The lovely cafe on the 6th floor of the Tate Modern which overlooks St Paul's Cathedral provides diners these views. All the tourists, and locals alike, adore it...it is claimed to provide the best view for tea in London (though fond drinkers of Tetley or PG Tips tea may disagree because the Tate only serves fancy light flavoured tea...). The truffles, and cakes are ridiculously scrumptious though. Go and experience it as soon as you can! In operation since the economically tough 1970s, the Bonnington Cafe is a tiny communal kitchen located in Vauxhall Grove, a beautiful and quiet street of Victorian red bricks close by London's Vauxhall Bridge. Nowadays, the eatery has become a popular venue for lunch and romantic candlelit dinners.
As I walked in I was expecting to be greeted with a welcome smile, customer service, reception till - things that you would normally expect to see in a restaurant. Instead, I spent the first few moments trying to figure out where the staff were because there was no staff member to welcome me; albeit to my surprise there was only one person who was busy cooking in the kitchen at the back - doubling as the chef and waiter at the same time. Mind you, it's a nice cosy place in a neat setting and that's the beautiful thing about the Bonnington Cafe. The food, which actually smelt very nice, is exclusively vegetarian but there is no resident full-time professional chef. A rota of cooks each take a different day, paying a rental to cover upkeep of the cafe and keeping whatever profit they make. If you are looking for a quick sandwich then you're perhaps better off going to the 'Italo' delicatessen just across the street from the eatery. I do give credit to the chefs for trying their best, even though at times the food comes across as if a student has cooked it. The food is not expensive - I suppose the cafe's bring-your-own-drinks-policy somewhat contributes to that. Bonnington Cafe may serve as a perfect lunchtime layover for overworked doctors or bankers in the City of London. Or else if you ever wanted to be reminded of what lunch and dinner were like at college or university, then go ahead and dine with your heart's content at the Bonnington Cafe. Brixton, in South London, has been the home to the U.K.'s African and West Indian community ever since the early 1950s, when the first wave of West Indian immigrants arrived to the U.K. (492 individuals) at Tilbury Docks on the Empire Windrush from Jamaica and were temporarily housed in Clapham South, close to Brixton.
These days the town stands as a symbol of British multiculturalism, with expatriates and immigrants from all corners of the world living in harmony - though most are still predominately from the West Indies, Africa, and Latin America. The Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese communities extend to living in the nearby areas of Vauxhall, Stockwell, Elephant & Castle, and Oval. I ventured to the shopping centre at Elephant & Castle for the first time in my life earlier this year and the place reminded me of Hong Kong's infamous Chungking Mansions! I don't wish to sound negatively stereotypical, however I experienced the following while I got onto the bus at Brixton Station. An intoxicated man with massive dreadlocks got onto the bus with a can of Castlemaine XXXX (bear in mind that this was morning time...at 10am!). The driver told him to get off the bus unless he gets rid of his beer can - to which the man replied in a strong Cockney accent: 'What? This is Brixton man...this ain't f****** Germany or Russia!!'. To the shock of other passengers and bystanders, out of fear the driver let him on anyway! It is against the law to ride a London bus or tram with an open alcohol bottle or can. Police can arrest such a man. No doubt that Brixton has it's fair share of deprivation, unemployment and crime - as can be the case in any other part of London and the U.K. (or anywhere in the world for that matter...). The good thing is that there is a tiny part of the town known as 'Brixton Village' which is becoming a popular hangout for those seeking to indulge in good food - especially Sunday Brunch. The popularity of Brixton has reached the far corners of the earth...so much that even the Hollywood actor Will Smith paid a visit in 2013 because he wanted to see 'The Bronx of London'. Just when I started to appreciate the beauty of London... Brunswick House is an unusual yet stunning Café located within a 5-story antique store, right opposite Vauxhall underground station. Everything is for sale here (including the Café's furniture!).
It provides a rather cosy setting for a tea or coffee; in fact it's provides the perfect alternative venue for Afternoon Tea. Go and experience it if you can! On an empty block in a South London side street, artists have been plying their trade to great effect. They made full use of the wall!
