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CoinopTODAY.com
These men have each pitched in with their thoughts to create a visitor guide to London’s ‘Six of the best’. Enjoy!
Visiting ATEI in January provides you with the most important three days in your business calendar, that’s true. But new opportunities shouldn’t be restricted to Earls Court. London is one of the most vibrant, exciting cities in the world, awash with the very best restaurants, theatres, pubs, clubs, museums, sporting events, places to visit and things to do.
Justin Burke: “My favourite restaurant is J Sheekey on St. Martins Court near Leicester Square. It’s the sister restaurant of the more famous Ivy but, for me, and a lot of other people not that impressed by celebrity, J Sheekey beats it hands down. I’ve always gone for the seafood pie and a glass of pink champagne. The best tip of all is book a seat at the bar. There are only 12 of them, but it’s far more exciting to be in the middle of all the action rather than tucked away.” Nearest Underground: J Sheekey (Leicester Square) Michael Green: “My wife and I have been going to Scalini’s, which is around the back of Harrods, for over 30 years. The tables aren’t always easy to get, but tell Valerio you’re a friend of Michael and Hilary Green and you should be okay. The food is unbelievable. I’ve never had a bad meal there, but if you want some guidance, try the bean and pasta soup along with a main course of veal, chicken or beef.” Nearest Underground: Scalini’s (South Kensington) John McKenzie: “Just off the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street is an ordinary doorway, walk through it and be propelled into Levant. It may be only a few flights of stairs, but Lebanese restaurant Levant is a million miles away from London. Whether you fancy a Mezze, Lamb or Vegetarian meal, Levant will entertain your taste buds while the belly dancer entertains your eyes. I’ve seen her do things I’ve never seen any other woman do!” Nearest Underground: Levant (Bond Street)
John Stergides: “The Bangkok on Bute Street was the first Thai Restaurant to open in London, in 1967, and I’ve been going there since 1971. I was introduced to it by Martin Bromley, the founder of Sega, and love it. It’s not a luxury location (there aren’t even tablecloths on the table) but the food is sensational.” Nearest Underground: The Bangkok (Gloucester Road) Terry Farr: “I’m a big fan of Hakkasan, off Tottenham Court Road, which is a lot more than a simple Chinese restaurant. It’s got a great atmosphere and great food but if you want something a bit more special, the Pont de la Tour at the Butler’s Wharf is simply one of my favourite places on Earth. Book one of the tables with views over Tower Bridge and the city and you’ll never forget it.” Nearest Undergrounds: Hakkasan (Tottenham Court Road), Pont de la Tour (Tower Hill). Pubs
Michael Green: “Visit the Cock & Lion on Wigmore Street, parallel to Oxford Street. There are usually three beers on at this pub, with one of them a guest pint – often brewed from a smaller, independent brewery. The Cock & Lion has proper pub food, the staff know what they're doing, how to pull a pint and will leave you in peace. Plus, for film buffs, much of The Long Good Friday, starring Bob Hoskins, was shot there.” Nearest Underground: Cock & Lion (Bond Street) John McKenzie: “The White Horse, just near Cambridge Circus is a great little pub right in middle of town. Just down the road from the ‘XXX’ end of Soho, this pub has a traditional interior, cheap drinks and a ban on music. If you’re looking for a quiet spot and a chance to put up your feet, the White Horse’s upstairs room might fit the bill.” Nearest Underground: The White Horse (Tottenham Court Road) John Stergides: “I’m not a pub-type person, but even I like The Black Horse in Rathbone Place. I’m more of a coffee man and heartily recommend Patisserie Valerie on Old Compton Street, Soho.” Nearest Undergrounds: The Black Horse (Tottenham Court Road), Patisserie Valerie (Leicester Square) Terry Farr: “Take a trip east to Docklands and visit The Gun pub. The Gun is a Grade II listed Riverside pub which dates back to the 18th Century and mixes real London personality with great food and drink and a superb view of the Millennium Dome.” Nearest Underground: The Gun (Blackwall – Docklands Light Railway) Gary Newman: “I’m going for The Greyhound in Kensington. This is a proper London pub where, despite being sited on Kensington Square, at 1685 the oldest square in London, it’s the mix of people that make the difference. The Greyhound has a great atmosphere, decent beer and is a superb place to meet and have a drink before going on.” Nearest Underground: The Greyhound (High Street Kensington)
Places To Visit
Michael Green: “I would strongly suggest visiting the London Eye. It’s the largest observation wheel in the world, stands on the south bank of the River Thames and is the only way to see London, morning, noon or night. The London Eye was originally only supposed to be around for five years but it proved so popular, authorities made it permanent. Eight years on, you can see why.” Nearest Underground: London Eye (Westminster) John McKenzie: “There are very few capital cities in the world where you can see exotic animals in their natural environments, but London is one. Lions, tigers, kangaroos, zebras, emus, penguins, jellyfish, bird-eating spiders, pythons, cobras and Komodo dragons, they’re all there. No, I’m not referring to ATEI, I mean London Zoo in Regent’s Park.” Nearest Underground: London Zoo (Camden Town) John Stergides: “Over the course of ATEI, the Science Museum hosts the ‘Game On’ exhibition which looks at the way new technologies have revolutionised the gaming world - from Space Invaders to Super Mario Brothers and beyond.” Nearest Underground: Science Museum (South Kensington) Terry Farr: “A visit to London is not complete without a trip to the cradle of modern democracy, The Houses of Parliament. Visiting the Houses instils in visitors a sense of absolute wonder and makes us Brits feel immensely proud. Debate can be attended every day, though overseas visitors and UK residents without tickets can queue but will only gain entrance to Prime Minister’s Question Time if there is space after ticket-holders.” Nearest Underground: The Houses of Parliament (Westminster)
