London: Simply The Best
We live only about 65 miles from central London, we’ve literally made hundreds of visits between us, we’ve travelled to many cities in many countries, but London still stands out as one of the great destinations of the world, somewhere where it’s impossible not to have a good time. And this week, we certainly had a good time….
Tina Turner in her heyday was a magnificent performer, the shows I was lucky enough to witness back then were just plain brilliant, and we still both enjoy giving Tina a spin on nights in: so it was with some considerable excitement that we entered the Aldwych Theatre in Drury Lane to see the Tina Turner Story stage show this week.
And we’ll tell you this. If you enjoy Tina’s songs, if you ever saw her live, if you know anything of her life story, even if you just kind of like her music, then DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW. It is spectacular, moving, emotional, at times brutal, then ultimately uplifting. Mirroring Tina’s life, in fact.
Some reviews which we’ve read (Time Out, for one) are sceptical about the director’s placing of dark scenes of domestic violence in the middle of a musical. Well, our take is that the reviewer completely missed the point that the unmanageable clash of being a star on stage whilst facing a private life of hell, was precisely what Tina lived with: thus the on stage contradictions are, in our opinion, poignant and purposeful and certainly not misplaced. The essence of this super woman’s moving story.
This show is up there with the best West End shows we’ve ever seen – it really is that good – and the lead actress Aisha Jawando could forge a living as a very credible Tina Turner tribute act.
Choosing to see a matinee version of the show bought us the time to unwind over a few beers in some favourite London pubs (and find a new one, how good is the Bow Street Tavern!) before grabbing a Mexican at the delightfully lively Cafe Pacifico near Covent Garden.
Cafe Pacifico, Mexican Restaurant 
Any lingering beer heads were soon blown away by the crisp, bright October morning which greeted us next day – the sort of morning that makes any city break even better. It put an extra spring in our step as we crossed Embankment Gardens and headed past the Houses of Parliament to Westminster Abbey.
Neither of us has entered the Abbey since childhood visits many years ago, the magnificent interior of the building more familiar from royal weddings and state funerals than from any personal memories. Apart from the tombs of royalty and the ceremonial chair used in every coronation bar one since 1400, commemorative stones of the great and good fill the cavernous spaces of this magnificent building.
Dew still glistened on the grass of Parliament Square as we emerged from the Abbey blinking in the low November sunlight and headed into Trafalgar Square where, as one always can, we watched the world go by. London may not yet be quite back to normal, but with the autumn sun shining on street artists’ chalk drawings, a busker strumming Tom Petty songs on acoustic guitar and lovers stealing kisses beside the fountains, it felt as wonderful as ever.
From Trafalgar Square to Soho, another cool pub, and a fabulous little Lebanese restaurant down a scruffy back alley provided the perfect ending to our short stay.
Yalla Yalla Lebanese Restaurant 
Lebanese platter 
Yalla Yalla Lebanese Restaurant
Within the Poets Corner section of Westminster Abbey lies a memorial to Samuel Johnson, the man who coined the words, “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”. We absolutely could not agree more with that sentiment. Wonderful city. We’re proud of it.
It’s simply the best.
27 Comments
Alison
Another wonderful post. Maybe I’ll try and catch that show when I visit next year. I used to eat in Cafe Pacific way back in the eighties, great to hear it’s still going strong
Phil & Michaela
Wow didn’t realise Pacifico had been going that long! The atmosphere in there is great, so lively.
Alison
Incredible, yes always a good atmosphere, not many of the old restaurants and bars left. It was during my 20’s. I used to go out twice a week or more! After work for drinks
Phil & Michaela
We’ve said several times that since retirement, the only thing we miss about work is having a beer on the way home!
Alison
Ah well, I’m definitely sure you wouldn’t go back! Living your best life 🍻
Phil & Michaela
Absolutely
Gilda Baxter
I am a huge Tina fan, so I would love to see this play.
Thank you for your review, as always great post 😀
Alison
Hi Gilda
I think this comment is for Phil 🙂
leightontravels
Sounds like a fantastic day indeed. Tina is an icon, no doubt about it, and her music will stand the test of time. Particularly the early stuff, for me. You ‘just’ beat me to post about Westminster Abbey, ha! And oh how I miss a good Lebanese!
wetanddustyroads
Indeed, Tina is ‘simply the best’ … I’ve read her autobiography and that made me appreciate her and her music just so much more! Beautiful pictures of Westminster Abbey!
Toonsarah
I’d been wondering about seeing that show – sounds like it’s definitely one not to miss! And I’ve just added Yalla Yalla to my lost of London restaurants we should try 😀
Phil & Michaela
There’s two, apparently – but this tiny one is well worth a visit. Quite quirky, just off Brewer Street in Soho
Toonsarah
Will definitely go soon. We’re often in that area as we’re members at the Picturehouse Central and usually eat out before or after a film 🙂
Monkey's Tale
The show sounds awesome, great review. I haven’t been inside Westminster Abbey for many years and completely forgot how magnificent it is. Wow. Maggie
Steven Berger
Ike and Tina doing Proud Mary brings back so many memories. Thanks for taking me back 50 years.
Joe
It is good to see that the Queen of Rock and Roll lives on in the West End. You have good reason to be proud of your capital city. It would be a fun and interesting place to spend a month or three.
Phil & Michaela
It definitely would!
WanderingCanadians
This sounds like a fun outing to London. The Tina Turner show sounds fun. Westminster Abbey is pretty incredible. We visited about a decade ago and this brings back such fond memories.
grandmisadventures
Sounds like it was simply the best of times! Between Tina on stage, Tom Petty being played, history and architecture of the abbey, and great Mexican food- these are a few of my favorite things 🙂
Phil & Michaela
Wow….maybe you should have tagged along with us!
grandmisadventures
I would have loved to be part of that with you! 🙂
giacomoasinello
I remember how blown away I was when I first saw Tina Turner’s performance as a guest of the Rolling Stones at the Altamont Speedway – yes, the ill-fated free concert that ended in tragedy. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end!
Phil & Michaela
Wow you were at THAT gig!? I saw Tina later, twice at the NEC, both fantastic shows.
giacomoasinello
No, not physically present. I was only a few months old. I saw it later in the documentary “Gimme Shelter”.
Phil & Michaela
As soon as I sent that message I realised the logistics and realised my error!
giacomoasinello
Would love to have seen her though. Jefferson Airplane too!
rkrontheroad
I did know Tina’s heartbreaking yet fabulous story and will look for the movie, just out this year. Many years ago my son and I were in London at Christmas time and all the restaurants were closed or needed reservations. A friend suggested the Lebanese quarter, I don’t remember the name. We had a wonderful dinner, gave the leftovers to a couple of guys sleeping in the subway halls.