Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: ToecrusherHammerjaw on March 18, 2006, 03:31:05 pm
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This is for all of you who are in Britain or anywhere else in the United Kingdom: in about two months, I may be coming to see your wonderful islands (Yay! My first time out of North America!!). I would like some advice: is there anything in particular I should see if I go?
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Edinburgh Castle.
Everything else is pretty ****ty.
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Thanks for that wonderfully constructive advice and social commentary :)
Which part of the UK are you coming to?
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The thing with the UK is that most of our impressive **** actually serves a function, so you've got to book tours ahead of time and ****.
Buckingham Palace, Westminster, Alton Towers - you can't just stroll in to these places.
And the 'stroll into' places that don't really have a function are all so old and irreplacable that they don't let you within 500ft of them (Stonehenge for example).
Your best bet is to just shack up in a Bed-N-Breakfast in Dublin with some Irish chick and spend a week ****ing, drinking and generally partying your mother****ing ass off.
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Everything past Loch Lomond going North is worth seeing. Stunning views, some water sports at the right Loch, and lovely people.
In terms of urban adventure, if you're old enough (or young enough!) come to Glasgow and visit the big clubs like the Garage, Cube, et al. If clubs aren't your thing, try the numerous trendy bars that are everywhere to be found.
Visiting Edinburgh, hell yes. Just avoid the new Parliament building; Even the MSPs do right now.
Going down south, there is a lot of lovely scenery in the English countryside. In terms of urban visits, I'd say London is a must. Southampton if you have any interest in ship building history (I should mention the clydeside in Glasgow too actually).
White Cliffs of Dover. Just remember they are receeding, even if it is exceptionally slowly, so... don't stand too close to the edge.
Edit: Yes, including all the various historic sites around the major population centres that I have mentioned.
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Oh and never, EVER get into a fight in a British pub.
You'll probably be fine, but there's a reasonable chance you'll get stabbed and a slight chance you'll end up being wrapped in a carpet and thrown in the sea.
You go in the wrong pub and you're ****ed. Simple as that.
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Doing your bit for our world reputation there an0n?
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I think you should definitely visit the castles, something we don't have in the States. I fell in love with them since I first visited Tower of London 6 years ago. And, I always make sure I visit a few of them every time I am in the country ;)
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Doing your bit for our world reputation there an0n?
Just trying to keep the man from getting stabbed.
Starting fights in British pubs is always iffy at best. Most places will throw you out or call the police, but there's just enough local pubs and chore-infested clubs around that foreigners should be specifically warned to watch themselves.
Oh and ****ing student bars. Never go in a student bar. At best you get a room full of drunken dickheads, at worst you get a room full of Psychology/Art/Sociology students.
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Always thought that was common knowledge about British pubs. I'll keep that in mind, as I'll probably be celebrating my 21st over there if I go (yes, I know your legal drinking age is lower). Thanks for the advice, everyone, most of these places I do know a little something about. Also, one of my best friends here in the U.S. is a blood relation of the Duke of Athel, or so his pictures claim, so he advised me to visit someplace called the Golden Mile. Anyone ever heard of that?
Once again, thanks an0n, I didn't know you cared ;).
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Don't do London without a good map, and mind that the bloody Tube closes at 1830 on Sundays. And don't expect tourist information to be open at the times you need. Most cities are pretty nice, and compared to the rest of Europe, the chances of getting your money (and passport) nicked in broad daylight seem pretty slim. Still, stuff your ID down your underwear in places like Manchester, London, or other big cities. Don't got into London's Victoria Coach station if you like to avoid junkies, hotel tauts, luggage thieves, and pickpockets. Rest of the station seemed pretty ok, just don't go near the coach bit.
White cliffs look nice, especially so from the sea. Not sure if there are tour boats, but the view from a boat heading for Dover is always better then the view from Dover looking at the boats. Though, if you happen to have a really clear night, you can see France quite clearly from Dover's cliffs.
How long are you staying? Are you looking for nature or urban stuff? Historic? Roman? Stoneage? How will you be travelling around? (If you've got the money, take trains. The comfort of a train over a coach is worth it. National Express is quite reasonable, but coaches do tend to get really annoying after an hour or ten.)
Pounds are expensive, so everything is just one and a half times more expensive then in the rest of Europe. Food isn't all that bad, if you stick to pubs, don't eat fast food except for fish and chips or kebabs. Drink is hellishly priced due to taxes. Traffic comes from the other side of the road.
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I'd like to point out that unless you go into the East End screaming "**** the pope" or "**** the queen" (depending on which side of the street you're on), you are very unlikely to die in Glasgow. In fact you'll have a great time, and while you won't get away with being a dick, you will not be stabbed for it.
Oh, and try Irn Bru or die. :)
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The only Golden Mile I know of is in Blackpool, and I wouldn't recommend going there. Ever.
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Oh, and try Irn Bru or die. :)
The story behind that is brilliant.
