For the past several years they've been co-managing the "Hard Rock" and always welcome a friendly face from home. When the words "Hard Rock Cafe" are uttered, there are few in the civilized world who do not immediately conjure up images in their mind's eye of good old Rock and Roll and scrumptious grub. The sheer magnitude of the music memorabilia on the London Hard Rock's walls are enough to make it a must see, though there's usually a line up. The food is excellent, but not that cheap when paying with the severely hemorrhaging Canuck buck.. This chain is still expanding throughout the world. Since the original owners could not protect their copyright globally, most of the Hard Rock Cafes are really rip offs of the original concept (I've seen two within blocks of each other). Unlike a licensed franchise, there are no rules or quality guidelines to go by, so beware false Hard Rocks. The London location is one of the original, and most well known of the lot.
The historical and cultural significance of London is unsurpassed and any stop there without a visit to the likes of The Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and the many Museums is a missed opportunity. Having toured these wonderful places, I would not even attempt to do justice to the vast amounts of information available on the subject. The Web itself is a wonderful place to learn more about this side of London. One of my favourite pastimes was strolling along the miles of riverside walkways and taking in the mighty Thames from many angles. There are plenty of pubs with water views. Grab a one day multi-zone transit pass and hop off and on as you please. London's extensive system of subways and buses provide unbeatable sightseeing value. So enjoy one of this planet's truly great party spots but make sure you have a place to stay or some serious traveling cash.
Up Next: Part 2 - Picturesque Portugal.
