Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Posted on November 25, 2009 by theatre breaks admin

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof in London

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof is a play by Tennessee Williams that has been a great success on Broadway for four months and now comes to the Novello Theatre in London with most of the original cast. Set in the deep South of the USA in the early part of last century, this adaptation of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof is remarkable for having a cast of all black actors, or African Americans as the politically correct but technically incorrect  Americans would say, since the lead role, Brick is played in London by a British actor.

If you’re looking to see a serious play in London, full of drama and intrigue, unafraid to tackle the heavyweight topics of human relationships, then Cat On A  Hot Tin Roof would be the one to choose for a high-brow theatre break in London without any music and dancing. The acting in this one is very powerful indeed, and at times humorous, while the brilliant writing of Tennessee Williams drives the plot forwards so you would never notice the hours passing.

James Earl Jones as Big Daddy

James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vader) was born to play the part of Big Daddy, and Adrian Lester in the part of Brick does a magnificent job of anchoring the whole show around him, while his stage wife,  “Maggie the cat” played by Sanaa Lathan does most of the talking.

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James Earl Jones is well known for his deep bass voice and he puts it to good use in the role of Big Daddy. As child he had elective mutism due to a very severe stammer and dyslexia, both of which he eventually overcame. Jones grew up in Mississippi and says he know men just like the old plantation owner.  He is older than you might think  at 78 and remembers seeing Burl Ives in the role when Cat on a Hot Tin Roof first opened on Broadway in 1955. He says he has been wanting to play the role for many years and has modeled his performance on that of Ives.

The production team seem genuinely excited to be bring this show to London and it does seem likely that the people of the UK as a whole will respond by bringing an appreciative new audience in to the West End of London for the four and a bit months that Cat on A Hot Tin Roof provides the opportunity for.

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Things to Do in London – Winter 2009

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Linda

To act as inspiration for your theatre breaks, here is our seasonal selection of things to do in London for winter 2009

Shopping

London offers an incredible array of shops, from the largest shopping center in Europe to a range of unusual markets:

  • There is a German market Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park with mulled wine and Father Christmas or enjoy stunning panoramic views of London via the giant ferris wheel.
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Things to do in London, Hyde Park Ferris Wheel

  • The Portobello Road market which has existed since the 1800s is a real mecca for bargain hunters and collectors of rare vinyl records.
  • With its 275 stores, Westfield is the largest shopping centre in Europe.

Heritage and Culture:

  • On 11 December there is a free guided tour “Christmas Through the Ages” around Hyde Park. Discover the folklore of Christmas  and the role the royal parks once played in entertaining the population during the darkest months.

Music

  • Until January 5, the city reverberates to the sound of traditional singing of Christmas carols, with open air public concerts and organised choir.
  • The Cathedral of St. Paul hosts a series of events: December 15, the Cathedral Choir and Orchestra of the City of London will perform Christmas carols at 18:30 and well known personalities will be doing the readings.

Winter Sport:

London in winter provides lots of opportunities for ice skating:

  • In the dry moat of the Tower of London.
  • Somerset House on the banks of the Thames, by torchlight complete with guest spots from surprise DJs.
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Ice Skating at Somerset House

  • In the business district of Canary Wharf surrounded by tower blocks.
  • For serious fans of skating, Wembley Stadium  rink is 350 metres long. The largest that has ever existed in Britain.

Food:

  • At the ExCeL London  “A Taste of Christmas” exhibition will run from Dec 4th.  Celebrity chefs including Heston Blumenthal will share their know-how. More than 150 producers  will also be present to share some delicious cheese or an authentic panettone.
  • Borough Market is a favorite for gourmets. Small producers, farmers and fishermen  from all over the UK have regular stalls. Wander around, do a little gentle shopping and enjoy a wide variety of street food.
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Theatre Breaks – top 10 things you want to know

Posted on November 8, 2009 by theatre breaks admin


Theatre Breaks Magazine is all about doing the research for you. I recently did a series of posts on the  most frequently asked questions about theatre breaks. Here’s a quick summary of the Top 10 most frequently asked questions and the answers. You’ll find more details in the individual FAQ posts.

