Tea and a Mag... Damian's London

Damian Lewis: My London (2005)
The Evening Standard ES Magazine, October 28, 2005


Where do you live and why?
Camden. I've always liked this part of London. I remember, when I was younger, I used to make it along to the Electric Ballroom in Camden High Street on a Friday night and jump up and down to the rock music.

How long have you lived there?
I've lived in North London all my life. I grew up in St. John's Wood, although I was at boarding school a lot of the time. Afterwards, I returned to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. I was at Guildhall at the same time as Joseph Fiennes, Ewan McGregor and Jude Law.

What was the last play you saw in London and did you enjoy it?
As You Like It at Wyndhams Theatre with my girlfriend Helen McCrory and Sienna Miller. Helen's performance as Rosalind was quite stunning -- I loved it.

What have been your most memorable London meals?
Long Sunday lunches in great pubs with good wine and good friends. I also like eating at The Wolseley on Piccadilly. I can't really tell if I'm in a Viennese brasserie or a car showroom -- but it's very grand.

What do you miss most when you're out of London?
The magnificent views of the city when you're standing on the top of Primrose Hill or from Waterloo Bridge -- they're breathtaking.

What is your life philosophy? 
Be brave. Regret nothing.

What items are in your winter wardrobe?
Long johns and woolly socks -- especially if it's going to get as cold as everyone is predicting this winter.

Which aftershave do you wear?
Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani or something by Christian Dior.

What are your current projects?
I'm currently rehearsing for a Henrik Ibsen play at the National Theatre called Pillars Of The Community, which opens on 1 November. Then I've got Much Ado About Nothing, which is on BBC One, also on 1 November. And there's my film Keane which is being screened at the London Film Festival. I play a man struggling to come to terms with the disappearance of his six-year-old daughter.

-- Bookworm --
What were the last books you bought?
The Spanish Game by Charles Cumming, a spy story, and an introduction to the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. I get most of my books from Charing Cross Road.

-- Little black book --
Who is in your secret address book?
Paradise Cleaners, the flower stall, the Odeon cinema and Tupelo Honey restaurant for its chicken pie -- all on Parkway in Camden. I used to love flicking through books in Regent Bookshop, also on Parkway, but sadly it's now closed.

-- Hot tip --
What advice would you give to a tourist?
Bring a brolly with you.

-- Memory lane --
What is your earliest London memory?
Solving crimes along Abbey Road with my brother Gareth on our Grifter bikes.

-- Air waves --
What do you listen to on your iPod as you travel around London?
In a perfect world I would always be bicycling through Bloomsbury just as my iPod shuffled to Artie Shaw.

-- Top tracks --
What was the last CD you bought?
Damian Marley's Welcome To Jamrock. It's a reggae album by the son of Bob Marley.

-- Globetrotting --
Where were the last three places you went on holiday?
My family house in Wales, then Norfolk and before that Morocco.

-- Power trip --
What would you do if you were Mayor for the day?
Hand out bicycles, free, to everyone.

source damian-lewis.com

PREVIEW

We happy to tell you a little bit <bout the coming months..

besides you see our usual installments and Damian Lewis news you will also
see from March to May our "Tips for Trips"

since a lot of people will go and see American Buffalo we take the chance to
show you great locations and tips for Hotels Restaurants and Sightseeing Programme
and what to do in London....

we start it all next week!!!!

Tower Twilight Tours

Dare to take an evening tour

Yeoman Warders will lead exclusive tours of the Tower, taking in some of the gruesome sights and spooky stories which make it world famous.

You will have unique after hours access to the UK’s most visited historic attraction, and can enjoy it at its most tranquil (and its most spooky!) Take in world famous sights such as Traitors’ Gate, the Scaffold Site and the Bloody Tower, and be appalled and amazed by tales of prisoners and past residents, of royal gossip and of the secrets kept within these ancient walls.

Although largely spent outdoors, the tour also includes a brief look in the Bloody Tower, where two young princes disappeared from their beds while under the care of their Uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Two centuries later, workmen at the Tower dug up a wooden box containing two small human skeletons.

Another highlight of the tour is the chance to hear ghost stories at Tower Green, a historical burial ground and the site where three English Queens (Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Jane Grey) were beheaded. If you feel tired, you can rest your legs in the Chapel where their headless bodies lie. Rumour has it that there might be some more right beneath your feet…

Finally, you’ll head to the bottom of the Wakefield Tower where hundreds of prisoners were held at one time and where you can see three terrifying instruments used to torture traitors. Not one for the faint-hearted!

