LONDON ABBA PICNIC
The London ABBA Picnic has a long tradition and has been taking place on a Saturday in
th
July for almost 15 years. However, this year we have decided to hold it on Saturday, the 28
June, because the Mamma Mia! film premiere takes place here in London only three days
later, and we want to enable as many overseas visitors as possible to join the crowd in St
James’s Park in Central London. Usually we have between 30 and 40 picnic guests,
including a few from overseas (Anita will be there, for example), but this year we are hoping
for many more!
Anyone can attend the picnic (although we do not recommend that you bring children as
some of the conversations are of an adult nature), which kicks off at 12 noon. All you need
to bring is your own food and drinks (a chain called M&S – Marks & Spencer – has some
lovely ready-made picnic food for those who do not have access to a kitchen – there is one in
Green Park tube station) and a blanket or bin liner to sit on. We’re going to have some
ABBA music, there will be lots of lovely people to talk to, and the rest is up to you, really.
Enjoy a chat with old mates, make new friends, and/or just soak up the friendly and happy
atmosphere. The picnic usually lasts until the early evening when most people move on to a
local pub where the party continues.
Directions
The nearest tube station is St. James’s Park (District and Circle Lines). Leave via the Park
exit, cross the road, and walk trough a little alleyway that is called Queen Anne Gate. Cross
the main road (Birdcage Walk) and walk right into the park. On your right there is a huge
lawn. Climb over the fence on your right and walk on for about 50 or 100 yards (there are
some trees), and you’ll find us there.
If you are coming from Green Park (Piccadilly, Victoria and Jubilee Lines), walk down
Queen’s Walk next to Green Park. When you come to The Mall, turn left and then turn right
into St. James’s Park when you can see a toilet block and a bandstand. Cross the bridge over
the lake, and you’ll find us on the big lawn to your left.
Green Park Tube = half way down on left of left top square
Tube station
The map above shows you the the location. You find us in the AR area of the word PARK in
ST. JAMES‘S PARK.
If you need further transport information, for example on buses, please call London
Transport on 020-72221234. It may be worth checking whether all the tube lines are running
because there are frequent weekend closures because of engineering work.
So far, we have always been lucky with the weather but, of course, there is a Plan B in case it
rains. There is a pub called The Phoenix just behind Oxford Circus (Central, Bakerloo and
Victoria Lines, also zillions of buses). You need to find the corner of Oxford Circus with
H&M, and then you either walk down Oxford Street in the direction of Marble Arch, taking the
first road on your right, or you walk up Regent Street, taking the first or second road on your
left. In any case, the pub is at a street corner by the large Cavendish Square, and it is really
easy to find.
Do you have any more questions? Feel free to e-mail us: LondonABBAPicnic@hotmail.co.uk.
Please note that we only check this mail address once a week (more often closer to the time
of the picnic, of course).
We hope to see lots of you at this year’s picnic!
On behalf of the `London Lot´
Paul and Ursula