Greenwich Archives - London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Champagne + Fromage opens in Greenwich

by Chocoralie June 28, 2015 in Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Brixton, Champagne, Champagne + fromage, cheese, Covent Garden, Greenwich, London, restaurant, win!

I remember when the first Champagne + Fromage opened. It was my idea of heaven. Fantastic cheese? Amazing charcuterie? And cheerful bubbles? All in one place? Even on a rainy day, it makes everything ok. They even do tartines inspired by different French regions. And – be prepared – the most mind-blowing dessert, a fondant au chocolat made with blue cheese. Yes, you did read that right. It works too – creamy with a real bite but blindfolded, you would never have guessed. That is a reason alone to stop by, my friend! I’m not the only one to jump in joy at the idea of a lunch at Champagne + Fromage – they now have three branches, Covent Garden, Brixton Village and the latest just opened its doors in Greenwich. How about stopping there for free? You could win 2 glasses of champagne and a mixed board of cheese and charcuterie, just by tweeting this simple sentence… Oh! @Champ_Fromage has opened in #Greenwich! RT for a chance to win 2 glasses champers+a cheese/charcuterie board #poppingcorks @chocoralie A winner will be selected on July 03rd at noon. Good luck!

Climbing the O2 roof

by Chocoralie May 19, 2015 in Uncategorized 0 comments tags: climb, Greenwich, Le toit de l'O2, London, O2, O2 roof, view, vue

In 2005, O2 takes over, deciding to make of it the super-sized concert hall it is now. An absolute must-stop for the biggest stars. The dome also hosts temporary exhibitions (one on Elvis at the moment), an incredible number of restaurants, a cinema. Oh, and you can go up onto its roof too! You’ve already tried… the big wheel on Southbank, St Paul, The Monument, The Shard, Big Ben, various rooftops, Sushisamba… Yet, this is a different experience. No lift – the slope is a 30 deg angle so you will climb it. Much more fun than stairs! A quick presentation video and you are given proper trainers, a jacket and a harness. Cameras are not allowed, unless they can fit in the zipped jacket on the side. Memories and selfies are likely to be on your mobile phone. A few stairs and you reach a first platform. In front of you is a blue path – the aerial equivalent to the yellow brick road. In the middle is a railing to which your harness will be clipped for security. The group goes on the left, your guide on the right to check or help anyone who has questions. […]

Win a Family Ticket for the Cutty Sark

by Chocoralie May 06, 2015 in Uncategorized 10 comments tags: bateau, boat, children, clipper, Cutty sark, enfants, family, Greenwich, Kids, kids friendly, London, Londres, musée, museum, navire, ship, tea clipper, the, unesco

Do you know what I love best in Greenwich? The feeling of being away from London while still being able to see its skyline. With its wide spaces, its fantastic opening onto the Thames, foodie market, museums… You can do so much in a few hours. It’s the perfect family day! The must see, of course; the gem of Greenwich, is the Cutty Sark. I had not gone back in years and fell in love all over. I took the kids too and they loved imagining they were sailing away, running from one deck to the other. And walking under the boat? That really wowed them. They still talk about it. No TV program can beat that. They have an excellent program of activities for children by the way. On Mondays, you get to meet Norman the hawk, charged with shying the pigeons away from the boat. On Wednesday afternoons, toddlers can come and sing, play and listen to stories. Many characters also come regularly to share their anecdotes about the Cutty Sark: Jock White Hat Willis (who had the clipper built), Nannie the witch (who inspired the figurehead), James Robson (the cook), Captain Woodget… Great news! We […]

Cutty Sark (Greenwich)

by Chocoralie April 20, 2015 in Uncategorized 2 comments tags: bateau, boat, children, clipper, Cutty sark, enfants, family, Greenwich, Kids, kids friendly, London, Londres, musée, museum, navire, ship, tea clipper, the, unesco

We promised the kids we would go on a little adventure, said we would be sailors for the day. First we jumped on the Thames Clipper Greenwich, so much more fun than the tube and the best way to enjoy a sunny day and views of the Thames. On arrival it’s only a couple minutes walk to the Cutty Sark, an admirably renovated Tea Clipper. Ever wondered what a Tea Clipper is? Extremely fast sail boats, built in the 19th century. Tea was such a precious cargo in those days that exporting it from China back to Europe or the US brought competition and literally races. The ships would leave filled with manufactured items, beer, wine, spirits and come back loaded with huge wooden boxes filled with tea leaves. Built in Scotland in 1869, the Cutty Sark was one of the last. Not the fastest but quite fast enough, she could do the return trip in 122 days. Sadly, with the Suez Canal opening, steamboats took over. And so the she started her second life, exporting wool to Australia. In 1895, the ship was bought by the Portuguese company Ferreira and renamed as such. She remained a cargo […]

A week-end in London: March 08-11, 2012 | Un week-end à Londres: 08-11 mars 2012

by Chocoralie March 08, 2012 in Uncategorized 5 comments tags: British Museum, chessboxing, Dishoom, free, Freud Museum, Greenwich, Holi, London, Louise Bourgeois, Marilyn Monroe, National Maritime Museum, Old Vic tunnels, Sweeney todd, The Aubin, Titanic, week-end!

