Visiting England

[Helmet]

I'll be heading to England for ten days in late September. The only two things I have planned are visiting Stonehenge and going to the Tower of London.

I've seen threads of this nature before, and of the forums that I frequent this is the one with more folks from areas other than the US.

What all do ya'll recommend I go see/do?

Any other advice/info would be nice. For example, is tipping expected at restaurants? Roughly how much money should I take with me? Anything I should avoid? What beers would you recommend?

EDIT: By, "how much money should I take" I mean for spending cash purposes. Souvenirs, museums, tolls (Odd question, but do you folks even have toll booths over there?) and so on and so forth in that fashion.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Can't help you on beer... I hate the stuff.

You should explore the tower of London, the London dungeon, if it's around go to the HMS Belfast.

I most definitely recommend visiting Camden Market.

Yes we tip at restaurants.

10 days? Depending on what you do... umm say up to about £300 spending money? I'm not sure how expensively you normally live.

There's a lot to see and do around London... it's quite a big place.

I don't know of any toll roads... but in London if you want to drive there is a congestion charge.

 

[Squarez]

Stonehenge? Meh. To be perfectly honest I think it's just a bunch of rocks in the middle of Wiltshire. Not much to do but stare at it for ten minutes before getting bored. But that's just me.

We do tip in restaurants but it's not considered really rude not to like it is in America. If you get good service, leave a generous tip; if it's average, maybe a few bob; if it's bad, don't tip at all. But that's all up to you, of course, and how much you think they deserve.

If there's anything to avoid, I'd say avoid itv. Nought but bollocks on that channel.

And yes we have toll booths, but judging from what I've seen here (I'm in the US on holiday right now) no where near as many as you guys have. But keep some change in the car just in case.

 

[Dogstile]

I can't give you an idea of things to do, but i can recommend one thing.

Avoid Brixton.

 

[BritishWeather]

The national history museum, National science museum, Tate modern (art), there are thousands of places in London. It wholly depends on what you want, get a travellers/tourists guide. Many areas of London you'll want to avoid altogether and In London; don't even think of driving a car. We have some nice countryside if you want to get out of the smog (nothing in comparison to the U.S). Many castles are worth visiting. As your going south there is plenty in the surrounding counties. Be prepared for lots of slang, lots.

 

[KeyMaster45]

I was actually just in London at the beginning of June, a few things you might want to know.(though you're visiting the general area of England I can at least give you tips for the city of London)

1)The tube is your friend: I can't stress this one enough if you use that to get around it's neigh impossible to get lost in the city and you will save tons of money in cab fares.

2)The few pubs and cafe's I visited while over there had tip jars set out on the counter, other than that I had been told most nice sit down restaurants included gratuity in your bill.

3)They charge money to see Stonehenge, which is kinda a douche move in my book considering the upkeep of it probably includes two guys with a lawnmower and weed whacker between them.

4)Drop by the British Museum if you have the chance; you'll want to get off at the Russel's Square station which is on the Piccadilly line . It's not a very far walk from there (sorry specific directions elude me at the moment, ask at the Tesco or Pret A Manger which are directly across the street from the station)

5) If you're a Harry Potter fan drop by King's Cross which is one stop over from Russel's Square where they've set up a novelty platform 9 1/3 for people to take pictures at. Be sure to make sure you come out at King's Cross and not St. Pancras (they both share the same station and are right across the street from one another)

6)Since you're visiting the Tower be sure to take a Yeoman warder tour which meet at the front gates every half hour I think.

7) If you're there on a Sunday you just have to go visit Speaker's Corner at Hyde Park. When I say its the living equivalent to an online forum setting I mean it. When I was there all we had was religious trollz, not that that wasn't entertaining in and of itself, though there was one guy there talking about World Government, carrying on an intelligent conversation with him was quite enjoyable.

8)Take in a play at the Globe if you're able. When I say actually watching a play by Shakespeare beats the living crap out of being forced to read the script I mean; why in god's name have you not already planned to go see their production of Macbeth yet?

9)Be sure to take a walk across the millennium bridge and hop up and down once you're in the center(London residents are terrified of this bridge by the way because they feel its unsafe)

10)Last but most certainly not least visit the area around Parliament to get pictures of the clock tower (not Big Ben cause its the bell housed inside the clock tower...but who really cares at this point) and visit Westminster Abbey. Which by the way, Westminster Abbey has the most metal tombs you will ever see. One literally has death rising up from the depth of hell to claim someone's soul.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Just a quick tip from me... Avoid Milton Keynes... They may describe it as an exciting new city but trust me, it isn't, I live here...

