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Free Afternoon Recitals at The Royal Opera House

Tickets for the lunchtime recitals are FREE. Tickets will be available at the Royal Opera House Box Office from 10 am on the morning of the recital. Please note that Crush Room recitals are limited to 160 tickets so do collect tickets early to avoid disappointment. Recitals start at 1pm. Approx. Running Time: 45-50 minutes. All recitals take place in the opulent Crush Room unless otherwise stated.

Make your special evening complete at the Royal Opera House by combining your choice of ballet or opera with food and drink. The Opera House opens one and a half hours before the curtain rises. All bars and restaurants open at this time.

For evening and Sunday performances the restaurants are open to ticket holders only. The Royal Opera House - www.royaloperahouse.org

BFI IMAX Cinema - UK's largest cinema screen!

The nearby BFI IMAX Cinema is the UK's largest cinema screen, The UK's biggest cinema screen - more than 20 metres high (nearly the height of five double-decker buses) and 26 metres wide!

It also has an 11,600-watt digital surround-sound system - a great experience for those who love film! www.bfi.org.uk

Borough Market - A must for anyone who likes their food!

Borough Market is London's oldest food market. It was established on the south bank of the Thames when the Romans built the first London Bridge. It has occupied its present site for 250 years!

Borough has a long and distinguished history as a wholesale fruit and vegetable market - wholesale trade takes place every night except Saturday from 2am - 8am. Borough Market is also the country's most important retail market for fine foods and The Trustees and Traders of Borough Market believe that everyone has a right to eat well.

There are lots of things to try and buy and it is well worth a visit. Anyone can visit the market on Thursdays from 11am to 5pm, Fridays from 12pm to 6pm and Saturdays from 9am - 4pm. It's also a great walk from our apartments at Globe View via the Millennium Bridge and The Tate Modern - a great way to spend a Saturday morning!

Borough Market, 8 Southwark Street, London SE1.

Explore The Barbican Centre

The Barbican is owned, funded and managed by the City of London, The third largest funder of the arts in the UK and its striking towers dominate the skyline of the City of London.

Designed in the 1960s and constructed in the 1970s the Barbican Centre was opened on 3 March 1982 by HM The Queen who described it as 'one of the wonders of the modern world'. It was built as 'the City's gift to the nation' at an historical capital cost of £161million, equivalent to almost £400 million today.

Open 363 days a year, the Barbican presents a uniquely diverse programme of world-class performing and visual arts, encompassing all forms of classical and contemporary music, international theatre and dance, visual arts and design, and a cinema programme which blends first-run films with special themed seasons.

Also, don't miss the chance to catch recently released films on a Sunday afternoon at the Sunday Matinees Season at The Barbican Centre is a second chance to catch the best recently released films you may have missed.

Get lost at the Barbican? Not with their handy map!

Thanks to their great new map, discover the Barbican's drawbridge and moat (inspired by the Roman fortress which stood on the site), learn more about the 1950s utopian vision which informed the architecture and see some of the eight acres of gardens and lakes around the Barbican.

For those City Apartments guests who stay at London House and work at Citypoint or anywhere on the east side of the Barbican, you can also use the map to walk through the Barbican on its walkways almost all the way to your office under cover - great for avoiding those April showers London is famous for! Check out the map here or for more information about the entire Barbican Centre, do visit their website at www.barbcan.org.uk.

The Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC1 www.barbican.org.uk

The Bramah Tea & Coffee Museum

The Bramah Museum, only two minutes from London Bridge Station on the south side of the River Thames opposite the City, is the world's first museum devoted entirely to the history of tea and coffee. It tells the commercial and social 400 year old history of two of the world's most important commodities since their arrival in Europe from the Far East and Africa.

The London tea trade has, for generations, conducted the business of unloading ships, marketing, blending and packing on both sides of the Thames close to London Bridge here in the heart of the City of London. Although the tea auctions were held north of the river, the South Bank boasted many prestigious warehouses. Also nearby is the George Inn with its original seventeenth century coffee room.

For 200 years the East India Company sailing ships returning from China would unload their cargoes on the Thames. Although the steam ships bringing teas from India, Ceylon and Africa frequently berthed further down river, their cargoes would be brought up by barge as far as London Bridge. Some Clipper sailing ships however, came as far as London Bridge in the 1860s.

