Christmas Lights

the Christmas lights on Oxford and Regent Streets this year are among the best I can remember despite (or maybe because of) the heavy commercialisation. Those sparkly carpets and the floaty stars provide a magical aspect. Go on, remember what it was like to be young and go and see them.

Director & Actor - Bunny and the Bull

Last Friday I was fortunate to be invited to a blogger's screening of Bunny and the Bull, with an introductory (short) talk by the Director and and actor. Most people were enthusiastic about the "Mighty Boosh" connection, but as I had only heard the original radio show, I didn't know what to expect. What was delivered was a well executed exercise in original writing, very reminiscent in its way of old style Ealing comedy. You might say it isn't subtle, but actually the direction and the photography is rather good and, for me, lifted it into a "must see" category. See a trailer here, or the website here. But there's something rather good about going to a London screening, even if you do have to sit in lime leather chairs ...

London's Elephants - No 32 in a series

If you do go to the Victoria Miro gallery, you also have the opportunity to see NS Harsha's work, including this one, "In Musth". It has always amused me that a must (or musth) is the word for an elephant on heat. When I say "always", I mean each time I hear someone say "It's a must".

The Walthamstow Tapestry

Grayson Perry won the Turner Prize (in 2003), which did little to endear his work to me. But then I felt I had to see anything called the Walthamstow Tapestry and I was surprisingly interested. I left still uncertain of his work's long term value, but fascinated with what I saw, I recommend it. Originally, the exhibition was scheduled to finish on Saturday, but it has been extended by another week. (I'll try to add some detail photos later today)

The Cenotaph

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh month the guns fell silent. The Cenotaph commemorates the event and those who died. Each year, the closest Sunday to November 11 is Rememberance Sunday.

So, wherever you are at 11 O'Clock, however you feel about war, take a moment and remember that people just like you paid with their lives for you to live your life.

X Marks the Spot

You may have heard about the re-designed Oxford Circus junction, where traffic is stopped from both directions and lets pedestrians cross diagonaly, here it is in operation. Makes sense to me.

A Load of Bollards

Some time ago, when I took this photo in Kensington, I thought I might find out what Hans Town was all about. I think it's probably more fascinating that there is a blog dedicated to London Bollards....

Remember the 5th of November

On the 5th November, Fireworks Day, I'd like to feature somewhere you probably haven't heard about or visited (although some people have), it is Gunpowder Park. Reclaimed from Royal Gunpowder Mills when it was used for the development and research of explosives, it sits just inside the M25 to the north of London. This slab of concrete basically says "Bang" in lots of different ways.

Ooooo you are a nice pair of shoes

One of the features of London City Airport - the world's best airport? - apart from checking 30 minutes before the flight, apart from free Internet, apart from a railway station 100 meters from checkin, apart from flights going on time and luggage not getting lost - is a complimentary shoeshine.

Docklands Light Railway

I don't often travel by public transport, but the Docklands Light Railway is [probably my favourite line. In fact, traveling the length and breath of it should be on everyone's recommendation for London - you get to see familiar and unfamiliar sights from a new perspective. This shot is inside London City Airport station.

What goes around, comes around

Look, I know it's not the world's best photo, but a grafitti removal van in the same frame as a grafitti artist? I couldn't resist. It's a circle of life.

November Theme Day - Doorways

It's the monthly City Daily Photo theme day time agan, one of the most spectacular entrances in London is for the Queen at Buckingham Palace, which is how it should be.I'm still gallivanting around the world, Click here to see the theme day interpretations from around the world.

Learn London

The Internet is a great place to find out about London, but I'm still of the opinion that nothing is quite the same as holding a book in your hand. And one of the best collections of books is in Stanfords Long Acre

Ringing True

This is the silver ship's bell on HMS Belfast, the warship now tied up in the heart of London. What you can't see in the photos, are the names of hte children of serving officers who were christened on board, using the upturned bell as a font.

You are now entering the Masala Zone

This restaurant is in Covent Garden, but it was their bright and alternative ceiling decoration that caught my eye. I haven't eaten there yet, but it looks good, as do the reviews, so I will probably give it a try sometime.

Foaming at the Mouth

By rights, Venus in Sloane Square should have been foaming at the mouth. After all, some people had gone to the trouble of emptying in a bottle of washing up liquid. This is what the the overall scene looked like. All a bit of a let down, really. Maybe it had been livelier when it was first done.

