I have to tell you that I love a good cop story, a thriller novel and… OK, if I have to tell you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I have to tell you that I love to read But one of the top novels are the detective ones

Sherlock Holmes is definitely one of the most famous characters from this type of literature. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle imagined an address for Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John H. Watson (his assistant): 221b Baker Street. So here we find today a house that “is protected by the government due to its “special architectural and historical interest”, while the 1st floor study overlooking Baker Street is still faithfully maintained for posterity as it was kept in Victorian Times.” (source: http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/)

Shelock Holmes Museum - logo

They even say that this is The World’s Most Famous Address – the Official Home of Sherlock Holmes!

Open every day of the year (except Christmas Day) from 9.30am – 6pm
Admission: Adult £6 Child £4 (under 16yrs)

My husband – who is now in London (until tonight) – saw this museum. Unfortunately, it was already late in the evening (he is there working) so he was able to take photos only from the outside. But I definitely want to go there and see the museum!

Sherlock Holmes Museum Shop

Sherlock Holmes Museum - from above

Sherlock Holmes Museum - Souvenir Shop

announcement

(yes, I know, you can see Andrei in this photo, but he wasn’t able to take a different photo)

Have you been to see this museum? Did you liked it?

I think that almost everyone has at least one key. For that key, one could use a special keychain – right?

Why not buy something from a place you’re visiting right now and offer it as a souvenir but also as a practical object to a person?

Such a great gift is a keychain. Practical, reminding someone every time he or she looks at that object of the person that offered the gift, of the moment of the visit and of the country/city/town that object was bought from.

Of course, one could buy a keychain also for him- or herself. You can also have a collection of such keychains!

And there are so many models available in this entire world that sometimes it is hard to choose only one or two from a place.

Yes, I do believe in keychains that, if possible, remind someone of a great place. I admit I didn’t bought for me one, because I always had one from someone dear. But that doesn’t mean I won’t buy in the future. I will actually need one soon

At the moment I have a keychain received from my husband from when he first went to England, London. I liked it so much and I used it ever since (so yes, it looks used now ).

I like that the piece in the middle rotates It can be a good way to play with it for several seconds .

So yes, I recommend a keychain as a practical, special and useful souvenir. It’s only disadvantage is that in time , if it is frequently used (so not kept in a collection, in a box or something), it deteriorates and needs to be changed.

How about you? Do you collect keychains? Where do you have keychains from?

Entertaining friends in London is made a lot easier due to the grand lineup of restaurants to choose from. Las Iguanas is the best place to get a Latino experience. Amaya Restaurant is great for modern Indian food. And for a whole new sensory experience in dining, it has to be Dans Le Noir!

At Las Iguanas the décor blends quirky elements with a cheerful atmosphere. In true grill style, food comes in ceramic pots placed on a stove, so it remains hot throughout. You will surely be transported to the large tapas parties of Brazil. The signature dishes like xinxim and the mocqueca curry are a riot of colour and texture but come with a soothing flavor. There’s a whole array of Latin street food with fajitas served with chicken, prawns, asparagus and artichoke. Oh, and how can you forget the cocktails? Don’t miss the cachacas – a liquor from sugarcane sourced from its own plantations near Rio.

Amaya Restaurant is welcoming with its extensive marble and premium furnishings. This restaurant is a great way to unwind with friends as the open kitchen bustling to get the orders ready adds to the carnival-like atmosphere. Food is Indian tailored to the global diner. The meats are cooked in Indian grill but the spices and flavors are subtler to give a wholesome feel.

If you are raring for a totally new concept in eating out, Dans Le Noir is something more. It adds a totally new dimension to the art of dining by taking you literally through a dark space. This means the food not just tickles your taste buds but offers a wacky sensory experience. You should arrive early and a guide will take you to a dark ante room. Once you have settled down, the cocktails and food follow. The contemporary spread on offer is enhanced by the selection of wines available. The darkness makes for a vivid exploration of different senses in savoring the food and drinks.

Next time when you want to spend the evening with friends, I strongly recommend to choose one of the above options to ensure that the time spend will become truly exceptional!

Guest post by Erinna

For all those who fell in love with Tristan and Isolde or with King Arthur, for those who fantasize wandering through time, up to the Dark Middle Ages, there is no better place to be in than the Castle of Warwick in England. I invite all dreaming ladies and brave knights of the 21^st century to join me in a tremendous adventure in Warwick, known as the ultimate Britain’s Castle.

Seated on the river Avon, and easy to reach from Birmingham International Airport, Warwick Castle is perfectly preserved and to visit it you need a full day. Just make sure that you check the weather forecast as sunny time is mandatory for a complete experience (many activities take place outside). I get to Warwick train-station and wonder a little bit through the city, visit the main church and watch groups of people performing traditional dances in the street. It is an amazing show that has the role to immerse you in the medieval world even before entering the Castle’s gates.

