harry

So I got a weekend to kill in London. If you have any special places you think I should see, let me know. If I make it there I'll take a picture and post it here for your amusement.
Not looking for the standard tourist landmarks - I've probably seen all of those before.

I'll be on my own, so if you've got any advice where to spend a night out as a single handsome stranger, let me hear it too.

So far I've only got the National Gallery and Mario's Pizzeria in Kensington on my list...

BadNick

If I was there I'd have to stop in at a few of the places claiming to be the "oldest pub in London". If you do, please post a pic for us as you're toasting TFP

Glory's Sun

you want some fun? wear a United jersey while you walk the streets.

snowy

Ouch

Hope you've got lots of cash. London is expensive. I'm disappointed to say I didn't see enough of it to offer any advice, other than to make sure if you're taking the Underground to buy the correct fare for your destination. Having to pay the fine to get out of the station is kind of a downer.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

highthief

Nothing will happen unless you happen to be sitting in the Matthew Harding end at Stamford Bridge - you'll see United, Liverpool, etc jerseys along with the London clubs walking down the street. It's a pretty cosmopolitan place.

Anyway, I would have said the National Gallery is pretty high on the more touristy places so not sure what you're really after.

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Si vis pacem parabellum.

Glory's Sun

yeah I know.. I was teasin. Chelski and Gooner fans are pretty chill..usually.

ASU2003

Panoramio - Photo of Abbey Road NW8, a living myth!

You can take your picture here.

I will be interested in hearing what you end up doing. I am going to be planning my trip to London this weekend. I'll post something if I find a cool thing to do.

Charlatan

Gordon's Wine Bar (oldest wine bar in London)
Borough Market (Neal's Yard Dairy has the best cheese)
Hamstead Heath (go watch the kites)

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

little_tippler

I'm not sure how the National Gallery isn't a 'tourist landmark'...I'd recommend the Tate Modern every time, no question.

If you like art, I'd also check out White Cube gallery, and Saatchi gallery. The Royal Academy of Art usually has some interesting shows too.

If you like quirky museums, check out the Old St. Thomas's Operating Theatre, which is quite a strange visit. Or the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

There are lots of beautiful gardens in London, so I'd suggest a visit to Kensington gardens or Holland Park (which has a Japanese themed garden contained inside it).

London Markets are also a fun way to spend an afternoon, Portobello Market is one of the best known.

Prince Charles Cinema near Leicester square runs old films for the cheapest prices you can find in London, pretty much.

Hope that gives you some ideas

__________________
Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

Fernando Pessoa, 1918

Charlatan

Oh yes... if you are up late (early?) go to Brick Lane for some freshly made bagels. Simply awesome.

On Saturday you could also hit the Columbia Road flower market and then wander over to Spitalfields market. En route you can pop into any number of cool shops and coffee houses (some of which have live DJs spinning tunes).

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

harry

Thanks. I guess the gardens are nice at this time of the year. Depending on the weather I'll probably spend most of the time wandering the streets anyway, so gardens and markets will definitely be on top of my list.

I'll try to make it to this "old operating theatre" as well. hm... I'll better make some kind of map with all the places I'd like to see.

I know - it's still on my list because I didn't make it there last time. So, would you advise me not to go there?

---------- Post added at 06:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:28 PM ----------

I was planning on going to the Arsenal match on Sunday actually but apparently you need to be a club member to buy a ticket or something. Whats up with that? And the new stadium is called "Emirate Stadium"? WTF?

---------- Post added at 06:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:35 PM ----------

Thank's, Charlatan. Yep, I definitely need to make a map.

SecretMethod70

Just don't try to take any pictures of outdoor markets. I got accosted by a police officer just by lifting my camera.

Fun city, but sheesh.

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Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

harry

What I'm looking for here is people's favourite spots. I can find the tourist traps without your help, I think Doesn't mean I'm not going to visit any of them.

So for example for the city I live in (Vienna), I would recommend to climb on the roof of the general hospital for the best view and to go to a certain coffee house for the best gulasch, the grumpiest waiters and the coolest (and most ancient) pool players in town. That sort of thing.

---------- Post added at 06:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:48 PM ----------


What? Why?

SecretMethod70

Remember, this is the country with cameras everywhere. I'm sure it was all just part of the War on Terror (TM).

Sadly, I can't help much with your weekend plans. London is so big, we didn't have time for much other than the many landmarks and trying out random restaurants and shops. Best advice I can give - and this applies pretty much anywhere - is not to be afraid to change your plans because you saw something that looks interesting from the street. Exploration is the best.

Off topic, I've been to Vienna twice but it has been about 10 years now and I am still anxious to return. What a wonderful city. Speaking of exploration, I got intentionally lost in Vienna once and found an awesome dessert store because of it

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Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

harry

I see - so nobody is allowed to take any pictures except the government...? well, isn't that nice.

Yeah, getting lost in cities can be great. I love to do that too, it's not always intentionally though.

---------- Post added at 07:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:21 PM ----------

Oh and by the way, I noticed the whole war on terror thing as well when I applied for my new passport and had to have my fingerprints scanned...

Still haven't got the passport and only four business days to go... :\

Glory's Sun

yes.. the arabs bought them out a long time ago. some of my family that have been arsenal supporters for life disowned the team after that.. :shrug:

most football clubs require club ownership to purchase the tickets from their hotline or website.. you might be able to find some on stubhub.com or similar places though.

edit: looks like saturday's match against wigan is sold out .. you might be able to get some from their ticket exchange service but you'll need to be a minimum silver level member. General sale tickets are sold out. so it's either pay club price and hope you get a ticket or check stubhub or hope you can find someone willing to sell one of their own.

which match are you planning to attend?? the next home match for arsenal is the second leg of the Champions League on the 15th. They will be away vs Wigan at the JJB. I found some JJB arsenal tickets in the arsenal section for
£104.00 each.

SecretMethod70

Regarding the pictures, it's weird... just taking pictures on the street seemed to be fine, but I suspect the outdoor market had stricter rules since it would be a good civilian target.

There's also the possibility that the police officer was just a jerk. In America, police officers and security guards are sometimes known to insist that someone is not allowed to take pictures when, in fact, they are. Knowing how the UK is with the security cameras, I didn't think it was worth finding out whether or not the police officer was in the right.

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Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

harry

Oh, and I haven't booked a room yet either. Any cool places to stay?

Charlatan

What is your budget? There are a tonne of great hotels in London. Most are very expensive.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

Glory's Sun

when are you going to be there? I can more than likely help you find some arsenal tickets if you still want to go to a match..

/can't believe he's helping a friggin' gooner.

harry

One more thing: anyone know any good second hand book shops I could drop by?


I already booked a room for 50€ a night including breakfast. I bet its gonna be shit, but I'm not going to spend much time there anyway.

---------- Post added at 05:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:05 PM ----------

This weekend, so it would have to be for the match against Chelsey at Wembley... quite impossible to get any tickets at this point, I guess. Thanks for the offer though.

nah, just ground hopping.