Can't recommend visiting and seeing a show enough! One of the best London experiences! We got…read moretickets to Pinocchio over Christmas and really enjoyed the show despite it being outside. So glad hubs got tickets where you could sit as the seats in front of the stage have people standing which is cool but for a tourist who walked 30,000 steps earlier in the day sitting was most appreciated. Our seats had direct view of the stage so we saw everything perfectly! We grabbed dinner at the Swan which is part of the Theatre building and the food was great and it made it easy to access our seats as we just walked through an interior door in the restaurant and we were in the theatre! The play was awesome! Sitting with the crowd under the nighttime stars was awesome! It's really a must do while in London!

Iconic theater, now restored, well-known for its association with Shakespeare…read more Was on our must-do list but we could not score tickets for a show. Still stopped by for pics and to soak in the atmosphere. Will plan better next time!

My wife and I visited the Guildhall Gallery in September 2024 and thankfully was one of the only…read moreattractions that was not completely overun with people. Therefore we were able to fully enjoy the lecture, the walking tour, and the museum operated by the Guildhall. We booked our tickets for the Roman Amphitheatre tour weeks in advance, and there were a dozen or so guests in our group. The tour is hosted by Dr Andrew Lane, the archaeologist who led the team that discovered the ruins. His personal and professional insight were priceless, just ever-so fascinating to a Roman history nerd like myself. To the amusement of my other half, I asked many questions, and Dr Lane took plenty of time to answer them. After the lecture and a tour of the amphitheatre exhibit, Dr Lane took us on a walking tour around the remains of the Roman Wall. The walk is short and easy, with several stops along the way to discuss the ruins we were looking at, their origins, their role in Roman London. The walk culminates in a Barbican parking lot normally closed to the public where the ruins of a gate entrance to the Roman Fort are hidden. This tour was a highlight of my visit. Having grown up in London and lived there for 30 years, I never knew such ancient relics survived here. It was a really great time spent reacquainting myself with my home town. This tour takes place one day a month. It is highly recommended to time your visit with a trip to the amphitheatre and to do the full tour.

London was once a Roman City and had all that Romans enjoyed within it…read more The Romans arrived around AD47 and the 2 small hills of St Pauls & Leadenhall were selected as sites for a new town. In 1988 Museum of London archaeologists discovered a Roman amphitheatre here - London's only one ever discovered.The impressive historical landmark was first unearthed by Museum of London archaeologists in 1988, and, nearly 15 years later, the doors to the amphitheatre have been opened to the public for the first time. The amphitheatre was first discovered when short stretches of Roman wall were observed at the bottom of four archaeological investigation trenches. The findings were instantly famous and the site became a protected monument. An arena that was oval in shape and approximately 100 metres long by 80 metres wide. The inner perimeter walls marking the amphitheatre's east entrance - upon which temporary seating would have been erected for public occasions. St Augustine in the 4th Century describes a visit to a London Roman amphitheatre made by his friend Alypius: ...the whole place was seething with savage enthusiasm, but he shut the doors of his eyes and forbade his soul to go out into a scene of such evil. If only he could have blocked up his ears too. For in the course of the fight some man fell; there was a great roar from the whole mass of spectators he was overcome by curiosity and opened his eyes, feeling perfectly prepared to treat whatever he might see with scorn and to rise above it He saw the blood and he gulped down the savagery drunk with the lust of blood. He was no longer the man who had come there but was one of the crowd to which he had come. Following dismantling and abandonment in the 4th century the site of the amphitheatre lay derelict and empty for hundreds of years. It was only in the mid 11th century that pressure on space in bustling Saxon and Norman London led to the reoccupation of the area. Roman London's Amphitheatre can be accessed via the Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, London. Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday noon-4pm (admission until half an hour before closing). Entry: £2.50 for adults, free after 3.30pm. Concessions £1. Children free and free to all on Fridays. There is no extra charge to enter the amphitheatre.

Loved seeing guys and dolls at this location! What a fun immersive way to see a musical! Would…read moredefinitely come back and see another show here again the talent is really good!

