The Southbank, London

If you've never visited the Southbank in London, well, you've missed out. In 1951 it received the royal treatment when it was redeveloped for The Festival Of Britain. This saw the construction of The Southbank Centre, home to The Hayward Gallery, the Royal Festival Theatre and Queen Elizabeth Hall, some of London's best cultural venues. If you're in the area, have a look in because they often offer free or discounted events to the public so you can sample some pure classical music or the latest in sculpture. The best place to find out more is the Southbank Centre website www.soutbankcentre.co.uk

Art is a pretty big thing on the Southbank with the Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe being very close by, but there's more to it than that. There is a weekend food market running from May to September (2011) so that you can sample some great regional produce and there's a regular book market for you to sniff out a bargain. 


If you're a foodie, you should definitely check out Skylon restaurant with it's views over the city and classic British grub. Or there are several cafes and coffeeshops on your StrollOn walk if you want to just grab a sandwich.

Last but not least, you can't leave the Southbank without a visit to the London Eye. Yes, it maybe a cliche but there is something magnificent about being at the top of the wheel with London laid out all before you. There really isn't a better view in town.

If you're new to the Southbank, you might want to try our audio walking guide  to get the best sense of it. You can find out how to download it here. And, if you have any comments, don't forget to let us know below.

London Hotspots

So summer is almost here and London is a special city in the sun. It's the best time to experience the place, strolling around and enjoying the weather, trying out some of the most exciting places you can. Here, then, are some of our favourite hotspots in London. We hope you enjoy visiting them! And, if you've got any suggestions, let us know below.


Soho

There's one restaurant that everyone's talking about at the moment and that's Polpo. You'll find it on Beak Street, close to Carnaby Street, and it does some of the most delicious food in the area. Unusually, the menu is based on a Venetian Baccaro - think northern Italian tapas - and it makes for a great sociable experience.  Sit and enjoy some of it's pizette or fritto misto with a cold glass of white wine and you could be sitting in Venice itself. Remember that you can only book for lunch and tables in the evening are first come first serve.

Covent Garden

When you are walking around Theatre-land you'll come across hundreds of places to eat. Some are good and some are bad. The place you shouldn't miss though is Byron, located on Wellington street, very close to The London Transport Museum and The Theatre Museum. Byron may be fast food, but it is great fast food. Delicious burgers and fries, served with a cool coleslaw, is perfect lunch fare. You can usually walk in and get a table and the service is great.


The Southbank

If you're exploring the Southbank, soaking up some British heritage, you can't do better than grabbing a bite to eat at Canteen. Specializing in British classics, this place has rightly won countless awards for it's food. It's menu usually includes staples like fish & chips and roast pork and it has the sort of cheeses that even Wallace and Gromit would approve of. With Shakespeare's Globe, the Tate Modern and the London Eye being so close by, this is a perfect stop of point on a walk - plus you get to see a different take on British Culture.

More...

If you've enjoyed this and what to see more of London, don't forget to try our walking tours. You can find out more about the areas of London we cover here. 

The Mail and the wedding

Where else can you get the latest and best-reported news on the event of the year – the Royal Wedding?

Yes, it’s that bastion of royal values – Mail Online.

Line up! Line up! For the spectacular display of stories, comment and facts about Kate and William: (the Fairy Princess and the Goblin Prince?). Millions of people read the newspaper but millions more are on the website.

Go to the website. Drown yourself in Royal mania. This will be 10 weeks of Windsor Worship – and by god do they deserve it.

But do not leave us for long! We will give you a bridesmaid a day with a page thrown in for dessert. What else can you want from StrollOn? – a beacon of information throwing out messages into the darkening gloom of economic depression.

Come back to us and take a stroll in the city – it is always the best way to work off the sorrows of the Big Society.

William and Kate's Saint

The Royal Wedding is on 29^th April 2011.

Why that day? Simple: it is the Feast Day of St Catherine of Siena.

St Catherine was number 23 of 25 children which is quite a challenge in itself although probably less of a challenge than becoming a Saint. You can still visit her house in Siena.

