Latest favourites and wishlist by foxie

Natural History Museum - review by RR123

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:10:45 +0000

Natural History Museum - review by RR123

Rating: 4.8

Location: Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7942 5000

Website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk

I recently visited the Natural History Museum with my three year old nephew and we both loved it. My nephew thought the dinosaur exhibition was great, if a bit scary at times, and loved looking at all the different animals.

The museum has moved on a long way form the days when it used to obtain animals and have them stuffed, although it does not shy away from admitting that it did used to do that - the animals are still there for people to see. But, as would be expected, it has moved forward a long way and now has a far more ethical approach in documenting the natural world.

I t can get incredibly busy so unless you need to go there during school holidays or at peak times at weekends, these are probably best avoided. They could also do with dusting the blue whale!

The Hummingbird Bakery - review by foxie

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:50:36 +0000

The Hummingbird Bakery - review by foxie

Rating: 3.2

Location: 47 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3JP, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7584 0055

Website: http://www.hummingbirdbakery.com

Tags: american, delivery, bakery

For all you American expats missing your pumpkin pie, Red Velvet cake and honest to goodness brownies - look no further! Not only do they carry such delights, but their wares are extremely tasty and very authentic. I found them while looking for something unique for an office party and was a bit skeptical that their Red Velvet would stack up against what I used to get back home. Fortunately, one bite put any fears to rest and I can't wait to try more. Double plus - their delivery service, while not cheap, is very reliable. Highly recommended.

Bea's of Bloomsbury - review by foxie

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:44:54 +0000

Bea's of Bloomsbury - review by foxie

Rating: 4.5

Location: 44 Theobalds Road, WC1X 8NW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7242 8330

Website: www.beasofbloomsbury.com

Tags: rare finds, snazzy, hot drinks, patisserie

This is everything a good patisserie/cafe should be - fantastic desserts, lovely drinks (the hot chocolate is particularly good), kind shop assistants and a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere that is just right for a leisurely, sumptuous snack. A tip for curious foodies - if you sit at the back you can watch their bakers at work!

Viet - review by hollowlegs

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:36:21 +0000

Viet - review by hollowlegs

Rating: 3.4

Location: 34 Greek St, W1D 5DJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7494 9888

Tags: vietnamese, cheap eat

After some rather naughty Tuesday night binge drinking, we decided to come here at around 10pm for some food. I have to say, a big factor was that it was BYOB.

Furnishings are very basic and lighting is stark. We chose a red curry, a green curry and a beef pho for myself, with some summer rolls nad banh xeo on the side.

The summer rolls were gorgeous; really fresh tasting and crunchy, definitely reminiscent of (our non-existent) summer as the name suggests. The beef pho I had was excellent. Tender slices of pink beef with a big bundle of rice noodles sat in a a fragrant broth accompanied by a plate of lime wedges, beansprouts, chillis and herbs. It was immensely satisfying.

I have to agree with other reviewers; the service wasn't exactly 'with a smile'. When our mains came, they brought out two bowls of pho, 2 green curries and a red; the extra pho we hadn't ordered. When we told the waitress this, she looked at us doubtfully and didn't seem to believe us until one of our party said "can you tell us why we would order 5 mains plus starters for a table of 4?"

All in all, a great cheap eat and nothing fancy. It definitely beat the insipid pho I had at the Great Titchfield Street branch of the Pho chain.

Carnevale - review by blackpenwriter

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:16:42 +0000

Carnevale - review by blackpenwriter

Rating: 5.0

Location: 135 Whitecross St, EC1Y 8JL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7250 3452

Website: http://www.carnevalerestaurant.co.uk

Tags: vegetarian

I totally agree with the previous review. I'm a meat eater and proud, however this place has opened my eyes to the delights of vegan and vegetarian meals. The place itself is absolutely tiny, miniscule, couldn't swing a cat, but they still manage to crap in quite a few people without it feeling too cramped and the intimacy is still there. A bit like the tardis! The menu is huge and lots to choose from and even meat eaters will find lots they would like to sample. Service is really good too, you never have to wait long to be served. I really do like it here!