Located in the shadows of the world famous Tower Bridge (which crosses the Thames in Central…read moreLondon), the Bridge Theatre is hosting an excellent production of Guys and Dolls through a large part of 2024. My wife discovered that this London production of 'Guys and Dolls' had an interactive part, where as part of the audience, one can be on stage at the same time as the performers. The 'standing' tickets actually cost less than the sitting areas (£39.50), so we bought them directly on the Bridge Theatre site a couple months before. We took the Tube from Leicester Square, via St Pancras station, getting off at the London Bridge station. It was about a 15 minute walk to the theater from there. The theater has a beautiful view of the Bridge, definitely iconic. We were allowed inside, about 90 minutes before the start. The ground level has a large bar, and definite sitting areas (though far less seating than there are audience members). There is a coat check in the back, and for folks standing, it is required that you check your coats and bags for the safety of everyone. They try to keep the theater as cold as possible for the benefit of the hard working actors. We were allowed inside the stage about 30 minutes before the 7:30 start time. They had recreated 1939 New York, with various hawkers of wares, interacting directly with the audience. You can wander around the stage, and buy things like pretzels, hot dogs, cheap prop hats, bottled water. and programs. We bought a hat and a hot dog (each £5). There were also cafe tables set-up, which early arrivals could use to sit down and rest/prepare. A little before 7:30, workers came around to clear out the tables, and put us in places. This is when I realized that the cement floor was actually a series of hydraulic lifts, capable of going as high as 5 feet in some places. The play started exactly on time. Words can't really describe the experience as the play. From our vantage point, the closet thing I could imagine would be to have standing room, pit seats for a rock concert. It was unique for me, not ever participating in such a thing...it was crazy being that close to the performers, sometimes being less than 3 feet away. The acoustics were different...initially dialogue was hard to understand, but your ears/brain gets used to it. Plus, the story isn't that complicated. One thing to note is that there is a burlesque show during the intermission...it states that its appropriate for 9 and over, but many parts of it would definitely be PG-13 (at least in the States) for being that close. Different parts of the floor would constantly go up and down, and "policeman" were constantly doing crowd control, moving people here and there. You really can't stay in one place (unless you decide to use the outside walls as a prop), and depending on your luck, you can be right below where the performers are acting. It was a long play, with a 20 minute intermission. The most recognizable song was "Luck be a Lady, Tonight", song by the male lead right after intermission. The whole thing lasted over 3 hours, and even included a afterparty where some performers partied with the audience. It's a long time to be standing, so make sure you bring your comfortable shoes. But if you can do it (and don't mind a little jostling), this is absolutely the way to go. And it really makes you appreciate the talent and dediciation (and athleticism) of the actors. I would do this again in a heartbeat (for a different play).

' I was greatly entertained by Christopher West's talk about Charles Dickens and early Victorian…read moreLondon. He gave us an enormous amount of fascinating information, and it seemed impossible not to be stimulated by his gushing enthusiasm and passion for the subject. I am not a Dickens expert, so was attracted by getting all the background. There was a lot of fun and laughter, particularly with his vivid description of the primitive sewerage system (or lack of)! Congratulations too, at looking the part so well. The pub was typically Dickensian, though I was pleased to get a good cup of coffee from the friendly staff. The location was excellent, next to London Bridge and Borough Market. I'm only sorry now, that I didn't stay for dinner after the talk- the food looked great'.

'After visiting the outside of the Globe Theatre I suddenly realised just how little I know about…read moreheritage and literature, so I went to Christopher West's talk about Charles Dickens. I really enjoyed it (surprise) and came out feeling like an all time expert. His enthusiasm was non stop, and he brought alive the noise and squalor of London all those years ago. I don't know how he could talk through all those whiskers. I liked the pub as well- it seemed a perfect setting, and Christopher pointed out that it was central to many of Dickens activities'.

Absolutely wonderful ship. Lots of things you can touch. Good interactive exhibits. Perfect for…read moresomeone interested in warships/military history and for those with kids who like big ships and touching everything. There's also a nice cafe inside. Everyone is very knowledgeable and friendly. This ship has a fascinating story - don't miss out.

