Windsor Legoland Theme Park and Hotel - your kids will adore you for this

"Mummy, I never ever want to leave Legoland!" A boy clutched his Mother's arm while watching Ollie the dragon prancing around the stage on a catchy tune. I can safely assume that he spoke for all the mersmerised kids sitting round the mockup castle that is transformed into a stage every evening with its own music mixer tucked in one of the towers.

Legoland Hotel - making your visit more enjoyable

Previously, unless you have booked a room in a local hotel or B&B in Windsor, you would most likely be going on a day trip to Legoland Windsor. It's quite a rush considering that the park normally opens from 10am-6pm. With the opening of the Legoland Hotel at the edge of the theme park, you can easily access Legoland through a private entrance. To add icing to the cake, Legoland hotel guests are allowed into the park 30min before the rest so that they can probably squeeze in a couple of rides before the queues get long.









The hotel room itself comes with Pirates, Kingdom and Adventure themes. Other than a double bed, there's a kids' enclave, right across the room where the double bed is. With a three (!) bed bunker and its own TV (!!), the kids can entertain themselves to sleep they've not expended all their energy in the park earlier in the day.

Despite what Legoland's brochures say, this part of the world do get frequent drizzle. The good news is that all rides in Legoland will carry on functioning even when it pours (ponchos are for sale for under £4). It helps that a good number of the rides are wet anyway. Fortunately, there's a decent size water play pool with slides, water cannons and even a seesaw within the hotel for guests. If the adults fancy a swim, there's a 13m long pool lying alongside.

Other than the many short rides in the park, the main attraction would have to be Legoland's Mini Land. With world's iconic buildings scaled down and constructed fully with Lego bricks, it's definitely something for both children and adults alike. Throw in moving trains, trucks and boats, it's an absolute deal clincher. Taking centre stage is of course Big Ben's clock tower, Westminster, London Eye, Trafalgar Square, Wembly Stadium and Buckingham Palace. Even Swiss Re's "Gherkin", One Canada Square and even the HSBC building is on show.












How much does it cost?

A one day pass to Legoland costs £43.20 for an adult and £34.20 for a child. For a bit more, you can extend your day pass by another day (see updated prices). As the queues for popular rides can be pretty long, you might want to take it easy and go for a two day pass instead. If so, I'd recommend staying a night at Legoland hotel, which currently include two day passes when you stay for a night. That itself is well worth the room rate.

How do I get to Windsor Legoland from London?

The fastest way to get to Windsor from London would be via train from London Paddington to Windsor & Eton Central. The ride takes around half an hour and requires a change at Slough. Tickets can be booked at National Rail or purchased at the station ticket counter itself. At the time of writing, there is no discount for getting return tickets so you might wish to get the return ticket when you are actually coming back for maximum flexibility.

This 150 acre theme park that is located just a short distance away from Windsor Castle is easily accessible by buses or cars. A metered cab ride from Windsor Castle costs around £11 one way, if you were to call Windsor Radio Cars at +44(0)1753 677677, it'll costs just £7. The ride shouldn't take more than 10 min if there are no jams along the way. For more information, refer to Legoland's website.






















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Inflatable Speedboat ride along Thames river - RIB Experience, a thrill ride to Thames Barrier

Thames RIB Experience
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Nearest Train station: EmbankmentThe tickets have been booked well in advance. Even though there was an earlier downpour, it had reduced to a drizzle. I was initially worried that we weren't exactly properly attired for the ride.

"Please wear clothes that can withstand wind and water" cautioned one of the points made in a two page full disclaimer that got printed together with our tickets. Suddenly, fleece seemed like a really bad idea.

Luckily for us, the staff at Thames Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) Experience had full sets of waterproof jacket and pants ready for us. There was no fuss about sizes for they all looked huge - Wife was practically swimming in hers. They reminded me of puffier ski wear.

There were eight of us on the twelve seater ride to Thames Barrier and back that afternoon. Tickets for the Thames RIB are highly sought after during weekends and I had to take a day off work just for this. Apparently, there are discounted tickets available if you turn up on the spot at Embankment Pier but you are taking your chances. Else check out Lastminute.com that sometimes have discounted tickets available.



After donning our waterproof suit, each of us was handed a inflatable life jacket. Apparently, there is a fee of £25 if we accidentally tug on its quick inflate cord. I take care where I rest my hands after hearing that.

The ride promises a thrill ride down Thames. Having walked up and down the stretch between Westminster and Tower of London countless times, I would have thought that I've seen it all. But the buildings and monuments look rather different from the middle of Thames; riding right up next to HMS Belfast permanently docked on the Southbank seems rather surreal. The ship feels much smaller than viewing it from the bank.

For some reason, people on bridges and river banks love to wave to those on the boats. They went crazy for if you're on a speedboat.

The real speeding is done only after we have well cleared Tower Bridge and beyond due to safety reasons. When the throttle was ramped up, we were basically sailing through air, all thanks to the choppy water. The captain threw in a couple of twists and turns for good measure. Nothing so much that would turn a stomach though.