The Bramah Tea & Coffee Museum, 40 Southwark St, London SE1 1UN. www.teaandcoffeemuseum.co.uk

The British Museum - a must-see for everyone

The British Museum holds in trust for the nation and the world a collection of art and antiquities from ancient and living cultures. Housed in one of Britain's architectural landmarks, the collection is one of the finest in existence, spanning two million years of human history.

The Museum has continually sought to make its collections available to greater and more diverse audiences, first in London, subsequently the UK and worldwide. Over the past forty years, the increasing ease of international travel has meant not only that more visitors from abroad can come to London to use the collection, but that the collection can more easily travel to them, and be put to public use in new local contexts. The visiting exhibitions are numerous and ever-changing and we can't do them all justice in this guide, so do visit their website at www.britishmuseum.ac.uk for all the information. Access to the collection is free.

If you don't have time to visit many of the exhibitions, a visit to see the stunning architecture - young and old - that makes up the British Museum is truly breathtaking. If you're staying with us at Cleary House, it's only a short walk from your apartment!

The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1. www.britishmuseum.ac.uk

Covent Garden and The London Transport Museum

Covent Garden is within walking distance of Pleydell House and Cleary House. It gets its name because it is built on the land of an ancient Benedictine convent. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, the monks were banished to Berkshire and the King used the fields to train his falcons. A man of little patience, the King soon tired of this and before long the land was given to the aristocratic Bedford family who ordered the construction of the Piazza and surrounding streetscape. After the City of London was devastated in the great fire of 1666, trade and industry moved westwards and laid roots in Covent Garden where the famous fruit, vegetable and flower market flourished for 300 years before finally moving away in the 1970s.

Billions of people have passed through Covent Garden for business and pleasure over the years and many of them have left a legacy for history. From the aristocrats who contested world-title boxing bouts to John Logie Baird transmitting the first television programme, there has always been something happening in and around Covent Garden.

With unrivalled shopping, historic theatres, bonkers street entertainment and over 1000 places to eat or drink, Covent Garden has a tremendous amount to offer to you. Whether you know and love the area or you are planning a first visit, the pages of the official Covent Garden website have all the information you could need to make the most of your next visit to Covent Garden - www.coventgarden.co.uk.

Also well worth a visit following its grand reopening this month is London's Transport Museum on the Piazza - check their website - www.ltmuseum.co.uk for the dates and details. Until then, the museum's shop is now open on the main site in the Floral Hall. All the iconographic symbols are available to buy on posters, homewares and souvenirs and there is also a charming range of new products including this funky case in the familiar roundel shape with a well-known pattern.

Underground posters have long been recognised as pop cultural icons and there is an array of these dating back to the earliest days of the tube network all housed in boldly coloured drawers such as those pictured left. So the shop is now open, go down and reacquaint yourself with all the delights of the London travel network and get yourself a really original souvenir of your time in London.

Covent Garden - official website www.coventgarden.co.uk
London Transport Museum - official website www.ltmuseum.co.uk

Leadenhall Market

With traceable history as a market location and meeting place dating back to the 1st century, Leadenhall Market (as we see it today) is a beautiful and historic building tucked away in the back streets of the City. Acquired by Mayor Dick Whittington in 1411 (we're not sure if the cat was around then!) the site grew in size and importance as its involvement the market trading areas around the site grew during the 15th century.

Leadenhall Market largely survived the Great Fire of London in 1666 but was knocked down (property developers were ruthless even in the 19th century) and rebuilt in 1881 into the structure we see today which retains an immense charm as a fine example of the early market trading halls. Smithfield Market, opposite our apartments at Hills Chambers was also designed by the same architect.

Leadenhall Market was then extensively restored in the 1990's and in early 2001 Hollywood came calling when the market was used as the setting for the wizarding world of Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films. Visit Leadenhall Market today and you will see a fine selection of individual shops and boutiques, as well as a wide choice of restaurants and bars.

www.leadenhallmarket.co.uk

London RIB Voyages - the only way to see the Thames!

Experience the City from the river in probably the most exhilarating way possible - take a London RIB Voyage!

TIME OUT rated London RIB Voyages as one of the top five things to do in London and we couldn't agree more. London RIB Voyages cover a larger area of the River Thames than conventional tours, so you'll experience more in an action-packed hour-long round trip. Their purpose built Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB) are licensed to carry passengers in complete safety and comfort.

