Visiting London, UK

Re: Visiting London, UK

George@Colonel's Workshop-Havertown PA

>Good Afternoon Henry,

Looking at the wood appointments and construction of some of the older pubs and buildings was a way to appreciate English history. They revere their past, and celebrate it more than any other Western culture I am familiar with. Old wood paneled armories as within Warwick castle and such places as Ann Hathaway's cottage give some glimpse of how the master carpenters of the day worked. Frequently structures have settled, nothing is plumb anymore, and it is all charming.

When we visited Warwick castle I was taking diuretics and really needed to find the "loo" urgently. No public restroom was available within the grounds of the castle, and I was directed to a town park about 1/2 mile away. I got there, somewhat pigeon toed, ASAP. Oh what a relief! I'll never forget when after experiencing profound relief, I noticed the Royal Crest on the urinal. "Royal Dalton-Wooster", and "By Appointment". Ah hah!. When I returned to the castle, my wife asked me "how'd it go"? I replied that it only cost a little more TO GO FIRST CLASS. You'll love London but try to see some of the country side besides.

George

George

Re: Visiting London, UK

Bob Burnet (NW Florida)

>Windsor Castle - Great wood carvings, super detailed, deep relief, wall sized. Also super intricate beamed ceilings. Great furniture.

Leeds Castle - East of London in Kent. One large room on the second story has an Ebony floor. Each of the Ebony Planks are extrememly long, more than a foot wide and many inches thick. The size of each of these planks in the floor will "water your eyes." They were brought back in sailing ships as ballast on the return to England and used as flooring when the Castle was built.

Ye Ole Cheshire Cheese - A pub in South London. Great pub fare and pints of Ale. Interesting, quaint, and not all that expensive (compared with other places to eat in London). Off a side street and easy to miss unless you look carefully for it. This Pub was often frequented by the Poet Samuel Johnson who lived in the neighborhood (back then). Sign on the door says - "Re-established 1667" (following the great fire of London). Well worth visiting and eating there one evening.

Cheers!

Re: Visiting London, UK

Thomas Williams - Columbus

>Lucky you. Great place. Take the hop-on hop-off tour and stop as many places as you can. The London Eye is breathtaking. Tower of London is a must see. I would also recommend the British National Museum for a day or two. You might want to catch a stage play in the West end.

Since you are going to be there for 2 weeks, you can take Brit rail to Windsor and to Salisbury to see Stonehenge. If you make it to Salisbury, stop by Pennyfarthing Tools for some wood working type of activity.

There is really so much that you can see that you will find 2 weeks will fly by.

By the way, a Full English Breakfast will give you a great start to your day. Pub food is really wonderful and a relaxing way to eat your dinner.

And by the way, no one expects to be tipped!

Re: Visiting London, UK

Jim O in Davenport IA

>That's a tough one - you could spend weeks there and not see it all.

Highly suggest getting the green Michelin tourist guide for London.

Since you are going to Greenwich to see the Cutty Sark, you also need to see the National Maritime Museum that is also there and don't forget to "straddle" the prime meridan. You could easily spend a whole day in Greenwich.

Since you are going to see the Victory (located in Portsmith) there is also another maritime museum there and the "Mary Rose", which is a ship that sunk and was being restored.

In London proper you can check out the HMS Belfast to continue the nautical theme. Belfast is a WWII vintage warship anchored in the Thames.

Also highly recommend the Imperial War Museum, The Tower of London, Harrod's (make SWMBO happy), St Pauls Cathedral, Museum of the Moving Image (if you are a movie buff) and Westminster Abbey. All of these are in London.

Don't hesitate to use the subway and trains. Great way to get around.

If you are staying in London at night, check out the theaters, its just like Broadway in NYC.

I've been there quite a few times and would go back in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I was there before I really got into woodworking so I can't recommend any sites that are related.

If you have extra time and access to a car - a side trip to Stonehenge is worth the trip.

Have fun and let us know how you made out!

Re: Visiting London, UK

Winnemucca Lynn

>I love going to London. Been there 6 times. I would highly recommend the Victoria and Albert Museum. It's based on decorative arts and I seem to remember some wooden artifacts also. The glass exhibition there was outstanding, including the glass staircase. It's also free as are many of the museums in London. Also, if memory serves me right, upstairs in the Science Museum, there were a number of model ships. That ought to interest your nautical background. Once you learn how to use the Underground (Tube), you'll use that to get all around the city. It's not difficult at all.

