A secret gem hidden in Hamstead Heath

In this post:  The lungs of London

Anyone who lives in London long enough feels a need for some fresh air.  Yes, London has great little parks right in its center, but once you've been here long enough, you just need a bit more green. This is when you jump on a bus, bike, tube or whatever, and head to Hampstead Heath.  Just 15 minutes or so from the center of London (actually only 6k from Trafalgar Square, if you can believe that), people refer to Hampstead as the Lungs of London.  Covering 320 hectares (790 acres), it's like an island of beautiful countryside. There is a zoo, an athletics track, an education centre, extensive children's facilities, extensive forest area and trails, one of the highest points in the London area, three swimming ponds and a Lido. 

We've been up there several times, each time discovering something new. 

A few weeks ago, we decided to explore a new area of the park, Golders Hill.  We took the 268 Bus to Hampstead Heath, crossed the round-about and ventured into the forest there.  Our destination being the West Heath, we were delighted to find ourselves walking in what felt like a little fairy tale atmosphere when we accidentally discovered the Pergola of Hampstead Heath.

http://217.154.230.218/NR/rdonlyres/B5F7A42F-FA5A-4087-A3A4-C3FFE907EB2D/0/OS_HH_pergola.pdf

It's a lovely garden and walkway with beautiful roses, columns and paths.

We then went to Golder's Hill Park, which is just adjacent to the pergola area, where there was a butterfly garden, a nice cafe, live music playing in the bandstand, a deer enclosure, and a small but interesting zoo (outdoors).  We spend a couple of hours there, kicking a soccer ball around, visiting and watching the animals, listening to music, and eating ice cream cones. 


A great little Sunday afternoon adventure!

You may not believe this is London life

in this blog:  a (secret) gorgeous beach just a train ride away from London?

Trip to Chichester and West Wittering and London fun with friends

When we learned that our dear Minnesota friends were being sent on an ex-pat assignment to Switzerland just a few months after we were scheduled to depart, it seemed too good to be true.  God's Great Providence!  We have really enjoyed sharing our stories and experiences together.
For you fans out there, these are the same friends we visited at Christmas time:
http://adventureswiththelarsons.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/christmas-dreams-after-few-days-in.html

This past week we had a moms and kids week.  Their international school in Switzerland and ours here in London both finished last week.  What a better way to kick off the summer vacation than a visit to a beach?  Spain, Italy, The French Riviera, Portugal...yes, all of those wonderful beach destinations crossed our minds (ha, ha, but not our budget or time limits).  But we opted for something near, easy, and simple to combine with a bit of time in London.  I'm convinced my friend Janna knows more about England than I do, since her children attend a British School in Switzerland.  She is the one who heard about this great beach.  But shhhh, don't tell anyone, because it's a bit of a secret, an undiscovered gem.  Actually, to be honest, I think it's more accurately a preserved area, so the mass commercialization you get with other beaches just doesn't apply.  There are lots of retirees, no big hotels, no big restaurants, just a wide open, lovely, clean, hard-to-get-to beach.  West Wittering, just south of Chichester in West Sussex.

http://www.westwitteringbeach.co.uk/

The first day they were here in London, the kids just wanted to be together, and the moms wanted to have some shopping time!  So the kids went to some museums and parks with a sitter.  Janna and I went to Covent Garden (some of our favorite stops were Cath Kidston, Neal's Yard, Busaba Eathai for lunch, Orla Kiely, Monmouth Coffee).  On our way home with the kids, we went into....Harrod's.  Reluctant to set foot in this place for the past 18 months, I now see why.  It does suck you in.  And I admit it, it's fun, and though I'm frugal, we happened to be there at the one time they have a sale, and things that were on sale were actually a great deal.   So - confession time - we decided we had to go back, the last night they were here, just the two of us, for a couple of hours to ourselves...and we both emerged with the iconic green bag.

BUT, back to our beach story.

