• Added: 30th of August 2008
• Area: Soho
• Category: Restaurants

London W1F 7JY
020 7434 1650

ClaireN said
Book in advance for a great Korean experience
Three of us turned up on at 8.30 pm on a Friday night without having booked and were sent away to wait for 40 mins. The moral of the story? Book, because even the 40 minute wait was well worth it!
Once past the harassed front desk girl (the place was packed, with constant phone calls) we were seated in the basement by a very friendly waiter. We had wanted a traditional BBQ, where the cook comes to the table and prepares the food in front of you, but due to fire regulations in the basement it wasn't possible. Never mind, our waiter helped us through the menu to pick out a delicious selection for a Korean feast.
The ambience was definitely young, with the start of the weekend being vigorously welcomed in. We'll definitely be back, but next time with an advance booking!

• Added: 30th of August 2008
• Area: Knightsbridge
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London W1K 2RX
020 7499 1843

ClaireN said
Nice pub but nothing special
I ate here with a group of colleagues in January 2008. Being a bit early I settled in with a pint in the downstairs bar which was lively and full of young workers. All very pleasant, until the rest of our colleagues arrived and we were sent upstairs to the dining room. This was a dark and formal looking room, and worst of all it was completely empty apart from our group.
The food was perfectly OK, if only bog-standard London pub grub fare, and somewhat overpriced. The Polish waitress was delightfully friendly, but she still hadn't grasped the norms of English pub food, so ordering was somewhat painful and long. Her good natured manner helped off-set the wait though, as did the Bombardier on tap.
I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, to be honest, but if I did find myself in the area again I'd try to get a seat to eat downstairs, where people seemed to be having fun.

• Added: 30th of August 2008
• Area: Holborn
• Category: Bars and Pubs

London WC1A 1RH
020 7836 9121

ClaireN said
Bit difficult to find, but worth the effort
I went here with a group of colleagues on the suggestion of one who'd got a good recommendation from a friend. The recommendation was a good one, but we had a terrible time trying to find the place. It may have changed in the last six months, but there was no sign outside when we went, and after walking past three times, we identified it only through a process of elimination.
The inside was small but intimate. Upstairs was closed when we were there, so we all squashed in at the bar.
The menu was full of salads with tapas type sides to chose from. Depending on the number and choice of sides the prices varied from £7 to £9, which I thought was pretty reasonable for the centre of London. They were certainly enough for a main course and despite the crush we all had a thoroughly nice time.

• Added: 30th of August 2008
• Area: West Brompton
• Category: Restaurants

London SW5 9RQ
020 7373 0220

ClaireN said
Bright and Cheerful
The welcome we received as we stepped through the door was a good indication of what was to come. Friendly and cheerful whites and waitresses seated us quickly and efficiently. Suggestions for what to order off the enormous menu were given with panache while listening to what we said we liked and disliked.
The drinks were delivered to the table promptly and without any fuss. The food as well didn't leave us waiting around. It arrived quickly, and was served in good sized quantities laid out attractively on the dish.
The clientele was a lively mix of families and groups of friends. Everyone seemed to be having a great time - I know we certainly did.

• Added: 30th of August 2008
• Area: London
• Category: Sightseeing and Attractions

London NW6 4LW

ClaireN said
Discover London the slow way
London Walks offer daytime and evening walks around pretty much any part of London someone would want to visit. In a big or small group (depending on how many people turn up on the day) follow your guide as s/he walks you from well known landmark to hidden alley, all the while telling the history of the places you are walking through.
Particular fun are the pub walks, where you can buy a pint of beer with your social history lesson. An upmarket pub crawl will take you through four or five particularly local pubs as you find out about the area. Fun to go on with your spouse, or in a group of friends, they are also a marvellous way to pass an evening if you find yourself alone in London.
Another benefit for out of town-ers is a chance to join the dots of the tube station locations, as the walks typically start at one and end at another.
Not to be missed on your next trip to London!

• Added: 30th of August 2008
• Area: Tower Hill
• Category: Sightseeing and Attractions

London EC3N 4AB
020 7709 0765

ClaireN said
Fun for the adults as well!
Decided to use a spare afternoon to visit the Tower of London and was not disappointed. The free map was more then adequate to get us around once we were in, and the exhibits were well laid out, for adults as well as children.
The visit to see the crown jewels was very well organised, with a series of rooms leading you through some of the history with films to explain the background of then. I expected to feel rushed through, or for it to be so crowded that you can't move, but it was actually a rather leisurely stroll. Maybe we got lucky, but although the whole site seemed busy, there weren't the hordes in the jewel room that I'd anticipated. To go past the jewels themselves you stand on moving walkways but they have been calibrated to go at a reasonable speed, so there's plenty of tie to see everything.
The stories of the various prisoners held at the Tower at one time or another were also another highlight of the visit. Individual stories told clearly, with context explained brought the helplessness that they must have felt vividly to life.
A really fun visit, even if you don't have children.

