London lovers!
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Talk of the Town newsletter.
This month we have so many reasons to celebrate, we don't know where to start… We’ve won a prestigious Luxury Travel Guide award, revamped our Royal tour and - by popular demand - are bringing back our Grim Tales and Christmas Unwrapped tours, just in time for Halloween and the festive season respectively.
Elsewhere we’re offering one lucky reader the chance to win a pair of tickets to a Talk of the Town tour of your choosing!
Keep reading for the full low-down and all that’s great about Talk of the Town London…
Our warmest regards, as always
David, John and Kaye
x
‘GRIM TALES’ HALLOWEEN WALKING TOURS NOW ON SALE
Whether you want a good scare or just to enjoy some Halloween fun, our Grim Tales tour has you covered!
Take a walk down London’s dark, unsavoury past and find yourself immersed in a gory, haunting history, where imprints of spirits and serial killers linger to this day. Wander down old Victorian cobblestone streets, searching for clues to Jack the Ripper’s identity. Learn about executions, haunted castles, plague pits and insane asylums as London lures you down into her seedy underbelly. Strong constitution advised.
Grim Tales tours will run on Sun 30 October at 5pm and Monday 31 October at 7pm.
Secure your spot here: http://www.talkofthetownlondon.com/our-tours
WE’RE AWARD WINNERS!
We’re popping the champagne here at Talk of the Town towers, after winning an award in Luxury Travel Guide's European Holiday & Tour Specialist Awards!
We're delighted to be named Historic Tour Operator of the Year 2017.(www.corporatelivewire.com/luxury/de-awards.html?award=6)
BUT... We really couldn’t have done it without you, so a massive thank you from the Talk of the Town team for all your support - hugely appreciate and never taken for granted.
SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH TALK OF THE TOWN
You know it makes frankincense…
Is your company still searching for a fun, festive experience? Then look no further than Talk of the Town for a Christmas party with a twist! Allow us to make Christmas 2016 a joyful experience that you and your colleagues will never forget: inspired by tradition but full of the fun and spirit of the moment.
Our compelling tours (www.talkofthetownlondon.com/our-tours/) provide an engaging and immersive experience, that won't blow the budget but will blow your mind!
For more information, please contact kaye@talkofthetownlondon.com
DECK THE HALLS… ’TIS THE SEASON
The weather outside maybe frightful and the fire inside delightful, but our Christmas Unwrapped tour is with venturing out for this Yuletide!
Join our charismatic guides on a jolly jaunt through the wonderful Winter-land of London. Expect complimentary mulled wine, a spot of carol singing, and of course, lots of lovely Christmas stories, in true Talk of the Town fashion. From anecdotes about Crimbo during the Blitz to tales of the city’s festive traditions and yarns about Charles Dickens, our 90 minute tour is guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit.
Whether you’re after an alternative to the annual office Christmas party or looking for something different to do with the family this festive season, Christmas Unwrapped has you covered.
Christmas Unwrapped tours will run on Thurs 22 and Fri 23 December at 7pm.
Join us: http://www.talkofthetownlondon.com/our-tours
THE PERFECT GIFT
Unsure what gift to get your friends and family for that special occasion? Step forward Talk of the Town tour vouchers, which allow you to spread the joy without the stress.
Treat your loved ones to an unforgettable London experience of ghastly ghouls (Grim Tales), opulent occasions (High Society), all the major blockbusters (Royal London) or seasonal specials (Christmas Unwrapped) and (Lovers in London). And if - like the Talk of the Town team - you leave present buying to the last minute, put the panic on hold. You can shop online at www.talkofthetownlondon.com, 24/7. One word: result.
A LITTLE LIGHT READING
We're pretty proud of our TripAdvisor reviews. Why not have a read? www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186338-d6778190-Reviews-Talk_of_the_Town_London-London_England.html
While you’re at it, learn why you MUST come to London here: www.justabouttravel.net/2016/08/19/of-course-you-must-come-to-london/
WIN WIN WIN
Here at Talk of the Town HQ, we’re full of the joys of autumn. With this in mind, we’re offering you the chance to win x2 tickets - one for you and one for a guest - for a Talk of the Town tour of your choosing! Are we good to you guys or what…
To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to is tweet us (@tottLondon) or post on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/talkofthetownlondon) your favourite #London pictures. Competition closes at midnight on 21 October. Good luck!
PRIVATE TOURS
Can’t make our group tour dates? Get some friends together to do it privately! We can also craft customised itineraries to suit your personality (tell us what you like and we’ll tell you what you will love...), pocket and time frame. Simply drop us a little line at info@talkofthetownlondon with your comments and questions.
LAST WORD
“Incredible local tours lead by John, a fun and enthusiastic guide. Our High Society tour was perfect for those who don't want a 'typical tourist experience' but are looking for a unique journey coupled with an eye-opening history about London's High Society. John had an endless amount of energy about the subject matter and gave us personal attention and an authentic experience. Highly recommended.”
