Hey kids, I have to take a trip to the UK this year as I've miles that are expiring in November. I'm thinking of hitting up Edinburgh and London. What time of year do you think would be best to visit?
It's probably a good idea not to go to London during the Olympic Games unless you are specifically interested in that.
May, June or just before school hols begin.
Probably April-June. I think that'll avoid Olympic and Jubilee madness, plus you've a chance of nice weather.
You don't visit the UK for the weather.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on January 05, 2012, 01:45:44 PM
You don't visit the UK for the weather.
But it's a bonus. And I think London's the city that is most improved on a sunny day than an overcast one.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on January 05, 2012, 01:45:44 PM
You don't visit the UK for the weather. climate
If you're visiting the UK it'll most definitely will be for the weather, it's part and parcel of the whole deal; iirc after the olympic Boris Johnson is planning on sustaining the tourist boom with recreated London smog themed on various periods. :)
Definitely not the winter, but watch out for the Olympics. Check sunrise and sunset times--even though the weather is mild, the UK is very far north, meaning short daylight in the winter but little dark in the summer.
I think the UK is a poor choice for airline miles. The tickets to the UK are very cheap, and depending on the airline the redemption rates can be obnoxious. Flights to eastern europe or south america are generally roughly the same cost in miles but can be twice the cost in cash. You can usually find a way to extend the miles expiration--for example, if you get a credit card with the airline, any spending usually bumps your expiration date out.
Quote from: alfred russel on January 05, 2012, 01:50:28 PM
Definitely not the winter, but watch out for the Olympics. Check sunrise and sunset times--even though the weather is mild, the UK is very far north, meaning short daylight in the winter but little dark in the summer.
We're not that bad, you make us sound like Norway.
Checks latitude .... 50.85 N
Quote from: mongers on January 05, 2012, 01:57:36 PM
We're not that bad, you make us sound like Norway.
Checks latitude .... 50.85 N
North for a North American though. We're above Quebec, I think.
I second April-June, very long days in May/June especially in Edinburgh :cool:
Edinburgh does have a big arts festival in August though, the city does get very busy and lively during that; so I would avoid it in August but if you like that sort of thing it is an exciting event.
Children, I have been to the UK before - that's how come I have the miles. :P Virgin Atlantic and just enough to get to the British Isles. I looked into before about moving the miles to Virgin America but I believe the answer had been no because I acquired them well before they were airline partners.
But yeah my question was because I've always been to the UK in the January-March/November period. :D
As an American I was shocked at how long the days got in France in Summer. That is where it really hits home at how far north Europe is.
Edinburgh is 56N. I love the long days in Scotland near the solstice :cool:
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on January 05, 2012, 02:09:09 PM
Edinburgh is 56N. I love the long days in Scotland near the solstice :cool:
I remember playing out until around 10 pm when I lived in Scotland. Didn't realise it was unusual for it to be light that long.
QuoteAs an American I was shocked at how long the days got in France in Summer. That is where it really hits home at how far north Europe is.
I was amazed when I read that DC is on the same latitude as Cairo :mellow:
Quote from: Sheilbh on January 05, 2012, 02:14:39 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on January 05, 2012, 02:09:09 PM
Edinburgh is 56N. I love the long days in Scotland near the solstice :cool:
I remember playing out until around 10 pm when I lived in Scotland. Didn't realise it was unusual for it to be light that long.
QuoteAs an American I was shocked at how long the days got in France in Summer. That is where it really hits home at how far north Europe is.
I was amazed when I read that DC is on the same latitude as Cairo :mellow:
No there's quite a difference., though both probably still in the 30s.
edit:checking my little bit of anchient UK technology (psion!!) DC is at 38.53N and Cairo is dead 30 N, don't know how accurate that is.
About Quebec, it's around the same latitude as Odessa, only 20minutes in it. :blink:
Quote from: Zanza on January 05, 2012, 01:41:52 PM
It's probably a good idea not to go to London during the Olympic Games unless you are specifically interested in that.
Ironically so many people have decided that, it's forecast that they'll be far fewer tourists in Londoin than usual because of the Games, and there are concerns that instead of helping the industry it's actually going to be harmful.
