>> so that has solved a problem of what to buy her. <<
So it's Helicopters fault.
I went online to get tickets for Def Lappard and Whitesnake at the LG Arena in December and spotted Motorhead, Saxon and Girls School at the Hammersmith Apollo in January.
Great Christmas present for Ian as he's an ardent Motorhead fan and I love Saxon and Girls Scjool so I go them.
Now, my knowledge of London is always aided by an A to Z or a Sat Nav and while I knew Hammersmith was somewhere inside the North Circular I didn't think to look before I bought both sets of tickets.
Feeling really pleased with myself, I started to look on Google maps.
Surely it has parking?....No. So where do we park?
So I pancked.....and booked the Holiday Inn Express in King Street which charges another £15 for parking. (Novotel was £36)
Now, I need help because I don't want to ask Ian and spoil the surprise but it's like this.
No way am I walking from the Apollo to the hotel with a bunch of Motorhead fans down those roads at midnight.
I can't run, it's January and will be cold, so walking that far will be a problem.
I'm not going on a tube,
I've took the little man for a walk on Google maps and it looks a well dodgy area.
Has anyone been, will there be taxis easily available after a sold out concert?
Get me out of this one please.
Do I just keep schtum and sell the tickets quietly on Ebay?
But I want to go........If Lemmy can still do it at 70 so can I at 69.
In contrast the Def Leppard gig is so civilised....booked into the hotel in the grounds just 300 yards away!
I hate London and it all moves too fast for me.
Pat
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"that well dodgy area" is nothing of the sort, its as safe as houses. You got NO chance of getting a cab, so you toddle the few yards to Stamford Brook and grab yourself a perfectly nice brand new and safe District Line train to Hammersmith.
I can't understand how you are happy to mix in the stadium with the fans, yet scared off them once outside!
Edit, Oh and there is plenty of Parking over the top of the Kings street shppoing precinct. (seem to recall its called Kings mall)
Last edited by: Zero on Tue 4 Aug 15 at 16:22
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It's less than half a mile, a 10 minute stroll, sure you can't walk?
It doesn't look too dodgy to me - just like most of London!
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The area around the Hammersmith Apollo is safe. But it is certainly intimidating. Lots of dark areas and hoards of loud people, so I understand your concern.
Getting to the concert is no issue; take a cab.
Leaving after the concert will be an issue, there is no chance of finding your cab unless you are out of the theatre damned promptly, so you're going to be walking - but it is less than 1/2 mile, and a lot of it is through pretty busy streets.
If you get out of the theatre quickish then you will not be the only ones going that way, safety in numbers and all that.
It actually is a pretty safe area, and at that time should be pretty busy, but I do absolutely know how intimidating it can seem.
If you are truly bothered then I do have a friend who lives right around there who can probably be persuaded to walk you to the hotel if you want.
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It's only London Pat, it's not Fallujah. After the concert the surrounding streets will be filled with other people who don't know where they are or which way to go.
Zero's advice is good, FMR is being kind too. But a tough old trucker babe like you isn't going to feel intimidated. The problem may be understanding what people are saying in that polyglot place. The London accent itself can be pretty impenetrable... heh heh.
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Mark, appreciate the offer but Ian is familiar with the area and I'm sure will have an answer when Christmas comes and he has the tickets!
Z, Motorhead fans in a concert are fine, I'm not worried being with them afterwards, but they do attract certain 'attention' and all it takes is a chance remark from a group who are similarly alcoholically challenged.......
AC, accent won't be a problem....I live with a London accent! He's getting a bit more Fenny now though. I do feel intimidated now I have trouble moving fast but I hadn't thought about having a cab to the Apollo, that will help, but after standing for about 4 hours it won't be easy walking back.
Isn't it possible to book a cab in London????
Pat
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>> Isn't it possible to book a cab in London????
I think the problem is your slim chance of locating it in the throng and somebody else not having already jumped in it!