Cafe in the Crypt - review by Izabel_blue

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:38:42 +0000

Cafe in the Crypt - review by Izabel_blue

Rating: 4.6

Location: St Martin-in-the-Fields, WC2N 4JJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7839 4342

Website: http://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org

Tags: cosy, average brew, quiet & relaxed, quick bite

I've been going to the Cafe in the Crypt off and on for about 7 years now, and though I can't fault them for offering good-value dining in a busy area, it's not amazing. The food is very 'school dinners' and tastes of mass catering, and the hot food is always lukewarm.

That being said it's a quiet oasis away from the touristy din of Trafalgar square, and one of the few places in the area where you can get a decent, filling main meal with a glass of wine for under a tenner. The staff is friendly and there is a nice ambience due to the candles and stone walls. Just don't expect a culinary adventure, OK?

The British Museum - review by watermelon90

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:14:57 +0000

The British Museum - review by watermelon90

Rating: 4.1

Location: Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7636 1555

Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

The british museum is a winner, with so much to see, from the wonderful sculptures to the world famous and disputed elgin marbles, it is a great place to spend a day. You often see artists with their sketch books out which is charming. The eygptian galleries are incredible. In fact it made me wonder what is still left in eygpt, the huge carved marble and granite animals and statues are a must see.
The world famous rossetta stone is housed here too without it we would have not been able to understand hieroglyphs. The mummy section is interesting but not for youngsters really. There are sitting and eating areas where you can unwind for a while, but again, make sure you have comfy shoes as there is a lot to see.

Victoria & Albert Museum - review by watermelon90

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:03:50 +0000

Victoria & Albert Museum - review by watermelon90

Rating: 4.5

Location: Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7942 2000

Website: http://www.vam.ac.uk

The victoria and albert museum is another, of our fine museums and houses vast collections from all over the world, including ceramics, fashion, photographs, sculpture, textiles and paintings and much much more.
At the moment you can see the fashion verses sport exhibition and the story of the singing group, the supremes exhibition shows the outfits they wore. There is free entrance to the through the looking glass tunnel and a japanese calligraphy exhibition also with free entrance. You can eat on site either by taking your own packed lunch as we did, or in the onsite facilities. So much to see it is hard to pick a favorite, a quality museum.

Natural History Museum - review by watermelon90

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:42:41 +0000

Natural History Museum - review by watermelon90

Rating: 4.8

Location: Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7942 5000

Website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk

The natural history museum is worth a visit for the prospect of seeing the giant squid alone, but there are other things to excite you there too. This includes the life sized blue whale.
The best thing about it is the way it is all laid out, which makes it easier for you to wander about and see the things you are most interested in.
The dinosaurs are a must do, but there is so much more to see. Like learning about volcanoes and earth quakes. The visions of earth section is great, you get to travel through the earth on an escalator, look at a massive infinity set of screens showing the earth, its really well done.
It is free to get in and this makes it even better.

London Eye - review by watermelon90

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:57:18 +0000

London Eye - review by watermelon90

Rating: 4.2

Location: County Hall, SE1 7PB, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 0870 500 0600

Website: http://www.ba-londoneye.com

The london eye is set on the side of the thames, in westminster, right by the aquarium.
If you have a spare 30 mins then forget it, even though it only takes about that to go round once it takes much longer to get on in the first place.
The pods are see through and so you do get the best views from them, once you get used to the open feel of it all. They do pack you in though so do not think you will get a pod to your self coz you need to pay more for that.
Later in the day the sky will be wonderful and the softer light makes it easier for you to see without straining your eyes.
It is reasonable enough in terms of price and nice to say that you have been on and seen london from a different view point

The Lamb - review by mark56

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:10:02 +0000

The Lamb - review by mark56

Rating: 3.6

Location: 94 Lambs Conduit Street, WC1N 3LZ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7405 0713

Website: http://www.youngs.co.uk

The lamb is a traditional nineteenth century pub with a few tables out the front in the summer and a few in the yard at the back (is ideal for the smokers). Inside is cosy in the winter and not unpleasantly hot in the summer. Young's beer is served as well as a variety of European lagers. I've enjoyed many a pint of Young's Special in here.

