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Visiting England in March

P

PrinceofWands

Lifer
Going to Internationals in debate this year, which is being held in London. I've always wanted to go, but now that I'm faced with it i can't decide what all i want to do. I've got about 6-7 days to spend in the area. I know I'm going to spend at least 2 of them over in Ireland, but what should I see with the rest?
 
If you can get there and you're into that sort of stuff (airplanes), the Imperial War Museum in Duxford is really good.
 
I was there this summer. Parliament was the only thing worth visiting. They have very good guides working there. Then go to the famous bar around the corner where they workers went for a drink while Parliament burnt down. Order the Pimms lemonade, you don't see that in the US.

The Palace was crap because of the audio tour, but go to the outside for a free look. Take a picture with a Bobby.

Don't fly into Gatwick becuase then it is a $30 train ride into London, each way.

Make sure you buy an Oyster card, you'll save lots on the busses and metro.

Ride one of the double decker busses.

Have an english breakfast. Try the HP brown sauce.

Take the time to look at the beautiful buildings.

Walk across the London Bridge (which is crap) and the bridge next to it, I think it is Tower Bridge?

I missed out on visiting the London Metal Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. But go there and tell me how it is.
 
The awesome thing about London is that all the national Museums are free. The British Museum is awesome & the Tate Modern is cool, too. The Tate has this Bridge across the Thames that's cool.
 
Originally posted by: gotsmack
I was there this summer. Parliament was the only thing worth visiting. They have very good guides working there. Then go to the famous bar around the corner where they workers went for a drink while Parliament burnt down. Order the Pimms lemonade, you don't see that in the US.

The Palace was crap because of the audio tour, but go to the outside for a free look. Take a picture with a Bobby.

Don't fly into Gatwick becuase then it is a $30 train ride into London, each way.

Make sure you buy an Oyster card, you'll save lots on the busses and metro.

Ride one of the double decker busses.

Have an english breakfast. Try the HP brown sauce.

Take the time to look at the beautiful buildings.

Walk across the London Bridge (which is crap) and the bridge next to it, I think it is Tower Bridge?

I missed out on visiting the London Metal Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. But go there and tell me how it is.
Click to expand...

All excellent advice, thanks! Except that as an anti-corporatist and nearly anti-capitalist I fear that the bolded one might be lost on me.
 
Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
Originally posted by: gotsmack
I was there this summer. Parliament was the only thing worth visiting. They have very good guides working there. Then go to the famous bar around the corner where they workers went for a drink while Parliament burnt down. Order the Pimms lemonade, you don't see that in the US.

The Palace was crap because of the audio tour, but go to the outside for a free look. Take a picture with a Bobby.

Don't fly into Gatwick becuase then it is a $30 train ride into London, each way.

Make sure you buy an Oyster card, you'll save lots on the busses and metro.

Ride one of the double decker busses.

Have an english breakfast. Try the HP brown sauce.

Take the time to look at the beautiful buildings.

Walk across the London Bridge (which is crap) and the bridge next to it, I think it is Tower Bridge?

I missed out on visiting the London Metal Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. But go there and tell me how it is.
Click to expand...

All excellent advice, thanks! Except that as an anti-corporatist and nearly anti-capitalist I fear that the bolded one might be lost on me.
Click to expand...

lol
Lawnchair - check
Beer ------- check
Snacks ---- check


 
Was in London just last year. Had a blast.. I thought the city was so beautiful...

We aimed to do both touristy stuff and real everyday stuff to truly absorb the city:

Touristy stuff:
1. Visited most of the famous landmarks. Their city map pamphlet already cites all the popular places, complete with cute picture icons. It was fun to visit them and cross them off one by one. We did London National Gallery, Tower of London (they come with an option to get on a ferry ride that takes you back to central London for like 10 euros), The Parliament, The London Eye, and be sure to check out Millenium Bridge. It's a small footbridge that crosses the Thames river. It's just a bridge but it's so damn cool because it's small, narrow and accessible only on foot.

2. Hit the bars in Soho. It's a brick road neighborhood where it's littered by bars everywhere. We did some barhopping that was mighty fun.

3. Walk around, walk around, walk around. That whole square area next to London Eye and across from The Parliament is where all the bustlin' takes place: street artists, mimes and performers playing, etc. It's cool to just snap pictures. We stayed at a hostel and it's also a great place to meet other international tourists. Our hostel mates were this cute Aussy chick and another Aussy dude (no relations). Turns out, many Aussys work in England because pounds are 3x of AUD. It's these little stories you hear that makes the trip so great and intimate.
 
