trampled-under-grant Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 besides places like trafalgar square and buckingham palace, what are some less touristy places to check out in london. i'm a big fan of music but i'm open to anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUCK'EYE' DOC Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 You have to go to the British Museum and to the Tower of London! Also, go to the theater. Both of my sons took a class at Ohio State called "London Honors Study". They studied London for a quarter and then went to London on Christmas break during their freshman year of school. These were two of thier favorite sites. The oldest son also took a class called "The Biological Roots of England" and his class toured England last spring break. His favorite site to visit was the walled city of York. (The youngest son was there December 10, 2007, the day of the O2 concert. He met alot of people at his hotel who went to the concert. That is how I got interested in Led Zeppelin!) My youngest son has been accepted to study English at the University of Greenwich this summer and my husband and I are planning to go visit him and tour England. I have been researching things to do as well. I am sure that the other forum members from England will have good suggestions for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebk Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Climb to the top of St Paul's. Go to the Globe Theatre. Have tea at the Savoy - or somewhere else(as I just looked and the Savoy is closed for renovations-sorry). Go to a show in the West End. The Victoria and Albert Museum is wonderful. Harrods. Check out a cricket match. Sit in on Parliament. I'm sure I'll think of more... have fun!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenman Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 (edited) All the big museums are worth seeing and free, for the architecture as much as the exhibits. One of the best cities just to wander around in I find aswell, the centers pretty compact given its overall size and the number of interesting sites, buildings, parks etc is incredabley high. Edited February 27, 2009 by greenman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slave to zep Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 go have tea with jimmy n jonesy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninelives Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Camden Market is a fun place to shop and walk around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancin'Days Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Climb to the top of St Paul's. Go to the Globe Theatre. Have tea at the Savoy - or somewhere else(as I just looked and the Savoy is closed for renovations-sorry). Go to a show in the West End. The Victoria and Albert Museum is wonderful. Harrods. Check out a cricket match. Sit in on Parliament. I'm sure I'll think of more... have fun!!! Don't cricket matches last like a couple of days at a time? I don't know, I just heard that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longdistancewinner Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Don't cricket matches last like a couple of days at a time? I don't know, I just heard that. Test Matches do, but this is usually because it's against another country - South Africa, Australia, Jamaica, etc. The ordinary cricket game in England lasts a day. Unless rain's called it off. Go to Covent Garden. Has lots of lovely cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops and is home to the Royal Opera House and constantly has street performers. Behind it is also Drury Lane. Within walking distance (5 minutes) of Covent Garden is Leicester Square. And from LS you can see Trafalger Square. And from there you're practically across the road from Big Ben and Westminster. Tate Modern is a great museum - and it's free. Directly across from Tate Modern is St. Paul's Cathedral. But it's a bit of a walk, so if you don't mind walking to TM, it's lovely going along the Embankment, seeing all the landmarks. London Eye is fabulous - do it at night when it's lit up. There's also Pall Mall, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Gardens, Tower of London, Downing Street, Hyde Park, Carnaby Street - but these all go without saying. Go on the Tube for the experience, but I wouldn't depend on it all the time. It'll get jam packed during rush hour, and you don't want to be pushed and shoved everywhere. Taxis can be too expensive, but if you get an all day bus pass for around £3 (at least, that's what it cost me at Christmas) you can go on the buses and see London as you travel. We walked everywhere and when we no longer could do it we caught the bus at night. It was nice travelling through the city with everything lit up. Depending on how long you have, London sightseeing bus tours are good, as well. Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucyinthesky Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 So funny! I'm going to visit London myself this summer (second time). I'd say: see the parks, like Hyde park, most of them are beautiful. If you're interested in music: Abbey Road:- ) And Camden Lock Flea Market... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Styrbjorn Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Spearmint Rhino. A must see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUCK'EYE' DOC Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 (edited) Spearmint Rhino. A must see. I doubt that I will be visiting there. Hope my son doesn't either! Edited February 28, 2009 by BUCK'EYE' DOC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebk Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 If you enjoy beer, do a pub crawl. Take a boat to Greenwich and stand on the time line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Just out of curiosity I would visit the streets where Jack the Ripper was even though I doubt it looks like it did 100 yrs ago. There would be lots to check out. Id love to go someday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longdistancewinner Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 (edited) Just out of curiosity I would visit the streets where Jack the Ripper was even though I doubt it looks like it did 100 yrs ago. There would be lots to check out. Id love to go someday. Some of the streets/alleys are no longer there, but a lot of what is you still get a 'feel' for. I think some tours do the backstreets and areas, though 'unused' by JTR, simply because they're more original and still have the architecture. Alot of the sights are now shops and flats. Edited March 1, 2009 by longdistancewinner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzldoc Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Going