h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I will be in London for 10 days starting at the end of march.

This thread is for general tips, as well as trying to set up mini meets with anyone who might be interested.

I look forward to hearing from all of those with more experience in London than me (who has none).

Courtesy

Gosh Tips on London.

If you like art go to the National Gallery, and the Tate Modern, and Tate Britian Art Galleries. They are all free and wonderful.

Great.

I'm also looking for those little things that you might see Americans do that we really shouldn't. I'm trying to be aware of the potential culture issues so I don't make a complete fool of my self =)

Courtesy

Hi

Thought I'd drop by. Why does it have to be Easter? Ok, I know it is Easter, and amn't bitching about it, but Z and I are going up to Scotland that weekend.

There are several ways we can play it, and a lot depends on your budget. The easiest thing for us would be for you to come up and join what is rapidly turning into a mini-meet in Glasgow on Good Friday, (Z, me, W****e, Edward the Bonobo, the former Doctor Gonzo who is now known as liquidindian, and possibly Munchkin and Toccata who live in Glasgow anyway). There are lots of ways to get to Glasgow from London: bus ( http://www.nationalexpress.co.uk ) train ( http://nationalrail.co.uk ) or plane ( http://www.expedia.co.uk and http://www.easyjet.co.uk and others). There is plenty to do in Glasgow, and it is a snip from Edinburgh.

Another way to play it would be for you to come north, but not as far north as Glasgow. I am living near Leeds, (you'll have to get a map of the UK), so we could spend a day together in West Yorkshire - the Tuesday or Wednesday after Easter would be best.

If your budget doesn't allow for travel, then let us know asap, because we will be booking rail tickets fairly soon in order to get cheap fares.

Regarding what to do and see. An absolute must is the London Eye - the best way to 'see' London if you are only there a short time. Also book a river cruise if you can. Follow the links from http://www.ba.co.uk . They also open top bus-trips with tour guides which are expensive, but a good way to see the sights. Start first thing in the morning though, and hop off and on during the day.

Outside London - there are regular and cheap busses to Oxford but the University is invisible, though the town is full of lots of lovely old buildings . But it does have a couple of good museums, but Oxford is probably best done with a local if you can find one. Bath on the other hand is further from London but much easier to understand, with a Roman Bathhouse, a Medieval Abbey and 18th C townhouses. Stratford is well known, and fairly pretty but there are prettier towns to visit. However Z has volunteered to escort you there if you like. Canterbury is well cool, but I don't know anything about how to get there. Windsor is good and only a day-trip away.

Read Bill Bryson's 'Notes from a Small Island'.

I guess the thing to do is work out what really turns you on, (medieval buildings, literary heritage, pagentry, historical sites, countryside (which will be very lovely in the spring), thatched cottages, stately homes, castles, beer) and concentrate on one theme. You cannot 'do' the UK in a week.

But the main thing is that you would be very welcome to join us in the Scottish trip, but if you cannot manage that there are alternatives, though it would be harder for me to join in.

Let us know!

Cheers.

Ben

Ben -

Thanks, sorry I didn't respond sooner, I didn't notice

Unfortunately I won't be able to head up to Scotland since I'll be on a pretty rigid itinerary in London. This is one of those educational site seeing tours, so they have a bunch of great day trips, however that generally leaves only nights free. I will also be seeing three plays so I can't wait.

I didn't realize it was over Easter until you mentioned it.

If we can't meet up this time, I will definitely be back. From the trip everyone has set up for Hyp, I'm thinking I might just come out for a couple of weeks next year and do a tour of England/Scotland/Ireland.

Thanks for the info, sorry it's looking like I won't be able to meet anyone. Such is life.

Courtesy

Oh, what a shame! *stamps foot in annoyance*

To be honest, London is one of my least favourite places, so I would always rather lure folks out into the rest of the UK than be dragged there myself, but if you can't escape it, I would have made an exception. But Logistics dictate that it just ain't possible.

Have a great trip anyway.

B

Ahhh well.

Next time.

I'll definitely be coming back.

Courtesy

My advice, if you're going to get the chance to do some exploring without a guide, is to buy a street map of London. This can help avoid the whole "getting the tube for one stop" thing in central London because the only thing you can navigate by is the tube map...