The Kilkenny Observer Friday 15 April 2022
1. Harry Potter Studio Tour This is something that’s worth visiting a hundred times over for anyone who loves Harry Potter...which is a lot of us! As many people grew up with these stories, taking the Harry Potter Studio Tour is a truly magical opportunity. Located on sound stages J and K at the Warner Brothers Studio Leavesden, this permanent exhibition is a chance to see costumes, props, and set pieces from the film series up close! 2. Check Out the Food Markets There is a lot of shopping you can do in London but one that you might not think to include in your itinerary are the various food markets you can find throughout the city. Borough Market is open every day apart from Sunday and has a long history of providing fresh food to Londoners: the first records of the market date back to the early days of the 13th century! You can start your mornings off here and buy whatever draws you in for your breakfast. 3. Have Afternoon Tea One of the many quintessentially British culinary traditions is the concept of afternoon tea. It was started in the mid1800s by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, who would often get hungry between lunch and dinner as the latter meal was served as late as 8pm. She started ordering an afternoon tea service around 4pm that included scones, pastries, clotted cream, jams, and light finger sandwiches. You can take part in this tradition by partaking in an afternoon tea service in London of your choice and enjoying the light fare for yourself. You’ve just finished lunch at a charming French café and received the bill. Your hand hovers over your wallet. Should you leave a tip in France? Yes—if you had good service. Tips are not expected across the board in French restaurants, taxis, and hotels because service is included in the country’s hospitality sector. Unlike some other countries, all employees, from waiters to washer-uppers, earn a decent monthly wage and have paid holidays and other benefits. That said, customers can choose to show their appreciation for good service with a gratuity, the amount of which varies on the type of establishment and service. Use these helpful guidelines on tipping in France when you travel there. Whether you’re at a local café or a Michelinstarred restaurant, 15% is automatically included for service in French restaurants by law. This is indicated on
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the historic Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. It first opened in 1663 and although significant portions of the theatre had to be rebuilt multiple times over the years, it is actually the oldest consistently used theatre in London and you can see a show there to this day. 6. Natural History Museum London’s Natural History Museum has a massive collection of over 80 million artefacts and specimens, some of which are on display for visitors to see. One example is the Ostro Stone, a magnificent blue topaz that comes in at a whopping 9,381 carats, making it the largest of its kind. You can also see Sophie—the most intact Stegosaurus fossil skeleton ever found. The museum is a great place to spend a day wandering and seeing some incredible artefacts in person.
to see in London besides Big Ben
4. Kew Gardens The beautiful Kew Gardens is where you can find the largest collection of plants and fungi in the entire world — how impressive is that? You can spend time wandering the expansive
gardens and stepping into the various houses to see things like bonsai trees, South African succulent plants, and tropical ferns. There are even some ornamental buildings you can check out like the Great
Pagoda which was built in the 1700s. 5. Covent Garden If you’re in the mood for some luxury shopping, world-class food, or live theatre, Covent Garden has got you covered.
Be sure to check out the colourful Neal’s Yard, a small alleyway that leads to a courtyard. The alleyway is lined with businesses where you can also shop or grab a bite to eat. It’s also where you can find
The good guide to tipping in France the menu or the bill with the phrase ‘service compris’. Nevertheless, if you have a friendly or efficient waiter, you can leave a small gratuity (un pourboire), but this is by no means required. In more touristy restaurants, you might come
across audacious waiters who try to tell you that a gratuity isn’t included. Technically they’re right; service is included, a gratuity is not. Regardless, you are not obliged to leave them anything. For a simple beverage,
you can round up to the nearest euro, or leave 20 to 50 cent a drink. For a meal at a casual café or restaurant, you could leave one to two euro per person. For a fine dining establishment, where the service is much more attentive, you may want to
leave 5 to 10% It’s best to have some change or small bills for tipping because there isn’t the option of leaving a tip on French credit card slips (service is included in the price). You can ask the waiter to add a tip before he
7. Grab a Pint at an English Pub Even if you’re not typically a big beer drinker, make sure you take the time to visit a classic English pub and order a pint. There are nearly 3,500 pubs throughout London so you’ll have plenty of incredible options, each with its own character and charm. If you need help narrowing down the list, consider Nag’s Head. It’s been serving the people of London for hundreds of years and hasn’t changed all that much. The Churchill Arms is another popular one! Built in 1750, it’s iconic for its exterior decked in florals. And yes, it’s filled with Churchill memorabilia. At one point in its history, it opened at 5am to accommodate the schedules of market traders! They stock a selection of beer, wine, and spirits from various distributors so you’ll be sure to find something you enjoy. punches in the total amount on the credit card terminal; however, you can’t be sure that this actually gets paid to staff. Tipping taxi drivers isn’t required; however, locals often round up to the nearest euro or leave up to 5%. If the driver helps you with your bags (particularly if they’re large), it’s customary to tip one or two euro a bag. Depending on your hotel, there are a range of services for which you might want to leave a gratuity. Luggage handlers: one or two euro a bag A couple of euro is a small price to pay for help with your bags through lobbies, into lifts, and along corridors. Pass on a few notes to those hailing cabs or providing a valet service. It is courteous to give a couple of notes or coins to the staff who bring your meals. Ask at reception for change or details to the nearest ATM when you check in.
