Fifty Minutes of Fun

This is a boat trip that the whole family can enjoy, everyone from ages 4 through too 100, although those with small children and infants may prefer the more sedate ‘Thames River Cruise’ instead.  Speeding along the river at 35 knots you will travel under London’s historic bridges and you will see the city from a totally unique perspective.  All the time you are on the water the boat will be playing music as a background to your journey, and your award winning guides will be entertaining you with tales of the city the likes of which you will not experience on any other tour.

It is not only the tour that is unique but also the guides that ride with you, as you will be listening to actors from the west end and award winning comedians as you speed through the heart of the city, listening to their novel take on the sights and experiences the city provides.

Safety First

No matter your age or ability you will enjoy the ride, though there are a couple of exceptions as to who can take the trip.  Pregnant women, no matter what stage the pregnancy is at, are not permitted to take the speed boat tour, neither is anyone with a back complaint.  As you can imagine with the boat travelling at speed it can occasionally be a bumpy ride, the river is constantly changing and this can lead to some unpredictable wave movements which could aggravate any existing injury.

The trips themselves are tailored to meet the needs of the party on the boat and if the weather should prove to be a little inclement, wet weather gear is provided for all passengers, in all shapes and sizes.  This is a tour that is open for people of all abilities; however wheelchairs cannot be accommodated on board the craft.  Providing that the person in the wheel chair is willing to leave their chair behind and be assisted by the crew into the seat on board the craft, everyone can enjoy the exhilaration of a speed boat tour through the heart of the city.

History

These gardens are the oldest botanical gardens in London and date back to 1673 when they were established by the ‘Worshipful Society of Apothecaries’ for the purposes of training and educating young apprentices to the craft, teaching them plant identification and uses.  These elegant gardens became regarded as one of the most important centres for botanical research in the world.  It is the unique microclimate apparent in the gardens that allows some of the more tender and delicate plants to flourish, including some species that are now endangered; this is mainly due to the proximity of the gardens to the River Thames.

It is home to the biggest outdoor olive tree which bears fruit in the whole of the United Kingdom as well as the most northerly located grapefruit tree.  In fact there are over one hundred different varieties of tree in the garden the majority of which are not native to Britain.  There are glass houses that are home to tropical and sub tropical species and a beautiful Victorian fernery.

New Developments

On the 23^rd May 2012 there is a new garden opening to the public; within it will be a selection of all of the plants that we as a species rely on to survive.  This garden will encompass not only the plants that we rely on for food, but also for general health and wellbeing as well as plants used for hygiene purposes, for science and the arts. Some of the plants will be beautiful and recognisable whilst others will be strange and alien, yet every one of them is relied on by humanity for one reason or another.

The garden includes designated teaching areas where visitors can learn about these amazing, life sustaining plants.  Visitors will also find a compact vineyard, a living amphitheatre and a beautiful pond, accessed via a stone pier.  The aim of the garden is to bring people closer and give them an understanding of the plants and vegetation that they take so much for granted.

Points of Interest

Within Chelsea Physic garden you will also find Britain’s oldest rock garden currently on public view, which is now grade II listed and dates from 1773.  The gardens have been open to the public since 1983, and the recent increase in natural and plant based medicines has seen the garden develop a pharmaceutical garden to further increase our knowledge and highlight just how many plants indigenous to Britain and those found further afield can be used to benefit health.

The Most Famous Flower Show in the World

The Chelsea Flower Show is known the world over for its stunning displays and immense appeal, with people travelling here from all over the world to take part, share in the experience and talk to the professionals on hand around the event.  With just under 160,000 visitors making their way to the show each year admittance is strictly limited to ticket only, as the eleven acre grounds of the Royal Hospital could not cope with any more ‘just turning up’ on the day, as it is regularly filled to capacity.  This is the place to be if you want to know what the coming trends are in the world of gardening and horticulture, as this is the place where new and exciting plant species make their first public appearance and concept designs are first displayed.

New Additions for 2012

It doesn’t matter what you love about your garden, everybody finds something to interest them at the Chelsea Flower Show.  From the show gardens that display the latest design trends to the array of trade stands displaying the very latest in gardening gadgets the show has a very broad appeal.  Some of the most eagerly awaited show gardens at this year’s display belong to the following designers.