You'd enjoy the Edinburgh Festival which is in August, but it can make your visit expensive and touristy. Late spring, say May, is massively variable weather-wise. September can have the hottest days and October is usually reliably mild and easy to get around, but check for school holidays and half terms - I always seem to book a week off in half term :glare:
Have you thought about the kind of things you'd like to do you haven't done before?
Go to London for Wimbledon.
Quote from: mongers on January 05, 2012, 01:42:24 PM
May, June or just before school hols begin.
Second.
Its hot, but not unbearably so, and the Brits haven't started touristing en masse yet.
Quote from: Tyr on January 05, 2012, 07:16:27 PM
Quote from: mongers on January 05, 2012, 01:42:24 PM
May, June or just before school hols begin.
Second.
Its hot, but not unbearably so, and the Brits haven't started touristing en masse yet.
I'm pretty sure that most Americans wouldn't consider Britain in May hot.
Quote from: Brazen on January 05, 2012, 06:24:08 PM
You'd enjoy the Edinburgh Festival which is in August, but it can make your visit expensive and touristy. Late spring, say May, is massively variable weather-wise. September can have the hottest days and October is usually reliably mild and easy to get around, but check for school holidays and half terms - I always seem to book a week off in half term :glare:
Have you thought about the kind of things you'd like to do you haven't done before?
The festival does sound sort of fun and if I get too tired of the tourists, if I go in middish August, I suppose I can always head down south once the olympics have cleared out.
No actually I haven't given it any thought at all besides adding Scotland into the mix. :blush:
If the festival gets too much I recommend getting the train to Glasgow - it's far more fun than Edinburgh for the other 11 months of the year.
Quote from: Sheilbh on January 09, 2012, 09:49:34 PM
If the festival gets too much I recommend getting the train to Glasgow - it's far more fun than Edinburgh for the other 11 months of the year.
As they say in Glasgow, Edinburgh is "all fur coat And nae knickers" :D
I always thought that was a positive in Glasgow :mellow:
London Languish Meet Time!
Quote from: Martinus on January 10, 2012, 07:39:47 AM
London Languish Meet Time!
Again?! My ribs barely healed!
Quote from: Tamas on January 10, 2012, 07:51:28 AM
Quote from: Martinus on January 10, 2012, 07:39:47 AM
London Languish Meet Time!
Again?! My ribs barely healed!
Wasn't the last one over a year ago? I thought it was the Autumn of 2010.
Quote from: Martinus on January 10, 2012, 07:53:55 AM
Quote from: Tamas on January 10, 2012, 07:51:28 AM
Quote from: Martinus on January 10, 2012, 07:39:47 AM
London Languish Meet Time!
Again?! My ribs barely healed!
Wasn't the last one over a year ago? I thought it was the Autumn of 2010.
I was making a joke.
If you want a London meet you ought to schedule it to early february or so, as I might have some business there during that time :P
I'll probally be visiting the UK at some point in the summer holidays.
:hmm:
QuoteIf the festival gets too much I recommend getting the train to Glasgow - it's far more fun than Edinburgh for the other 11 months of the year.
I've only briefly visited the two (albeit many times to Edinburgh) and...well. The way it seems to me is that Edinburgh is by far the best to visit as a tourist (so pretty!) but as somewhere to live I would definitely pick Glasgow, it used to have a pretty awesome indie scene (not sure if it still does...certainly no bands worthwhile have emerged for a while...)
If you are in Scotland then you should stop off for a day in my area too! Durham cathedral is amazing, and a world heritage site, and Newcastle is rather nice too. Then there's York with its brilliant little medieval area.
I'm also partial to Berwick and its wonderful city walls. And Whitby is always amazing, wonderful quaint old fashioned fishing town...overran by goths. But...yeah. That's just me.
Bumping this as I'm thinking I might make it to the UK in August (still deciding!). I've a new question that if I plan to hit up Edinburgh and London - what's the best way to transport myself between the two? Air or rail? Thinking I'd spend about 9 days total (minus 1 for travel back to US).
August is a good time.