to London for first time, what to see? I've always wanted to see a Rock Show at Wembly Stadium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperDave Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Some of the streets/alleys are no longer there, but a lot of what is you still get a 'feel' for. I think some tours do the backstreets and areas, though 'unused' by JTR, simply because they're more original and still have the architecture. Alot of the sights are now shops and flats. I took one of these Jack The Ripper walking tours back in '96 and was very good. The tour guide was very good and quite theatrical, which made the tour so much better. He took us around to many of the sites that were famous. A lot were back alleys and streets. There are a couple of pubs that still exist that we were taken to as well. A pub is always a good place for a break on one of these tours. I think it lasted around two hours or so. I believe it started at the Cumberland Hotel in the Marble Arch area, which is just south of Oxford Street. We also may have just met there and then pick up others at other locales. Check into it, because it's worthwhile. Night tours are always good. Gives you a good feel for a city. I know they offer one of London's dungeons as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Poobah Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 besides places like trafalgar square and buckingham palace, what are some less touristy places to check out in london. i'm a big fan of music but i'm open to anything. 22 Acacia Avenue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mangani Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 (edited) besides places like trafalgar square and buckingham palace, what are some less touristy places to check out in london. i'm a big fan of music but i'm open to anything. Don't just stick to central London. Get on a tube and take a half hour ride out to somewhere like Richmond Upon Thames. It's really nice sitting there by the river, and of course Richmond is significant historically for music. Plenty of pubs, bars and eating places there too. Just up the hill there is Richmond Park which is a huge expanse and it even has 3 herds of deer roaming around. Hampton Court, though touristy, is also situated in a nice area. Spread out and don't confine yourself to the middle of London. Some views of Richmond: http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmauser/250560448/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/crispy789/2501559740/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/er-minio/2751535052/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmauser/250560114/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/barbararich/181047472/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdlike/1688301031/ Edited March 3, 2009 by Mangani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croquet'n'cocaine Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 There's a permanent exhibition thing opening at the O2 on 9 March which I was reading about the other day. The British Music Experience. The article was quite enthusiastic about it, saying it's a lot more than just a Hard Rock Cafe style guitars-in-glass-cases kind of thing. I'd be tempted to check that out. Apart from that, one (free) museum which never seems to get mentioned in tourist guides is the RAF Museum at Hendon. Really nice place, with huge hangars filled with all the famous planes you can think of (well, most of them anyway), and never seems to be busy, unlike the Natural History or Science Museums which can be a nightmare for overcrowding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trampled-under-grant Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 thanks for the recommendations guys. i'm heading over tomorrow and added everything that was suggested (minus the strip bar) to the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninelives Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 thanks for the recommendations guys. i'm heading over tomorrow and added everything that was suggested (minus the strip bar) to the list. Have a great time as I'm sure you will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGDAN Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Just out of curiosity I would visit the streets where Jack the Ripper was even though I doubt it looks like it did 100 yrs ago. There would be lots to check out. Id love to go someday. Hi Yukon You would be very disapointed, only Mitre Sq is still there, all the other sites have been built over. I took my kids on a tour of all the sites many years ago and believe me there is nothing too see. If you do go keep to the day time, night time, well lets say that you will not be welcomed by the new wave of people that inhabit the place. Regards, Danny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonham Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 If you're going to London, you won't be seeing much. Mostly foreigners and miserable English people. Have fun, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mangani Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Hi Yukon You would be very disapointed, only Mitre Sq is still there, all the other sites have been built over. I took my kids on a tour of all the sites many years ago and believe me there is nothing too see. If you do go keep to the day time, night time, well lets say that you will not be welcomed by the new wave of people that inhabit the place. Regards, Danny I thought Durward Street, where Nicholls was killed, was still pretty much the same. Well, it was when I was there some years ago. Has that been knocked away too then? I haven't been there for years but I did the walk with just a friend in the early hours of the morning and it was atmospheric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footsteps of Dawn Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Yeah, I did the Jack the Ripper thing, too. I saw more curry shops than creepy Victorian streets, but the guide was great and made it worthwhile. This is kind of a no-brainer, but DO NOT miss St. Paul's Cathedral. Coolest church I've ever seen. Most of the historic ones you visit are Gothic, right, but this one was built after that, and it's just really unique and beautiful. Hmm...I think I did mostly all the usual touristy stuff when I went to London, along with some sleazy nightclubs that I wouldn't recommend, so I don't really have anything off-the-beaten-path to add here. Oh - I didn't particularly like Covent Garden; I thought it was a total tourist trap, but I guess they've got some interesting street performers if you're attached to the idea at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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