The Hoop & Grapes on Aldgate High Street is one of those strange old pubs that one would have expected to have vanished from London years ago. Records suggest that it is the oldest licensed premises in the City of London. Certainly its foundations, well beneath the modern road level, date from the 12th or 13th century, and the rest of the buiding is clearly ancient, leaning in that way that timber-framed buildings tend to with age. Experts tell us, though, that the buidling dates back to just after the Great Fire of 1666.
What makes the pub unique is that it still has a listening tube that runs from the cellars to the bars. This was installed so that the landlord could listen for seditious or malicious gossip - which, presumably, was more likely to occur while he was out of sight in the cellar.
There is also some evidence that somewhere in the cellars there is a blocked entrance to tunnel that runs from the pub to the nearby Tower of London. No doubt excavations at some time in the future will reveal whether there is any truth in this story.
Take a London bike tour and hear other fascinating legends of London past and present: http://www.biketouroflondon.com/
Tuesday 24 August 2010
Monday 16 August 2010
London Cycle Cafes - a velorution?
Lately London Cycle Cafes have been getting a lot of exposure. Whether that be the Evening Standard, Time Magazine, Timeout, Bike Hugger or the Financial Times. Therefore, I thought now may be a good time to actually take a better look at some of them.
Look Mum No Hands Cycle Cafe
Where? 49 Old Street, EC1V 9HX www.lookmumnohands.com
Quickly becoming London’s most popular meeting point for cyclists this great cafe provides a workshop where you can work on your bike yourself or hand it over to a mechanic, delicious meals and a great place to relax with a coffee. Closes at 10pm.
MiCycle
Where? 47 Barnsbury Street, N1 1TP www.micycle.org.uk
MiCycle is a very recent addition to London and it provides far more than a bike shop. It is also a place to borrow tools to work on your bike, grab a coffee and take part in cycling classes.
CycleLab Juice Bar
Where? 18A Pitfield Street, N1 6EY www.cyclelab.co.uk
London Cycle Chic recently highly recommended the service she had on her bike at CycleLab. The juice bar is a great addition.
Ralpha Cycle Club
Where? 146 Clerkenwell Road, EC1 5DG www.rapha.cc/london
Only open until the 31st of July the Ralpha Cycle Club provides a gallery, shop and cafe.
Lock 7 Cycle Cafe
Where? 129 Pritchards Road, E2 9AP
Perhaps London’s oldest “cycle cafe” Lock 7 provides everything you would expect from a cycle cafe. It is a great place to get your bike tuned up, find a second hand bike and rent a bike or a tandem.
FullCity Cycle Cafe
Where? 72 Leather Lane, E1
Petite cycle cafe and workshop down Leather Lane. Serves up £1 cups of Monmouth coffee!
Look Mum No Hands Cycle Cafe
Where? 49 Old Street, EC1V 9HX www.lookmumnohands.com
Quickly becoming London’s most popular meeting point for cyclists this great cafe provides a workshop where you can work on your bike yourself or hand it over to a mechanic, delicious meals and a great place to relax with a coffee. Closes at 10pm.
MiCycle
Where? 47 Barnsbury Street, N1 1TP www.micycle.org.uk
MiCycle is a very recent addition to London and it provides far more than a bike shop. It is also a place to borrow tools to work on your bike, grab a coffee and take part in cycling classes.
CycleLab Juice Bar
Where? 18A Pitfield Street, N1 6EY www.cyclelab.co.uk
London Cycle Chic recently highly recommended the service she had on her bike at CycleLab. The juice bar is a great addition.
Ralpha Cycle Club
Where? 146 Clerkenwell Road, EC1 5DG www.rapha.cc/london
Only open until the 31st of July the Ralpha Cycle Club provides a gallery, shop and cafe.
Lock 7 Cycle Cafe
Where? 129 Pritchards Road, E2 9AP
Perhaps London’s oldest “cycle cafe” Lock 7 provides everything you would expect from a cycle cafe. It is a great place to get your bike tuned up, find a second hand bike and rent a bike or a tandem.
FullCity Cycle Cafe
Where? 72 Leather Lane, E1
Petite cycle cafe and workshop down Leather Lane. Serves up £1 cups of Monmouth coffee!
Tuesday 10 August 2010
Ten cycle tour events not to miss
Skyride
Part of central London is closed off as 65,000 cyclists decent on the capital. The effect is like an endless sea of cyclists wearing fluorescent jackets. The event is very well publicised and incredibly popular. It is free to attend. The event is held around September time.