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1. Is it safe to book online?

Yes, the big online theatre breaks agencies are very reputable and are all set up to provide you with a safe, secure way of getting the theatre break you want.

2. How do I get my tickets?

Theatre breaks agency vary, some send your tickets by post, others leave them at the Box Office for you to collect.

If they are left at the box office it usually opens about 1 hour before the show. You need to collect your tickets at least 30 mins before the performance starts.

3. What time should we arrive at the theatre?

You need to be sure to arrive at the theatre at least half an hour (30 mins) before the performance starts. There is a bar in most theatres and some even let you take drinks in to the theatre these days.

Once you are in take a trip to the loo, queues during the interval can be long, especially for the Ladies!

4. Do we need to dress up?

Not unless you want to! There is no strict dress code for any of the theatres in London. Smart/Casual is usually fine, some people may even be wearing jeans. Lots of people find they like to dress up, makes it more of an occasion. Do wear something comfortable and not too hot. The theatres are warm places even in winter.

5. What if I can’t use my theatre break or I need to change the date?

Theatre breaks and tickets are usually sold on a no refund, no exchange basis. You can often arrange to transfer them to someone else or, very occasionally, the agency might buy them back from you. They are very unlikely to let you change the dates. If you are really stuck try phoning the agency.

Remember if you have general travel insurance you might be at least partially covered, so check.

6. What if I’m late arriving at the theatre? Or the hotel?

Unless you are very lucky if you’re late you will be asked to wait, possibly even until the interval! Don’t be late! Be there 30 mins before the performance.

If you are delayed arriving at the hotel, your room is booked but it’s best to let them know to expect you to check in later.

Make sure you have the hotel phone number with you and give them a ring.

7. How many nights in the hotel can I book?

You specify the number of nights and the day you would like to see the show when you book. Often there’s a good deal on an extra night or two. You can’t usually book more than 4 or 5 nights.

8. Will I get good seats?

This rather depends on the agency you choose. Most theatre break agencies tell you in advance what level of seats you can expect. Some will be very specific and give seat numbers, others just specify ‘top price tickets’ (stalls or dress circle). Watch out for very cheap theatre break deals that don’t specify your seats. You could end up with a restricted view!

9 What about parking?

If the hotel offers parking it is always mentioned in the description. Often it will mean an extra charge, usually between £15 and £20.

Don’t forget about Congestion Charging. This applies between 7.00am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday and is £8 per day.

Worth mentioning that many of the theatre breaks agencies offer discounted rail tickets to include in your package and these are often a better idea than taking the car into central London.

10. Can I take the family?

Short answer

Yes, but children must be at least 5 and you might struggle to find family friendly packages suitable for under 10s.

Longer Answer

They need to be able to sit in their own seat and pay attention. There’s usually a disclaimer at the theatre which says something like:

Admittance to the auditorium shall always be at the discretion of the management.

This translates as – if they misbehave and/or disturb people, you’re out and you’ve no chance of a refund.
Some theatre break packages do not cater for family groups at all and many only book either double or twin rooms. You’ll need to shop around but it can be done!

Your Questions About Theatre Breaks

Do you have any questions about theatre breaks? Just leave them in the comments here and I’ll do my best to find the answers so that you can book your theatre break with confidence.

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Theatre Breaks Review 2009

Posted on October 30, 2009 by theatre breaks admin

Theatre Breaks Reviewed for 2009

Linda looks back on 2009 for London Theatre Breaks as the top of the year approaches:

Winter 2009 is here and I’m just wondering what sort of a year this has been for theatre breaks. There’s been a recent survey that assures us reality TV has actually boosted ticket sales. The box offices are claiming the credit crunch has had little effect on bookings, with most theatres usually full. But what has been the reality?

