zebec

*our Cotswolds questions will appear at some later point

1) do Oyster cards require photo ID and if so, does one bring it or get in done in situ?
2) have either the Courtald or Leighton House announced their re-opening dates?
3) do any of you have experience of the Wilton Music Hall and would you recommend it?
4) can you please suggest any absolute MUST-visit food stalls at the Truman Brewery and/or the Spitalfields (Sunday) market? We certainly have fave stalls at our city's similar markets---what are your picks at those 2 places?
5) what might be the best places to shop for top-quality fruit in London? Say, the same quality as Whole Foods? Are any such shops (not WF) in the East End?
6) izzit true that there are elephants, lions too, in Piccadilly Circus? (thx Ian)

7) both our JanisJ plus our MacDog have elsewhere referenced Barrafina coming to the Borough---again: any dates announced for that?
8) *asking for Mrs Z--which art supplies shop do you favour and why? Atlantis? Green and Stone?
9) which attractions are still under scaffold?
10) *again asking for Mrs Z--which rare books shop might offer (here I am sure that she is merely joking) 'Ways to Dispose of your Husband's Body' (pt. 2). Probably just research for her writing, you understand.
11) is the Wallace's Gift Shop that 'outstanding', as one guidebook claims?
12) any of you ever been for Indian massage at the York Hall Spa in Bethnal Green? Your opinion?

14) what happened to my 13th question?
15) might anyone know the neighbourhood where Rush bassist-singer Geddy Lee lives in London? Understand, I have zero intent of ever visiting him or even passing by, its just that as I've been re-familiarizing myself with the London layout, I have become curious. He also has owned a Burgundy villa for years and when we were about to travel there a few years ago, I posed the same general question on this forum, again having become familiar with the map there. Note that I've already met Geddy a few times.
16) we are, OK I am, a honey enthusiast and the Hackney City Farm claims to produce some of the best in London; anyone ever tasted it and do you concur?
17) this Passenger Locator form...if say, a traveler were to observe the section with 'SEX: M or F or Otherwise (circle one)', then if say that same traveler were to circle the word sex and scrawl 'yes' below it, would that possibly result in a free tour of the Tower of Lo...(sound of slap) OWW!!!

18) Bonus query: this grocery chain 'Sainsburys', could someone comment on it? Canucks, how does it compare with Loblaws?
19) Bonuser query: (voice of Borat) How to pronounce 'Marlyebone'?

20) feel free to ask me any related questions here.
Cheerz
I am done. the curious traveler

Sassafrass

https://www.cornelissen.com
I absolutely love this store because the shop itself is so beautiful, old narrow wood floors, beautiful colors with lovely painted exterior. It smells wonderful. Supplies are so beautifully displayed, though you may need help reaching most. Don’t know when you are going, but they may be doing only curbside pickups. There are several really good art supply shops with great supplies, sales, etc., but this one is a work of art itself. Go for the shop, not just supplies. I forget exactly where, but there is also a fabulous paper store (art paper and handmade papers) in London.

zebec

Thank you very much Sassafrass. I did see this one in a listing somewhere, but now after your endorsement, it'll go onto our itinerary. Are you an artist? Mrs Z does watercolors as a hobby.
Cornelissen seems like one of those shops that values its atmosphere, and also seems to be a likely place to buy gifts for the artist-in-one's life, yeah?
cheerz
I am done. the palette

Sassafrass

I am sorry to say, I mostly play at it now, but I used to be a professional artist and teacher. On one trip, DH patiently trudged around to several art supply stores and the paper shop in London. I know I hauled things back that I could have bought at home, and now a days, you can order just about anything online, but it is lovely to see and touch all those brushes and pastels, etc.

janisj

1) no ID required
2) Courtauld opened late last Nov. . . .I was there the 1st week in Dec for the Franz Hals show - a big Van Gogh self portrait exhibition has just opened
3) Yes -- but have onely been there for a Christmas panto -- loved the venue
4) no idea - I usually hit Borough Market
7) I don't think the date's been announced yet (ahem -- they DO have a website you can check . . . )
9) not under scaffold as such but closed for major rebuilding -- the National Portrait Gallery & Portrait Restaurant
10) several in Cecil Court in Covent Garden
11) Love the Wallace Collection, Love the restaurant, Like the gift shop

You've worn me out -- I'll try to suss out the rest in the morning (after I figure out which wones are serious . . . Sainsbury . . . really?? Mid level supermarkets aren't usually on my must-see list)

PatrickLondon

Posted several answers in your TA thread..

zebec

Thank you Patrick, will scurry over there for a looksee. JJ, I have visited the sites for every conceivable London attraction/restaurant/pub/sex toy store/Sunday-school-volunteer dispatcher/transit system/hiking & walking/shops et al countless times. Its just that on occasion, folks on the ground may have heard some supplementary valuable info.
The sole exception would be Sainsburys. I'd never heard of it. We will once again be self-catering so it pays to be thorough in asking here. Others are mentioning 'Waitrose' as a better choice, and we'd earlier seen that chain here and there on maps.
Oh, forgot: Barrafina's site just has a vague 'See You this Spring' kind of notice in one corner. No date yet.
cheerz
I am done. the looong list

bilboburgler

19) Bonuser query: (voice of Borat) How to pronounce 'Marlyebone

note that the speaker is using his french accent to help you really get in characeter so please don't trust any of the other words he uses as he gets many of them wrong. And he gets Marlyebone just a bit off. Hope this helps.

