Posts
4208
Joined
12/23/2009
Location
Grain Valley, MO
US
Edited Date/Time
5/3/2013 5:14am
I will be visiting your country next month. The trip is a wedding present from my mother. We (my wife and I) have something planned every other day. My wife is a huge Beatles fan, so we are doing that and Big Ben, Parliament, and I think a castle or two. We have three (I think) free days to do as we wish. Any Ideas? Also I have a few questions.....We will be in London by the way.
1. Are Americans disliked? If so should I say I'm Canadian? (this is the first time out of the country without a gun on my back)
2. I heard about pick pockets. Is that real?
3. What should I wear, for weather and to not be beat up?
4. What is the best food?
5. Where might I see a punk rock band play?
Or anything else I need to know. Thanks.
1. Are Americans disliked? If so should I say I'm Canadian? (this is the first time out of the country without a gun on my back)
2. I heard about pick pockets. Is that real?
3. What should I wear, for weather and to not be beat up?
4. What is the best food?
5. Where might I see a punk rock band play?
Or anything else I need to know. Thanks.
Just go and enjoy yourself!
The food can be crap, or better than you've ever eaten. Use tripadvisor and don't just eat fries and burgers. TRY stuff you've never eaten, you won't die and you may just find your new favourite food!
Pick pockets are real but it's never happened to me or anyone I know. Keep Your hand on your wallet on the Tube. I'd say that's the only time you'll be at any risk at all. Everywhere your likely to go is SAFE.
Wear what you f*cking want nobody cares.
May's probably the nicest month of the year.
Timeout is a good magazine for entertainment in London.
American? Who cares! BUT say "please" and "thank you" when ordering drinks in pubs and food in restaurants it's considered v. Rude otherwise.
Most castles are good but Edinborugh castle is an expensive waste of time.
Get a car ( auto and Sat Nav essential for you) and drive into the country. It's nice. It's sooo green in May. It's why I left California.
The Shop
...and just basically try not to get too enthusiastic about anything and you should be fine.
Weather-wise June is "usually" a reasonably mild/warm month, it'll probably be around low 20's. Depending on how much time you have my best advice would be to get out of London!
Otherwise, if you're keen to travel further afield then I would recommend the Lake District to the north, or Devon and Cornwall in the South West.
If your wife would like to spend part of her wedding vacation at a Motocross event there is a RedBull Pro National at Culham near Oxford (1hr 30mins west of London) on the 29th/30th of June http://www.redbullpronationals.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=364&Itemid=186#nogo
Escape from London, place isn't my favorite place in the world. Full of grumpy miserable bastards for the most part. The coast is nice at that time of year.
If you go on the tube don't expect there to be ANY conversation what so ever, everyone will just stay silent completely silent the entire journey for some reason.
Keep your stuff secure as there are a few pick pockets about. Only ever experienced that in the tourist areas of London though.
Just be nice, being American is fine. It's just a certain type of American that people (me included) get pissed off by. And like Jamma said, don't be too enthusiastic, sounds weird I know
Look BOTH ways every time before you cross a road, the general standard of driving is absolutely horrific, and we drive on the opposite side of the road to you. I know you probably new that but id mention it anyway.
Have a full English breakfast.
If you hire a car, drive into the countryside and get lost, I still do it all the time, take a little country lane and see where you end up, the countryside is usually full of nice helpful people, and it's amazing whats hidden off the beaten path in a country with as much history as England.
And everywhere you go will be safe.
regarding the "enthusiastic" thing, i'm guessing that they are referring to the general "loudness" that comes from you guys in certain environments, if people can tell what nationality you are without speaking to you, then you're doing something wrong
if you go into restaurants expecting free refills, fast service, large portions and plastic food that all comes from the same place (chilis, outback, applebees etc) you'll hate it.... you will find some fast food chains, but london has a crapload of awesome restaurants of all kind of nationalities... do a bit of reading about your favourite type and then go there
travelling is fun,so don't spend all your time in a guide book and just walk around.... tripadvisors' 3-days in a city are perfect guides to the main attractions and the rest is all about soaking in the atmosphere... living near brighton, i concur about the coast being a lot better.... and the south being 10x better than the north...
http://beta.ents24.com/
There's Speedway all over the country at various nights of the week for starters if you're stuck,June 1st is the British Grand Prix at Cardiff,Wales and is simply awesome,one of your boys Greg Hancock is there to cheer for too
http://www.speedway365.com/
British Superbike is 5/6/7 July - At Snetterton in Norfolk,2 hours East of London
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/british-superbikes/bsb-2013-…
Venture out of London,the East/ South coast is nice,just ask around Oxford isn't far out of the city either,easy by train and has some beautiful surrounding villages too,and Blenheim Palace is Very impressive,and you'll score BIG points with the Mrs
http://www.blenheimpalace.com/
Get a Sunday roast down you,preferably at a cool pub,sometimes you might have to ask for ice but not so much now
Remember Real Ale is not served cold either
Have a great time fella..
(ps are you into cars too?)
PPS Comedy store Picadilly Circus in centre of London has some great stand up comedians,don't go if easily offended !
http://www.thecomedystore.co.uk/whats_on.php?location=1
Otherwise as PressPass suggested, the Speedway GP in Cardiff is brilliant!
As for the enthusiastic comment; In general British people often tend to be quite self effacing and reserved, so loud, brash Americans with their unwavering optimism sometimes freak us out a bit! Just a joke really
If , lets say you just won the lottery, you may be inclined to whoop , holler, shout "AWESOME" several times , do some high fiving , fist bumping etc, etc.
English people would just say something along the lines of " Oh how nice I just won 10 billion quid, hmmn shall we put the kettle on and have a cuppa then" anything more than that is just considered unnecessary and showing off.
Sounds mad I know , but after 15 years living in the US I still can't get used to the very enthusiastic nature here, it makes me very uncomfortable.
Before you go buy a book called "Watching the English" by Kate Fox , by the time you've read it you'll blend in like a local. You will think we are all barking but you will blend in :-)
No offense, but if I was traveling, England wouldn't be on the list. I couldn't turn down a free trip though for sure.
That was a helpful explanation.
Pit Row
Oh and when you come to a roundabout or "turnaround" as many of my American friends say,give way to those on your right.
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