Hey all!
As it turns out, I will be going on a 5 week long training program in London, and it will be my first time in the UK. I would be curious to get some insights from those working in London or the UK in general as to what sort of places would warrant a visit. By this I mean interesting/unique sites other than the typical tourist attractions, good restaurants, pubs, or clubs, stores unique to the UK (especially interested in getting some decent quality formal clothing). I will have many of my expenses covered, so I want to make the most out of this unique experience.
Many thanks for any good suggestions!
Good lord, this is a bit of a tall order... Depends on what sorts of things float yer boat, so to speak.
If you're into theatre (not just musicals), there's a lot of good stuff going on. The British Museum, even though it's probably a typical tourist attraction, has a lot of really cool things happening normally. As far as experiences go, there's really too much to list, such as Brick Lane, Shoreditch bars, etc.
My suggestion: go on the web, look at smth like this http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/101-things-to-do-in-london-t… and see if there are things there that you fancy. Then just go and explore.
Thanks for your reply! I realize that this comes across as an open-ended question, but what I am curious about is what people have tried so far and have had good luck with. Really I am going to have 5 weeks of nights and weekends at my disposal and I am open to anything new so I am looking to just get an extensive list from WSO users and then I'll do some filtering and will put together a plan. Many thanks again for the tips!
I would definitely check out an EPL Match...assuming this training program happens before the end of the season.
Thanks for the tip, it's mid-july to end of august so not sure where that falls.
A little late for this season and a little early for next season.
Ahh, too bad then...
Aren't there any people from London in your class?
Unfortunately no such luck, otherwise I would have gone to them first.
It's touristy, but make sure you go to Selfridges and Harrod's. They carry every major brand you can think of and then some, all of it being rather high end for men. Also, check out my posts from a while back, I had one about London fashion and got some pretty solid responses about where to go.
Thanks for the tips, added to the list!
ok long time londoner here.
In no particular order:
Chinatown (ours is better than yours, trust me): Mr Kong's In lisle street, have the lemon chicken, crispy duck, shredded beef, and sweet and sour pork. Thank me later. Covent Garden - more street food, fairly priced, and some really cool shops for all sorts of things, including a specialist tea shop. In england!! wow, such tea, so good wow. West End, see a show - book of mormon is good but pricey, anything comedy related and you'll need a translator if you're from the US ;) Portobello Road Market/Borough Market/Camden Market, eating street food, its good quality, freshly made and crazy variety. You will need cash. Beware pickpockets. Dont dress like a tourist. London Eye is last year, go to the Olympic park in stratford on a clear sunny day. Huge tower, dont care what the name is, free entry. Swings!!!!!! Have a picnic. London Zoo (a zoo in the middle of london!!!!!) Hyde Park, walk through it, around it, dont piss in the diana memorial etc and you're golden. Have a picnic in it too. Walk along the strand, to buckingham palace, the mall etc. check out the crazy number of war heroes we have. Imperial War Museum (supercool but i love war history so biased). Science Museum/Natural history museum (gothic building), free entry, check out the V&A museum as well, might not be your taste. Chicks dig the accents, so try a pub on a friday night, its pathetic, but i didnt care when i sounded sophisticated and gentlemanly on your side of the pond. Oxford Street is the main shopping street, but walk around harrods in knightsbridge, and also go to Carnaby Street, where all the main retailers release their newest stuff first as a trial run before mainstream releases.
Do NOT, I repeat do NOT EVER GET ON A NIGHT BUS.
transport: day 1, buy an oyster card. stick 50 quid on it. note the tube closing times, its being extended but you're fucked if you miss it.
all i can think of without anything specific that you do or dont like. Have plenty of ideas more but that should cover you.
Why not take the night bus ever?
That sir, is an epic answer. Much thanks, for the tips and that war museum plus the street food sounds phenomenal!
just saw the one about fashion, saville row (just bring a credit card with a decent clearing amount). for the best hand made suits in the world. tailor or whatever you call it.
Don't take the Night Bus Ever (and quite rightly), because: He/she's new to London and doesn't know how weird normal people become when they're totally hammered He/she doesn't need to see that part of London that we hate (weirdos being angry, violent, talking to themselves, scaring other people just because it's on a night time bus) You only go on a night bus if you really have no other option....it's difficult to see a dangerous freak board on a bus and start attempting to fight with the driver because he doesn't want to pay a fare
So it's really in our nation's interests that people new to this country don't see how crap some bits of our society really are :)...gets us more tax money and will eventually fill the country's coffers till there's no more debt :)
Sorry some of it was a bit patronising, but seriously night buses are ****e, better to take a cab, or wait till 6am passes then get back on the buses :)..
Good tip, although night buses here have their fair share of drunken stabbings as well :D Non-issue though as I believe the company is fairly flexible in covering travel expenses and people from last year's training got reimbursed for cab fare, so I will probably take that route for the most part.
I second this. NEVER take the night bus. Tube is excellent or walk it if it is not far.
go to see wimbledon
If you're really really looking for good food and drink, I'll show you around! Just message me, there's so much on offer...
Thanks Snow! I might just take you up on that offer!
For the high end clothes, are prices any different than this side of the pond? I'll be over there soon too, and it'd be neat to check out some of the shops but if its just selling the same shit at the same prices, then there's better things to do with my time...
You can try checking the prices online on UK and US websites of different manufacturers, but they are probably on par (might be wrong on this). For me personally, the variety of shops is the real draw, not necessarily the pricing difference.
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