Quote from: garbon on March 21, 2013, 04:56:56 PM
Bumping this as I'm thinking I might make it to the UK in August (still deciding!). I've a new question that if I plan to hit up Edinburgh and London - what's the best way to transport myself between the two? Air or rail? Thinking I'd spend about 9 days total (minus 1 for travel back to US).
Road trip !
Yes seriously, if you don't go on the motorways, it's a good way of seeing some of the differences within Britain, cultural and landscape. It's 400+ odd miles, take two days and stop at York, the halfway point.
I'm not sure if I could handle driving on the wrong side though. :D
Quote from: garbon on March 21, 2013, 06:16:55 PM
I'm not sure if I could handle driving on the wrong side though. :D
Then you need to co-op someone like Tricky. :bowler:
Also I noticed that car rentals only look particularly cheap if you know how to drive stick. -_-
:bleeding:
Kids these days.
Well hey, in my life it hasn't been a particularly necessary (or useful) skill.
Driving a stick on the wrong side is kinda tough to get, it takes a couple of hours to get it.
Quote from: PDH on March 21, 2013, 07:05:06 PM
Driving a stick on the wrong side is kinda tough to get, it takes a couple of hours to get it.
Actually that sounds like a real horror show now that you mention it. Are the pedals switched too?
If you get a rail ticket between London and Edinburgh book it 100 years in advance at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ , don't buy it as you need it as you will (literally) pay 4x as much as you need to.
I don't recommend November unless you're into darkness and fog. :bowler:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 21, 2013, 07:08:19 PM
Quote from: PDH on March 21, 2013, 07:05:06 PM
Driving a stick on the wrong side is kinda tough to get, it takes a couple of hours to get it.
Actually that sounds like a real horror show now that you mention it. Are the pedals switched too?
Yes especially say navigating your way out of North London on a Friday night, I'd pay money to watch that. :P
Yes it's a horror show, yes the pedals are reversed, or both?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 21, 2013, 07:16:35 PM
Yes it's a horror show, yes the pedals are reversed, or both?
L to R - clutch, brake, accelerator.
edit:
I got that wrong didn't I, corrected.
There are three of them..........but we only have 2 feet :hmm:
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on March 21, 2013, 07:19:24 PM
There are three of them..........but we only have 2 feet :hmm:
Yes must be confusing for Garbon.
I only remembered the order of the pedals, by invoking 'muscle memory', even after all of these years.
What has got me confused, is remembering using 'heel and toe', but for the life of me I can't at this moment recall why. :hmm:
Pedals are in the same order as manuals with the wheel on the proper side, but the shifting is all fucked up.
I only managed a dozen or so lessons, then gave up because it was so irritating; if Garbon wants a driver then I'm afraid i can't help :(
Quote from: PDH on March 21, 2013, 07:29:15 PM
Pedals are in the same order as manuals with the wheel on the proper side, but the shifting is all fucked up.
A lot of put-put-putting in 3rd? :D
Quote from: PDH on March 21, 2013, 07:29:15 PM
Pedals are in the same order as manuals with the wheel on the proper side, but the shifting is all fucked up.
To be fair, on some Italian cars the shifting is pretty fucked up, also I recall one or two french cars being odd.
Though nothing beats that dashboard mounted shifter in things like Renault 4 etc. :frog:
Quote from: mongers on March 21, 2013, 07:32:06 PM
Though nothing beats that dashboard mounted shifter in things like Renault 4 etc. :frog:
Three on the tree is pretty easy IMO.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 21, 2013, 07:30:52 PM
Quote from: PDH on March 21, 2013, 07:29:15 PM
Pedals are in the same order as manuals with the wheel on the proper side, but the shifting is all fucked up.
A lot of put-put-putting in 3rd? :D
The old "start in 2nd and hope to find 3rd" routine.
Agreed with booking a train many years in advance and stopping in York for a few hours.
As I said in the post many years ago Durham is worth a stop too, its on the same London-Edinburgh mainline.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on March 21, 2013, 07:30:25 PM
I only managed a dozen or so lessons, then gave up because it was so irritating; if Garbon wants a driver then I'm afraid i can't help :(
Weird, I could have sworn you had been a driver.
