CONTENT
1.Britain for Collectors
2. London Restaurants
3. London with Kids - part 4
4. UK Travel news and tips
Welcome friends, its time to put the kettle on, settle into a comfortable armchair, and enjoy the best of Britain with Britain Update. But before you do, please take the time to forward this newsletter to someone who loves Britain as much as you do.
David Ross, Publisher
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Britain for Collectors
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I'm pleased to introduce a new regular column on Britain Express titled "Britain for Collectors." , written by Terry & Doris Michaud, internationally known in the world of teddy bear collectors. They have authored 5 books on collecting and regularly write features for magazines in the U.S. and abroad. They also conduct annual collector's tours to Great Britain. For tour details you can check their website at http://www.shianet.org/~tbtours
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Special Offer
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Terry and Doris are offering their booklet "Tracking Teddy Bears in Great Britain" free to Britain Express readers (while the supply lasts) Send a self-addressed business-sized envelope to Keystone Traders Ltd, 505 W. Broad St., Chesaning, Mi. 48616. USA residents should place a 33 cent stamp on the return envelope. If you live outside the U.S. please enclose an International Reply coupon.
The first Britain for Collectors column focuses on London Antique Markets. Here is the Michaud's description of the bustling Portobello Road Market.
"Probably the most popular of the street markets for tourists is the famous Portobello Road antiques market, located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. While a few of the shops are open during the week, the majority of activity takes place every Saturday with an estimated 1500 dealers filling the streets and buildings for several city blocks.
On the negative side, the market is very crowded and noted for pick-pockets, so guard your purses and wallets. On the bright side, many of the best antiques found in Britain eventually make their way to Portobello Road.
Do you collect dolls, toys, teddy bears and juvenalia? Some of Britain's finest dealers have stalls at this market. Antique jewellery, fine china, silver, you name it, it's here. Because the market appeals highly to travellers, antique furniture is not commonly found.
Hours: While some dealers are ready by 7 or 8 AM, primary activity begins around 8:30 or 9 and runs until 4 or 5 in the afternoon, although you will see some dealers packing by midday.
How to get there:
Taxis are a great way to get around London, and typically inexpensive. You can also reach the market by Underground on the tube, exiting at Notting Hill Gate and follow the crowds or signs."
The full London Antiques Markets article can be found at
www.britainexpress.com/articles/collecting/london-antiq.htm
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London Restaurants
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The official web site for the city of London, Londontown.com, now has an online guide to restaurants in the capitol. The guide includes Hot New Restaurants, monthly events, even recipes from top eateries and a feature on "Where Londoners Eat". Check out the guide at http://LondonTown.com/restaurants
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UK Travel Tips
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CULZEAN CASTLE RESTORED
Culzean Castle, south-west Scotland, is looking its best: a nine-year, £9 million restoration of the stonework, and the fabric of 25 buildings in the country park, is now complete. Built between 1772 and 1790 to the design of Robert Adam, the castle is the most-visited property in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. The renovation included the Georgian kitchen, which gives a glimpse of life 'below stairs' 200 years ago. The castle, on the coast 12 miles from Ayr, contains the Eisenhower Suite, gifted to the former US President in gratitude for his work as General Eisenhower in World War II.
Web site: www.nts.org.uk
CHOCOLATE LOVERS' SHOW at Cadbury's, Birmingham
Cadbury World, a visitor attraction telling the story of the world-famous chocolate, has added one of the largest interactive family shows in Britain. Called Cadbury Land, the £2 million addition to the company's factory at Bournville, Birmingham has an old fashioned sweet shop as its starting point. Once seated in a purpose-built auditorium, visitors use special buttons to vote on the next stage of a pantomime-style adventure featuring five characters (their names include Fudge and Buttons) - though a happy ending to the story is guaranteed.
The Cadbury World attraction - ten years old this summer - is open daily until Nov.5 (after that, call for details) admission £8 adult, £6 child, family £24, £6.50 seniors/students. Frequent trains run between Birmingham New Street and Bournville stations.
