We visited Immersive Gamebox today and we played the Alien Aptitude game experience! We had so much…read morefun. It is located very close to Southwark Tube Station and to Nando's. We checked in and our greeter was fantastic! They also have plenty of lockers to store belongings in. The waiting area is nice too and there is a wide choice of drinks available. The box that we played in was fantastic and the screens were excellent and really interactive. There are four different games included in the Alien Aptitude experience and every single game was so fun to play! Each game was so thoughtfully designed . The rules for each game was explained clearly and presented in a way that wasn't overwhelming. We had such a great time and the time goes so quickly! The gif at the end is so fun to make as well! Thank you so much to Immersive Gamebox for giving us an A+ experience and we cannot wait to return for many more happy memories. I would highly recommend visiting Immersive Gamebox.

So much fun! Had to add a little gaming fun to counter all the history my children were…read moreexperiencing on our trip to London from California. A couple of items... my children 14 & 10. Like all other pre-teens and teens, they love to game. I joined them during the gaming session, which was about 1.5 hrs for both games, Tetris and Squid Games! Note that you will be moving around your space quickly. Jumping, stepping forward, backward, side to side, and toucing the walls as you play. You will get thirsty. No problem! They offer drink order and delivery to the room where you have a shelf to keep your drinks. Personal items: You can not keep on the floor or room with you. They will get in the way. No worries. They provide free lockers. It has been 2 days, and we are still talking about the fun we had there. Tried to get another trip in but may miss out. However, I learned there is one in Los Angeles, Ca. Will absolutely make the drive up from San Diego, Ca, (~2 hours) to play again! Thanks for the amazing family memories!

Business district worthwhile to explore…read more This business area has hidden parks, eateries, waterways integrated into the metal and glass landscape. This whole area is an ode to the modern financial face of London. Ah, there are many faces to this dynamic city.

I stayed here with my friend who has spent most of the Covid period in London. He moved here from…read morethe Nottinghill Area looking for a quieter area of London. I asked how he chose this area versus say the London Eye area. He moved in back in spring of 2021. He said he looked around and this was newly developed. The apt building he moved into was beginning to lease units. It's a bit of a hike but not too bad in my book. I'm the ultimate city dweller who appreciates the public transportation life. Canary Wharf is FiDi.2 while City of London is the FiDi of London. Recently adopting a nomadic life, Canary Wharf reminds me most of Chicago.

I visited this house a few years ago which was only a few miles from my high school in…read moreHertfordshire and realized its historical significance. This was the house where Mary I, Elizabeth I and Edward VI were raised. London in Henry VIII's time was riddled with disease such as typhoid, cholera and smallpox, hardly a place fit for little royals where childhood mortality was common. King Henry VIII choose Hatfield house for its proximity to London but far away enough from its scourge. Located in the North Downs, you could see the Thames and from London, you could see Hatfield House. Henry could signal his intention to visit his children and the royal household at Hatfield would make preparations to cater for his arrival with his royal entourage. The journey on horse from London to Hatfield would take a day by the way of Saint Johns Wood. Now you could get to Hatfield from Central London in probably an hour. On a clear day you should be able to see the London Eye from Hatfield if you know what you are looking for. This house was a crucial incubator of the protestant faith. King Henry had the best scholars of the time to instruct his children so that they can continue their reign as protestants. Without Elizabeth I being a strong protestant, England might have kept the Catholic faith as the country's religion. Her eldest sister Queen Mary reinstated Catholicism as the faith of the land when she reigned after the death of Edward VI and the brief reign of Jane Earl Grey. It was reverted to the Church of England when Elizabeth I became Queen. So, if you are ever within spitting distance of this place you should try and see it.

Hatfield House is a lovely day out from London. It is about a 25 minute train ride north of London…read more Hatfield House is the family home of the Marquess of Salisbury, and was built by Robert Cecil (Chief Minister to James I, and son of William Cecil) from 1607-1611. The house is gorgeous, and has loads of beautiful furniture and art. Also on site is Old Hatfield Palace, where Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood. Elizabeth was out on the grounds at Hatfield when she learned that she was now queen, following the death of her sister Mary. Hatfield has somewhat limited opening hours, and is closed (except for the grounds and for special events) during the winter. Check the website (great info) for details. I recommend going at the weekend: during the week you must take a guided tour of the home. The guide was knowledgable and entertaining, but we had to keep moving ahead of the group behind us, so did not have time to savor all of the wonderful things about Hatfield. I will definitely go back.

