Where science meets the world, 14 Nobel Prize winners worked, a place about discovery, innovation,…read moreinspiration and imagination. How fascinating to have the Blue Sky thinking while John Tyndall's original tube showing why the sky is blue is on display? While wandering the museum with a free e-Guide, one could have good encounters with the characters at the Royal Institution. My favourite is Michael Faraday and his Magnetic Attraction, the Induction Ring. The first Atlantic cable, the long-distance telegraph signalling based on his theory of the electromagnetic field ever changed the way the world communicates. "Science may never come up with a better office communication system than the coffee break" (Earl Wilson) RI's Time and Space coffee bar is a unique place to take a break as the museum fascinates me with its two centuries of great scientific breakthroughs. The coffee/cakes are very affordable compared w/ other museums. The best part is to watch various magnifying glasses hanging in a milk way shape on top of the cafe ceiling :) RI also has a variety of rooms for event hire. For our MIT's 60th alumni club anniversary, I've chosen the stylish Library room overlooking Albemarle Street that holds an fascinating collection of scientific books. The Time and Space Restaurant supports the full the catering options. I feel so fortunate to have this connection with RI!

The nerd in me was so excited to see this place! I apologize in advance if I let the nerdiness get…read morea little out of hand. After spending the day touring London, hitting Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Eye, Etc, this was a refreshing change of pace. If you have any young scientists on your hand, this is where you need to bring them. I remember learning about Faraday as a high school student and always seeing pictures of his famous lectures. I didn't realize it until I saw the Faraday lecture room here, but it's the same one that so many notable scientists have lectured in - Bragg, Dawkins, Sagan, and so many more. The lecture hall is completely open and I can't believe they let you go inside, absolutely no restrictions. Another thing I loved was the self paced tour downstairs. You get to see parts of the lab, and learn about key scientific discoveries that were founded at the Institute. If you've got a spare hour or two, make sure you check this place out!

I first came across Seamus Ryan when I hired his glitter booth for a party last year - an instant…read moresuccess! If you haven't got the patience to wait your turn, or are to shy to have a professional photo taken in front of the whole gallery, you can sneak into a little side room, buy a token (£3 or 2 for £5) and get the best passport pictures you have ever owned. I did both and now have a wonderful memory of my friend's visit and a great day at Columbia Road. Can't wait for the proper pictures to appear on the website on Wednesday. An absolute highlight - and what an honour to be part of such a beautiful project.

I came here to interview the photographer yesterday, but I want to write a review because it's a…read morereally interesting place. The gallery itself is very tucked away, if you think you're walking down the wrong street (past the Royal Oak pub on the corner of the flower market), you aren't you just haven't walked far enough yet. Every Sunday, Seamus Ryan opens up his studio. Which isn't a hugely novel thing to do at first glance. But then you realise that he takes photos of everyone passing through. Tourists and nosy people can then buy the prints after seeing them on the website later in the week. Brilliant. Yesterday he took photos of the contents of my handbag. Random. The portraits in the gallery are gorgeous. His print of Tom Stoppard (who popped in with his grandkids) is now in the National Portrait Gallery. The gallery is light and airy and interesting. It's also well air conditioned which is very handy to escape the sunshine for a little while and recover from flowery sneezes you'll get wlaking through the market. So go and be nosy and be in a photo project. They change every week so you know you'll be doing something new each time. Much more interesting than Smallville reruns on the telly.

This place is awesome. Tucked away in Hackney with great views of London. Hang out with your shoes…read moreoff while sitting on the astroturf and sip a cocktail. Perfect and u pretentious. And not expensive. Order food which is delivered from a local restaurant and enjoy a few hours away from the street. Would def come back!

I went to Netil 360 over the weekend, it came highly recommended from some friends of mine who live…read morein London. I was not disappointed! Netil has an awesome view of the city, casual atmosphere, house beats. Given the view / London, I thought the prices were reasonable. Great spot for a drink after work or a weekend hang out when the weather's nice.

On the prowl for an up-market "escort"? *This* is your venue. Oy. Seriously. It was actually…read moreuncomfortable sitting in the cocktail lounge next to so many "ladies in red" (literally - I'm not kidding) indifferently sipping their martinis all alone... If the dubious crowd weren't bad enough, the basement club's sound system was WEAK ... so muffled you could barely detect bass... I've had better speakers in a rental car. The mainly Russian crowd seemed to be enjoying themselves - dancing around their tables with relish... but we just couldn't get into it So... put-off by the harlots and bored of the music, we wandered upstairs to the casino. It was like a scene out of an old Western movie. A stagnant empty room with exactly TWO men drinking Scotch and playing Blackjack. The rest of the dealers were just shuffling their cards... "Is it always like this?" I asked one of them. "It's been a quiet week," he replied... (Or perhaps year? I wondered... judging from the staleness in the air...) Undaunted by the eerie scene, my friend bought some chips for a bit of roulette. Twenty minutes later, and my friend at least that many quid poorer, we left. More than anything, FIFTY London just felt depressing. I don't know what it was like a year or two ago... maybe it can *be* happening... but the night I was there, it felt like it had bitten the recession dust pretty hard.