Et parfois, au détour d’un quotidien routinier, des messages redonnent le sourire… Allez, à l’attaque!Sometimes, in the most routine-like day, a message comes your way. Get your energy back and go London-hunting! Tranche d’art:That’s art baby: * Replongez dans l’univers du Titanic au National Maritime Museum.Dive back in the Titanic universe at the National Maritime Museum. * Trouvez des visages dans les ojets du quotidien.Find faces (and smiles!) in the objects surrounding you. * Rêvez au Londres d’autrefois.Dream of the long gone London. Nostalgic and beautiful black & white photographies. * Fan de Louise Bourgeois? Retrouvez ses oeuvres au Freud Museum.Love Louise Bourgeois? See some of her work at the Freud Museum. * Saluez Marilyn.Tip your hat to Marilyn. Miam time:Yummy time ahead: * Célébrez Holi, le festival indien des couleurs. Dishoom s’habille de cerfs-volants colorés et offrira à ses invités des gâteaux traditionnels après le repas. Et le 08 mars, le trottoir s’égaiera de mille couleurs autour du restaurant. Passez-y! Celebrate Holi, the Indian feast of colours. Dishoom will be all decorated with beautiful kits and each guest will receive a traditional cake at the end of their meal. On March the 08th, the pavement will be rainbow like, […]

A week-end in London: June 24-26, 2011 | Un week-end à Londres: 24-26 juin 2011

by Chocoralie June 22, 2011 in Uncategorized 9 comments tags: Barbican, beach, coffee, free, garden, Greenwich, Hyde Park, London, market, Mathew Bell, Murakami, music, Natural History Museum, Peyrton & Byrnes, pop-up, Portobello, Red Market, Regenttweet, roof garden, seafood, Selfridge's, Shoreditch, Soho, Southbank, tennis, yoga

En ce moment, l’envie de plage me saisit.I watch the rain pouring down and cannot get this word off my mind: beach. Enfoncer ses orteils dans le sable chaud, en sentir les grains se coller à la peau, dorée par le soleil.Toes in warm sand, grains rolling on skin made golden by the sun. Se laisser bercer par le clapotis des vagues. Entendre les enfants rire, s’éclabousser, faire un château, chercher des coquillages. Soft wave music. Listen to the lids splash, laugh, collect shells and make castles. A Londres, aussi, la plage est à la mode. London-on-sea. On croise une bordure de sable sur Southbank, installée là pour l’été. Le Red Market qui après de délais ouvre enfin son marché de nuit sur Shoreditch ce week-end propose une version urbaine avec palmiers, chaises longues et cocktails. Les pop-ups se mettent aux fruits de mers…London seems to have a thing for it too. London-on-sea. Southbank has a mini-kids-beach for the summer. The Red Market, who is finally opening in Shoreditch this week-end after many delays, is proposing an urban version. Palmtrees, pétanque, deckchairs and cocktails. Even pop-ups go sea-food style! Allez, piochez-donc quelques idées par ici en attendant les prochaines vacances:Are […]

Post-it note for the week-end September 10-12, 2010 | Post-it pour le week-end: 10-12 septembre 2010

by Chocoralie September 09, 2010 in Post-It, Uncategorized 2 comments tags: art, enfants/child-friendly, film, free, gou-the / tea o'clock, Greenwich, Hyde Park, London, music, Shoreditch, Southbank, week-end!

Pluie, rayon de soleil, arc-en-ciel… Ma parole, on croirait les giboulees de mars! Accrochez-vous a votre parapluie, sortez les K-ways et courez entre les gouttes… – C’est le festival de la Tamise! Deux jours de festivite – le programme est la… Ne ratez pas les magnifiques bateaux a St Katherine Docks… Le festival sur le pont (ma partie preferee, tres poetique et gourmande)… Le Carnaval de nuit… Et le final, bien sur, en feu d’artifice! (Quelques photos de l’an dernier ici… et la…) – Invitez-vous a la Garden party du Pince Charles (£15 tout de meme). Au programme, 100 presentations traitant d’ecologie, de recyclage… J’y etais pour l’ouverture, ce mercredi, tres interessant, des petits jardins s’inspirant d’objets du quotidien recycles, uen belle lecon de choses avec des enfants egalement, – Avis aux gourmandes! Les parfums ont souvent des notes sucrees, fleuries, fruitees… Harrods propose un afternoon tea inspire par les parfums pour accompagner son exposition The perfume diaries. – Chantez un peu d’Elvis a Hyde Park. Priscilla sera du voyage! – Alliez musique et couleur… – Une nouvelle experience: le cinema silencieux… Je lui prefere le theatre interactif! – Vous allez a l’O2 par le Thames Clipper? Regardez mieux cette […]

Post-it note for the week-end September 03-05, 2010 | Post-it pour le week-end: 03-05 septembre 2010

by Chocoralie September 02, 2010 in Post-It, Uncategorized 4 comments tags: art, enfants/child-friendly, film, free, Greenwich, London, markets, Portobello, Selfridge's, Southbank, Trafalgar, week-end!