Originally posted by: preslove
Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
Originally posted by: gotsmack
I was there this summer. Parliament was the only thing worth visiting. They have very good guides working there. Then go to the famous bar around the corner where they workers went for a drink while Parliament burnt down. Order the Pimms lemonade, you don't see that in the US.

The Palace was crap because of the audio tour, but go to the outside for a free look. Take a picture with a Bobby.

Don't fly into Gatwick becuase then it is a $30 train ride into London, each way.

Make sure you buy an Oyster card, you'll save lots on the busses and metro.

Ride one of the double decker busses.

Have an english breakfast. Try the HP brown sauce.

Take the time to look at the beautiful buildings.

Walk across the London Bridge (which is crap) and the bridge next to it, I think it is Tower Bridge?

I missed out on visiting the London Metal Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. But go there and tell me how it is.
Click to expand...

All excellent advice, thanks! Except that as an anti-corporatist and nearly anti-capitalist I fear that the bolded one might be lost on me.
Click to expand...

lol
Lawnchair - check
Beer ------- check
Snacks ---- check
Click to expand...

Oh come on, there's nothing inciting about that.
 
Find a good chippy and enjoy the fealing of pure grease pumping through your arteries 🙂.(I do actually enjoy fish and chips, but man thats a lot of fat)

Make sure you get a 5 kilo tub of Cadberry chocholate. Also, find some of those Belgian sea shell chocolates (mummm those are good). Don't forget to try jammy dodgers, Dandelion and Burdock, and ginger beer.

Remember that Pub food is cheaper and better then McDonnalds (and if you really want to weep, order a hamburger from McDonalds with a "Large" drink. 🙁) If you can do it, make your way to Shrewsbury, its a beautiful city with lots of castles and stuff surrounding it.
 
Originally posted by: E equals MC2
Was in London just last year. Had a blast.. I thought the city was so beautiful...

We aimed to do both touristy stuff and real everyday stuff to truly absorb the city:

Touristy stuff:
1. Visited most of the famous landmarks. Their city map pamphlet already cites all the popular places, complete with cute picture icons. It was fun to visit them and cross them off one by one. We did London National Gallery, Tower of London (they come with an option to get on a ferry ride that takes you back to central London for like 10 euros), The Parliament, The London Eye, and be sure to check out Millenium Bridge. It's a small footbridge that crosses the Thames river. It's just a bridge but it's so damn cool because it's small, narrow and accessible only on foot.

2. Hit the bars in Soho. It's a brick road neighborhood where it's littered by bars everywhere. We did some barhopping that was mighty fun.

3. Walk around, walk around, walk around. We stayed at a hostel and it's also a great place to meet other international tourists. Our hostel mates were this cute Aussy chick and another Aussy dude (no relations). Turns out, many Aussys work in England because pounds are 3x of AUD. It's these little stories you hear that makes the trip so great and intimate.
Click to expand...

My lodging is, unfortunately, non-negotiable. Have to stay at the hotel with the team, except for my quick excursion to Ireland. But I'll definitely check out the rest.
 
I'd get a tourist's guide or something to start. There's a lot to do, so you really want to be sure that you've considered as much as possible.

If you have enough time, I'd take a train to Bath. It's a great little town, although admittedly it might not be great for just casual sight-seeing. You might also have an opportunity to see the Stonehenge while in Bath as there are plenty of tourist buses.
 
Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
Originally posted by: E equals MC2
Was in London just last year. Had a blast.. I thought the city was so beautiful...

We aimed to do both touristy stuff and real everyday stuff to truly absorb the city:

Touristy stuff:
1. Visited most of the famous landmarks. Their city map pamphlet already cites all the popular places, complete with cute picture icons. It was fun to visit them and cross them off one by one. We did London National Gallery, Tower of London (they come with an option to get on a ferry ride that takes you back to central London for like 10 euros), The Parliament, The London Eye, and be sure to check out Millenium Bridge. It's a small footbridge that crosses the Thames river. It's just a bridge but it's so damn cool because it's small, narrow and accessible only on foot.

2. Hit the bars in Soho. It's a brick road neighborhood where it's littered by bars everywhere. We did some barhopping that was mighty fun.

3. Walk around, walk around, walk around. We stayed at a hostel and it's also a great place to meet other international tourists. Our hostel mates were this cute Aussy chick and another Aussy dude (no relations). Turns out, many Aussys work in England because pounds are 3x of AUD. It's these little stories you hear that makes the trip so great and intimate.
Click to expand...

My lodging is, unfortunately, non-negotiable. Have to stay at the hotel with the team, except for my quick excursion to Ireland. But I'll definitely check out the rest.
Click to expand...

Oh yes, I also HIGHLY recommend the double-decker TOUR bus. Why? Because it?s not just an one-time ride. You pay like 25 pounds and it grants you to get off and on any tour buses (well has to be same company) that lands on all the hot tourist spots. So if you are admiring the beautiful Big Ben at the open top deck bus and decide to actually check it out, you get off the bus, have fun for few hours, then get back on the next bus to hit the next hot spot. These buses come pretty frequently as well.
 
Originally posted by: Descartes
I'd get a tourist's guide or something to start. There's a lot to do, so you really want to be sure that you've considered as much as possible.

If you have enough time, I'd take a train to Bath. It's a great little town, although admittedly it might not be great for just casual sight-seeing. You might also have an opportunity to see the Stonehenge while in Bath as there are plenty of tourist buses.
Click to expand...

I don't think he has time, esp he doesn't even have time to appreciate London alone.
 
Originally posted by: E equals MC2
Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
Originally posted by: E equals MC2
Was in London just last year. Had a blast.. I thought the city was so beautiful...

We aimed to do both touristy stuff and real everyday stuff to truly absorb the city:

Touristy stuff:
1. Visited most of the famous landmarks. Their city map pamphlet already cites all the popular places, complete with cute picture icons. It was fun to visit them and cross them off one by one. We did London National Gallery, Tower of London (they come with an option to get on a ferry ride that takes you back to central London for like 10 euros), The Parliament, The London Eye, and be sure to check out Millenium Bridge. It's a small footbridge that crosses the Thames river. It's just a bridge but it's so damn cool because it's small, narrow and accessible only on foot.

2. Hit the bars in Soho. It's a brick road neighborhood where it's littered by bars everywhere. We did some barhopping that was mighty fun.

3. Walk around, walk around, walk around. We stayed at a hostel and it's also a great place to meet other international tourists. Our hostel mates were this cute Aussy chick and another Aussy dude (no relations). Turns out, many Aussys work in England because pounds are 3x of AUD. It's these little stories you hear that makes the trip so great and intimate.
Click to expand...

My lodging is, unfortunately, non-negotiable. Have to stay at the hotel with the team, except for my quick excursion to Ireland. But I'll definitely check out the rest.
Click to expand...

Oh yes, I also HIGHLY recommend the double-decker TOUR bus. Why? Because it?s not just an one-time ride. You pay like 25 pounds and it grants you to get off and on any tour buses (well has to be same company) that lands on all the hot tourist spots. So if you are admiring the beautiful Big Ben at the open top deck bus and decide to actually check it out, you get off the bus, have fun for few hours, then get back on the next bus to hit the next hot spot. These buses come pretty frequently as well.
Click to expand...

Found the map I mentioned.

 
Originally posted by: gotsmack
I was there this summer. Parliament was the only thing worth visiting.
Click to expand...

One of the greatest cities in the world and Parliament is the only thing worth seeing?

A big :roll: at you sir. Is the Eiffel Tower the only good thing in Paris?
 
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: gotsmack
I was there this summer. Parliament was the only thing worth visiting.
Click to expand...

One of the greatest cities in the world and Parliament is the only thing worth seeing?

A big :roll: at you sir. Is the Eiffel Tower the only good thing in Paris?
Click to expand...

thanks, that needed to be said
 
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: gotsmack
I was there this summer. Parliament was the only thing worth visiting.
Click to expand...

One of the greatest cities in the world and Parliament is the only thing worth seeing?

A big :roll: at you sir. Is the Eiffel Tower the only good thing in Paris?
Click to expand...

I mean the only thing worth paying to see. There are lots of of free stuff to see as mentioned in my post. And I did mention that the buildings there are beautiful.
 
Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
cry at how ur money is worthless
Click to expand...

No shit. 2:1 = OWWWW.
Click to expand...

what's worse is that because all the smaller amounts are coins (i think the first note is #5), you'll hand over a bunch of coins for a sandwich and think, 'well that wasn't so bad' and you just spend $15.73.
 
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