The Queen Jubilee Celebrations photos - one day before

There was a spot of sunshine earlier today so I thought I'd skip down the Thames to take some photos as it would be almost impossible to get a clear view tomorrow during the Queen's Jubilee Thames Pageant. One thing led to another and I ended up walking along the Embankment, onto Westminster and along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace.

Luckily the rain held till I was well on my way home. Hopefully, it would be the same tomorrow. It's not everyday we get to celebrate a diamond jubilee, do we?

If you are still wondering about whether you should go down to Thames for the pageant, check out the best spots for the Thames Pageant. Here are some shots I picked up along the way.


Commonwealth flags on Parliament Square opposite Westminster

Whenever the Commonwealth flags are on display, I'll take some time to seek out Singapore's. It didn't take long this time round. The five stars and moon crescent sits just opposite the gate to House of Commons.


Metropolitan Police outside Clarence House

Tourists are always fascinated Clarence House, the official residence of the two Princes. There was a minor commotion when the police started to clear the path into Clarence House. Could it be some Prince Williams? A teenager beside me squealed in anticipation. It turned out to be two black SUVs, which were empty save the drivers.


Tall mast ships beside London Bridge

These ships will only be joining the 1000 boat flotilla towards the last leg of the procession downriver. Their masts are simply too tall to get through London Bridge so will be docked in the Avenue of Sails downriver of London Bridge to Tower Bridge.


Getting a good view is worth the chill

People are setting up tents along the Embankment to make sure they get the prime views for the Thames Pageant. Armed with all sorts of provisions, they come well prepared. One even hangs the Queen's 1952 Coronation flag on her tent.


Giant photo of Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977

At 100m by 70m, this gigantic photo of the Royal Family displayed outside the Sea Containers House, which is just beside the OXO Building, is the largest ever of the Queen. I'd imagine it would feel a tad unnerving for the Queen when the Royal Barge go past the photo tomorrow. After all, it's not often one would see a photo of yourself over 40 times enlarged.


Horse Parade Ground

Part of the Parade will be held here tomorrow. With spectator stands all set up, looks like it's going to be quite a show. I've still haven't figure out how the tickets were distributed in the first place. Hmm...


A congratulatory message from the Ritz

They would probably roll out the rest of their message tomorrow. "But we got a 20 year headstart over you!"


Union Jacks along The Mall

The Mall is all dressed up for the Parade, much to the delight of the shutterbugs.


Spotlights on standby

The English weather is ever so fickle. Looking at the weather today, these will be put into good use tomorrow.


A carriage heading towards Westminster Abbey

The carriage handler very nearly stopped to pose for photos. What use is the pomp if you don't bask in it?


The House Guard at the gates of the Horse Parade Ground

The things that some tourists do to them. I would probably stick that sword into them if I were the guard. He has some surprises up his sleeve too. Every so often he would do an about turn and march all the way back into the Parade Ground, much to the amusement of the crowd. No sign of his horse though. They might be needed for tomorrow's parade.

Weather permitting, I'll be down with the crowd to the Thames tomorrow. Check out this space for some photos of the actual day.

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Best viewing spots for Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant

You probably wouldn't see another diamond jubilee again in your lifetime. The Queen ascended the throne in 1952 after the untimely demise of her father, King George VI. At 64, the heir to the throne, Prince Charles is unlikely to have a golden jubilee to his name, much less a diamond one.

The Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant with a huge flotilla of 1000 boats and barges will go down the river led by the 18 oarsman Royal Barge this coming Sunday. The spectacle, not seen since 350 years ago, is surely something to tell your grandchildren about.

The flotilla is the biggest ever deployment on the Thames. The 11km route starts from Battersea Bridge and ends at Tower Bridge. Travelling between four to six knots, the entire procession will take around 75min to pass any one point along the route ensuring that you have more than enough viewing time.

Where are the best spots to view the procession

The best spots to view the Thames Pageant without breaking the bank would be on the bridges across Thames. Of the thirteen bridges along the route, only five are open for public access. Below are the expected timings the flotilla will reach these bridges.

