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Entertainment in london
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Nightlife |
London's nightlife is the most vibrant in Europe.
Although pubs close at 11, clubs and discotheques jive
till early morning hours and the choice of music and
ambience they offer is mind-boggling. With elegant
cocktail bars and traditional pubs, lap dance venues and
gay and lesbian clubs, International DJs, jazz to hip
hop to club to rock to techno to hangar and everything
in between, London spoils you for choice.
London's
nightlife is something like Delhi's - what is the place
to hang out today may well be a had-been tomorrow. You
can pick up a copy of Time Out from newsstands to find
out about the latest on the party circuit.
So goes a popular song by a British band and it
effectively sums up the British approach to pubs - two
pints and a packet of crisps is all they need. Too many
'traditional' English pubs have been sprouting up in our
metros. When in London, visit an original and you will
always look down upon these copycats. Wood paneled
walls, thick carpets, dim lighting The feeling
of nostalgia Is it called something on the lines of The
Seven stars.
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Walk across the Bridges |
While you are at the Globe, step out to the waterfront -
the Thames flows by, modern skyscrapers adorn the
horizon on the opposite bank and the Tate Modern stands
tall on the banks, a little away from cafes and
restaurants. It's the world's most successful modern art
gallery, its Dalis and Picassos complemented by the
building's spectacular architecture and oh, stunning
location. Highly recommended.
(Sun-Thu 10:00am-6:00pm, Fri-Sat 10:00am-10:00pm).
If modern art is not your scene, simply stroll down the
bank with three prominent bridges - Tower, London and
the contemporary Millennium Bridge, as also all of
London's historic landmarks, in view, all lit up in
splendor. The Tower Bridge is probably the most famous
- and the most misrepresented - London landmark splayed
in brochures and books, with its thick towers and
vaulted arches.
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Sports
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Cricket |
If you feel about cricket what most our countrymen (and
women) do (read: fanatic passion) chances are that you'd
jump with joy at the thought of visiting Lord's, the
'home of cricket'. If visiting London in summer, you can
catch a match.
Do not be disappointed if you cannot because the very
opportunity of being in the space where Kapil Dev lifted
the world cup in 1983 is reason enough to cheer. The
authorities conduct tours of the property before 3 pm
daily; you get to visit the dressing rooms and see the
grounds/sit in the stalls where some of the greatest
cricket in the world has been played. Must visit for
cricket fans. (Tube: St. John's Wood. Call 020 -
7582-6660 for more info on tours.)
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Football |
To say that football is a national obsession in England
is an understatement. The day there is a league football
match in a neighborhood, all roads get jammed,
fistfights break out in alleys, the stadiums get mobbed.
It's advisable to book well in advance as tickets are
expensive, anywhere between £20 - £150.
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Tennis |
One word - Wimbledon. Witness some of the world's best
tennis in the months of June and July. Tickets range
from £18 - £85. If you are a tennis aficionado, simply
visit the venue to soak up the feel. (tube: Wimbledon)
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Or are you besieged by a literary
feeling? Visit Westminster's Abbey where some of the
greatest poets and writers of the English language are
buried or visit Sherlock Holm's Museum at 222, Baker
Street. Or spend a lazy afternoon in Hyde Park,
reclining with a book and a thermos of tea, watching
people sprint by. |
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