A nifty covered market that’s been featured in all sorts of movies: Harry Potter and Tomb Raider spring to mind.

The market is located to the south of Leadenhall Street between Gracechurch Street and Lime Street. The nearest underground stations are Bank and Monument.

Take the tube to Bank, and hoof it.

I got a pre-paid phone chip for my “mobile handset” (as they say in the local parlance).

I had a tri-band phone from Cingular, and I got a pre-paid SIM card (with a UK number) for my phone. It worked out great, and was LOTS cheaper than trying to call home through Cingular’s international roaming. I paid 30 quid for ALL my calls, and I called home nearly every day.

This building was consistently in use for what it was intended (a military fort) since the 1200s until the 1990s. Not many buildings last that long.

• Independent travel to Dover
  On fast train services, trains to Dover Priory station from London take about 1 hour 50 minutes. You can travel either from Victoria station or from Charing Cross (services are usually about every 30 minutes). During the morning and afternoon there is usually a free shuttle bus service to take you from the station to the ferry port. It takes about 2 hours 30 minutes to travel by coach from Victoria Coach Station in London to Dover (some services will take you directly to the ferry port or hoverport).

Expect to spend about 4 hours here.

This was sort of a red herring, because I tried to go on Good Friday, and the trains were all on holiday schedules. So I didn’t wind up going here. I made it as far as Buxton, but couldn’t make it into Bakewell without spending an obscene amount of money on a taxi. Tsk.
Anyway, Haddon Hall is allegedly where (far enough back) my family’s well-to-do parts had an estate. Hmph.

Parking is available in the main Car Park, on the other side of the A6 and the distance to the Hall is about 400 yards, please take great care crossing the busy road. A courtesy mini-bus is available.

Go and see this sculpture—it’s about as big as a 737 that’s been planted tail-first into the ground. Massive. Incredibly impressive.
The project to build the sculpture began in 1994 and was completed in 1998 costing 1million pounds and funded mostly by the National Lottery. The wings have to withstand winds of over 100mph (160km/h). There is over 165tons (150tonnes) of concrete to anchor the foundation that runs 20metres down into the ground.

From the North: Al
Heading south on the Ai (Western Bypass) continue past Newcastle and Gateshead. Take slip road marked Wrekenton and Birtley and continue to main roundabout then take Ai6i exit signed Gateshead South. Travel a few hundred yards and the Angel site is on your left. Parking available nearby.
From Central Gateshead
Head south on A167 (Durham Road) to Low Fell. Continue through Low Fell until you reach dual carriageway. Keep travelling south until you reach main roundabout leading to the Al. Drive round the roundabout and take exit back to Gateshead South. Travel for a few hundred yards and the Angel site is on your left. Parking available nearby.
From the South
From the Ai take exit for the A167 (Gateshead South) about a mile past the Washington Service Station and continue until main roundabout and take A167 turn off. Travel a few hundred yards and the Angel site is on your left. Parking available nearby.

That is, specifically “the New Castle.”

Tallest view in town. For 5 quid, it can’t be beat.

Don’t visit the top if you can’t handle stairs (or heights).

Gorgeous. And the only place you can see the Stone of Scone.