• Added: 30th of August 2008
• Area: Lambeth
• Category: Sightseeing and Attractions

London SE1 7PB
0870 500 0600

ClaireN said
Expensive, but worth splashing out
I've been on the Eye twice now, with a few years in between, and enjoyed both rides (sorry, flights) immensely.
Let's start with the negatives. Firstly, it's expensive. For an individual it's pricey but ok. Pay up for a whole family and it will have you clutching your wallet more closely than usual. Especially if you don't want to wait and decide to go "fast track". Because that's the second negative. It's always jam packed. The queue for tickets is only the beginning, because the queue for the ride is as long again (actually longer, because there you are joined by all the wise people who called, booked through their hotel or over the internet in advance).
But once you get to the head of the queue - well, you have to go and see for yourself. Really magnificent.
The last ride I took on it was a Champagne Flight and if you have something, anything, to celebrate it's worth the extra money for the pleasure of on almost empty pod and a couple of glasses of bubbly as you float above London.

• Added: 30th of August 2008
• Area: West Brompton
• Category: Hotels and Travel

London SW5 0EW
020 7373 7851

ClaireN said
Not the best, but value for money for London
This hotel is not outstanding, however it is a good price, clean (if rather well worn) and extremely well situated, especially for Earl's Court. When I stayed I was in a large twin room with views out over roof-tops (not over the garden). It was quiet and perfectly adequate for our needs (cheap hotel near Earl's Court and Olympia).

The staff were friendly and there was plenty for breakfast (even if it did showcase the more stereotypical view of English food). You are right next to Earl's Court so on my upcoming trip to London for a show at Earl's Court I have chosen to stay there again. The price and location are difficult to beat.

The bottom line however is that compared to other cities it is only an adequate hotel. Unfortunately, for London this is already above average for this price point. If you want a more generally central hotel I would rather recommend the Cherry Court Hotel instead, but that has its own draw backs (miniscule rooms, no privacy between room mates).

• Added: 30th of August 2008
• Area: Brompton
• Category: Hotels and Travel

London SW1V 1QJ
020 7828 2840

ClaireN said
Clean, Friendly, Convenient
We've just got back from a stay at Cherry Court, and it's been one of the best stays in London we've had outside business-class (4/5 star) hotels. If I come to London alone I normally stay in a YHA hostel. However, when I’m in town with my husband, we’d like a private room, but don’t want to pay business-class hotel prices. London has a surfeit of small hotels but it can be a real challenge finding one that offers a good price-to-quality ratio in a part of town handy for travel links and tourist sites. Cherry Court’s rooms are small, as are the bathrooms; however they are clean and tidy and well laid-out to give the maximum space for suitcases, etc. The price is excellent considering the conditions of the rooms and shared spaces in the hotel. Free internet access next to reception was a nice bonus.

We slept in a triple on the ground floor for one night, then in a double on the first floor for two nights. Both rooms were at the front of the hotel, overlooking the road. Despite this we were not overly bothered by noise, either from inside or outside the hotel. In addition, the owners are very friendly and helpful and obviously take pride in their hotel.

A fruit basket is provided in each room for breakfast (although they serve equally well for snacks during the day out around the town) and tea and coffee making facilities are also available. There are pubs and cafes around the hotel where you can get a cooked breakfast if you prefer.

If you are looking for a decent hotel for a good price in an excellent location, then you should seriously consider the Cherry Court Hotel for your stay in London. It is definitely now my first choice hotel when staying in London.

• Added: 30th of August 2008
• Area: Toulouse
• Category: Restaurants

Toulouse
05 61 62 81 13

ClaireN said
Unpretentious, delightful
Don't be put off by the entrance which is almost in disguise! Hidden behind the deserted sports bar, piles of homemade jam and an overgrown courtyard is a glorious old barn where the most delicious meals are served up. A big open fire at one end of the room adds a delightful warmth during the winter months.
The atmosphere, as the food, is old fashioned and traditionally French. The chef's radio in the kitchen provides background music and front of house is assured by a single hostess-cum-waitress in a friendly and efficient manner.
The menu is not very long, but consists of old favourites like duck confit and lamb chops. The pièce de résistance however is the 5 meat cassoulet. A dish for the winter months, and it needs to be booked in advance, but well worth the effort. A collosal plate of beans is brought out and kept hot with coals from the fire. A selection of mouth watering meats is then brought to the table and you are invited to feast! It's not a dish for those with small appetites, but worth missing lunch for.