The history contained in this vessel is absolutely voluminous. We went to every room and climbed…read moreinto every crevasse we were allowed and had a blast exploring its rich history. We also enjoyed a wonderful presentation below decks highlighting the ships many important engagements

Very informative and great customer service. Several hundred year of history. It's free to visit…read more Very kids friendly.

A nice little museum to visit for free. I came because there was a 2 hour wait to exchange paper…read moremoney to the new notes due to the old paper notes not being in circulation anymore. So it's worth a visit while your friend is in line. However, not worth making a trip just to see the museum but a good excursion whilst in the area.

I once read a fascinating book called haunted London..so many shadows of the past. The theatre is…read morerife with superstition and legends..like no whistling and no mentioning the Scottish King and the rituals that go with it if you do..so ghosts are quite normal. In Covent Garden you don't have much choice; there is so much supernatural activity in a relatively small area. This smallish district of historic London has been jam-packed with scandal and mischief for hundreds of years and strange things happen after nightfall. Amongst the spectral visits that Covent Garden has witnessed are ghostly appearances from Admiral Lord Nelson and Anne Boleyn. Disembodied howls and ghostly sighs are not common in Covent Garden but after dark you might be one of the chosen few to realise that you have been walking and talking in the presence of a ghost. Many theatre actors have returned to their favourite theatres to haunt the auditoria and famous names from centuries of London history are also said to return in phantom quintessence. The opera has a phantom and you had better believe that the theatre has a ghost. Drury Lane theatre is famed for supernatural shenanigans with at least three authenticated ghosts creaking the boards at this historic theatre. Credulous luvvies consider a spectral visit to augur well; that the current production will meet with critical acclaim, however, if and when a ghost graces somebody with its presence, it is a brave person who doesn't feel a shiver chase down their spine. Perhaps the most famous of Drury Lane's phantoms is the 'Man in Grey' a silent form who appears as quintessence in the Upper Circle and perambulates the bar before disappearing through a wall. He is only active during hours of daylight so has been seen by hundreds of actors and patrons although not for many years. Who he is, nobody is quite sure but from his countenance he is clearly the epitome of English theatre. Dressed in ghostly period costume of an 18th Century riding cape,boots and a sheathed sword. The man in grey is ruggedly handsome with a powdered wig beneath a foppish tricorn. The identity of the Man in Grey is unknown but in a chilling development, during the late 1800s, workmen knocking a wall through made the grim discovery of a skeleton clad in decaying costume with a dagger thrust between its ribs. If he appears though he is said to bring good luck to a run and is often seen in a box. The most famous appearance though was during a Flanders and Swan performance when the audience saw him hold the wheelchair handles of one of them..on the stage. He is often thought to be impressario Garrick. During his life Joe Grimaldi was a genial man and accomplished actor who had an eye for the ladies and plenty of time to help aspiring actors. He appeared on stage here many times however, he didn't want to shuffle off his mortal coil, yearning to stay in the limelight and the adoration of theatre fans so decided to become a poltergeist. During the run of Oklahoma! an inexperienced actress was alone on stage in front of a packed house however the laughter greeting her punchlines had been disappointing. During one performance she felt a pair of firm hands on her shoulders which propelled her to a different part of the stage, the hands then gently repositioned the actress's arms and adjusted the angle of her head, while this happened she delivered her lines to rapturous laughter. After the show she reported her experience but nobody in the cast, crew or audience had seen anyone but her on stage. Grimaldi's comforting hands were felt again years later by a novice singer auditioning on stage for The King and I. As she stepped onto the stage the nervous girl felt a friendly pat on the shoulder and a phantom hand clasped her elbow and led her to the front. All through her audition her hand was held firmly by an eerie, disembodied force, despite the spooky guidance the girl sang beautifully. The story has a happy ending: she landed the role thanks to Joe Grimaldi's calming influence. Another nefarious crime committed in the theatre was by the hand of one of the stage's biggest stars of the day. In 1735 the actor Charles Macklin slew fellow thespian Thomas Hallam: the culmination of an argument about a wig. Macklin drove a cane through Hallam's left eye into his brain instantly killing him. As he took Hallam's life, Macklin delivered the line: God damn you for a blackguard scrub rascal. Macklin was not a handsome man; tall, lanky and unbeautiful but still hugely popular and, although the murder was witnessed, he got away with it and was sentenced not to death but only branding which was never carried out anyway. Macklin lived to be 107 but after his death a new ghost began to appear, an ugly, tall, thin ghost who frequents the theatre's pit. So next time you are in the theatre check who is sitting next to you!!!!