This Regatta centre is awesome (especially if you've come here to practice/ take part in dragon…read moreboat racing!) http://www.lclionsclub.co.uk/#/2013-programme/4560417477 The centre is a couple of minutes walk from Royal Albert DLR station, and has a 2000m course, changing rooms, lockers lots of dragon boats and a restaurant upstairs. I think someone mentioned a gym as well, but I didn't wander in there. I came down here to practice with team mates from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (we were a corporate team, so only had one practice before race day.) The awesome team, Raging Dragons instructed us, gave us lots of helpful advice and showed us how not to make too much of a fool of ourselves on the water. They (the Raging Dragons) mentioned that they are always looking for new members, so if you live near here and fancy getting fit in a fun, slightly splashy way, get involved! http://www.ragingdragons.co.uk/ (They said training was on Thursday nights and Sunday mornings.) *I have a feeling dragon boat racing is a very good way to improve arm and tummy muscles if you don't mind the ache the following day!*

If you love bingo then this is the place to go!…read more This is a lively place, with a good atmosphere where you're guaranteed to have a good time. There's lots of refreshments available too.

Gala club at Basildon is a large friendly bingo hall with hot food and a bar available. The bar…read morearea has a nice feel and the bar staff are efficient and friendly. When I go to this club I usually get there early and make a afternoon of night of it. The bingo is priced up with different deals on certain days of the week. Sometimes there is an all in ticket price. I personally prefer to go on days that aren't all in as I'm not quick enough to do a strip of 6 at the same time. The decor is a little dated, but the atmosphere makes up for that. They have recently put in some wizard machines for people who the machines to do the work. There is party bingo and a fruit machine area.

So glad to know that a great theatre like this is placed in the middle of Stratford. Only a 4 min…read morewalking distance from the station and soon to be 'Olympic stadium'. They have many musical, performances and exhibitions to offer. They also have a pub style bar that holds free events in the evenings and weekends. The bar is also known as Caribbean flavours which serves great Caribbean food at reasonable prices. Stratford theatre royal is a great place to go with friends and family. There is also a cinema and a few restaurants next door.

The Stratford Royal Theatre is a local gem for a myriad of reasons- I have seen a handful of…read moreproductions here over the past two years, ranging from pantomimes, new shows and retelling of classic stories, and all had high production values with a solid cast and engaging storytelling . Tickets are affordable and discounts are offered to Newham residents or occasionally online through deal websites such as Groupon or Amazon Local. The Victorian theatre is very charming and boasts a lot of character and the ushers and staff have always been extremely helpful and friendly. The theatre bar is a bit of a local secret- it serves a fantastic menu of Caribbean food that comes out of the kitchen quickly, hot and packed with flavour. All dishes offer great value for money for either lunch or dinner; there's also an expansive kids menu and freshly baked cakes on display daily. This is possibly the best theatre kitchen in London for a relaxed meal (provided you avoid the surge of theatre-goers ordering from the menu before an evening performance!). The atmosphere is colourful and relaxed- the bar is decked out with patio style rattan furniture and a few large booths as well. In the summer, there is a good outdoor space that spills out on to a square that is secluded from the high street. The theatre attracts a wide demographic of people for the productions and in the bar, so you get a real sense of community and a buzzing atmosphere whether you're there for a show or are just popping in for a drink after work. There are lots of weekly events that take place in the bar, including an extended happy hour on Thursday nights and various live performances throughout the week. Since moving to Stratford three years ago, the bar has really stepped up to offer more consistent service and has put in the effort to redesign their menus for a more polished look. This is a great little corner in Stratford that is worth a visit for a few drinks, its vibrant food and atmosphere and the quality and variety of productions. It will also be hosting a temporary theatre space called The Red Crate in collaboration with the National Theatre during the 2015-2016 season, which will double the size of its programme listings.

This place is actually a disused chocolate factory which now houses a variety of artists' studios…read more They have open weekends for the public twice a year and it's worth going up there on these days even if you're not thinking of buying. The next open weekend is actually next week, on Saturday the 5th and Sunday 6th July so I timed this review well, didn't I?! The building itself is fabulously preserved and none of the studios are empty. I can imagine it is a great place to work. I understand that they have recently enlarged the space to include more studios so there will be even more stuff to look at. I don't have a lot of disposable income but even I have found some gorgeous things to buy here, including pottery and jewellery. The artists very kindly put out nibbles so you can stuff yourself while you're looking at their work.

