London Local Customs

by scottishvisitor, 1 more photos
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The futures bright the futures
orange

London's Leicester Square is host to the British Academy Film & Television Awards. Our first day in London we saw the technicians setting up - covering the grassed square with walk boards. We arrived a bit too late to see very much the next evening - the crowds were huge! We did see the celebs arriving, although a bit dissapointing - I expected stretched limos but just private cars & taxis drove by. Not wanting to push in we wandered around & managed a snap of Ruby Wax - on a television monitor Ha Ha

by scottishvisitor
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Website: www.bafta


	Call Home from Here	Tip Rating:

on April 29, 2006

Red Telephone Boxes

Red Telephone boxes used to be a common site in the UK but have been replaced by grey British Telecom boxes, fortunately there are still some around. Old London has kept the most Red Boxes. Keep your eyes peeled they still do exist, Edinburgh still has some as does Pennan near Fraserburgh which has a rather famous one.

Website: bt.com


	Very English :-)	Tip Rating:

Updated By HORSCHECK

on March 23, 2005

by HORSCHECK
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English sink

There are a few things I find quite odd in England. Firstly, most sinks are equipped with two taps; one for cold and one for hot water. You find this system not only in old buildings but also in 4 starred hotels. Secondly, many English have carpet in their bath or toilet. This might be kind of cosy, but from a hygenic point of view it appears to be strange. Finally, most English walk around barefoot in both their home and a hotel room. Slippers seem to be widely unknown ....


	Kindness of the Londoners	Tip Rating:

Updated By deecat

on May 12, 2005

by deecat
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Jill & her "surrogate"
Mother in London

When my daughter Jill left home to live in London, Allan and I were quite worried. She was only 19 or 20 years old and by herself. I was so relieved when she became friends with a married couple (Bob and Gay Scruton) who took her "under wing" and watched out for her. When I came to visit, Jill and I went to visit them. They were such a wonderful couple. They did not have children of their own, unless you count the darling little white Scottie dog that they had! They served us dinner, and it was the only time in London that I ate my food with "glee" because it was so delicious. This couple, and all the other Londoners whom I came in contact with while there for a week, went out of their way to be kind, helpful, and courteous. I was so impressed. (I took this photo while visiting the couple who "kept an eye" on Jill while she was in London. This is Gay, and this is their lovely home.)


	Getting Your Hair Cut In London	Tip Rating:

Updated By deecat

on May 12, 2005

by deecat
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Dee's "Sassoon" Haircut

While in London, I decided to have my hair cut. First I went to a small place near the hotel. What a disaster! I was in tears. My daughter Jill suggested that I go to a famous place such as Sassoon's, which I did. Sassoon is known for its structural and asymmetrical cuts. They were alarmed when they saw the "butchery" that had happened. But, they came to my rescue, and the photo shows that they were able to "save the day". It was the beginning of my wearing my hair short with the ears showing. So, if you plan to have your hair cut, go to a well known place.


	The Union Jack Flag	Tip Rating:

By easyoar

on February 7, 2005

by easyoar
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The Union Jack Flag of
the United Kingdom

If you read my London Homepage, you will hopefully understand the difference between England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom! The Union Jack Flag (or to be more correct - The Union Flag) symbolises the joining of England, Scotland and Northern Island into one state. The flag is a mix of the three separate flags. Although Wales is included in Great Britain and the United Kingdom, its flag does not feature in the Union Jack - I guess a big red dragon on the flag would have made things just too complicated! Basically the three flags are: England: White flag with red cross of St George (lines are straight) Scotland: Blue flag with White diagonal cross of St Andrew Northern Ireland: White flag with red diagonal cross. If you look carefully at the flag you will se all of these incorporated. England being the dominant 'partner' has her cross unbroken, whereas the Scottish and Northern Ireland crosses which are kind of merged together anyway appear to be underneath it.


	The GLA - Egg or Spaceship??	Tip Rating:

Updated By Mariajoy

on January 3, 2006

by Mariajoy, 2 more photos
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Designed by one of the worlds foremost architects, Sir Norman Foster, City Hall is home to the London Assembly, the Greater London Authority and Ken Livingstone, Mayor of london. It's situated on Potters Field, just along the South Bank from the Tate Modern and just before Tower Bridge. Other interesting info: Tudor Rubbish Dump or "what they found during excavations for the GLA building"

Website: http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/city_hall/city-hall-panos/londons-living-room-ext.jsp


	Pigeons	Tip Rating:

Updated By ginte

on October 23, 2006

by ginte
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Trafalgar Square is famous not only as touristic spot, but it's also famous for its pigeons. The local authorities try to discourage people from feeding them as all the local buildings are covered with their droppings. I've read somewhere that Nelson’s Column itself has a staggering 1ton of droppings removed from it each year! :) But pigeons are still very popular among tourists :-) ALthought I can't say that I've seen so many of them if compare with Krakow's Main Market Square in Poland. If you are ever there, you'll think that most of the pigeons have moved there from London :D


	Melting for each other???Ice-cream dream.	Tip Rating:

Updated By irisbe

on July 2, 2004

by irisbe
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Ice and steel can be heart
melting

I just couldn't help it but the building seems to melt like real ice-cream! I found the communication between the plastic ice-cream balls of the car and the modern building leaning over really heart melting :-) They are both dreaming they are real ice-cream balls !


	The Knowledge	Tip Rating:

By easyoar

on February 10, 2005

by easyoar
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Lost "future taxi driver"

If you get in a licensed Taxi cab in London, you will be amazed at how well the driver (cabbie) knows his ay through the London Streets. He will probably know your destination too, without having to look at a map. This is not down to luck. Before a taxi driver qualifies to drive a London cab, he has to pass a rigorous test on his knowledge of Londons roads. This is called "the Knowledge". Apparently it takes years of learning before someone can pass as London is a large area with lots of streets and many closed off roads and one-way streets, and a cabbie needs to know how to pick his way through them to pass the test. The way mist drivers learn is to get on a small motorbike and just drive around. They are not unusual to see. This picture shows just such a person. Unfortunately he looked a little lost when I saw him, and I went up a footbridge to get a better picture of him!