We planned this little vaycay long ago, and to our shock, the weather was perfect.  We booked our stay at The Beach House in West Wittering, one of really only 2 or 3 choices in the area.  We took a train out of Victoria and in 1 hour and 44 minutes we were in Chichester, which is one of the oldest settlements in the country, with many historic buildings, a well-preserved town wall dating to the 3rd century, and the famous Chichester Cathedral, which is the only cathedral in England visible from the sea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichester


A short bus ride following our picnic from Tesco in Bishop's Gardens brought us right to the front of The Beach House.  Simple, tidy, and staffed with friendly locals, it's got to be the best option if you want to be near the beach.  We'd consider trying to rent a house next time, but this is a great starting point if you don't know the area.  There are three small shops on the street that give you options for snacks, toiletries, reading material and beach products.  The Beach House itself is well-known for its restaurant, which offers delicious food at quite reasonable prices.

Breakfast was included in our stay and we ordered off a generous menu.....

The Full English for breakfast!!

The "Healthy Option" breakfast - fruit topped with greek yogurt, honey and granola...my favorite!

back patio at the Beach House

the 15-20 minute walk to the beach

Entrance to the beach - it's a natural preserve & a protected area

http://www.beachhse.co.uk/

The name "The Beach House" can be a bit misleading because we might expect it to be right on the beach, but it is indeed about as close as you can get, because the area is a nature preserve.  You've got to make the 15-20 minute walk through fields along a road (you can drive your car but pay for parking).  I wouldn't recommend it with toddlers or young preschoolers!  We had a 5 year old who did great, but any younger than that and you'll need a stroller for sure!!

The last day, with check-out at 10:30 am and rain in the forecast, we needed to pick an outing in the area (from many choices).  The Weald and Downland Open Air Museum was lovely, a happy choice for our span of kids' ages, and something we could never in a million years find in the US.

http://www.wealddown.co.uk/

They have restored real buildings from the southern part of England, some of which date back to the 13th century.  Many of them have cheerful volunteers who will show you the building techniques of the time, the way a flour mill works (they have a functioning mill on site), the blacksmith's shop, the cuisine of the Tudor times....these are just a few examples.  Our allotted 2 hours wasn't enough!  We had to make a dash down the country road to the bus stop to head back into Chichester for our train to London.

One of the most interesting things that happens when our group is traveling together is when we are asked, "So, where are you from?" or "How long are you visiting here?" to which each child has a different answer.  One might say we are from London, another will say we are from the US, still another from Minnesota, etc. And then you add the Swiss Family into the mix and people are really confused.  So it takes a hearty conversation to explain. 

Did I mention we did this entire trip on public transportation?

Two moms and six kids!?

What a great way to jump start our summer vacation!!

Follow-up on Harry Potter Studios

In this post....
Is the visit to the Harry Potter Studios worth it?
Is the visit to Harry Potter Studios good?

Since my last post, there have been several articles in the news regarding the opening of the new studios, for business, for filming, and as the tourist destination for lovers of Harry Potter.  So the site is not only a tourist destination but also a running movie studio.

Let me share what the professionals say, and if you want to know my opinion of whether or not the cost of the tickets is worth it, look back at my last post....
http://adventureswiththelarsons.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/harry-potter-studio-tour-london.html

Here's the news:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harry-potter/9143506/Harry-Potter-studio-tour-first-review.html

"The Harry Potter franchise may have drawn to a close, but Warner Bros are not about to let their billion dollar boy wizard fade away.

The latest money-spinner is the Harry Potter Studio Tour, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at how the films were made.

And there’s no doubting that Potter aficionados will love what they see here, because it is the real deal.

The setting is Leavesden Studios near Watford, Hertfordshire, where all eight films were made over the course of a decade."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/jun/10/josh-berger-warner-bros-interview?newsfeed=true

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18403116

If those links are outdated, here's a report from the Hollywood Reporter, regarding the filming studios:

LONDON -  Time Warner’s Warner Bros. said on Monday that it has formally opened its new film and TV studio in Leavesden, outside of London, for business.

The company said that Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden is “the first of its kind to be built in the U.K. in 70 years” and “secures the future of over a third of the dedicated major feature film production stage space in the U.K. and helps further position the country as a center of filmmaking excellence.”

