London Calling

Mucha na Dziko · 08-04-2021, 02:51 PM

Hey guys, I'm moving to London next year, in order study at the Abbey Road Institute.

Are there any Londoners around here? Or maybe someone's an Abbey Road student?

If so, speak out! Share your knowledge with me!
If I'd be in London, what should I see or visit? What cool live music venues are there? Any human-free spots (like abandoned buildings, shady parks, etc) in the city?

I'll probably go to England during the winter vacation, and I'm sure about moving next year, so all of this is for data collection only (it's not like I'll change my mind, if you'll say some nasty things about London).

**Marie Monday** · 08-04-2021, 03:40 PM

Awesome. I don't know London too well, there are a few Londoners here who will be able to tell you more, but I don't live too far away and used to go there regularly before corona. If you have any questions I may be able to help, even though I only know the basic things. My favourite places to visit are the British Museum and the National Gallery, and I liked watching the sun set over the lake in Hyde Park. I've never been to any of the big venues, only some really small ones which I don't remember.

Lisnaholic · 08-04-2021, 07:17 PM

Hi Mucha!!
That's a nice photo! I hope you get to London ok. It's a great city!
I was born there myself, but when it comes to recommendations, it's difficult to know where to start, as it's just so huge.

You ask about cool venues. My tips would be from 30 years ago, but luckily, there is a better resource; a weekly magazine that used to have about 40 pages detailing all the music/theatre/movies/food that you can find. Apparently it's just about to start up again (Aug 11) after closing down during lockdown. Here's the link:- https://www.timeout.com/
There used to be a lot of pubs that had music venues - good places to hear a band without spending much.

For transport you'll probably want to get an "Oyster Card". With ID, you can get one at an underground station. You make one payment for the card, then use it on buses or tube trains for a month or something. You have to decide which zones you want it for, so look on a London Underground map before you buy.
The nearest "tube" station to Abbey Road itself is called St.John's Wood. On this map, the travel zones are in grey and white. If you look at the border between grey Zone 2 and white Zone 1, you might see St. John's Wood, in the northern half, central part of your screen:

Spoiler for Big Underground map:

Yep, Maria's recs are excellent, of course, though the Tate Gallery and all the South Kensington museums are also worth a visit. (South Ken has 3 huge museums of Nat History, Science and Design, each within walking distance of each other.)

For open spaces, the place to begin is also with a map: look for the big green bits (

), or play the tourist and take a riverboat trip. That's a fun way to see the city and have a rest from all the people and traffic of the central area.

Well, that's all the tips for the moment, Mucha. I may add some more later, ok?

Lisnaholic · 08-04-2021, 08:14 PM

The three South Ken museums, each one is just 5 mins walk from South Kensington Tube Station. A quick photo gallery, one picture outside and one inside for each museum. As I tell anyone who has the bad luck to visit the museums with me, "Don't just look at the exhibits, look at the building!"

Spoiler for big but beautiful pics:

Lisnaholic · 08-04-2021, 08:39 PM

Most parks and "commons" in Central London are flat, but Hampstead Heath, to the north, has a hill from which you can look out across the city:-

To the west, the riverside walks are very attractive. From Hammersmith Bridge (photo) you can walk for miles along the riverbanks:-

Richmond Park, on the south-west edge of London, is almost big enough to get lost in. It even has herds of deer:-

Psy-Fi · 08-05-2021, 06:24 AM

I haven't been back over there in years but I'll second all the recommendations that have already been posted.
The Garage, Electric Ballroom, and Camden Underworld were venues I used to go to and see various bands perform when I was in town. Not sure if they're still in business now, though. The Royal Albert Hall is worth a visit just for its iconic status alone.
The annual Notting Hill Carnival is a lot of fun if you like festive street parades and parties but I think it's been cancelled again this year due to COVID. Hopefully, it'll be on again next year.
IWM London (Imperial War Museum) is another museum that might be of interest. I once spent an entire day there (from opening to closing) and I still didn't have enough time to take it all in.
Tower Bridge (often confused with London Bridge) and The Tower of London are must-sees if you're in the area.

That's all I have to add at the moment.

**Marie Monday** · 08-05-2021, 06:27 AM

*takes notes*
You can also just pay with your bank card on London public transport which is incredibly convenient, but if you live there an oyster card is probably much cheaper.

Also, if you want to see the English churches you should check when there's a church service with music: then entrance is free, and you get a nice enhanced experience (at least, if the sound of chanting in an old church does as much for you as it does for me)

**Frownland** · 08-05-2021, 09:10 AM

Never been, but I'm always jealous of the shows they line up at Cafe Oto.

Psy-Fi · 08-05-2021, 09:44 AM

I just thought of the Battersea Power Station as an abandoned building of interest but after looking it up a few moments ago, I noticed it's been remodeled and turned into upscale condos, shops, and restaurants, so the old intimidating and creepy vibe of the place is, unfortunately, no more.

Tristan_Geoff · 08-05-2021, 02:57 PM

I ain't from London but gotta say I love your mandolin! I'm a player as well

08-04-2021, 07:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	Hi Mucha!! That's a nice photo! I hope you get to London ok. It's a great city! I was born there myself, but when it comes to recommendations, it's difficult to know where to start, as it's just so huge. You ask about cool venues. My tips would be from 30 years ago, but luckily, there is a better resource; a weekly magazine that used to have about 40 pages detailing all the music/theatre/movies/food that you can find. Apparently it's just about to start up again (Aug 11) after closing down during lockdown. Here's the link:- https://www.timeout.com/ There used to be a lot of pubs that had music venues - good places to hear a band without spending much. For transport you'll probably want to get an "Oyster Card". With ID, you can get one at an underground station. You make one payment for the card, then use it on buses or tube trains for a month or something. You have to decide which zones you want it for, so look on a London Underground map before you buy. The nearest "tube" station to Abbey Road itself is called St.John's Wood. On this map, the travel zones are in grey and white. If you look at the border between grey Zone 2 and white Zone 1, you might see St. John's Wood, in the northern half, central part of your screen: Spoiler for Big Underground map: Yep, Maria's recs are excellent, of course, though the Tate Gallery and all the South Kensington museums are also worth a visit. (South Ken has 3 huge museums of Nat History, Science and Design, each within walking distance of each other.) For open spaces, the place to begin is also with a map: look for the big green bits (), or play the tourist and take a riverboat trip. That's a fun way to see the city and have a rest from all the people and traffic of the central area. Well, that's all the tips for the moment, Mucha. I may add some more later, ok? __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

08-04-2021, 08:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	The three South Ken museums, each one is just 5 mins walk from South Kensington Tube Station. A quick photo gallery, one picture outside and one inside for each museum. As I tell anyone who has the bad luck to visit the museums with me, "Don't just look at the exhibits, look at the building!" Spoiler for big but beautiful pics: 1. Natural History:- 2. Science:- (Yes, the whole long building, from the main street front and passing beyond the funny gold roof) 3. The "Victoria and Albert Museum" focuses on art and design:- __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

08-04-2021, 08:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	Most parks and "commons" in Central London are flat, but Hampstead Heath, to the north, has a hill from which you can look out across the city:- To the west, the riverside walks are very attractive. From Hammersmith Bridge (photo) you can walk for miles along the riverbanks:- Richmond Park, on the south-west edge of London, is almost big enough to get lost in. It even has herds of deer:- __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

08-05-2021, 09:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Never been, but I'm always jealous of the shows they line up at Cafe Oto. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x