The tour is interspersed with tales of apparitions appearing in photographs, mirages passing through bodies and unknown guests being seen on tours…

see more here:

to book tickets please visit the official website:

Wintertime...

sourcethemavehotel.com

source damian-lewis.com

source visitlondon.com

Wintertime in London

sources visitlondon and venere.com

Dear Daddy

 It’s been a long time since we have spoken to each other.

You’re gone for years by now and there are still moments when I miss you dearly.

 Not every day but sometimes, it’s right that time heals but often I wish we could have a talk.

 When I think of you these days than mostly remember your smile, a warm but always a bit

boyish. When you smiled or laughed there were always this beautiful sparkles in your eyes.

You were an attractive man with your dark curly hair and the crispy voice.

you were a politician and it was always easy  for you to deal with women a little bit too easy….

I guess it wasn’t always nice and smoothly to be your wife.

But I remember your smile in the best possible way.it was your way to thank me or to tell me

that you were proud of me.

I was so often very proud of you .you were a very charismatic man and in public you were

the man who lead the crowd. At home you showed a different face because you had to deal with uncertainty   

and a slight depression.

 I don t know why you felt that way because you were educated the old fashioned way that a man doesn't talk about feelings very much.

  Unfortunately you educated me the same way. Outside the charming Darling and inside….is nobody else’s business. That can be problematic, to hide or repress your feelings can make you lonely or

you give every time the impression everything is cool and nothing really bothers you but that’s unnatural.

It was a hard lesson to learn because you need to re-educate yourself and you have to go step by step forward to trust people. You need patient friendsJ

 Daddy I wish you had been able to do the same but you went your way and you had to do.

We had a few deep talks during your last years and I was sure we could build up on that but we simply hadn't enough time , you died soon after our last great talk where we really got closer to each other.

I remember whenever we had guests we could be sure you would find a way to talk about London

the big love in your life and the only thing you were fiercely excited about.

I was every time horribly bored about your stories and the fact that your greatest wish was to show me your London scared me more than it impressed me, I had zero interest in a trip to the UK.

  Then you died and two months later I went on my first trip to London, why?? Good question maybe

I was hoping to be nearer to your dreams and hopes there. I wanted to understand you.

I remember as if it were yesterday. I arrived at Waterloo station saw a cab outside and an older

man smiled reserved but nice when I passed him and it felt like homecoming.

I felt free and explored a complete new site of myself there and luckily that feeling never left me.

And till today I feel I am close to you sitting at Tower Bridge watching the boats on the River Thames

and thinking your soul and spirit is back in London the city you always loved.

I truly hope you having a fabulous time Dad.

source cityguide.com

Family tips for London family week

Winter in London is a wonderful time! 

source visitlondon.com

From ice-skating to hot chocolate, you can indulge in some fantastic festive activities in the UK capital. And if the weather turns bad, London's indoor attractions are among the best in the world.

Emma's London

Even though I live on the outskirts of London, about 20 mins on a train, I do consider myself a Londoner.  I love London so much and I still, at the age of 40, get excited to go into town for the day.  I work twice a week in Soho and love walking from Oxford Circus tube station to the office. 

Sunday is usually a day where we do as little as possible, maybe hook up with friends or family and do some shopping.  But today w decided to get the tube to Hyde Park and take the girls to see the Serpentine in the middle of the park.  As we stood paying for boating tickets I realised in all my time coming into the park I have never properly seen this beautiful lake.  

copyright emma

We took the girls on a pedalo for a half hour and it was great fun, but not so much on the leg! 

After our little boat trip we went for a coffee and some cake in one of the cafes that overlook the lake.  The lake is so pretty and was lovely sitting in the early September sunshine and enjoying watching people passing by.  We then decided to get back on the tube and take the kids to Covent Garden, 24 hours too late to see Damian but hey, you can’t win them all.....  We saw the Opera house which is housed in the corner of the Piazza, with a beautiful swan cut out around the doorway. 

copyright emma

copyright emma

After a stroll around the fantastic indoor market and watching some of the street acts, we went to Tuttons to once again watch the world go by and have a late lunch and a few Kier Royals.....

copyright emma

Covent Garden to me is London and its so buzzy and exciting.  Even as a young girl I loved coming to Covent Garden with my friends on the weekend, there was never a boring minute there and places to eat and drink were always good.  To finish off our day we took the girls on a Rickshaw back to a nearby tube station.  Great Fun on the weekend for a blog girl and I wanted to share it all with you.

copyright emma