Lynn C.

My favorite city. (kinda long)

Rod Peterson -- Ormond Beach

>As Samuel Johnson said, “when you're tired of London you're tired of life…” There's more but that says most of it. On my first trip my parents and brother, who had been there before, sort of set the itinerary, but when I went there a couple of years later with my wife and kids I was better prepared from the experience and from a couple of Rick Steves' programs.

If you're flying in direct, you'll most likely arrive at around 0700 (typical transatlantic schedule), and your body will still be on stateside time. It'll be tough to stay up that first day, but try to, for the sake of the next couple of days. The bad news is you likely won't be able to get to your hotel room until the afternoon.

Get a seven day tube pass (available either at the airport, or various locations throughout the city, or through your travel agent before you leave). That gives you unlimited free tube passage, unlimited bus passage, and unlimited first tier rail service (like commuter trains to the 'burbs).

What Rick Steves recommended for the first day, particularly if you arrive on a Sunday or bank holiday when many sites are closed, was to take a boat ride from along the Strand down to Greenwich. There you'll see Cutty Sark and Gypsy Moth IV, plus a short walk gets you to Queens House, Royal Naval Museum, and the Observatory. Even if you don't do the boat ride, you can get there by the Docklands Light Railway, worth the ride by itself, and then walk under the Thames by pedestrian tunnel.

Somewhere along the way, take one of the double decker bus tours. It's not as cheesy as it might sound, because they point out a lot of things that mightn't be worth going to specifically (like the Marble Arch, although Speaker's Corner is nearby), but are worth seeing, nevertheless. There will be a couple of cheesy things, but overall it's worthwhile. And you'll likely spot a thing or two you want to go back to and investigate further. You'll also get a little perspective on how the city is laid out.

So much of London and Westminster (the twin cities, as it were) is within walking distance that you'll do a lot of walking. Even taking the tube involves lots of walking. And you might not even save any time, as some of the stations are really close together (Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square on the Piccadilly line are only 1⁄10 of a mile apart, for example). Take a really comfortable pair of walking shoes. Do not even think about stylish. Do not use this trip to break in a pair of shoes. I was less than 50 when I went and for the first time in my life I soaked my feet at night. Trust me when I say you will walk more than you ever thought you would, and you'll do it again the next day and the next.

You will probably like to combine attractions that are reasonably close. For example, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament are right next to each other, and the Cabinet War Rooms are a half block around the corner, all just steps from the Westminster tube station. And it's a pleasant walk (down Birdcage Walk) along St. James Park to get to Buckingham Palace for the guards and also for the Royal Mews. Check the schedule for the changing of the guard. It used to be every day, but several years ago they went to every other day. Maybe they've changed it back.

Nelson Column at Trafalgar Square, and the National Gallery, are all in the Charing Cross Station area, and are a few short blocks down Whitehall from 10 Downing, Horse Guards, and the Bangueting Hall. Charing Cross is also the station which connects with the major rail lines to Kent.

Covent Garden (sort of a large flea as well as produce market) and the London Transport Museum are near the Covent Garden tube station.

Madame Tussaud's (sort of cheesy), the planetarium, and Sherlock Holmes sites are all near the Baker Street tube station. Depending on where you stay in London, you may have occasion to take the Picadilly line up to Kings Cross and then over to Baker Street for that group. One of the stops on Piccadilly is Russell Square. That's where to get off for the British Museum. You'll want to allot plenty of time there. I went for the Rosetta Stone, but there's lots, lots more.

Most of the West End theater sites are an easy walk from either Piccadilly or Leicester Square, and there's a half price kiosk at Leicester Square where you can get day-of tickets for many of the major productions for half price.

St. Paul's (don't miss the models downstairs) and the Tower, while a ways from the Westminster area sites, each have their own tube stations (St. Paul's and Tower Hill, respectively), so are easy to get to. The HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge are adjacent to the Tower, thus served by the same station. Don't miss the section of ancient Roman wall excavated just outside the station.

The Eye and the Dome weren't there when I was, so I can't help you with transportation, however the Imperial War Museum is on the south side of the Thames near Elephant & Castle station. Those and the Greenwich attractions are the few on the south bank (not that there aren't things to see).

I never got down to the Barrier, but I'd love to get a close look at it. I would think they would have some sort of museum associated with it, which would be interesting, I'll bet.