The West End Shows

In terms of shows one or two have closed early but the old favourites like We Will Rock You carry on. Avenue Q was saved from oblivion by popular demand and has moved to a new theatre. The Lion King is as popular as ever and proudly boasts that it is so well booked that it has NEVER released tickets to the reduced ticket agencies.

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Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Some good shows reached the end of their natural life and wonderful though Spamalot was it really was time for it to say goodbye. It’s been replaced by Priscilla and that has been a fair swap. Carousel never really quite hit the spot and its closure wasn’t any great surprise. It was sad to see the end of Cabaret and a shame they couldn’t take a leaf out of Chicago’s book and find a constant stream of new familiar faces to keep us going back.  Joseph went too and no doubt was mourned by thousands of Lee Mead’s fans but it was another how that seemed ready to go. No doubt it will be back someday.

One show I thought should have done better was Spring Awakening, which I just loved. All that energy and a theatre full of young people the night we went. I felt positively ancient, and that’s a good thing! (honest!)

Oliver has of course been a total triumph with Jodie Prenger making a real name for herself. Who would have thought she’d still be there doing 8 shows a week nearly a year later? What a star. I saw her at West End live this year and she has a super voice and a lovely stage presence. She managed to upstage Christopher Biggins, to great comic effect and that takes some talent for comedy! I think we’ll see more of Jodie once she moves on but for now she seems happy where she is. She’s on her 3rd Fagin and this is the one I’d really like to see. I think Griff Reese Jones will make a great Fagin and be well worth the trip.

Hairspray has seen some major changes with the departure of Micheal Ball. Still Phil Jupitous is doing a grand job and Brain Connely was very well recieved in the part. I wonder how long Micheal will stay away, I’m sure I heard somewhere that he’s thinking of coming back to Edna. We hope!

Wicked is going from strength to strength and is the most popular musical at this witchy time of year. Kerry Ellis is just a distant memory now and Alexia Kadhim has made her own interpreation of Elphaba. I think she has a lovely voice, quite different to Kerry’s but wonderful all the same:

New shows coming into the West End and available for theatre breaks include Legally Blonde which I was less than keen on when first announced. Since then I’ve had a good look at the videos on youtube and listened to the cast recordings and I might just change my mind. It might be fun and has the sort of casting that makes me want to see it.

What to say about Love Never dies (apart from “I can’t wait!!”)? Well it’s definitely going to be a huge event and it should be a spectacular in the best Andrew Lloyd Webber tradition. The Coney Island setting should give it a great atmosphere, you know how creepy fairgrounds can be. We’ve all seen Scoobydoo Theatre Breaks Review 2009 icon smile   It’s got two faboulous stars in Sarah Boggess and Ramin Karimloo (I’ve been doing this so long I can now spell these names without flinching!)

In the next part of this annual theatre breaks review I’ll be looking at the travel implications and prospects for London theatre breaks into 2010.

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Things to do in October

Posted on October 28, 2009 by theatre breaks admin

Things to do in London – October Theatre Breaks

October is a good month for visiting London, when the craziness of summer has well and truly receeded into the distance but the prospects of Winter holidays have yet to become urgent. The evenings are getting darker but the climate is still mild and walking around the streets of London, the squares and the riverside, it’s all very pleasant. As with any month in London, there’s always plenty to do in between going to the theatre.

As an antidote to indoor entertainment, October is the time for woodland and forest walks with the fabulous autumn colour, sights and sounds. Central London has the Royal parks of course, very convenient, or you could take a trip out to Epping forest on the central line, Kew Gardens or Richmond Park (for the deer rutting) via Waterloo, The District Line or London Overground.

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October theatre breaks

BFI London Film Festival

I’m going to focus on the BFI London Film Festival which happens every year, for example in 2009 between the dates of Wednesday 14th of October and Thursday 29th October. In other years it will be around those dates, two. This is nothing new, the BFI London Film Festival has been an annual event in London since 1956 and showcases the best new films from all around the world. What makes the BFI London Film Festival different from other European film festivals is that it is not just for film industry people. Tickets are available for all festival screenings for everyone. The BFI London Film Festival gives you the opportunity to watch an exciting film alongside the film’s actors, directors, and producers, and there are often Q&A sessions after the screenings.