The Hollywood studio undertook a £100 million ($155 million) revamp of the more than 250,000 square feet complex near Watford, which houses nine stages, to make it as cutting-edge as possible.
Warner Bros. has filmed the Harry Potter series, Sherlock Holmes and Wrath of the Titans here, among others. It used to rent the studio space, but then bought the facility in late 2010.
The stages range in size from 10,000 to 36,000 square feet, and the space also offers a series of workshops. The facilities include one of the largest heated underwater filming tanks in Europe. And the site provides a100 acre back-lot, one of the most extensive in Europe, which the company says can be adapted for any production needs.
The studio is also home to the recently opened "Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter," a walking tour that takes guests behind the scenes of the iconic Harry Potter movie series.
“Alongside a growing U.K. film, TV and games production slate, the opening of Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden clearly demonstrates the company’s commitment to the U.K. and underlines our belief in the world-class talent that resides on these shores,” said Josh Berger, president and managing director of Warner Bros Entertainment for the UK, Ireland and Spain. “As well as helping to generate inward investment and create new jobs both locally and nationally, this significant infrastructure outlay - probably the single biggest the U.K. film industry has witnessed in decades - will further amplify the U.K.’s reputation as the go-to place for film and TV production.”
Warner Bros. on Monday didn't immediately announce a first production for the studio, but it is working towards announcing first projects.
At the Leavesden studio, less than 20 miles from London, Warner Bros is hoping to make a handful of movies per year, but also let other productions use the space.
Roy Button, executive vp and managing director, Warner Bros. Productions, said: “Back in 2000, we produced just one movie here in the U.K., last year it was seven, so by adding this important resource to the U.K.’s studio landscape we are helping to meet not just our own production needs, but those of the wider thriving British film industry.”
Dan Dark, senior vp and managing director, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, said: “Drawing on Warner Bros.’ unparalleled studio-operating experience, we have spent the last 18 months building a state-of-the-art facility that will provide clients with a highly functional and contemporary environment within which to film. The feedback we’ve already received from the production community has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Meanwhile, big London-based studio facility operator Pinewood, Shepperton has been exploring partnerships and investments to possibly expand its offerings and remain competitive in a changing industry.

The Harry Potter Studio Tour London

In this post....drinking Butterbeer and riding in a triple decker bus

I'm typically pretty cheap when it comes to tourist visits.  It's not often I pick to visit large, expensive, commercialized places, where kids get exhausted and there are lots of lines and tickets to buy and everyone leaves completely worn out. 

However, when we had an opportunity to join a tour of the new Harry Potter Studios, I just had to bite the bullet and pay up.

Am I glad?

Yep, I'd say I am.  The kids thought it was absolutely fantastic.  Probably one of the coolest things they've done since we've been in London (and we've seen a lot of cool things in the past 18 months).  And we left feeling exhilarated, not exhausted.

can you see the excitement?

You must purchase your tickets in advance - no showing up and getting in.  They are timed...
For more information on tickets and how to get to the studios, go to the website:

http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/

entrance hall

passport memento to stamp along the path of the visit/tour

Anyone (all ages!) who is a fan of Harry Potter will love this tour.  For kids, especially kids in elementary to middle school range, who have seen the movies or read the books....it truly comes alive for them.  Not only that, but they learn some pretty amazing secrets of how to make movies - from props to sets to how to bring it together - it really is mind boggling.
To be honest, I haven't read an entire book nor seen a film in its entirety (hate to admit this but it's true) and I still really enjoyed the tour, because my kids were so excited to point things out and tell where they came from and the scenes in which they are used, etc.

the first outfit worn by Daniel Radcliffe

inside the Great Hall

tasting butterbeer - SO YUMMY!

Harry's bedroom

The iconic props from the movies are definitely a highlight of the tour

From the website:
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides an amazing new opportunity to explore the magic of the Harry Potter™ films – the most successful film series of all time. This unique walking tour takes you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props. It also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world.