It has a section of the bar with wood framing frosted glass from bar to ceiling where you don't get service; I particularly like the little six-inch opening windows that it has (I believe these may be called 'snob screens').

Theres only one bad point about this place in my opinion and that is that the toilets could do with an overhaul!

Coffee, Cake & Kink - review by messydesk

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:16:01 +0000

Coffee, Cake & Kink - review by messydesk

Rating: 3.3

Location: 61 Endell Street, WC2H 9AJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7419 2996

Website: http://www.coffeecakeandkink.com

Tags: lively, amazing brew, crowded

This odd little place near the Tottenham court Road end of Covent Garden had not yet closed down, despite the notice on the info part of this page. Apparently, (eavesdropping ago-go) their lease won't be continued after the current one lapses but the landlord doesn't seem in too much of a hurry to boot them out. Anyway Coffee, Cake and Kink is a fetish and S/M styled coffee shop, the upstairs has lots of books and other sex positive paraphernalia lining the walls with a few tables and chairs dotted here and there, it's really quite pleasant and has a good, relaxed vibe. The majority of the seating however is downstairs, which is a bit of a different story. You have to negotiate the most difficult and dangerous set of stairs I've ever come across, so much so that the staff won't let you carry your own food down with you. They've done their level best to make it bareable in the low-ceilinged, windowless basement but to my taste they've not succeeded. Apart from two sofas the seating is very uncomfortable and every table or footstool area is too close to the next, couple that with the claustrophobic, natural light free feel of the room and it becomes just too oppressive. They have different erotic art exhibitions decorating the walls but both of the times I've visited the quality has been extremely low favouring cheesy, fantasy-esque and entirely predictable styles when they could have gone in a more interesting path.
The coffee is really, really good in large cups but the cake is bad, dry and overpriced. The chocolate fondue is a great idea but in reality tastes of wax to the extent that it's inedible. It's a fun place to go, but avoid the food and stay upstairs.

Cafe in the Crypt - review by jan08

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:50:24 +0000

Cafe in the Crypt - review by jan08

Rating: 4.6

Location: St Martin-in-the-Fields, WC2N 4JJ, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7839 4342

Website: http://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org

Tags: cosy, proper food, good brew, crowded

Excellent location close to Trafalgar Square. I love the ambience of this place - a large cavernous, cool space underneath St Martins-in-the-Fields Church. The crypt has brick vaulted ceilings, big stone pillars and gravestones within the stone flooring.
The food is excellent and very good value. The service is canteen style so you need to queue and the choice is limited - but then you know that it is freshly cooked. Desserts are oftern old British favourites such as apple pie and custard! It is very popular and well known so can get overcrowded but if you can go there at a quiet time you will really enjoy it.

London Eye - review by Littlereddress

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:27:49 +0000

London Eye - review by Littlereddress

Rating: 4.2

Location: County Hall, SE1 7PB, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 0870 500 0600

Website: http://www.ba-londoneye.com

What a great way to see London. A relaxed half hour journey where you end up looking down on Big Ben, the houses of parliament and all the other sights. Even our little ones were fascinated watching the tiny trains going in and out of Charing Cross station and boats going up and down the river. They were initially scared of going so high, but 2 minutes in they were fine.

Make sure you book in advance, as you can end up waiting for a long time if it's a busy time. You can also save money booking in advance, and if you use your Tesco clubcard vouchers via their deals you'll save a fortune.

It is the one attraction in London that I would describe as a must see, and you get so much from it.

Guanabara - review by ben1982

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:02:40 +0000

Guanabara - review by ben1982

Rating: 3.7

Location: Parker Street, WC2B 5PW, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7242 8600

Website: http://www.guanabara.co.uk

Live drums, samba, capoeira and table football are all good things, as are the happy hour caipirinhas - some of the best in london (and significantly cheaper). Set in a modern block reminiscent of a conference centre though makes the atmosphere a little sterile, preventing what could be a winning formula.