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At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: Attica! on February 16, 2012, 02:21:19 AM

Title: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Attica! on February 16, 2012, 02:21:19 AM
Hi all, BKP enthusiast here. Just thought I'd ask people their recommendations.

Me & my GF are off london between 2nd-5th March this year for our anniversary and wondered if anyone can give us some advice.

We're travelling from Manchester to London and wondered if anyone could give us some advice on what the best places to stay are, and any websites that provide good railfares (not Coach) to take us somewhere good in London. Especially the good places to stay in London also.

We're (well "me") wondering what places are good to check out guitar shops that have good guitars and amps to try as I'm loooking for new equipment as well. Just thought it would be advantageous to explore the city as to places close to home which don't really have many good shops that have the best choice.

Ta, Mike
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: gordiji on February 17, 2012, 07:52:11 PM
i hate London with a passion but can recommend the London Eye ferris wheel, best £10 you'll spend.
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Attica! on February 17, 2012, 08:46:28 PM
i hate London with a passion but can recommend the London Eye ferris wheel, best £10 you'll spend.

Yh was thinking of doing that. Prob need a bottle of Vodka as I'm terrified of heights haha. Climbing up a ladder gives a very bad case of vertigo haha.

What do you hate about London?
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Afghan Dave on February 17, 2012, 09:18:56 PM
Londoners.... and worse people who love London.

P.S. I live in London.  :(
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Andrew W on February 17, 2012, 09:29:54 PM
And for the defence as someone who lives in London and loves it:

Getting Around: You can buy daily travel cards that are valid on buses, the tube and the rail network within London. Probably your best bet there.

Stuff to do: Most of the main museums are free, British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A. Same goes for the Tate Galleries and the National Gallery. My favourite museum is The John Soane on Lincoln's Inn Field. Places like Covent Garden, Lamb's Conduit Street and Spitalfields are good for general boutiquey shopping (clothes etc.). Most of the guitar shops are on Denmark Street. I like Vintage and Rare Guitars, and Wunjo. Angel Music's supposed to be good too. Areas like The South Bank around the Royal Festival Hall are good for a wander.

Does that help at all?
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Attica! on February 17, 2012, 09:40:04 PM
And for the defence as someone who lives in London and loves it:

Getting Around: You can buy daily travel cards that are valid on buses, the tube and the rail network within London. Probably your best bet there.

Stuff to do: Most of the main museums are free, British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A. Same goes for the Tate Galleries and the National Gallery. My favourite museum is The John Soane on Lincoln's Inn Field. Places like Covent Garden, Lamb's Conduit Street and Spitalfields are good for general boutiquey shopping (clothes etc.). Most of the guitar shops are on Denmark Street. I like Vintage and Rare Guitars, and Wunjo. Angel Music's supposed to be good too. Areas like The South Bank around the Royal Festival Hall are good for a wander.

Does that help at all?

Well we're trying to find a Hotel in Euston which I believe is right at Denmark Street. I'll check out them shops you said. Just trying to make the most of the trip as to staying in the pub all day, ha.
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: gordiji on February 17, 2012, 09:59:01 PM
"what do you hate about london?''.  i hate towns in general and as london is a pretty big one i hate it more than most.
also i hate things like 'fashion' and such neurosis' seem to thrive in places like london.
the london eye is great however even if you have vertigo.  it's slow and almost serene.each pod is spacious so not claustrophobic at all although it's probably gone up a bob or two since i went.
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Philly Q on February 17, 2012, 09:59:51 PM
Yeah it's about a 15 minute walk from Euston to Denmark Street.  Then you can keep going south and see Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Houses of Parliament....
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: 38thBeatle on February 17, 2012, 10:07:45 PM
Don't forget St Pauls and the Tower. If you go to the Tower then you'll also see Tower bridge . I was in London a few days ago on business (first time for a while) and went on a little tour around to revisit old haunts.
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Frank on February 17, 2012, 10:08:56 PM
Home. Quickly.
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: ToneMonkey on February 18, 2012, 01:38:22 PM
The Duck Bus is prety cool.

If you walk out of the right hand side of the main entrance at Euston, go straight ahead and over the bus stops, there's a tiny pub called the Euston Tap. Well worth a visit.
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Johnny Mac on February 18, 2012, 04:19:55 PM
If you like markets, your a 10-15 minute walk from Camden.
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: fbloke on February 18, 2012, 04:57:59 PM
London has all things good and bad in life contained within it, keep a positive mind and you'll have a great time. Denmark Street is worth experiencing - some nice guitars and some outstandingly arrogant shop assistants. I've learned to find them funny, I invite you to do the same.  Vintage and Rare is usually cool, Chris who owns it is a friendly and very knowledgable guy.  Soho is just across the road, I highly recommend it by day. At night it's a little raw around the edges, I like this but it's not for everyone.

The main thing is to plan your visits before you go - the main thing that most people underestimate about London is it's sheer size and complexity, it's easy to lose time just wandering around or trying to work out the tube. 
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: FredD on February 18, 2012, 07:31:03 PM
Good luck ! :lol:
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Attica! on February 18, 2012, 07:40:12 PM
Thanks to everyone who was kind enough to recommend somewhere. I'll try to check everything out an dlet you know how it went. I'm definitely going to check out that pub mentioned acroos the road though. That will be as soon as I arrive :P
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: ToneMonkey on February 18, 2012, 09:05:46 PM
It's an easy pub to miss. It sits all on it's own and looks like it should have a statue on top. Here's the website:

http://www.eustontap.com/
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Attica! on March 13, 2012, 12:50:41 PM
Well we didn't go at beginning of month, but we're going friday 23rd March to the monday, just booked hotel. Anyone else got reccommendations?
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Elliot on March 15, 2012, 09:14:52 AM
Didn't the Euston Tap used to be a private members' club - for women only - or am I dreaming.....
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: gwEm on March 15, 2012, 09:39:34 AM

Getting Around: You can buy daily travel cards that are valid on buses, the tube and the rail network within London. Probably your best bet there.


I always advise my friends visiting London that 3 days is a sort of cutoff point. 3 days or more, then its cheaper to get an Oyster card I reckon - especially if planning to come back one day.

Sorry to disagree Andrew W :( but I would suggest getting two Oyster cards immediately when arriving.
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Loomer on March 15, 2012, 09:50:04 AM
You need to see the Imperial War Museum. I was absolutely knocked flat by it.
I loved it how incredibly thorough and detailed the exhibits were, and how they were refreshingly free of any sort of flag-waving. Everything was presented very objectively, and was supremely objective, IMO.

Tate Modern was also great.

As for London being terrible; I couldn't disagree more :lol:
I loved the place, since it reminded in some ways of a bigger version of my own home, Copenhagen. I don't like being out in nature/remote places all alone for holidays or daily life or... Well.. Anything.
I love the feeling of a busy metropolis that never sleeps, and in that department, London seems to deliver :)
Can't wait to go there during Easter!
Title: Re: Places to go in London. Recommendations anyone?
Post by: Andrew W on March 17, 2012, 01:34:03 AM

Getting Around: You can buy daily travel cards that are valid on buses, the tube and the rail network within London. Probably your best bet there.


I always advise my friends visiting London that 3 days is a sort of cutoff point. 3 days or more, then its cheaper to get an Oyster card I reckon - especially if planning to come back one day.

Sorry to disagree Andrew W :( but I would suggest getting two Oyster cards immediately when arriving.


Totally agree with you regarding the three day limit/Oyster card.