Last edited by: Manatee on Tue 4 Aug 15 at 17:16
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I'm sooooo glad I don't live there!
Pat
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>> Isn't it possible to book a cab in London????
>>
Its half a mile. Its london. Its outside a concert venue meaning lots of waiting - Eff orf dahlin as they say down 'ere.
There is not going to be any agro, stop being a wuss.
Last edited by: Zero on Tue 4 Aug 15 at 17:20
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a Gazillion people want a cab, so they become very scarce.
A parked cab will be acquired very quickly, and when the drives says; "I am waiting for Pat, are you Pat?" the person will always answer yes.
And in any case, the driver won't turn them down and wait on the off chance you'll turn up when he's got a dead cert on his hands.
If you really do need a cab, then you could walk up the Fulham Palace Road to a pub and call one from there, a couple of quite good kebab shops there as well, but then you might as well have walked to the hotel.
I just checked, its 704 yards door to door, Apollo to Hotel.
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Incidentally, Pat - London in January, as I'm sure you know but possibly haven't taken account of, is not like the fens where the east wind is like a knife!
The proximity of about 10 million people and all those fast food shops make it several degrees warmer, although it does smell a bit:)
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I hadn't taken that into account Manatee, I suppose it is warmer and less windy.
The smells will be delightful, I bet and have me reminiscing about the last time I saw Saxon at the De Montford Hall in Leicester and walked through what is locally known as The Khyber Pass (Evington Road) to get a take away! At least after a Motorhead concert apparently the hearing is such that you don't hear noises behind you.....
Pat
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If you can't run to an expensive (but easy to spot) hire limo, you could try walking a couple of hundred yards up the pavement to where the taxi throng thins out, find something to sit on and let Ian find a cab and bring it round to pick you up there.
Really Zero's advice is best, most efficient and economical. Find Stamford Brook station on the map so you don't have to ask someone who doesn't know and can't speak English.
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My elder daughter, who's a bundle of nerves at the best of times, got the train and tube from Bedfordshire to the same venue for a Tokio Hotel gig in March. And made the return journey the same evening. She found it straightforward enough. You'd have no problems with the tube Pat, I'm sure.
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I'm not sure that the tube helps TBH. Pat will end up walking nearly as far plus the hoofing around the stations.
And I quite understand a dislike of tubes. b***** torture for us country folk when packed, and unpleasant when travelling with 'merry' people. I have several meetings a year just off Portman Square, and unless the weather is bad I always hoof it the mile and a bit from Marylebone and back. Does me more good too.
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London in general is much improved over the last few years and I like going there for the occasional meal (like lunch today!) or event.
I don't understand Pat's problem with the tube. The worst I've had is the overcrowding at certain times, in certain stations.
It's some time since I was in Hammersmith, but I can't believe it's that bad. A lot of London is noisy and even rowdy at times, but not threatening. I've been in some pretty seedy areas in SE London and never had trouble. I might steer clear of certain pubs at chucking-out time, that's all.
Last edited by: Observer on Tue 4 Aug 15 at 20:14
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Gordon Bennett!!
What a load of shoe repairers!
Rattle and Smoke wouldn't have made this much fuss.
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Shed loads of black cabs round there, especially after gigs. I even manage to get cabs when needed to/from Hammersmith Broadway/Craven Cottage when the football's on, and before Zero starts that includes times when it's sold out (25k people) and a proper club (like Orient or Millwall) are playing us.
Last edited by: Alanović on Wed 5 Aug 15 at 10:04
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Unless you have a physical issue with walking, I would walk. It is very close, and really quite an expensive part of London these days (look at the property prices, and James May lives there ...) meaning it is no worse than any other town at that time of night, and probably better than most. And since when did truckers get intimidated - doesn't the ability to stand up to intimidation go with your job?
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I do have a physical issue with walking but probably could manage that ....slowly.
>>doesn't the ability to stand up to intimidation go with your job?<<
Yes, but then again, at a concert and not in the safety of my cab, I'm not at work.
