Great Gorilla Run in London, England

There’s nothing better to send traffic veering into bollards than the sight of a thousand gorillas rampaging through the streets of London, brandishing bananas as weapons.
Ostensibly run to raise funding for the protection of gorillas in Africa, most of the Great Gorilla Run’s participants are clearly there for the chance to get dressed up in a ridiculous costume and monkey about for the cameras.
The costumes don’t stop at the gorilla outfit either – most taking on the 7km run adapt their outfit to add an extra dimension; hence the gladiator gorillas, Baywatch gorillas and ballet dancing gorillas pouring over Tower Bridge. The Great Gorilla Run takes place in September each year.
Check the official site for more information.

Getting there to the Great Gorilla Run in London, England

Nearest international airport: The event takes place in the City of London, so London Heathrow and London City are nearest airports, although London Luton, London Gatwick and London Stansted aren’t far away.

Using public transport: The event takes place in the City of London, so London Heathrow and London City are nearest airports, although London Luton, London Gatwick and London Stansted aren’t far away.

More details: Great Gorilla Run Official Site

Teddy Bear Museum in Wimbledon, London, England

Quite why the bear has gained this soft image is inexplicable. Try cuddling up to one in the wild, and it’s one big clawfest. Blood, tattered clothes, internal haemorrhaging and probably being consumed alive await if you try and take a grizzly to bed with you.
Still, the less damaging versions have been regarded as the perfect bedside companions for decades, and many have been saved from a lonely fate in adult attics by England’s Teddy Bear Museum.
Originally in Stratford-upon-Avon, the museum moved its 700-strong collection to the Polka Theatre on Wimbledon Broadway, London in 2007. They missed a trick – they could have taken Paddington back to his rightful home.
Nevertheless, it’s a fascinating collection, dating back centuries. And the old tatty fellas have considerably more charm then the bright pink concoctions with movable parts that children choke on today.

Getting to the Teddy Bear Museum
Nearest International Airport: London Heathrow.
Using public transport: On the London Underground, take the District Line to Wimbledon, or use the Overground service to the same station. Turn left as you get out of the station and walk for about ten minutes to the Polka Theatre.

More information: Teddy Bear Museum website

London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, England

For those masochists that just can’t get enough of the crammed commute into work, there is the opportunity to see even more Tube carriages at the newly revamped London Transport Museum.
The museum was re-opened in November 2007 after a major makeover. Perhaps they realised that a few old tube carriage decorations didn’t constitute much of a collection. And there was clearly a demand for a bizarre museum about England’s most unpleasant mode of transport, wasn’t there?
£21m was spent on beefing the museum up, and now flashy interactive stuff sits alongside the ancient trains.
London Underground geeks will be delighted to hear that there’s the chance to see the original Tube map and have a go on a train driving simulator.

Getting to the London Transport Museum

Nearest international airport: A close run thing between London Heathrow and London City, though it’s just as inconvenient getting to Covent Garden from them as it is from London Gatwick, London Luton and London Stansted. Never was a city blessed with so many airports in so many ill-thought out positions.
Using public transport: The museum is at 39 Wellington Street. The nearest tube station is Covent Garden although Leicester Square, Temple, Holborn, Charing Cross and Embankment are also within a kilometre’s walk.

More information: London Transport Museum