London - To Do (16May2016 James Smith and Songs, Circus)

London - To Stay
London - To Eat
London - To Do

London - To Do
Like ABBATravel's Facebook Page to get the latest updates and more!
Follow us on Instagram @ABBA_TRAVEL #ABBATRAVEL
James Smith and Sons

London's Oldest Umbrella Making Shop

Click here for ABBA location of James Smith & Sons, Hazelwood House, 53 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1BL, United Kingdom

An off the beaten track attraction. James Smith and Sons is London's Oldest Umbrella Shop and its located a stone's throw away form the British Museum (touted to have the largest Egyptian collection).

Its basically a shop that sells umbrellas and walking sticks. To get to the full experience, talk to the staff and they are more than willing to go through with you the types and why the high priced brollies. From full hilted wood stocked ones, to fancy handles, exotic animal wraps to the sun only brollies. They've got'em all. Most of them are made on site.

*How a gentleman's Umbrella is really made.*

Interestingly, the Queen gets her umbrellas from these stalls. For full wood umbrellas, prices start from about 220pounds and up.

Cycling Route Taken Today. Harrods, Forbidden Planet, James Smith and Sons, Granger and Co, Holiday Inn.

Click here for ABBA location of James Smith & Sons, Hazelwood House, 53 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1BL, United Kingdom

Circus

(located 230m from Covent Gardens)

Click here for ABBA location of Circus, 27-29 Endell Street, London WC2H 9BA, United Kingdom
This place really is another of the beaten track, quirky, unique eats joints in London I was searching for. Its essentially a restaurant with small shows that come intermittently every 25-35mins intervals. The crowds there were mostly large groups, couples and most of them dressed to the nines. There is no dress code by the way.

*Pictured center, The floor manager rocking waste
high pants and heels, towering over everyone.*

Ordered On:
17May2016

 Prawn Tempura Maki 15.50pounds
Yellow tail, shiso, pickled diakon, avocado, yuzu tobiko and kim chee aioli

*Nothing special really. Couldnt taste the kim chee in the aioli.*

Beef and Foie Gras Gyoza 8pounds
Teriyaki & Soya Beans

*The winner dish for the night but the skin for the Gyoza were way too thick*

Sweet Red Prawn 14.50pounds

Chili aioli & Lime Ponzu

*A nicely composed dish but a real waste especially when using beautiful sweet red prawn. The chili aioli, together with the fry completely masks the natural sweetness of red prawn. It is well prepared but a waste of a great product in my opinion*

 

Beer at 4pounds a bottle

Fed 2 With beers 25pounds each.

One wouldn't be coming here just for the food really. There's nothing really to scream about and the premium pricing in all honesty is for the performances which appear intermittently for short 5mins segments. Performance, given the limited stage are fairly decent. Don't be expecting Cirque du soleil standards but they are still in very good standing.

Its pretty cool to see how the louvers come down and lights go dim to turn the main table into a stage. Worth a pop in for after dinner drinks in a unique environment. Don't bother too much about the food which are as mentioned. 

Click here for ABBA location of Circus, 27-29 Endell Street, London WC2H 9BA, United Kingdom