The BFI London Film Festival showcases the best new films from around the world.

The Up balloon is inflated next to Tower Bridge for the UK premiere of Up held at the BFI Southbank on October 4, 2009 in London.

Most days you can find three or more films that you’d probably like to see, so it’s entirely possible to spend far too much time in a darkened room if not careful.

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Things to Do on a London Theatre Break with Your Family

Posted on August 28, 2009 by theatre breaks admin

There’s No Shortage of Things To Do in London

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Things to do in London - Boarding HMS Belfast

Taking your family with you on theatre breaks, whether children or even grandchildren,  is not only possible but can be a delightful thing to do.

However, children do get bored and it’s a great idea to have lots of things planned in advance so you never run out of things to do

One of the best tips is to plan your things to do according to the age of the children. There’s nothing worse than getting the age/interest equation wrong. It leads to bored, frustrated children and grumpy, resentful adults.

Read on and let’s see if I can help you avoid that, shall we?

Top 5 Things to Do for Children Age 5+

Remember on theatre trips children must be over 5 to be sure of getting into the theatre.

  1. London Aquarium – South Bank. Lots of big fish in tanks, always a winner!
  2. The Rainforest Café – Shaftesbury Avenue. Fun, themed, child friendly cafe right in the heart of theatreland. Perfect if you’re going to The Lion King!
  3. Kensington Gardens - Peter Pan statue/ Diana Memorial Playground. Park and playground, very handy if your hotel is in Kensington.
  4. Coram’s Fields -  a unique seven acre playground and park for children in London. Near  the British Museum and Great Ormond Street Hospital. No adult can enter Coram’s Fields without a child and friendly on-site staff ensure that everyone can enjoy their visit. There’s lots to do, playgrounds,  a petting zoo, it’s a great place for the kids to let off a bit of steam during their trip to London.
  5. London Duck Tours – A hybrid vehicle- drive around London and then splashdown in to the Thames for a river cruise

Top 5 Things to Do for Children Age 8+

Over 8s are a bit more sophisticated and many of them will enjoy what’s on offer at the best of the London museums. London museums have come a long way in the last few years and most are extremely child friendly. If you have a child who’s into dinosaurs, horror or mummies then the museum visit could be the highlight of their trip!

  1. Madame Tussauds – Baker Street. Endlessly fascinating, slightly creepy and great fun. You can usually get a good discount on this if it’s booked at the same time as your theatre break.
  2. The Science Museum – free
  3. The Natural History Museum – Dinosaurs etc
  4. The British Museum – Mummies
  5. HMS Belfast - perfect for little (and larger) boys

Top 7 Things to Do for Teenagers

Teenagers get 7 things to do because they are just much harder to please. It’s not easy getting things just right for teenagers. Age, gender and obsessions all matter massively. Best advice is use this list as a starting point and ask them what they’d like to do. You might be surprised what interesting ideas they come up with. Of course, if you’ve involved them at the planning stage you are much less likely to hit the sulks later when you actually get there!

  1. Camden Market
  2. Shakespeare’s Globe – South Bank
  3. The Museum of London
  4. London Transport Museum – Covent Garden
  5. London Dungeon – London Bridge
  6. Westfield – Incredible shopping for fashionable teens
  7. South Bank – An unofficial skateboard area and generally cool place to hang out.

Top 5 Tips for Things to Do with a Mixed Age Group

If there’s a teenager in your group do get them involved at the planning stage and ask them to help you plan stuff for the younger ones. Few teenagers can resist stepping back to childhood just a little, especially when they’ve got a good excuse.