While you're there, take a taxi somewhere. London cab drivers are like no other anywhere. Unlike what you may have experienced in other cities, London cabbies are more than your average hack driver. For one thing, they have to take a test on “The Knowledge” which is roughly 12,000 streets (many of whom change names regularly throughout their course) and destinations. It takes years and a lot of dedication. And they're interesting to talk to.

You may already know that the Victory is at Portsmouth, about an hour south of London. The Mary Rose is also there, one of Henry VIII's ships which capsized in the harbor on its maiden voyage and was only raised in the last dozen or so years after spending about 500 years on the bottom.

Both times we were there, we took a day trip to drive out west. If you plan your route and manage your time it's possible to see Avebury, Glastonbury, Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, and Winchester Cathedral in one day. Depending on time of year, you might be able to squeeze in Bath when you're out at Glastonbury.

There are so many other things that I'd like to see, but I don't know if or when I'll be able to get back there. And of course, I tend to like more of the historical stuff, whereas other people (such as SWMBO) quickly tire of museums.

Have fun.

Rod
Sorry that my information is about 12 or 15 years old, however that's a grain of sand compared to the 2,000 years of history in London.

Re: Visiting London, UK

ScottS

>Lots of cool stuff to do in London. Pretty much anything you could think of, as a matter of fact. Some of the stuff that I've enjoyed:

1) Tower of London -- One of the most entertaining and informative tours I've done! Beefeaters, crows the size of dogs, the Crown Jewels... what more could you want?

2) Victoria and Albert Museum -- Focuses on art and design, including furiture, glass, carvings, etc. Their collection spans thousands of years and hundreds of thousands of objects.

3) Design Museum London -- Focuses more on contemporary design; some furniture (when I was there), lots of everyday objects. I was there shortly after they'd opened in their current location; it was small but interesting.

4) Pub Walks -- There are a bunch of these, all with a different theme. You might follow Jack the Ripper, view buildings designed by Christopher Wren, visit locations from Sherlock Holmes novels, or whatever you're interested in. You do a little walking, hear a little bit about the subject, then stop at a local pub for a beer or other refreshment. A good way to meet other travelers with similar interest, maybe a local or two, and enjoy the local libations.

5) Guided Bus Tours -- On my first visit, I took a guided tour on a double-decker bus with an open top. I'm usually a bit skeptical of these things, but a friend of mine recommended it. I have to say, I was impressed! Even better: on the one I did your ticket was good for an entire day. So you could hop off the bus at any point, say to visit a museum or spend more time gazing at Big Ben, then jump on a later bus and pick-up the tour where it left off. I think the tour was only 2-3X the price of an all-day Underground pass so it was a good way to get around the city for a day and learn a bit in the process.

Thanks!!

Henry in Olympia, WA

>Wow - Thanks for all the great input! This gives me an excellent starting point for a list.

-Henry

Re: Visiting London, UK

E. Taylor

>If you have any aviation or WWII interest,I highly recommend the American Air Museum at Duxford. Lots of British air displays there too.

Re: Visiting London, UK

Tom Scott

>Don't get too hung up on seeking out woodworking sites while there. Just keep your eyes open and look around...you never know what you will find. My wife and I were there for a week a few months ago. While walking down some little side street (and there are plenty of those), we happened to notice a brass plaque on the wall of a building that read, "Site of Thomas Chippendale Cabinetmakers Shop." Thought that was pretty cool.

Tom

Re: Visiting London, UK

Hank Knight from SC

>Henry,

Lucky you! London is my favorite city. As all others have said, there are many, many interesting things to do there. The place drips with history. I've been many times and each time I find something new and fascinating to see.

I second the suggestions to see the Cabinet War Rooms from which Curchill ran the government during the Blitz. They have been restored and are very authentic, down to the paper clips on the tables. If you are a WWII history buff, it will bring tears to your eyes.

See the Imperial War Museum too. I somehow missed it until my last trip. Very interesting.

Since you're going to Greenwich, take a round trip boat ride there. Boats leave from the dock at the London Eye regularly. The ride down the Thames is as entertaining as Greenwich itself.