Here are just some of the things you can expect to see and do:

• Step inside and discover the actual Great Hall.
• Explore Dumbledore’s office and discover never-before-seen treasures.
• Step onto the famous cobbles of Diagon Alley, featuring the shop fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium.
• See iconic props from the films, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid’s motorcycle.
• Learn how creatures were brought to life with green screen effects, animatronics and life-sized models.
• Rediscover other memorable sets from the film series, including the Gryffindor common room, the boys’ dormitory, Hagrid’s hut, Potion’s classroom and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic.

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee June 2-5, 2012

In this post:  the Queen made of legos and how we drank butterbeer

Regardless of your opinions of monarchy, you just gotta admire Queen Elizabeth II.  She's classy, she's humble, she's honored.  For 60 years she has reigned this land, despite the fact that she never anticipated becoming queen, nor did anyone expect her to.  I heard it said by one commentator on the BBC that "because she did not seek the crown, it is all the more reason that she should wear it".

Great displays of patriotism emerged during Kate and William's wedding last year.

But it didn't come close to what we saw this past weekend.

A four day celebration!  British flags were everywhere.  Lining the streets, in people's windows, in every shop display.

The bigger stores really went all out...

My kids' favorite was Hamley's of course, where they made their display out of LEGOs

The event brought the people of Britain together, really, even those who don't support the idea of the monarchy didn't complain about all the parties and having a four day holiday!!

Here is the official website:
http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/


What sort of adventures did the Larsons have, you ask?
Well we tried to include some very BRITISH things during our weekend, in Her Majesty's honor (it's the best we could do).

Saturday June 2nd - typical day of running around kids to various activities.  Meanwhile the main activity inside was the collaborative effort to complete a 1000 piece puzzle for Her Majesty.   Dinner was delicious London Indian food (England has fantastic Indian food - it's part of their food culture here, seriously).

Sunday June 3rd -  Church service honoring the Queen at our local place of worship.  Then on to the streets of London, determined to see the Historic Flotilla.  We descended at Pimlico and walked along the Thames towards Chelsea...the crowds were unbelievable.   We could hardly see the river, much less get through the crowds.  Our kids were frustrated, because they had to struggle even more.  Only Dave had a decent view, really...  But, alas, we finally did find a little ledge away from the road upon which we thrust ourselves up, and with that boost we did indeed have a view of this amazing production!

tons of security and tons of crowds

lucky for the kids, we ran into some of their best friends among the million!

this is Dave's wonderful photography, his arm can extend over the masses

Hooray, we really could see the Royal family...what a sight!

Sunday evening's big success, as if we could top the flotilla, Dave and Ally finished the puzzle!

Monday June 4th, 2012

Our neighborhood had a little sidewalk party!  There were six American families and one Indian family celebrating the Queen of this land!  We've got fantastic, friendly, fun neighbors and this was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all things British - even when we are not.  We even hung a British flag on our door.

In the evening, our family attended the world premiere of Chariots of Fire onstage at the Hampstead Theatre, just down the street.
http://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/2012/chariots-of-fire/
I was lucky that I got us these tickets - now it is sold out and heading to the West End!  It is a great production...celebrating the story of two amazing British athletes, and the Olympics!  Of course the iconic song plays a moving role!  Great timing for the launch of this delight!
We dvr'ed the Jubilee concert to watch later.  A couple of friends went down and said the atmosphere was crazy down near Buckingham but that you couldn't get very near (tickets were by lottery).

Tuesday June 5th
Perhaps the favorite cultural artifact of the British world for my kids is:  Harry Potter.  Although there isn't a real connection to the Queen (or is there?), it is arguably the most successful creation to come out of England since Shakespeare, and my kids get it.  ASL (school) organized a tour and we got tickets to join in - three coach buses brought us out to the site of the Warner Bros filming studio where it all (well lots of it anyways, we still need to visit the sites in Oxford) happened.  Costly, yes, but the kids would argue it was well worth it.  We all enjoyed the Butterbeer.
and we'll do an entire post just on the tour...
that will be up next!