  1. Hamleys – everyone loves Hamleys. Little ones adore it, some of the older kids (and adults!) get fascinated with the techie toys, others adore the cutesy, trendy Hello Kitty stuff. Just keep an eye on your spending. It’s a hard place to say ‘no’!
  2. London Eye
  3. The Trocadero – Dodgems, bungee jumping
  4. Tower of London
  5. Tower Bridge experience

It’s London! There are Always More Things to Do

Many of these attractions are either free or can be booked as extras at a good discount when you book your theatre break.

If none of these appeal then try the listing in the Children’s Section of Saturday’s Guardian or even Time Out for even more ideas for things to do in London

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Theatre Breaks – What to Wear

Posted on July 25, 2009 by Linda

Your Theatre Breaks issues dealt with one by one. This is one of a series of articles for Theatre Breaks Magazine FAQ which each deal with a specific question about planning, booking and enjoying theatre breaks. Today, What to pack for theatre breaks

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Packing for your theatre break photo credit Dwight Sipler via flickr

Theatre Breaks Suitcase Panic

First time I went on a theatre break I  hauled out the suitcases and stared at them for a long time. I was thrilled  we were off to London for a romantic weekend to see a show. I’d been looking forward to it for ages but then I started to worry.

” What do people wear to the theatre in London these days? Do we need to dress up? What do I need to take? Oh dear, what if I pack the wrong stuff and end up looking silly?”

If you’re feeling like I did then let’s see if I can help sort out those nasty ‘what ifs?’ about what to wear on your theatre breaks.

Do we need to dress up?

Not unless you want to! There is no strict dress code for any of the theatres in London. If you like to dress up and make it more of an occasion, that’s fine.

Most people wear ‘smart/casual’, some people may even be wearing jeans, few will be in full evening dress.

Do wear something comfortable, that won’t crease and is not too hot. The theatres are warm places even in winter.

If you do want to dress up

  • For women a day dress is fine. If you do want to wear an evening dress think cocktail dress rather than gown. It’s hard to beat a *LBD, ideally in something that doesn’t crease too badly.
  • A shawl, pashmina, or short embroidered cardi is usually enough to keep you warm outside.
  • Shoes should be comfortable enough to allow for a stroll round theatreland after the show. Heels should not be too high unless you are used to them.
  • Take a small handbag and don’t feel you always need a raincoat and umbrella. (It took me about 18 months after moving here to realise that I rarely needed my umbrella!)
  • On a cold night add a warmish coat but leave it at the cloakroom. It’s a real pain for you, and those around you, when you have to juggle it inside the theatre.
  • For gents a suit or smart jacket and trousers will be perfect. Ties are definitely optional. There’s no need for an evening suit unless you really want to make an impression.

*LBD =little black dress

5 ‘must haves’ for your theatre break

  1. Comfortable flat shoes for traveling and for sightseeing.
  2. Smart shoes for the theatre, still fairly comfy.
  3. A smallish handbag that you can wear crosswise – handy, leaves both hands free and easy to manage. This will also be more secure on crowded tube trains or buses. Needs to hold purse, keys, camera, tube map, bottle of water (optional) & not much else.
  4. Double points if your evening bag meets the same criteria!
  5. Dark glasses,  look glam even in winter and are vital in case of a slight case of morning after syndrome!

Final Word on What to Pack for Your Theatre Break

What ever you decide to take and wear remember this is your theatre break. London is a very anonymous place and mostly no one will notice or care about your choice of clothes. Wear the kind of clothes you feel happy and comfortable in. If you like to dress up for social occasions then do so, if not you can still enjoy your casual style theatre break.

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Theatre Breaks Tickets

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Linda

This post is part of a series answering questions about theatre breaks, following on from How to Book Theatre Breaks Online with Confidence and Theatre Breaks By Car. The full series will be available as the Theatre Breaks FAQ

Today we are looking at the issue of how you get your hands on the actual physical printed cardboard tickets so you know after all the anticipation that you will be let into the theatre and are definitely going to see the show!

