Visit London Blog - Enjoy the very best of London
The Diamond Jubilee celebrations have already started in the West End, as 147 Union flags are now flying on Oxford Street.
The 12 foot (3.6 metre) tall flags can be seen along all 1.5 miles of the famous high street. They are the first of 500 flags that will be decorating the West End this summer.
Model and designer Jasmine Guinness launched the flags in Oxford Street this morning.
I love this video by two 16-year-old brothers, Tom and Joe, made around London this month. It offers a real snapshot of the city in December 2011: from the Occupy Movement at St Paul’s to the Christmas decorations on Oxford Street, these boys have made a fascinating portrait of one day in our city.
If, one day, they grow bored of the, let’s face it, incredible Lego Action Disaster movies they’re currently making, I’m sure they could move seamlessly into news reportage with the skills they’re showing with this video.
Check out more London videos on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/visitlondonvideo
A couple of weeks ago, Selfridges opened up its roof to celebrate the Truvia Voyage of Discovery art installation created by the wonderful Bombas & Parr.
On arrival at the rooftop, six floors above Oxford Street, we were greeted by the sight of an emerald green boating lake, complete with small waterfall. We were invited to row across the lake in small boats and were given special crystals to exchange for cocktails.
It was lovely to enjoy this rare view of the rooftops and another random thing to add to the list of surprising things I’ve done in London.
This was the first time since the second World War that the Selfridges’ roof was opened to the public. Before the 1940s, the roof top was a very popular place to visit. It had included a café and even a miniature golf course, but until this recent boating stunt, had been closed to the public.
Want to know more about the fantastic events Selfridges put on? Keep up to date with our Shopping News
Pop into St Christopher’s Place this weekend, and you’ll be lucky enough to see this fantastic floral shoe sculpture.
It’s a replica of the skyscraper heels that Lady Gaga bought from Lungta de Fancy, who have a boutique in St Christopher’s Place.
The shoe has been lowered into the square to mark the start of “The Season” – a week of special events in the gorgeous boutiquey shopping streets in the space behind Oxford Street. There’ll be new store launches, late night openings, special offers, makeovers, champagne and sweet treats for shoppers to enjoy.
Make sure you’re there: The Season runs from 27 May to 3 June
We love this festive video from London teacher James Michalos.
Michalos is a singing teacher at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Bored of hearing the same Christmas songs each year, he decided to write his own. The power of YouTube and facebook now means he’s one of the Top 10 contenders for the coveted Christmas No.1 slot!
This great little video takes in some top London attractions. See if you can spot Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, and Oxford Street, as well as great scenes shot on London buses and the Tube…
It’s set to be a frosty weekend, with the weather forecast predicting snow in London. So why not embrace the cold weather by hitting the ice, forget all about it with some retail therapy or make your own winter warmers at the Bust Craftacular.
Just a few minutes away from the bustle of Oxford Circus, the seafood restaurant Cape Town Fish Market offers a variety of seafood and sushi with a South African feel.
We marvelled at the live lobster tank as we walked in although I felt rather sorry for their inevitable outcome. However, a huge tank full of beautiful tropical fish also welcomes you into a unique and fun environment.
You can choose between eating at a table or at the moving sushi bar. The menu takes a while to choose from with its many choices, ranging from seafood favourites such as calamari to sea bass. The restaurant also offer steak, ribs and salads.
Cape Town Fish Market is well-known in its native land of South Africa and its popularity is growing in London. The décor is informal yet impressive.
We ordered seafood soup and fishcakes to start which were absolutely delicious. The salmon glazed in a ginger Teriyaki sauce and the prawns in an Asian sauce that followed left us very impressed with both the food and the service.
The location is ideal for people planning to see a show at the London Palladium which is next door or for a break from shopping in Carnaby Street and Oxford Street.
Cape Town Fish Market, Sutherland House, 5&6 Argyll Street, W1F 7TE
We love this cute, whimsical video made on Oxford Street in London.
And we’re not the only ones! Sign Language, directed by Oscar Sharp has won the 2010 Grand Prize in the Virgin Media Shorts competition. Congratulations, Oscar!
Check out more top Londony videos on our YouTube channel.
The venues on and around Oxford Street are difficult to find at the best of times. However there’s no problem with the 100 Club – its address is conveniently 100 Oxford Street.
The exterior of the club isn’t particularly appealing, a small dingy red shop front. What goes on inside is a lot more exciting. The open interior provides an ideal space for bands to showcase their talent. And with artists such as The Rolling Stones and The Sex Pistols having graced this stage, it’s no wonder it has become one of the most celebrated live music venues in Europe.
I went to see the dynamic trio, Jetson. These three guys (Rohan Unni, Scott Miller and Stu Lunn) all work hard in the city by day, but come together at night to share their passion for music. It’s hard to believe they only formed a year ago – already their sound is confident, with a certainty of style you’d expect from a more mature band. Jetson describe their music as “a collision of funk and folk”.
A spectacular drum solo from Miller began the set as they launched into a selection of songs, to be recorded later this summer. On the whole I preferred the more upbeat tunes, and they seemed to enjoy performing them more too. Follow me was my favourite. It begins with an infectious bass riff from the charismatic Lunn and continues with a driving force that is impossible to resist.
Jump on the Jetson bandwagon. Having already played The O2 in their first year who knows where they’ll be in a year’s time?
Listen to Jetson here.
As Visit London’s official dinosaur correspondent, I can announce that from today, there are Dinosaurs Unleashed on Oxford Street (just across the road from Selfridges!)
Last night, I was lucky enough to get a preview of what’s been brought from the Mesozoic to the 21st century.
There are 24 life-size dinosaurs, ranging from the small Velociraptors to the huge Diplodocus, taking in all the favourites such as Stegosaurus, Triceratops and, of course, T. rex.
They are arranged into three zones, one each for the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous as well as a virtual aquarium which uses CGI to bring the ancient seas to life.
The Jurassic area, the largest, is outside and has transformed part of central London into a primeval jungle. It isn’t hard to imagine the dinosaurs breaking down the walls and going shopping in Primark… Don’t forget to keep you eyes open for the Deinosuchus — that’s a giant crocodile — just before you leave the jungle and head into the aquarium.
It’s fascinating for dinosaur fans of any age. There’s more photos in the Visit London Flickr pool.
Dinosaurs Unleashed is open until 30 April 2010 at Parklife Oxford Street. You can book Dinosaurs Unleashed tickets here.