I have been lucky enough to have been a member since the gorgeous Fifty opened its doors and still…read moreis a fabulous venue with even more fabulous staff from the lovely ladies at reception, the door staff, barmen to the infamous Salvatore himself. I have never had a bad evening and it's a venue for all types of company from taking my Mother to a date to a night out with the girls. I highly recommend but the previous reviewer is correct that you have to be a member or a guest of a member!

Wonderful place…read more They had good food and reasonably priced drinks. The live music was awesome (although not jazz the night we went). We found their events on eventful.com. They had some stuff listed at the vortex. It's also really close to a tube station so it's easy to get to without a car. Seating is a little bit cramped, but possible. We didn't really have to wait. They also have outdoor seating.

I am new to Jazz, being a convert after my wife's influence and listening to the various channels…read moreon Play. After reading about the various Jazz venues in London I was drawn to Vortex because it is affordable and run by volunteers. I was not dissapointed by the music and the venue was better than I expected. Me, I am not that particular so this is my view but others said that it was a bit run down. I suspect that if you are more high brow then Dalston and it's establishments are not for you. The drinks are a bit expensive. The staff are very friendly and casual. As this is the first time I have been to a Jazz venue it is hard to make a comparative review. However we had a good time listening to the music and I would recommend Vortex to anyone who wants to try out the Jazz scene.

I was looking for a fun night out with my son while visiting London, and this experience delivered…read moreon every front: fun, original, entertaining, and truly memorable. Afterwards, my son said it was the best thing he's done in London. The evening begins with a short tour of their museum, followed by two 20-minute showcases of close-up, table magic. During the intermission, you're taken through the second part of the museum tour, then onto two more magic showcases to close out the night. Each showcase features a different magician. If you're from the UK, you've probably heard of the Magic Circle but you might not know they host their own live showcase. If you're visiting from abroad, the Magic Circle is essentially the elite, semi-secretive "trade association" of magicians -- not just in the UK, but globally. Their museum even includes original artifacts from Houdini. A few other pointers related to their Friday night "Close-Up At The Magic Circle": - The VIP tickets are worth paying for. - There is a full bar. - The building is a little hard to locate and somewhat out of the way (besides Euston Station) but don't let that put you off. - The event works for kids, adults, date nights, pretty much every occasion. - The show starts around 7:30 but suggest getting there around 6:45. It lasts around 2 1/2 hours. Highly recommend.

The central place for all official magic in the UK and perhaps the world…read more The Magic Circle is the HQ meeting place for all members of the Magic Circle and Inner Magic Circle. Shows, lectures, classes, research and exams are performed here. Duke or Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Lord Mountbatten are members and join the likes of Paul Daniels, David Copperfield, Ali Bongo and many many more. The Circle also hosts a very nice theater, bar, reception area, museum and Inner Sanctum.

Cool club that feels like a cave without being claustrophobic. Minimal security but friendly crowd…read more(at least at the minimal techno event I was at). The beer selection (£4.50 / 330ml can) was solid and included beers I hadn't seen elsewhere in London, so that was a treat. Bartenders were swift. Sound system was better than most places in the States, though with more bass, it sounded more distorted. Bathrooms can get a little cramped since the area is narrow.

Was fortunate enough to go back to Village Underground again last night - this time it was for a…read moregig. The delectable Kate Nash put on a somewhat intimate show. Still nothing but good words for the things they do well at VU. Hardly any hassle getting through the door, they hadn't oversold the place (which they might have been tempted to do) and the single bar coped well with the demand. Getting out was no hassle too. It all seemed a little too easy. Importantly though, the acoustics here are great and it was a really enjoyable gig. Yes I have big crush on Kate, but there's no bias in this review. Honest. I'm very tempted to get tickets for whoever else is playing here soon...

Really nice convention center, huge, with plenty of space for small to large events. Been here a…read morefew times now to pick up my race bib and swag for the London Marathon. Easy to get to using the Elizabeth Line and DLR which is close by. Plenty of options to get something to eat and drink in the food court/mall area.

Massive events space…read more Was here for a work conference. Rooms are big and bathrooms are clean, thats about what I expect from an events space. Excel is accesible directly from 2 train stations. However, if you get off on the wrong station, its a 15 min walk to the other side of excel complex. I got lucky on first try and it was about a 3 min walk from train to inside. Outside of the conf. space i was in, there is a huge indoor area that does seem to have shops and restaurants. It had a lot of other events going on at the same time, so seems to be a busy area. Note it takes at least 10 minutes to walk the length of the indoor space, so its huge! It's a bit out of the way from center of town, but if you are already here for an event, plenty of restaurant options inside and outside at walking distance.