I'd be wearing steelies with a crowbar tucked down the side of my seat (for opening stuck curtain poles, you understand!)
Pat
Last edited by: Pat on Wed 5 Aug 15 at 17:34
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I sympathise. I have walking problems and certainly can't run.
No one has suggested identifying a normal-looking couple going your way and asking if you can walk with them. I'd be very surprised if they said No. If they did, try again.
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>> Shed loads of black cabs round there, especially after gigs. I even manage to get
>> cabs when needed to/from Hammersmith Broadway/Craven Cottage when the football's on,
Thats not for an 800 yard fare. As i said, grab a cab on a crowded hammersmith broadway on and tell him you want to go half way up king street, and you will learn words of abuse even a trucky never knew existed.
The only reason you get a cab to Craven Cottage is they think you are a tourist and can rip you off.
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>>they think you are a tourist and can rip you off.<<
With Ian's accent?:)
How big is the Apollo? It looks like a cinema on Google maps. Is it as big as the NEC, LG or Wembley Arena or is it more De Montford Hall sized?
Pat
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Its the old Hammersmith Odeon, Its just a big cinema.
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>> The only reason you get a cab to Craven Cottage is they think you are
>> a tourist and can rip you off.
>>
Never been ripped off. My west London/Home Counties accent clearly identifies me as a non-tourist. Although having a couple of children with me probably helps.
Seems to me most cabbies are Spurs fans (especially the ones wearing darkened glasses at night). Perhaps Pat should wear a shirt with a chicken on it?
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>> Perhaps Pat should wear a shirt with a chicken on it? <<
Mmmm, I will resist the temptation of accusing you of making a personal remark and stamping my feet, as you would have done had I have said the same about you.
Some people can rise above it.
Pat
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Sorry Pat, I was having a silly dig at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club there, not you. They have a cockerel badge on their shirts, they hate it when it is called a chicken. I was implying that if you wore a shirt with a chicken on it, given that in my experience many cabbies are Spurs fans, they might be more minded to pick you up, spotting a fellow fan.
No slight intended to your person at all. For clarity, I was not calling you chicken.
I suppose you'd have to be a football fan to have got the implication, it's easy to forget that not everyone is interested in such things and may not get it.
Hope you enjoy the gig anyway, second gig I ever went to was Motorhead at Hammersmith Apollo (Odeon as it was then). Was slightly less loud than my first, which was Anthrax at the same venue. Drove to both in my 17-yr old Mk1 Escort from deepest Berkshire. Thems were the days.
I'm a big metal fan and will be seeing Metallica at Reading Festival in a few weeks. Can't wait, one of my favourites of the genre.
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Apology accepted Alanovic, I totally misunderstood because the only football team I know is Leicester Foxes (I think!).
You and Ian would get on well, he's a big Metallica fan too:)
Pat
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>>I can't run, it's January and will be cold, so walking that far will be a problem.
>>
Cold ? again its all relative.
I live about 10 miles further out than Hammersmith and last winter we saw snow , that settled, on one day only. Probably due to me buying a £5 snow shovel.
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There is normally parking available under the Hammersmith Fly-over, but it is currently occupied by the strengthening works site huts, etc.
The Hammersmith Apollo is a great venue - former big cinema with fair acoustics, big bar upstairs and far far better than the O2, NEC and Wembley Arenas of this world.
Didn't Motorhead do a 'tune' once called "No Sleep 'till Hammersmith" which was about the Hammy Odeon (as it used to be known)? If they were writing songs about the place, it must be pretty good!
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>> Hammy Odeon (as it used to be known)? If they were writing songs about the
>> place, it must be pretty good!
>>
Yes, the Odeon was the last venue on a tour, hence "No Sleep Till Hammersmith". In later years The Beastie Boys (unconscionable rubbish IMHO) picked up on this with their, erm, 'song' called "No Sleep Till Brooklyn". The latter is probably the better known these days. Also the Macc Lads did a version called "No Sheep Till Buxton".
