Everything London

Covent Garden, Candy Canes Christmas time in London is like no other, the lights, the decor, the vibe. No matter what mood your in, what age you are, what religion your are, whether you believe in Santa or not, the way everything is decorated is sure to lift your spirits and get you all festive. Check out the massive -fake- grass hedge sculptures of candy canes and deer in the This is just a massive Rudolph, look how far you have to stand to get a shot Covent Garden area, enjoy the massive tree, and nightly carol singing whilst sipping on a moderately priced tiny cuppa of mulled wine. Enjoy the whole outdoor ambience of Christmas Markets in this area, as well as free street performers in all areas of the square. Or head down to Oxford Street to get your gifts in the high street stores, all are decorated amazingly. AS a child my family and I used to wait to all the shops had closed- drive down and park up- usually about 6pm back in those days (now it's more ...

Terrorism, regimes and rebel fighters and war make torture stories in this day and age mainstream media news. But the truth is of course people have been tortured and persecuted for their beliefs for centuries. One organisation FREEDOM FROM TORTURE refuses to deny the problem and instead help those affected held an Art Auction this month, curated by Christies. Right- Malin by Johan Anderson. Center-Untitled (JUG) Bruce Williams.Left- The second Letter- Robert Mason.  Edmund de Waal, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Michael Craig-Martin, Antony Gormley, Julian Opie, Cornelia Parker, Paula Rego and Lisa Ruyter donated pieces for auction to support Freedom from Torture’s work with survivors of torture who have fled tyrannical regimes around the world. Mayfair's Alan Cristea Gallery the largest publisher of contemporary editions and prints, also donated works by Sir Peter Blake, David Hockney and John Hoyland to be auctioned. The auction was silent and a bid...

The addictive 'Look for Longer' is back... Seriously it's so addictive and brilliant way to look at the London Underground. Find it here  It can take days and weeks to figure them all out, and this year they have the 100 club, when you've got all 100 you appear on the wall, I did it with my mum we are proudly #3735! feel free to post if you get stuck, and if I can remember what they were I'll give you a clue! Enjoy!!

So Baker Street evokes the Gerry Raferty song well for me any way, but it seems like a destination that's a simple street- a place to change tube lines, or drive through to get to somewhere, or if you're a tourist a way to get to Madam Tussauds, but theres a lot more to it than meets the eye... for example Political liberators of Latin America from Peru, a Prime Minister and famous Novelists including H.G. Wells lived on Baker Street. Two of the Beatles worked in a flat there.. theres so much more.. check out the pics... William Pitt the Younger was the UK's youngest prime minister at age 24  in 1783 William Pitt the Younger- thus called because the Elder also shared the same name and also had served as Prime Minister  of Great Britian in 1766. William Pitt the Younger served as PM a second time in 1804-1806, so it was at this time he lived here on Baker Street.  Just a little way down you can see the plaque which shows where the Beatles, John Lennon and Geor...

Posters or info signs, are just that, information but not on the Tube, on the Tube is Posters are an art form.  To prove the point as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the London Underground, theres an exhibition dedicated to the posters of the decades. All at the London Transport Museum in Covent garden It will feature posters by many famous artists including Edward McKnight Kauffer and Paul Nash, and designs from each decade over the last 100 years now extended from 27th Oct 2013 to 5th Jan 2014. Giving you enough time to get in there between all the school holidays and tourist season. 111 injuries in 2012 More recently TFL has created a range of posters that appear on the buses and tubes that will tell you what wont hurt you, and what wont kill you. They gave me a bit of a giggle, like being told off by a kindly teacher. "Having paitence wont kill you" Oh wont it?! and there I was worried about it the whole time, okay I guess I...

On Saturday, a week after the Kilburn Shooting shooting a vigil was held for the murder victim Sabrina Moss, lots of people turned out to pay their respects on the corner of Kilburn High Road, where Sabrina and her friend Sabrina Gachette both 24 were shot after a night out in Kilburn for Moss's birthday. It was a very sad occasion, respectfully marked, Sabrina's sister delivered a short statement to the journalists, through painful tears, evoking emotions in everyone around. Many neighbours and people who lived nearby who didn't know either of the girls yet moved by the tragedy attended to show the bereaved family support and show that they cared. The word amongst the neighbours and people of the area - most standing across the street watching, respecting the friends and family to be closest to mark the spot- was that Sabrina didn't even want to celebrate her birthday. But more shocking was that someone said there had been a third person shot, that the police...

Police limit access: Brondesbury station to Gascony Ave/Willesden Road, Kilburn High Road. Today in the early hours of this morning in Kilburn, North West London, one woman- Sabrina Moss was shot dead by Brondesbury Station. Her friend was also shot is still in hospital after they were out for the evening celebrating her 24th Birthday. A man has recently been arrested. The Guardian has talked of the rise in gang violence , but this hasn't been discussed by police at this time. Police have said these two ladies were possibly innocent victims in the "wrong place at the wrong time" when two men approached them on the High Road from Messina Avenue, which is also closed to traffic and pedestrians. Shocking and very unusual Kilburn is ordinarily a great multi-cultural melting pot. Although a temper or two can flare on the slow moving people on the crowded high road, but I think most who know Kilburn would agree it is very shocking that there has been a shooting, ...

ANDROUET is the Cheese-monger in Spitalfields market.  ANDROUET Cheese shop, restaurant and.. wedding cake?! On the Eating London food tour, we were treated to some delicious cheeses and some history of Androuet from tour guide Nicole and Cheese info from Luke inside.   Henry Androuet wanted to teach Parisians of their rich cheese heritage in Paris  opening up the first shop there in 1909 selling all sorts of cheeses from all regions in France. 5 years ago two brothers named Alex and Leo (Alex is the cheese-monger of the brothers). Both of them in their early 20’s came over to London with limited English, and they set up a Cheese stand in Spitalfields market.  It went so well they were able to open their own cheese shop- Androuet in Spitalfields. The brothers apply the same philosophy as the Parisian Androuet working hand in hand with the smallest farm producers in Europe with no middle man. Particularly in the UK. Unlike other chee...

I know people dont jump on over to the UK for the weather or the food, but there comes a time when this city has it all, and if you don't believe me, let me tell you about the food tour I went on with Eating London Tours . First it was in the East End, which I do hang out in, if only rarely, Spitalfields Market and the emerging art places there, make it very bohemian and welcoming. This tour was all things food, and if you thought all it was famous for is it's Brick Lane curries and Bagels you'd be right, but this tour shows underneath all that there is sooo much more to eat and explore. Nicole, our Aussie guide, was full of energy and clearly really taken with the area, so much so she even lives in it. Full of fantastic facts and food she swooped us on a whistle-stop tour of some of the areas lesser known heros. Although I say whistle-stop it runs seamlessly and your 3 and half hours slips by unnoticed and always entertained. So here's a snippet of the tour ...