Continuing my way, I spot quickly the route to the Castle and in a quarter of an hour by foot I am already in. Built in the 11^th century, the castle has a tumultuous history, its architecture has suffered several changes and it served many years as a prison and even King Edward IV was held prisoner there. Since 1978 it has been open to the public as a touristic site.

The Castle proposes several attractions and, if you are cold blooded, the first one is the horrifying Dungeon, leading you back in 1345, the times of the plague. You can almost experiment here a wide range of medieval torture methods, punishments, and a mirror maze of lost souls and see bloodshed, dead bodies, playing “trick or treat, fear or defeat” games once you descend. The dungeon is particularly interesting as the castle has been known as the prison of the kings. Brrrr, this is scary!

Getting out, there are other milder attractions for everybody. Girls are definitely queuing at the princess Tower to see how to become a real princess. Ladies and gentlemen of all ages are invited to the grand interior: the Hall, the Chapel and the state rooms where noblemen have been entertained for 500 years, and then to the 1898 lavish party, hiding secrets and scandals of high society. Nevertheless, an interesting experience is the Kingmaker, where Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick will show you the preparations for Battle of Barnet in 1471, including weapons’ craft. Apart from the main building, I visit the Museum of the Mill and Engine Houses showing how hydroelectricity has been used to light the castle. As for the out-side landscape and views, I loved the Mound, comprising the oldest parts of the castle, where falcons are tamed, the Victorian style Conservatory and the Peacock and the Rose Gardens.

What I enjoy most is the tournament on the island. Just in front of the castle, brave knights prepare a tournament that makes me keep my breath. Two honorable lords, very handsome men, by the way, fight with swords and spares while riding wild stallions for the hands of the graceful ladies. But just when the competition is getting tighter, all of a sudden, barbarians attack. A true war is taking place just in front of me! Will the knights of Warwick succeed? I will let you discover by yourselves. At sunset, the show ends when the mighty trebuchet (the world’s largest siege machine) is being launched throwing a bowl of fire! Amazing! This year the castle offers a brand new experience where magic and reality come together: the Tower of Merlin. I am looking forward to seeing it!

At the end of my visit, after countless battles, climbing on the walls, descending in the dungeon and participating in so many parties, I just feel hungry. And there is no better place to have an excellent dinner in than one of the many cafes and restaurants that you can find there. Enjoy!

A full gallery of useful information, pictures and the possibility to book tickets is available on the Warwick Castle website: www.warwick-castle.com



Guest post by Zoë Dawes, The Quirky Traveller

It was love at first sight – that gorgeous purple & white VW Camper Van, with its shiny strong body, sturdy wheels & plush leather interior.  We were at Leighton Hall’s annual Classic Car Rally and my son was trying to convince me that I should exchange my rather dilapidated car for the joys of this beautiful beast; I was almost persuaded, but it wasn’t for sale – just there for show, along with some other very fine examples of classic and vintage vehicles from all over the country. There were over 1500 people there to share this lovely day.

Leighton Hall, just outside Carnforth, Lancashire, is also easy to fall in love with.  I first visited here many years ago and well remember that first, breathtaking view of Leighton Hall as we drove through the gates & down into the valley. The grey stone house, with its battlements and crenellations, nestles among lush green hills with the vague outline of the Lake District fells away in the distance.  It’s a really friendly home and a delight to go round and discover its fascinating history.  Mrs Reynolds, who has fascinating stories of family life over the centuries, showed us round the house.  It’s been the Gillow family home since the 1700s and their fame in furniture-making (Waring & Gillow) is reflected in the many lovely pieces around the house.

Back in the grounds, we wandered around the many cars, motorbikes, commercial vehicles and stalls selling everything you could ever want for your precious classic transport.  There were over 400 exhibitors and specialist clubs from all over the North West and further afield – Morris, Mini, Austin etc … evocative names from childhood that reminded me that I hit the ‘Classic’ years some time ago! One of my favourites was this ‘half-timbered’ Morris Minor; Dad had one and my younger brother fell out of the back doors – he did live to tell the tale…

As we left, my son ran over to a lady who was holding a huge Eagle Owl on her arm.  It’s one of the many quirky things about Leighton – they have a large collection of Birds of Prey which fly regularly throughout the summer.  He was given a huge gauntlet and held this magnificent bird on his arm, grinning as its huge yellow eyes glared at him with disdain.  A great day out – and I am still pondering on the beauty of that lovely purple Camper Van…

About Zoë Dawes

Voted in Top 10 Inspiring Travel Bloggers 2010

Winner of Travel Titbits Britain’s Best Travel Blogger 2011

Klout Top 25 Online Travel Influencers

She writes The Quirky Traveller, and you can follow her on Twitter – @quirkytraveller and like her Facebook page.

