I'll be making my first visit to London the weekend of 20 May, at the tail end of a business trip to Coventry earlier in the week.
I'm a babe in the woods, so I have no idea where to stay, what to see, etc. I'm interested in the old history of the town, as well as the more modern stuff, especially the 60's music scene (Beatles, Stones, Who, etc.). And of course any blues or harp related advice is appreciated.
One tip I'll give you. Find a hotel out of Central London.
I'm not a Londoner, I'm from Portsmouth (about 70 miles south, but here, that's a million miles), but I've been there a bit.
Depending on your budget, I can recommend a backpacker's hostel (a real sh!t tip) in Stockwell for £5 a night, up to The Savoy, but if you're a normal guy alone, I'd opt for something out of town as you'll pay a lot less and the Tube is so easy to get around on and cheap. Whatever you do, don't drive 'in town' We drive on the 'wrong side' and it's pretty ruthless out there. Think NYC.
Music wise, there's Abbey Road Studios, Denmark Street (nicknamed 'Tin Pan Alley') a whole street full of music shops where Clapton, Page, etc bought their instruments. I'd take a look at Covent Garden. They have a few clubs with live music and the best pastie stall ever (if you don't know what I mean, Google it).
Blues wise, I'm going to have to defer to locals. It isn't the 'scene' that it was in the 60's although I think Ronnie Scott's club and The Marquee are still there, but I understand they've become tourist attractions more than anything.
History wise. Just take the tube to Trafalgar Square. 10 Downing Street, Buck House, Houses of Parliament and all the good stuff is within walking distance. The family and I did all that on foot last year with a 4 and a 7 year old. It's all within about 2-3 square miles (just guessing).
Have fun. I'd say that apart from the Blues scene, Google is probably the best friend you'll have on this subject.
If you are in London on the friday night and you fancy a Jam you could head to Arch1 in Cranberry Lane in West Ham. West Ham tube and rail station is a 100 yard walk away. Opens at 20:00 and stays open to 02:30-03:00. They have something on every night but friday and tuesday nights are blues nights. Great atmosphere and a very open minded approach. I love it cos it's a great place to try new things in a non-critical environment.
They have a myspace site http://www.myspace.com/arch1members
For general info about the city and attractions have a look here: http://www.visitlondon.com/
Try and get down to the South bank while you are here. Lots to see and do. Galleries, eateries. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Borough Market...
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For blues check out "Ain't nothing but" http://www.aintnothinbut.co.uk/
Live blues music every night, always really good bands. Jam night on Monday evenings. It's quite a small place and always really well attended so get there earlier to avoid the que. This place is just around the corner from Carnaby Street which was a fashion hub in the 60s. –
"By the 1960s, Carnaby Street proved popular for followers of both the Mod and hippie styles. Many independent fashion boutiques, and designers such as Mary Quant, Marion Foale and Sally Tuffin,[6] Lord John, Merc, Take Six, and Irvine Sellars were located in Carnaby Street as well as various underground music bars such as the Roaring Twenties in the surrounding streets. With bands such as Small Faces, The Who, and Rolling Stones appearing in the area to work (with the legendary Marquee Club located round the corner in Wardour Street)." – From Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnaby_Street
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Also check out "The Blues Kitchen" in Camden Town. http://www.theblueskitchen.com/
Live music most nights. Blues Jam on Sunday afternoon/evening. This place isn't strictly blues, but also branches out to soul, country, rockabilly and other blues related genres. Camden is also a vibrant and interesting area lots of great markets and places to eat and drink. It's also just up the road form the Round House which was a venue in the 60s and is currently an arts centre. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camden_Town
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'Round Midnight – Blues and Jazz bar in Islington. http://www.roundmidnightbar.com/
Blues Jam on Tuesday nights.
And our own CaptinBliss runs an acoustic roots music night there on Mondays. Always some great players.
Last Edited by on Apr 12, 2011 5:57 AM
Thanks all for great insight. Very helpful and I plan to take all these posts with me. I'm thinking of staying in Hampstead...a bit cheaper but still accessible. Any other location out of the centre that may appeal? Cheers! ----------
You could trek it to Bristol on the thursday by taking the train from Paddington and come to our albeit 'provincial' Blues jam.
