Educate me

[Flying Dodo]

Despite not being hampered by a lack of a university education, I've often been quite captivated by some of the knowledge imparted on a lot of topics here. And to paraphrase that well known polymath Donald Rumsfeld, I know there are lots of things I don't know.

Now that I have more time for myself* I'd like to widen my cultural boundaries, so suggest for me (ideally London/south east based for ease of access) things I should visit/embrace/try once/dip a toe in, so to speak, and why. Anything from art to zoology.




* With a bit of luck, my divorce went through today, so now I can consider going out to things without worrying about how to keep my ex-wife away from booze or stop her making a fool of herself.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I think everyone should visit worthing pier at least (and only) once in their lifetime.

 

[Flying Dodo]

I hope you're not suggesting I jump off it!

 

[BigonaBianchi]

...well ther eis always the birdman competition this summer

 

[Aperitif]

Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham, Henry Moore Foundation in, in er...not Much Hadham but it's right near there. RFH for their lunchtime free events in the Ballroom - always good if you're passing that way. Friday after work events too. National Portrait Gallery for about twenty minutes or so - nip in and out unless captured by a picture or two...ditto for Tate Modern (bar with a view on the 7th floor) - no need to stand in front of something for ages (unless it's a urinal maybe) just look, move on...unless the painting is a Rothko, then sit down. Robert Opie's Museum of Brands and Adverts, Ephemera etc - Notting Hill area...things are what they used to be...Eat cheese in Borough Market on a Saturday morning after visiting the Kernel Brewery for beer tasting. (This beer is served in the Tate Modern bar - as 'India Pale Ale' - and very nice it is too - as 3beers mcginty and DP have pointed out previously - pair of lushes.
Good luck and Happy Days for all your family, Adam.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

The Cartoon Museum on Little Russell Street is worth a visit if they've got a good exhibition on. Saw a great Ronald Searle one a couple of years ago.

 

[Kahuczek]

Check out some Pie an Mash shops, an important part of London's heritage that should not be overlooked.

 

[accountantpete]

I haven't been for a number of years but an education in life is not complete without a visit to Brighton racecourse.

Here a slightly seedy edge mixes perfectly happily with the mannered ( most of the time) lunacy that is the horse racing fraternity.

 

[swee'pea99]

Everyone should go to Greenwich at least once. Straddle the meridian, look at the old brassery, visit the camera obscura. Take the river bus from Westminster - it's a nice trip on a sunny day.

 

[annedonnelly]

The Natural History Museum - probably worth visiting just for the dinosaurs in the foyer. There's an exhibition to celebrate Scott's expedition to the South Pole on now - you do need to book in advance for that. And the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will be fantastic.

Why not aim to visit all the (free) museums and galleries within a certain distance? You never know what you might be fascinated by!

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

When you are at the Natural History Museum nip over next door to the Science Museum, and pop into their Launchpad area, good for kids of all ages.

 

[dellzeqq]

I think everyone should visit worthing pier at least (and only) once in their lifetime.

I'd second that, and suggest going to the (ex) lido as well. Both the pier and the lido are fine examples of (I'm guessing) late Victorian municipal construction which now swallow cash by the bucket load, and both may have to be blown up. Had those idiot moron halfwitted muppets at English Heritage supported the proposals for the Grafton the Lido could have been saved, but, hey, that's the way it is with the tweed brigade. Bear in mind that the wind in Worthing can strip the skin from your face, so pick a nice day.

 

[dellzeqq]

.....when the weather improves try Southwold pier in Suffolk, a new one (well, 20th century) that has won at least one Best Pier of the Year award. Apart from being beautiful and quirky in itself, it houses lots of work by cartoonist, humorist and automata maker Tim Hunkin. There's an amazing water clock made of old plumbing, and the Tim Hunkin Museum contains loads of very funny mechanical contraptions to ride in/on, a cross between video games, arcade machines and old end-of-the-pier attractions. Take a small child if at all possible, although this is not essential if you have a silly sense of humour like me!

I'd second that as well, but the absolute best way to arrive in Southwold is by bike from London - via East Mersea, Harwich, Felixstowe (a town of splendid proportions and outlook) and the Walberswick Ferry. Treat yourself to a room at the Swan.

 

[Cheddar George]

I haven't been for a number of years but an education in life is not complete without a visit to Brighton racecourse.

Here a slightly seedy edge mixes perfectly happily with the mannered ( most of the time) lunacy that is the horse racing fraternity.

..... or stay at home and read "Brighton Rock".
Seriously though, you will not see a wider spectrum of society in one place.

For something a bit more cerebral Time Out lists free talks and lectures in London.

 

[dellzeqq]

Greenwich is good, but if you've got kids under ten then you can take the DLR there - get toy steering wheels with suction cups and stick them to the front window. This will give you more dad points than you can count. The return trip by boat takes you past Canada Wharf, but modesty forbids my going on about it in great detail and interminable length.

My own favourites are the Sir John Soane Museum in Lincolns Inn Fields and the London Eye - both please all ages.

Do please go to either Brixton or Tooting markets, and walk the South Bank from the Design Museum to the London Eye, stopping off at Borough Market, the Globe, the Oxo Brasserie for mega-expensive cocktails and a great view.

If you're ever in Bexley, check this out... http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/redhouse/ - I know those Burne-Jones paintings are silly, but they're nice.

Westminster Cathedral is a bit of a blast when you get inside, and the (expensive) walk to the top of St. Pauls is good. Remove all the anti-capitalist badges from your Che Guevara beret before going to St. Pauls. The best church in London, and not by a little bit, is the totally hallucinogenic masterpiece that is Christ Church Spitalfield http://www.spitalfieldsvenue.org/ which has an outpost of St. John near by http://www.stjohnbreadandwine.com/ Fournier Street (Georgian wonderfulness) just around the corner, the marvel that is Brick Lane (the salt beef sandwich place at the top end is a must) a little beyond that, and my London mag. op. in Quaker Street (sorry, had to get that in).

For Art go to the Courtauld Gallery, Tate Britain and the the Warburg http://warburg.sas.ac.uk/home/ . I'm afraid I'm a bit of a snob about the Tate Modern, but the (no-longer) wobbly bridge is fun.