With the nearest beach to the capital being Camber Sands near Rye, East Sussex (or even Brighton...depends how many miles you are willing to drive), Londoners can be rest assured that during a low tide the banks of the River Thames double as mini-beaches for the summer enjoyment of the locals and tourists alike (though may not be clean!).
On a hot summer's Sunday, the Arqiva British Academy Television Awards were hosted by British personality Graham Norton at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London. Olivia Colman and Sean Harris won the best actress and actor Baftas. The winter season in the U.K. is gradually grinding to a halt...so we hope...today was beautiful. Due to the close proximity of the English Channel and the North Sea on one side, and the Atlantic Ocean on the other side of this large Island, the country is prone to showers and storms anytime the temperature soars....so I would not be surprised if the showers return. For now, the storms have left everything clean and crisp: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh
Last week, starting from the 14th of February (Valentine's Day), the UK experienced a month's worth of rain within 48 hours, and while most us tried to find the beauty in that horrible weather, it goes without saying that we were badly let down by Mother Nature.
The UK has been battered by strong winds and lashed by heavy rain in a series of brutal storms that have across from the Atlantic. The storms, which began in October last year, have forced many from their homes, and over 600,000 were left without electricity. The UK Met Office confirmed that the United Kingdom had seen its wettest winter in records since 1910. Even more weird is that there has been no snow in 2014...so far...who knows? we may experience the first cricket match to be played in snow! (it happened in June 1975, and in April 1999 when play was stopped because of snow)...will 2014 end up like this too? We shall see... One of the advantages of flying out of Heathrow (especially if you are departing out of the easterly runways') is that you get treated to some marvelous views of the capital (weather and visibility prevailing!). Though it must be said that with a take-off speed of around 250 knots/287mph (and increasing!), and an increasing altitude, it doesn't offer hope that the views will last for long- especially as it takes only around 6 minutes to get from Heathrow to the other side of London! The views never fail to captivate (camera ready at hand, I even managed to get a photo of my home as we flew over it for a final goodbye!) Great family run English pub and restaurant located close to the Northern Perimeter Road at Heathrow (just off Bath Road, and behind High Street Harlington). Perfect for pre take-off (or post-landing) English food - the Pheasant never fails to please.
'Fresh beer battered cod served with homemade chips and salad'- REAL English food never tasted so good. Wash it down with a pint of Windsor & Eton Conqueror Black IPA (or just water if you are flying!) If you are looking for a place to dine outside on a lovely summer's day (irrespective of the British weather!), and with one of the best views of London, then head to the Côte Brasserie at the Hay's Galleria. The food is not bad for a chain restaurant - just as good as the marvelous views. Highly recommended!
One of the most interesting observations I have made in London is the sight of rickshaws (normally a mode of transport associated with developing countries such as Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam etc.) being used as a tourist attraction/ 'mode of transport' in the City of London (perhaps not the place you would expect a rickshaw to be in if you are a tourist coming from a country where you use it for your everyday commute). Hundreds of rickshaw drivers offer short trips to tourists in the West End each night, providing an estimated 4,500 journeys.
The rickshaws in London are branded as being sustainable and eco-friendly (well, of course they are....they are powered by a human). There have been arguments that are both for and against the use of the rickshaw in London. While they provide an adequate source of income for the immigrants who operate them (usually from Romania, Bulgaria, and Moldova), they are also considered somewhat dangerous. Last year Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London said even responsible operators “cannot ensure the safety of their passengers” and are adding to night-time traffic jams. He wants new laws that would give him the power to sweep the unlicensed and often uninsured pedicabs from central London. On that note, a transport expert (who wishes to remain anonymous), told me that the taxi and bus industry globally is one of the most corrupt cliques there is. I am not sure what to make of that comment - but this man surely does! Scotland's Tartan Army flocked to the heart of London ahead of the friendly match with England. Around 30,000 Scottish football fans travelled to London for the friendly match at Wembley Stadium - the nation's first meeting with 'Auld Enemy' England since 1999. The capital became a sea of blue as Scotland supporters - many wearing kilts and ginger wigs - gathered in Trafalgar Square.
