Macrolog
Big Smoke, Here I Come
A week from tomorrow I will be popping over to London for a short three-day visit, ostensibly to see the Modernism exhibition at the V&A, and to hang out with my good buddy Dave R who’s escaping from Redditch for a while.
But I do have another motive: I’m determined to visit the Rough Trade shop, at long last, after my two previous abortive attempts (in 2001, lost in Covent Garden; and 18 months ago, bewildered on the wrong section of Talbot Road). If I don’t find it this time I’ll cry, I really will.
Aside from that, I’m planning to fill up the rest of my time with some quirky sightseeing and gallery-hopping. My current list of attractions is as follows:
- The Tates, Modern and Britain
- Thomas Demand at the Serpentine Gallery
- Future City at the Barbican Art Gallery
- The City of London Festival
- Dan Holdsworth: At the Edge of Space, Parts 1-3 at the National Maritime Museum
I’d also like to take some interesting photos around the city, for which I’ll do a bit more research on good architectural walking tours and the like before this weekend. My time in London may be limited, but I want to make the most of it. (Hell, I’m paying enough for the privilege.)
So I might as well turn this question to the audience: What should I see? What’s good to photograph? What am I missing? Your contributions will be muchly appreciated — bonus points for anything that’s free.
Tue 20 Jun 2006 at 14:16 ·
Comments (11 responses)
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Theo Jansen is showing his wind-powered walking sculptures outside the ICA this month, I would love to be going, it should be awesome. Saw the ICA’s current main exhibition (Around the world in 80 days) when I was over a couple of weeks ago, it’s worth a miss but their bookshop is always wallet-stretchingly good.
I just checked the ICA website; looks like the walking sculptures will be at Trafalgar Square on the 27th, so that’s something to see after my V&A visit.
If I get a chance I’d love to visit the ICA bookshop, but Charing Cross Road is much closer to where I’m staying so I might give all my spending money to Foyles instead.
Go and see the Soane Museum, Sir John Soane’s house, which he filled to the brim with wonderful antiquities (and a lot of Hogarth, amongst other beautiful paintings) and then left as was when he died. It’s cramped, full of treasures, unlike anything else, and entirely free. Fun.
Posted by Eoin O'F
Tue 20 Jun 2006
at 22:53
there’s a skyscraper known as the Gherkin, 30 St. Mary Axe which is a fantastic building. Next time I hit London that’s on my agenda
From someone who lives in London, take it from me that it’s always a nice to wander along the South Bank. Tonnes of things to do.
Yep, definitely - London Bridge and west to Tate Modern is nice, or Embankment/Westminster and then east, past Westminster, the Hayward Gallery, the National Theatre, County Hall, on to Tate Modern and then towards Tower Bridge. Especially good if the weather’s nice.
Okay so seriously, you make me feel like such a bum sometimes (although that’s what I am).
Here I am in London yet again and have done nothing at all cultural, unless you count watching tonights England-Sweden game at the pub with a bunch of screaming English people.
But I have caught up with a lot of old friends and met some nice new ones.
Pity I’m leaving tomorrow so our visits don’t overlap.
Enjoy!
Thanks for all the great advice so far! I probably have too much on my list now, but whatever I don’t do or see next week can be saved for another time. London is such a big city that there’ll always be something new.
Eoin: I saw the Gherkin when I was there with Benitha last year, but only from Bankside; we didn’t have time to go to the City. I’m hoping to make time on Tuesday to see it.
Wendy: You’re not the only friend/acquaintance I won’t be able to meet in London next week! Where are you off to now?
After London I spent a few days in Wales (I now can’t say Wales without saying it in a faux South Wales accent) and a few more in the Lake District (very strange people there).
I’m now back at home in Edinburgh, and will be here until the end of the summer. So if you fancy a visit to the festival, let me know!
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This is the personal website of MacDara Conroy, a twenty-something journalist, editor and all-round creative type living in Dublin, Ireland.
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You are reading Big Smoke, Here I Come, a Macrolog entry by MacDara Conroy. It is filed under Travel, and was published in June 2006.
Tags: architecture art london music photography sightseeing
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