How do I get my theatre break tickets?

Theatre breaks agencies do vary a little, some send your tickets out by post, but most will have them left at the theatre box office for you to collect on the day. It may depend how far in advance you book your theatre break, but there’s really nothing to worry about. Once you’ve confirmed your booking and authorised payment there will be a seat with your name on it. Well, it’s easy for me to say that I know, because part of the excitement of going to see a big show is the tingling anxiety that builds up in the hours before the big day. One way to help with this is to turn up as soon as the box office opens, which is usually about an hour before the show, when the queue should be fairly short still, present your booking voucher or just tell them your name and booking reference and collect your tickets. Phew! You’ve now got an hour to enjoy a pre-theatre drink or a stroll around theatreland and you can keep getting your tickets out to look at them as often as you like. You might want to memorise your seat numbers as this will aid negotiating your way around the various entrances once inside the theatre and after your tickets have been torn in half by the usherette. In any case you should really collect your tickets at least 30 mins before the performance starts.

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What about the Hotel?

Hotels don’t issue tickets but you may receive something called a “Hotel Voucher” as part of the email confirmation you get back stright away when you book theatre breaks online. There’s no need to print this out if you don’t want to though, you can just quote the booking reference and your name when you arrive at the hotel. Earliest check in time is usually about 2pm so if you arrive early in London on the day of the start of your theatre break it’s best to take advantage of the opportunity to settle in, dump your luggage and then go out again for the afternoon or early evening.

Rail tickets booked with theatre breaks

Show and Stay is one theatre breaks agency that offers discount rail tickets when booked in advance with a theatre break. It’s a good deal because you can save up to 40% on the travel costs and arriving in central London by rail is really the best way to do it in most circumstances. These rail tickets will be sent out separately by first class post in plenty of time before you travel.

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London Eye Tickets

The London Eye is the most popular add-on attraction booked with theatre breaks packages so how do you get your ‘flight’ tickets? This can get a bit complicated so please read your email confirmation carefully. If you book the London Eye River Cruise option, which is a lovely thing to do, then there’s a telephone number you need to ring to tell them when you want to go and arrange the booking. Do so as soon as you have decided upon your itinerary in order to be sure of getting your ideal flight times, and at least 72 hours in advance. You’ll also get a “London Eye Flight Only” voucher and in both cases you are asked to retain this section of confirmation to give to the London Eye people as proof of pre-booking, so in this case you probably will need to print it all out. For the Fast Track and Champagne flights, you still need to book in advance but you can turn up only 15 minutes before your flight at the fast track check-in desk and exchange your voucher for tickets there and then.

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Things to do in July

Posted on July 17, 2009 by theatre breaks admin

London theatre breaks in midsummer mean hot days and steamy nights, the occasional thunderstorm and plenty of outdoor events organised as things to do in July.

In 2009 for example, we had the enchanting Peter Pan production in Kensington Gardens, and some picnic concerts at Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath. There was also the much acclaimed art installation project in Trafalgar Square on the Fourth Plinth, by Antony Gormley. Every hour a different person selcted at random from those who applied, would stand on the vacant high plinth and do whatever they like, in view of Nelson’s column and the Lions. You don’t have to be a great modern art afficianado to appreciate the voyeuristic nature of such an event, with its streaming webcam and great sense of occasion.

For most of July, the schools have not yet broken up so this makes it a good time to pick up hotel deal bargains before the crowds, and to visit some places that will become a lot noisier once the families start arriving in larger numbers. Kew Gardens for example is a delightful day out and they celebrate a 250th anniversary in 2009 with special events and the opening of a spectacular tree top walk. You can get to Kew from central London by taking a train from Waterloo, the District Line tube from Embankment or or even by boat from Westminster pier.