Although she was said to be a model child (hardworking, friendly etc.) she must have surprised her parents. It all started with the visit by Jesus when she was only 5 (well it would wouldn’t it?) and at the age of 7 she vowed to lead a life of chastity. She became an anorexic in her teens – believing that she did not need to have earthly food since God would always provide – and then proceeded to give away all her family’s food because they could also depend on God. Yes, I can hear what some parents are thinking but let us move on.

She was a great letter writer and eventually the Pope gave her a job as an ambassador since she wrote such persuasive letters. However the job proved to be too much and she went back to Rome to die in 1380. She was only 33 with an emaciated body as a result of her continuing anorexia and bulimia.

When Catherine died there was a terrible tussle between Sienna and Rome over where her body should lie. Rome had the advantage of actually having the body in a church but the Sienese were not to be thwarted. They opened her grave and cut off the head to take home. You can see its shrine in the Basilica of San Domenico in Siena.

She was made a saint in 1461 and in 1999 she was made one of the patron saints of Europe.

I doubt any of this is relevant to our Catherine but it gives you something to think about on the day itself.

Renting bicycles in London

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It starts on 30^th July

The hire-bike has at last come to London. So late after the pioneers of Paris.

It is not hard to bike in London because it is built on a river plain and all the interesting bits are on the flat. It should be a brilliant experience. You can follow in fascination a StrollOn tour, coast quietly along the river, pedal coolly under the trees, park thirstily outside the pubs and finish refreshed at a docking station.

Are they going to be any good? Jon Snow in the FT was very doubtful. They are slow and expensive. They are so heavy that however hard you pedal you can be overtaken by a burger in trainers doing a power-walk. But so what? Are you trying to be Lance Armstrong? No, you have come to see as much of London as you can.

They do sound expensive: you sign up for a day for £1 and then pay £1 for an hour (OK) but £6 for 2 hours! You get more from StrollOn but you go further with a bike. Therefore I suggest you take it for an hour in the middle of London and then go back with us to see the best bits.

A warning: avoid roundabouts and cyclists.

Cyclists are killed on roundabouts. White van drivers are like fighter pilots – the roundabout is the perfect battleground. They surround, squeeze and then dump the cyclist. Each scratch on the van represents a smashed cyclist. Don’t stop to count the scratches otherwise you will be one of them.

Messenger cyclists are just as dangerous but they aim to maim – they do not kill. Traffic lights are challenges – how many red ones can they jump on a road. If you go at a proper speed then you get in their way and nothing will stop them. They cut in front and leave you floundering. Just watch out and keep to the lane. You might survive to be a miracle.

I promise to keep you up to date on this story. I will battle to find a bike and report back.

Rain! Rain! Rain!

It's raining in Europe. Try these places for something different.

1. London: The bridge with a view
Tower Bridge is across the river from the Tower of London and has a fantastic view up, down and across the river. It might break in two if you are lucky or an aeroplane could flie through it (see it on Strollon)

2. Paris: Dream of sex
The Erotic Museum in Paris is right next to the Moulins Rouge in Montmartre and the start of the Strollon walk.

3. Amsterdam: Look for your specs
If you can not find them then go and look at the Spectacle Museum in Amsterdam. If you can not see it then press the bottom button. Fascinating for the myopic.

4. Prague: Play with Barbie:
In Prague there are not many out-of-the-ordinary museums but I am told that the Toy Museum is the second largest in the world with crowds of Barbies in all their glory. Give it a go.

5. Venice: Goggle at Guggenheim
In Venice you have seen every Saint that you every want to meet. The rain fills the canals and the clouds darken the windows. Just go to the lightness of Peggy Guggenheim’s museum for wonderment and light.

Well this is a short list. I will come back to more if the rain keeps tumbling down.

Good luck. Keep dry.

A new poem from "Be Prepared"

Be prepared for your visit to London with the London Guide.
Some people do not even try and are so sad when they come home!

This is a poem written for Strollon by one of these people:

I went to London to see the Queen. She couldn’t see me. She was having tea.

I went to London to talk to Van Gogh. He couldn’t hear me. His ear had come off.

I went to London to see Big Ben. He couldn’t hear me. He was just striking ten.

I went to London to see the Dome. It was no longer there and so I went home.