Headed to London

[bluedog225]

We are going to London in late March. Will spend some time in the city before heading to france for a mini camino. Maybe a trip over to Port Isaac in Cornwall. She’s a Doc Martin fan.

I’d appreciate any recommendations as to where to stay and things to do.

Of particular interest, I recall a discussion here a few years ago(?) about a couple of outfitter shops that sold old-timey expedition stuff. Like heavy wool sweaters and waxed canvas coats. Shackleton expedition type stuff. For that arctic trip I’ll never take.

Thanks

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

If you have no specific reason to visit London, stay away - go almost anywhere else.

There are plenty of specific reasons to visit London - theatres, museums, art galleries, traffic jams, hideous public transport, record breaking fatbergs, slow rude service.

Chacun a son gout.

Go thee to Yorkshire

https://hebtro.co/about/?gclid=CjwKC...xoCNcwQAvD_BwE

https://hebtro.co/

[bluedog225]

This is a spousal duty that cannot be avoided. Trying to find something to make the trip interesting.

[Kevin T]

Tate Modern is definitely worth a visit, especially to go to the top floor observation deck and look into the living rooms of the adjacent very modern apartment building less that 40 yards away. Each living room is designed almost like a movie set with all of the classic MCM signature furniture pieces.

Another awesome experience, providing you can get a reservation and are prepared to spend second mortgage money*, is to attempt to book a table at the 2 star Michelin rated Le Gavroche in the heart of Mayfair. Classic french cuisine in a very sublime and clubby atmosphere.

If you can't get in to Le Gavroche then drinks in the bar at Claridge's is pretty nice way to spend an afternoon. Royal Albert Hall for a concert is pretty epic seeing as just about everyone is anyone has played there. Selection of acts at the end of March is pretty thin with Daughtry and Death Cab for Cutie, so that will likely be a pass, but it is a very intimate space to see a show especially knowing that the Beatles, Clapton, Traffic and Hendrix all played there.

[ron ll]

I think distances in the UK are different than in Texas. A jaunt to the Highland malt regions would probably be like a trip to the local mini mart in Texas.

[birlinn]

I think distances in the UK are different than in Texas. A jaunt to the Highland malt regions would probably be like a trip to the local mini mart in Texas.

Not on UK roads! Budget for twice the time.

[Peerie Maa]

Wen in London use the tube. It may involve a short walk, but hey.
There really is a lot of History to take in.
One way to find the outfitters that you want could be to take a Black Cab to your hotel, and ask the cabby if he can recommend any.

[ron ll]

And please! Remember to look right when stepping off a curb. It is easy to forget. Seriously.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

“Of particular interest, I recall a discussion here a few years ago(?) about a couple of outfitter shops that sold old-timey expedition stuff. Like heavy wool sweaters and waxed canvas coats. Shackleton expedition type stuff. For that arctic trip I’ll never take.”

I think I can recommend Arthur Beale, who did indeed supply Shackleton, and others.
Sadly, their Shaftesbury Avenue shop was a casualty of Covid-19, and they are an on line business now but their staff are charming and efficient.

As a family we seem to have seven of their jumpers between three of us.

https://arthurbeale.co.uk/pages/faqs

[rgthom]

Last time we were there we rented a Thames skiff in Richmond and rowed up to the locks at Teddington. It was fun, much quieter than on the roads and there is a kind of community atmosphere on the water. It looks like the rental business is still there: http://richmondboathire.co.uk/ Ask for a wooden skiff, most are FRP but if you seem to know what you are doing they can get a real one.

Melissa catching up on the news:


We raced these guys for a while:

[Peerie Maa]

Not on UK roads! Budget for twice the time.

bluedog, to give you both some idea.
London to Edinburgh by motorway 7hr 1/4. Further north is less good.
London to Port Issac 4 1/2 to 5 hrs by road,
By train: London Paddington Station, England 3h 48min by train Every 3 hours London Paddington - Penzance alight at Bodmin Parkway then 31 min by taxi On demand (20.3 miles)£40–55 to Port Isaac

[Jim Bow]

If you visit St Paul’s Cathedral, there’s a building about a block behind it called One New Change. It’s a modern office and shopping complex. The roof is also a park. The view up there is breathtaking, and free.

We spent 3 weeks in an AirBnB a few years ago. All we did was walk around London. No goals in mind. I love that city. Get an Oyster Card, top it off with a bunch of £’s and GO! It’s good on trains, buses, and boats.

[Jim Bow]

Can’t vouch for it, but Mr Interweb says this store in Covent Garden sells parkas:
8950B48E-2279-4471-9DA9-F0468B3BCCAE.jpg

8B029D6B-EEF1-4902-8C25-7B0C0088EC0E.jpg

[Canoeyawl]

https://englandrover.com/listing/nat...ritime-museum/

[LeeG]

And please! Remember to look right when stepping off a curb. It is easy to forget. Seriously.

A cousin of mine forgot and broke a leg on someone’s moving vehicle.

[bluedog225]

Good stuff. Thanks to you all.

[Canoeyawl]

A cousin of mine forgot and broke a leg on someone’s moving vehicle.

The mechanic in me asks, which leg on that vehicle was broken?

