Two Wheels Good

London / Go See
en af Henry Castiglione /  Henry Castiglione, 14. nov 2008


Boris Johnson                                                                                                    Photo: Internets_dairy 

London recently voted in a cycling Mayor in the form of Boris Johnson. There is now much hope in the cycling community (I love the idea of a cycling community as if we all live in one street and cook for each other) that more cycle lanes will be constructed. If the new lanes are as idiotically planned and badly constructed as the current ones then this will be a dangerous waste of money. I prefer to take my chances in the traffic. If you aren’t prepared to do battle with the buses and couriers then try cycling on Sundays when the roads especially in the City of London are deserted.


Cyclists in front of Bank of England

I sometimes go out with my flatmate James though he is much fitter than me and tends to go too fast. The great thing about central London is that it is flat so you don’t need to be particularly fit or have lots of gears. You can hire very sturdy three-speeders from Go Pedal.


Spitalfiels market seen from outside Christ Chuch                                                        Photo: Ed.ward

My favourite lazy Sunday route takes me down Commercial Street which is on the edge of the City past Spitalfields market on 105 Commercial Street and on the left you have the awe-inspiring Christ Church Spitalfields. Take a right here past the market and you will get to Bishopsgate. You are now in the City.


St. Botolph's Aldgate

Turn right off Bishopsgate and head down Threadneedle Street to the home of the increasingly fragile British pound, The Bank of England. From here I like to wonder aimlessly around looking for the old churchs located amongst the monstrous glass and steel towers. Gems include St. Botolph’s Aldgate.

All this exercise makes a man hungry and on my way home there is The Owl and the Pussycat on 34 Redchurch Street. They do a good roast lunch in a delightfully shabby environment.

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Henry Castiglione

James Smith & Sons: Keeping Londoners Dry Since 1830

London / Go Shop
en af Henry Castiglione /  Henry Castiglione, 5. nov 2008

For my 30th birthday my ex-girlfriend, Nicci, presented me with an umbrella. This was not just any umbrella but one from James Smith & Sons of New Oxford Street, London.

Anyone who has spent more than a few months in London will have noticed this shop. It looks like it hasn’t changed for about 140 years. All the surrounding shops look shoddy and temporary in comparison. It makes me long for the wondrous Victorians who put so much pride into the everyday.

But the outside is but an hors d’oeurves to the wonders that lurk within. As you would expect, there are more brollies than you can shake a stick at. Who would have thought that the humble umbrella could exist in such a multiplicity of varieties?

If you want an umbrella with a handle shaped like Sherlock Holmes they will have it. How about an umbrella with a retractable blade like Patrick McNee used in the Avengers? Not a problem, sir!

They are not cheap but you are paying for rare craftsmanship, each umbrella is hand made. The manager told me that due to two terrible summers in a row, they have far more business than they can handle.

He was slightly reluctant to let me take pictures in case this piece sent a flood of bright young things through their doors. But don’t let him put you off. Visitors to London will need an umbrella and this is the place to buy one.

James Smith & Sons, 53 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1BL 

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Henry Castiglione