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1. The Non Gambling Delights of the Hippodrome Casino

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 1st Oct 2013

   

    The Hippodrome in a French Renaissance style, faced in red Mansfield stone, occupying a prominent five storey block above Leicester Square Tube Station

   A couple of weeks ago I met up with Julie Chandler for lunch and asked her if we could visit the Hippodrome Casino, as I was covering it as one of my stops for a guided walk round Chinatown later that evening. Julie's initial reaction was "Good God going to a casino in the middle of the afternoon" however as soon as we walked through the doors she was as charmed as I was with its beautiful interior.  We approached the information desk to see if they could provide us with any tantalising snippets of information and were delighted when Aysha offered to take us on an impromptu free guided tour of the building from its exclusive high rollers room to its ladies toilets.

   The Hippodrome opened in 1900 and was built as a theatre which featured variety and circus acts. It  originally had installed a 100,000 gallon water tank where elephants and polar bears performed. It was designed by Frank Matcham who was the leading theatre architect of his day, whose best known theatre is the London Palladium. It was during this time a young Charlie Chaplin and the escape artist Harry Houdini performed here.

2. Grahame-White Watch Office - Exploring the RAF Museum London Part II

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 10th Sep 2013

   

    The original wooden cantilevered staircase - note the carved decoration on the newel post (the vertical post at the bottom of the banister)

   Last week I made a return visit to the RAF Museum London this time introducing its delights to my friends @ypldn, @franpickering and @kathrynsdaniels. During our visit we were shown around the Grahame-White Watch Office by one of the museum's volunteers.

   The office which was built in 1915 was part of the Grahame-White factory, the UK's first purpose-built aircraft factory. It was located at the time on the London Aerodrome in Hendon. During World War I the site was used by the military and after that by the RAF until it closed in 1987. Both the factory and Watch Office were later dismantled and re-constructed on its present site. A clip of “Brick By Brick: Rebuilding Our Past” a television documentary featuring Dan Cruickshank showing the restoration of the buildings can be seen here.

3. Ride Burlington Arcade's Magic Carpet

   Posted on 10:45pm Wednesday 28th Aug 2013

    

    Burlington Arcade from the Burlington Gardens entrance - Note on the right hand side the Beadle wearing a top hat

   One of the pleasures of visiting London is constantly discovering new unexpected things. This week Julie Chandler and I met up to visit the Richard Rogers Inside Out exhibition at the Royal Academy. We were directed at the ticket desk to walk through Burlington Arcade to get to the exhibition hall. As we're both Westminster Guides we're very familar with the Arcade but we were delighted to discover that a new carpet been fitted with a rather unique and interesting design.

4. Exploring the RAF Museum London

   Posted on 9:30am Sunday 4th Aug 2013

   

    Blériot XI in the Milestones of Flight Gallery - named after Louis Blériot, the first person to cross the English Channel in an aeroplane

   Although I have often travelled past it I had to admit that until recently I had never visited the RAF Museum in Hendon. The first thing that hit me when I arrived was the sheer scale of the place, it is massive housing over 100 aircraft housed within five galleries. The display is impressive and varied, there really is something for everyone and you don't need to be an enthusiast to spend a few enjoyable hours there.

5. Exploring the Delights of Ely House at "The Age of Elegance: Treasures from the 18th Century Town House" Exhibition

   Posted on 9:30am Tuesday 16th Jul 2013

   

   This is the final week for visiting The Age of Elegance: Treasures from the 18th Century Town House exhibition at Ely House in Mayfair. The elegant former palace of the Bishops of Ely was designed by the renowned architect Robert Taylor in 1770s and provides the perfect setting for the most exquisite display of fine paintings and furniture. The exhibition transport you back to the eighteen century in a series of rooms with its stunning display. All the pieces are for sale and come with a luxury price tag. Here are a few photos of the opulent rooms.

6. The Royal Mews: More than just Posh Stables

   Posted on 10:50am Wednesday 26th Jun 2013

   

   Mail Coach

   The Royal Mews provides road transport for The Queen and members of the Royal Family. It houses an impressive collection of historic carriages and motor vehicles. It is a busy, working stables which was very evident when I visited earlier this week with friends Yannick Pucci and Fran Pickering as one of the first things we saw was the departure of the daily messenger Brougham, the royal mail coach that has been collecting and delivering post between Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace since 1843.

7. Afternoon Tea at the Royal Horseguards with a peak at the Lobby of One Whitehall Place

   Posted on 11:51am Wednesday 22nd May 2013

    

   Royal Horseguards Afternoon Tea

   Yesterday a friend and I enjoyed afternoon tea at the Royal Horseguards Hotel. The hotel is located in a prestigious street close to Whitehall and faces out onto Victoria Embankment Gardens and the River Thames. The afternoon tea consisted of finger sandwiches with contemporary savoury bites and delicious cakes and pastries. We enjoyed a relaxing  three hour visit in beautiful surroundings and with consistantly excellent service.

8. St Pancras International Station In Lego

   Posted on 11:30pm Wednesday 15th May 2013

    St Pancras International Station in Lego

   At present there is a treat in store at Waterstones Piccadilly for anyone who loves Lego. To coincide with the publication of "Brick City: LEGO for Grown Ups" by Warren Elsmore there is an amazing miniature scale version of St Pancras International Station made from Lego bricks, complete with working clock. 

9. Little Venice, its Canalway Cavalcade, History & Architecture

   Posted on 9:30pm Sunday 5th May 2013

   

   It’s uncertain where the name "Little Venice" came from and even though you’re unlikely to see any gondolas, it’s a title that well suits this area with its attractive waterways.

   For most of the year Little Venice is one of the most charming and tranquil corners in London but on the first bank holiday weekend in May (Saturday 4th - Monday 6th May 2013) the area is transformed with the vibrant and colourful Canalway Cavalcade, a unique waterways festival. It is organised by the IWA (Inland Waterways Association). More information about the IWA can be found on their website here.

10. The Making of Harry Potter - Warner Bros. Studio Tour

    Posted on 8:00pm Tuesday 16th Apr 2013

    

     The Great Hall

    We enjoyed a visit to The Making of Harry Potter at the Warner Bros Studios, the week before the royal visit on Friday 26th April by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and J.R. Rowling, and here's a blog with just a few photos from our trip. The studios were acquired by Warner Bros. in 2000 and is where all eight Harry Potter films, based on the books by J. K. Rowling,were made. The studios are built on the site of a former aircraft factory.

    The tour starts with a film show before the doors open and lead you into the Great Hall. This is just as magnificant as you would expect it to be both in sheer scale and decoration.