Battersea Bridge 2.25pm
Chelsea Bridge 3pm
Vauxhall Bridge 3.10pm
Waterloo Bridge 3.30pm
London Bridge 3.50pm


Thames Jubilee Pageant Map from LondonTown.com

The action does not end at Tower Bridge. In act, boats with sails too tall to go under London Bridge will be stationed at the Avenue of Sail from London Bridge to beyond Tower Bridge. With the spectators from upstream congregating near the official end point, that's where the real party will be.

A point to note. The Met station has promised fair weather on the day. But given Met's track record, it's always wise to bring along a raincoat instead of a brolly. With an estimated number of spectators to cross the million mark, it's going to be a tight squeeze.

If you are in London specially for the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, check out Covering the Best of London in One Day. For a full guide on this long weekend's Diamond Jubilee celebration events in London, refer to BBC's guide.

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A jog along Regents Canal - slow and easy does it

It all started as a passing remark. "You're growing sideways," Wife noted. I need not look down at my ever expanding girth - the tightness of my jeans is evident enough. I no longer need a belt to hold it up; nightly 150g packets of cheesy crisps made sure of that.

Summer's finally here and it did take its time. The English weather is said to be fickle for good reasons. Just last week we had hail in central London and this week we are bathing in 24C sunshine. Unlike say the Scottish weather (which is almost always cold), the English weather is like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates - you never know what you're gonna get.

Yesterday seems like a good time to go for a jog along Regents Canal. Apparently, others were thinking the same too. The path towards Broadway Market from Angel was packed with joggers, dog walkers, cyclists and even entire extended families with armies of toddlers in tow.

If you have been down the path before you would realise that it is at most three metres at its widest and less than half of that at its narrowest. Unsurprisingly, the chokepoints are the parts under the handful of bridges along the way. I try to keep away from the water edge when I'm under a bridge. That means having to crouch (and I'm not tall by any definition) to let cyclists bypass me on the water's edge. Clearly, having some moss in my hair (from the bridge's underside) is preferred to a dip in the murky waters. I'm not about to do a Boris any time soon.

Shoot me if you will but I do like the fact that summer is really short in England. That way, when the sun is out, you can really see the joy in people's faces. Back home where it's 30C throughout the year, people actually carry umbrellas for the sunlight. Over here in London, you'd get weird stares if you do that.

As I made my way down to Regents Canal, you can almost feel the cheer - kids were bouncing down the path, a bunch of canoeists were splashing at each other with their paddles, some couples prefer to cuddle on the side benches while others are contented with a novel. Needless to say, Towpath Cafe and Waterline Bar were packed too. As I got closer to Victoria Park, the murals (or grafitti if you prefer) on the bridges get bolder. That took the mundanity out from the run.

I don't think I'll ever get used to jogging on a circular track or a treadmill for the matter again. Well, one day when my knees give way, I might just have to. But right now, I'm perfectly happy pounding the pavement with the sun in my eyes and the breeze on my face.

p.s. If you are making your rounds along Regents Canal and happen to chance upon a Chinese guy who looks like he's struggling even at a snail's pace. Be kind to him and say hi.

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8 common mistakes first time visitors to London make

Despite the chill and the occasional hail, the calender dictates that summer has arrived. With the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations and London 2012 Olympic Games, London will be swamped with visitors and I have no doubt many of whom are visiting London for the first time.

Assuming that they are able to get pass Heathrow unscathed, I'm sure London has much to offer. Even so, it always serves well to be more prepared. Here are 8 common mistakes made by the first time visitor to London.

1. Leichester Square or Lester Square?

The question 'where is Leichester Square?' would often get a puzzled look. Leicester Square, the second most famous square in London (most famous being Trafalgar Square) is often mispronounced by tourists. Can't blame them, who would expect Leicester Square to be pronounced with a silent 'c'; the correct pronunciation sounds more like 'Lester' Square.

