3 days in england/london

[szechuan sage]

what should i do? help me plan out this trip. i wouldn't mind sticking around london, but then again, i also wouldn't mind hopping on a tour through the countryside. is that feasible for a 3 day stay? thanks in advance.

 

[Spankytoes]

England in 3 days is tough. Lots to see.

London is easy. Harrod's, Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square, The Tower...you get the idea.

I would suggest taking a train if you want to travel through England. From London to the northern border is about 2 1/2 hours. For another 45 minutes you can hit the major Scottish cities.

York is a good day trip. There are medieval walls and castles there. Also, they have the oldest known pub in the world. (Ye Olde Starry Night) The train is about 2 hours and you get to see a lot of the country side. The B&B's there are pretty cheap.

Stratford-upon-Avon is cool if you are into Shakespeare. If you aren't completely enamered by the guy...skip it.

Stonehenge is cool to say that you've been there. But, I'd only hit it if you are driving. Not much else to do in the area.

Here's a more in-depth analysis: The Link

 

[GRhino]

If you really want to take a day trip, I would suggest you might do it on your own. It's much cheaper and can be done in a lot less time. We took the train & went to Windsor Castle & Eton College and it took us less than half a day.

When we did the bus tour (to Warwick Castle, Oxford College & Shakespeare's birthplace) it was pretty much an all day thing. I think they picked us up around 7:30 & we got back around 6.

I think going on your own is better because you are able to set our own schedule & spend more time in the places that interest you the most.

But honestly, if I only had 3 days, I would spend it all in London. You'll have plenty to do there.

For suggestions, be sure to check out Trip Advisor. We got a lot of good advice there that helped us plan our trip. Here's the link. Trip Advisor - London

 

[Tex Pete]

You can also ride the rails out to Bath. I always find that enjoyable.

 

[CBDTexas]

Be sure to visit the Texas Embassy in London. Tex-Mex food, I think. I've never been, but if I ever go to London that'll be a place I visit.

 

[szechuan sage]

there is something really strange about going from texas to london and eating mexican food. to me, at least.

actually, i ate at jack in the box in hong kong. the jumbo jack was just as deliciously bland.

 

[Spankytoes]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[jimmyjazz]

London is huge. I wouldn't leave the city limits in 3 days. You'll see so much more if you just stay put.

My favorites include The Tower of London, the pubs, Notting Hill, and the theater district. Avoid Buckingham Palace like the plague.

 

[bigbad66]

spanky - I lived near the Gloucester Rd. tube stop for a couple years (specifically, we lived at Cornwall Gardens) for my company - and its hilarious you bring up the "tex mex" place on gloucester road

when you live there for a few years, you sometimes get the desire to eat some "american" food - we tried this place and you're right, it was terrible (this was in the 2000-03 time frame) - so, sounds like it didn't improve

in terms of other things to do in London: I think the South Ken/Chelsea/Sloan Sq. area is great for walking/shopping/eating - that's almost a day in itself right there

 

[LosIllini]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[Spankytoes]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[bigbad66]

spanky - I'm 99% certain you lived on Cornwall Gardens; the cross street right at the Gloucester Rd. tube stop is Cromwell Road (main road out west, towards Heathrow, etc) - if you were 4 blocks north then it was definitely Cornwall Gardens - big garden in the middle of the block w/ the big fence around it (our building didn't "look over" the park, so we technically weren't allowed to use the park and thus didn't have a key, but the doorman in our building got us an "illegal" key so we could use the garden - we had our first little one over there)

los illini: indeed, tons of quality food in that area - Memories of India on Gloucester we actually enjoyed and got take away on a regular basis from when we were too lazy to cook; another favorite (down closer to Fulham Road) was Noor Jahan - and my favorite pub (Drayton Arms - on Drayton Gardens, I believe) was just kitty-corner from Noor Jahan)

 

[bigbad66]

los illini: a few more thoughts on places near the Gloucester Rd. tube station that you might try next time your there

Noor Jahan: as stated above, one of the best Indian places we would eat at - always busy w/ locals

Drayton Arms: good pub - I liked it because it was non-smoking and typically no loud music (even on a friday night) - many of the other pubs are so loud and smoky that you couldn't hear yourself think

Lundums: good AUTHENTIC danish food (I know - I'm 100% danish and all my family still lives in Denmark)

never tried any of those places on Cromwell that were real close to the tube station; if you just walk straight down to Fulham or Kings Rd and turn right or left you won't go wrong either

good times, good times

 

[Spankytoes]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[bigbad66]

expensive is very correct - our flat rented for 700 sterling per week (approx 3000 per month - $4500/month at that time, more like $7000/month now) - thank the lord my company paid the rent! but great neighborhood and very convenient

 

[LosIllini]

Haven't been to Noor Jahan- but I will definitely try it the next time I'm over- along with the Drayton Arms- thanks for the recs!

Usually go to Memories of India- or one of the other Indian restaurants down Gloucester Road (seems like one of them has Cobra lager- whereas the others only have Carlsburg and Kingfisher). There is some good curry- tikka masala to be found in the area. Been to Light of India in the Montana Hotel too- pretty good. And, have eaten fish and chips from the place across from the tube stop- late night after a few pints. Funny how busy that KFC and Starbuck's are at all times of the day.

I actually lived in east London near the Tower and north of London a few years back- but, for some reason- had a couple of random stays in the Kensington area one time on a work trip- i think first near Holland Park- then on Cromwell Road. Since then, I try to go back to the area when i'm over or flying through to Europe.

I found it to be a good area for a few reasons- close tube stops, lots of restaurants, wine shops, small markets (if you're working out of a hotel for a few days- or even sightseeing- it's cool to have a decent little market to pickup stuff), Hyde Park is neaby, Kensington High Street is close, Natural History museum is nearby, good pubs, old churches are near, and you're a few tubestops from most of the sightseeing stuff.

I'm sure there are a number of other cool places to stay- and it isn't exactly the cheapest area- but, I enjoy it- though I have never had a bad time in London.

 

[bigbad66]

"ahh christ, los illini, you're gettin' me all emotional"

memories of india: yes, that's the one that serves Cobra (interesting story behind that: was started by an Indian ex-pat in England) - I've tried (unsuccessfully) to locate those bad boys out here in the SF area. When we used to go eat at memories, I'd tell my wife that I'd stick to just a couple beers - then order up 2 of those big Cobra bottles; that, w/ the massala or butter chicken, some tasty naan.... money! We got take away from memories pretty regularly (probably twice a week - lazy fucks that we were).

A place I also liked (while it was a chain) was the Cafe Flo on gloucester road (roughly on the other side of the street from memories of india) - had a pretty good breakfast actually as well. We also used to shop at that tiny grocer right next to Cafe Flo because it would carry quite a bit of American grocery goods (i.e. "real" peanut butter, etc).

and you're right: that KFC was busy all the time - I only ate there once in 3 yrs, but it cured a hangover, so much respect to the Colonel

 

[UTinBigD]

Bath was really cool for a day trip (out and back the same day by train) to see the Roman spas still set up and how they used the hot springs to make some kick *** pools and heated saunas etc...

We also went out for a day trip to York. Don't really remember anything specific about it except for the brewery.

Tons of stuff in the city as well to keep you busy if you don't want to venture out.