Going to London For the First Time: Advice?

[Frankster]

If ya wanna have a good time and have the money for it, head down to piccadilly circus, between there and leicester square is all sorts of nightlife with soho right next door.

Oh and get a london oyster card, its cheaper then buying individual tube tickets.

Also a lot of london museums are free, so there's no excuse not to head down to national history museum and check out the dinosaurs! (nearest tube station is south kensington, there's quite a few museums/galleries nearbye too)

 

[Dumori]

Don't get mugged or stabbed.

Have fun.

Alway's know where you are going and how to get there. Not 100% needed in the center but always worth doing. Getting lost is going to make you a target you'll look out of place a tourist of newcomer. The former often carry nice chunks of cash and are seen as nice marks. While I sincilay doubt you'll be a target it's always worth keeping this in mind in any urban area.

Clothing wise shorts I wouldn't bother packing any, buy some there if the summer is a good one if not then live with jeans or what ever.

As for the patriotism just don't most brits are quitely patriotic but we don't make a big deal of it. Welsh, Scottish and English-ness aside but that's mostly just banter and jest but not always. Being overly proud or you're country will come off obnoxious like shoving a favroute sports team down the necks of people who don't follow the sport. Some can see it as down right confrontational and some times it seems that way too.

As for things to see the British Museium will keeop you trapped for a day if you are so inclined. It even has a whole section (smaller than some I'll addmit) dedicated to Korean history, its a bit far in and is often quite (but most of the none big hitters are Egypt steals the show for most)but its worth a look in if you are interested in such.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Wear proper clothing, keep your wallet somewhere you can see or somewhere you can feel it being moved from (a tight pocket), jay-walking isn't a crime in England (that I know of), enjoy the local food in moderation, make sure you buy basic medicine (antacids and painkillers), don't get involved in fights, know your allergies, look up basic scams tourists can encounter in London and for fuck's sake, don't, whatever you do, waste time drinking booze you can already get in your own country in London, get something you haven't tried.

 

[killercyclist]

spend as little as possible, it's a very very expensive place! also check out picadily circus (poor spelling, and it's a street not an actual circus). also, the food is pretty good, find a nice pub that treats you well. oh and if you have time drive over to the coast to blackpool, it's a thrill ride park with lots to see and do.

 

[Aesir23]

It's a British custom, and not many people know this (Speaking as a Brit myself), if by chance you ever encounter the Queen or any other member of the Royal family you must immediately run up to them, slap them on the shoulder and say 'Alright your Royalness, how's the Corgi's then? And is it true you killed Diana- go on you can tell me'.

This is usually followed by the police arriving and dragging you away- don't worry they're just taking you to meet the Prime Minister. The best thing to do in that situation is resist and say that their hats look like plant pots. They think it's funny here- they usually express their humour with mace and batons.

Enjoy England....

I hope you know that you've made my day, thanks for that. XD

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I enjoyed going to all the different plays while I was in London. Is Billy Elliot still playing? That was amazing.

Fun fact: First time I walked into a McDonald's there, the girl asked, "Do you want chips with that?" My first thought was, "Chips? You serve Cheetos with chicken nuggets?" Quickly caught myself though.

 

[theevilsanta]

I've visited London twice (from the US) for a total of about a month. The major thing I got from it was people are very rude there. You'd think having thousands of tourists would somehow foster good intentions and feelings among the tourists. Instead every server at a restaurant gave me the evil eye while I ordered from their menu. I went to a pawn shop and asked how much a nice-looking watch was. He replied, "Too much for you". The front desk people at the hotel we stayed at said we could easily find a taxi by waiting outside the hotel. Thirty minutes later we learned that only full taxis drive by there and we had to walk a couple blocks up the road to find taxis looking for fares. The second time I went the hotel managers made me pay $50 for having my studying abroad gf in my room for two nights. They noticed, and weren't about to let my American dollars slip away for having a guest for two nights. Fuck London. The residents are pigs. They don't want you there. Don't go there. Let their economy suffer. They're fine now, but at some point they'll miss all the business they could have got from tourists that vowed never to return (like me).

 

[Frozenfeet2]

take the tube, but watch out for the fact that the tube maps have no idea of scale.
I would say london eye/big ben/ museums are definitely worth visiting if you haven't before.

 

[Samnite]

-snip-

I think, like someone said earlier, it's almost a 'capital city' thing. Big, busy grey cities aren't exactly the most welcoming of places, and in places like London the novelty of having foreigners wore off a long time ago. Like when I went to New York everyone just seemed to be in each other's way - the friendliest people in NYC were the tourists.

OT: For the most part Brits are nice; may have to come up against the 'we ruled half the world at one point' proud mindset but come back with a few jokes like 'Ah, I miss those days as well...' or something and you'll be fine.

In addition, if you're doing a Study Abroad thing you'll be flying. The other students in your halls or on your course will almost certainly be happy to take you out drinking or see the sights.

 

[Casimir_Effect]

Invest in kevlar.

Or just go to Edinburgh for as long as possible. It's a grand place all round and the Scottish are typically nicer than the English. More relaxed and less arrogant I find, speaking as a Scot

 

[Anchupom]

Generally, I'd reccommend Camden Market.
And as a friendly warning - the general British public are an unsociable bunch. If you're used to being polite to passers-by in the street, expect a few wary looks from the locals. London is kinda a hive for people who distrust everyone and anyone.

As for other advice, get out of London for a day or two - visit smaller towns in the area. And go to Brighton, visit The Lanes.

And you have to experience the Great British Tradition of getting crippling disappointment at a mall.

