|
Post by whollygoats on Jun 30, 2016 20:42:12 GMT
I have a cousin who currently lives in Guandong, north of Hong Kong, in China. His daughter is undergoing commencement from her private school in London and he has flown there for the event. I'm not sure why darling daughter isn't a good source of information on things to do in London. He's just a couple years younger than I, so I suggested the British Museum, the Tate, the Tower, ride the double-decker buses, and the museums in Greenwich. I think my suggestions run fuddy-duddy museum heavy, so I'm asking here.
If you went to London for a long weekend (four days, say) what would you do?
|
|
|
Post by Kye on Jun 30, 2016 20:46:58 GMT
I am also all ears.
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Jun 30, 2016 21:00:33 GMT
London dungeon
|
|
|
Post by raspberrybullets on Jul 1, 2016 0:39:09 GMT
We went to London for 4 days and walked around a couple of the famous parks. Checked out Convent Garden area. Walked around the "London" London part of town. Went to Greenwich and checked out the maritime museum. Saw Buckingham from the outside. A lot of walking around and tubing to visit some of the sights like parliament and Big Ben. One of my favourites was the Natural HIstory Museum. We went to the Tower of London but that didn't thrill me so much. Wish we'd had time to visit Victoria and Albert. I would have liked to spend more time walking around and getting a feel for the different areas, we were just too short on time though.
|
|
|
Post by JoeP on Jul 1, 2016 13:19:50 GMT
I'd play on the internet, do the washing up, potter round the garden if the weather's good enough, perhaps do some ironing if I can find anything good on TV.
Oh, you meant as a visitor. I would meet up with all my friends who live in London. Drink a lot and spend the last 2 days recovering.
|
|
|
Post by JoeP on Jul 1, 2016 13:28:36 GMT
The Science Museum and Natural History Museum are conveniently located in Kensington along with the V&A and others. And the British Museum is a must. But if you've already suggested museums ...
St Pauls; Westminster Abbey; Westminster Cathedral (a different place); Southwark Cathedral; Brompton Oratory; and many many more if churchy architecture is his thing.
Covent Garden is good as rb suggested. The markets at Camden are great.
A river cruise.
The London Eye (overpriced and long queues but you do get some amazing views). The London Aquarium is right there as well, and has penguins.
|
|
|
Post by Kye on Jul 1, 2016 13:39:11 GMT
I'll be catching an Evensong at St Paul's.
|
|
|
Post by whollygoats on Jul 1, 2016 20:12:33 GMT
I'll be catching an Evensong at St Paul's. *rolls eyes* *mutters, "Anglicans..."*
|
|
|
Post by whollygoats on Jul 1, 2016 20:15:41 GMT
Here's a question...I was told that 'real scrumpy' was not available in London and that one needed to go to, say, Salisbury to get the 'real deal' when it comes to scrumpy.
So...Mr. Gingercat..or, any other poster...Is there any place to get 'real' scrumpy in London? If so, where?
|
|
|
Post by whollygoats on Jul 1, 2016 20:21:18 GMT
The Science Museum and Natural History Museum are conveniently located in Kensington along with the V&A and others. And the British Museum is a must. But if you've already suggested museums ... St Pauls; Westminster Abbey; Westminster Cathedral (a different place); Southwark Cathedral; Brompton Oratory; and many many more if churchy architecture is his thing. I doubt it, but I have not really jawed with him in a goodly while. Shopping, I presume? What kind of shopping? I suggested a river cruise from the center of London (London Bridge) to Greenwich to the naval museum and observatory. The London Eye? Wuzzat?
|
|
|
Post by JoeP on Jul 1, 2016 20:26:20 GMT
Salisbury? Utter nonsense. You need to go to Much Marcle or Shepton Mallet or those areas.
I have not attempted to get try scrumpy in London but I'm sure some places have it.
|
|
|
Post by JoeP on Jul 1, 2016 20:29:17 GMT
London Eye is big ferris wheel opposite the Houses of Parliament Camden markets have all sorts of trendy clothes, trendy food, music stores, tattoo parlours and a vast amount of tourist tat.
|
|
|
Post by whollygoats on Jul 1, 2016 20:39:30 GMT
Salisbury? Utter nonsense. You need to go to Much Marcle or Shepton Mallet or those areas. I have not attempted to get try scrumpy in London but I'm sure some places have it. Well...I had the real deal in Salisbury, and in Bristol. I was told that real scrumpy, complete with the chunks of apple still floating around in it, was only available in the region where it was made, and, in all probability the nearest locale to London where I might find it on tap at a local pub, was Salisbury. The same source informed me that anything sold as scrumpy in London was an out and out fraud....merely commercial hard cider, not real scrumpy.
