Examine the tat at Fancy That

Your author finds tourism fascinating, and whilst there an infinite number of better places to spend time as a tourist, there is probably no better place to observe tourists than at shops like Fancy That Of London.


The degrees of junk available at shops like Fancy That is truly amazing, from keyrings to gift teas and royal memorabilia. It is truly amazing to examine the degrees of items on offer, and see the visitors queuing up to spend money on them.

Your author has never had much time for amassing things - except perhaps books and bottles - and perhaps this is why he finds the phenomenon so interesting. Why on earth does anyone need a golden collage of London monuments?

For more, see http://www.fancythatoflondon.co.uk/

Drink at Bradley's Spanish Bar

Found just off Oxford Street, on tiny Hanway Street, Bradley's Spanish Bar is an popular little bar on two levels.


The smaller bar upstairs is supplemented with a larger downstairs space and both are popular with a varied clientele, and when your author popped by recently everyone seemed to be smiling.

For more information, see http://www.shadyoldlady.com/location.php?loc=593

Escape the crowds at the Carpenters Arms, Seymour Place

A short distance from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street, and Edgware Road, the Carpenters Arms, in Seymour Place, W1, is a great little pub that provides a haven from all those people buying things they don't need.


Apparently established in 1776, and rebuilt in 1872, it is owned by Market Tavern, a small family-run pubco, with establishments in various places.

It claims to be home to the London branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, and whilst your author isn't sure if this is correct, it does have some fantastic ales on tap and the array of pump clips on show is a testament to this.

It's also a sport pub, but not in an overbearing way, and when your author was last in it had a mixed crowd of after-workers and all-dayers pleasantly whiling away their time.

For more, see http://www.markettaverns.co.uk/The-Carpenters-Arms/index.html

Eat chocolate at Charbonnel et Walker

Charbonnel et Walker have been selling fine handmade chocolates since 1875. Formed from an alliance between a Mrs Walker and a Madame Charbonnel, who had previously worked with the Maison Boissier chocolate house in Paris, the original shop was at 173 New Bond Street in Mayfair.


Whilst the flagship store has since moved to the Royal Arcade on Old Bond Street, the chocolates are still the same, and are even a favourite of the Queen, who has endorsed them with the Royal Warrant.

Given all the above, readers will not be surprised to hear that they're jolly expensive, but might be worth a try for a special occasion or something. They are very nice.

For more, see http://www.charbonnel.co.uk/

_{^Picture © Chocolate Reviews from Flickr under Creative Commons^}

See the National Radiator Company building

Often regarded as one of London's few gems of art deco architecture, black granite-clad Ideal House is an office block on the corner of Great Marlborough Street and Argyll Street designed by Raymond Hood and Gordon Jeeves and built between 1928 and 1929. The building received Grade-II listed status in 1981.


The seven storey building was designed for the American National Radiator Company, and was inspired by their famous building in New York, constructed a few years earlier. The black granite is complemented by enamel friezes and yellow, orange, green and gold details, chosen because black and gold were the company colours.

For more, see http://heritage.elettra.co.uk/artdeco/profile.php?building=ideal

_{^Picture from Flickr courtesy of oosp^}