86 replies to this topic

[Allan Lupton]

Full English?!. That looks like a light snack to me!. And that tea isnt just weak, its more like a fortnight!.

Plastic toast, too.

[alansart]

...plus everything is very expensive compared to back home!

[Paul Rochdale]

Just some friendly words of advice from someone who's spent a few trips in the US, and I LOVE your country. The last trip was a 17,000 mile motorcycle trip from New Jersey to California and back in three months. Alone. Deep joy!

Try to get used to our tea. It's the National drink and most of us drink cups and cups of the wonderful brew. I probably drink a dozen cups a day.

Try not to drive too far in a day. In the US I could easily ride 500 miles in a day and still feel fresh when I got off the bike. Not here. The roads are crowded and the extra concentration you'll need here will wear you out.

Roundabouts are a rarity in the US but there's not too much to worry about. Just follow everyone else CLOCKWISE around the roundabout. I think I found three in the US.

Have a go at using a knife and fork properly ie fork in the left hand and knife in the right. It's worked here for centuries. No need to cut the food up, place the knife back on the plate, swop the fork over from left to right and then eat.

If you feel like a religious clasp of hands with your family whilst eating out and a prayer to the Almighty, don't. It especially looks decidedly strange to the rest off us particularly when eating a pie & chips (French Fries) in the local (pub). Believe me, I've experienced that a few times in the US and it wasn't welcomed. We are a secular society, very few are religious and go to church, and what beliefs we may or may not have, we tend to keep to ourselves.

Try our beer or rather look for 'real ale'. It's not warm as has been previously mentioned but at 13c is the best temperature to appreciate the full flavour. Our local sell NINE real ales, always in tip top condition. Don't ask for 'a real ale' just say "Can I have a pint of Master Brew?" Half pints are rare these days and was once the prefered measure of 'the ladies' but many seem to also drink pints these days.

Don't tip everyone. Tipping is strange in the US especially in bars where the Minimum Wage doesn't seem to apply. Here I only tip taxi drivers, my barber (hair dresser) or waitresses in restaurants.

Do enjoy yourself. Whilst we Brits moan a lot about the weather, the way the country is going 'to the dogs' and our national football (soccer) team, that's the way we are. Britain is still a great place and if you'd like a guided walk around London, I'd be happy to oblige. PM me.

[PCC]

I agree with the Lincoln cathedral, it is something not to miss. (I did miss Durham though!)

What a pity! Here you go:



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[David Birchall]

I would second Artidesco in suggesting the Morgan factory-nothing like it anywhere! And if you arrive at lunch time eat in the works cafeteria-very good and cheap too.

While you are in that general area a visit to Prescott Hill and a tour of the Bugatti Trust museum is very worthwhile if there is an event on.

[elansprint72]

Well all those things above have their merits but you really should see the Gents' toilets in the Philharmonic Pub in Liverpool.

[kayemod]

Well all those things above have their merits but you really should see the Gents' toilets in the Philharmonic Pub in Liverpool.

Are you taking the piss ?

[David Birchall]

I understand your name and number are on the wall!

[kayemod]

I understand your name and number are on the wall!

Well, I'll be buggered if I'm going to Liverpool again...

[elansprint72]

Not taking the piss or, for once, talking crap.

Cut and paste this:


www.heritagepubs.org.uk/pubs/national-inventory-entry.asp?pubid=111

I can't make the link thingy work.

If it is buggeration you are looking for, try the Masquerade.

[thatguy0101]

Is that down the way from the Rum and Lash?

[David McKinney]

You just needed the http:// Pete
http://www.heritagep...y.asp?pubid=111
And I see what you mean

[Catalina Park]

I was there. I waved. You ignored me.

I am a racing driver, I learned long ago to ignore men on corners waving flags.

[Gary Davies]

Try not to end up on one of these.

[Bloggsworth]

And remember, how ever big Texas is, we have golf courses older than America, and that despite the CIA's description of the UK as being "Somewhat smaller than Iowa", good things come in small packages. If you go through Alnwick, visit the White Swan Hotel, whose Olympic Dining Suite feature the magnificent panelling, mirrors and stained glass windows from the Titanic's sister ship.

Edited by Bloggsworth, 26 April 2011 - 07:35.

[Catalina Park]

What a pity! Here you go:



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Impressive! I will place it on the list for next years adventure.

[Doug Nye]

If you go through Alnwick, visit the White Swan Hotel, whose Olympic Dining Suite feature the magnificent panelling, mirrors and stained glass windows from the Titanic's sister ship...

