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I need your help!!!
In 2 weeks time, Grandpa and Kara ( H's sister) are coming for a 3 week visit. Grandpa, of course has been several times and could care less what we do, he just wants to be with us and see the boys and soak up the whole being with family thing. Kara has NEVER been to England, she is exciting about seeing us all but is also SO excited to be coming to England.
So, if YOU were coming to visit for 3 weeks, what would be the kind of things you would be desperate to do?
Bear in mind that unfortunately, for us, cash is an issue. So hotels and endless tourist attractions are a no-go. We can afford maybe one night in London, so that gives us a full day of exploring. Eli will stay with gramma and so we will have Seth and Isaac who are fine with anything we choose to do.
What typically English things spring to mind for you that you would really HAVE to do / see while you were here?
What foods would you be desperate to try?
What kind of shopping would you want to do?
Would you want to go on buses and trains?
Would you want to see the countryside or Cities?
Old buidings? Cathedrals?
HELP!!!! I want to plan a flexible schedule and get some idea of when and how we will do things and plan a budget of sorts.......but I need to know what a first time visitor would be longing to do and see?
THANKYOU!!!
some suggestions so far...
yum, cream tea with scones, jam and clotted cream
cadbury's
chips ( fish and chips but she has to have a chip buttie too!!
lunch in a pub
So, if YOU were coming to visit for 3 weeks, what would be the kind of things you would be desperate to do?
Bear in mind that unfortunately, for us, cash is an issue. So hotels and endless tourist attractions are a no-go. We can afford maybe one night in London, so that gives us a full day of exploring. Eli will stay with gramma and so we will have Seth and Isaac who are fine with anything we choose to do.
What typically English things spring to mind for you that you would really HAVE to do / see while you were here?
What foods would you be desperate to try?
What kind of shopping would you want to do?
Would you want to go on buses and trains?
Would you want to see the countryside or Cities?
Old buidings? Cathedrals?
HELP!!!! I want to plan a flexible schedule and get some idea of when and how we will do things and plan a budget of sorts.......but I need to know what a first time visitor would be longing to do and see?
THANKYOU!!!
some suggestions so far...
yum, cream tea with scones, jam and clotted cream
cadbury's
chips ( fish and chips but she has to have a chip buttie too!!
lunch in a pub
posted by The other me | 2:17 pm
9 Comments:
Oh, Helen! Too many ideas. I spent a summer on a study abroad in London and have been dying to go back since. Your sis-in-law is lucky indeed. Here's my ideas:
Take her out for scones and tea. Or to one of the ice cream shops. I also loved trendy Pret-A-Mangers though I don't know if they have those where you live. Take her to the grocery store: Europa was my fave, and is so different than American groceries. Also Boots is a fun place to wander around in. If you go to London definitely do the Tube, and if you have time the double deckers are fun for Americans. If you have just a day in London I'd definitely want to see the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace (though the Changing of the Guards part is highly overrated), Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery (it's free last I was there and if you only have time for one museum, this is my fave), oh, also the British Museum if you have time since the Rosetta Stone is there. What else.....St. Paul's and Westminster of course. A nice walk through Hyde Park; to Speaker's Corner where Pres. Hinckley taught on his mission, and the first Hard Rock Cafe is across the street. If you go on a Saturday, also Portobello Rd. is fun and free, and Kensington Palace is right around there too. Oh and Harrod's is always an adventure. You could try out some 1,000 pound fancy hats for fun. One last thing if she's a Beatles or music fan: the Abbey Road crosswalk, to take a picture just like the famous album cover. The London Eye is overrated and expensive, so I'd dump that unless she were really interested. A walk along the Thames is soothing, maybe Tower Bridge or thereabouts.
I better quit now before I mention too much. If you just went for a night you could technically spend two days there to see as much as you can. I'm sure your guests will have a great time with a great hostess. Don't worry about doing it all, whatever you do will amaze and impress, I'm sure.
As for Cathedrals, if you hit Westminster and St. Paul's the rest get rather old and dull quickly, so don't worry if there's not time for more. Definitely spend time in the countryside with her--the British countryside is one of the most beautiful creations on this earth and she won't believe how green it is. If Stonehenge is close that is amazing to see. The moors are beautiful in their own way and fascinating, too, especially if she likes the Bronte sisters. The Lake District feels like heaven on earth if it's close. Oh, and a visit to the beach is always nice. It's fun for us Americans to be on the other side of the Pond for once.
Apologies for going on for so long. I'm sure you'll have a great time with your visitors. Good luck! One last thing: make sure she tries some of that delicious toffee and takes some home with her. Also Cadbury's chocoloate is divine. Happy late birthday, too.
I would love to see anything "old" english. the countryside and cathedrals. Castles?? Do you have Castles. I am fascinated by them. I would love to see castles. I would like to have tea, I've never had a real tea party. Really just to be in England would be a treat in itsself. I'm sure anything will be fine. Just have fun and don't stress too much or you will be miserable.
Mr. Happy and I visited London (once upon a time before children) and one thing we didn't do that I wish we would have was ride on the top of a double decker bus.
We enjoyed seeing the Thames (sp?) river and the Towers Bridge as well as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and it seems like we went to a cathedral as well. I'm not sure of the cost, but we had a blast at Maddam Tusseaud's Wax Museum!! And of course we ate fish n chips!
Have a great time!!
The only thing that comes to my mind is Big Ben. :)
As for food, I think I have only ever heard of scones in England. If she doesn't have any ideas, treat her to some of your favorite treats?
I'm not much help. But it sounds like you will have a great visit.
Well the first time I was there I was 22 so my interesterest were a bit squewed from what they would be now. London is interesting to see just because you hear so much about it:the bridge, buckingham palace, harrolds, hyde park. I went for lunch at a pub and thought that was just great. But I liked leaving London as I wasn't used to the diesel and it gets overwhelming after a day or so.
Fish and chips and scones (not at the same time), high tea, castles and countryside are my thing now.
Does she have a hobby that you can pick up on (needlework, birdwatching, painting, etc)? It would be fun for her to see the British side of her interests.
Otherwise just seeing what life is like in another country and having a good break from home routine sounds just so wonderful.
Hope you have fun.
Deb
What typically English things spring to mind for you that you would really HAVE to do / see while you were here? Go to a pub, visit a castle, have high tea outside in a garden
What foods would you be desperate to try? fish and chips from a newspaper (even though I hate fish), Guiness, bangers and mash, clotted cream.
What kind of shopping would you want to do? MARKS AND SPARKS!!!!
Would you want to go on buses and trains? oh oh a double decker please
Would you want to see the countryside or Cities? one day in London is sufficient.. I'm more interested in the country side and old castles old buildings. I'd like to get some feel for the history.
Old buidings? Cathedrals? YES PLEASE!!!
The Queen! I wanna go see the Queen and the guards! I want tea and crumpets, and I want turkey rashers. Beer. I wanna sit and listen to Helen talk for hours. I want Helen to tell me stories of when she was a little girl. I dont like to go out much. I just wanna watch Helen with her little boys. I wanna be tucked in at night under an English quilt by Helen. i wanna hear Helen pray. Kiss King
I would leave it up to you. I am sure they dont expect you to cater to them the whole time.
Id do some of the cheap and easy stuff with them and then hand them some brochures....
I woukd just love to sit on your couch and chat with you. And I agree with King, you could tuck me in too....
-Lo
My vote was for cream tea and scones, I've always wanted to try cream tea.
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