If you want a really interesting evening, get tickets to the Ceremony of The Keys at the Tower. It's the Tower lock-up/posting of the guard drill the Beefeaters perform every night, beginning just after dark. The ceremony has been the same for hundreds of years. At night, with the stone passageways dark and very few people around (just the small group of ticketholders and the Beefeater Guards), the Tower is REALLY a creepy place. You can almost feel Anne Bolyn's eyes on you from one of the upper windows, and the echos of the guard commands linger in your mind. Go back in the daytime, too, and see the Crown Jewels and the rest of it. It's worth two trips.

If you have time, take another boat trip to Windsor. It's an amazing and beautiful place. Many of the British Royals are buried there. Windsor Chapel is the home of the Order of The Garter and the Coats of Arms of all the current and past members of the Order line the chancel - impressive.

Go to Harrods. It's one of the most wonderful and amazing stores in the world ("store" doesn't even come close). You can spend several days in the food department alone. Take money.

Covent Garden isn't what it was years ago. It's now a huge tourist shopping mall. It has some interesting shops and food places, but the commercialism has robbed it of its character. The old fruit/veggie and flower garden has moved across the river. It's been "modernized" and isn't nearly as wonderful and scenic as Covent Garden used to be.

If you decide you want to take in a show, but haven't reserved tickets, try the half-price ticket booth. Unreserved tickets go on sale there in the late afternoon and you can pick up tickets for most shows cheap, on the spur of the moment. Get there when it opens because available tickets are snapped up pretty fast.

If you have time and want to look for tools - or anything else, go to Portobello Road on Saturday morning. It's London's flea market. The market is 5 or 6 blocks long and you can find almost anything there, including several tool dealers that operate regular stalls. I bought a nice Norris A5 there several years ago for about $160 American. Apart from Portobello Road, I haven't found the time to do much tool shopping in London - way too much else to do and see.

Finally, by all means get a week-long tube pass. The tube (subway) is excellent, and a pass makes all the more attractive and easy to use.

Have fun. I wish I were going.

Hank

Re: Visiting London, UK

Dan Arrowsmith

>I lived in London for several years, but thats a long time ago, anyhow a couple of add ons

If you go to the Tower of London, walk along the riverside underneath the Tower bridge to St Catherines Dock. Many old sailing barges docked there. Touristy but it is an improvement over what was there before.

Stonehenge, I'd Give it a miss, to time consuming.

If you want a day trip Cambridge has the old feel to it and the Cathederal has a wonderfull

Hammerhead? ceiling. Be sure to walk around the outside and check the stone in the wall to the woman who had a bunch of kids 21 if my memory serves me.

Speakers corner by Marble Arch, is always good for a laugh on a sunday morning, you can hear any wacky idea you like.

I recommend some reading before you go, Christopher Wren by ?Weiss, is a good tale and will give you an idea about the rebuilding of the city.

Too many places to visit but you can walk around and see all sorts.

Hope you have fun

A really great preparatory read…

Rod Peterson -- Ormond Beach

>…is London by Edward Rutherford. It's an historical novel in the style of Michener. Despite being fiction, it covers all of the high points of London history from Rome's Londinium to modern times.

People who don't care for Michener's style won't like it.

If you have time, especially if you're planning to see Salisbury Cathedral and Stonehenge, Sarum, also by Rutherford is worth reading, as well.

Rod

Re: Visiting London, UK

Tom Scott - Midlothian, TX

>just a test to get logged back on.

Re: Visiting London, UK

David

>I lived there fora cou0le of years a while back. Would endorse the recommendation re the Imperial War Museum and the Cabinet Office (latter used to be one of the few things open on a Sunday.)Check out a weekly magazine called What's On or somehthing like that for guided tours from carious tube stops. Not very expensive and range from pub crawls to tours of Johnson's London etc. Portobello Road is the big street market on Saturday morning, but if you go get ther early. Lots of people and lots of junk, mostly overpriced. Will be a few woodworking items. A better bet is the Burmondsey market on Friday morning. Takes some finding but is more of a working man's market with some tools as well as everyday items. It's a district with a lot of furniture warehouses; stumble into one of the basements and you may see some antiques being made!

Re: Visiting London, UK

lee beeden

>I grew up in the uk and left six years ago. London is great but not a true reflection of the uk. Its like going to New York and saying you've seen the states! I think its important to get out. Norwich is 2 hours away and is considered to have one of the finest medievil town centres in europe. a 900 year old castle and a truly awsome cathedral with the second tallest spire in the country. Its as beutiful as York but without so many tourists. either way you'l have a great time, although London can be quite overwhelming!!

Lee