London Travel Pack - Because we really do love London



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London Life
Because we really do love London, we capture some key events in the capital. This is our blog of where we've been, who we've seen and what's going on in London.

Lord Mayor's Show 2009
Monday, 09 November 2009 17:54
Lord Mayor's Show 2009, to welcome Alderman Nick Anstee as the 682nd Lord Mayor of London. Behind a parade of over 130 floats, bands, parades, parties and horse drawn carriages, the Lord Mayor's Gilded Coach carried Alderman Anstee to St Paul's Cathedral to be blessed by the Dean.

The parade dates back to 1215, where the first were held on the River Thames. This being the oldest parade known, gives us the name 'float'. Following his blessing, The Rt Hon Alderman Anstee moved on on to the Royal Courts of Justice for the Royal Oath, and to swear his allegiance to HM The Queen.

 
Kelly Brook's buns aren't big enough
Tuesday, 03 November 2009 08:55
As Kelly Brook starts a run in Calendar Girls at the Noel Coward Theatre, Transport for London banned an advert for the play, because the buns covering Kelly Brook's boobs were too small for them.

Kelly Brook with her bunsKelly will replace Jerry Hall in the role of Celia in the play, which tells the story of Women's Institute members who decide to bare all for a charity calendar.

A Transport for London spokesman said: "We worked with the advertiser to ensure that the advert complied with our policy. We will be carrying an amended version of the advert on the Tube network."

The show producer, David Pugh said: "We've found ourselves in the world of censorship, we're in 1960s Russia. I find it incredible.

"I don't know what the buns would be in bra sizes but we've gone four sizes up.

"They said we were trying to titillate Tube travellers, I thought it was a joke.

"Someone is sitting in a dark room somewhere peering at any sort of nudity.

"The whole truth of the story that I'm doing is about this group of ordinary women who did something extraordinary. I'm replicating what they did."

Similar shots of Jerry Hall and Gaynor Faye had been used in the past, but TfL did not object - though they did object to another poster for one of David Pugh's plays - Equus. David says he'll be reconsidering where he advertises in future.

 
The FInal Countdown
Saturday, 31 October 2009 22:08
With only 1,000 days to go to the London 2012 Olympic Games, the BT Tower has celebrated with a new video wall, and a snazzy fireworks display from the top of the tower.

When you're in London, keep an eye out for the countdown which will scroll around the band at the top of the tower periodically.

 
We'll meet again
Thursday, 22 October 2009 16:06
Forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn and Kiwi singer Hayley Westernra launched the 2009 poppy appeal in London today.

Dame Vera Lynn singing with Hayley Westernra - Simon Lamrock/Lamrock Images

Photograph: Simon Lamrock/Lamrock Images

At the event, held on Horseguard's Parade, Dame Vera and Hayley met some serving soldiers injurded in war.

You can donate to the 2009 poppy appeal in many shops in London and the UK, and also online at britishlegion.org.uk.
 
One rather enjoyed oneself
Friday, 16 October 2009 11:16
It's been rumoured for some time that Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh occasionally make incognito trips to the theatre, but rarely are they spotted.

That changed this week when the pair squeezed past other audience members to take their seats at the New London Theatre for a London night out to see War Horse.

The Queen discretely disappeared during the interval, returning for the second part of the pay, and at the end was given a round of applause by the audience - no National Anthem though.

Buckingham Place have said that The Queen does occasionally make trips to the theatre, but is so rarely recognised she rather enjoys the moments of normal life.
 
londontravelpack.com ditches Hyatt
Friday, 25 September 2009 09:58
londontravelpack.com has removed Hyatt hotels from its search functionality. This is in response to the Hyatt in Boston, USA, persuading its housekeeping staff to train 'holiday replacements' from an agency. Once the agency staff were trained, the Hyatt sacked its own staff. This was originally reported by the Boston Globe newspaper.

The US Government, Boston taxi drivers and many other groups have joined the thousands around the world refusing to give the hotel chain any business until the 100 staff, some of whom had served at the hotel for more than 20 years, are reinstated.

londontravelpack.com is unique in that everyone who works here is a member of trade union BECTU. We believe in doing business which is ethical, sustainable and trustworthy.

If you're coming to London, and staying in a Hyatt hotel, such as The Churchill, or the Andaz Liverpool Street, we would ask you to think for a moment. Would you hope for as much support if the company you work for did something similar to you?

Hyatt's hotels may still appear in the search functionality provided by third parties, such as superbreak.com - we've wrote to these companies advising of our stance on the Hyatt hotels.
 
Notting Hill Carnival 2009
Sunday, 06 September 2009 16:00

London Travel Pack were at Notting Hill Carnival this year to soak up the atmosphere. Here's a little taste of the sights and sounds...

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What to pack for London
Friday, 15 May 2009 13:29
London's climate can be unpredictable. Expect rain in August, as well as sun. Be prepared for snow in winter, and more rain!

There are a few things you can do to prepare yourself before you set out for the capital of the UK.
There are the usual clothing requirements - as we say, be prepared.
Click here to read the ten point guide...
 
Because we really do love London!
Sunday, 05 April 2009 11:59
London Travel Pack.com is brought to you by creative Londoners, who live and work in the centre of the Capital.

We've had many friends and family visiting us in the Capital over the last decade. Whether it's for family reunions, holidays, theatre trips, city break weekends, or work. People would ask us a lot to help with booking theatre trips, or the London Eye. We'd answer questions on what to bring, what to wear, and what’s an Oyster card? We're technical minded, a little bit clever and loving London, to blow our own trumpets. We built a secure, informative, London information, accommodation and event booking website, initially for our families & friends. Now our families & friends book online using the internet with peace of mind of website security, with all the best London information combined into a simple to use one stop website.

Useful additions now make it easy to check the travel and transport reports from Transport for London along with the many London free events and festivals.

Over the coming months and years, we'll update this blog to let you know what we're up to, where we've been and what's on the horizon. Keep checking back!

Because we really do love London.
 



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