This is a fabulous set of studios, hidden off the busy Stoke Newington Road in Stoke Newington,…read moreHackney N16. Twice a year they open their doors to the public. Here's the latest one: 'It's winter time again and Open Studios are nearly upon us. There are 25 Studios at The Chocolate Factory and we will be opening our doors for one weekend only. It's a great chance to see the artists and their work, see what's new, grab some bargains and enjoy a browse. Don't forget your Christmas Shopping too! The studios are a real find off the busy Stoke Newington Road: A Cobbled yard with hanging baskets and an oasis of pots and plants set the scene for this thriving community of artists and designer makers. Follow us on Facebook for more info: Search The Chocolate Factory N16'

I just wanted to start off by saying the person that rated Alice Underground 1 star is a complete…read moreimbecile. The characters are upstairs after you finish watching the show. Fucking idiot. Now for the review of the actual show! This show was amazing. The amount of detail put into each of the sets and the costumes was absolutely jaw dropping and completely exceeded my expectations. The acting was phenomenal and truly made you feel that you really were in another world. I was told by a worker at the bar that you could go to this show 4 times and have a different experience each time. I would definitely not mind doing this show multiple times to be able to see ALL of the sets, costumes, scenarios and different pieces of the story. Immersive theater at its finest! I flew from New York to see this show and it was worth it. My 2nd event at the vaults and I can promise I'll be back for more. DO NOT MISS THIS.

"If you had taken me on this when I was younger, I would've cried the whole way through" - this is…read morehow I've opened my story of the Alice's Adventures Underground experience to everyone I've spoken to. We had an amazing time, but my god this place sticks to the 'original' Alice = totally mind altering! Located in Waterloo Vaults, you first enter into a bar and merchandise area, at which point you're asked to check your coat and bag in. There is a bar available but, having been to Cubana for a happy hour cocktail beforehand, we were just ready to get started. This is also the opportunity to pre-order your drinks for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party if you so wish - white or red wine, or a gin and cucumber cocktail at £5 a pop. The experience itself is hard to describe, partly because there's just so much going on your brain can hardly comprehend and partly because I don't want to ruin anything for those who want to attend in the near future. Four different stories unfold alongside one another, culminating in a huge court scene with the ferocious queen and interspersed with all the well known characters. The Mad Hatter's Tea Party was a personal favourite (and not just for the opportunity to sit down!) - the characters are all very well played, the right balance between scary and comfortingly familiar. Plus the look on people's faces when the scene begins again is something of a picture...worth swotting up if you want to know what's to come! The final bar is where you can revel in the success of escaping this twisting world, with a brilliant little band, bar and hot food available. There's a maze and some flamingo croquet for activities, and plenty of alcohol available. You can re-enter this area throughout its run this summer with your SUIT card, issued earlier in the evening, and worth visiting if you know someone who possess something so powerful. Why four stars? Giving in our bags as recommended rendered us purse-less, so that last area was a bit of a let down - once you exit, there's no re-entry on the day, so it was a quick nose around and then out again. Coming out at £50 a ticket, you'd also think that perhaps that the tea party drink could be on the house. Whether you go for 'eat me' or 'drink me', I recommend the Alice's Adventures Underground Experience. Just, please, don't eat the jam tarts!

Definitely need to call and book to seat in the room with the live performers at the weekend…read more Decent bar, nice staff and great jazz music! :)

Oliver's is so easy to miss. It is just opposite Greenwich Theatre and next door to The Spread…read moreEagle. The only evidence of its existence is an orange sign and an open gate inviting you down stairs. Once down there you enter a small basement bar with a few chairs and tables looking towards a tiny makeshift stage. There's a certain charm about it, almost as if you have found your way into a secret club. Everyone sets out to have the best time possible and a close knit group of local artists organise music showcases. The usually small crowds here respect the music which is nice and this enhances most people's enjoyment of the evenings. In my experience the music at Oliver's isn't that brilliant but it is still worth checking out and the artists usually enjoy a bit of light banter with the crowd. The bar area is based in a tiny room next to the performance area and when busy, this area gets very congested. It is also where the toilet is. For some reason people insist on standing there and so if you need to relieve yourself then leave yourself plenty of time to get to the loo.