Gary Newman: “I think while you’re in London, you’ve got to try and spend an evening in Covent Garden. There’s always something happening day or night, a mass of street entertainment, great places to eat, drink, shop and be entertained. You might also want to consider the Royal Albert Hall. Cirque du Soleil takes place during January while there are also daily tours of what is a fantastic building.” Nearest Undergrounds: Covent Garden (Covent Garden), Royal Albert Hall (South Kensington). Justin Burke: “I think a walk down King’s Road is a must-do for visitors to London. It’s one of the liveliest, most fashionable, coolest streets in the capital, if not Europe. Peter Jones department store dominates the Sloane Square end of the King’s Road but walk west and you’ll find a number of smaller, independent shops, and may even spot the odd celebrity.” Nearest Underground: King’s Road (Sloane Square)
Things To Do
John McKenzie: “Along with New York’s Broadway, the West End really does host some of the greatest shows on Earth. Where else can you be transported to Les Miserables’ 19th Century France, Eva Peron’s life story in Evita or Antony & Cleopatra’s Rome and Egypt?” Nearest Underground: West End (Tottenham Court Road). John Stergides: “Get a taste of the UK casino and gaming industry. Visit Palm Beach Casino in Berkeley Square, the Grosvenor Casino on Edgware Road and the Gala Casino on Tottenham Court Road will give you a fantastic cross section of the UK casino sector.” Nearest Undergrounds: Palm Beach Casino (Green Park), Grosvenor Casino (Edgeware Road), Gala Casino (Tottenham Court Road). Terry Farr: “Have a laugh. Go to a comedy show. The British love to laugh at themselves, and others. The Comedy Store in Leicester Square usually has the biggest names along with Jongleurs in Battersea.” Nearest Undergrounds: The Comedy Store (Picaddilly Circus), Jongleurs (Camden Town).
Gary Newman: “Go to an English football match. On 20th January, the Saturday before ATEI, you’ve got two London-based games to choose from, Arsenal v Manchester United and Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur, while the Saturday after, the 27th, is the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, the oldest cup competition in the world! Failing that, if you want to see what goes on behind the scenes at a top Premiership club, Chelsea have tours of their ground Stamford Bridge, every day.” Nearest Undergrounds: The Emirates Stadium – Arsenal (Arsenal), Craven Cottage – Fulham (Putney Bridge), Stamford Bridge – Chelsea (Fulham Broadway).
Justin Burke: “Sail along the Thames on the Bateaux River Cruise. Even though I’ve spent much of my life in London, I’ve done this a few times and it’s spectacular, especially at night where you can sip a cocktail, have dinner and enjoy some live music with the London skyline as your backdrop.” Nearest Underground: Bateaux River Cruise (Embankment). Michael Green: “It’s not strictly a London tip, but nonetheless, get to Earls Court early on Tuesday morning. The opening hours of ATEI, ICE and ICEi are not just for warming up, it’s an opportunity to sit down and talk before things get really hectic. It seems strange to me that anyone wouldn’t want to maximise the opportunities presented at the three most important days in the amusement sector calendar.” Nearest Underground: Earls Court (Earls Court). Insider’s Tips
Terry Farr: “If your evening has come to an end, there is nowhere open and you’re hungry. Take a trip to the 24-hour Brick Lane ‘Beigel Bake’ Bagel Shop, where you can sample delicious bagels with salt beef or smoked salmon and cream cheese – any time of the day or night.” Nearest Underground: Beigel Bake (Shoreditch) Gary Newman: “Book early. There’s so much to do in London, but there’s also so many people all looking to do it. Plan your visit to London before you arrive and you’ll have a stay here you’ll never forget.” Justin Burke: “You can sometimes get tickets for shows that are ‘sold out’ by turning up at the theatre 30 minutes to an hour before the box office opens in the morning, as some tickets are returned overnight.”
Michael Green: “Don’t be intimidated by the London Underground, it’s a superb, cost effective way to get around. A London Underground map in your pocket and a Zone 1-2 travelcard for one, three or seven days opens up a massive part of London for the adventurous tourist.” John McKenzie: “Don’t buy ‘discount tickets’ from people on the street. They’re often printed at home and restaurants will look at you strangely when you try and redeem them against your meal.”
2006-12-01 |
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First Look
A belly-full experience, in more ways than one, is the preposition at Levant
Book a table at the Pont de la Tour and you’ll never forget it
The Gun Pub at the Docklands offers a superb view of the Millennium Dome
Game On: London’s Science Museum is holding a videogame exhibition alongside ATEI
Dozens of world-renowned shows grace London’s West End stages
Tickets might be hard to come by, but attending an English football match is a once-in-a-lifetime experience
A stroll along the Thames, one of the capital’s best early morning jaunts
Don’t be scared of the London Underground, the easiest way to get around
Gary Newman
John Stergides