Also if you ever stop for a pub lunch or something, try and find a decent local pub and not a "well advertised and slick sign posted" pub. They are almost always horrible... And try a pint of London Pride whilst in London... Proper good ale that...

 

[DazZ.]

We tip in some restaurants, but not bars or anywhere else really.

Took my American cousin out in a town and he was trying to tip everyone, they got confused and didn't know what he was giving them money for.
Don't know if you all tip bars there or he is just a notorious tipper when drunk.

 

[TyrantGanado]

1. Go to Scotland
2. Refer to it as England
3. ?????
4. Profit!

Couldn't resist >.< I've never been to London myself but I'd recommend the tourist traps, they probably are quite interesting from a historical point of view. Just...avoid the suburbs and if a group of young people in baseball caps and tracksuits start giving you trouble just logic bomb them and walk away, though that shouldn't actually be an issue, they mostly sit about and scowl at people.

 

[Helmet]

1. Go to Scotland
2. Refer to it as England
3. ?????
4. Profit!

I'd like to survive the trip.

@Keymaster45- I hadn't thought of seeing a play! I love drama and literature both, and enjoy the works of Shakespeare. I'm looking forward to getting to see a proper play.

@Raven's Nest- Thanks for the ale recommendation. I'll make a note of it, and try it first thing.

@Everyone else- Thank you for everything, and keep it coming!

 

[Pariah87]

Peckham is lovely this time of year or so I've heard. Then for a real taste of the culture, buy a Chelsea shirt and take a trip down to Millwall, preferably on a day they are playing each other.

Real advice would be stick to tourist areas, a fair few brits are actually not very nice people. I will say we're generally nicer to tourists, we just seem to like being Arseholes with each other.

I can't say much about London because I've only been there twice, but if you have the money and feel like some excursions there are plenty of places you can easly get to and back in a day. £25 ish from London Euston to Birmingham. Warwick Castle is a bit of a drive but it's a nice place to go and visit.

Strange that I'm bigging up this country because for the most part I despise it (the inhabitants at least) but I'd suggest anyone visiting should go out and see the real England. London is an overly busy mish mash of cultures and people with a lifestyle which is not indicative of the English way of life at all. Go to a smaller Market town, some of them are incredibly nice, explore our countryside.

As for Beers, it's difficult to recommend because anything widely circulated around pubs tend to be garbage (Tetleys, John Smiths, Carlsburg, Fosters etc) try any local brews you find. Hobgoblin or anything Wychwood brew I would say try, but I'm a bit of a fanboy.

Enjoy England, and on the plus side after 10 days you get to leave it again, you lucky bastard lol.

 

[SextusMaximus]

We have some nice museums... take you camera!

Tower of London is good, there are lots of famous buildings (Houses of parliament, downing street)

TRY a chippy (fish and chips) they're really good!

Tipping isn't really expected at restaurants.

We don't have any stupid toll boothing either.

 

[dekkarax]

Don't worry too much about tipping, restaurant wages are not dependant on tips over here.

 

[KeyMaster45]

Oh, it utterly slipped my mind earlier. While I was there I found myself inside a far more many churches that I originally anticipated. While the stained glass and inner architecture of the churches are beautiful and breathtaking; I highly suggest NOT taking pictures. It's a bit of a taboo thing to do as a tourist as it shows disrespect for it as a place of worship. (not that the many gift shops, audio guides, and scores of noisy tourists trouncing through it isn't disrespectful enough)

While most of the churches have signs asking you not to take pictures out of respect(this is more of a demand than a request as they get very angry should they catch you doing so) if you see no signs saying so I'd still advise you ask someone who works there if pictures are okay. Really finding yourself inside a church while visiting England is an inevitability while over there as the landscape is littered with them; every last one beautiful.

Don't know if you'll have the time while in England but Windsor Castle is a must see in my opinion; if only to say you've visited the Queen's home.

A few other places that I visited on day trips were Salisbury, Oxford, Bath, Stratford(birth place and burial site of Shakespeare), and some cheesy tourist trap of a castle owned by madame Toussoude. (can't spell her name but its the lady with all the wax museums)