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More things to do in July

Still on a horticultural theme, July also sees the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. It’s the world’s largest annual garden and flower show and it takes place at Hampton Court, near London, organised by the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). Only RHS members can visit on Tuesday and Wednesday but anybody can visit on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Plants can be bought on any day (you can leave them in the plant creche and collect them when you leave). The easiest way to get there is take a train from London Waterloo to Hampton Court which is still within Transport for London zone 6, so a one day travelcard is valid. It is a 15 minute walk from the train station to the show.

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Theatre Breaks by Car

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Linda

Your Theatre Breaks issues dealt with one by one

This is the second of Theatre Breaks Magazine’s FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) which each deal with a topic that might get in the way of planning, booking and enjoying theatre breaks.

Mr Notsure’s Dilemma

Mr Notsure and his partner were off to London for a romantic weekend to see Phantom of the Opera. He’d found a web site that promised good value. He booked right away, dismissing the idea of going by train without a thought. Later that night he started to worry. “What if the taking the car means I get stressed out driving there? What about parking in London? Oh dear, and what about that congestion charge too?

Let’s see if I can help  Mr Notsure’s  sort out those ‘what ifs?’ about theatre breaks by car.

What if the taking the car means I get stressed out driving in London?

To avoid getting stressed out on the journey:

  • Allow yourself lots of extra time. Use the AA online route planner if you don’t have Sat Nav.
  • Try to avoid arriving anywhere near London at peak times. These last longer than you might assume as people try to spread their travel times. Aim to arrive and leave after 10am, before 3pm or after 7pm.
  • Check for any known road works on your route before you set off.
Theatre Breaks by Car theatre breakstheatrebreaksbycar

Theatre Breaks by Car

Congestion Charging

The congestion charge applies in Central London between 7.00am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday

  • Basic fee- £8 per day if you pay the charge on the day of travel.
  • Pay on the first charging day after travel you pay £10.
  • If you do not pay the charge by the end of the first charging day after your journey you will be subject to a  penalty charge which is a whopping £120 !

Ideally you should pay in advance, either online or by post.

You can download a free map of the Congestion Charge Zone from Transport for London

What if I get lost in London?

It can happen to anyone, including Londoners! Even if you have sat.nav and a current A-Z you will inevitably take a wrong turn, encounter unexpected road works or meet some other problem that takes you off your planned route. If you decide you are hopelessly lost, and London signage isn’t always terribly helpful if you are, then according to a new web service, The Knowledge , there is an answer. You can ask a cabbie!

The Knowledge is a  24 hour helpline  manned by licensed London taxi  drivers and provided by Knowledge Capital Limited. By calling 0906 265 6565 you will be connected directly to a licensed London taxi driver.

The promise you the assistance of an off duty cab driver. The calls cost £1 per minute from a BT landline and are likely to be much more from your mobile. I cannot imagine you’ll be ringing from your landline so expect it to be expensive!  I’ve never used the service but it might just be worth it if you are driving round lost and in a panic.

DON’T CALL WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING!

Pull over somewhere safe and make the call.

What about parking in London?

If the hotel offers parking it is always mentioned in the description. Often it will mean an extra charge, usually between £15 and £20 per day. You need to arrange this with the hotel. Give them a ring and they’ll usually be quite happy to sort it out for you.

Parking in Central London, especially near theatreland is very difficult. To be quite honest I simply would not recommend you even attempt it!

Choosing Your Hotel for Theatre Breaks by Car

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Traffic near theatreland can be heavy. Park your car at the hotel

One good solution can be to drive to your hotel, park the car and use black cabs or the tube to travel around the city.

For this to work best you should choose a hotel outside the congestion charge and use the tube or black cabs to get into and out of the centre. That way you can avoid the worst of the central London traffic and still have the comfort of your own car for the journey home. This gives you  much more flexibility and means that you don’t have the stress of driving in the worst of the city traffic.

Theatre Break Magazine FAQ

This was the second post of Theatre Breaks Magazine’s FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) each of which  deals with a specific topic that might come up when you are planning, booking and enjoying theatre breaks.

(Photo Credit – Archangeli cc image via flickr)
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