London is a city that seems to give birth to a new rock band on an hourly basis; bustling with activity, riddled with dark back alleys, the City, the quiet streets of Notting Hill, the hyper- green lawns of Regent’s Park, the cavalry barracks, the Thames, the tourist-infested markets of Camden Lock. Coming to London is coming to familiar territory. Nonetheless, the city had some surprises in store for us. In three days, we endured gusts of wind and cold, insistent rain from a sky blanketed with grey clouds and then finally, on the last day, some incredulous strolling through a city shining under the dazzling sun. The full gamut of English weather in three days? Something we couldn’t have dreamed.

But London, though loud and lively, is still an old dame. We had to be careful not to rush her, especially when you’re French and therefore more likely to commit various faux pas. We’re like the ill-bred offspring of the English.

These three days would be marked by three hang-ups: no filming outside until Monday’s weather gave us freedom to do so, the brusque ejection from a Camden pub the following evening, insults launched our way in the middle of the street on the third day. Filming without authorization in London is not terribly easy, despite the presence of CCTV cameras that film the whole city incessantly. Welcome to the world of tomorrow. Welcome to London.

Chryde – La Blogothèque

• The Hoxton Hotel
  The Hoxton is the best spot for you if you want to spend some time walking around in Shoreditch, which remains one of the most agreeable areas of town. The rooms are small but well thought-out, there’s a great restaurant, a luxurious bar and lobby, and the prices are totally reasonable when you consider what some people pay to stay in this city.
• Rough Trade
  A legendary boutique that could make you think that music sales haven’t dropped through the floor. You’ll find all of the current rock releases, but also a fair number of old gems. They also regularly host concerts and showcases.
• Sounds of the Universe
  A superb used music store full of vinyl and highly rare finds, it’s also the store associated with the excellent label Soul Jazz. It’s here where Mick Jagger, Brian Jones and Keith Richards rehearsed at the very beginning, before they came to be the Rolling Stones.
• Shoreditch (metro stop : Old Street)
  This area remains the coolest, “artsiest” place in the city, where all the labels and production houses can be found. You can make your way to the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, head out to the Flèche d’or [Parisian club] à l’anglaise, or to Plastic People, supposedly home to the best
  sound system in the city.
• Tupelo Honey
  It’s become fairly difficult to find places that are nice, welcoming and calm in the ultra-touristy neighborhood of Camden. Tupelo Honey is an exception, boasting a modest, refined ambiance spread over three floors, a small terrace, an excellent organic menu and a warm welcome.
• Bull & Last
  We’ve had some seriously good meals at this pub, run by a well-known London chef, and the prices are very reasonable—it is a pub, after all (although the drinks are priced a bit above average). Caution: it’s always full, so make a reservation for dinner on the weekend or come
  early.