Author: Rod Booth Added: August 28, 2008
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre was a project developed by Sam Wanamaker to help us all understand Shakespeare's plays and appreciate the theatre for which he wrote his plays. The first part of this tri-part venture is the Globe Theatre itself; no amateur theatre, this, boasting a full professional theatre company which puts on an entertaining season of plays each year. The second part is the Globe Education Trust, which helps students of all ages to understand Shakespeare's work as it relates to performance and the stage. And the third part is Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition, the most comprehensive exhibition in the world about William Shakespeare and his contemporaries. More than 700,000 children, women and men enjoy all these facilities each year - and no wonder, for the Globe is located on a first class site, on the south bank of the River Thames, looking across to St Paul's Cathedral. A visit to the theatre's Shakespeare Exhibition includes a delightful and truly fascinating guided tour of the reconstructed theatre. As tours depart every 15-30 minutes, you don't even need to book (though groups will get a reduced rate if they notify the theatre in advance of their visit). If there's a performance going on, you'll visit Bankside's first theatre, the Rose, instead. The Shakespeare exhibition provides a lot of active displays and live demonstrations, which are great for kids. These include costume dressings, amazing performances by musicians, mock sword-fights and many more besides.....when you've seen enough, you can buy a souvenir at the Globe shop and refresh your body at the Bar and Brasserie. You can find Shakespeare's Globe at 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1 9DT Phone: 020 7902 1400 Have you ever thought about how London is protected from rising tides? Without protection, surge tides and northerly winds would put large parts of the London area at risk - including populated areas home to over a quarter of a million people. And a disastrous flood in the early fifties killed more than 300 people and devastated parts of Canvey Island. It was in response to this sad event that the Thames barrier was designed and built. Finally opened in 1984, the Thames barrier is made up of nine reinforced concrete piers and ten metal, movable gates that span the entire river, a distance of 520 metres from one side to the other. When advance warning of a high tidal surge is received, the steel gates are raised to seal off the upper part of the Thames from the sea. This amazing feat of engineering is well worth a visit, especially now that walkways and exciting amenity areas have been developed near the barrier. You can even enjoy a working model of the barrier and an audio-visual exhibition on the history and operation of this astonishing flood defence system. You'll learn about the wildlife in the ever-revitalised London environment of the River Thames. If you need refreshments, there's a super cafe; and there's lots of chance to play area for kids. For school parties, the Thames Barrier Learning Centre offers an educational centre that also has a whole variety of etertaining activities with an appropriately aware environmental theme. The Thames Barrier Information and Learning Centre is located at 1 Unity Way, Woolwich, SE18 5NJ Phone: 020 8305 4188 For football fans, what could be more interesting than a visit to Chelsea FC's "Centenary Museum", a highly entertaining tribute to the first hundred years of the famous club based at Stamford Bridge? With a history as diverse and fascinating as Chelsea's, there's a host of material to look at and enjoy. What's more, entrance to the museum is through a mock-up of a cobbled London street typical of the kind which surrounded this part of London when Chelsea FC was originally formed in 1905. The first section of the museum is called "The Champions Room" and is dedicated to the winning side of 2004-5. There are flat screen televisions showing highlights of this enormously successful season, exhibitions marking the club's trophy successes over the past hundred years, the centenary tribute, and various photo opportunities. As you walk through the decades of the club's history, you'll see exciting images and displays of the club's performance at Chelsea and historical events which happened in London. Chelsea's century exhibition includes displays about the club's development, King George V coming to clebrate with the club, and many of the most important events in the club's history. Of course, like all clubs, Chelsea went through highs and lows, in the 1970s and 1980s, and these are covered, with additional focus on the Chelsea of today. The museum features many interesting objects and memorabilia, including Seamus O'Connell's England caps and medals. And with items being added all the time, the displays are ever-changing. If you take the tour, you'll also have the chance to see the changing rooms and press room, sit in the dugout, walk up the players' pitch tunnel, and enjoy a photo opportunity with the shirt of your favourite player. There are many amazing things to discover about the pitch, match security and players' quirky pre-match rituals. Besides the standard tour, if you're a really keen fan, you can enjoy a luxury break with the Ultimate Chelsea FC Experience, which includes overnight accommodation. The exhibition is closed home football match days or on the day before a Champion's League football game. Chelsea Football Club, Fulham Road, SW6 1HS Phone: 0871 984 1905
--- Want some inspiration for your visit to London? Try the London Visitor Guide
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