Other than the 75min ride to Thames Barrier and back, there's a shorter 50min ride to and fro Canary Wharf. If you have been to Thames Barrier, the Canary Wharf ride would more than suffice. I would recommend checking out the weather forecast before booking. The last thing you want is to cower in your suit for the entire ride - having raindrops hitting you at when you are speeding over water is no joke at all.


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Countdown to London Olympics 2012 - Brits are doing it the way they know best

Photo by Kevan Law

I recall marveling at Beijing's Olympics 2008's Closing Ceremony. With its neat formations made up of seemingly cloned performers, it seemed like a scene taken out from Jay Chou's Curse of the Golden Flower.

China has numbers on its side - both in terms of population and budget. An eye-watering $100 million was splashed out at just the Bejing 2008 Opening Ceremony alone, which 15,000 people took part in. Britain, on the other hand, have neither of this. In fact, to stand out in the matchup between London 2012 and Beijing 2008, Britain would rely on what it does best - the ability to laugh at itself.

Instead of being excited about London Olympics 2012, there seems to be a concerted effort to talk it down in the media. If indeed what gets reported in the news merely reflects what the general populace think, Londoners are bracing for the worse come July. It makes sense in a perverse way: if you expect the worse, things can only get better.

Betting that the Olympics will fail

The Brits aren't just talking down the Olympics, they're putting their money where their mouth is. Bettings shops across the UK are accepting bets on how London 2012 will fail in every conceivable way. There are odds provided for power cut during Opening Ceremony, Olympic torch failing to arrive on time, athletes late for their events. If you are going to grumble, you might as well earn something from that.

Health and Safety rules the day

It was meant to be a top secret plan to have a 170 rowers trireme, used in Athen's Olympics, carrying the Olympics flame down River Thames. Having refurbished the vessal and list of rowers drawn up, the London Olympics organising committee decided to scrape the event. The reason cited? Health and safety concerns as people might leap off bridges and river banks in a moment of frenzy.

A huge sand sculpture was put up at Weymouth Beach to celebrate 100 days to London 2012. It was meant to be a local family attraction. Instead, it was bulldozed almost immediately after the sculpture was finished and official photos taken. Was that simply a case of bad planning? Regardless, health and safety reasons meant that it had to be destroyed lest it "topple and injure someone".

Twenty Twelve - a satire

Only in Britain would you see a a TV satirical drama made just to laugh at the Olympics organising committee. Focusing on the absurd backroom dealings of the individuals, you can't help but think that it might very well be what is actually happening. To top it up, the show is narrated by none other than the former Doctor Who, David Tennant.

The Mayor who makes Londoners laugh

By his own admission, Ken Livingston, the main contender for London's Mayorship, the incumbent Mayor Boris Johnson's main appeal is that he makes people laugh. This is the man who walked down the red carpet at Beijing 2008's Closing Ceremony with his jacket unbuttoned in his trademark messy hair earning him the ire of the Chinese claiming him to be "disrespectful".

By all accounts, barring a low turnout that will distort the results, Boris Johnson will win the Mayorship challenge on 2 May and will be leading the charge at London 2012. If all else fails, we can all be assured of some laughs coming from the man himself.

London Olympics will fail, won't it?

In an interview with Mayor Johnson, BBC Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson asked with a straight face,"... tell us the truth, the Olympics is going to be a big flop, isn't it?". As if on cue, the Mayor leaned forward from the sofa and started his gesturing his hands wildly and protested to the audience laughter and delight "... of course not! It's going to be the most successful Games the world has ever seen!"

This interview probably would never had taken place if the Games are held in any other country. But you can count of the Brits when it calls for some self deprecating humour.

London Underground - best not to count on it

It was a gloomy day to begin with but I was blissfully unaware of it as I slipped into the DLR train at Bank towards Lewisham during the early morning hours on a weekday. The first signs of troubles came when the half empty train grounded to a halt just before Shadwell. The DLR staff of the train started to apologise citing signaling failure and having to steer the train manually. In the end, what could have take just fifteen minutes took over an hour instead. Reality ceases to exists in the DLR but this one takes the cake.

Besides my tips on how to survive on London Underground, take note: if the Tube staff sound bored when making announcements, you're probably fine. Be worried when they sound embarrassed. On that morning, the staff sounded like a student who forgot his homework, with a tinge of resignation.

Everyone turned up late at work that day. Everyone except a lady who cycles to work. "Wouldn't be surprised if I'm the only person at work during the Olympics. Ooh, I can't wait." She muttered later on.

Let's be honest, with the notoriously fickle English weather stack against us, the last thing we need is the hugely expensive London Underground, which is the main means of transporting millions of spectators across London for the Games, to fail on us. At least the cabbies will be taking it in, provided the main roads aren't sealed off for the Olympics officials and athletes.

One thing's for sure though. Whatever happens come July, Londoners will not be disappointed for they have imagined the worst.