On the tour you'll be going under the bridges of the Thames, close to the water - and this will enable you to experience the "feel" of the Thames - the history of years gone past and the future. The expert guides provide a wealth of information that will intrigue and entertain you. Because groups are limited to a maximum of 12 passengers, you'll be able to interact with your guide, to make sure you are experiencing exactly what you want out of your voyage.

For our guests staying at Globe View, you'll go speeding past your apartment - look out for Globe View on the north side of the Thames opposite Tate Modern! Tours start from The London Eye on the South Bank. Not only is this a fantastic sightseeing trip it is also fun, exciting and unique. Don't delay - book today!

www.londonribvoyages.com

Linley Sambourne House - A Truly Victorian Experience!

Linley Sambourne House at 18 Stafford Terrace is a unique example of a late Victorian townhouse. Home to the cartoonist Edward Linley Sambourne and his family from 1874, it survives with almost all of its furniture and fittings intact.

This site provides an introduction to the House and its collections and to the Sambourne family. Take a room by room tour of the house and study in detail examples of the decoration and furnishings selected by the family.

Weekend tours are led by an actor in period costume, providing a compelling insight into the lives of the Sambourne family. Visits last approximately one and a half hours. Each tour will be preceded by a brief video introduction.

18 Stafford Terrace, London W8 7BH. Tel: www.rbkc.gov.uk/linleysambournehouse

Postman's Park

A great little gem is Postman's Park - just a short walk from our apartments at London House and Newbury House. This small green space is tucked in between King Edward Street, Little Britain and Angel Street, near St Bartholomew's Hospital and the London Wall roundabout to the north of St Paul's Cathedral. Under the sheltered area is a wall commemorating ordinary people who lost their lives trying to save others.

This was the idea of the painter G F Watts (1817-1904), and the hand-lettered tiles were made by Doulton. Watts was something of a social radical who disliked the upper classes. This public memorial celebrates people who would perhaps otherwise have been forgotten. This is a lovely spot to sit and relax and despite the sad circumstances of the tiles, it really is a lovely place to visit.

Postman's Park, between St Martins-le-Grand & King Edward Street, north of St Paul's and just south of the Museum of London Roundabout

St Katherine Docks, Tower Hill, London SE1

For over a thousand years the site of St Katharine Docks has been a focus of commerce and human endeavour. From King Edgar's bequest in the 10th century throughout the turbulent middle ages and Elizabethan times, to the founding of the dock we can see today, St Katharine's has played an important part in the life of London.

From pre-Roman times, the area known as St Katharine Docks has been a centre of commerce and trading. But the real roots of today's complex of commercial and residential buildings can be traced back to the 10th century, when King Edgar (959-975) gave 13 acres of land on the site to 13 knights with the "right" to use the land for profit which provided the basis for trade in foreign goods which continued for a thousand years. By the end of the 18th century, St Katharine's was at the centre of a settlement numbering around 3,000 people, with its own court and alms houses, in addition to the hospital and school. The area was a haven of tranquillity, in sharp contrast to Ratcliffe immediately to the east, which was notoriously frequented by sailors on shore leave, vagabonds, prostitutes and London's low life.

Now, in 2011, it offers a mix of residential property, office and retail space and is a great place to visit and soak up the London sun (when we have it!) and enjoy the views of the Thames from the lock, have lunch in one of the restaurants surrounding the dock, admire the boats at the marina or have dinner on the world's oldest lightship - now a restaurant called The Lightship. St Katherine Docks are just past The Tower of London to the east side of The City.

St Katherine Docks, London E1W 1YW (next to Tower Bridge). www.skdocks.co.uk

Spitalfields Market

Spitalfields takes its name from the hospital and priory, St. Mary's Spittel that was founded in 1197. Lying in the heart of the East End, it is an area known for its spirit and strong sense of community. It was in a field next to the priory where the now famous market first started in the thirteenth century.

After the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the city, King Charles II granted John Balch a Royal Charter that gave him the right to hold a market on Thursdays and Saturdays in or near Spital Square. The success of the market encouraged people to settle in the area and in 1685, following the edict of Nantes, the Huguenots fled France and brought their silk weaving skills to Spitalfields. Around the conservation area of Fournier Street they built their grand houses, which can be seen today and where many artists such as Gilbert and George now live.