Everyone knows by now that London will host 2012 Olympic games. Many articles have been written, many news offered, and yet it seems that surprises are not over!

Yesterday, the city’s mayor dropped “the bomb”: London will have a floating walkway on River Thames. This walkway will be build by a Singapore investment company and will cost 60 million-pound ($97 million).

The pontoon will have one kilometer (half-mile) and will  enable pedestrians to go over the Thames from central London to the Tower of London.

Sounds like an interesting project, right?

Of course the final plans were not yet revealed – but it seems that this walkway will include commercial attractions and will offer spaces to be rented by vendors. Also it is said that this pontoon will host special events.

So, many attractions, many places to see and an edition of the Olympic games that seems to be one to be remembered.

Will you be in London for the 2012 Olympic games? What are your expectations?

Please read also Part I of this article.

Next, the Covent Garden is definitely the place to be in if you want to combine the pleasure of shopping, having a stroll and watching live performances of amateur artists. Associated with The Royal Opera House, the former fruit and vegetable market hosts nowadays beautiful buildings such as Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the London Transport Museum. On a sunny day, just hang around and visit the cafes, pubs, small shops, and a craft market known as the Apple Market.

Wandering on the most famous streets of the city, Old Bond Street, Piccadilly and Jermyn Street, one can see double-deckers, red telephone booths, out of which I expect Harry Potter to pop up, old mailboxes that mock at the new means of communication, black and red cabs which I feel a little bit reluctant to get in, fearing I might repeat the history of If Only, and policemen on horseback. Aceil turns my feet on the ground: “These streets are the best places to put on your Sunday best and strut around like a star. It’s a great way to see how the other half lives; this is window shopping at its best: Dior, Cartier and DeBeers eat your heart out!”.

British Museum

After leaving the world of luxurious consumerists, make a stop in time, at the British Museum. Opened in the late 1700, it shelters a huge collection of artefacts and arts masterpieces, from all around the world, starting with pre-history and leading one through Ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, and Middle East, Asia, Africa or Oceania. There are also several numismatic collections, mosaics, prints, drawings or manuscripts. Highly controversial, the British Museum holds an unimaginable treasure of human history and development from all continents. Just for the sake of putting you in the picture, there are over 6 million pieces coming only from Egypt and Sudan!

Then, we reach the top of the Tate Gallery, about which Aceil warns me: “At Sunset, this is the place to be! The Tate Modern is a great place to fall in love, whether you’re a fan of Man Ray, Matisse or Bacon the concluding part of your tour must be the 7th floor. A bottle of wine and the London skyline is to die for”. And she’s right; just take a breath of the city landscape, dominated by Big Ben, the magnificent Thames, Tower Bridge and London Eye, the youngest London’s attraction and the tallest Ferries in the world.

Tower Bridge

From the Tate, I cross the Thames over the Millennium Bridge built together with the London Eye and being used as movie-scene for Harry Potter. Nevertheless, one should not mistake it for other famous bridges that appeared in various films: London Bridge (made of stone, so strong will last so long) and Tower Bridge, another UNESCO World Heritage Sites and among the iconic images of London.

Aceil gets me to the metro, in a hurried Big Crunch in order not to lose my Eurostar for Brussels. Just in time, I reach London Saint Pancras International, a Victorian style train station, I board in the train, pass though the English Tunnel (La Manche) and leave behind the beautiful rustic landscapes, with wavy hills and meadows where lazy giant horses graze… We are now stopping. Please mind the gap when stepping onto the real world’s platform!

“I liken London to a scatty, erratic and animated saxophonist: an artist, a philosopher but a friend. As London encompasses qualities that you love and loath, but like a friend these sins are forgiven. London contains countless numbers of museums, galleries and eateries, among other weird and wacky things. And this is why I love London, as I know of no other city where you can have an authentic Indian whilst observing a bussling, artisan and quintessential English market”. These are the words of Aceil, an authentic lovely Londoner who took me on an air-rail like journey into the British capital. Please hold on, we now are departing to unveil the mysteries of ever-changing London!

I can hear for the first time the bells of the over 150-year old Big Ben, the world’s third tallest tower-clock, resounding happily but sinisterly at 9 am, the world’s 0 hour in Greenwich. I intentionally paraphrase the name of Big Ben as London is Europe’s most cosmopolitan city, bringing together many worlds in one. I think that ‘Big Bang’ reflects the diversity of an expanding universe. Here the modern history of Europe began: the industrial revolution, the birth of the U.S., or women’s empowerment. London has always been the evolutionist start for many events, and even now it is not ceasing to be. I can see my journey as a Big Bang, starting from the original nucleus, spinning quicker and quicker as I am running out of time and eventually turning it into the Big Crunch on my return to Saint Pancras International. As seven is the magical number of the creation, I will try and reconcile creationists and evolutionists under the landmark of the seven wonders of London.

