Around the Conference: Get out and see London!
As you may have heard by now, our 63rd Annual Conference in London is the largest to date. We are expecting some huge crowds at this conference and want to give attendees some options for a reprieve from the narrow halls and packed rooms. You should schedule accordingly for the sessions you want to attend and expect standing room only for some events, but in between sessions, make sure to explore our host city, London.
We are going to give a few options on what to do if you want to take a break from the Hilton that are all walking distance or a short trip by Tube or bus, because we’ll all need to catch our breath.
All these points of interest are on this handy Google Map:
Convenience
You’ll be happy to know that Boots, the pharmacy, is right down the street from the Hilton. You’ll find these pharmacies/convenience stores on most of the main streets in London. Also nearby are two printers in case you forgot some of your materials at home: Mail Boxes Etc. on Praed Street and Kall Kwik on Spring Street.
Coffee Break
Luckily the conference hotel is nearby plenty of coffee options to step out and catch up with friends. There is Starbucks, Costa Coffee, and Caffe Nero, all within a 5-minute walk of the hotel. The Patisserie Valerie right outside the hotel gets you out of the chain funk. But, if you have more time on your hands, go back to the Eating London article to see some independent coffee (and pubs) options that are a little longer of a walk.
Little Venice
In the residential district of Maida Vale is Little Venice, just a 10-minute walk from the Hilton. Little Venice borders the picturesque canal just north of Paddington Station. You can board a narrowboat and take it to Camden Lock just above Regent’s Park. This otherworldy version of London is a must, and close enough to the hotel to make it a worthy midday jaunt.
Marble Arch
Where Edgware Road, Oxford Street, and Park Lane meet, just south of the hotel is the Marble Arch. Designed by John Nash, this arch, based on the Arch of Constantine in Rome, was originally an entrance point for Buckingham Palace. In 1850 the arch was relocated to its current location as the entrance to the northeast corner of Hyde Park. This area also hosts two other historical points of interest in London. This junction was also home to the infamous Tyburn Gallows; public executions were held here until 1783. Legend has it that the last words that the condemned led to this area being a place to speak one’s mind. This corner of Hyde Park is also known as Speaker’s Corner, a lively place of debate in London since the mid-1800’s. From Karl Marx to George Orwell, this corner has been a safe haven for free speech and it’s still a lively corner today. Sunday is the best day to see the soapbox preachers, but everyday someone has something to say.
Blue Plaques
Since 1866, London has commemorated its famous residents with permanent blue plaques that mark their homes and workplaces. There are approximately 850 plaques scattered throughout London and act as historical markers for artists, heads of state, writers and musicians. There are a few near the hotel, including TV pioneer John Logie Baird, Karl Marx, John Stuart Mill, and John Lennon. You can find out more by visiting the list hosted by English Heritage and more are on the map.
Parks
There really isn’t anything better than escaping the conference halls to go on a vigorous constitutional to one of the many green spaces in London. London’s parks have been a welcome oasis from the concrete jungle for many years. The closest to the Hilton is Paddington Green, a 5-minute walk, just north of the hotel. Regent’s Park, an 18-minute walk from the hotel, hosts three playgrounds for children and boats on the main lake. Head due South from the hotel and 15 minutes later you’ll reach the expanse of Hyde Park. Hyde Park has many points of interest, including the Princess Diana Memorial, Holocaust Memorial, and 7/7 terrorist attacks memorial. Hyde Park also has an art gallery, the Serpentine Gallery, at the base of the Serpentine water way. West of Serpentine is Kensington Gardens, home of Kensington Palace, the Albert Memorial, Italian Gardens, and the famous Peter Pan statue.
Instead of heading west from Hyde Park, head southeast through Hyde Park Corner and you’ll reach Green Park, which is a 30-minute walk from the hotel. Green Park serves as a kind of green bridge to St. James Park, another 15 minutes away by foot. St. James Park is the oldest of the Royal Parks and is bordered by Buckingham Palace to the west and The Mall to the north. With its winding, gaslamp-lit paths, St. James Park has more of a formal garden feel to it than a public park. Also in the park is Duck Island, an island in the lake that is home for many waterfowl.
These are just a few options to get out near the conference, if you have other suggestions, add them in the comments of the mobile version or on Facebook!