| I remember travelling by myself to London's | | | | Mr. Google be our 'Fiyero', our knight in shin... Ok, |
| Westend for the first time. I found myself standing in | | | | enough of the whimsy... |
| Charing Cross's arrival hall scratching my head in | | | | As you may have heard on the news, as of March |
| bemusement. I was heading to the Victoria Apollo to | | | | this year Google's Street View now covers over |
| see Wicked The Musical. Not on a broomstick, but by | | | | 99% of the United Kingdom's roads, both rural and |
| walking and taking the tube. | | | | urban. Just as a brief reminder, Google's Street View |
| In order to get to my destination I needed to find | | | | does what it says on the tin. If you type into Google |
| Embankment tube station. Maybe it was my | | | | Maps your destination, you are given the option of |
| excitement at the thought of seeing green witches | | | | seeing an actual photographic view of the street! But |
| and flying monkeys distracting my mind, but I could | | | | what, you may inquire, does this have to do with |
| not for love nor money find the exit for | | | | finding my theatre? Quite a bit actually! |
| Embankment station. There was a rather large | | | | For example, say you are planning a trip to see |
| directions board with an arrow pointing to, what | | | | Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward theatre (after |
| appeared to be a toilet door/store cupboard | | | | which, you WILL be singing 'Big Boys Don't Cry' in a |
| sandwiched between a pub/cafe and the train | | | | high pitch voice). If you've walked up from one of |
| platforms. I couldn't fathom how the exit could | | | | the tube stations, you'll likely be on the main road |
| possibly be there. Thus, I ended up walking out of | | | | which is 'Charing Cross Road'. If like me, you either |
| the main entrance and stumbling around in a daze, | | | | hate carrying a map because it "makes you look like |
| until I rang my brother on my mobile to discover the | | | | a tourist" or your sense of direction is so dire, that |
| exit to Embankment was, in fact, back in the station. | | | | you always think directly ahead must be North and |
| On closer inspection the door that I thought was a | | | | behind South, then a map isn't going to be the |
| toilet or store cupboard was actually an exit to a set | | | | greatest help. Without a landmark, you're likely end |
| of stairs and escalators, which lead to a whole new | | | | up going off down several side streets before you |
| street! At the bottom of which was, low and behold | | | | find the theatre. That's where Google Street View |
| - Embankment station! | | | | comes into good use! |
| This brought me to think J.K Rowling may have been | | | | Before your trip punch in the theatre's postcode and |
| on to something with Diagon Alley from the Harry | | | | have a good look around the surrounding streets. |
| Potter books. If you recall, Diagon Alley was a place | | | | Back track your expected route. You'll be able to |
| where young witches and wizards went to buy their | | | | identify landmarks, enabling you to take the correct |
| supplies before attending Hogwarts School of | | | | turn off. |
| Witchcraft and Wizardry. It could only be accessed | | | | For example, say you found yourself here: |
| by going into The Leaky Cauldron pub (which was | | | | |
| apparently located between a bookshop and record | | | | Without looking at Google Street View before hand, |
| shop on Charing Cross Road!) | | | | it could have been potentially easy to go up the |
| It seemed my magical journey to OZ had already | | | | wrong street. If you can plot your landmarks before |
| begun! That's all very fine and well in the world of | | | | hand, it will make your life a lot easier! |
| make believe, but if you are planning to get to your | | | | So voila! Hopefully with the help of Google Street |
| 7:30pm curtain up in time, you're going to need a | | | | View, you'll end up hereand not here. Although both |
| more realistic plan than using a magic wand. | | | | have men with high pitched voices, so it might not be |
| London is full of tiny doorways and back streets that | | | | such a bad mistake ;-) |
| seemingly hide some of the most wonderful surprises | | | | ****** |
| including some of the best Westend theatres! It can | | | | Compare airport parking with gosimply.com, now with |
| make finding your destination a little tricky, especially | | | | Google Street View! Making it easier for you to find |
| if you're a tourist. | | | | your Gatwick parking! Another reason to book with |
| Which brings me on to Google Street View! Ah, could | | | | Smart people gosimply. |