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Saturday 21st August 2010
Went to see the very funny Jeff Goldblum at the Vaudeville Theatre in The Prisoner of Second Avenue. Very entertaining!
I posted to flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pizzagirl/4916355117/in/pool-473288@N25
jainaj has added a photo to the pool:
Saturday 21st August 2010
Went to see the very funny Jeff Goldblum at the Vaudeville Theatre in The Prisoner of Second Avenue. Very entertaining!
August 22 2010, 12:30pm | Comments »
I posted to theatrebreaksmag.co.uk
http://theatrebreaksmag.co.uk/west-end-breaks/
West End Breaks – a great way to see London West End breaks are a great way to really get to know the glitziest area of London. Staying in the West End for a few days gives you a chance to see the capital and really get familiar with one small part of the metropolis. London can seem a bit overwhelming when you have to whiz about on the tube. Staying in one area where everything is within walking distance really helps you to connect with the city and start to feel comfortable with it. Things to do in the West End See a show, or even two. West End breaks - The Mousetrap The West End has some of the best shows and theatres in the world. Everything from the quintessentially English Mousetrap to the Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof can be found within a few minutes walk. If you are booking a West End break to see one show why not try fitting in a matinee of another as well? You can get half price tickets for many matinees actually on the day at the Official Ticket Booth on Leicester Square. Do not be seduced by deals at the other so called discount booths as these are often overpriced once you add in booking fees etc. If you do not feel like another show you could even check out the latest films in Leicester Square. If you are lucky you might happen on some stars attending the latest world premier! Shop till you drop Shopping during a West End break is easy and fun. You are within walking distance of Covent Garden where ther’s a wonderful selection of interesting little shops, the Apple Market (which is full of crafts and antiques) and The Jubilee which is a fascinating market. On Mondays, Antiques; from Tuesday-Friday clothing and household goods, and on Saturday and Sunday arts and crafts. Venture a little further and you find one of the biggest shopping centres in Europe in Oxford St, Bond St and Piccadilly Circus. There you will find all the high end fashion and major shops you might want. Where the West End really scores though is with little unique shops in Seven Dials and Carnaby St which will intrigue and tempt you in to look at and buy things you didn’t even know you needed. Eat the world Food on a West End break is very easy to organise. You might want to book your pre-theatre dinner when you book your break. Most companies offer good deals on early dinners and restuarants are used to making sure you have had your meal with plenty of time to spare for what is usually a short walk to the theatre. It is so much more relaxing than trailing across London after you’ve eaten and worrying about getting to the show on time. The West End has lots of restaurants and they are always changing. You can eat in just about any style you fancy from Classic French to Japanese and just about everything in between. In Covent Garden you can even get a real Cornish pastie and a pint of genuine Cornish beer if that is what you fancy. Check the menu boards outside if you are worried about the prices but most places are fairly reasonable. London’s reputation for being expensive really is not deserved and prices compare very favourably with tourist traps like the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. For real food bargains head for Soho and explore China Town. It is just a short walk but a world away. West End breaks are a great way to get to know London and I hope this little introduction will help you to see that London is definitely worth getting to know.
December 8 2009, 12:33pm | Comments »
I posted to theatrebreaksmag.co.uk
http://theatrebreaksmag.co.uk/theatre-breaks-10-things-you-wan-to-know/
Theatre Breaks FAQ Theatre Breaks Magazine is all about doing the research for you. I recently did a series of posts on the most frequently asked questions about theatre breaks. Here’s a quick summary of the Top 10 most frequently asked questions and the answers. You’ll find more details in the individual FAQ posts. Theatre Breaks Frequently Asked Questions 1. Is it safe to book online? Yes, the big online theatre breaks agencies are very reputable and are all set up to provide you with a safe, secure way of getting the theatre break you want. 2. How do I get my tickets? Theatre breaks agency vary, some send your tickets by post, others leave them at the Box Office for you to collect. If they are left at the box office it usually opens about 1 hour before the show. You need to collect your tickets at least 30 mins before the performance starts. 3. What time should we arrive at the theatre? You need to be sure to arrive at the theatre at least half an hour (30 mins) before the performance starts. There is a bar in most theatres and some even let you take drinks in to the theatre these days. Once you are in take a trip to the loo, queues during the interval can be long, especially for the Ladies! 4. Do we need to dress up? Not unless you want to! There is no strict dress code for any of the theatres in London. Smart/Casual is usually fine, some people may even be wearing jeans. Lots of people find they like to dress up, makes it more of an occasion. Do wear something comfortable and not too hot. The theatres are warm places even in winter. 5. What if I can’t use my theatre break or I need to change the date? Theatre breaks and tickets are usually sold on a no refund, no exchange basis. You can often arrange to transfer them to someone else or, very occasionally, the agency might buy them back from you. They are very unlikely to let you change the dates. If you are really stuck try phoning the agency. Remember if you have general travel insurance you might be at least partially covered, so check. 