London News
News stories that pop up from around the capital.
Mandela statue in London
London is getting a new statue of Nelson Mandela next week. Its being installed and unveiled on a plinth in Parliament Square on Wednesday 29 August, the square across from the Houses of Parliament where there are famous statues of former British Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Disraeli.
The idea of erecting a statue of Mandela in London has been kicked around for quite a few years with an empty plinth in Trafalgar Square its supporters favoured choice. That’s where South Africa House is and was the seen for many protests during the apartheid years.
Date: August 24th, 2007 |
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Daily Dose 08.17
* Giant Bollywood film poster erected in Trafalgar Square.(Metro)
* Radioactive poison that killed Russian spy found at London lap dancing club.(DailyMail)
* Record number of new restaurants were opened in London last year.(TheIndependent)
Date: August 17th, 2007 |
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Looking for a mega jackpot lottery winner
As of Monday lunchtime somebody in Britain is still sitting on a EuroMillions lottery ticket worth £35.4million following Friday nights draw. The UK has a number of different national lottery games that have draws on Wednesday and Saturday nights, the EuroMillions draw runs jointly in the UK, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, France, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland and takes place once a week on Friday nights.
Date: August 13th, 2007 |
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New cycle scheme for London?
Transport for London(TfL) is looking at options for starting a bicycle hire scheme similar to the one that Paris began this year called Velib (Freedom bike).
Velib has 10,000 bicycles at 750 dedicated hire points every 300 metres around Paris, with plans for 20,000 bikes at 1,400 hire points by the end of the year. The bikes are available at any time of the day or night and cost just about £0.70 to hire for half an hour. Its claimed theft is minimal because of the design of the bikes, highly secure parking facilities and because payment is via credit or debit card.
Date: August 10th, 2007 |
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Big Ben Chimeless
If you’re visiting London this month don’t be disappointed if you’re waiting by the Houses of Parliament for the chimes of Big Ben and they never come. The famous clock will be silent for a month while maintenance work is carried out to get it ready for its 150th anniversary in 2009.
Big Ben is actually the name of the Great Bell inside the clock tower but most people use that name to refer to the tower as a whole. Tours of the tower are free but at the moment are only open to UK residents who request a visit through their local MP, if you coming from overseas and have friends in the UK maybe they can arrange one for you.
Date: August 9th, 2007 |
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London News
* Ryanair banned from claiming its faster and cheaper to fly from London to Brussels than it is to go by Eurostar.(BBCNews)
* Labour starts the mudslinging early in the London Mayoral race.(FinancialTimes)
* Terracotta warriors arrive at the British Museum from China.(Telegraph)
Date: August 22nd, 2007 |
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Daily Dose 08.15
* Research by neuropsychology team shows travellers passing through Heathrow Airport suffer higher stress levels than fighter pilots, Formula One racing drivers, parachutists and riot police.(Telegraph)
* Sunderland manager and former Manchester United hardman Roy Keane says many of todays Premiership players are so pussy whipped by their WAGS that they will not consider playing for a team outside of London because the missus won’t like the shops.(Guardian)
* National Express wins franchise to run the East Coast Main Line London to Scotland rail line.(TheIndependent)
Date: August 15th, 2007 |
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Daily Dose 08.10
* Councils are banned from setting targets for the number of parking tickets issued by traffic wardens. It’ll also be illegal for them to reward wardens with prizes such as TVs, holidays and cars.(EveningStandard)
* Airlines no longer allowed to advertise £1 flights with hidden extra charges.(DailyMail)
* Lager sales hit as Britain’s ladettes switch to rose wine.(Telegraph)
Date: August 10th, 2007 |
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£25 Congestion Charge for bigger cars
The Mayor of London says TfL (Transport for London) will start a consultation this week on the plans to charge SUV’s, 4×4s and luxury cars £25($50!) a day to drive into the central London Congestion Zone. People living in the zone who own one of these types of vehicle would also lose their resident discount. Not good news if you drive into that part of London regularly in a Range Rover, BMW X5, Mercedes or something similar.
Date: August 9th, 2007 |
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Daily Dose 08.08
* Commercials for bookmakers, casinos and gambling websites to be allowed on tv.(TheTimes)
* Lost luggage sent to auction by British Airways going for between £5-£50 a piece.(Telegraph)
* Newquay hosts Britain’s largest surfing event.(TheIndependent)
Date: August 8th, 2007 |
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