• Andy Sturgeon – The M&G Garden.  M&G Investments are the sponsors of this year’s show and their show garden is said to be Arts & Crafts inspired, everything within the garden is there in celebration of all that is good about traditional craftsmanship and the use of natural materials.
• Sarah Price – The Daily Telegraph Garden.  Sarah is also co-designer of the gardens for the 2012 Olympic Park, which looks set to be the largest urban park created in the city of London since the nineteenth century.  The Daily Telegraph garden has taken the gold medal for best in show for an amazing three years running, Sarah is hoping that she can make it a fourth.
• Chris Beardshaw – Furzey Gardens.  Chris is a garden designer and television presenter, and this year has one of the largest plots at the show.  His garden will be a celebration of the 90^th anniversary of the Furzey Gardens which are located in the New Forest in Hampshire.  Chris hopes to create a wooded hillside and include many plants that are not normally given precedence at the show.

Trade Blossoms

An explosion in trade in the middle of the 18^th Century saw a new middle class with disposable income.  With new trade routes opening up and a boom in imports London became something of a retail capital and the place to buy just about everything discovered in the new world, and right in the heart of the city with all of these new products and people with money to spend were Fortnum & Mason.  The Fortnum family had strong links with the East India Trading Company and so our enterprising gentlemen were amongst the first to receive new and exciting products from overseas, which saw their store blossoming and becoming quite the place to be.

The 1800’s

The 1800’s saw a lot of changes taking place.  Soldiers at the battle of Waterloo were fed with rations provided by Fortnum & Mason, sent by well wishing relatives.  Filled with dried fruits, honey and preserves they were often pilfered before reaching their intended destination, such was the reputation of their contents.

It was the Great Exhibition in 1851 that saw Fortnum & Mason come to the fore as they were the first retailer to provide ‘readymade’ foods, items like poultry and game in aspic, foods that required no cooking or preparation, just eating, like the now infamous ‘Scottish Egg’.  It was their hampers that gained them serious recognition, with even Charles Dickens extolling the virtues of a hamper from Fortnum & Mason’s.  In 1886 the store held a meeting with a young Mr Heinz and so Britain got its first taste of what has become a store cupboard staple, the baked bean.

The 20^th Century

Ladies clothing, kitchen wares and other new departments sprung up over the next 100 years.  F & M’s became the only store with a special department catering for Expeditions, items for the officer’s mess and enough exotic food to cater for the dietary requirements of all visiting royal dignitaries.  The now iconic clock that adorns the storefront was installed in 1964, a landmark moment for the store.  With a record store opening in 1984 they began selling the Band Aid charity single.  F & M’s joined the internet revolution in 1999 when it launched its online store.

The Future

Just as it has in the past Fortnum & Mason’s continues to expand and offers a unique shopping experience to everyone that walks through its doors.

Theatre Tour and Exhibition

The Globe Theatre is regarded as the world’s biggest visitor based experience that is solely devoted to William Shakespeare, and the city and time in which his lived, worked and created his masterpieces.  The Theatre offers visitors a not only informative but also engaging exhibition that charts the incredible story of the Globe Theatre.  The use of interactive exhibitions in the space beneath the theatre proper, as well as and hands on demonstrations allows the world that William Shakespeare lived in to be brought to life before your eyes, giving visitors an understanding of what life was like in the city during Shakespeare’s time.

Here you will learn about the costumes and the musical instruments of the Renaissance that were used in the theatre, and get to see some of the more extravagant Elizabethan costumes.  As well as all of the exhibits and interactive displays the experience also offers a full thirty minute guided tour of the Globe Theatre itself.  Led by experienced story tellers the guides will reveal a fascinating side of the theatre that will entertain and inform.

The Rose Tour

Built back in 1587, before the construction of the original Globe Theatre, the Rose Theatre is where historians and academics believe that Shakespeare was employed as an actor, and where he staged many of his earlier works.  It is probably due to this literary heritage that has made it the only Elizabethan playhouse that has been extensively investigated by archaeologists.  A guided tour of the site will include a walking tour of the Bankside which involves the highlighting of many historical landmarks en route.

Useful Information

Visitors to the Globe should be aware that during matinee performances there is no access to the theatre for the theatre part of the tour, visitors arriving during performances will instead be taken to the site of the Rose Theatre, the first open air playhouse along the Bankside.  During the theatre season tours are limited because of the many performances taking place, visitors will only be granted access to the exhibition and access may also be restricted at times due to rehearsals.  However the attraction is open all year round and visitors should contact the Globe Theatre to see if the tours are running or whether there are performances taking place as the times they would like to visit.

Highlights of the Tour

With so many features to discover and explore, here are a few of the highlights that you will be able to experience.