2. Seeking out McDonalds and Burger Kings

London has the dubious reputation of being expensive though with the plunging pound, it's less so now. Even then, budget travelers to London often head straight to the nearest MacDonald's and Burger Kings.

I can very well see myself doing the same if I were to be in a city that I'm unfamiliar with and would like I have a fuss free meal. How far wrong an you get with a hamburger and fries? But London, being one of culinary capitals of the world has no short of eating places, even for the budget conscious (see five cheap eats in Leicester Square and London Cheap Eats guide). If all else fails, my personal favourite for grabbing a quick bite is Pret. It's infinitely healthier than the fast food chains.

3. Forgoing the Oyster Card

Always, always get a stored value Oyster card instead of going for a one trip ticket. That's even if you are going to take only a single trip. The Oyster card requires a refundable deposit of £5 (making it a rather expensive souvenir) and a trip using it costs just £2 compared to £4.30 for a one way ticket. For buses, it's £1.35 and £2.30 respectively. It's a no brainer really.

Frankly, I would advised against getting a travelcard. While it doesn't require a refundable deposit, you pay the daily cap of £8.40 upfront, which is a bad deal if you don't travel that much. For more fare information, visit Transport for London.

4. Keeping to the wrong side of the escalator

All British roads function on right hand drive (i.e. cars drive on the left side of the road) unlike most European continental countries. Yet, its escalators including those in the London Underground have their 'slow' lanes on their right. In other words, the escalators have it the other way round.

So the rule again: if you're driving slow, keep to the left, if you're walking slow, keep to the right. Forget this and face the wrath of Londoners, or rather the occasional 'tsk tsk'.

5. The big fuss about Big Ben and Tower Bridge

London is probably the only capital in the world that have its most iconic buildings' names mixed up. The clock tower at Westminster isn't called Big Ben. Big Ben is actually the big bell within the top of the clock tower.

The Tower Bridge with its twin towers, is often mistaken for London Bridge, which is comparatively mundane looking and lies further up River Thames. That said, you do get a good view of Tower Bridge if you stand on London Bridge on a clear day.

6. Giving Tower of London a miss

Aww, that's too expensive. Granted, an admission ticket with no concession to Tower of London cost just over £20, not exactly the cheapest tourist attractions around. But with nearly a thousand year of history as a backdrop, the Tower of London is bound to leave a deep impression.

Despite the reputation of the Tower, only a handful of the condemned had the privilege of being executed within its walls and away from the mob. Throw in the fact that it used to be an armoury, mint and zoo. Presently, it's the home to the British Crown Jewels. That with its infamous Beefeater tour, the Tower of London is not to be missed.

7. The deckchairs aren't free

When summer beckons, rows of deckchairs will appear in the parks in Central London. When I first arrived in London a couple of years ago, I often wondered why some would rather lay a groundsheet beside these deckchairs instead of plonking down onto them.

I quickly realised why when a chap with a ticket machine strapped to his waist approached me within minutes of me settling down on a deckchair. "That'd be two pounds please," he mumbled nonchalantly. Regardless, it is a small price to pay to stretch out a bit for a couple of hours when the sun is out. Funnily, I heard a couple protesting that they were "tourists" so do not know about the fee, yet refused to vacate the deckchairs. It takes all kind.

8. Missing the Changing of Guards

No first time visitor to London should miss the changing of guards at Buckingham Palace. Unless you're in town for just a couple of hours, you are almost certainly able to catch a glimpse of the most showy piece of pomp that British monarchy has come to known for. Taking place at 11.30am every summer morning (May till July) and every other morning for the rest of the year (see schedule here), thousands of visitors would line The Mall to ooh and aah at the procession.

The best spot to be? Definitely at the small roundabout where Queen Victoria's statue is just across the road in front of Buckingham Palace. But you have to be there a bit earlier to stake out a spot else you risk being run down by the household calvary should you decide to make a mad dash across the road later on.

These are the 8 most common mistakes made by a first time visitor to London. Have I missed any?

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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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