It is a short taxi from the station to the Cornubia pub in temple St...you could be back in London by 1.30am and by the way we are in Cider country and last week the pub had 'sheep dip' scrumpy at 8.5% so you will sleep and smile.......
Hampstead is a very wealthy area just outside of London. Where abouts in Hampstead are you thinking of? I would have thought accomodation there would be very very expensive? ----------
I find streetview great for researching where I'm going so I can familiarise myself with the area. Makes it easier to get around.
You may want to visit Camden Town Market on a Saturday. It's where street fashion begins and where the most weirdly dresses people hang out. It's fascinating. Here's a link. It's only a short distance from where you will be staying.
http://www.camdenlock.net/
There's a short video on the link to give you a flavour of what it's like.
/I'm interested in the old history of the town, as well as the more modern stuff, especially the 60's music scene (Beatles, Stones, Who, etc.). And of course any blues or harp related advice is appreciated./
There are, of course, museums and galleries to suit every conceivable taste.
60's music scene?
No idea! Sorry.
Blues / harp-related?
Ain't Nothin' But is cool. Packed (seemingly with tourists) most of the time, a great vibe and some very good players. My friend Barry runs the Sunday afternoon jam sometimes, it's usually a good 'un.
+1 for 5F6H's recommendation:
/20th May - Big Joe Louis & The Blues Kings play "Ain't Nothing But", Kingly St...one of the UKs finest blues acts, usually West Weston on harp./
Well worth it.
And, if you're in town for a few days, as Baker kindly notes, there's an acoustic roots night every Monday at 'Round Midnight where you'll usually find me making harmonica-related noises.
Finally...
If you plan to visit Portobello Road market, drop me a line - captainbliss(AT)captainbliss(DOT)com - I live a stone's throw from the middle of it. Happy to show you around and I'll even make you a nice cup of tea if I'm at home...
I'm bored at work and have been Googling - John Mayall is originally from Macclesfield. Chris Rea (blues?) is from Middlesborough. Getting further up the map...
Last Edited by on Apr 13, 2011 8:53 AM
What, you have North/South rivalry in the UK? I never thought such a thing existed outside of the US!
@captain: thanks for the kind offer. I may take you up on it. As for seeing getting to Ain't Nothing But on Friday, I may not be able to as I'll be returning from a couple days in Hamburg. But I would like to check out the Sunday afternoon jam. If Barry is there, might he even let the Yank play? ----------
just a bitter northerner having a joke at the southern softies expense. i am actualy from a northern shithole Middlesbrough, lol the same place as Chris Rea. we definately got the blues in boro. !
Portobello? No worries! Just drop me an email nearer the time.
Sunday jam? IIRC, it's pretty relaxed. Turn up early-ish, get your name on the list, you're good to go. Whoever's running it is likely to be a nice, Yank-friendly bloke.
Yeah, it's an economic thing really. The Southern "Home Counties" (and you have to remember this is a big generalisation) historically were the home of the landed gentry, whereas the north was the industrial heartland. London and the West Country are kind of exceptions.
yes were i live we have the beautiful chemical works on our doorstep lol,dont forget the football issues as well for the north south thing lol. as for blues up north there is the massive blues festival at Maryport every July. Maryport is in the Lake District area of the north of England, and i dont think anywhere else in England is as beautiful as the Lakes.
Returned yesterday. Had a great weekend in London and was able to make it to Ain't Nothin But for the Sunday afternoon jam. Barry was gracious, friendly and kind enough to let me get on the list, and I was asked to stay onstage when the jam players rotated. No other harp players in attendance, it seemed (where were you guys?). Got to hear some great guitar (including Barry's wonderful slide playing) and made some new, temporary friends. Thanks all, for your guidance and support!
I was really impressed by the diversity of cultures in London, and it all came together in the club. Blues is a universal language after all! ----------
Last Edited by on May 24, 2011 9:13 AM