[John Meachen]

If you absolutely have to visit London,public transport is the only sensible way to get around.Avoid the rush hour at all costs.You may need to factor in a lot more time than you first think adequate,as has been mentioned,it takes longer than you may think to get anywhere.At least it will be possible to get the train from London to France in short order.Its actually quicker than flying as the pre-flight security checks can be quite onerous and trains don't fly.

[robm]

If in London for more than 2 days, use the Tube and get an Oyster card (Transit card). Most of the museums are free.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

The National Gallery is on Trafalgar Square. Entrance is free. Do not miss it.

[The Gentleman Sawyer]

Greenwich. Dulwich College to see the James Caird. Make arrangements in advance, though. Very nice man at the school met us and spent a couple of hours showing us all things Shackleton-related.

Ken


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rgthom]

While in Greenwich, Harrison's clocks in the museum.

[hawkeye54]

Good stuff. Thanks to you all.

Tom, my information would be 'dated' - as I was last there in 2000 / 2001 - we were to do a driving tour of England and Scotland,and our daughter and her friend accompanied us and handled ticketing and car rental. After a long flight from Minnesota to Heathrow, I discovered that they had rented a Renault van with manual transmission (Right hand drive ) 3 hours of bouncing around the lesser parts of London, we made it to the motorway and headed north toward Scotland. Originally, we were scheduled to stop in York / York shire - but that was a year it flooded. So we exited the motorway and motored along tiny roads edged with hedgerows until we finally reached a tiny village named Skillington. They had a wonderful pub, and a neighbor re-opened her B&B so we could stay the night. ( This was early November, as I recall ) The recommendation to use public transportation has merit. ××× Did I mention crossing through roundabouts, driving on the 'off side'



Rick

[garland reese]

Hey Bluedog. We won’t be far behind you. We will be in London at the end of March. Definitely get an Oyster card if you will be there a few days. The tune was very easy to navigate when we were there. We will be in London a few days, then on to Wales (part of my ancestry stemmed from there) and the English countryside before we catch a filthy to Amsterdam to see the countryside there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bluedog225]

A filthy Amsterdam sounds interesting.

[bluedog225]

I am not psychologically suited for driving on the wrong side of the road. Man’s gotta know his limits.

[Jim Bow]

While in Greenwich, Harrison's clocks in the museum.

I second that emotion! The history of those clocks is one thing, but the craftsmanship is astounding.

[C. Ross]

I am not psychologically suited for driving on the wrong side of the road. Man’s gotta know his limits.

It comes quickly. Except the shifting. God intended man to have a stickshift in his right hand, not his left. There’s a reason they call the left hand sinister.

[The Q]

bluedog, to give you both some idea.
London to Edinburgh by motorway 7hr 1/4. Further north is less good.
London to Port Issac 4 1/2 to 5 hrs by road,
By train: London Paddington Station, England 3h 48min by train Every 3 hours London Paddington - Penzance alight at Bodmin Parkway then 31 min by taxi On demand (20.3 miles)£40–55 to Port Isaac

I suspect these timings are without breaks, assuming there's no traffic jams caused by accidents or heavy morning or evening traffic.

As an example I used to travel regularly from Milton Keynes to Heathrow airport ( or back) on motorways just 55 miles, the fastest journey was about an hour. The slowest 5 hours..the on line journey estimator currently says 1 hour 40 minutes for those 55 miles.

Many years ago I did do many of the museum's, these days I avoid London like the plague..

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

The greatest danger to an American motorist is the roundabout; these are a source of terror to those unfamiliar with them and it is shockingly easy to come off a roundabout on the wrong side of the road.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

The greatest danger to an American motorist is the roundabout; these are a source of terror to those unfamiliar with them and it is shockingly easy to come off a roundabout on the wrong side of the road.

So here we have the perfect sporting opportunity.

Take the train from London Euston to Milton Keynes Central.

Buy an MK map

Rent a stick shift quickish car.

Explore - there are aqueducts, parks, many trees....

Enjoy.

Bonus points for a selfie with a concrete cow.

[birlinn]

If you are puzzled by roundabouts, probably best to avoid Swindon.

roundabout.jpg

[garland reese]

We rented a vehicle when we were in Ireland and then again last year when we visited Scotland. Roundabouts make a whole lot of sense, once you’ve been through a few.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Peerie Maa]

I suspect these timings are without breaks, assuming there's no traffic jams caused by accidents or heavy morning or evening traffic.

As an example I used to travel regularly from Milton Keynes to Heathrow airport ( or back) on motorways just 55 miles, the fastest journey was about an hour. The slowest 5 hours..the on line journey estimator currently says 1 hour 40 minutes for those 55 miles.

Many years ago I did do many of the museum's, these days I avoid London like the plague..

Why on earth did you go back?

[Dikhaut]

Not an expert on all things London by any stretch. But our favorite place to stay is the Limetree Hotel in the Belgravia neighborhood. Reasonably central location near Buckingham Palace. Very nice small hotel with great breakfast and very helpful staff. We’ve stayed there 3 or 4 times now. As far as things to do, lots of the usual tourist sites are worth seeing but can be busy. Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, British Museum, etc. The Churchill War Rooms and the Royal Observatory are really interesting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk