Garage Gigs get on the list at Dirty Waters Records list before you go. Seriously the one thing you can do to find out all your garage rock show needs.
Annual Festival for Mods-Le Beat Bespoke Le Beat Bespoke also links to other events.
IBIS hotels is a chain of Inexpensive hotels. Recommended areas to stay: Kings Cross has Loads of places to eat and drink. Same with Clerkenwell. And you’re near to Camden too. Buses into town are good from there.
The Alnwick Garden-Denwick Lane, Alnwick NE66 1YU-Garden of Poison Plants.
Highgate Cemetary-Swain’s Ln, Highgate, London N6 6PJ, UK-Buriel place of Karl Marx and Douglas Adams and Michael Farraday, who did lots of things with Electricity.
Horniman Museum -opened in 1901 -Features many different sections including a collection of Musical Instruments. 100 London Rd, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ, UK
Crystal Palace Dinosaurs-13 Orchard Grove, London SE20 8DN, UK-Outdoor collection of Dinosaur sculptures from the 1850s, now believed to be very inaccurate.
Read up in Time Out for all the up to date club listings, etc. Clubs in London, like clubs everywhere have limited lifespans so putting them in print here is kind of pointless. You can pick up a copy of Time out when you arrive, though picking up a copy of NME before you go will inform you of all the bigger shows.
Where to Stay: London is a pricey when it comes to lodging and almost everything else. And there is a hefty Value Added Tax (VAT).
Cheaper hotels include the Crescent Hotel at 49-50 Cartwright Gardens in Bloomsbury, the Abbey House at 11 Vicarage Gate in Kensington and the Elizabeth at 37 Eccleston Square in Westminster.
Portobello Hotel-22 Stanley Gardens, London W11 2NG, England-not cheap but great classic hotel in Notting hill.
Where to Eat:
Theres a local burger chain called Dirty Burger with several locations in the cooler areas of town, including a location in Exmouth Market. They have onion rings too.
Theres another new chain called Bleeker, presumably named for NYCs Bleeker St. More burgers.
Bleecker – b, Pavilion Building, Old Spitalfields Market, London E1 6EA, UK +44 20 7998 8650 and other locations.
The Golden Hind-100 Year old Fish & Chips Restaurant- 71a-73 Marylebone Ln, Marylebone, London W1U 2PN, UK Closes midday between lunch and dinner. +44 20 7486 3644-They actually have veggie options too and steamed options for Gluten intolerant..
Kappacasein -1 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AA- Cheese stand in an outdoor market with Raclette (melted cheese served with pickles and potatoes) and a stellar grilled cheese with leeks inside.
Pitt Cue -1 The Avenue, Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4YP-Bone marrow mash and an usual menu of porky and non porky things.
Viet Food -34-36 Wardour street, Soho W1D 6QT-Chinatown modern take on Vietnamese street food like Chargrilled glazed lemongrass chicken wings
One of the better examples of local fare is shepherd’s pie. A concoction of mashed potatoes, stewed minced lamb, vegetables and sometimes cheese. The place to get this is one of the pubs throughout the city such as The Cow on Westbourne Park Road in Notting Hill. If you want a quick bite for lunch or dinner and don’t want American fast food, pubs are generally your safest bet.
One local fast food chains is Wagamama, a noodle place. Sticky Fingers is owned by the Rolling Stones Bill Wyman and has burgers and stones memorabilia on the walls, like Brian Jones Guitar.
Baozi Inn-Chinatown joint with Northern Chinese food, noodles and stews. 25 Newport Ct, London WC2H 7JS, UK : +44 20 7287 6877
Nightlife: in addition to the neighborhood pub,the club scene is also alive and well, and there are plenty of choices. Some of the most popular are Bar Rumba near Piccadilly Circus, and Dogstar and the Fridge, a short tube ride away in Brixton.
Big Red-“US-style rock bar” 385 Holloway Rd, London N7 0RY, UK +44 20 7609 6662
The Purple Bar is inside the hotel Sanderson is super cool in Phillipe Starke designed interior. 6:00pm until 12:00am (3am for hotel residents). Everything is expensive (14 pounds or more a drink). Sanderson, 50 Berners Street; (44-207) 300-1444. Free admission.
