Expanded Lessons
London vs. New York
London vs. New York
adapted from short articles by Joy Dunbar
This is a tale of two great modern cities: New York and London. They both claim to be the largest and the best city in the world. New
York is known as the "Big Apple", the city that never sleeps, and London is the city that boasts “if you are bored of London, then you are
bored with life.” Both cities have a lot in common - a diverse mix of cultures and great sights to see, as well as both having a distinct and
unique allure1 about them. But in a head to head match - which city wins?
London vs. New York: Taxis (Section I)
Black cabs vs. yellow taxis
Black cabs and yellow taxis define their respective2 cities. Black cabs have a distinctive shape, are larger than most
London cars and in recent years can come in a variety of colours and brands. The bold egg yolk yellow taxis are brash3,
bold and distinctive in the hustle and bustle4 of New York City. Cabbies in New York and London are licensed. London
cabs are able to hold up to 5 people plus luggage, are wheelchair accessible and must accept any fare within the
London Metropolitan Police district. New York cabs hold up to 4 people and will take you to any of the 5 boroughs5 of
New York City. Drivers expect tips6 of around 15-20% in New York and at your discretion7 in London.
Cabbies on both sides of the Atlantic are known for their down to earth8 opinions on practically every subject under the
sun9, and they have an intimate knowledge of their cities. Some things on both sides of the Atlantic are the same. For
example, the light on top of the cab means that the cab is unoccupied. Attracting the attention of a cabbie is also the
same, with New York cabbies suggesting, "Pretend that you are the Statue of Liberty" to hail one down. The minimum
fare10 in New York City is $2, with charges clearly written on the side of the taxi. Black cabs are generally more
expensive in the evening and on public holidays, with the minimum fare being £2.
Even though New York taxis are comfortable and clean, London cabs have an edge with a distinctive shape to normal
cars, larger interiors, knowledgeable drivers and a comfortable passage around London.
Winner: ________________
London vs. New York: Underground (Section II)
Tubes vs. subway
The London Underground and the New York Subway are the arteries11 of their respective cities. The services offer a
speedy and cheap way to travel the city, with lines going to most nooks and crannies12. For adults to use the New York
Subway, each ride costs $2; or one can purchase a one day pass for $7 or an unlimited 7-day pass for $21. In London
the system is slightly more complex, with the network divided into roughly 5 zones and a variety of fares depending
which zone you are in. However, it costs £2 to travel within zone 1, and a one-day Travelcard costs £5.30 for zones 1
and 2. Weekly Travelcards can cost in excess13 of £20.
The downsides14 of both systems are that they lack cleanliness and during peak15 times you get intimate knowledge of
how it feels to be a sardine packed in a very bursting tin, although the New York system is air conditioned, which
makes breathing easier in the humid summer months. Moreover, there is a lack of information while waiting for the
train at many stations on the New York Subway. However, the service is 24 hours, which is a major plus; and the
subway maps have the added advantage of doubling as a local street map, which makes navigating around the city
easier. In many respects the New York Subway is a lot more user friendly and simpler than the Victorian London
Underground. Therefore New York wins this one!
Winner: ________________
London vs New York: Parks (Section III)
Hyde Park vs. Central Park
Parks are oases16 of calm and tranquillity in the middle of the madness of the city. Hyde Park and Central Park are the
largest open space in each respective city. Both are steeped in history, charm and beauty. Central Park dates back to
1859 and, at 843 acres (3.41 km2), is an almost perfect square patch of grass. One of the most popular and romantic
ways to view the park is by horse-drawn carriage, so one can look at its various features at a leisurely pace. Like so
many of New York's best places, there is so much to see that it is difficult to know where to start. Sights to see include
a statue of Alice in Wonderland, the Angel of Waters fountain, a zoo and the famous Bow Bridge. Seasonal activities
include a free open-air theatre during summer and ice skating in winter.
Hyde Park is a London Royal Park and was owned by King Henry VIII. It is 350 acres (1.4 km2) with a perimeter of 4
miles (6.44 km) and seeps17 into Kensington Gardens, which is 275 acres (1.1 km2). Features of the park include the
spectacular Serpentine Lake, popular for boating and sailing, and a statue of Peter Pan. To the south of the Serpentine
is Rotten Row, the fashionable riding track through the park. The park also features Queen Victoria's monument to her
husband, the Albert Memorial. The best thing about Hyde Park is the quintessentially18 British and eccentric19 Speaker's
Corner at Marble Arch, where subjects exercise their right to free speech on a variety of controversial and contentious20
subjects including religion, politics, fox hunting, trade unions and the world. It is for this very reason Hyde Park wins.
Winner: ________________
Expanded Lessons
London vs. New York
London vs. New York: Poetry Cafés (Section IV)
The Poetry Café vs. Bowery Poetry Café
Performing poetry is an egalitarian21 way of expressing yourself in a lonely urban22 environment. People regardless of
race, sex, shape or class express themselves in a variety of poetic ways. Poetry Cafés are a mecca23 and forum24 for
the brave to express everything from love to political views to food.
