East London

East London is the secret that all Londoners have not shared with the rest of the world. This is an historic place, traditionally the home of immigrants for centuries. This ensured that a rich, multi-cultural scene has thrived and is a must see place in a trip to the capital. Try a curry at Brick Lane – this street of Indian restaurants has fed millions of Londoners over the years and is a great tradition. The other place that all tourists must see is Spitalfields Market. The market began trading in the 17th Century and has morphed into a vibrant indoor space full of great restaurants, bars and lots of great stalls. There is a lean towards arts and crafts, from jewellery to clothes. It is a great place to hang out and literally across the street from Liverpool Street Station. Hoxton is one of those areas that really offer something different. There is a fantastic array of independent shops that sell unique wares that you will not be able to purchase anywhere else. There are some boutiques for men selling cool clothes and shoes at a reasonable price and there is the famous Hoxton Art Gallery which shows modern art and has a thriving art scene. Try the east of London and you will have a taste of gritty urban life mixed with fantastic things to see and do.

Old Spitalfields Market, London, England, UK by Craig Nagy

Newcastle

Arriving in the north of England takes you a world away from the south of England, not only in terms of geography but also in culture. There is warmth that emanates from the Geordies that is hard to beat. The city is a masterpiece of architecture, Grey Street in particular, is a beautiful street designed by John Dobson in the early 1800′s. It is a fabulous example of Georgian architecture and has a great range of shops, a fabulous theatre that underwent recent restoration and several art galleries.

Grey Street, Newcastle, England, UK by Stephen Douglas

Newcastle has a great range of bars and is famous for its nightlife. It’s a scene which should be seen to be believed. The Metro Arena is the local music venue, hosting world class acts.

Newcastle is easily accessible by car and has more than enough parking spaces. For some help finding a good hire car, try this place www.Hirecars.co.uk. There are some serious advantages in having your own vehicle in this part of the world because beyond the wonderful city of Newcastle, there are some fabulous place that really should not be missed. The Northumbrian countryside has gems such as Hadrian’s Wall – the Roman Wall built in AD122. It has a Roman Army Museum, a Bath house and often hosts events. The countryside is spectacular, completely unspoilt and very beautiful.

Try doing something different in England and reap the rewards.

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London Olympics Countdown / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Alex Pink

Experience the exciting atmosphere

The atmosphere at the 2012 Olympic Games is sure to be electric, and will bring people from all over the world together. There are many events that are organised to bring about a sense of national pride, such as the lighting of the torch and the opening ceremony, which is expected to be particularly spectacular this year. For Londoners there are plenty of opportunities to savour the moment with big screens being placed in many public places including Hyde Park and Victoria Park. These big screens will not only be showing the World’s best sporting achievements but also amazing entertainment including free performances by the likes of Sir Tom Jones and Feeder.

Cheer for your favourite teams

Try to make sure that you watch at least one sporting event during the Olympics, as this is a great way to show your support for your country and national pride. All of the main sporting events will be shown on specially set up big screens in locations all over London such as parks, bars and pubs to enable everyone to gather together and have fun.

Soak up a little culture

This is the perfect opportunity to broaden your horizons by taking part in special cultural events. Fortunately, there will be plenty to choose from during the 2012 Olympic Games, such as the World Shakespeare Festival, which will feature 70 productions in several different languages. Classical music lovers will want to catch the performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony that is being held on the 27th of July, while special performances will be held by the English National Ballet, the Scottish Ballet and the National Dance Company Wales.

Enjoy a wide range of different types of events

An impressive selection of events has been arrange to coincide with the 2021 London Olympics. As previously mentioned live music plays a heavy part in the entertainment programme. These include live music performances from entertainers such as Elbow, Florence + the Machine, Leona Lewis and Madonna, art exhibitions in institutions such as the Serpentine Gallery and the Tate Modern, and other specially organised events such as the Mayor’s Thames Festival, the BT River of Music and World Pride 2012, while Big Dance 2012 will be held in Trafalgar Square from the 7th until the 15th of July and will feature more than 1,000 dancers. That means when you’ll have every excuse to set up an external London meeting room for the opportunity to experience these events with clients and collegues.

Get Ahead of the Games

Thousands of people will descend on London during the 2021 Olympics, which may well mean that getting around is a little trickier than usual – especially during the early morning and evening rush hour. However, special transportation systems have been set up for the purposes of easing these transport woes, so with a little forward planning you will still be able to reach your chosen destination. Making use of the London Underground is a good way to get around, while making use of special walking and cycling routes also helps you to avoid the traffic on the city streets. Other forms of transportation include River services along the Thames, the Docklands Overland rail service and London buses. Finally cycling remains one of the most enjoyable methods of soaking up the delights of London and is an excellent way of beating commuter traffic if you are heading into London for work.

This article was written on behalf of De Vere Venues who’s Greenwich venue is conveniently located in the heart of the action and ready for the Games!

The post Five Fantastic Reasons to Look Forward to the Olympics Coming to London appeared first on Best of European Union.