6. What if I’m late arriving at the theatre? Or the hotel? Unless you are very lucky if you’re late you will be asked to wait, possibly even until the interval! Don’t be late! Be there 30 mins before the performance. If you are delayed arriving at the hotel, your room is booked but it’s best to let them know to expect you to check in later. Make sure you have the hotel phone number with you and give them a ring. 7. How many nights in the hotel can I book? You specify the number of nights and the day you would like to see the show when you book. Often there’s a good deal on an extra night or two. You can’t usually book more than 4 or 5 nights. 8. Will I get good seats? This rather depends on the agency you choose. Most theatre break agencies tell you in advance what level of seats you can expect. Some will be very specific and give seat numbers, others just specify ‘top price tickets’ (stalls or dress circle). Watch out for very cheap theatre break deals that don’t specify your seats. You could end up with a restricted view! 9 What about parking? If the hotel offers parking it is always mentioned in the description. Often it will mean an extra charge, usually between £15 and £20. Don’t forget about Congestion Charging. This applies between 7.00am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday and is £8 per day. Worth mentioning that many of the theatre breaks agencies offer discounted rail tickets to include in your package and these are often a better idea than taking the car into central London. 10. Can I take the family? Short answer Yes, but children must be at least 5 and you might struggle to find family friendly packages suitable for under 10s. Longer Answer They need to be able to sit in their own seat and pay attention. There’s usually a disclaimer at the theatre which says something like: Admittance to the auditorium shall always be at the discretion of the management.
This translates as – if they misbehave and/or disturb people, you’re out and you’ve no chance of a refund. Some theatre break packages do not cater for family groups at all and many only book either double or twin rooms. You’ll need to shop around but it can be done! Your Questions About Theatre Breaks Do you have any questions about theatre breaks? Just leave them in the comments here and I’ll do my best to find the answers so that you can book your theatre break with confidence.
November 8 2009, 12:00pm | Comments »
I posted to theatrebreaksmag.co.uk
http://theatrebreaksmag.co.uk/west-end-guide-theatres-summer-2009/
Your West End Guide to What’s On Where Summer 2009 West End Guide shows and theatres May09 When you are thinking about shows for theatre breaks you can use our West End Guide to What’s on Where to get an idea of the size of the theatres. This can be very useful when you are looking for a show but you aren’t really sure what you want to see. Bigger productions like Sister Act or Wicked are in the largest theatres where as something like Stomp, although it’s still great fun, isn’t in quite such a spectacular setting. Of course size isn’t everything when it comes to theatres. Phantom of the Opera and Les Miz are both in smaller, older theatres but the theatres are quite grand and their productions are still full of spectacle.
May 26 2009, 12:08pm | Comments »
I posted to theatrebreaksmag.co.uk
http://theatrebreaksmag.co.uk/west-end-guide-theatreland/
West End Guide - where is “Theatreland”? In the heart of the West End of London is an area sometimes called ‘Theatreland’. Traditionally it is bordered by The Strand to the south, Oxford Street to the north, Regent Street to the west, and Kingsway to the east. Important streets with theatres include :
Drury Lane, Shaftesbury Avenue, The Strand.
The area contains around forty of London’s largest theatres.They tend to show mostly musicals, with a few classics, new plays,and comedy performances. West End Guide to the Theatres .
Most of the theatres were built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. All of them are privately owned. All of the older theatres have great architectural character and range in style from the grand neo-classical to the very ornate rococo. They usually have luxurious, detailed interior design and decoration, with lots of gold and plush. Occasionally the older theatres have limited leg room and restricted views from some parts of the theatre. Tickets for these areas are usually sold cheaper and are not usually offered as part of theatre breaks. Audience facilities such as bars and toilets are often much smaller than in modern theatres. The buildings are all listed and this can make it hard to make improvements. However several theatres have introduced modern comforts such as air conditioning and new sound systems. The Largest Theatres in The West End The largest theatres in the West End seat over 2,000 theatre-goers.
The Palladium - currently about to show Sister Act - 2286 seats The Apollo, Vcctoria - Wicked - 2208 The Theatre Royal - Oliver!- 2196 seats The Dominion - We Will Rock You - 2163 seats The Lyceum - Lion King - 2100 seats I’ll be posting more soon on our West End Guide
April 11 2009, 11:21am | Comments »
I posted to flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barcles/2989758568/in/pool-473288@N25
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October 31 2008, 1:20pm | Comments »
I posted to theatreinlondon.blogspot.com
http://theatreinlondon.blogspot.com/2008/04/theatre-london-breaks-street-map.html
TheatreLondonBreaksStreetMap.JPG Originally uploaded by Andyrob Photograph of the useful streetmap map for London breaks with all the theatres and street names. Handy for plotting a route from hotel to theatre duringtheatre breaks
April 4 2008, 3:42am | Comments »
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