| eare's Globe Theatre puts on performances of | | | | environment of the River Thames. If you need |
| Shakespeare's work and lets you gain an appreciation | | | | refreshments, there's a super cafe; and there's lots of |
| of the times in which he lived and worked. | | | | chance to play area for kids. For school parties, the |
| The first part of this tri-part venture is the Globe | | | | Thames Barrier Learning Centre offers an educational |
| Theatre itself; no amateur theatre, this, boasting a full | | | | centre that also has a whole variety of etertaining |
| professional theatre company which puts on an | | | | activities with an appropriately aware environmental |
| entertaining season of plays each year. The second | | | | theme. The Thames Barrier Information and Learning |
| part is the Globe Education Trust, which helps students | | | | Centre is located at 1 Unity Way, Woolwich, SE18 5NJ |
| of all ages to understand Shakespeare's work as it | | | | Phone: 020 8305 4188 |
| relates to performance and the stage. And the third | | | | For football fans, what could be more interesting than |
| part is Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition, the most | | | | a visit to Chelsea FC's "Centenary Museum", a highly |
| comprehensive exhibition in the world about William | | | | entertaining tribute to the first hundred years of the |
| Shakespeare and his contemporaries. More than | | | | famous club based at Stamford Bridge? With a history |
| 700,000 children, women and men enjoy all these | | | | as diverse and fascinating as Chelsea's, there's a host |
| facilities each year - and no wonder, for the Globe is | | | | of material to look at and enjoy. What's more, |
| located on a first class site, on the south bank of the | | | | entrance to the museum is through a mock-up of a |
| River Thames, looking across to St Paul's Cathedral. | | | | cobbled London street typical of the kind which |
| A tour of the Shakespeare Exhibition includes a | | | | surrounded this part of London when Chelsea FC was |
| fascinating guided tour of the rebuilt theatre. As tours | | | | originally formed in 1905. |
| depart every 15-30 minutes, you don't even need to | | | | The first section of the museum is called "The |
| book (though groups will get a reduced rate if they | | | | Champions Room" and is dedicated to the winning side |
| notify the theatre in advance of their visit). If there's a | | | | of 2004-5. There are flat screen televisions showing |
| performance going on, you'll visit Bankside's first | | | | highlights of this enormously successful season, |
| theatre, the Rose, instead. | | | | exhibitions marking the club's trophy successes over |
| The Shakespeare exhibition provides a lot of active | | | | the past hundred years, the centenary tribute, and |
| displays and live demonstrations, which are great for | | | | various photo opportunities. As you see the decades |
| kids. These include costume dressings, amazing | | | | of football history, you'll witness images and displays |
| performances by musicians, mock sword-fights and | | | | devoted to the club's great performances at Chelsea |
| many more besides.....when you've seen enough, you | | | | and historical events of the time. |
| can buy a souvenir at the Globe shop and refresh | | | | Chelsea's century exhibition includes displays about the |
| your body at the Bar and Brasserie. Shakespeare's | | | | club's development, King George V coming to clebrate |
| Globe is located at 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1 | | | | with the club, and many of the most important events |
| 9DT Phone: 020 7902 1400 | | | | in the club's history. Of course, like all clubs, Chelsea |
| Have you ever thought about how London is | | | | went through highs and lows, in the 1970s and 1980s, |
| protected from rising tides? If left exposed, surge tides | | | | and these are covered, with additional focus on the |
| and winds would put over a quarter of a million people | | | | Chelsea of today. The museum features many |
| at risk of flooding. And a disastrous flood in the early | | | | interesting objects and memorabilia, including Seamus |
| fifties killed more than 300 people and devastated | | | | O'Connell's England caps and medals. And with items |
| parts of Canvey Island. It was in response to this sad | | | | being added all the time, the displays are |
| event that the Thames barrier was designed and built. | | | | ever-changing. |
| Finally opened in 1984, the Thames barrier is made up | | | | If you take the tour, you'll also have the chance to see |
| of nine reinforced concrete piers and ten metal, | | | | the changing rooms and press room, sit in the dugout, |
| movable gates that span the entire river, a distance of | | | | walk up the players' pitch tunnel, and enjoy a photo |
| 520 metres from one side to the other. When | | | | opportunity with the shirt of your favourite player. |
| advance warning of a high tidal surge is received, the | | | | There are many amazing things to discover about the |
| steel gates are raised to seal off the upper part of the | | | | pitch, match security and players' quirky pre-match |
| Thames from the sea. | | | | rituals. |
| This amazing feat of engineering is well worth a visit, | | | | Besides the standard tour, if you're a really keen fan, |
| especially now that walkways and exciting amenity | | | | you can enjoy a luxury break with the Ultimate |
| areas have been developed near the barrier. You can | | | | Chelsea FC Experience, which includes overnight |
| even enjoy a working model of the barrier and an | | | | accommodation. The exhibition is closed home football |
| audio-visual exhibition on the history and operation of | | | | match days or on the day before a Champion's |
| this astonishing flood defence system. You'll learn | | | | League football game. |
| about the wildlife in the ever-revitalised London | | | | |