Panelling and mirrors which once shuddered to the impact of collision with HMS Hawke, sinking U103 and slicing the Nantucket Lightship in half. Olympic's WW1 service as a troopship won her the nickname 'Old Reliable', but she certainly saw some drama. She was also commanded at one time by a real-life Captain Haddock.

DCN

[Giraffe]

You just needed the http:// Pete
http://www.heritagep...y.asp?pubid=111
And I see what you mean

A wonderful pub, the "Phil". I used to go there for a couple of pints every Sunday night circa 1971 where it was not unusual to see Adrian Henri, Roger McGough and members of the Scaffold, and on one auspicious occasion I spotted motor sport fan George Harrison himself having a swift one.
The period BBC programme "Nairn across Britain" with the late Ian Nairn was once conducted from the gents loos which he described as "the best example of Georgian porcelain in the north of England". Ladies tours of the gents are conducted during the day at suitable times! In the Billiard Room, you could only be served in a half pint glass at that time. It is officially the "Philharmonic Dining Rooms" as there used to be a restaurant on the first floor.

Edited by Giraffe, 26 April 2011 - 09:13.

[Macca]

Panelling and mirrors which once shuddered to the impact of collision with HMS Hawke, sinking U103 and slicing the Nantucket Lightship in half. Olympic's WW1 service as a troopship won her the nickname 'Old Reliable', but she certainly saw some drama. She was also commanded at one time by a real-life Captain Haddock.

DCN

She also managed to collide with the Furness Bermuda liner 'Fort St. George' while backing out of her berth in New York in 1924, which meant yet more repairs............just shows you can survive lots of collisions with smaller objects but don't mess with icebergs.

Paul M

[Amphicar]

I endorse all that has been said about the wonders of the gents in the Philharmonic in Liverpool. In the unlikely event that you cross the Irish Sea to Belfast, the Crown Liquor Saloon is definitely worth a visit. As well as being a popular pub it is a National Trust property. One of the finest examples of a high Victorian public house interior still in existence, it was when I last visited it, the only pub in Central Belfast that didn't need bouncers on the door. It is also just across the street from the Europa Hotel, which as a plaque in the lifts proudly boasts, is "the most bombed hotel in the world". Belfast is of course also where the Olympic and the Titanic were built and there is an interesting museum on that theme.

[2F-001]

The aforementioned Lincoln Cathedral is, indeed, impressive. At the time it was built it was the tallest-ever structure, taking the getting-on-for-4000-year-old record from the Great Pyramids in Egypt - a snippet of trivia I found impressive in itself.

Edited by 2F-001, 26 April 2011 - 11:57.

[David McKinney]

Durham's my favourite cathedral - and it's just off the road to Duns

[DJO]

As one who went to the Jim Clark room last year, it is worth a visit, then to his grave nearby (get directions from the Jim Clark room). In fact we managed a lot in one day: early to Lindisfarne (look at the tide tables first though), then to Duns, then to Chillingham Castle, (www.chillingham-castle.com), near Alnwick, which is quite the most bonkers castle open to the public I've ever been to in this country. No National Trust or English Heritage emasculation here!

Bamburgh Castle has the fascinating Armstrong Aviation museum, with much of interest if you like cars or planes. Further south, the Donington Collection is a fabulous collection of racing cars, quite near to the motorway.

[Tony Matthews]

... next years adventure.

I'm not going to be ignored a second time - I'll either stay indoors or it will be a stinger across all lanes. And the hard shoulder.

[PCC]

The aforementioned Lincoln Cathedral is, indeed, impressive. At the time it was built it was the tallest-ever structure, taking the getting-on-for-4000-year-old record from the Great Pyramids in Egypt - a snippet of trivia I found impressive in itself.

Indeed, the original (wooden) spire above the crossing tower is thought to have been around 520 feet high. It collapsed in the 1540s, I believe. Even without it, Lincoln is a mightily impressive building:



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Okay, I'll shut up about cathedrals now.

[Twin Window]

No American with a sense of mechanical history should be disappointed - if he has the time - by a stop off to see the York Railway Museum, or the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane etc at Coningsby, Lincolnshire...

Agreed, but the RAF Museum in Hendon, North London, is an absolute must so his route needs to be extended!

If you go through Alnwick, visit the White Swan Hotel, whose Olympic Dining Suite feature the magnificent panelling, mirrors and stained glass windows from the Titanic's sister ship.