Both cafés are friendly, feature art work by local artists, have excellent menus and have their own local,
unconventional25, magical atmosphere.
The Bowery Poetry Café is set between Manhattan's Lower East Side and NoHo, and there is a decaying26 charm in the
whole area. The Poetry Café is set in a small almost non-existent side street off Covent Garden and has a very laid
back, bohemian27 atmosphere. However, they both differ in their emphasis: the Bowery Poetry Café has a “pack 'em
in” approach with at least two shows every evening, which can be short theatrical performances, open mike28 or
slamming sessions with shows costing from $3 - $10.
The Poetry Café mainly has one event most evenings with open mike sessions that focus on various themes like
unplugged nights and poetry and jazz every Saturday, as well as a night for fresh talent. Their shows cost from about
£1- £6.
The Bowery Poetry Café has a significant edge over The Poetry Café. The New York space is much larger. The events at
The Bowery are somewhat more experimental29, entertaining, and have more of a buzz. For example, the Urbana
Poetry Slam is hosted by the extremely funny Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz. This reason brings New York on top for this
round.
Winner: ________________
London vs. New York: Culture (Section V)
The National Portrait Gallery vs. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Art, museums and galleries define the cultural importance of all cities. So the clash between two of the best loved art
galleries in New York and London is furious30. In recent years London art galleries have experienced a renaissance31
with Young British Artists (a UK-based group of conceptual artists, painters, sculptors, and installation artists), the
opening of Tate Modern (Britain's national museum of international art) and the rival of well loved galleries like the
National. New York has some of the premiere32 world art galleries including the Guggenheim and the Museum of
Modern Art.
As you walk up the imposing33 steps and enter the vast34 entrance hall of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one
wonders what treasures and collections are housed in approximately two million square feet of museum space. The
biggest downside of the Met is the sheer35 scale of the collection with two million works of art spanning 5000 years of
world culture. It is difficult to compare the scale and the scope36 of The Met with any other museum in the world.
However, the National Portrait Museum (like The Met in NY) is one of the most popular museums in London and was
founded in 1856 to house the portraits of famous British people. It holds a primary collection of over 10,000 portraits
set out in an imaginative and visually pleasing way.
It would take a number of years to appreciate all the collections housed in The Met. One has to literally speed walk
past the masterpieces of Monet and Van Gough without much appreciation. Many of the pieces on display were
presented in a cluttered and poor manner, with the exception of the Chuck Close exhibition. It was a fantastic
exhibition piece, although it felt out of sync37 with the whole environment.
The National Portrait Gallery wins this round as it has managed to find a happy medium in housing collections from the
medieval era to the modern day. It is enjoyable fun and you don't feel like you are experiencing information overload.
Both cities have their own unique charm and idiosyncrasies38 about them. However, as a born and bred Londoner, I
think that London is the best and wins every time!!!!
Winner: ________________
Instructions (Read and follow carefully!): First, divide into five groups. One member from each group will draw a
number from an envelope. Each number corresponds to the section (I, II, III, IV or V) of text on which his or her
group will report to the class. Secondly, skim the corresponding text and decide whether London or New York is
the ˝winner˝. Write your choice in the blank. Next, read the text paying attention to the features of London and
New York being presented. Then, pick one group representative. This person will report to the class about the
information featured in their group's section of the text.
Finally, prepare a vocabulary study page of the 38 underlined words and phrases by looking up their meanings
in a dictionary. Include their correct pronunciations and corresponding definitions. In addition, use each word or
phrase in your own sample sentence. Be sure to define these words and phrases within context—as used within
each sentence in the sections above. Lastly, find one appropriate synonym and one antonym for each underlined
word and phrase and write it next to each definition.
Expanded Lessons
London vs. New York
The Serpentine
London Black Cab
Albert Memorial
ROTTEN ROW
Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
At Rotten Row around a tree
With Albert's help did Mr P
His stately pleasure dome design:
The greatest greenhouse ever seen;
A glass cathedral on the green,
Beside the crystal Serpentine.
(from "Joseph and His Amazing Crystal Palace" by John Greatrex, parodying "Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge)
Speaker's Corner at Marble Arch
Expanded Lessons
London vs. New York
Did you know?
Central Park, in the borough of
Manhattan in New York City, was
designed by Frederick Law Olmsted
and Calvert Vaux, who later created
Brooklyn's Prospect Park. While
much of the park looks natural, it is
in fact almost entirely landscaped
and contains several artificial lakes,
extensive walking tracks, two iceskating rinks, a wildlife sanctuary,
and grassy areas used for various
sporting pursuits, as well as
playgrounds for children. The park
is a popular oasis for migrating
birds, and thus is popular with bird
watchers. The 6-mile (10 km) road
circling the park is popular with
joggers, bicyclists and inline
skaters, especially on weekends
and in the evenings after 7:00 p.m.,
when automobile traffic is banned.
The five boroughs of New York
include the Bronx, Brooklyn,
Manhattan, Queens, and
Staten Island.
A photo of Bleecker Street in NoHo (a
neighborhood in the borough of
Manhattan, abbreviated for North of
Houston Street)