Joe Gonzalez, Italy, September 2016
Follow us on Twitter (@tottLondon) and like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/talkofthetownlondon) and we’ll keep you in the loop re all the latest London news…
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London is open and it is staying that way, writes Kaye Holland
Since, as a digital nomad, I spend so much time living and working broad, people often asked which is my favourite summer city.
My answer is always the same: London. Usually I’ll be greeted by a look of surprise or else someone will stutter “But you’re always leaving” (it’s true London and I can’t be together for long) but I’m not lying.
In London there’s always something to do. You have everything you want in terms of activity and accessibility. Every week a new (independent, natch) bar or restaurant is opening and I love the constant buzz.
The capital also offers a cornucopia of world class carnivals, museums, theatres and art galleries, plus gorgeous gardens and parks (30 percent of the capital is given over to green space so wherever you find yourself in the city, a leafy retreat isn’t far away) so it’s nigh on impossible to get bored.
My country dwelling family and friends counter that the capital gets crowded and can be costly (they’re correct – you’ll fork to £3 for a filter coffee and we won’t even mention the appalling London rents and extortionate house prices) but I’d argue that it gives you something you can’t put a price on: energy.
My East Anglia based cousins also claim that London is a lonely place to live, but I’ve never understood that argument. Next time you’re in town, look around: you’ll find that you’re surrounded by Londoners aka some of the most interesting, outgoing and open people in the country.
I’m biased, of course, but in my mind Londoners are arguably the most fascinating people on the planet. They’re people who want to participate in life, with many having come to London to escape their humdrum hometowns. As Elvis Costello’s hit 1984 song, London’s Brilliant Parade, goes:
“Just look at me
I’m having the time of my life
Or something quite like it
When I’m walking out and about
In London’s brilliant parade”
Case in point? Every morning I’ll say hello to the Jamaican barber opposite my front door, while waving to the Vietnamese shop owners up the road before being ushered onto the Metropolitan line platform by TFL staff from Sri Lanka – and beginning my commute into central London.
In short, on any given day, I can learn a little about their cultures– not exactly something you can do in a homogenous suburb in Middle England. Very few places on the planet open its arms to so many, as demonstrated by the London referendum results. (Voters in the capital backed the Remain campaign which triumphed in 28 boroughs to Leave’s five).
We have it all.
Decided to visit? You could stay in a chain hotel, shop on Oxford Street and eat out in Covent Garden but here are a few tips to help you experience London like a Londoner…
Walk this way
Walking is the best way to explore central London – everywhere has something of interest. Websites like Walk London also exist so that visitors and Londoners alike can opt to take a scenic walk to their destination rather than jumping on the tube. Or join a Talk of the Town walking tour – which can be scheduled to suit different palates, pockets, schedules and group sizes– and get to grips with the colourful, cosmopolitan capital by interacting with locals whose life is spent living the city.
That said do take the tube at least once while in town – it’s fast, efficient (much more so than driving) and used by locals every single day.
Plan ahead
It may be possible to bag tickets to a big gig only a few days beforehand in Buenos Aires and other cities, but not so in London. Translation? If you want to see Sheridan Smith in Funny Girl at The Savoy Theatre, you’ll need to book well in advance. Likewise if you’re looking to eat at The Palomar or drink cocktails at Cahoots (two London hotspots), you’ll need to make a reservation at least a month beforehand. Make no mistake: planning is key to a successful stay in London.
Don’t get stuck in Leicester Square
Don’t waste a minute of your time in Europe’s most exciting metropolis, lost in Leicester Square or chowing down in the chain gang (here’s looking at you Pizza Express, Wagamama etc ). Not when ‘real’ London is ready and waiting to be discovered. Head to a local neighbourhood – be it Brixton, Dalston, Tooting or Harrow and see how, and where, everyday Londoners live.
Think outside the box
A football fan? Don’t just tour Wembley stadium – nab tickets to an actual match. If you can’t score tickets to Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal et al, try Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace or my team Watford. Tickets are cheaper but the passion is just as prevalent. Craving a curry? Leave Brick Lane to first time visitors and eat out in Ealing – you’ll feel even more like a local.
Ticked off the centuries old Tower of London? Wander east of the castle to Wilton’s Music Hall – one of London’s earliest and most loved music halls, that’s recently completed a £2.5 million renovation while losing none of its rustic charm. Stop in for a swing dance class, history tour, theatre performance or perhaps just a drink.
If you follow the above advice, you’ll get to live life like a Londoner. Before long you’ll realise that this is the greatest city in the world and find a way to move here. We’re waiting for you with arms wide open…
Kaye is the co-founder of Talk of the Town London (a company specialising in entertaining tours of the capital). For the full low-down on Talk of the Town’s tours – which can be scheduled to suit different palettes, pockets, schedules and group size – click here
Words and pictures: Kaye Holland
Book a 'High Society' walking tour with Talk of the Town London over the Easter bank holiday and you could WIN a copy of LONDON: A CITY IN PICTURES (RRP £9.99), a gorgeous new visual guide to the world's greatest city!
