London in Winter

Canterbury Cathedral, Cantebury England

London, known for its fast street fashion, glittering nightlife, and sprawling metropolitan neighborhoods, is a must-visit city any time of the year. But visiting in the winter is perhaps the best time of all. With a population of 7.3 million and an average winter temperature of 35 degrees, London offers the thrills of a big city at winter discount.

Youth hostels in the Westminster area offer rooms starting at $20 a night. You can step it up a bit if you want privacy and stay in a bed and breakfast in Bloomsbury for about $60 a night. That will place you walking distance to tourist destinations such as SoHo, Covent Gardens, Trafalgar, Leicester Squares, and Piccadilly Circus.  If you prefer a no frills full service hotel, you can stay at a Thistle. The Thistle Kensington offers a single room with cable and breakfast for about $100 a night.  Of course, those wanting to experience the glittering high end might chose the Chelsea Hotel in Soho or the Hempel near Notting Hill.  Each runs about $400 a night and puts you in proximity to jetsetters and the “who’s who” of London’s “it” culture.

Once you’ve settled in, why not take a quiet morning stroll up Parliament Hill or Hampstead Heath.  If fashion is more your dish, motor through some trendy shopping in Spitafields Market in Whitechapel, a place made infamous by the Jack the Ripper murders centuries ago, but which is now know as the place where world designers come to find the next new trend. Then, why not walk through Brick Lane, London’s gritty East Indian neighborhood that is quickly becoming a new fashion zone thanks to low rents and an influx of moneyed hipsters who’ve opened boutiques peddling their hand-made fashions.

Graffiti in the East End on Brick Lane, London England

With a long history and a pace that is hard and fast, London runs on pure adrenaline and is home to persons from every demographic. You can eat any national cuisine, enjoy any musical style or overhear conversations in over a hundred different languages at any time.  London seems to be one of the most tolerant cities around, though not totally devoid of racism, sexism, or homophobia.  In scanning local television one evening, I saw national evening programming with diverse casts and storylines involving issues such as transitioning from man to woman.  Americans could learn a thing or two about prime-time programming here.

Where to eat can be a bit of a problem. There are many options at varying price points, but there is no obvious connection between price and quality when it comes to dining in London. If you’re looking for top tables, there’s Gordon Ramsay’s in Chelsea, featured in his TV show, Hell’s Kitchen, or Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, which is featured in his show, The Naked Chef.  When you want something more authentic, try a Sunday brisket at a local pub.  For about $11 you can eat roast beef, veggies, fries and a pint of local ale, all with good local music and good local company. On Brick Lane, in addition to dining at choice curry and balti houses, you should also try a tasty salted-beef bagel at any of the many hole-in-the-wall bagel shops. The most popular bagel shop for salted-beef is Brick Lane Beigel Bake. Be warned, however, that you’ll likely encounter a 20-minute wait trying to order one of these yummy sandwiches, as they are extremely popular.

Stonehendge, Salisbury Plane, England

When you want to get your party on, the possibilities are endless. In the West-End, it’s all about Soho.  Expect to find a bohemian mix of the best mainstream eateries, pubs, clubs, and shops for every mainstream persuasion and palate.  Locals rave about Notting Hill as a new destination, filled with new private clubs and pubs. The only problem is these places aren’t warm to strangers. If you must venture into Notting Hill, try Beach Blanket Babylon Restaurant.  There you may comfortably mix with the bold and beautiful at a price appealing to a plebian. Try the venison. It’s superb.

While the West-End is London’s mainstream, the East End is London’s underground. Here is where you’ll find London on the cutting edge.  The hippest, coolest, newest trend-setting clubs, bars, live music venues, eateries, shops, and galleries can be found in the Shoreditch, Spitafields, Hoxton, Islington, and Clerkenwell neighborhoods. Catering to students, working class, and the young and media-creative, these once exclusively working-class communities are now the playgrounds of the super-slick who like a bit of dirt and edge with their entertainment.

If you’re inclined to venture out of the city for a day or so, try Bath.  Bath is an ancient Roman town located about 100 miles west of London and known for its natural thermal baths, which still house waters heated to a temperature of about 46 degrees Celsius.  A picturesque city, Bath features Georgian terraces built in the mid to late 1700s by many of the most prominent members of London’s literary class.  Along the way, don’t forget to check out Stonehenge and Windsor Castle.

Gaurds outside the gates of Windsor Castle, Windsor, England

Both Stonehenge and Windsor Castle are stunning in ways that pictures simply cannot capture.  The wide-open space, green rolling hills and fresh air that surrounds both Stonehenge and Windsor Castle make them an irresistible lure for a tourist wanting to clear his palate before the return home.

If you have time, you should also check out Canterbury, located about 56 miles Southeast of London.  While the town hasn’t been preserved as well as many would like – there is a Starbucks located at the Cathedral Gate – evidence of its old glory and charm still remain.

As the home of Dr. Who, Blakes 7, and Torchwood, London has positioned itself as a sci-fi hub. Check out the internationally known Forbidden Planet, a megastore for comics, sci-fi and horror fans featuring books, costumes, and other collectibles.  While there, check the bulletin boards for upcoming sci-fi/horror conventions.

I managed to check out a Star Trek – 40th Anniversary convention.  Klingons and Cardasians mixing it up with Londoner Patrick Stewart makes London in Winter the place to be.

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