Not London

I'm still working away from London a lot of the time, in Switzerland, so I thought I'd show you a photo I took on a cycle ride of the Dolder Grand, a confection of a Hotel with a London connection as it was renovated by Norman Foster.

The Nosh Bar

The Nosh Bar opposite the Windmill Theater was one of the best places for a salt beef sandwich in the West End, and when it closed in the mid-eighties there was a sense of the changing of an era. It has re-opened this year, I haven't been in yet, but I shall.

The Rock of the Dome

The dome of this building, on the junction of Jermyn Stret and Haymarket, is set out in mosaic but I don't suppose anyone ever notices. Reminds me of Gaudi in Barcelona, I wonder if there is any connection.

Policing London

I wonder, if all London's police went through training and rode horses, if only for recreation, whether they would be better at policing? I'm not saying that riding makes a better person, but it does teach interdependency.

The Swiss (soft) Centre

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It's been several years now since the Swiss Centre in Leicester square was demoloshed, but the spirit of Switzerland lives on. These are the shields of the twenty six Swiss Cantons, standing in the north west corner of the square. The redevlopment of the old building is supposed to include a Swiss flavour - we'll have to see that when it happens.

October is Mushroom time on the Southbank

I'll have you know that this: "is both organic and mathematical. Made of brightly coloured enamelled hexagonal steel panels, it takes the form of an exaggerated funnel, reminiscent of both marine and botanical forms. Sponsored by ArcelorMittal" or so I am told. Personally, I'd say this has a lot in common with a certain type of organic matter.

Millenium Gardens

As I hinted yesterday, there is something to make Millenium Gardens an even better place to spend a lunchtime - this barbecue is as good as his smile is broad.

An Urban Oasis

Millenium Green is an open space by Waterloo Station that was created in 2000, out of the derelict attempts to create an adventure playground. Now, it serves the local community well and is a favourite for local workers. Lower Marsh nearby can proivide some interesting alternative food and ...well, see tomorrow for the rest. This was taken one balmy day last week, enjoying the last warmth of the autumn sun. This week is much colder in London.

I Cycle London

It is very encouraging to see a growth of cycle clothing for ordinary people, that know that a bike is the best form of transport in London, but come out in a rash at the thought of Lycra. These people at Cyclodelic make clothes you'd be happy being seen in, and Cyclechic have a great range of stylish bike stuff.

We Never Closed

... but we do change with the times. The Windmill Theater is famous for two things: shows involving scantily clad ladies started in the 30's, inspired my the Moulin Rouge in Paris. Back then, it was decided that the girls had to stand stock still, living statues or "Tableux Vivants" (a few pictures here). If they moved, it was RUDE. They also never shut during WWII with shows running all through the Blitz. It appears, that they have moved with the times and now, the girls move too.

Bates Hatters, Jermyn Street

If you want to step back 100 years, or for that matter if you want a hat, you can do no better in London than to go to Bates of Jermyn Street.

If Mind Were All There Was

The Hayward Gallery often has a free exhibition, alongside the higher profile big exhibition. In the current one, they are showing the work of Victor Man. My initial response was what you might guess, seeing this work "Can of Paint and a Photograph". But then, I looked around, and the man can really paint, it's worth popping in to see the few oils that are hanging.

Autumn Glory

Riding into work the other morning, I had to stop and take a photo. I only had my little compact camera on me, but even that can't hide the glory of an autumn sunrise. I'm very lucky, this is only a couple of hundred yards from my street, here's a map. The sheer quantity of park and forest in London set it apart from any other city I can think of.

Ultimate Bike

How fast can you cycle? How fast do you think anyone can cycle? This is the Ultimate Cycle, built by Bruce Bursford using F1 racing technology, seen here at the cycle show. He used it to create the cycling speed record of 207 mph (yes, 334kph) on rollers in 1999. If you aren't impressed by that ("it wasn't on a road") how about the road cycling speed record of 127 mph set in 1962? The story doesn't have a happy ending, Bruce was run over and killed in 2000.

Earls Court Exhibition Centre

Looking at the Deco frontage of Earl's Court Exhibition Centre, I realised that I didn't know it's history. Turns out to be more interesting than I thought... " In the late 19th century the site had been home to Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and a huge observation wheel. A plaque in the press centre commemorates both of these facts and that Queen Victoria was a frequent visitor to the show." I like that idea. Read the Wikipedia article here. Oh, was there a cycle show on? Who knows, there may be a shot from there, too.