For some dancing while you drink, go to the Notting Hill Arts Club. For a younger crowd the club has D.J.’s spinning house and garage music to early morning, with a different theme each night. In the basement, the club seems a bit grungy, but attracts a very attractive clientele. And it’s not impossible to get past the bouncer. The Notting Hill Arts Club, 19 Notting Hill Gate, (44-207) 460-4459. Admission, $4.35 before 8 p.m., $7.25 after.
Miss Aloha of the Hula Boogie events offers Jive Dancing Lessons weekly.
(Trashy travel-this is old and will be updated soon)
If you want to dance all night, go to a club like China White, near Soho, or Heaven, north of Piccadilly Circus. It will be helpful to get on the guest list for either place. You can try calling ahead. A concierge at a trendy hotel can help, too. Both are multifloor clubs that go all night.
China White, 6 Air Street, (44-207) 343- 0040. Closed Sunday.
Admission, $21.75.
Heaven, Under the Arches off Villiard Street, near Charing Cross Station; (44-207) 930-2020. Closed Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Admission, $1.50 to $17.50.
Bars-
The Book Club-100-106 Leonard Street London EC2A 4RH, United Kingdom
020 7684 8618-lots of awesome events, like a 78 rpm record night, the big ten inch. Plus neat lectures. Kind of like every Park Slope NY event rolled into one.
Live Music-
THE DOME, 2A DARTMOUTH PARK HILL, LONDON, NW5 1HL, UNITED KINGDOM
The Lexington -Bar with Live Music upstairs and american spirits. 96-98 Pentonville Rd, London N1 9JB, UK- +44 20 7837 5371
The Electric Ballroom-Camden town.184 Camden high Street, London TELEPHONE- 0207 4859006
London Astoria-157 Charing Cross Road
The Metro-19-23 oxford st, london-indie rock bands
Camden Underworld -The Camden Underworld is a music venue in Camden Town,in the basement of the World’s End pub, : 174 Camden High St, London NW1 0NE, United Kingdom Phone: +44 20 7482 1932
The Dublin Castle– 94 Parkway, London NW1 7AN, United Kingdom-Closes 2AM
Phone: +44 7949 575149
Oslo -Restaurant and club in former railway station. 1A Amhurst Rd, London E8 1LL, UK: +44 20 3553 4831
The Old Blue Last-38 Great Eastern Street, London, United Kingdom EC2A 3ES +44 20 7739 7033
The New Cross Inn-Art house rock’n’roll boozer hangout, popular with friendly people. A breeding ground for cool talent. Open 12pm to 2am (to midnight on Sundays)
Free Entry or arrive early and stay in for free! Below a backpackers hostel.
The Victoria Dalston -Live Music in old Victorian pub – 451 Queensbridge Rd, London E8 3AS, UK : +44 20 7684 0944 Shows by the Jaquar Shoes Collective.
229 The Venue-, 229 Great Portland Street London, United Kingdom W1W 5PN
MOTH Club-(Memorable Order Of Tin Hats)- Old Trades Hall, Valette St, London E9 6NU, United Kingdom-+44 20 8985 7963
The Stag’s Head– 55 Orsman Rd, London N1 5RA, United Kingdom-+44 20 7739 5186-More a pub than a club, music events, food and occasional hog roast. Some garage rock events.Since 1856
The subway stops running at midnight. Your only choices after that, until about 5:30 a.m, when it resumes service, are a bus or taxi. Both are hard to come by in the early morning hours, and gypsy cabs are not a good idea. The easiest way to ensure a ride home is to take the telephone number of an authorized radio taxi company with you.
Around the corner of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street – on Hanway Street there are a number of used record stores. In Soho you will find Sister Ray (no.94) which are particularly strong on indie, Reckless Records (no.30) is good for quality mainstream.
More Record Stores-
Intoxica Records @ (back of Pleasuresof Past Times) : 11 Cecil Ct, London WC2N 4EZ,Closed Sunday and Monday Rare Vinyl; psychedelia, exotica and jazz .
Rollin Records, Great well organized record shop- 6 Station Rd, West Wickham BR4 0PR, UK +44 20 8777 6622 (Greater London)
DNR Vinyl-352 Lower Addiscombe Road , Croydon, United Kingdom CR0 7AF +44 20 8676 1933-Garage rock specialists. (Greater London)
Rhythm Records –281 Camden High Street, NW1 (020 7267 0123)
Camden Town tube. Open 10.30am-6.30pm Mon-Wed; 10.30am-7pm Thur, Fri; 10.30am-7.30pm Sat, Sun. Another great shopping street. indie music: hardcore punk, 1960s psychedelia, electronic.