Let the Games begin!

Check out tips for visiting London if you'd be in town for London 2012!

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Why Asians love to buy London properties - they can't wait to get a piece of it

During a recent trip back to Singapore, I couldn't help but notice a number of London properties being advertised on Straits Times (the local main newspaper). What I found interesting was that they are no longer properties in Greater London (often depicted with a view of Canary Wharf's One Canada Square). These are right smack in Central London.

Instead of being held at shopping malls, London properties launches are being held at glitzy hotel function rooms. With throngs of prospective investors, the sales people are often so certain that the properties will fly off the shelves that they no longer entertain those with a whole host of questions. With people, many of whom cash buyers, literally throwing them blank cheques to secure desirable units, they can hardly be blamed.

Previously, the London properties marketed in Singapore or China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia for that matter are those rejected by Londoners. There's no point selling them overseas if there is a local demand, is there? That's no longer true. With the myriad of London properties being launched overseas first, foreigners are having the first bite of the cherry. A property developer told me this of a King's Cross development - "There are 94 units in all, 70 units were sold in Hong Kong over a week (that's just five weekdays), 20 sold in Singapore over the weekend and the remaining four are then sold in London".

So why is there a mad dash to secure a London property? Here are four main reasons.

1. Low local interest rates

Viewed as financial safe havens, Singapore and Hong Kong are flooded with foreign capital. As a result, the interest rates are at an all time low with rates barely touching one percent for a one year fixed deposit. The same applies for unsecured loans - the main Singaporean banks are extending loans of £10k at less than a percent interest for those with excellent credit ratings.

With such low interest rates, it's no longer economical to hold cash. A piece of real estate in London, also deemed as another safe haven, is an attractive alternative. Further, with an expected gross return of around five percent, it's a no brainer.

2. Favourable exchange rate

The sterling pound has lost more than 30% of its value against most major Asian currencies since 2007. While things aren't looking bright for the UK's economy, there are indications that the slide has somewhat abated. Those looking to buy at "the bottom" would be jumping onto the bandwagon before the train leaves the station.

3. The pull of London Universities

UK universities no longer dominates worldwide university ranking tables. In fact, only Cambridge, Oxford and University College of London count among the top ten according to Times Higher Education. Even then, London universities including London School of Economics, University College of London and Imperial College of London still hold considerable pull. Even Oxford and Cambridge (the two favourites) are just over an hour's train ride away from London.

Getting a property in Central London is often viewed as an investment just so that their children wouldn't have to go through the hassle of hunting for accommodation with the rest of the other students every September when the term starts.

4. Length of leaseholds

Due to land scarcity, most if not all of the new developments in Singapore is sold on a 99 year leasehold. New London properties, on the other hand, are going for at least 125 years with some going up to 999 or even freehold. In fact, UK banks are often unwilling to finance mortgages on properties with less than 60 years of leasehold left so properties' values plummet once their leaseholds dip below 80 years. Although the context is different, the difference in leasehold terms is a key consideration.

Looking at the crowds attending London property launches held in Asia, the trend is likely to continue for some time. With huge influx of cash on easy credit, Londoners are feeling the squeeze not only when purchasing their own home but also when renting the accomodation (see London Accommodation Guide).

Did I miss out any points? Also check out the 5 common mistakes when buying London properties from overseas.

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The Latin words on Admiralty Arch at The Mall - what do they mean exactly

Unknown to many, Buckingham Palace's nineteen State Rooms, Ballroom and Garden are only open to the public only two months (August and September) of the year when the Queen visits Balmoral, her residence in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Tourists who descend onto London outside these two months would have to contend with the Changing of Guard, a must-see event that takes place daily during summer and every other day during the rest of the year at 11.30am. To better plan the visit, check Buckingham Palace's Changing of Guard schedule.

Immediately before and after the Changing of Guard takes place, the entire Mall (the straight road running from Buckingham Palace towards Trafalgar Square) will be closed to traffic. Take the chance to walk down The Mall from the Palace. Right at the northeastern end of The Mall lies the Admiralty Arch.

The massive Grade I listed building, which doubles up as the 'gate' to The Mall. Completed in 1912, there is a long Latin inscription at the top on the side facing Trafalgar Square.

ANNO DECIMO EDWARDI SEPTIMI REGIS VICTORIÆ REGINÆ CIVES GRATISSIMI MDCCCCX

I have often wondered what that means and did a search online. Apparently, in plain English, that would be "In the tenth year of King Edward VII, to Queen Victoria, from most grateful citizens, 1910".

King Edward VII, who is the first and the last British monarch to serve his entire reign under the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (his son - George V renamed it as House of Windsor after World War 1 broke out) unfortunately died in 1910 and did not live to see the completion of the monument that he had erected for his mother.

There you go, a small piece of history to impress your pals the next time you pass through the Admiralty Arch. For a list of other notable buildings in London, check out Five Hundred Buildings of London.


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