London

[Jimmy]

So I'm spending some time in London for a couple of days with the wife for our wedding anniversary and both our birthdays(very expensive time of year).

Already planned to check some of the museums but any hidden gems you London Freddy's know about or anything to avoid.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Chilly]

So I'm spending some time in London for a couple of days with the wife for our wedding anniversary and both our birthdays(very expensive time of year).

Already planned to check some of the museums but any hidden gems you London Freddy's know about or anything to avoid.

Any help appreciated.

avoid tussards on the weekend afternoons: 500m queues, or more.
avoid leicester square: it's just bars and casinos
covent garden market is a laugh, but it costs a fortune to do anything there
have a stroll around borough market for lunch - it's a bit pricey but it's immense

 

[Zarjazz]

Even though you've probably got them on your list The Natural History, Science and Victoria & Albert Museums are all great and definitely worth visits. The Tate Modern also seems a must for any tourist.

As for hidden gems, I guess it depends on what you mean or are interested in. Food, shopping, views, buildings ... ?

Edit: agree with Chilly about Tussauds, especially at the weekends the queue is huge in a really boring area.

 

[Ch3tan]

Hyde park winter wonderland

 

[Bahumat]

Even though you've probably got them on your list The Natural History, Science and Victoria & Albert Museums are all great and definitely worth visits. The Tate Modern also seems a must for any tourist.

As for hidden gems, I guess it depends on what you mean or are interested in. Food, shopping, views, buildings ... ?

Edit: agree with Chilly about Tussauds, especially at the weekends the queue is huge in a really boring area.

Science museum is shit. They have really basic explanations and its really out of date.

 

[Lamp]

Depending on the weather, you could take a trip down the Thames in a boat. Also, London at night by the river is awesome - the views from the bridges are great (especially on a clear night) and the lights on Albert Bridge are really nice. But wrap up warm if you're going down to the river in December!

It all depends what interests you. Catch a play or a musical, or if you fancy some Shakespeare, head to the Globe Theatre. The South Bank centre is excellent. Or head in Camden & go see a comedy show at Jongleurs. If you want to sniff out some technology, take a trip to Tottenham Court Road (take plenty of cash & you absolutely must haggle). If you want to bring out the inner child in you, head to Hamleys in Regents St, or the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green or Pollocks Toy Museum just behind Charlotte Street. There are plenty of really cool bars in some of the hotels (some are poncy, others are oak panelled and old boys networky, others are hip & trendy). I seriously recommend a trip to Hoxton Square one night. Plenty of bars & birds . The Science Museum is worth a visit. If you're into history & architecture, take a walk round the City of London. If you fancy a night in the cells, take a carton of eggs & lob them at the protesters in Finsbury Square. Take Laddey along

Don't be tempted to jump in a rickshaw no matter how drunk you get. They're unlicenced & frankly, lethal.

Check out Time Out London & see whats on when you're going.

 

[Gwadien]

I don't see the craze about Tussards tbh unless there's something I'm missing, it's like going to a candle factory, but the candles are made pretty well...

 

[Ch3tan]

"Tussauds"

Also I like Lamp's suggestion, just amke sure you also take mine and don't miss winter wonderland. The circus inside it is well worth a tenner.

 

[rynnor]

Its nice to wander through St James park - wander up to see the palace then accross to westminster - see the houses of parliament/ big ben then you can cross westminster bridge (great views) and go onto the london eye or head along the north bank of the thames towards blackfriars and see Cleopatra's needle (cool egyptian obelisk) then head in to trafalgar square and walk around the National gallery.

All that is very close together and best done on foot - lots of Iconic statues etc.

Alternatively start from Picadilly circus and see Eros (romantic eh - think it might be boarded up for repairs currently tho) then walk south crossing Pall Mall and past a bunch of statues to reach St James Park - rather cool route.

 

[Lamp]

There are some really nice restaurants off the beaten tourist track. Small intimate places. Good food, and away from the hustle & bustle of tourist town - eg Upper Street in Islington. Also Shoreditch (Great Eastern Street, Commercial Street) & Spitalfields. Great at weekends. Try Smiths of Smithfield restaurant for Sunday breakfast.

 

[Ch3tan]

I'd hardly say those places are off the beaten track Lamp.

 

[Lamp]

As far as accomodation is concerned, you get what you pay for. Go for a cheap 2 star place & you'll probably hate it. But depends on your budget of course. Last time I stayed in London was at the St Martins Lane Hotel (expensive, uber trendy, but very comfortable. Make friends with the concierge!). Places like the Hilton Waldorf you think you're getting quality with the Hilton brand, but ppl who have stayed there said its shabby & not all that.

 

[Raven]

Hiltons are pretty much shite all over. Stayed at loads with my old job as I got the rooms cheap.

 

[Aoami]

I must disagree with ch3t about winter wonderland. it's a series of tat stalls!

 

[Ch3tan]

so no bars, a club, outdoor band, circus, rides, ice skating then? Just tat stalls?

 

[Scouse]

Don't do it! London's shite, it's dahn sath for a start so it's full of mockneys and ellied jeels.

