Results tagged “charles dickens”

It's played host to American presidents in its time but you don't have to be George Bush Sr or Jimmy Carter to enjoy the tranquility of Lainston House Hotel.

Originally a 17th Century country house it's been a hotel for 30 years and is widely regarded as one of the best in the county and it's perfect for a weekend retreat from the hassles of London life.

With the arrival of the world on the capital's doorstep craving red telephone boxes, drizzle and scones, it's time to roll out the cultural blockbusters.

And with a confluence of circumstance and need that was the hallmark of a Charles Dickens' story, 2012 also sees the bicentennial of the author's birth.

Hollywood actor and Limehouse resident Sir Ian McKellen has long harboured an ambition to open a little tea shop.

This month, in partnership with his old friend the theatre director Sean Mathias and Evening Standard chairman and one-time owner of Sake No Hana Evgeny Lebedev, he took over historic pub The Grapes in Narrow Street instead.

The pub located in the City, at 145 Fleet Street has been a fixture of London life since 1538 when it may have been called the Horn Tavern.

It was built on the site of a 13th century Carmelite monastery that still provides the vaulted cellars.

STAGE
Andersen's English
Hampstead Theatre
3/5

IN A NUTSHELL
Hans Christian Andersen did drop in on Charles Dickens. Sebastian Barry imagines how such a meeting of greats would play out.