The English eventually won 3-2 of the Scots to take victory in a match. If there was any joy for the Scots, then thankfully the weather changed just in time to make them feel more at home in Wembley - the sunshine experienced earlier in the day turned into a cold and cloudy evening. London never seems to change a bit no matter how many months or years you are away (I call it the Western world's 'cleanest 3rd world country'- a reference to the crumbling infrastructure, and a weakening economy.). On a good note, one of the things that has not changed in the past 27 years, and should not change, is the on-going legacy of Andrew Lloyd Webber's magic of keeping his musicals' alive after so many years. It's a delight to see the Phantom of the Opera's trademark poster of 'House Full' in reference to the seats being 100% sold out!
When passengers arrive or depart from London's two major international airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, they will notice that the aircraft models that are displayed as welcoming adverts are in fact not representative of any of the British airlines.
On the 30th of March 2007, a scale model of Concorde which had the pride of place at Heathrow Airport's entrance for 16 years was sadly removed, and replaced in 2008 with an Emirates Airlines A380 aircraft model. British Airways had decided not to renew the £1.5m annual rent to advertise on the roundabout at the gateway to the London airport. Instead, Emirates Airlines, the major carrier of the United Arab Emirates, poached the prime spot with a six-year deal to advertise on the site. Meanwhile at Gatwick Airport, Turkish Airlines have partnered with Eye and Gatwick Airport to suspend a scale model aeroplane inside the airport terminal. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, situated in Gatwick’s North Terminal check-in measures 6.1m in length with a wingspan of 5.1m. The 124kg structure created by Leading Models will be suspended from the check-in ceiling until August 2013. Back in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s the airport billboards at British Airports were thronged with national pride such as BOAC, British Caledonian (remember them?!), British Midland, Virgin and so on. With the change of the times, it's the Middle Eastern and Asian carriers who seem to have the money (China Southern Airlines have huge billboards outside Terminal 4 at Heathrow). So the question is if there any chance that we may ever see British carriers advertising their airlines at British airports? Today will be remembered as a day of sadness to hear that the former Conservative leader and Britain's first female prime minister died in the early hours following a stroke at the age of 87.
As a young kid in 1980s London, I grew up in an era when Lady Thatcher was a dominant figure in global politics. My memories of watching the news in those days included seeing the likes of great political icons such as Roland Reagan (1911-2004), Indira Gandhi (1917-1984), Mikhail Gorbachev, François Mitterrand (1916-1996), and many others. I recall briefly meeting Lady Thatcher when she and her husband, Denis, toured Dulwich, and the Dulwich Picture Gallery in the 1990s. She was nicknamed the ‘Iron Lady’ for her toughness and political crypt. She was someone who came across as very patriotic, and a strong symbol of Britishness. In tribute, the British Prime Minister David Cameron said of her death: "It was with great sadness that I learned of Lady Thatcher's death. We've lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton." |
Get in Touch:LIFE MATTERSHere I share my thoughts
and experiences during my travels, and how some things have affected my life as an expat and world traveller. Travelling is about capturing that moment in life. Every word, view and opinion on this page is that of Navjot Singh - except where indicated. The most recent is at the top. Scroll down to read the archive. Or search using CTRL+F (COMMAND + F) and enter a keyword to search the page. Just some of the stories you never heard before. The NAVJOT-SINGH.COM web blog is separate to this web site....Click blog, which may not be visible in some countries due to local firewall restrictions, so in those cases this weblog may be read. The weblog also includes some of my press trip reports- most of which are not published on the official blog because of copyright issues. The weblog also contains articles that may be associated directly with a PR trip for a country, airline or a hotel. These are PR reviews done in relations with various companies. If you are an investor or a trend watcher then you may find this website useful as investing has a lot to do with personal observations and finding the ideal trend or next big thing. The average human on the street frequently knows far more about the state of the economy than politicians, university professors, subject matter experts, and financial analysts who seldom travel, or if they do so, only from one hotel to another hotel! The pulse and vibrancy of an economy is nowhere more visible than on a country's streets. All photos and words are © Navjot Singh unless stated. Photos taken by others or by agencies are appropriately copyrighted under the respective name. No photo or word/s may be taken without the prior written permission by the author (i.e. Navjot Singh). All Rights Reserved. Archives
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