Rough Trade
Notting Hill Gate tube. Open 10am-6.30pm Mon-Sat; 1-5pm Sun. Also at 16 Neal’s Yard, WC2 (020 7240 0105). Simply the best of everything indie and great mail order too. Order up a copy of their exclusive Ursula 1000 7 inch.
Sarah Cracknell is the lead singer of Saint Etienne and a hipster travel icon. Here are her picks for her favorite restaurants in London from a magazine article:
Sarah Cracknell’s favourite restaurants-From 2000 so call to check if they are still open
Julie’s, 137 Portland Road W11 Tel 020 7727 7985
Tube: Holland Park This is my favourite. It’s been there since the Seventies, and the decor is really eclectic. The staff are friendly but not over familiar, so you feel relaxed but never intimidated. The food’s always good – they change the menu quite often, and they have a great wine list.
The Belvedere, Holland House, off Abbotsbury Road W8 Tel 020 7602 1238
Tube: High Street Kensington / Holland Park
Holland Park’s beautiful anyway, so this is a really nice place for sunday lunch. It’s got high ceilings and lot’s of greenery, and they’ve recently changed the menu – Modern European with a bit of Pacific Rim.
North Pole, 13-15 North Pole Road W10 Tel 020 8964 9384
Tube: Ladbroke Grove This is my local gastro pub. It can get a bit loud, as there are decks in one of the rooms, but the surroundings are really nice. I take my mum here when she comes to visit, and it’s good if someone drops in unannounced, as it’s actually on the street where I live.
Star of Bombay, 157 Westbourne Grove W11 Tel 020 7229 6096
Tube: Notting Hill This is my regular Indian, but the quality of cooking is better than your average flock-wallpapered joint – they do a very good taka dahl.
Camden
Live Music-The Black Heart-Camden, Black Heart is a Music Pub with an edge.
The Lock Tavern -riverside pub with roof terrace hosting music events, and pub food: 35 Chalk Farm Rd, Camden Town, London NW1 8AJ, UK til–12AM +44 20 7482 7163
2-3 Greenland Place London, Greater London NW1 0AP, United Kingdom
Bath, UK
There are many thermal Baths in Bath and they also have a 13 mile bike route that goes through an old Train tunnel.
Live Music-
The Nest ?-7 Bladud Buildings, Bath BA1 5LS, UK +44 1225 312508 Legit rock club.
Canterbury, UK
Live Music-
Lady Luck – 18 St Peter’s St, Canterbury CT1 2BQ, UK- most days til 1AM
Phone: +44 1227 763298-Pub by day and punk and ska bands at night.
Kingston
Music Venue-The Fighting Cocks Kingston -Bar and alternative music venue. 56 Old London Road, Kingston-upon-Thames. Ph. 0208 974 6469
Legoland Windsor-Park located just outside of London.
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
Attraction-Bekonscot is the oldest model village in the world, or so it claims. Very close to alton towers and london.
Green Door Store -Live music club in a railway yard with a late bar every night, free entry, : Lower Goods Yard, Brighton Train Station, Brighton BN1 4FQ, UK
+44 7944 693214
Alphabet-FKA the Rialto theater-New club with lots of garage and punk act-11 Dyke Rd, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 3FE, United Kingdom
The Hope & Ruin, 11-12 Queens Rd, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 3WA, United Kingdom
44 1273 325793-Bands Upstairs
Bristol, UK
Live Music- The Fleece -Established venue for live indie music gigs in a former Victorian wool hall
Address: 12 St Thomas St, Bristol BS1 6JJ, United Kingdom
Exchange -3-level indie nightclub and live music venue : 72-73 Old Market St, Bristol BS2 0EJ, UK: +44 117 930 4538
Mothers Ruin– 7-9 St Nicholas St, Bristol BS1 1UE, UK +44 117 329 0143-Live music and a cheap happy hour til 8 pm
Cardiff, England
Live Music-
Gwdihw Cafe Bar-Daytime cafe/bar with a beer garden, becomes a live music venue at night, for indie, soul and more. 6 Guildford Cres, Cardiff CF10 2HJ, UK
+44 29 2039 7933
The Brickyard-320-capacity in a century-old church hall.-Richmond Hall, 14 Fisher St, Carlisle CA3 8RN, United Kingdom +44 1228 512220
Chertsey,UK
Amusement Park- Thorpe Park is a theme park with a temporary hotel in between the towns of Chertsey and Staines, Surrey, England, UK.Staines Rd, Chertsey KT16 8PN, United Kingdom
Chesington, England (ten miles from London)
Amusement Park- Chessington World of Adventures -Theme Park Leatherhead Rd, Chessington KT9 2NE, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 871 663 4477 Kiddie park
East Sussex, England
Eats-Brighton Pagoda Chinese Restaurant, Brighton Marina, West Quay, East Sussex, BN2 5UF Tel: 01273 819053-a floating chinese restaurant
Edinburgh, uk
Live Music-Studio 24, 24-26 Calton Road. Edinburgh EH8 8DP.
Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach since 1909-The Pleasure Beach Great Yarmouth is a historic free entry pleasure park located in the seaside resort town of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on the English east coast. The park first opened in 1909 and has been operating ever since. S Beach Parade, Great Yarmouth NR30 3EH, United Kingdom +44 1493 844585
Joyland-Joyland is a historic free entry amusement park located in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, onthe coast of East Anglia. The theme park opened in 1949 on the site of the former Anchor Gardens next to Britannia Pier.Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth NR30 2EH, United Kingdom +44 1493 844094
Hastings, UK
Live Music- The Carlisle-24 Pelham Crescent, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1PE
+44 1424 420193
Ingoldmills, England (near Skegness, I’m sure that helps)
Amusement Park-
The Magical World of Fantasy Island-Sea Lane, Ingoldmills-Park with a few mega coasters
Leeds, England
Live Music-
Brudenell Social Club-Old working man’s club with 1950s decor hosting up and coming bands.- 33 Queen’s Rd, Leeds LS6 1NY, United Kingdom
Hours: Open today · 12–11PM
Phone: +44 113 275 2411
Arts Hall-Foundation for Art and Creative Technology–
FACT is a new media arts centre based on Wood Street in Liverpool, England. FACT hosts art projects and exhibitions as well as being a cinema. 88 Wood St, Liverpool L1, United Kingdom Phone: +44 151 707 4444
Live Music-
The Shipping Forecast -Gastro pub with live music, 15 Slater St, Liverpool L1 4BW, UK-At the time of this writing they also had two for one burgers on Tuesday.
Kazimier Garden –
Cool split-level venue staging an eclectic programme of live bands and club nights.: 4-5 Wolstenholme Square, Liverpool L1 4JJ, United Kingdom
Moon and Pea Deli -95 Lark Ln, Liverpool L17 8UP, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 151 728 8565 Deli/Store dine in or take out a picnic
Lowestoft, England
Amusement Park-
Pleasurewood Hills -Theme park in Lowestoft, England
Pleasurewood Hills is a theme park on a 59-acre site between Corton and Gunton, near Lowestoft, Suffolk. The park contains attractions including four roller coasters.Leisure Way, Lowestoft NR32 5DZ, United Kingdom
Manchester, UK
Manchester 24/7 lists places open late!
Shopping-Afflecks- 52 Church Street, Manchester M4 1PW United Kingdom- vintage and punk and vintage mall
Live Music-
The Night and Day Café – local and international bands,and food- 26 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JN, UK Weekends til 4 am, weekdays 2 am, Sunday til 10:30 +44 161 236 1822
The Deaf Institute -Landmark building with upstairs music hall with smoking terrace.-135 Grosvenor St, Manchester M1 7HE, UK +44 161 276 9350
Margate, UK
Amusement Park-
Dreamland Margate –Dreamland Margate is an amusement park, entertainment and amusement centre located in Margate, Kent, England.49-51 Marine Terrace, Margate CT9 1XJ, United Kingdom has a vintage scenic railway
Newcastle on Tyne, UK
The Cluny-split-level live music venue and bar in former bottling plant, hosting up-and-coming acts. 36 Lime St, Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2PQ, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 191 230 4474
Newquay, UK
Live Music-Whiskers Newquay ?- 5-7 Gover Ln, Newquay TR7 1ER, UK +44 1637 498100-Til 1 am
North Yorkshire, England
Amusement Park- Flamingo Land is a theme park, zoo, and resort located in North Yorkshire, England. Wikipedia
Address: Kirby Misperton, Malton YO17 6UX, United Kingdom
Norwich, UK
Clubs-The Owl Sanctuary: 7A Timber Hill, Norwich NR1 3JZ, United Kingdom
til–3AM
Phone: +44 7779 542010 Coffeehouse/venue
Nottingham, UK
THE DOGHOUSE -Live music venue in Carlton, England 91-93 Carlton Hill, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 1FP, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 871 210 2040
Ower,UK
Amusement Park-
Paultons Family Theme Park -is located in the village of Ower, near Romsey, in Hampshire, England. The theme park has 70 rides and attractions.
