h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Who knows London?

I've not been for ages, but I'm giving a conference talk there in a couple of weeks. Naturally I'm keen to take full advantage of my employer's largesse, so...Can anyone recommend decent restaurants? Nothing mega pricey. I'm particularly interested in sampling mega-ethnic stuff. Vietnamese, Arabic, that sort of thing. My hotel is just near Tottenham Ct tube, which is handy.

I went to an excellent Szechuan restaurant quite near there last week, can't remember the name but will find out and get back to you. Was about £25/head. Not sure how good it would be for a veggie though.

I can recommend the "Organic Pizza Company". They have branches at South Kensington Tube Station, and Gloucester Road Tube Station, but may have lots of other ones for all I know.

When are you going? I'm off to London for Paddy's Weekend.

I have just come back from London, and I have to go up again tomorow... D'Oh!

I've only a vague idea when Paddy's weekend is. (googles) Ah, no. I'm there the week after.

You won't get much for 25 quid in London.
Why not buy a loaf of bread and sit in the park, or down by the Thames or if they let you on that piece of grass outside Parliament?
Or maybe take your lunch to Speaker's Corner - get on your Soapbox, Ed!

Since I won't be paying, my only concern is to try and keep my expenses somewhere this side of plausible. Somewhere like The Ivy would be out.

I've found the Time Out site now and the world's my lobster. Isn't it terrible, though, whenever you google a restaurant or a hotel you get hundreds of links to absolutely rubbish guidebook sites?

I've been thinking of heading to London this year. Last time I was there was...'95 I think. If you come back with any good tips, let me know.

It looks like there's a decent Korean place just around the corner. Kimchi a-go-go.

My favourite place is long gone - Pho's Vietnamese cafe, a formica-tabled place near the corner of Lisle St and Wardour St (There's an A-bomb on...etc.). Dirt cheap and great big bowls of thick rice noodles in a delicious soup, topped with 'shrubbery'. I used to go there weekly.

Hmm. It's about time I made some more kimchi. It's dead easy. You just shred some cabbage, mix it with salt, chilli (LOTS of!), garlic, ginger and spring onions, bung it in a tupperware container and stick it in the airing cupbopard for a week until it goes manky.

A-P-O-C-A-L-Y-P-S-E Apocalypse!

sounds more like a pucker-lips

oof

I'm going to Liverpool in a week or three. Hope to sample a plate of scouse and a pint of Liffy water.

Well after two trips to the big smog in a week I must say I am thouroughly fed up with trains and london.

I can't say I'm particularly in the know about Liverpool these days. The local beer, Cain's, is rather good. And make sure you visit the Maritime Museum/ Museum of Slavery, Tate Liverpool (I think they've still got the Chapman Bros exhibition)...and the (relatively) recently refurbished Liverpool Museum/ Walker Gallery complex. Coincidentally I was looking at their sire recently. http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/
Gosh! They have a Frances MacDonald exhibition. Coincidentally, I was at a meeting at Glasgow School of Art on Monday.

The Walker is a truly excellent gallery. On my first visit, aged 16, they had a Munch exhibition. How lucky is that? You're just starting to get interested in Art, and they throw Edvard Munch at you.

And you should make a pilgrimage to the Jung bust at the site of the former School of Poetry, Dreaming and Pun on Mathew St - same street as the old Cavern Club.

More on the indigenous culture of the Aboriginal Liverpudlians:
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/cityofculture2008/story/0,,2017940,00.html

Wherabouts are you staying, anyway?

When down in the smoke we usually try and get one meal in one of the Bhel Puri Houses (Diwana and Ravi Shankar on Drummond St, near Euston Station).
As for Arabic restaurants, try the other end of Oxford St from Tottenham Ct Rd, along the Edgware Rd by Marble Arch there are quite a few. I can't recommend any though as I've not been to any of them.

Thanks Ed,
Hope to have a look at the Tate and/or the Walker.

Haven't been to Liverpool for many years, apart from passing through on the way to the Isle Of Man - hols about 5 years ago.

Will be generally bumming around the NW and imposing on friends and relatives; maybe get to Morecambe Bay (great sunsets), Pendle Hill (pints of Pendle Witch?).

Thanks for the links. As for being "like San Francisco ...."?

Yes - I remember those Bhel Puri houses. However, Glasgow is *very* well served for curry houses, both authentic and for those with less attractive skin tones.

My favouritre London Indian is a South Indian place in Fitzrovia: http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/reviews/6164.html

When in Liverpool, the food to eat is Chinese. Head up to Berry St (top of Bold St) and ask for the proper Chinese menu. Which is what I'll be doing at least one night in London.

I'm not sure if they still have the Andy Goldsworthy statues on Crosby beach, where I grew up. Jaysus, we used to swim there! Most polluted beach in Britain.

Ta! I'll try and remember that one.

Not Goldsworthy. Anthony Gormley!

(It's usually Richard Long I confuse with Goldsworthy - but that's somewhat understandable).

btw - in Morcambe Bay, head for Hest Bank where you can pick samphire. it's very tasty, lightly steamed. http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/vegetables/greens/samphire.htm Another good spot is Maldon, in Essex.