The Globe

Shakespeare's Globe is without doubt one of my favourite parts of London. Located in Soutwark, on the Southbank, it's a few minutes walk from the Tate Modern and about 15 minutes from Waterloo.

This history of the building is fascinating. Firstly, it's not built on the site of Shakespeare's original globe but it's as close as it can be to that site. It took over a quarter of a century of fund-raising and research to see the current building open in 1997. It was the brainchild of American actor Sam Wannamaker who, unfortunately, died before the construction was completed.


The architects focused on constructing the globe using material and tools from the 16th Century - or as close as possible - so the roof is thatched and the lime plaster mix that coats the walls is made to a period recipe. Today you can enjoy the plays of Shakespeare in this wonderful setting. Each summer season the globe put on a selection of plays and you can either sit or stand to enjoy them. Standing will set you back around £5 and it will give you the most authentic experience. You can find out more about this years schedule here. You can also tour the Globe's exhibition which is packed full of information about the man who wrote such magnificent plays as well as Elizabethan theatre and modern theatre. In the winter, when the Globe itself is shut, it's a wonderful stop off.

If you're nearby to the Globe then, you might also enjoy our Southbank audio tour which will take you around the best sites in the area. You can find out a more on our website.

(Picture Nik Milner)

Don't mention the War

As I tried to get home from the Globe last night, and then found myself still doing so some 45 minutes later, I wondered why. Why, at 11 o'clock on a Thursday evening, can't I just get home. And this morning I found out from why this was, courtesy of Annie Mole at her London Underground blog. For those of you that are not a great fan of getting around London on foot, this site does keep you up-to-date with all the news, views and reviews of our world infamous Underground system:

"Tube closures due to WW2 Unexploded Bomb Disposal:

Work to make a suspected World World Two unexploded bomb safe, has over run for antother day now, so expect to see delays in the Bromley By Bow area.

Once again the Hammersmith & City Line is suspended between Whitechapel & Barking and the District Line between Whitechapel and Plaistow. The bomb was found in a river at Sugar House Lane, near Bromley-by-Bow London Underground station, at about 1151 BST on Monday. The immediate area was evacuated following the discovery of the bomb.

A Police spokesperson said initially that cordons would be in place for three days and there are restrictions along the River Lee navigation from Bow Locks to Old Ford Locks...all of which prompted us to wonder, out of idle interest, just how many UXBs remain buried in London to this day and stumbled across this list of known locations from 1996 although it should be noted that some of these 'may by now have been dug-up and neutralised'.

It's a good question and all the more reason for remaining overground this weekend. Don't take the tube the the risk is high and the sunlight low, get on your feet and remind yourself what it is to see and discover your and my favourite city. And if you do want to stick to the tube routes whilst moving overground you can, rather bizarrely, by following the instructions given to you by the boys from the London Photo Project.

Stand up, step out and StrollOn...