Rollapaluza
Two fixed gears bikes are placed on rollers and you race each other to 500 metres. After an adrenaline pumped 20-30 seconds you may emerge victorious. Even if you don’t you’ll be instantly addicted. I’ve previously written about my Rollapaluza experience.
Critical Mass
Critical Mass meets every last Friday of the month beneath Waterloo Bridge. After listening to some music, chatting and having a few beers the group sets off around London. The event is open for anyone to attend and doesn’t tend to be organised by any particular group or person. There is a website with some background info.
Dunwich Dynamo
This is a challenging ride through the night from Hackney to Dunwich covering a distance of around 120 miles. It is completely free to attend and you just show up on the day. The cycling event provides a good chance to meet fellow like-minded individuals. It tends to be held in July.
Tweed Run
This event sells out extremely quickly so you need to get in there early. Dressing up in the finest Tweed you join 400 fellow cyclists and set off around the streets of London on a short cycle. See the official Tweed website for full details.
London Naked Bike Ride
This London cycling event involves plenty of nakedness and body paints. It is usually held in June. The congregation sets off on a short bike tour around 6 miles long around central London.
London to Paris
One of London’s biggest charity cycling events. It covers 325 miles and is organised by a number of charities. You can usually choose to complete it in either 3 or 4 days. There is also a 24 hour challenge for the more hardcore cyclists. Of course London to Paris isn’t the only option. There are also other bicycle tour such as the London to Brighton which is extremely popular.
Bike Polo
You can either spectate or if you are good enough take part in Bike Polo events. You can find out details on the bike polo page.
Bicycle Film Festival
The London Bicycle Film festival is held in October. It is a celebration of cycling featuring events and short cycling films. The events are open to anyone and tickets usually go on a sale a few weeks before.
Nightrider
300 cyclists tour around London in this unique cycling event. It starts off at Crystal Palace and covers 100km around London. After visiting famous London sights the ride ends with a well deserved breakfast. The money raised from the event goes to charity. You tend to have to register early as it sells out.
Part of central London is closed off as 65,000 cyclists decent on the capital. The effect is like an endless sea of cyclists wearing fluorescent jackets. The event is very well publicised and incredibly popular. It is free to attend. The event is held around September time.
Rollapaluza
Two fixed gears bikes are placed on rollers and you race each other to 500 metres. After an adrenaline pumped 20-30 seconds you may emerge victorious. Even if you don’t you’ll be instantly addicted. I’ve previously written about my Rollapaluza experience.
Critical Mass
Critical Mass meets every last Friday of the month beneath Waterloo Bridge. After listening to some music, chatting and having a few beers the group sets off around London. The event is open for anyone to attend and doesn’t tend to be organised by any particular group or person. There is a website with some background info.
Dunwich Dynamo
This is a challenging ride through the night from Hackney to Dunwich covering a distance of around 120 miles. It is completely free to attend and you just show up on the day. The cycling event provides a good chance to meet fellow like-minded individuals. It tends to be held in July.
Tweed Run
This event sells out extremely quickly so you need to get in there early. Dressing up in the finest Tweed you join 400 fellow cyclists and set off around the streets of London on a short cycle. See the official Tweed website for full details.
London Naked Bike Ride
This London cycling event involves plenty of nakedness and body paints. It is usually held in June. The congregation sets off on a short bike tour around 6 miles long around central London.
London to Paris
One of London’s biggest charity cycling events. It covers 325 miles and is organised by a number of charities. You can usually choose to complete it in either 3 or 4 days. There is also a 24 hour challenge for the more hardcore cyclists. Of course London to Paris isn’t the only option. There are also other bicycle tour such as the London to Brighton which is extremely popular.
Bike Polo
You can either spectate or if you are good enough take part in Bike Polo events. You can find out details on the bike polo page.
Bicycle Film Festival
The London Bicycle Film festival is held in October. It is a celebration of cycling featuring events and short cycling films. The events are open to anyone and tickets usually go on a sale a few weeks before.
Nightrider
300 cyclists tour around London in this unique cycling event. It starts off at Crystal Palace and covers 100km around London. After visiting famous London sights the ride ends with a well deserved breakfast. The money raised from the event goes to charity. You tend to have to register early as it sells out.
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