Going to London For the First Time: Advice?

[alimination602]

It's a British custom, and not many people know this (Speaking as a Brit myself), if by chance you ever encounter the Queen or any other member of the Royal family you must immediately run up to them, slap them on the shoulder and say 'Alright your Royalness, how's the Corgi's then? And is it true you killed Diana- go on you can tell me'.

This is usually followed by the police arriving and dragging you away- don't worry they're just taking you to meet the Prime Minister. The best thing to do in that situation is resist and say that their hats look like plant pots. They think it's funny here- they usually express their humour with mace and batons.

Enjoy England....

 

[Ghengis John]

OT: If you're American, which I assume you are, don't talk to much about how your country is politically/culturally different. Europeans often dislike Americans so it's best to come across as not being too patriotic.

Yes. Hide who you are to suit other people's small minded prejudices. They should really respect a sniveling, toadieing worm. Though nothing is to say he's going to be overtly patriotic, his beliefs will clash with theirs or that he has to try to impress his beliefs on everyone. You think very little of Americans if you assume such things. He's also not likely to talk politics with random strangers. I doubt he's going to talk up and down the street with a star-spangled bullhorn shouting "Mission accomplished." "Mission accomplished people." "Suck my balls, mission accomplished!" And I think we can presume since he wants to go to Britain he already has an affinity for the place just the way it is.

Make sure to try some good british food.

Fish & Chips
Cornish pasty
Meat and Potato Pie

etc etc

I have heard nothing but good things about the Cornish Pasty.

 

[coolman9899]

remember chips are fries and crisps are chips. yeah I made myself look like a complete idgot with that one

 

[RAWKSTAR]

Carry your DS with pokemon in.
I swear to god the amount of times I was approached by people and they were all like 'Hurr Battle me on pokeman, I have diamond version.'

 

[Thimblefoot]

Don't bother coming to Scotland, it's not a great place at the best of times and next to London you will just wish you were somewhere else.

EDIT: should probably add some other advice. Try not to use the subway, it's not very nice and it's uncomfortable. Either walk and take in the sights or take a tour bus around if you want to easily get to the tourist attractions.

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

Make sure to try some good british food.

Fish & Chips
Cornish pasty
Meat and Potato Pie

etc etc

Dude Fish and Chips is so damn good. [salivates]

OP

OT: This might sound odd but, in my experience, London's weather is very oddly colored by perspective. What that means is, if you are from a Hot, tropical place (like me)......your ass will freeze off even in the summer. I was wearing a light waterproof (important cause it ALWAYS rains) jacket the whole time, but a friend of mine from Norway was walking around in Shorts and flip-flops. I just wasn't used to the temperature I guess.

I guess it depends which state you're from really. Keep that in mind.

 

[wolf thing]

try not to be an idiot. im not saying you are but it is really annoying to see a tourist that knows nothing about the country and Americans are infamies for this so read up on English history. dont be afraid to talk to the people there not all going to stab you. other than that london is a nice city alittle crowed and lacks green but still a nice places, also go to hamlys the toy shop.

 

[Chameliondude]

You should check if you can get a bike pass thing, they have just put public bike racks scattered quite frequently around london, so you can take a bike from one and drop it off at another, but you need a pass, i think its essentially free to use if you have one thou. Otherwise use an oyster card or get student rate travel cards for trains, and make sure you check for tube strikes or maintenance, they tell you about a week before on the website and they are fairly infrequent.

Camden is pretty fun and out the way for a day, the market is great (one of the only places you can still haggle for stuff), but make sure you check a guide cos the cooler stuff is a ***** to find, like cyberdog and the stable pub (not actual name). and the zoo is right next to it.

Central london is quite nice in that almost everything is within walking distance, quite fun to explore the kind or southbank, covent garden, leister or trafalgar square areas, and if art is your thing there is a crapton of galleries and museums for free (science musium, natural history, tate modern, british museum etc), Although the very mainstream stuff like the london eye, tower of london, and west end stuff is a bit pricey, expecially for a student.

