Welcome to our London Christmas Shopping Guide 2015. Over the next few weeks we'll be pointing you in the direction of our favorite shops and shopping neighbourhoods near the meeting and ending points of our London Walks …
15. Fopp Covent Garden
Adam writes…
Tonight is the penultimate Rock'n'Roll London Pub walk of 2015! Meet me at 7pm, Tottenham Court Road Station Exit 1.
We'll be stopping at the pub along the way but, not only that, if anyone needs to I'll be quite happy to stop at Fopp…
… for a Christmas shopping break!Here are my top musical recommendations for Xmas…
1. Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink
Elvis Costello's memoir took me an AGE to read because every time he writes about a song or a piece of music, I was COMPELLED to go and listen to it – such is the passion, the lyricism and the insight with which Costello writes about his art. The life story bits are great too, told in a sort of tidal narrative, revealing himself little-by-little in the most unpredictable of way, like sitting in the pub enthralled by the most fabulous, mystical drunk. Essential.
2. Bob Dylan – The Cutting EdgeYet ANOTHER album full of Bob tunes that I've already got… yet why does it make me so deliriously happy? These tracks, alternate takes and works-in-progress, date from the golden age of '65-'66, and they cast unexpected light on his pivotal triumvirate of folk-to-rock albums – Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited & Blonde on Blonde. There's a mammoth £100 box set edition, but the 2-CD set at around the tenner mark is all you really need… unless you've been extra special good this year.
3. Gaz Coombes – MatadorMercury-nominated solo-outing from former Supergrass frontman – shards of 10CC harmonies, flakes of Pink Floyd guitars, a nod-or-two to Krautrock, raw lyrics and a haunting vocal delivery. My album of the year.
Here's the Rock'n'Roll London Pub walk trailer…
Christmas 2015 With London Walks
The Amazing Old Shops Walk takes place on the 19th December – meet Judy at Green Park Station at 10:45a.mThe Christmas Lights & Seasonal Cheer Pub Walk takes place on the 19th December meet at Embankment Tube 7:15p.m
On Christmas Day there are TWO London Walks:
Walk up an appetite with The Christmas Morning 1660 Walk – meet at 11:00a.m by the big tree in Trafalgar SquareWalk off the pudding with The Christmas Day Charles Dickens Walk – meet by the big tree in Trafalgar Square at 2:00pm
A London Walk costs £10 – £8 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
