I’ve had a few people asking me different questions about Hamlet and getting around and places to eat etc so I thought I’d pull it all together in one post in case that’s helpful to anyone.
Venue - Hamlet is taking place at the Barbican Centre. Nearest tubes are Barbican, Moorgate and Liverpool Street. It’s easily walkable from each so don’t worry about just going to the Barbican tube if it’s easier for you to go to the others. You won’t really want to spend a lot of time in the area. It’s a perfectly safe area but apart from the Museum of London it’s just surrounded by offices and conference centres. There is v little for you to do there.
Getting There – easiest way to get around in London is by tube. Its pretty easy to use and they have tube maps online for you to have a look at and journey planners in case you need help. If you’re coming for a while you might want to consider getting an Oyster card. However you can pay at the barriers by contactless payment (which actually works out cheaper) or by Applepay. I would really strongly advise avoiding travelling between 8:00 am and 9:45 a.m and between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm on the tube if you can help it during the week (just come earlier to Hamlet and have a drink in the Martini bar). Londoners are generally really helpful to tourists but they do lose all patience during rush hour so just don’t do that to yourselves. If you’re going to travel by bus just remember that you can only use an Oyster card or pay by contactless payment – buses don’t accept cash anymore at all.
Food nearby – The Barbican has a Foodhall, a brassiere, martini bar, gin bar etc on site. I confess I find the food overpriced (sorry Barbican) so if you want to eat beforehand there are a couple of choices. The Jugged Hare is a gastropub right next to the Barbican that has a set menu. Rarely it is one of v few places that also does a post theatre menu (last sitting 10:45 pm) so you can if you wish eat there after Hamlet (that’s unusual – most places the kitchen closes at 10:00 pm) (for any of these places book in advance). My only warning is its probably not the best place for vegetarians. Not only does the food focus on local game but the décor is v hunting lodge with lots of dead creatures on the walls.
On the other side of the road is Cote. If you can all eat from the set menu it is probably the cheapest set menu to be found in London – 3 courses for £13.65 and the portion sizes are pretty hefty. Set menu is in operation every day from 12:00 pm to 7pm. If there are a few of you and your budget is limited this would be my recommendation. Nearby there is also the Chiswell Street Dining rooms (but this is rather expensive).
Other attractions – Theres lots of different sites telling you where to go in London so I wont add to that. If you’re doing touristy things check out the London Pass which gets you access to a lot of different places and you can add on an Oyster card as well. In general if there is a specific attraction you fancy and want to go on book in advance if you can as it makes life easier for you. This is especially true of the London Eye. Pretty much all of the major museums are free (definitely worth visiting the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A in South Kensington – you can visit all 3 in one day but your feet will probably hurt after) but they may charge for some exhibitions. If you’re on a budget keep an eye on the @skintlondon twitter which lists v cheap things to do.
If you want Benedict specific things to do don’t forget about the NT Archives. These are right next to the Old Vic theatre in Waterloo. This is open during the week and you can book in advance and go and see Frankenstein or After the Dance or any of the NT’s productions there. You must book a slot (don’t be put off by the slightly official looking form – they’re used to fans coming along). If you only have time for one thing to see there I’d recommend After the Dance as it was superb. You can also see Rhinoceros and Hedda Gabbler at the National Video Archive of Performance. The Barbican also have a season of Benedict’s films (including all the Sherlock cliffhangers being screened on 13 Augustand rare screenings of Hawking and the entirety of Parade’s End). There is also the Sherlock prom on 16 August. If you’re happy standing then the best views in the House for the Sherlock prom are the arena standing “promming” seats for £5. In terms of other Sherlock fen Mark Gatiss appears at the National Theatre in Three Days in the Country from today and Louise Brealey in Husbands and Sons at the National from 19th October. (You can buy day seats for £15 or Friday Rush tickets for £20
Bars/Foodmarkets etc – In terms of personal faves for people to visit in London I like Brick Lane which is ace for curry places, vintage shops (check out Beyond Retro), vinyl and street art. If you don’t want to be bothered by the hawkers outside the curry places just stick a pair of sunglasses on and keep walking. There is a huge market there on Sundays which takes over the Truman Brewery and I’m a sucker for the salt beef beigels at Beigel Bake right down the end of the lane. You can also walk easily to Spitalfields market from there and if you want traditional grub Poppies do amazing cod and chips.
Borough Market (Wednesday to Saturday) near London Bridge is a great place to walk around and you can easily stuff yourselves with all the samples on offer. Personal favourites are the paella stall and the Oyster place. You can also get amazing meat sandwiches from Roast and people queue for the Brindisa Chorizo sandwiches and the cheese sandwiches from Kappacasein (considered one of the best cheese toasties in the world if that’s your thing!) Just be careful you can easily have spent £30 and have a v tiny bag of food for your troubles.
Near to Borough Market but nowhere near as busy is the Ropewalk at Maltby Street Market. This has a selection of food stalls and some nice antique shops to look in. It’s much smaller than Borough Market and more about eating than browsing but its great. You can buy amazing chocolate brownies there from Bad Brownie. Also make an immediate bee line to St John’s Bakery for their doughnuts which are the best I’ve ever had. If you like big American style sandwiches check out the Reubens on offer at Monty’s Deli. Theres also beautiful smoked salmon and all sorts of other tasty things there including a great seafood place. Plus two independent gin companies – Jensen’s Gin and Little Bird Gin.
If you want fancy bars my favourite is Nightjar a 1920’s style speakeasy near Old Street. Its table service only so book in advance (forget Saturday nights – I couldn’t get in two months in advance). The cocktails are incredible and so innovative. They’re also utterly and completely lethal (my friends will attest I’ve been pretty much carried out every time I’ve been) so maybe go easy! I also love Mr Foggs a bar set up in Mayfair to look like Phileas Fogg’s residence (we’re off to enjoy their Tipsy Tea soon). Also fun is Callooh Callay (you enter the main bar through a wardrobe – it’s not my favourte bar vibe wise but the cocktails are nice). I havent yet tried this bar set up to look like like a 1940’s tube carriage but soon hopefully. I also recommend Mark’s Bar at Hix in Soho (great bar snacks) and the Hix Fix is lethal. If you like your gin the “gin journey” by Shake Rattle & Stir is ace value. Tickets are £60 and you go to 5 bars and have 5 cocktails and 5 gin tasting samples in each and they drive you between bars.
If you fancy afternoon tea there are loads of places that do them including a chocolate afternoon tea at Podium (I’ve had it – you probably won’t want to have chocolate for a good while after) and a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory one.
Finally if you want to have a traditional Sunday Roast while you’re here I heartily recommend Hawksmoor (again book) which does an amazing roast for £20. Also their sticky toffee pudding is to die for.
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