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Jul 2, 2016 20:05:40 GMT
Everyone has heard of the London Eye surely? I thought it was world famous ... Re 'real' scrumpy, can't you just buy some stuff from the supermarket and drop chunks of apple in it?
|
|
|
Post by whollygoats on Jul 2, 2016 20:21:15 GMT
Everyone has heard of the London Eye surely? I thought it was world famous ... Re 'real' scrumpy, can't you just buy some stuff from the supermarket and drop chunks of apple in it? Not from what I'm told. That's fraudulent scrumpy. You'll get cider apple growers up in your face. My anonymous source was inebriated and intoxicated and warned me of impending doom....I woke up the next morning wincing to the memory of that warning. 8^D}
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Jul 2, 2016 20:22:19 GMT
I had a friend at uni who made proper cider. It tasted totally inoccuous but by God, it had a kick to it.
|
|
|
Post by JoeP on Jul 2, 2016 20:39:22 GMT
Everyone has heard of the London Eye surely? I thought it was world famous ... Re 'real' scrumpy, can't you just buy some stuff from the supermarket and drop chunks of apple in it? Not from what I'm told. That's fraudulent scrumpy. You'll get cider apple growers up in your face. My anonymous source was inebriated and intoxicated and warned me of impending doom....I woke up the next morning wincing to the memory of that warning. 8^D} Ah, you were misled. If you remember it, it wasn't real.
|
|
|
Post by raspberrybullets on Jul 5, 2016 11:47:01 GMT
Is it because you're northern hemisphereans that penguins are of such interest?
|
|
|
Post by spaceflower on Aug 27, 2016 19:55:50 GMT
I arrived in London on what seems to be the hottest day of the year. Had ramen at a Japanese restaurant. Good food but hot, crowded and rowdy. Next day was a sort of private guiding of the House of Parliament. We got to see the chapel and the broom room where the suffragette Emily Davison hid the night of the census 1911. Today we visited the Green Park, the James Park and the changing of the guard. So were everybody else it seemed. We also visited the British museum but we never did find Sutton Hoo, only Korea, China, and Japan exhibitions. Too big and we did not understand the map at all. But my hubby and I managed to go home by ourselves by a red doubledecker. My daughter had bought us Oyster cards.
Not living in a big city, I was surprised by the constant shrill sirens in the night. What had happened, traffic accidents, knifings, shootings, suiciedes, heart attacks, drug overdoses? Remember, there are as much people in London as in whole Sweden, my daughter said. It is too warm to have the windows shut but shes already got used to it.
Generally we have been mostly walking around. I like all the parks and the old white houses.
|
|
|
Post by JoeP on Aug 27, 2016 21:26:22 GMT
It was hotter on Wednesday ...
|
|
|
Post by spaceflower on Aug 29, 2016 19:21:03 GMT
There was a festival in Notting Hill on Sunday-Monday. My daughter considered visiting with us but was advised against it. Too lively fun, i.e. rowdy, even violent.
Parks and traditional sightseeing better for us. On Sunday we had Thai dinner at Brixton Village. On the way there, a man spoke to me something like "Are you happy?" I just stared scared at him. Was he after my money or my soul (a cult) or both? Then he asked Jerker "Is she your mother?" "No", he said, and we crossed the street.
Earlier in the day we were to Tate Britain. I really love the old paintings. We also looked at the part with Turner's paintings. My daughter and I had watched the film "Turner". Boring film she said, but she it made her want to look at his paintings.
|
|
|
Post by spaceflower on Aug 29, 2016 21:30:24 GMT
It was hotter on Wednesday ... We arrived on Wednesday evening. We had packed an umbrella but not sun protection. I had a feeling I was in a Mediterranean country. Hot and humid though dark. Lots of people standing on the pavements with glasses in their hands. But now I'm back home and here it is cold and rainy.
|
|
|
Post by whollygoats on Aug 30, 2016 2:25:20 GMT
Ah...Tropical London. Now, nothing but memories....
|
|
|
Post by spaceflower on Sept 12, 2016 12:25:37 GMT
I have plans for the next visit, if there is one.
I want to see East Londen: Dennis Sever's house, a huguenot's house (silk weaver) from 18th century. After watching Call the Midwife, I want to see Docklands, though it is probably totally gentrified now but there is Museum of London Docklands. And Whitechapel "it doesn't feel safe", said may daughter. But a Jack the Ripper-tour in broad daylight maybe.
I also want to go to Hampton Court, where king Henry XVIII spent five honeymoons.
And I want to take a walk in Hyde Park, but they said it takes an hour to go through it.
And and and ...
|
|