A visit to Durham is probably in order if one is going up the East Coast main line anyway :cool:
Garb should go to a Millwall home game. :)
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 21, 2013, 07:33:26 PM
Quote from: mongers on March 21, 2013, 07:32:06 PM
Though nothing beats that dashboard mounted shifter in things like Renault 4 etc. :frog:
Three on the tree is pretty easy IMO.
You're forgetting this would be taking place within an old French car, with all the attendant peculiarities. :P
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 21, 2013, 07:36:58 PM
Garb should go to a Millwall home game. :)
My elder brother-in-law is a Millwall supporter, they could have a grand day out :cool:
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on March 21, 2013, 07:39:38 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 21, 2013, 07:36:58 PM
Garb should go to a Millwall home game. :)
My elder brother-in-law is a Millwall supporter, they could have a grand day out :cool:
They can smash the face in of visiting fans. Hooliganism unites people. :)
I would recommend a Millwall vs. Leeds fixture, for maximum entertainment value and cultural benefit :cool:
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on March 21, 2013, 07:47:44 PM
I would recommend a Millwall vs. Leeds fixture, for maximum entertainment value and cultural benefit :cool:
And that would just be the players setting-to, before the fans got involved. :bowler:
Quote from: Caliga on March 21, 2013, 07:10:49 PM
I don't recommend November unless you're into darkness and fog. :bowler:
I realized I've only been in London in the November through March portion of the year.
The days are pretty long in summer, that is a big plus regardless of the vagaries of the weather.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on March 21, 2013, 07:10:01 PM
If you get a rail ticket between London and Edinburgh book it 100 years in advance at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ , don't buy it as you need it as you will (literally) pay 4x as much as you need to.
Good to know as general never do that kind of thing in advance.
Also I see 100 years = approximately a few months as they only let you purchase tickets currently through June. :D
Quote from: garbon on March 21, 2013, 07:56:54 PM
Also I see 100 years = approximately a few months as they only let you purchase tickets currently through June. :D
A certain amount of exaggeration on my part :D
But, do book your tickets in advance if you know where you are going as it will be a hell of a lot cheaper. If you take the train from London to Edinburgh then it will be on the East Coast mainline leaving from London Kings Cross. Both York and Durham are on that line and you can normally break your journey for no additional cost. Both those cities have fantastic cathedrals plus other places of interest, they are well worth visiting.
Didn't someone once say that Durham is a chav-infested dump? :hmm:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 21, 2013, 08:06:58 PM
Didn't someone once say that Durham is a chav-infested dump? :hmm:
No.
Now if they'd said, half-filled with Oxbridge rejects they'd have been half right. :bowler:
I was teasing Tricky. :secret:
Quote from: garbon on March 21, 2013, 07:55:07 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on March 21, 2013, 07:10:01 PM
If you get a rail ticket between London and Edinburgh book it 100 years in advance at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ , don't buy it as you need it as you will (literally) pay 4x as much as you need to.
Good to know as general never do that kind of thing in advance.
So you didn't read my article after all :mad:
http://www.newstatesman.com/business/2013/03/how-getting-low-down-rail-fares-might-make-passengers-worse (http://www.newstatesman.com/business/2013/03/how-getting-low-down-rail-fares-might-make-passengers-worse)
There's actually an optimum window for advance booking - they don't release some of the cheapest fares until a two weeks or a month before the travel date.
Also beer will be 1p a pint cheaper after the budget :cheers:
Quote from: Brazen on March 22, 2013, 07:49:34 AM
Also beer will be 1p a pint cheaper after the budget :cheers:
:cheers:
The main thing I remember (surmised?) from your article was that rail fare are a confusing mess. :blush:
Only took me a couple years but plane tickets finally booked for this August. :cool:
Now I need to start planning my actual itinerary. :blush:
You should be visiting in July. :P
Quote from: The Larch on February 10, 2014, 03:04:15 PM
You should be visiting in July. :P
That would make it hard to go to the art festival taking place in August. :P
Best time to visit the UK....there's about a five day spread in mid September, just after the tourists leave, and before it gets rainy.
Quote from: Josephus on February 10, 2014, 05:54:47 PM
Best time to visit the UK....there's about a five day spread in mid September, just after the tourists leave, and before it gets rainy.
That's rather harsh, all around. :D