Hi, I tried to email, but the message bounced back. I'm pasting it here instead :)

Here are some links to some cool London sights.

The London Eye
Visitors information (http://www.londoneye.com/planner/default.asp?section=plan) It's fairly expensive, Adult - £11.00 1 April 2003 - 31 December 2003 but I think it's worth it for the view. It's like going to New York and not climbing the Empire State Building, or seeing the Statue of Liberty *g* It may be a good idea to book in advance as the queues are normally really long for this.

The Tate Modern Visitors Information (http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/information.htm) Go to this! I love it. Even the building itself is beautiful. It's free, with the exception of special exhibitions. Out of the special exhibitions at the moment, Cruel and Tender (http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/cruelandtender) - a collection of realist photography, has been getting particularly good reviews. Not as good as their recent Picasso and Mattisse exhibition recently, but good.

Victoria And Albert Museum
Vistors information (http://www.vam.ac.uk/visiting) You can virtually spend a whole day here, the collection is so extensive. It has everything that has occurred in applied arts.The Art Deco 1910-1939 exhibit is hitting headlines in the art world here. It's so popular, you'll need to book advanced tickets, and it's a set timed visit. Full £8. Senior citizens and full-time students £5. Admission is free to children, under 18s, disabled people and up to two carers Further Info about the art deco collection (http://edward.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1157_art_deco/visiting) It closes on the 20th July.

But there's also a Guy Bourdin exhibition. I love his glamorous photography. I'm going to see this one myself *g*

National Gallery London And the National Portrait Gallery
Vistors Information (http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/plan/default.htm) The permanent collection covers the period from about 1250 to 1900 of Western European paintings.

I would avoid Leicester Square, the Trocodero, Piccadilly. There's touristy places, but they're dirty, unimpressive and there is nothing much to look at or do there apart from arcades and expensive gift shops. If you want to go to London neighbourhood and absorb the atmosphere, try Bloomsbury, Primrose Hill or Soho.

Hope this helps!

This is sooo cool! Thank you.

Definately going to do the Tate. Thinking about the London eye as well, but I need to check with Jean money wise.

Guy Bourdin sounds nice too...

*Squeeze*

Ehmm saying thank you on the recommendations as well, since I'll be the one running around trying to keep up with Elli ^_^

Especially appreciated you pointing out Bloomsbury, Primrose Hill and Soho - always much more fun to go where all the other tourists go *G* we'll have much more room to wave those cameras around !

J

Hee, by the time you read this, you're probably already back. Hope you had fun!

*G* actually no. Elli left a day earlier than me, had to finish work and just got home. Leaving early tomorrow morning instead ^_^ We'll have fun - have to remember to celebrate Elli's birthday, so if you answer this before tomorrow morning - you can suggest some really nice places to eat???

Cheers,
Jean

Hmm, well there are a lot of places to choose from depending on your preference in type of eating.

J. Sheekey is an excellent seafood restaurant and at the upper end of the price scale Average Price: £42 (for a two course, sharing a bottle of wine. But the food is excellent, service warm, atmosphere good and double chocolate souffle dessert is to die for! 28-32 St. Martins Court, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 4AL Nearest Tube Station: Leicester Square
Tel: 020 7240 2565

Abeno Okonomi-yaki is a fun place to eat (and although a little westernised, probably the most authentic) Japanese food. But it's so popular it's necessary to book for weekends and evenings. I've posted a telephone number if you want to go here. I normally spend about £25 pounds (again two course, sharing wine. And the food is cooked right at your table, so it's entertaining. 47 Museum Street, London, WC1A 1LY Nearest Tube Station: Tottenham Court Road Tel: 020 7405 3211

Chez Gerard (Charlotte Street) It's my local French restaurant. It's expensive, but look for the fixed price/set menu, which is really good value. 8 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 2LS
Nearest Tube Station: Goodge Street Tel: 020 7636 4975

It might be worth walking around Charlotte street as the whole area is lined with small restaurant and bars. It's just behind/off Tottenham Court Road.

Other places that have a lot of good restaurant :-

- Brick Lane, which is famous for really cheap and cheerful Indian Cuisine. Expect tatty restaurants, but good food. It's bit out of the way from central London, but a lot of people think it's worth going to.

- China Town for Chinese of course *g*. I would go to Jade Gardens for dim sum. But for a meal try The Golden Dragon I use to go to The New Diamond , but it's changes owners recently and the food has become very bad.

Thanks for the recommendations. I got home Saturday evening and Elli yesterday, we were both quite exhausted. We went to Charlotte street the day after we arrived since it was fairly close to where we were staying. There were lots of great places there, ended up at the Thai Metro - since we both like Thai.

In the end we didn't get to check out that many other places you recommended, since we mostly took what was close to the areas we were visiting.

Went to the Guy Bourdin which was great - really frisky photographs *G*

Cheers,
Jean

Frisky! lol

The sausages..the sausages!

Hee, I went to the Guy Bourdin exhibition last week, too. I love his photography, and frisky is part of the appeal. Including the sausages *g*

Hope you had a good time anyway - despite the airport chaos. Even though I personally love the city, London can be hit or miss...

It was great! But I loved it before
as well...

details later...still catching up.