Address: Ower, Romsey SO51 6AL, United Kingdom
Oxford, England
Live Music-
The Zodiac-190 COWLEY ROAD OXFORD 01865 420042
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Amusement Park-
Oakwood Theme Park ?-Theme park in Wales
Oakwood Theme Park is a theme park in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Oakwood opened in the late 1980s as a very small family park with BMXs, a wooden fort, a 3D-style cinema experience show, go-karts and a water chute ride.Canaston Bridge, Narberth SA67 8DE, United Kingdom
Portsmouth, England
Live Music-
Wedgewood Rooms-1478 Alberta Road-Portsmouth
Ripon, Enland
Amusement Park-
Lightwater Valley-home of one of the more unusual coasters, the Ultimate.
Sheffield, England
Live Music-
The Leadmill-6-7 Leadmill Road, Sheffield
Picture House Social -Bar with live music – 383 Abbeydale Rd, Nether Edge, Sheffield S7 1FS, United Kingdom +44 114 258 1690
Somerset, England
Amusement Park-
Brean Leisure Park-Coast Road, Brean Sands, Somerset-small family park
Southend-on-Sea, England
Amusement Park-
Adventure Island -Amusement park in Southend-on-Sea, England
Adventure Island is a free-admission amusement park in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK which has 32 rides, a gift shop, and catering outlets. Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea SS1 1EE, United Kingdom +44 1702 443400
Southampton, England
Performance space-The Art House Cafe – 178 Above Bar St, Southampton SO14 7DW, UK: +44 23 8023 8582-Gallery/cafe/performance space
Eats-
7Bone Burger Co-110 Portswood Road, Southampton SO17 2FW United Kingdom
Phone number +44 23 8058 4607
Live Music-
Talking Heads– 16-22 The Polygon, Southampton SO15 2BN, UK +44 23 8036 1970
The Hobbit-Tolkien-inspired pub and live music venue -134 Bevois Valley Rd, Southampton SO14 0JZ, UK +44 23 8023 2591
Drayton Manor Amusement Park-Another Mega park worth a visit.
Wales
Visit the hotel complex made famous in the tv series “The Prisoner”. The Portmeirion Hotel, home to an annual Prisoner convention.
Whitehaven-
Local tourist site with info on goings on around town, including events at the Whitehaven Civic hall, where touring bands play. Going out in Whitehaven. Bands play at the Rosehill Theater.
Birmingham, England
Cadbury World, in Bournville, near Birmingham, England, has exhibits on the history and production of chocolate, and allows visitors to tour a section of the packaging plant. Admission is about $20, at $1.92 to the pound. Reservations are required: (44-121) 451 4159
Bars-
The Old Crown, Birmingham – 188 High Street, Deritend, Birmingham B12 0LD, UK til–12AM +44 121 248 1368-650 year old haunted pub.
The Old Contemptibles -176 Edmund St, Birmingham B3 2HB, UK +44 121 200 3310-Pretty pub with cool looking bar.
Eats-
The meat shack -: Upstairs, 17 Thorp St, Birmingham B5 4AT, United Kingdom +44 7756 913454-Hipster sort of sleek art decorated burger joint.
Wanted Burgers -640 Bristol Road, Birmingham B29 6BJ, United Kingdom: +44 121 238 5274-Umm, its a wild west themed burger fast food joint.
Live Music-
Subside-57 High St, Digbeth, Birmingham, United Kingdom
The Sunflower Lounge – 76 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham B5 4EG, UK +44 121 632 6756