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>> In later years The Beastie Boys (unconscionable rubbish IMHO)
The opening guitar chord on 'Fight for your right to party' could get me onto the uni disco dance floor in no time flat. Might have bumped into you on your way off :)
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That was their one (and only) good track.
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Well, the problem is solved and for once, it wasn't me who solved it:)
Ian came home last night and told me he had booked an Addison Lee executive car to take us from the Holiday Inn and back again after the concert.
No matter how many times I asked how much it cost all I got was him muttering something about 'I didn't spend all those years as a courier in London without getting a few friends in right places'
I can look forward to it now!
Pat
Last edited by: Pat on Thu 27 Aug 15 at 04:25
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>> Ian came home last night and told me he had booked an Addison Lee executive
>> car to take us from the Holiday Inn and back again after the concert.
Having experienced AL cars at close quarters in London traffic I think I'd rather walk.
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>> Having experienced AL cars at close quarters in London traffic I think I'd rather walk.
>>
You are better inside than out.
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You can't beat raining on someone's parade, can you Bromp?:)
Pat
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A very creative solution, Pat. Clearly Ian puts a high value on your comfort and peace of mind, which must be very gratifying in itself.
(To redress the balance of comments).
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Seems a good solution, no point letting the worry of the walk spoil your anticipation.
As a tip, when arriving at the theatre, agree where the bloke will be waiting and how you will recognize each other if it is a different car and/or driver.
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>> As a tip, when arriving at the theatre, agree where the bloke will be waiting and how you will recognize each other if it is a different car and/or driver.
Yes, as I suggested above. There will be a lot of people and taxis milling about in front of the theatre at chucking-out time.
I do hope you both enjoy it Pat. Live performances, old-time music hall stuff, always terrific fun.
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>>Having experienced AL cars at close quarters in London traffic I think I'd rather walk.
What do they do then?
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They run over pedestrians and cyclists. Thats why I said its better off in one than outside one.
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Don't worry. Pat will put the Addison Lee driver straight.
Ahem!
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And here I was just about to suggest something to ease your sore feet at the concert, and speed up your journey back.
theglobalherald.com/benidorm-christmas-special-27th-december-2010-on-itv/7226/
It is you, isn't it??? :)
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>>They run over pedestrians and cyclists.
Often?
Last edited by: No FM2R on Thu 27 Aug 15 at 16:37
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>> >>They run over pedestrians and cyclists.
>>
>> Often?
>>
Only some, and usually only once each :-)
Last edited by: commerdriver on Thu 27 Aug 15 at 16:43
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So more ICE than lifestyle issue?
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Bobby, that's not me.
My mobility scooter will most certainly have to have a wine glass holder and ashtray otherwise I wouldn't be seen dead on it:)
Trying to persuade Ian to buy a trike with just such requirements but he's not convinced ........YET!
Pat
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>> What do they do then?
They have a reputation for lack of observation, two pedal binary driving and endangering peds and cyclists. Usual mini cab stuff in way but as their Sharaxalys are prominently branded stuff sticks.
The company's founder didn't help his public image by (a) instructing his driver to illegally use bus lanes and (b) making intemperate remarks about cyclists in AL's 'in flight' magazine.
I've had two near misses. One a frighteningly close pass on the Embankment and the other an unnecessary overtake placing me in his n/s blindspot at which point he moved left so as to squeeze me against the kerb.
Ignorant rather than deliberate but no less frightening for that.
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ultimateclassicrock.com/lemmy-dead-motorhead/
It would seem that I was worrying for nothing.
Pat
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>> ultimateclassicrock.com/lemmy-dead-motorhead/
>>
>> It would seem that I was worrying for nothing.
>>
>> Pat
Seems he died of fright at the though of facing Pat.
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Anyone want a free night at the Holiday Inn Express in Hammersmith:) It seems any booking made online is non refundable!
Pat
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Well, after a lot of changed plans we've decided to use the hotel booking after all.
