Rainy Day Pleasures

It’s a common misconception that it always rains in London. Actually the rainfall in the capital is average compared to other European cities and smaller than for example in New York or Rome. We have, however been getting our fair share of wet and grey lately. But don’t let it get you down, make the most of the rainy day. This is how I would spend it.

Go shopping. Head to Shepherd’s Bush for Westfield shopping centre. Its 255 shops, cinema and countless bars and restaurants mean that you don’t have to get your feet wet all day. 

Watch the rain – Rain can actually be rather beautiful if you can watch it through a window. And watching poor people battling with their umbrellas adds extra amusement to it. The best place to watch the rain is in the Curzon cinema cafe on Shaftesbury Avenue. The cakes are a delight. Or buy a magazine and head to the downstairs bar to feel cultural, even if you’re really there just for the wine and not for the most recent arthouse releases. 

Spend a day in a bookstore – walk around, browse, pick up a pile of interesting books and find yourself a comfy chair. Foyles is a great bookstore in central London and they’ve got a nice little cafe as well. Or have a look at Guardian’s list of independent bookshops. 

Go umbrella shopping – Face the rain! Getting yourself a nice new umbrella will brighten your day.  UniGlo has got cute, little ones, that don’t break on the first day in several colours for about a fiver. If you want to splash out (pun not intended) on a luxury brolly, visit the charming James Smith & Sons Umbrellas on New Oxford Street. 

Eat too much sushi  - Rainy day is the perfect time to visit Hi Sushi in Soho. All you can eat sushi is made fresh to order and sets you back around £15. 

Or if all this just seems like a lot of hassle, go back to bed, close the curtains and watch a classic movie on DVD. May I suggest Singing in the Rain? 

London Cheap Frills (part 1)

Gone are the days when London was one of the most expensive cities in the world. There are tons of cheap or even free things to do in London. Below are my favourites.

Catch a film. The old favourite Prince Charles Cinema is showing new films, recent releases and classics with prices starting from £1.50. It’s worth getting the yearly membership (£10) to save more in tickets.

Orange Wednesdays offer two for one cinema tickets in most of the cinemas across town. All you need is a friend with Orange. 

Museums. Almost all London museums are free of charge, apart from some temporary exhibitions. The labour scrapped the entrance fees from all national galleries and museums in 2001 and they have remained free from then on. Nobody knows  what the tories are planning but it doesn’t take much to make an educated guess.

Some of cultural gems include Tate Modern, Tate Britain, British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Science Museum, Natural History Museum, National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery. 

See a play in a local theatre. London’s theatre world doesn’t end in West End. The local theatres often have great quality productions, even with some well known names, with a fraction of the price of a West End musical. Admittedly, it can be a bit of a hit and miss but during all my time in London I have only walked out once during the interval. Check Off West End for more information and tips.

People watching. Head to Bricklane on Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of people come there just to be seen. Who can spot the most pretentious creature?

Old Compton Street. Try to snatch a window seat / table on the street in one of the cafes of London’s number one gay street. Spot the latest trends, fittest bodies and the most flamboyant queens. You won’t find bad B.O here. 

Get tipsy. Samuel Smiths Brewery has got several pubs in London and they are famous for their independence. The beers are all produced by the Tadcaster brewery and no large-corporation spirits or soft-drinks are available. Prices are low, with a pint of lager only setting you back around £2. Try The John Snow in Soho, The Angel in Bermondsey, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Holborn, The Champion in Fitzrovia or The Earl of Lonsdale in Notting Hill. 

Free gigs. There’s always plenty of free gigs on offer in London, this is after all the promised town of wannabe rock stars. Be warned though, if you haven’t heard of the band, there might be a reason for it. The record shop gigs are also now part of the bands’ marketing strategy. Check Rough Trade East and TimeOut for listings. 

Westminster Abbey – where kings and queens are coronated, is really an impressive piece of British history. The Abbey usually charges for the entrance but it’s free during services. Get there for Evensong. The Abbey choir, educated at  Westminster Abbey Choir School is singing at 5pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, plus at 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Park yourself. London is filled with fantastic parks. Pick a sandwich and a bottle of wine from a nearby shop and enjoy the greenery and fresh air. If you like more excitement in your life, bring along a frizbee. The best parks for picnic are Greenwich (South East), St. James’s Park (Central), Hampstead Heath (North), Regent’s Park (North) and Holland Park (West). 

I've parked myself. 

More Cheap Frills coming soon!