• Walk inside the Great Hall that was used in all of the Harry Potter films.
• Discover the treasures that line the walls in the office of Hogwarts Head Teacher, Dumbledore.
• Walk the cobbled streets of magical Diagon Alley, and marvel at the array of shop fronts that line the street, from Ollivander’s famous wand shop to Eeylops incredible Owl Emporium.
• Get up close and personal with Harry’s Nimbus 2000 broom and the motorcycle ridden my Hagrid the Giant.
• Step inside the iconic Griffindor common room, and Hagrid’s Hut, the Potion’s Classroom and the office of Professor Umbridge inside the Ministry of Magic.
• Learn about green screen technology and how it was used to bring some of the magical creatures in the films to life.
• See some of the life sized models of some of the films more memorable creatures.

The Secret’s Out

The tour opens to the public on March 31^st 2012 and it offers to be an incredible and memorable experience for everyone that visits.  The estimated tour time is a full three hours as you are encouraged to tour the studios at your own pace.  As well as some of the more precious treasures from the films visitors will also be able to get hands on with a number of interactive exhibits that promise to make you feel as though you are really in Potter’s magical world.

Tickets for this amazing tour are ONLY available in advance; you will NOT be able to buy a ticket if you just turn up at the studios on the day.  Details of the range of tickets available and the pricing structure can be found at http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/en/tickets/individuals

The studios are situated just 20 miles from the city centre, and are serviced regularly by public transport.  Visitors for the tour are advised to arrive a full twenty minutes before the start of their tour as tickets will need to be collected before you enter the studios, if you opted to have your tickets mailed out to you, you do not need to arrive so early and will be able to go straight to the tour.

At the same time as the unveiling in London identical figures were unveiled in both Amsterdam and New York, with Kate being styled differently in each of the locations.  The London William and Kate are on display in the aptly named Royal zone within the museum, with other members of the British Royal family such as the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (Charles and Camilla) and of course Prince Harry and the late Princess Diana on display in the same area.

William & Kate in London

The way that the Duchess has been styled in the London venue portrays the now iconic image of their engagement announcement.  The model of Catherine is dressed in an identical copy of the now famous royal blue ‘Issa London’ dress that she wore for the announcement, which reflected the colour of her engagement ring so beautifully.  William too, is dressed in an identical copy of the suit that he was wearing on the day by well known London tailors Grieves and Hawkes.

Also replicated in incredible detail is the engagement ring worn by Catherine, which was once owned by the late Princess Diana.  Even the Omega Seamaster Watch that William is sporting is an identical replica of the watch he wore for the announcement.

The Other Kates

The wax work model of the Duchess on display in New York wears a replica of the stunning Alexander McQueen floor length gown that Catherine wore to the BAFTA Brits, whilst the model in Amsterdam is wearing a replica of the outfit that she wore to the premiere of War Horse.  All of Catherine’s outfits have been replicated by staff working closely with the clothes original designers and design houses to ensure that they are as identical in every way that they can possibly be.

Other Recent Additions

The other latest additions to the cast of characters on display at Madame Tussaud’s include teen heart throb Taylor Lautner from the popular Twilight phenomenon, which is proving to be a big draw to his hoard of teenage fans, actor Tom Hanks, on loan from Madam Tussaud’s in Hollywood and Bollywood sensation Madhuri Dixit-Nene, who will join the very colourful and popular Bollywood zone.  A wax work replica of actor Colin Firth has been announced as the next addition to those celebrities already immortalised in wax.

History

The first Madame Tussauds was opened in Paris in 1761, and since then figures from both history and celebrity have been immortalised in incredible detail in the medium of wax.  The Tussauds museums around the world draw millions of visitors each year, and the number continues to grow.

Run It Your Way

With a staggering 30,000 people set to pound the streets how you cover the distance is up to you – providing it’s on foot of course!  Those with the stamina run the whole course attempting to keep up with the professional’s timings; others walk the course proud to be a part of the experience, whilst a hardy number will don clumsy and bulky fancy dress costumes to compete in.  The London Marathon is not just about who covers the distance in the shortest time, or even personal achievement; it is about promoting awareness and raising money for a whole host of charitable organisations.

The Marathon Route

The route that the marathon follows takes in many of the city’s famous landmarks, runners make their way along the south bank of the Thames before crossing over Tower Bridge, the course also takes in the sights at Greenwich and Buckingham Palace as well as the iconic London Eye and the stately Tower of London.  Of course the route will also be lined with thousands of spectators, well wishers and family members of the runners taking part, all of which adds to the incredible atmosphere that fills the city during the event.

