The Way We See It - London - Locations

The Way We See It | New Location | Eastcastle Street

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:60:00 -0000

Eastcastle Street| due 08 September 2008

We're very central this week – to a road that you may have been a long a lot of times but usually only as an escape from the hordes of Oxford Street. Eastcastle street runs parallel to Oxford street between, almost, Regent street and, almost, Tottenham Court road. It's infamous for being the location for one of the largest postwar armed robberies – the so called (funnily enough) Eastcastle Street job (mentioned in the Ladykillers) where over £280,000 was stolen from a mail van in 1952. No-one was ever caught and none of the money ever recovered. Guy Richie – eat your heart out.

The street is mostly inhabited by the rag trade but you will also find such gems as Gettyimages here. And there's the lovely Capel Bedyddwyr Cymreig – a welsh chapel which has always seemed totally incongruous to the area. There are a couple of nice pubs – but beware – they are Sam Smiths pubs so if you're a Guinness drinker like me, you will be dissapointed....

A great mix of people – but mostly those who work around the area – so you'll avoid all the bumbling tourists and windowshoppers.

Directions
From Oxford circus walk up oxford street and then turn left into Great Titchfield Street and then first right into Eastcastle Street

Click here for map.

The Way We See It | New Location | Northumberland Avenue

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:60:00 -0000

Northumberland Avenue| due 01 September 2008

Nice and central this week for Northumberland Avenue. Built upon the site of Northumberland House it links Trafalgar Square to the Embankment. It contains numerous imposing buildings, various belong to ministries. The Nigerian High Commission is here along with a Halls of Residence for the LSE. (opposite the Sherlock Holmes pub .... funny that !) The former Metropole hotel was commandeered at the start of the second world war by MI9 (who? I hear you ask) who were the Escape and Evasion section of the British Intelligence � here many weird a wonderful inventions were concocted to help our boys escape � should they be captured.

Of course it is also famous for being on the Monopoly Board! And there's our old favourite - a Cabbies rest!

It's an interesting street of old and new � with a great mix of suited civil servants, tourists and everyday me and you's. The light, if you get the day right, can be something very special here with the tall buildings opening out at both ends.....

Directions
From Embankment tube turn right onto the embankment and then right onto Northumberland Avenue.

Click here for map.

The Way We See It | New Location | Hanbury Street

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:60:00 -0000

Hanbury Street| due 25 August 2008

Back to the East this week for Hanbury Street. Infamous for being the location of Jack the Ripper's fourth victim � Mary Ann Chapman. Although you won't see the location today as it's a carpark! The street is also famous for being where Bud Flanagan � the comedian � was born (at number 12 � which is still there!)

It's a street of two halves � the top end being hectic and thronged with people who are visiting Brick Lane � the other more low key and gritty. There's plenty to photograph � it's graffiti, sorry, street art � central with stickers, post ups and stencil crazy. There's loads of people at the weekends being the main drag between spitalfields and brick lane.

So you shouldn't be short of a few pics!

Directions
From Aldgate East walk up Commercial Street until you pass Christchurch on your left then take the second left and you are there.

Click here for map.