The best starting place of my journey is definitely Saint Paul’s Cathedral or the very nucleus of a perpetually expanding city. Seated on top of Ludgate Hill, it is one of the highest domes of the world. The actual cathedral is the fifth that has been built since 640 AD after the several fires that have partially destroyed it. Each era has had a different Saint Paul’s to reflect people’s taste and the architecture of the time. The Great Model, designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710, incorporates various elements such the Greek Cross while following the architectural line of the Anglican Church. It is Aceil’s favourite spot, and she takes pictures of it every time she has the opportunity!

Moving further from the nucleus, I get to the City of Westminster and to the Buckingham Palace. This is the residence of the British monarchy and its construction dates back to the beginning of 1700 and even earlier, to the Middle Ages. It has the largest private garden in the United Kingdom and it is the host of numerous receptions and ceremonies. One can see here the sober but splendid Changing of Guard and admire the balcony where the queen uses to show up. If you are in the City of Westminster, do not miss the Westminster Abbey, the largest English Gothic church, part of UNESCO heritage. It has been witness of both happy and sad moments in the life of the English royal dynasty and it will host the marriage of Prince William this year.

From the Buckingham Palace, I easily reach the Trafalgar Square. In the middle, the Nelson Column stands: it portrays the statue of Admiral Lord Nelson, the commander of the British Fleet against the Spanish in the Trafalgar battle (1805). The square is famous for the various celebrations (New Year’s Eve, sports events) held here, for its countless pigeons and for the National Art Gallery. If you get here, just have a nice tour of the Gallery and admire the 2,300 paintings dating from 1200 to 1900.

(All credits for the pictures go to my friend Agi Stoianova).

I watch “Top Gear” – the show about cars but a show beyond cars I’d say.
In an episode I recently saw Clarkson mentioned a puzzling law: a pregnant woman can legally upon request pee in a Policeman’s helmet.

Now, I was not pregnant but I know pregnant women need to go often in a certain place.

I also heard (for I’ve never been to London) that it’s not a problem to find a toilette.

Most certainly this is an old law – but it looks like it’s still active.

What do you think about that?

And if this is not a strange enough law, take a look here to see some more from all over the world.

Do you know strange laws/rules in your country?

I love to travel and I love being a passenger – it must be that feeling of being important, of being taken care of. No need to be as star – just special. Feeling comfortable is quite important.

It could seem like a big thing and a bit too much to ask, but I actually prefer going places where I can understand what people talk in the street. It helps me connect – understand how people live. Go in the shops, see what people normally eat, read the newspapers and gossip magazines.

My friends are amazed that more than in one occasion, coming back from various destinations, I was ready to change my residence – or at least saying I would, as I am not really the type that likes to change houses.

The latest place that I’ve come back from wishing I hadn’t was London.
I fell in love at first sight! Warm spring sun instead of pouring rain might have had a lot to do with that. It was everything I did not expect and more. Together with my friend we rode the tourist bus around the sights a few complete rounds. We actually missed – or rather ignored – most of the stops, but we did have a great time.

My favorite spots:
Piccadilly Circus –very alive, very crowded, but then some large groups of Italian teens might have contributed to this, as well as being the meeting point of several shopping street.

Saint Paul’s Cathedral – only saw it from the bus, but it looked absolutely beautiful and glorious; plus, this is probably the second most famous church in the world, after Saint Peter’s in Vatican, though for a slightly different reason. You do remember Charles and Diana’s wedding, right?

Queen Victoria’s Memorial – just next to Buckingham Palace and the park around it; we’ve seen daffodils and trees in flower, and people were wearing t-shirts and sandals – this was March, need I say more? Too bad we were in a hurry and that my feet already hurt – I would have love to walk around more and lay down in the grass, just to watch people being happy.

When I took my friend to the train station I stopped to have a look around Paddington Station – and I have to confess I almost expected to see the Hogwarts Express at the line.

Like I said I missed most of the attractions – the more reason to go back as soon as possible – and I’ve been checking constantly the flight costs and promotions, even though I knew I did not have the time to go.

I would have loved to go on London Eye, visit the Big Ben, and walk around Covent Garden, see the statues at Madame Tussauds, of course go the British Museum that I only got to see very-very briefly, I would have loved to go to the theatre and spend a whole afternoon in a bookshop…

I do know that British people are not the friendliest or warmest type. I do know that breakfast can be a nightmare in a London hotel – and probably even more so outside London. And I do know that life is expensive, the city is crowded and, as anywhere else, the tourist glamour vanishes in everyday life. But I would really like to try in actually live in London for some time.