Alnwick is my birthplace, and I concur - although a visit Alnwick Castle would also be a treat (these days known as a venue used in a lot of 'Harry Potter' movie footage).

Britain is so rammed-full of fabulous places of interest and beauty it's hard to even try and make a shortlist! However not mentioned thus far, I believe, are the globally unique Triassic coastline of Dorset, the magnificent landscape and hamlets of the Cotswolds (you'll need a guide!), the Peak District, the North Yorkshire Moors including its preserved railway line between Pickering and Whitby (IIRC) and of course not forgetting the Scottish Highlands.

Have a fabulous trip, and good luck in fitting in as much as you can!

[Jack-the-Lad]

I think that's a worthy addition to Gerard Hoffnung's misleading suggestions for tourists which included:
"Try the echo in the British Museum Reading Room"

Very funny ...more, please!

Jack.

[JacnGille]

Gee, not one mention of the wonderful Torquay accommodations know as Fawlty Towers.

[Bloggsworth]

Gee, not one mention of the wonderful Torquay accommodations know as Fawlty Towers.

No - But I can recommend a Ford dealership that works on the same principles...

Edited by Bloggsworth, 27 April 2011 - 07:27.

[Allan Lupton]

Very funny ...more, please!

Jack.

In London:
The city’s brothels are easily identified by the large blue lamps outside. Step inside and ask about prices.

[kayemod]

Hey Brits!

I will have about five days in the UK that I intend to spend driving from London to the Jim Clark Room in Duns and back.

What else should I see? Donington, Coventry Transport Museum, Harry Ramsdens?

To get back to the original request, five days isn't long, and unless you have a penchant for scenery, you aren't going to be able to fit much of it in between museums and the like. TW is absolutely right, we have some amazing scenery in the UK, of the notable areas that TW listed, I was born and spent my childhood in one, currently live in another, and have often holidayed in the rest, but the timing of your visit is important, Britain is a small island, and although most inhabitants are too lazy to travel more than a few minutes walk from a parking area, out of season is best for places like the Lake District, in summer you can hardly move for people, you wouldn't want to drive through them at that time of year either.


By null

The photo was taken in the Peak District, it's the Ladybower reservoir near Sheffield taken a couple of years ago in February, you wouldn't think the place is only about 12 miles from the centre of the 5th largest industrial city in England would you ? This shows the good side of going at a quiet time of year, though on this occasion, a week in the area of my birth in February was a birthday present from my dear wife. It started snowing heavily as we drove up the M1, there was about 6" on the ground when we arrived, and we had a wonderful time. We had the place to ourselves, the snowy scenery was magnificent, only a few roads were closed, most of the snow soon disappeared, and she only had to get out to push the car once or twice all week. I hope no-one is going to tell us about a competition, where the first prize was one week in Sheffield, and the second prize was two weeks there...

[Terry Walker]

You won't have enough time to see everything - I've been visiting, month to five weeks at a time, for over 20 years and there's still a million things I haven't seen. But a lot of things I have, including the famous men's room in the old Hoover Building at Perivale. Not open to the public as a rule, but I lucked in = there was a London Open day where lots of places usually closed were open, and the Hoover building was one. Marvellous inside, super art deco. And the famous bog, taken on a guided tour of the building:

[Bloggsworth]

Saving the Hoover building frontage was about the only good thing Tesco ever did...

[PCC]

Britain is so rammed-full of fabulous places of interest and beauty it's hard to even try and make a shortlist! However not mentioned thus far, I believe, are the globally unique Triassic coastline of Dorset, the magnificent landscape and hamlets of the Cotswolds (you'll need a guide!), the Peak District, the North Yorkshire Moors including its preserved railway line between Pickering and Whitby (IIRC) and of course not forgetting the Scottish Highlands.

And if you're in Whitby, either for the scenery or the fish & chips, don't forget the splendid ruins of the Abbey and nearby churchyard. Appropriately, they both figure significantly in the novel Dracula.

(I know I said I'd shut up about cathedrals, but this is an Abbey...)



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[thatguy0101]

Thanks, all who have replied so far.

[Giraffe]

What else should I see? Donington, Coventry Transport Museum, Harry Ramsdens?

The reality is that in 5 days in addition to Duns, with the traffic on our roads that's just about all you will have time for. In my lifetime, I've only visited about half of the attractions listed here.

[D-Type]

The important things in life: fish & chips.

If in a strange town, ask a group of youths who are 'just hanging about'. They will know the best "chippy" and hopefully will be so surprised at being asked for their opinion they'll probably give you an honest answer.