A tiny little museum in the Guildhall for "THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF CLOCKMAKERS OF…read moreLONDON." Lot's of pocket watches, old grandfather clocks, winding keys, fobs and chronographs. Beautiful workmanship and history. You may not be a horologist but it is a chromotastic delight!

Small and entirely delightful - this museum has examples of everything from teeny, tiny little…read moreladies' watches in jewelled cases, to the first marine clocks - which of course were an astonishing feat of engineering at the time, and changed the course of human history by enabling accurate navigation. Open from Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 4.45, it's well worth a lunchtime visit. Entry is free, but as with anything attached to the Guildhall, it's subject to short notice closures because of visiting dignitaries, so do check beforehand that they're open.

I love this little spot on the Southbank between HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge. It's a modern day…read moreamphitheatre where they host a lot of independent events. I've been to the London Penguin Walk: Where we broke the world record for the number of people in penguin suits. Water Stories: a photography exhibition and most recently The Globes Complete Walk of Shakespeare films. Such a lovely place to have events.

The Scoop is a unique space: a little amphitheatre basically carved into the sidewalk. They…read moreroutinely put on free theatre, and that's what drew me here. Right now they are playing a 4.5-hour long adaptation of Wagner's "The Ring of the Nibelung" cycle. The original is a very intense, 15-hour-long German operatic epic that is performed over four nights. This is a much more digestible and family-friendly version of that, and it was done very well -- good writing, pacing, acting, production, all the more impressive because it's outdoor theatre where you inherently have less control of the environment. It's a very well-designed space. Acoustically, its below-street-level placement is an advantage because most of the noise from the street is drowned out, but it's not a very loud area anyway because there are no pubs/bars/restaurants in the immediate vicinity - you'll just occasionally be interrupted by an airplane overhead. The theatre can accommodate quite a lot of people, but the seats are stacked high enough as they go back, so that your view is never obscured by the person in front of you. They let you bring food and drinks (just no glass bottles) into the theatre, so pack a picnic and a few beers! It's not protected at all from the elements though, so if it rains you're kind of screwed. Also, at night it gets chilly, so bring a blanket and layers to put on.

The Barbican is an area you can explore with a library, conservatory, rotating art installations,…read moreand miscellaneous events. You should check when the events are, because it could interfere with the areas being available for a visit. There was also a beautiful outdoor area that would have been amazing to sit at the café outdoors and admire the scenery, but unfortunately it was raining at the time of our visit and it would not have been as enjoyable to sit outdoors here. Would definitely come back to explore more, and hoping the weather will be better in the future.

Very disappointing experience. I'll start with the good. The front desk staff was incredible,…read morevery friendly and very helpful. Unfortunately, the concierge was probably the worst ever. I received a package via Amazon and showed him the details from the Amazon email. He condescendingly asked me where it was on his list, where it wasn't printed, and stressed that if it wasn't there they did not get a package. I cannot put into words how condescending he was. I left for dinner worried the package was lost or misdelivered. When I returned, he was no longer there so I asked the great front desk staff if they had received a package for me. They remembered getting something and checked a few places, long story short is they found the package. Again, kudos to the front desk who went the extra mile for me, but why was the concierge so negativistic and self assured. Another positive was the fitness Centre, which had some great equipment, including a nice rower and treadmill. Unfortunately, the smell in the hallway leading to the fitness centre almost made me sick every day. A couple other challenges from the property. The room is what I would have imagined a jail cell. A small mattress just thrown into a corner. Also, the door to the bathroom slammed every time I went in, I am sure not very pleasant for my neighbors. Also the fire alarm went off at 7 am my last night, the cherry on top.