http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33995 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33995 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31297 Haggle Records is one of a kind, a visit to this record shop is essential to any vinyl enthusiast or music afficionado passing through London.
The owner, Lyn, is a truly captivating man. Always with a story to tell, always offering advice when it is requested. A quintessential English gent - with a wealth of knowledge of all genres, in particular, jazz.
I have spent hours in Haggle, on my hands and knees, (trying) to trawl through as many of the 40,000 plus titles as possible. Everything from Rock to Soul, Jazz to Dance, Classical to Punk - and everything in between!
If you're looking for a second hand record shop experience, you will not do wrong by checking out Haggle records.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31297 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30631 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30631 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22778
The upside of London festivals is how little it will cost you to get about if you're in and about London. That benefit is massively outweighed by watered down, over-priced festival beer.

My favourite London festival is set away from the centre of town, near Hainault Forest. It's a two-dayer, with super-early bird tickets coming in at £35 (and sadly sold out) and early bird tickets going for £45. The line up this year is pretty solid. A Certain Ratio and The Slits playing amid a veritable horde of young talent, and the vibe of the festival is much more laid back than you get in the centre of town. Being out somewhere green and connecting with nature overnight does tend to chill people out, comparing favourably to being stuck in a grimy, too familiar city setting, wondering if you'll get in to see the band that everyone wants to see in a venue that's probably much too small for the entire festival crowd to squeeze into. Some of last years Concrete and Glass patrons were heard to remark that that was all they saw when trying to get in to TV on the Radio at Koko last year.

Also, while Offset still falls into the weak, expensive beer trap, you can drink as much as you like of what you can bring in to the camping area of the site, which is well served for water and toilets too. If last year's experience is a guide, the campsite isn't a Reading/Leeds style warzone either.

It's on over the 5th and 6th September, near the temperate end of the scorching festival season. In my opinion, it's a cheaper, better alternative to the major festivals. Give it a look.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22778 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22591
Both years had an exciting line-up of new music, with Bat for Lashes (2007) and Jeffrey Lewis (2008) my highlights. Final Fantasy is my bet for 2009.

The Palm Tree pub in Mile End park is a great venue for a few warm-up drinks.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22591 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22524 Bring picnic, water bottles - lots of wet wipes and waterproofs!
For younger children ensure they have your mobile number on their arm, or on a sticker.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22524 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22404
Starting from the London Eye, overlooking the Thames, Houses Parliament and Big Ben.

The Royal Festival Hall in particular, is an excellent meeting spot and place to chill... sometimes you get art or music for free in the foyer :) and there's a cafe and bar for refreshments!

There are plenty of tourist-friendly/child-friendly restaurants around here, big chains such as: Waggamama, Strada, Giraffe, also a pretty big "eat" (with great sandwiches, juices etc,.) a bookshop and music shop too... plus a regular book market outside the BFI, in the summer various free events outside, well worth checking out this area and just walking, walking, walking...]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22404 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20909
I have been on a number of occasions and never had a bad time, mostly due to the music! They play a variety of genres, from jazz to hip-hop to blues, and for some of the bigger nights you may have to book in advance, but it's definitely worth it. Drop by if you fancy a night of relaxing with a few beers and some melodic jazzy tones.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20909 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19984 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19984 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17799 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17799 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17701 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17701 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13048
We went in for an early evening cocktail - all drinks 1/3rd off before 8pm. Cocktails strong but chemical, though the wine list looked okay. To be honest it's just feels like a pleasantly odd place to be drinking - huddled beneath the pavement sitting on leather seats which are shaped like buttocks. Maybe I wouldn't go back, but if you are in the area it's worth a visit.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13048 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11464
The fabulous music room has interactive tables where you can listen to music from around the world, and from other centuries, whilst looking at a most extraordinary menagerie of instruments. You can then wander through a secret door into a space where you can play delicately on a dulcimer, or bash out a tune with flip flops on some special pipes.

Next door there are some darkened, mysterious rooms full of mummies, voodoo shrines and bizarre objects of intrigue from around the world.

Wander out of the galleries and into a fab new aquarium with real waves. There are sci fi-like jelly fish, haughty seahorses, and starfish like jesters' hats. Wonder at the groovy anenomes! Dress up as a crab!

Blimey! After that it's time for a spot of v yummy lunch in the very me friendly cafe, and perhaps a little something from the shop (please). And what about the bee room, with real bees, and the stuffed animals. Oh, and there are gardens with rabbits and birds. And a big polar bear upstairs........

I love the Horniman!

From Xavi Maddison (age 10).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11464 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11455
As I grew older still we would move around London more, and me and my little sister would beg our parents to let us go to the South Bank instead of boring clothes shops. We soon discovered the far-off ends of the South Bank, which seemed to never have an end to the various forms of entertainment. There were several good restaurants, along the bank, including a Wagamamas we still often visit, a Strada (best Italian food in the world) and a pizza place at the end. In the summer, we regularly visit the South Bank, as it provides a way to take up a day, and make it a fun one. We often meet friends there, or go and watch a show, as well as having dinner.

The great thing about the South Bank is that there is always a place you haven’t been, some unturned leaf, which is always ready and waiting, and bursting full of energy and imagination. And these leaves are always falling, so regular visiting is always needed. Still things remain undiscovered to my family, so we shall keep on visiting, and so should you.

Angus Hegarty, Age 13, East Barnet]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11455 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10913 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10913 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10362 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10362 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3384 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3384 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3345 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3345 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3312
The food is excellent, the atmosphere agreeably relaxed and the club beneath it has a huge range of comedy nights, poetry readings and live music. Highly recommended.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3312 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3285
If that's not enough you can recover on Sunday afternoons with brunch (their sweet potato chips are the best hangover cure around) in their garden.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3285