Ian had Friday booked off anyway for the concert so we're doing a flying fag run over to Adinkerke and calling at Pidou to see how much the Rioja really is Manatee!
Instead of coming home we're off to Hammersmith and have booked an evening cruise on the Thames from Westminster Pier using the Addison Lee executive car we had already booked.
We will raise a glass of something suitable to Lemmy from the top deck and I will finally see London from something other than a lorry cab.
We will be leaving early on Saturday morning and I have been promised a scenic drive home and asked to submit a list of places I want to view from the V70's heated seat:)
So far...
Kensington Palace
Threadneedle stteet
The Cenotaph
The Mall
Hyde park and the Serpentine
St Pauls Cathedral
Westminster Abbey followed by.....
A coffee at the Ace Café and home via the A10 to find a nice pub lunch/dinner somewhere.
Yes, I know it's cheesy to you swish business bods who work/live there every day but the last time I went to London for anything other than work was when I was 6 years old and went to the Tower and saw the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, so I'm looking forward to it!
Pat
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>
>> So far...
>> Kensington Palace
>> Threadneedle stteet
>> The Cenotaph
>> The Mall
>> Hyde park and the Serpentine
>> St Pauls Cathedral
>> Westminster Abbey followed by.....
Blimey, that route order is worse than the Stobart bod that dropped the bridge on the railway!
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Ian can sort the route out!
I would like to do Greenwich, but I think it deserves a whole day really.
The observatory sound interesting.
Pat
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Greenwich is nice. Nice views, lovely places to sit and look at the view. I like it there.
www.visitlondon.com/discover-london/london-areas/south/greenwich-london
Specifically....
www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/place/450876-royal-observatory-greenwich
Last edited by: No FM2R on Wed 27 Jan 16 at 22:11
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I know you won't want to get out of the car but the cable car gives quite impressive views in the Greenwich area. www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/place/25549367-emirates-air-line-cable-car
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>> I know you won't want to get out of the car but the cable car
>> gives quite impressive views in the Greenwich area. www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/place/25549367-emirates-air-line-cable-car
It does, its the best ride in london, and the best value.
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Now for a country bumpkins kerbside view of London!
Kensington Palace......Why was that on my list?
Threadneedle street...worth it.
The Cenotaph....It's so small.
The Mall....Beautiful but Buck House is much smaller than I thought.
Hyde park and the Serpentine...loved this haven of greenery and peace among all the bustle.
St Pauls Cathedral...Wish we had time to have gone inside.
Westminster Abbey ...see above.
Interestingly, the things not my list made most impact.
Wellington Barracks where we sat for almost an hour parked on Birdcage Walk watching the Guards being put through their paces. I never realised the work that has to be done to progress from a bunch of Rookies to what we see in a public display. Wouldn't have missed that for anything.
Who has shrunk Big Ben, it is much taller on the 9 o'clock News?
Bank of England is a fine building.
Elephant & Castle is ......different!
Tower of London is as awesome now as it was to me when I was six years old.
The evening cruise up the Thames was the right decision for us as it was a chance for me to get my bearings for the following day but I wouldn't recommend it in the summer when it would be packed. We stayed on the open upper deck and it was far too cold and windy for all but a few of us and that left the boozy, noisy crowd down below!
Because time was short and it was right next door we ate at a Wetherspoons for the first time.
It may well be the last. It was acceptable for what we paid but that was about all. I never did find any starters on the menu:)
The Apollo had a lovely tribute to Lemmy up in lights saying 'You're the Ace of Spades. RIP Lemmy'.
Pat
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>> Now for a country bumpkins kerbside view of London!
>>
>>
>> Pat
Did you hear much English spoken?
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No, but I think that shows just what a fantastic tourist attraction our capital city is.
Sadly the English spoken was mostly on the lower deck of the boat where the free bar was.
That says it all really.
Pat
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Hammersmith Apollo.....Help! - Zero