You want to go to Liverpool. It's far better. For a start it's much more northern and therefore has better football teams. The mersey's a much better river than the Thames and despite what people say the curly haired mustachio'd types died out in the 1980's, oh and there's less chance of being murdered. You could take a ferry across said river, the doclands are great and it's actually a British city - unlike London which is just another world-city clone full of foreign types and angry worker drones. In fact, you'll be hard pushed to find workers anywhere in scouseland.

Oh, and the beer will be better. Good beer is a function of North.

You'll have to put up with a lot of orange women - fake tans and tanning salons are more prevalent in merseyside than anywhere else on the planet - but it's always good to laugh at the locals. However, you'll find plenty of intellectually stimulating culture too, if that's your thang.

Did I mention it's in the proper end of the country?

 

[Aoami]

everything is so expensive and the rides are just standard carnival rides with a picture of father Christmas pasted on top of Winnie the Pooh! didn't go to the circus so I can't comment on that.

 

[Jimmy]

Cheers guys lots of great idea's will be going round the museums as myself and the missus like that kind of stuff, the winter wonderland sounds like a great idea as il be taking my camera along as well will have to look at the themas on a night bet i could get some cracking shots at both.
Will be walking around city of London alot so will see all the site's

we have chosen not to go to Tussaud at all very pricey and like you said will be busy.

Scouse Liverpool isn't that far from here and if i go there would have to put up with how good Liverpool FC are and we all no that's a load of crock although i admit it is in the right end of the country

hotel wise already booked a 4 star in earls court so that's not so bad room looks great and not far from a tube station which is ideal.

Cheers for the idea's again will post any cool picture up when i get back

 

[DaGaffer]

As far as accomodation is concerned, you get what you pay for. Go for a cheap 2 star place & you'll probably hate it. But depends on your budget of course. Last time I stayed in London was at the St Martins Lane Hotel (expensive, uber trendy, but very comfortable. Make friends with the concierge!). Places like the Hilton Waldorf you think you're getting quality with the Hilton brand, but ppl who have stayed there said its shabby & not all that.

My favourite, but not cheap. Great restaurant as well.

 

[DaGaffer]

Don't do it! London's shite, it's dahn sath for a start so it's full of mockneys and ellied jeels.

You want to go to Liverpool. It's far better. For a start it's much more northern and therefore has better football teams. The mersey's a much better river than the Thames and despite what people say the curly haired mustachio'd types died out in the 1980's, oh and there's less chance of being murdered. You could take a ferry across said river, the doclands are great and it's actually a British city - unlike London which is just another world-city clone full of foreign types and angry worker drones. In fact, you'll be hard pushed to find workers anywhere in scouseland.

Oh, and the beer will be better. Good beer is a function of North.

You'll have to put up with a lot of orange women - fake tans and tanning salons are more prevalent in merseyside than anywhere else on the planet - but it's always good to laugh at the locals. However, you'll find plenty of intellectually stimulating culture too, if that's your thang.

Did I mention it's in the proper end of the country?

Liverpool's a toilet. (Full disclosure, my Mum's side of the family are Scousers and I did my Masters degree there. Its still a toilet).

 

[Scouse]

Liverpool's a toilet. (Full disclosure, my Mum's side of the family are Scousers and I did my Masters degree there. Its still a toilet).

Yeah, but so's London. In fact, I'm finding it hard to think of a decent sized city I've visited in the UK that isn't...

 

[DaGaffer]

Bristol? Edinburgh? Newcastle? All much nicer town centers than Liverpool. Every city has its shitty bits, that's not the issue, its more that Liverpool always feels a bit sad to me. Like a faded film star.

 

[Scouse]

Bristol? Edinburgh? Newcastle? All much nicer town centers than Liverpool.

I don't like Bristol. Think it's a pit. Only shot through Newcastle but I wasn't impressed. I do want to go to Edinburgh tho - it came to mind but as I've never been there...

To be fair, I was never a massive Liverpool-lover. When I lived on the wirral I always used to go out in Chester anyway - it used to be a better class of fanny.

Liverpool always feels a bit sad to me. Like a faded film star.

I agree with that. But I think that's now part of it's attraction.

How long since you've been? The centre and the docklands have changed a lot in the past ten years.

 

[DaGaffer]

Only a couple of years ago; went to visit an Aunt nearby and the missus had never been. I just find it depressing. Manchester is just as grotty, but it always seems like a more positive place, also why I like Newcastle.

 

[Scouse]

Manchester is just as grotty, but it always seems like a more positive place

No way!

I've had official confirmation that Liverpool is better than Manchester. Got a friend (who's just moved to LA) who lived in Manchester for 2.5 years, then moved to Liverpool (in Toxteth of all places) for 2 years.

He says Liverpool's much nicer, the city has much more of a buzz and the people give off a better vibe.

 

[Wij]

Clapham Common at night!

(leave the Mrs at the hotel)

 

[Syri]

If you're going on the tube, be sure to check the TFL website (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/) for the weekend closures. Every weekend they do some work on half the lines. Sometimes they just close a section, sometimes an entire line. Always best to check you won't be affected.

 

[old.user4556]

Edinburgh?

What a guy

 

[rynnor]

I have never been to Scouseland - not through any particular wish I just always seem to head up the east coast or over the top of it to the lake district, Scotland etc.

The fact thats its practically North Wales doesnt help either...

 

[Raven]

If all the natives were to leave Liverpool for the weekend I might visit.