balthy

Sainsburys is just a regular supermarket, nothing wrong with it, sells same things as others. If you have one close by, that will be very handy.
Waitrose is more upmarket as well as Marks & Spencer’s food hall which has great range of ready or semi prepped food as well as normal groceries, fruit/veg, meat fish, bread or etc. which might be convenient if self catering and you don’t have all ingredients you’d normally have in your cupboards at home.

hetismij2

Go to Lidl for good fruit and veg, and pretty much anything else. Seriously.
Why pay over the odds for Waitrose or Marks and Sparks. Even their caterpillar cake is as good as Colin, though BoJo may disagree.

bilboburgler

Nearly all supermarkets sell products wrapped in plastic, this is especially true of Lidl and Aldi. It would be more environmentally sensible to select one of the other supermarkets around and buy loose veg and fruit. Or go to a market which is what I do.

Bags. If you decide to use plastic bags provided by any supermarket they are driven by a law to charge at least 5p for each one and many charge much more. You will probably find similar bags around your flat so why not take them and fill them rather than use more single use bags. No one will care if you use a Sainsbury bag in Tesco.

Staff will normally ask if you want help filling your bag (except Aldi or Lidl to whom such a concept is a step too far). This means "are you mentally or physically unable to pack a bag?" not "do you come from a society where you are used to having staff do these things?". Please answer accordingly. ;-)

balthy

Nearly all supermarkets sell fruit/veg loose so you don’t have to opt for the plastic wrapped items and you place your loose items in a compostible bag provided by the supermarket. Or as in the case if Sainsburys, they sell a reusable net type bag for loose produce. Some supermarkets don’t sell plastic carrier bags anymore.

Heimdall

The supermarkets are all much the same except Lidl and Aldi, which keep costs down by specialising in “own brand” packaged merchandise. Waitrose and M&S are the most expensive, Tesco good quality but cheaper.

Nearly every small town has a market day when good quality fresh fruit and vegetables can be bought from stalls on the street at bargain prices. There are markets in London too, but other than Covent Garden I have no idea where to direct you.

PatrickLondon

You mentioned Whitechapel: do you have a more exact location (there's no point my recommending, say, the Waitrose in Canary Wharf or by St Katharine's Dock if getting there is a bit complicated)?

Supermarkets along Whitechapel Road tend to be the mini/"Express"/"Local" options of the chains, so a more limited stock. But there's a big Sainsbury's just off there, in Brady Street.

hetismij2

Lidl here, like all supermarkets here, and the Lidls I've been to in Germany, offer multiple use net bags or paper bags and sell it's fruit and veg loose. It has an excellent selection and excellent quality. I assumed Lidl UK did the same.
All supermarkets sell own brand stuff. Almost always it comes from the same factory as the branded stuff and/ or other own brands, just the label is different.
Why pay a premium for something from M&S or Waitrose? Tbh I am always hugely disappointed when I visit either store and usually leave empty handed.

menachem

4) can you please suggest any absolute MUST-visit food stalls at the Truman Brewery and/or the Spitalfields (Sunday) market? We certainly have fave stalls at our city's similar markets---what are your picks at those 2 places?

>>> no: every offering there is sub-par.
However, do treat yourself to a proper Bengali meal in Brick Lane.

16) we are, OK I am, a honey enthusiast and the Hackney City Farm claims to produce some of the best in London; anyone ever tasted it and do you concur?
>>> Yes

Christina

I find that remark curious also, as both the LIDL and ALDI supermarkets in the US where I live sell produce loose, not in plastic wrap. I have never seen that (yes, they do have some things that way like any store, some salads and of course berries.

The worst store for plastic wrapping veggies/fruits is Trader Joe's in the US, it really bothers me and I won't buy there due to that, they wrap up every single piece of produce where I live, nothing is loose. It's because they don't want to have to weigh things.

zebec

A wit might be tempted to write a spoof song 'The Battle of the Supermarkets' sung to the tune of the old Genesis number 'The Battle of Epping Forest' here: "...right outside your door!"
Je repete 'merci' for all of your above offerings, folks. I have learned some things and really appreciate it. Btw, we've shopped at French Lidls and can now make some relative comparisons, thx to you lot.

Patrick I don't recall mentioning Whitechapel. Perhaps I did so by alluding to its nearby neighbours without realizing the connection.

FWIW, Borough market has always been top of our list and I somehow forgot to add it in our #4 'fave market stalls' query above. I'm also excited to shop at the Herne Hill and Broadway markets. The former especially seems to offer plenty of added value above and beyond foodstuffs.

Back to Wilton Music Hall. Is it likely to have theater promo posterettes lying around, free for the taking? One of my UK-born friends (half of my lifelong pals are Brits) always asks us to bring them back such little theatre posters for their collection. He enjoys having them picture-plaqued to display on his wall.

cheerz
I am done. The chav

janisj

What has any of that to do with grocery shopping in London?

AJPeabody

Re: Marylebone pronunciation not being as written and other Briticisms:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7uv0n8