This Year’s Celebrity Runners

Amongst the many celebrity participants this year will be Christopher Ecclestone, who despite his long and rewarding stage and screen career is probably more recognisable as the ninth incarnation of Time Lord Dr Who.  Chris will be running in support of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.  Also running will be Hell’s Kitchen’s Superstar Chef Gordon Ramsey who will be running to raise money for the Scottish Spina Bifida Association; we had better hope that nobody gets in his way!  Music phenomenon Will Young is also set to run the course this year, looking to raise as much money and awareness for his chosen charity Catch 22 (helping Young People Out), these are just a few names out of the long list of celebrities that are set to take part on the 22^nd.

Real People, Real Stories

Many of the other runners taking part in the marathon will all be looking to raise money for their favourite charities.  Many of these people will have lost friends and family to the diseases for which they now run to raise funds for research into.  So as those enthusiastic runners pass you by, give them a special cheer as not only are they running with a clear goal in mind, many of them will be running with a broken heart.

Park Attractions

The park is home to four pelicans that are fed every day between 2.30 and 3.30 pm around Duck Island Cottage.  These pelicans are descendants of the very first pelicans that were presented in 1684 by a Russian dignitary.  St James’s Park is also edged by Horseguards Parade, where the trooping of the colour takes place every year in June, along with the beating retreat.

Inn the Park is a great place to stop for a bit to eat as you explore the park; this fully licensed restaurant is an eco friendly designed building that was built using sustainable timber and has a ‘green’ roof.  Even if you only stop long enough for a coffee or a cold drink you will be more than impressed by the style and design of the building.

The Blue Bridge is a perfect place to stop for inspiration, as it offers spectacular views of Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards, Whitehall and the London Eye.  This is the perfect place to hire a deckchair and work on that watercolour.

History and Heritage

The park is edged along one side by the Mall which has become a major part of all royal ceremonial proceedings and is part of the route of the London Marathon every year.  The memorial gardens to the front of Buckingham Palace are planted out every year with a staggering 12,000 geraniums, all red to match the colours of the uniforms of the guardsmen, in recognition and memory of all of those who have served in the regiment.

A Changing Landscape

The elegant look of the park today is a far cry from how it once looked.  The park was once used for the grazing of pigs, as this was an area more famous for its farms than its current sophistication; this was also a rich woodland and home to a female leper hospital.

The park was also an area that was used for deer hunting by the kings and queens of the day, the royal court was then in residence at the Palace of Westminster.  It was in 1536 that infamous Henry VIII decided to create a deer park close to the Palace of Westminster.  He used the land in St James’s, fenced it all in and created a fabulous hunting lodge which later became known as St James’s Palace.  The park was modified by succeeding monarchs each adjusting the park to suit their own needs.

Iconic Memorabilia

With the use of state of the art audio visual equipment, combined with some of the most coveted and iconic memorabilia from decades of British music this interactive exhibition offers visitors the chance to get up close and personal with some of the costumes, instruments and equipment that they have seen only in magazines and on the television.  Not only is the content of the exhibition exciting but some of the things that you can do while you are here sets this exhibition apart from everything else in the city.  This is the only attraction in the world where you can make your own recordings to keep as a memento of your time here.

Decades of Musical History

There are a total of sixty years of musical history covered by the exhibition, and it is not only the background to the music that you will learn about.  You will also see how the British music scene influenced art, politics and the fashions of the time.  From Ziggy Stardust’s memorable clown costume to a vintage Amy Winehouse dress there is something here to play to everyone’s musical tastes and preferences.  You will also be able to get very hands on with musical instruments and recording equipment during your time at the O2 Arena.  Visitors can choose from guitar, bass, drums or vocals and show their talent in the Gibson Interactive Studio, or if music is not your talent throw some shapes in Dance the Decades.

Highlights

Get up close to sheets of hand written lyrics and personal artefacts from some of Britain’s music greats.  All of the notable British bands have a place in the exhibition from the Beatles through to Coldplay and many, many more.  Visitors will be able to access three FREE tunes to download from the UKiTunes store.  There has never been an exhibition like The British Music Experience ever before, as never before has so much iconic music memorabilia been brought together under one roof, and never in such a spectacular dome like the O2 arena.

The Fun Continues Once You Return Home

After your visit, you will be able to log onto the MyBME library and get access to all of your favourite pieces of the exhibition so you can continue to enjoy the British Music Experience in the comfort of your own home.  If you don’t make it to any other exhibition or experience this year, make a point of coming to this one, you will be very happy that you did.

The Exhibition is open daily from 11.00am, with last entry at 6.00pm.