If you are going to stay with or are travelling with british students, ask about stuff going on, there is always something cool happening a bit out of the way or underground as London is huge and confusing to navigate the non toristy spots.

Just make sure you plan your days to get a good experience, you can wonder aimlessly for years in london without actally doing anything.

Oh and one last thing, dont buy the roasted nuts things people in the popular bits sell, they smell life caramel but taste like ass.

 

[LightspeedJack]

Be prepared to be ripped on a lot (especially as you are American). I think English people like to make fun of each other a lot more than other parts of the world.

 

[Arsen]

Experience Europe at it's finest...

Go to a metal show.
They are rather rare here in the States.

Visit a museum, see a castle, and refrain from doing anything "modern".

 

[Martrex]

London is a fantastic place to visit, but as many posters have mentioned it is very expensive.

If you can; I would advise staying as far from the City centre as you can - while it will increase your transport costs/time it will be cheaper to get a hotel/B&B/whatever.

Visit the Museums. London has some of the best and most interesting exhibits around - It's also worthwhile checking the internet to see what attractions/events are happening.

Finally... just don't be a dick to people (which I find to be a good rule for life!). Just be polite and I'm sure you'll get along fine.

Enjoy!

 

[Dami0]

iPhone with google maps and 3g to get you about if you get lost.

If you're ever hungry towards the end of the day there's plenty of non-chain kebab shops or other ones that sometimes actually have some good food although I could just be used to it.

For the love of all that you value; do not try non-rail public transport at peak hours it's seriously faster to just walk.

Avoid 'soccer' fans that you can spot from a mile away they might get a bit excited but other then that they're fine.

And as others mentioned check out the pub scene as there are quite a few different things to it; some play jazz, some offer sports viewings, some play other music.

 

[Verlander]

snip

Depends what you are interested in... I can't help you other wise

For arcades and entertainment, visit the Trocadero, Leicester Square and Soho (all next to each other)

For museums visit the Science, Natural History, Victoria and Albert, and the British Museum (there are thousands of museums, but those are some of the main ones, and I'd def recommend the Nat History).

For Art Galleries, I'd recommend the National Portrait, National Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Serpentine, and White Cube

For British empire world dominating history visit Greenwich Observatory, Kew Gardens, and the HMS Belfast

For "London" things, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, St Pauls, and Houses of Parliament

For shopping, visit Spitalfields Market, Camden Town (specifically Camden Lock), Covent Garden, Regents Street, Selfridges, Harrods, Soho again.

For parks try Hyde Park, Victoria Park, and Regents Park. Regents had London Zoo, apparently the worlds first zoo or whatever. It's pretty good.

For something a little different, visit Shakespeares Globe, Brick Lane, the Olympic stuff

I've lived here for two and a half decades, and I see new shit every day. It's nice to try and cram it all in, but honestly, it would take an absolute lifetime. This is a huge, rich city, vibrant and full of culture. I hope you enjoy your visit, and maybe just walk around for a bit. There are Tube stations all over the spot, so it's easy to not get lost.

Advice: If a pub charges more than £3.20 a pint, it's a tourist trap. Run away. Try and get to the theatre, it's world class. Most of what you'll be doing will involve the centre of London, and most of it is a short walk from everything else, so try and walk rather than rely on the Tube. Weekdays, the Underground charges more before 9.30am... a LOT more. So don't bother before then. Buy a travelcard, it'll cost less in the long run.If you are interested in museums, the Natural History, Science Museum and Victoria and Albert are RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER. Literally. They are also a bit out of town, so do them all in a day.

Message me for info on any of these things, or more, if you can tell me exactly the sort of holiday you are looking for XD I like making sure people have an excellent first time here

 

[Magnalian]

If you ever get hungry, there's a Mcdonalds/KFC/Pizza Hut on literally every corner.

 

[Dr Snakeman]

We hate enthusiastic people. Especially ones with accents. Be as self-depricating as possible.