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London with Kids - part 4
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This is the fourth in Geri Wagner' six-part series on London with Kids (see below for links to the first three parts).
DAY THREE ITINERARY
You'll want to get going early today as you're set to watch either the Change of the Guard at Buckingham Palace or the Horse Guards Parade around nearby St. James Park. I say either, because the Change of the Guard does not take place every day. Some months, it occurs on odd days, some months on other days. If it's not a day for the Change of the Guard, you can still watch the Horse Guards Parade, which is held daily. You might want to call Buckingham Palace Visitor's Office to inquire ahead of time.
At Leicester Square, stop and watch the giant cuckoo clock at the Swiss Centre. Hopefully, it will be chiming the 9 o'clock (a.m.) hour. Then you can walk down toward Trafalgar Square, taking Whitcomb Street toward the Thames. As you pass the statue of Charlie Chaplin in Leicester Square, have everyone try doing a little Charlie Chaplin walk as you go (unless you are travelling with teenagers who will die from embarrassment if you do something like that when they are around.) With teens about, just give Charlie a teensy wave that hardly anyone would notice except Charlie himself, and keep going.
Trafalgar Square
It is said that Trafalgar Square is the exact centre of London. It's a great place to people watch and let children run about, chasing pigeons while you think (not too deeply, however, since you must watch the children) about Lord Nelson, whose corpulum graces the square. If you happen to be at Trafalgar Square on New Year's Eve, you're apt to get wet, as people like to throw one another and perhaps even themselves, into the two pools which flank Nelson's column. We avoided Trafalgar Square on New Year's Eve with our children.
Nelson's Column which is the centrepiece of Trafalgar Square was built to honour Lord Nelson for his victory in Spain in 1805. The column on which Lord Nelson stands is 185 feet high and Lord Nelson himself is a massive 18ft high although you wouldn't know it when you look at him from the ground.
The four massive Bronze panels which decorating the base of the column are cast from the guns of French guns captured during the Napoleonic wars.
A fir tree that is set up in the square each Christmas is an Annual gift from Norway to say thank you to the British for their help during World War II. Trafalgar Square is probably most famous for its pigeons.
Tourists are discouraged from feeding the pigeons although this does not seem to stop them. After all, what would Trafalgar Square be without pigeons? Some people's earliest memories as a child are of feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square.
But you need to go to Buckingham Palace first, if you want to see the Change of the Guard. That occurs around 11:30 a.m., but you won't be able to see anything if you saunter over there at 11:20. Know what I mean?
Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews
Not far from Buckingham Palace are the Royal Mews. No cats here that we can mention. Just horses.
Unless you've arrived well before 11 a.m., you've missed the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, which takes place daily at 11:27 a.m. From a kid's perspective (I'll never grow up, never grow up) there's basically nothing to do around Buck Palace otherwise except to stare through the gates at a big grey building.
Changing the Guard
The Queen's guard and a musical band leave Wellington Barracks and march to the Palace. If it's a wet day, the event may not take place. You need to arrive early so as to get a place to see. If it's an off day for whatever reason, you can still see the Horse Guards Parade, daily through Saturday at 11 a.m., and at 10 a.m. on Sunday. In this parade, the Queen's Life Guard leaves Hyde Park Barracks and travels via Hyde Park Corner and Constitution Hill to The Mall.
The Guard consists of three officers and 40 men but is reduced when the Queen is away. The musicians do not play in wet weather. The ceremony lasts approximately 25 minutes. The Changing takes place daily during the summer (May, June, July) and on alternate days in winter (August to April).
The Palace is the official residence of the Queen and has been since Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837. Should you see the Royal Standard flying (that's a flag) you will know that Her Royal Highness is 'at home'.
Buck Palace stands in about 40 acres of garden. The interior houses the Throne Room, Music Room, State Dining Room, many beautifully decorated apartments, and a gallery of paintings and other works of art. The royal apartments are to be found in the north wing of the Palace.
