The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Last week in London, tell me what to do
genetik
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Ok, so I've pretty much wasted the past couple of months here in London. I have just one week left before I go back to the states and I have to work during the daytime. Quick, tell me what I can't miss.
The museums were boring but it seems to be the thing to do. So far, if someone asked me what I did in London, I'd say "looked at old stuff and gained weight".
I've already done:
Tower of London, also ice skated there
London Dungeon
Madame Tussauds
Brighton
Museum of London
Saw half of the British Museum
Tate Modern
A tiny bit of Victoria and Albert
The National Gallery
London Transport Museum
Went shopping at Harrod's
Saw a couple of plays at The Globe before the end of the season
Saw a bunch of silly stage shows including Phantom of the Opera and Avenue Q
Walked around to a bunch of statues and buildings all over central London
Eaten a lifetime's worth of sausage, pudding, and other English food
Drank a lifetime's worth of tea and beer
Tower of London, also ice skated there
London Dungeon
Madame Tussauds
Brighton
Museum of London
Saw half of the British Museum
Tate Modern
A tiny bit of Victoria and Albert
The National Gallery
London Transport Museum
Went shopping at Harrod's
Saw a couple of plays at The Globe before the end of the season
Saw a bunch of silly stage shows including Phantom of the Opera and Avenue Q
Walked around to a bunch of statues and buildings all over central London
Eaten a lifetime's worth of sausage, pudding, and other English food
Drank a lifetime's worth of tea and beer
The museums were boring but it seems to be the thing to do. So far, if someone asked me what I did in London, I'd say "looked at old stuff and gained weight".
genetik on
0
Posts
Also go to Camden Market theres alot of crazyness going on there and also some of the most diverse street food available. Also if you like comics theres a decent comic shop there and also some stuff you could get as gifts for people back in the states.
London Eye? chance to get some great pictures there.
Have you eaten a proper curry yet? Do that.
What about outside of London, Birmingham has a pretty mental christmas market at the moment and some great christmas shopping (as much stuff as London but more compact) its only like an hour and a bit on the train but might be worth it for german sausage.
What sort of music do you like - pretty much any band that comes to the UK will play in London. What about sport? Theres seen any football or rugby?
Get so drunk you can't remember what you did in soho.
they should have a few ice rinks up and running by now, I would think. Might be an idea to borrow some skates and visit Somerset House or Tower of London and have a skate?
Since you work during the day, you can't really go see the changing of the guard...
Science Museum might be a change of pace from the "look at old stuff" museums you've got listed.
If you're mobile, you might wanna make a trip out to Bath and/or Stonehenge. When I lived over there, and had people over, Bath/Stonehenge/Avesbury were a standard day trip I would take them on.
Just some ideas to throw out there.
Other then that I did pretty much the same as you in London.
Yeah, I did go skating while I was at the Tower of London.
I don't have a car. I think it's possible I could get on one of those coach tours to Bath or Stonehenge but I'm not sure I'll have time. I'll try to do it this weekend.
Thank you for the tips.
I know you mentioned that museums aren't your thing, but the British Museum will blow you away. A lot of the things above are a little touristy, but it seems that you don't feel 100% fulfilled with your time in London, so maybe this is the answer! Good luck!
[edit] never mind on the changing of the guard, I guess you can't make that.
Uh...did you go see Buckingham Palace yet? You didn't list it. It's pretty awesome. Also, go see Boudiccia outside parliament.
Hell, get a tour of parliament if you can. Super cool inside there.
edit: Yeah, Bath is cool. A tour of the baths is fun. As is Stonehenge, although it's kinda in the middle of nowhere.
Every time. It's like, what Covent does. Performers are a big deal there, they have to audition to be able to go. I think Eddie Izzard got his start there.
I saw a guy on a 10 foot tall unicycle juggle stuff, ha.
It's my understanding that you can only go on a tour of parliament while it's out of session. It's in session this time of year so I don't think I can go. I saw the outside, though.
It is fantastic, honestly. Same applies for The Lion King if you haven't seen it already.
You can do that everywhere else too.
Oh and try seeing a football or rugby match if you can.
I want to know more PA people on Twitter.
I'd probably try to go see Stonehenge. That would be a bit expensive to fly back just to see that on it's own later on.
Go to Blackpool. It will be one of the weirdest things you will ever see. You probably won't enjoy yourself, but it is worth the trip - which would be probably 4-5 hours each by train
Other things to do in London
1. The John Soane Museum - this is near Holborn - it is small as hell and sort of explains why every Western city is full of Roman/Greek looking buildings.
2. The Churchill Museum/War Office - this in Westminster. Not bad - it is the site of the main command bunker during WW2 for the British government - they have restored it after decades of disuse.
3. Visit Cockfosters on the Piccadilly Line. Then get a photo of your visit.
Outside of London but near
1. Anywhere along the Thames Estuary - take a train out - say Margate/Whistible - they can be quite pretty or weird
2. Go visit somewhere like Battle, which is the abbey/town that is built on the site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, which gave all of us English speakers a permanent dose of French
3. Visit Canterbury in Kent
Make sure you've walked around the river a bit at night if it's clear. Pretty. The Natural History Museum is probably worth a poke about in, even if only so you can feel a faint connection to Darwin.
To be honest my favourite London experience is wandering around fairly aimlessly either on a nice Friday evening in summer with a friend or two, or early on a Sunday morning. Feels like two different cities at those times. Rain really ruins things though.
Steam ID
Seeing Chelsea, Arsenal, or even Tottenham play a match is definitely a unique experience. I went to 2 Manchester United matches during my time over there, and loved every second of it. It's a great experience.
Yeah, I think you're stuffed on this account. You can visit any time if you are a UK citizen, but it has to be arranged through your MP. If you knew someone who wanted to go who was British, you could have tagged along with them. It's a shame, it's pretty cool!
Yeah seeing a game is an experience.
(Actually the last game I saw was from a corporate box. Rather spoiled it forever I think...)