Seriously? Enjoying yourself and being a friendly person is frowned upon over there?

Sheesh. I, too, was considering visiting London one day, until you said that. Now I'm not so sure.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

We hate enthusiastic people. Especially ones with accents. Be as self-depricating as possible.

Seriously? Enjoying yourself and being a friendly person is frowned upon over there?

Sheesh. I, too, was considering visiting London one day, until you said that. Now I'm not so sure.

I think you misinterpreted.

There's the enthusiastic Englishmen, and there's the enthusiastic American.

Be friendly person by all means. Just don't walk around shouting "OH MY GAAAWD" and "I LOVE YOUR ACCENT!"

Friendly is fine.

In your face friendly is not.

 

[Private Custard]

If you're anywhere near Farringdon on a Friday night, may I suggest Fabric. Room 2 is the most epic DnB room ever. No serious dress code, jeans and a casual shirt will do fine. midnight 'til 5am is the best!!

 

[gigastar]

I am going to London this summer on Study Abroad Program. Anything I should know? I am told that I need to try and get into the local culture. So any suggestions about were to go or what to do is appreciated. I seriously don't care. I just don't want to go to cheesy tourists spots. That has never been my thing.

Oh...and what is the weather like over there in the summer?

Weather is chaotic. No telling what the Atlantic or the North Sea will throw at us next or even what one gets priority.

As for travel tips, assuming youre not going to the usual tourist rat-holes, where are you going?

Well, the professors have some typical Touristy spots lined up. Couple of Museums, Palaces, and such lined up. I won't be with them the whole time though. Also I have no clue what a tourist rat-hole is. Could you please enlighten me?

Tourist rat-hole, Adj. : A place that is infested with tourists that go and see exaclty what they expect to see. e.g: 1) At the Tower of London one would expect to see ravens. There are ravens there, natrually. Most of them even have names.

2) Something about historically notorious figures in the London Dungeon.

The good stuff tends to not be in central London, and anything that is good is probably a museum. If you do go to central, stay the hell away from Parliment Square. Theres a shanty town biult in the park in the square and it is perhaps the single most unpleasnt... thing even look at much less visit that has ever been in the area scince the 1600's. Most of the squatters are still protesting about the assorted wars in the middle east, so natrually Americans are not very welcome.

The Tower is basicaly a complex of several museums[footnote]The walls, the interior and the tower itself.[/footnote]. I think it takes two days to complete all the tours available there, unless theres a new tour for all of them floating about.

As if i couldnt understate this, the London Dungeon is a waste of time. And youll be recoiling from daylight for a good 10 minuites after getting out.

Perhaps worse than the Dungeon is the London Tombs. I think its an optional extra after a tour of the London Bridge museum. Anyway there is nothing down there but people dressed up in extravagantly corny costumes all of whom were hired on the basis of how loud they could shirek.

Really Liverpool would have been a better choice for culture. Alas it doesnt seem your professors are going to make a last minuite change.

 

[mrF00bar]

Bring a machete, it might all go to shit while you are here so you will need a reliable and intimidating weapon.

 

[Dr Snakeman]

We hate enthusiastic people. Especially ones with accents. Be as self-depricating as possible.

Seriously? Enjoying yourself and being a friendly person is frowned upon over there?

Sheesh. I, too, was considering visiting London one day, until you said that. Now I'm not so sure.

I think you misinterpreted.

There's the enthusiastic Englishmen, and there's the enthusiastic American.

Be friendly person by all means. Just don't walk around shouting "OH MY GAAAWD" and "I LOVE YOUR ACCENT!"

Friendly is fine.

In your face friendly is not.

Ooooohhhh... so you mean don't be a stupid person. Gotcha.

You know, believe it or not, we actually have similar attitudes towards dumbasses on this side of the pond. Crazy, I know!

Sarcasm aside, thanks for clearing that up. It sounded like you were making your countrymen out to be very harsh people.