As the area grew in popularity, Spitalfields became a parish in its own right in 1729 when Hawkesmoor's Christ Church was consecrated. For the next 200 years the market continued to blossom. Trading from a collection of sheds and stalls, doing its best to cope with London's growing population and appetite for fresh fruit and vegetables. As time went by, it became a centre for the sale of home grown produce, which was being traded there six days a week.

Spitalfields fell into decline after the 1820's and gained a reputation as cheap area in which to live, proving a magnet to numerous waves of immigrants. During the 1840's the potato famine led to an influx of men from Ireland, bringing in workers to build the nearby docks. More recently, Bangladeshi settlers have contributed to the richness of life in the borough of Tower Hamlets, many of them establishing restaurants in and around Brick Lane.

By 1876, a former market porter called Robert Horner bought a short lease on the market and started work on a new market building, which was completed in 1893 at a cost of £80,000.

In 1920 the City of London acquired direct control of the market, extending the original buildings eight years later.

For the next 60 years, Spitalfields' nationwide reputation grew, as did the traffic congestion in the narrow streets around it. With no room for the expansion it so badly needed, the market was forced to move and in May 1991 it opened its doors at its new location in Leyton. For the last 14 years Old Spitalfields Market has again established itself as a thriving market.

A visitor to the market stalls and independent shops can find that hidden jewel, from jewel encrusted vintage boots, art deco sofas to rare vinyl for enthusiasts.

At the end of 2005, after 18 years of sensitive preparation, the Spitalfields regeneration programme was completed. This regeneration has resulted in the creation of two new public spaces, Bishops Square and Crispin Place, a public art programme, an events programme, the restoration of several historic streets in E1 and a selection of carefully selected new retailers and restaurants. Spitalfields is no longer considered just a Sunday destination it has evolved into one of London's favourite and most vibrant areas.

Spitalfields Market, Bushfield Street, London E16AA. Nearest tube is Liverpool St/Aldgate East.

The Sir John Soane Museum

Sir John Soane was born in 1753, the son of a bricklayer, and died after a long and distinguished career, in 1837. Soane designed this house to live in, but also as a setting for his antiquities and his works of art.

After the death of his wife (1815), he lived here alone, constantly adding to and rearranging his collections. Having been deeply disappointed by the conduct of his two sons, one of whom survived him, he determined to establish the house as a museum to which 'amateurs and students' should have access.

The Sir John Soane Museum, 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3BP.

A short walk from Holborn station and from our apartments at Pleydell House EC4. www.soane.org.uk

Take A Walk - Experience The City of London on foot: an absolute must!

Take a guided tour through many areas of London and really feel the stories and the history come to life. The Original London Walks Company is the original and the best, covering everything from Jack the Rippers London and ghostly night tours, to tours of Legal and Illegal London and even a Da Vinci Code tour for true diehard fans of the book and film. In the City area, we'd recommend:

London's Secret Village - 2:30pm on Mondays from St Paul's tube.

Nip out for a late lunch and join the crowd for the inside scoop on the Clerkenwell/Smithfield village area, covering (in their words!) bodysnatching and bombing; jousting and jesters; bloodshed and burnings; monks, murder, and medicine! Great for those of you staying at London House, Newbury House or Hills Chambers!

Haunted London - 7:30pm on Fridays from Monument tube

Down here in the creepiest part of London...in alleyways so narrow you can't open an umbrella in them. And so old they're cobwebbed with time. And cobwebbed with something else too. Cobwebbed with events that occurred long ago - events that under certain conditions can again "become dynamic". So when you see the unholy Trinity - and you will see it - and when silver dragons leer at you - and they will - and if you hear footsteps up a deserted alleyway - or voices of persuasion that whisper in the darkness - or catch a glimpse of a hooded, staring transparent figure - congratulations - you've just fed a haunting. It'll be back. And one day...so will you. Now who's for a really cosy pub?

Check out all the "walks" on offer at www.walks.com

Walking Tours for the MP3 Generation!

Try not to spend all your time working! Get out and see the City and learn about the history of this great capital. However, if you're not one for bus tours and would rather take a tour of the City of London or South Bank at your own pace, stopping where you want to stop, then try out an MP3 walking tour!

You simply download the tour onto your MP3 player from the website (we've got two for you - see below) and then off you go. You can stop when you want, rewind and hear bits you missed, or even repeat areas that you've really enjoyed. Two companies now offer high quality audio tours blended with interviews and city sounds with a professional commentary:

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