 

[Anchupom]

Invest in kevlar.

Or just go to Edinburgh for as long as possible. It's a grand place all round and the Scottish are typically nicer than the English. More relaxed and less arrogant I find, speaking as a Scot

I find that anyone who doesn't like the English is more tolerant of tourists.

 

[Casimir_Effect]

Invest in kevlar.

Or just go to Edinburgh for as long as possible. It's a grand place all round and the Scottish are typically nicer than the English. More relaxed and less arrogant I find, speaking as a Scot

I find that anyone who doesn't like the English is more tolerant of tourists.

I like almost everyone, including English people for the most part.

I do tend to have an issue with Londoners though. Most English people don't give a shit about Scotland and we kind of feel the same way, so there's a nice balance. Londoners though, don't care about anything or anywhere in GB unless it happens in London. If fuel prices doubled everywhere else but London then wouldn't bat an eyelash, but if they then rose 1p in London then the marching and protesting and complaining would start. They're just so damn insular and self-centered.

Also they all have weird aspirations of retiring to the countryside or having a house in the country. It's as if the countryside appears to them as a nirvana which they can only improve by blessing it with their presence.

 

[FightThePower]

You may need to familarise yourself with the London Underground (aka 'The Tube'). Don't worry, it's pretty straightforward, just avoid it at peak times (i.e. when everone is going to or from work) and/or get a map of it, though there's maps in every station. Do not bother with Taxis are they expensive as hell; if you want to make using the Tube easier, get an Oyster Card as you won't have to buy a ticket each time you travel, you just swipe the card each time you reach a barrier.

I've visited London twice (from the US) for a total of about a month. The major thing I got from it was people are very rude there. You'd think having thousands of tourists would somehow foster good intentions and feelings among the tourists. Instead every server at a restaurant gave me the evil eye while I ordered from their menu. I went to a pawn shop and asked how much a nice-looking watch was. He replied, "Too much for you". The front desk people at the hotel we stayed at said we could easily find a taxi by waiting outside the hotel. Thirty minutes later we learned that only full taxis drive by there and we had to walk a couple blocks up the road to find taxis looking for fares. The second time I went the hotel managers made me pay $50 for having my studying abroad gf in my room for two nights. They noticed, and weren't about to let my American dollars slip away for having a guest for two nights. Fuck London. The residents are pigs. They don't want you there. Don't go there. Let their economy suffer. They're fine now, but at some point they'll miss all the business they could have got from tourists that vowed never to return (like me).

Oh yes, and this is entirely true. Londoners are rude, but they're not just rude to tourists.

 

[MasterSplinter]

If you don't dry hump the first person or animal you see in the city you will get deported.
I know, it's a wierd thing, just don't think too much about it, it's whats expected of you.

 

[Auxiliary]

Visit the British Museum nonetheless!

 

[Aesmodan]

1. Don't expect drivers to yield to you. Look left (not right) before you step out into the street.
2. See Harrod's, at least briefly. You'll be looked at funny if you don't.
3. Always drink the local microbrews. Beware drinking the coffee, there's a reason they largely drink tea.
4. See the British Museum, it's a very important collection. Also see Westminister Abbey and St. Paul's. Trust me. (Tower of London is optional).
5. Someone already mentioned Bath -- if you head that way, try to see Salisbury Cathedral. You'd probably also enjoy a walk around Oxford.

 

[Brian Hendershot]

I am going to London this summer on Study Abroad Program. Anything I should know? I am told that I need to try and get into the local culture. So any suggestions about were to go or what to do is appreciated. I seriously don't care. I just don't want to go to cheesy tourists spots. That has never been my thing.

Oh...and what is the weather like over there in the summer?

Weather is chaotic. No telling what the Atlantic or the North Sea will throw at us next or even what one gets priority.

As for travel tips, assuming youre not going to the usual tourist rat-holes, where are you going?

Well, the professors have some typical Touristy spots lined up. Couple of Museums, Palaces, and such lined up. I won't be with them the whole time though. Also I have no clue what a tourist rat-hole is. Could you please enlighten me?

Tourist rat-hole, Adj. : A place that is infested with tourists that go and see exaclty what they expect to see. e.g: 1) At the Tower of London one would expect to see ravens. There are ravens there, natrually. Most of them even have names.

2) Something about historically notorious figures in the London Dungeon.

The good stuff tends to not be in central London, and anything that is good is probably a museum. If you do go to central, stay the hell away from Parliment Square. Theres a shanty town biult in the park in the square and it is perhaps the single most unpleasnt... thing even look at much less visit that has ever been in the area scince the 1600's. Most of the squatters are still protesting about the assorted wars in the middle east, so natrually Americans are not very welcome.

The Tower is basicaly a complex of several museums[footnote]The walls, the interior and the tower itself.[/footnote]. I think it takes two days to complete all the tours available there, unless theres a new tour for all of them floating about.

As if i couldnt understate this, the London Dungeon is a waste of time. And youll be recoiling from daylight for a good 10 minuites after getting out.

Perhaps worse than the Dungeon is the London Tombs. I think its an optional extra after a tour of the London Bridge museum. Anyway there is nothing down there but people dressed up in extravagantly corny costumes all of whom were hired on the basis of how loud they could shirek.

Really Liverpool would have been a better choice for culture. Alas it doesnt seem your professors are going to make a last minuite change.

All right thanks man! Actually I think I may go to Liverpool. My friend Alana (from the good old country called Canada) wants to pop over there for a bit. I think she has some friends from the tennis team that live there.

 

[Venereus]

Don't carry a sidearm!