The drink was first produced in 1901 under the name Iron-Brew. During World War II the British Government reined in production of 'non-essential' products, causing Iron-Brew to vanish from retailers' shelves until 1946. Around this time there was a move to tighten up legislation on product labelling, in order to make it factually descriptive which ended with legislation being passed that required 0.125g of iron per fluid ounce to any drink bearing the name 'iron brew'. In 1946 Barr registered the new name 'Irn-Bru' for their product.
Scottish thinking FTW.
And the slogan: "Made in Scotland from girders."
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I used to love the advert where the guy kicked the vending machine and it headbutted him back ;)
Just remember, if you go in a pub in Yorkshire and people start telling you to stay off the moors and 'ware the moon, drive home ;)
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And if anyone says you're in their seat, don't even bother trying to argue. That's the quickest way to get a stool to the face.
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:sigh: Oh dear. I appreciate the advice, but my mother just informed me travel plans have changed. What she said is that she would make the cheapest and most convenient travel plans to Europe possible, which was originally Britain, but with time schedule changes, it turns out it is now......Italy. Looks like the UK will have to wait another day (more like only a year, if my extended family's cruise plans can be believed). Sorry everyone.
EDIT: It was in fact my original preference to see Rome, but don't get me wrong, I have a great interest in the United Kingdom, especially it's history, and would have jumped at the chance to go there anyway.
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Well, you're now far less likely to get stabbed and far more likely to get laid.
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<sounds air horn> :D :D :D
:wakka: :wakka: :wakka: :wakka: :wakka:
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:wtf: Aye... :lol:
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Looks like I'm in all the wrong pubs... having managed to avoid being stabbed during my time in pubs around the south coast of the UK.
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Don't do London without a good map, and mind that the bloody Tube closes at 1830 on Sundays. And don't expect tourist information to be open at the times you need. Most cities are pretty nice, and compared to the rest of Europe, the chances of getting your money (and passport) nicked in broad daylight seem pretty slim. Still, stuff your ID down your underwear in places like Manchester, London, or other big cities. Don't got into London's Victoria Coach station if you like to avoid junkies, hotel tauts, luggage thieves, and pickpockets. Rest of the station seemed pretty ok, just don't go near the coach bit.
Yeew... you disgusting. I feel sorry for the immigration officers who have to deal with the passport later :lol:
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As in, take a cloth bag, tie it over your shoulder using a shoelace, and stuff the bag containing your ID and credit cards below your waist. The only way to be safe from pickpocets, since they're quite unlikely to grab you there. Especially if you're a bloke.
And trust me, when you're on a night trip on a coach, and you've got the dodgier part of Eastern Europe sitting around you (and next to you), you really, really want your ID and credit card to be safe when you fall asleep.
As for Rome, you're a lot more likely to get your pockets picked there than in London. Really, most pickpockets I've ever seen. When taking the subway there, make sure to keep a hand on your money, always. For the rest, I can recommend going to Piazza Navona at night, lots of merchants selling portraits and the like, and people just trying to rip you off, and not stealing anything. Good fun, but no large amounts of alcohol if that's you're thing. If you've got the time and like Roman/historical stuff, head for Pompei. It really is worth it if you know a bit about Roman life.
Oh, the waiters are unfriendly and generally refuse to speak English. They'll understand if you order something though, but not if you have to argue about a 10 euro cover charge appearing on the bill, or double the amount of drinks. Learn a few lines of Italian, and it'll help a bit.
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Nah, just ask when the red and green were added to the Italian flag and their English will improve real fast.
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Looks like I'm in all the wrong pubs... having managed to avoid being stabbed during my time in pubs around the south coast of the UK.
Or maybe it's just that fact that lots of people don't like him that makes an0n think that every pub is violent. Frankly I'm sometimes amazed he makes it through the day without being garotted. :p
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Now I remember why I declared Vendetta against you....
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Now I remember why I ignored it.
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Now now :)
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Yesterday we went to three different joiners/timber merchants in Beverley. Jewsons, Discount Timber Merchants, and MKM Building Supplies. We wanted to buy an extra shelf for out kitchen. We left all three empty handed because they all refused to cut a piece of wood. This morning I had to pay twice to make the five mile trip from my home to work. Costing me seven pounds twenty. The card reading machine on the bus double charged me but the driver refused to give me a refund. Saying I had to go to the central bus office in the centre of hull. Meaning I have to pay for another expensive bus trip to get there to get my refund. I could go on... this kind of stuff happens every single day in this country. That's why the UK stinks.
Check out this great website for more of what you can expect ;)
http://www.derbygripe.co.uk/realuk/
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Looks like I'm in all the wrong pubs... having managed to avoid being stabbed during my time in pubs around the south coast of the UK.
Or maybe it's just that fact that lots of people don't like him that makes an0n think that every pub is violent. Frankly I'm sometimes amazed he makes it through the day without being garotted. :p
Hey, some of us are busy men.