Don't wait. Book now: there's no time like the present :-)
Dear London lovers,
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Talk of the Town newsletter!
Our popular Lovers in London tour is back just in time for Valentine’s Day. What’s more, we’re offering one lucky reader the chance to win a pair of tickets to a Lovers in London tour on a date of your choosing! Elsewhere, we reveal our plans for Easter and let you in on how you can make Mother’s Day extra special this year…
Keep reading for the full lowdown and all that’s great about Talk of the Town London!
Our warmest regards, as always
David, John, Kaye & Steph
‘LOVERS IN LONDON’ WALKING TOURS NOW ON SALE
Do something a little different this Valentine’s Day and discover the capital’s romantic side with the Talk of the Town team on our popular Lovers in London walk.
New York may be the city to search for love, Paris the city of romance, but London: London is the city for lovers! From secret assignations to amorous rendezvous, London has a long history of accommodating those in love.
Join Talk of the Town to discover the truth about Elizabeth I (the famous Virgin Queen) and Lord Dudley, get a behind-the-scenes look at Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor’s steamy love affair,and listen to anecdotes about star-crossed lovers who found their solace in the London streets.
Lovers in London will walk you through plenty of romantic history in Talk of the Town’s usual tongue-in-cheek way-and being a lover OF London is the only requirement necessary! See you in February…
Lovers In London tours will run on Sat 13 and Sun 14 Feb at 3pm and 6pm. Find out more at www.talkofthetownlondon.com/our-tours
MAKE MOTHER’S DAY
Sunday 6 March is Mother’s Day. Show your Mother how much you care, by treating her to a special High Society tour at 3pm! Discover the stomping ground of 18th century bachelors, peek into the windows of exclusive private gentlemen’s clubs and accompany blushing débutantes to their first high society ball. This Mayfair based tour also reveals the intrigues and behind-the-scene politics that dominated this distinctive social class and includes an optional afternoon tea at one of London’s most charming venues.
Even better? All Mums qualify for half-price admission on their special day, making tickets a bargainous £7.50!
HOW TO HAVE AN EGGCELLENT EASTER
Hot cross buns, chocolate bunnies and mini eggs adorn the avenues and aisles of the supermarkets and, with Easter just a few weeks away, the lure of said sweet treats may be too much to bear. But panic not! Easter doesn’t have to mean weight gain… Burn off those calorific goodies by joining us on a jolly jaunt through elegant Mayfair on Easter Saturday (26 March) at 3pm and Easter Monday (28 March) at 3pm, to see London through the eyes of the elite. So what are you waiting for? Limit the damage to your waistline by booking your place on one of our Easter weekend High Society tours now…
FAO David: please add to website and include link here
THE PERFECT GIFT
Unsure what gift to get your friends and family this Easter? Enter Talk of the Town tour vouchers! Treat your loved ones to an unforgettable London experience of ghastly ghouls (Grim Tales tour), opulent occasions (High Society tour) or all the major blockbusters (London 101 tour). And if - like the Talk of the Town team - you leave present buying to the last minute, put the panic on hold. You can shop online at www.talkofthetownlondon.com, 24/7.
CELEBRATE SPRING WITH OUR GREAT GIVEAWAY
Here at Talk of the Town towers, we’re full of the joys of spring. With this in mind, we’re offering you the chance to win x2 tickets - one for you and one for a guest - for a Talk of the Town ‘Lovers in London’ tour on the following dates:
Saturday 13 February at 3pm or 6pm
Sunday 14 February at 3pm or6pm
To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to is tweetus (@tottLondon) or post on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/talkofthetownlondon) your favourite #London pictures! Competition closes at midnight on Sunday 7 February. Good luck!
PRIVATE TOURS
Prefer to get to grips with London at your own pace? No problem! As well as our core group tours, we offer private tours - great for families, friends, hen and stag weekends... We can also craft customised itineraries to suit your personality (tell us what you like and we’ll tell you what you will love...), pocket and time frame. Simply drop us a little line at info@talkofthetownlondon with your comments and questions.
WHAT THE PRESS ARE SAYING
“History of London’s dark underbelly has never been so entertaining.”
Business Day
“From the moment John Bosco clutching his signature umbrella, began his very eloquent and dramatic exposé we knew we were in for a treat.”
The Cultural Voyager
“Offering something to suit all tastes, Talk of the Town invites visitors to make the most of their trip to Europe’s most exciting metropolis – ‘real’London is just waiting to be discovered.”
Group Travel
Let’s face facts: London is best seen on foot. On a Talk of the Town tour, you’ll get up close and personal with London landmarks rather than stare at them through a window, onboard a bus.”
Just About Travel
LAST WORD
“Living in London is like winning the lottery every single day”
Talk of the Town London
Follow us on Twitter (@tottLondon) and like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/talkofthetownlondon) and we’ll keep you in the loop re all the latest London news…