The State Rooms at the Palace are open to visitors during each August and September (Open 8 August-5 October) 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are available each day from the Ticket Office in Green Park. Pre-booking for individuals or groups. You can also view HM The Queen's carriage horses, carriages and harnesses, including the Coronation Coach built in 1762. Open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday all year, from 12-4:30 p.m. Admission: Adults--£4.20, Children--£2.00, Family Ticket--£10.00.
Horse Riding Stables
If there's an equestrian in your midst, you may want to contact Westway Stables 20 Stable Way, W10 for a bit of an afternoon ride. To get there from St. James Park tube stop, take the District Line to Paddington Station, then look for the Hammersmith and City Line, which you'll take to the Latimer Road/Ladbroke Grove tube stop. Open 10am-6pm daily. Riding lessons for all levels take place throughout the year, and during the holidays the centre runs an 'own a pony' week where children can look after and care for a pony all week and ride twice a day (£150 per week). There's also a day option for £35. Birthday parties are also catered for.
Feed the Birds in St. James Park
This is a great place to relax a bit and let the kids feed the birds. If you hold your hands out with a bit of seed or bread on them, birds will land on you (gently). There's sure to be an old hand at this about who can demonstrate. Head back toward Trafalgar Square and stop at St. Martin in the Fields for lunch, maybe some noontime musical entertainment and to create a brass rubbing.
St. Martin in the Fields
St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4JJ, is located on the East side of Trafalgar Square, where this wonderful monument to Nelson is erected. Originally surrounded by fields, the church now overlooks one of the busiest squares in London. Enjoy a snack in the Café in the Crypt (a great setting for tonight's ghost story back at the hotel!) This self-service cafe-restaurant is open from 10am until 8pm Mondays to Saturdays and from noon until 8pm on Sundays. You can enjoy a hot drink, a glass of wine, a full meal or a snack.
St Martin-in-the-Fields has welcomed talented musicians to perform in Lunchtime Concerts for over 50 years - from highly acclaimed young soloists, to choirs from all over the world; from promising new ensembles, to established professionals. These concerts, which take place every Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 1.05pm, and are free of charge.
A special series of Lunchtime Concerts in 2000 celebrates the life and works of JS Bach, who died 250 years. A parallel series on the last Friday of each month gives the opportunity to hear some of his greatest choral and instrumental music, including the Easter Oratorio, motets, unaccompanied 'cello suites, extracts from The Well-Tempered Clavier and the Goldberg Variations. The final concert in this series will be on Friday 22 December 2000.
Make a Brass Rubbing
Follow up with a visit to the Brass Rubbing Centre located in the Crypt, St Martin-in-the-Fields Church. Here's a unique opportunity for all the family to make pictures, with a simple technique, of Britain's royalty, medieval and Tudor characters and unusual Celtic designs. The crypt workshop supplies specialist materials, a choice of 90 plaques and friendly instruction. Costs of making a brass rubbing range from £2.50 to £15.00.
Skyline Balloon
From St. James Park tube stop, take the District Line to the Tower Hill or London Bridge stop for a fun balloon ride at the Skyline Balloon. A family ticket (2 adults, 2 kids) will run you about $47.00. Hey. Did I ever say London was cheap? When I was there, the exchange rate was about two for one, in Britain's favour.
A stroll along the Thames is always nice as you wander back to the tube stop and up to Leicester Square.
China Town
If you're looking for more to see and great places to get some dinner, try walking through London's China Town, just behind (or so it seems) Leicester Square. You can have a grand time just looking in windows, people watching, and gnoshing on treats. You may even get lucky and spot a game of Chinese Chess going on. I defy you to figure the game out. My husband videotaped an entire game so he could bring it back home to the states and study it. A few years later, we taped about twelve episodes of "My So Called Life" over it.
NEXT ISSUE:
Day 4 Itinerary
Missed the first 3 parts of this article?
Preliminaries at:
/London/london-kids1.htm
Day One itinerary at
/London/london-kids2.htm
Day 2 Itinerary
/London/london-kids3.htm
That's all for now. Until next issue, let me remind you that laughter is contagious. Be a carrier.
David Ross, Publisher, Britain Express
