march-2011

152 | DESTINATION GUIDES
London
UK
Brixton, The Dogstar
is an eclectic DJ bar
known for being the
go-to spot for a good
after-party in south
London. Resident DJs
play a mix of hip-hop
and party classics to a
laidback trendy crowd
every night. On Tuesdays
there’s an unusual
comedy night, and Friday
nights start the weekend
in style with a “mashup”
of hits from the 80s and
90s, as well as electro
and indie beats.
THIS MONTH
SHOP Portobello
Market is one of the
most famous street
markets in the world,
and a great place to
while away a Saturday
afternoon, browsing
the antique shops,
tempting food stalls
and off beat boutiques.
Join the queue outside
Hummingbird Bakery
for a famous cupcake
and seek out that
famous blue door at
the Travel Bookshop,
made famous by the
fi lm Notting Hill. Just
remember to try and
arrive early – this
London institution
gets very busy with
bargain-hunting locals
and camera-carrying
visitors alike.
SEE The Birds Eye
View Film Festival,
celebrating the
achievements of female
fi lmmakers, takes
place at the Southbank
Centre and the Institute
of Contemporary Arts
from 8–17 March –
opening on International
Women’s Day. Did you
know that only 6%
of fi lm directors are
women? This festival
aims to raise awareness
of the women who
inspire and challenge us
to think critically about
fi lm. Awards, preview
screenings, speakers
and parties are just
some of the highlights
(birds-eye-view.co.uk).
GO Fancy trying a cool
glass of Pressed Rat and
Warthog? How about
Steaming Billy’s Last
Bark? Then head to the
London Drinker Beer
& Cider Festival at the
Camden Centre in King’s
Cross from 9–11 March,
where you can sample
strange-sounding
beers to your heart’s
content (camranorth
london.org.uk)
ESCAPE It might not
be sunbathing weather
just yet, but that doesn’t
mean you can’t enjoy
a day by the seaside.
Just an hour outside of
London is the bohemian
city of Brighton. Here
you can brave the rickety
rides and stuff your face
full of candy-fl oss at the
pier, wander through the
cobbled North Lanes
– home to many cool
and quirky independent
shops – or enjoy a walk
along the seafront.
NO WAY!
Although at just over
1m wide it’s London’s
smallest house, 20
nuns live in the
Tyburn Convent in
Hyde Park Place!
Amy Baker
Luxor
Egypt
DIALLING CODE +20
CURRENCY EGP
FLY FROM
London (LGW)
FROM THE
AIRPORT
TAXI
Pre-book your taxi
at easyJet.com.
A local taxi costs 50LE
to the East Bank, and
100LE to the West Bank.
BON APPETIT
UP TO €30 Noor el
Gurna (West Bank)
You’ll fi nd this restaurant
opposite the main West
Bank ticket offi ce, behind
the colossus of Memnon.
Simple Egyptian food is
served in an atmospheric
outdoor area – try
the local duck and the
homemade lemonade.
EXCLUSIVE
The Fortune Cookie
(St Joseph Street,
tel: 010 294 8079) A
new addition to the
Luxor dining scene and
serves quality Chinese
cuisine, complemented
by some Thai dishes
and an international
selection. Situated at
the bottom of St Joseph
Street. Open from 12pm
to 11pm every day.
AFTER DARK
LOW KEY Luxor
Museum (Corniche
el Nile) This excellent
museum is open until
9pm. A guide isn’t
needed as it’s well laid
out and labelled. On
leaving the museum,
there are plenty of cafés
dotted about, where
you can stop for a tea
or coff ee to recharge
your batteries.
LATE & LIVELY The
King’s Head (Sharia
Khalid Ibn Walid) The
perfect late-night
venue with billiards,
satellite TV, pub food,
beer and cocktails. It
closes when you leave.
THIS MONTH
SHOP Arkwright’s
Supermarket is a
general food store with
a diff erence. Rye bread,
sugar-free cereals,
pâté, fresh sandwiches,
quiche and cakes
will make sure your
cupboards and picnic
baskets are never bare
(St Joseph Street,
tel: 095 228 2335).
GO There are some
great walks high in
the hills, just a little
out of town. Go up by
the workman’s village
at Deir el Medina and
down by the temple of
Queen Hatshepsut
at Deir el Bahri and
get some great
panoramic views.
NO WAY!
March is the start of the
Khamsin, the 50-day
period when the wind
picks up suddenly –
with temperature
changes of 20°C and
winds of up to 140km an
hour – and disappears
just as quickly.
Jane Akshar
Lyon
France
DIALLING CODE +33
CURRENCY €
FLY FROM
Agadir, Barcelona,
Berlin, Biarritz, Bordeaux,
Brest, Bristol, Brussels,
Casablanca, Corsica
(Bastia), Edinburgh,
Ibiza, Lisbon, Liverpool,
London (LGW, STN),
Madrid, Marrakech,
Milan (MXP), Nantes,
Nice, Olbia, Porto,
Prague, Rome (CIA),
Toulouse, Venice
FROM THE
AIRPORT
TAXI
Pre-book your taxi
at easyJet.com.
A local taxi costs €55.
The Rhônexpress
Tram links the
airport and Lyon Part
UP TO €50
Brasserie Georges
1836 (30 Cours de
Verdun, tel: 04 7256
5454) Georges is an
historic brasserie
serving choucroute
and other traditional
favourites. A convivial
canteen with class.
Dieu train station in
less than 30 minutes.
Tickets: €13. Allow ten
minutes from terminal 3.
Visit the Europcar
desk for special
easyJet rates.
BON APPETIT
UP TO €15 Zone
Verte (24 Quai St
Antoine, tel: 04 7838
1518) You can enjoy
seasonal produce in the
zen surroundings or on
the go, and everything
from the butter on the
bread to the smoothie
ingredients has been
carefully selected
to earn its organic
certifi cation.
UP TO €30 Le Pearl
(1 bis Quai du Commerce,
tel: 04 7843 2685)
Enjoy panaoramic views
over the Saône river on
this très chic riverboat
stationed in the up-andcoming
ninth district.
It’s semi-gastronomic –
meaning fi ne without
the frills – and off ers
diners the chance to
dance it off afterwards.
EXCLUSIVE La Table
de Suzanne (37 Rue
Auguste Comte, tel: 04
7837 4983) Seasonal
and luxury produce,
including delicious foie
gras, is used creatively
here, and served in
pleasant surroundings.
A venue to celebrate
something special.
AFTER DARK
LOW KEY
L’Antiquaire (20 Rue
Hippolyte-Flandrin, tel:
06 3421 5465) Be sure
to reserve your table
in advance at this bar
inspired by American