La rentree vous deprime? Remplissez votre calepin ce week-end et prolongez! – Tenez, passez donc prendre un bacon roll gratuit aujourd’hui pour mieux vous mettre dans l’ambiance… – Passez a Soho Square aujourd’hui: Buxton s’y est installe et propose des bouteilles d’eau et des chaises longues… – Remplisez votre cabas au Real Food Market sur Southbank… – Trouvez chaussure a votre pied – Vivienne Westwod expose ses creations a Selfridge’s… – Decouvrez une autre conception du theatre avec le Theatre Souk… – Les Morris dancers envahissent la ville – foncez les voir sur Southbank! – Luttez contre la peine de mort @ St-Martin-in-the-field… – Pour une note plus legere, traversez la route pour rejoindre le Liberty festival sur Trafalgar. Samedi, musique, cirque et ateliers pour enfants! – Avoir envie d’ecrire sur les murs avec l’expo Nothing is forever… – Enfourchez votre velo. Dimanche, avec la Skyride, la ville est a vous… La carte est ici. – Am stram gram… 200 expos a travers Londres pour le festival Art Trail! – Profitez du pop-up cinema pour le Film Festival a Portobello. C’est gratuit: des classiques et des premieres jusqu’au 19 septembre (une pensee speciale pour Julien) – Redecouvrez Little Venice… – […]

Post-it for the week-end June 25-27, 2010 | Post-it pour le week-end: 25-27 juin 2010

by Chocoralie June 23, 2010 in Uncategorized 4 comments tags: art, Barbican, enfants/child-friendly, free, gou-the / tea o'clock, Greenwich, London, South Kensington, Southbank, week-end!

Une semaine de soleil, une mini-canicule presque… Incroyable! Sortez les barbecueset le Pimms! Fetons ca… – les pianos sont de retour dans les rues de Londres! Prenez-vous pour Mozart, improvisez, faites danser la capitale… – Filez a la Late Night du V&A, sur l’architecture des petits espaces… – D’ailleurs, le festival de l’architecture bat son plein… – Commencez le week-end zen avec des ateliers de taichi et de yoga @ Greeenwich Park… – Le festival d’ete est de retour devant le National theatre avec de nombreuse representations gratuites… Jetez un coup d’oeil au programme! – Ouf, la plage est toujours la… Et les fontaines-jeux de retour au Southbank centre, les enfants seront ra-vis! – Faites vos paris pour la course de Dragon boats… – Ca vous dit, une tartine de miel a Barbican? – Decouvrez Londres en chanson… – Etes-vous prets pour Wimbledon? Moi pas, mais cet afternoon tea sur le theme du tennis me semble de circonstance… – Emmenez les petit voir la mini-exposition Charlie et Lola… Comment profiterez-vous de ce beau soleil? Je m’echappe quand a moi pour le week-end profiter de la vie parisienne… A whole week of sun, even a mini heat-wave… guys, it’s barbecue-time and […]

A little dream of toy boats | Maman, les p’tits bateaux… @ Greenwich

by Chocoralie May 11, 2010 in Depoussierer les musees / Museums can be fun too, On se voit ce week-end?/ Meet me there this week-end!, Survie des parents / Parents' survival kit 3 comments tags: enfants/child-friendly, free, Greenwich, London, markets, week-end!

Il pleut desesperement. Quand la pluie n’est pas au rendez-vous, la grisaille est omnipresente. A mes cotes, sautille une petite princesse de 4 ans et 1/2 qui ne demande qu’a aller se promener. La campagne est boueuse, vfous excluez donc les parcs. Vous n’avez aucune envie de ratisser une enieme fois ni le Natural History Museum (“la maison des dinosaures“), ni le Science Museum, ni le V&A Childhood Museum. Vous les connaissez par coeur, il y va de votre sanity. Mais ou epuiser cet enfant? Au National Maritime Museum de Greenwich, pardi! Les enfants peuvent y courir gaiement, apprendre comment naissent les vagues, admirer des proues de bateau… mais aussi, au dernier etage s’essayer aux techniques de communication (drapeau, morse, radio), a un simulateur de navigation, a faire souffler le vent dans des voiles. Le week-end sont bien souvent organises des activites de coloriage, de chasse au tresor, de decoupage. Au premier etage s’est installe un Paul pour le bonheur des Froggies gourmandes. Passez-y en ce moment surtout pour l’exposition Toy Boats, ces adorables bateaux que les enfants de bonne famille faisaient voguer sur les bassins au siecle dernier. Une image s’impose – petit garcon sage en costume de marin, […]