on it’s first tv run (possibly because I was 7 years old back then) and it is just, for lack of a better word, fantastic. The eccentric FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper has become a favorite of mine, particularly his unpredictable changes of conversation – from the really brutal and serious matters in his work to the utterly trivial, like the “damn good coffee” that he takes “black as midnight on a moonless night” or the “fantastic trees” they have growing up in Washington. David Lynch really did succeed in combining humour and thriller in a very unique way.

Have you, like me, rediscovered this beautifully bizarre tv series? Or would you like to? Then you will fancy this:

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first UK broadcast of Twin Peaks. To celebrate, the Battersea Arts Centre in London presents a weekend-long programme of theatre and film inspired by the series – including a 32 hour all-nighter cinema screening of all episodes in the Grand Hall!

The event will take place on 23-24 October, read more about it here. It seems to be sold out at the moment but keep an eye on it – sometimes you can get hold of tickets closer to the event. You need to bring your own pillow to sit on but don’t worry, cherry pie and coffee “black as midnight on a moonless night” will of course be served. Find your way to Battersea Arts Centre with our Britain Map.

Enjoy!

/Carl

London Film Festival

Make sure to catch a movie if you’re in London between 13 – 28 October, because that’s when the 54^th BFI London Film Festival showcases the best new films from around the world at various cinemas in London.

This film festival is UK’s biggest and best film event, attracting famous movie stars, film professionals and journalists. Some of the films that will be shown this year are ‘Never Let Me Go ‘starring Keira Knightley, ‘Conviction’ with Hilary Swank and ‘Route Irish’ by Ken Loach. View the full programme here.

With almost 200 films and 112 short films, you’ll definitely find something that appeals to you. I for sure wouldn’t miss the British movie ‘The Trip’ directed by Steve Cogan. This is about two men on a funny road trip and besides, you’ll get to see the beautiful sides of Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. ‘The Trip’ will be on the big screen 27 October at BFI NFT1.
> Find the venue on our Britain Map.

For ticket information and prices, please click here

/Siska

John Lennon peace monument to be unveiled in Liverpool

I just came over a great piece of news. So if you are in Liverpool this Saturday, you are in for a big moment of cultural history!

9 October 2010 marks the celebration of John Lennon’s 70th birthday and this particular day a global peace monument is to be gifted to the people of Europe.

The monument entitled ‘Peace & Harmony’, will be unveiled in Liverpool’s Chavasse Park as part of a gala ceremony in Lennon’s birthplace of Liverpool by his eldest son Julian and first wife Cynthia.

US artist Lauren Voiers was asked by Julian to incorporate, within the monument’s design, a white feather – which to Julian is a symbol of both his father’s spirit and of peace.

Julian Lennon explains: “One of the things my father said to me was that should he pass away, if there was some way of letting me know he was going to be ok, it was by, in some shape or form, presenting me with a white feather.”

Dignitaries from all over Europe are invited I’ve heard. Wish I had planned my diary for this occasion too…

But perhaps you are able to go? If so, don’t miss this great moment to celebrate the life and spirit of Lennon and his message of peace!

And if you are not sure how to find your way to Chavasse Park, our Britain map will guide you!

-Helene

It’s all about jazz at London Jazz Festival

For the 18^th year in a row, the London Jazz festival is back for another year of amazing live performances and guest appearances by musicians from all over the world. Jazz lovers will be able to enjoy concerts from brassy big bands acts to intimate solo performances.

The festival has been known to bring the world’s best contemporary jazz artists to London and this year is no exception. Veteran saxophonist Sonny Rollins will be celebrating his 80^th birthday with a concert at the festival and other concerts this year will include flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía, Esperanza Spalding, Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman, Paolo Conte, Marital Solal and much more. For us Scandinavians, who would like to see some fellow countrymen perform, the festival has 3 Danish and 6 Norwegian acts visiting this year.

A must see if you’re into vocals, is Guy Barkers opening concert at the Barbican – Jazz Voice: Celebrating a Century of song. In this act a wide range of vocal stars from the worlds of jazz, rock and soul will be showcasing a programme of songs, films, singers and songwriters down the decades.

The London Jazz Festival takes place Friday 12 – Sunday 21 November 2010 at several venues around London. Tickets range in price, but if you want to go I suggest you hurry. Some concerts are already sold out. For further information and booking, please visit www.londonjazzfestival.org.uk.

If you can’t make it to the festival, View London has put together some great lists of jazz clubs and jazz bars in London for you to check out.

- Towe