Craig Cross's Blog, page 10

London blog: Club Quarters St. Paul's

I quite liked the Club Quarters St. Paul's when I first entered the room, but I've cooled on it now that I've been here a while. I don't want to start this review on a downer, though, because there's still plenty to recommend it, so let me tell you about the good things first. The best thing about this hotel is definitely its location. It's right by St. Paul's at the top end of Ludgate Hill. When you step outside the front door you can see the cathedral up the street. You can walk to the...

London blog: Radisson Blu Edwardian Sussex

I don't mind the Radisson Blu Edwardian Sussex. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anyone, but I wouldn't complain if they gave me a week's free stay (hint hint). I'd probably sum it up like this: if you book a room for yourself then you'll be perfectly happy, but don't take your missus here. Don't take anybody that you want to impress. Just leave it for your solo trips. I've only met one member of staff so far and that's the pretty woman on reception, so straight away I've decided that...

London blog: Threadneedles

Somebody needs to totally revamp the hotel rating system in London because if the Andaz can call itself a five then this is a six. The Royal Horseguards is a six. The Ritz is a seven. The Threadneedles a proper 5-star hotel. This is the kind of place you'd take your missus if you were planning to propose. That's how you really rate a great hotel: whether you'd propose to your missus in it, and whether it increases your chances of getting a yes. I almost missed the front door when I was...

London blog: Changing the Guard, at Horse Guards Parade

Not a lot of tourists know about Changing the Guard at Horse Guards which is a shame, because in some respects it's better than the one at Buckingham Palace. But I don't mean better as in better better -- the one at Buckingham Palace is definitely better. The backdrop is better, the crowds are bigger, and you get some marching bands as well. But if you've got some little kids with you, or you're trying to cram as many attractions as you can into a very short stay, then it's worth thinking...

London blog: House of Lords -- Public Gallery

Given a choice between visiting the House of Commons and the House of Lords I'll always choose the Lords, because the decorations are better. But if you're a tourist then I definitely recommend the Commons -- because that's where you'll see today's politicians. The Lords is where you'll see yesterday's politicians. It's a bit like our political Hall of Fame, I suppose, and appeals to people who want to spot some famous faces from their youth -- old shadow ministers and cabinet ministers and...

London blog: Changing the Guard, at Buckingham Palace

This is what the final five minutes of Armageddon is going to be like, with everyone crushed up against the Pearly Gates with their heads wedged between the metal bars trying to get a look inside. To say this place gets packed would be a massive understatement. This is the first thing that everybody wants to do when they come to London. I must have walked past the Changing the Guard ceremony a million billion times in my life, and seen bits and pieces of it every month, but I've only stopped...

London blog: Dismounting Ceremony (or Four O'Clock Parade)

You've done Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace... posed for a photo outside Horse Guards... seen the Ceremony of the Keys and Remembrance Day Parade... tried Trooping the Colour and the State Opening of Parliament... so what have got left? Well, you've forgotten this one (everybody forgets this one). This is the Dismounting Ceremony, or 4 O'Clock Parade. Compared with the other daily ceremonies this one is just a sideshow. It's extremely short and not a lot happens, but it's quite...

London blog: Mayor's Question Time, at City Hall

Mayor's Question Time has fallen a bit flat since Boris Johnson left. I used to like watching him because he was funny -- he used to slip in a few jokes and anecdotes and liven it up a bit. But the mayor we've got now is much more of a shiny shoes and smart suit kinda-guy. He fires off a stats attack and bamboozles you with data. Mayor's Question Time is held once a month at City Hall. It's usually in the middle of the month but they change the date around all over the place so you have to...

London blog: Handel & Hendrix in London

Handel and Jimi Hendrix. Imagine having to live next door to those two -- you'd have Handel blasting his music at you by day and Jimi shaking the walls at night. You'd be forever banging on the adjoining wall with your fist trying to get a bit of kip. The tour begins at the top of No.23. That's where Jimi lived. Or rather, that's where he slept -- because he seems to have spent most of his time in bed. You will immediately know it's Jimi's house when you step through the door because they...

London blog: Charles Dickens Museum

Charles Dickens seems to have moved house every five minutes, but the Charles Dickens Museum is the only London one left. It's from a time when he was still making a name for himself. He worked on The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby here, but was still years away from creating A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield and Great Expectations. He would have seen himself as successful, but he wasn't the superstar writer that he later became. He was good. But he wasn't yet great....