9 out of 10 posts are about London - don't you want to discover more?
Oct 25th, 2004, 10:03 AM
#21
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Although I have no idea how many tourists venture out of London into other parts of England, I do understand part of what londonengland is saying.
We travel to England about every two years and have been doing that for the past 25 years and in that time have met many (the majority) of fellow tourists who do not venture out of London, or if they do its on a daytrip, which is alright for seeing a monument/estate, etc., but not for learning very much about England.
Like many other newcomers our first few trips were focused on London, but as we become more confident about driving on the 'wrong' side, researched more, talked to other travellers and English people we ventured out into the rest of the country. Now when we go to England, we spend two or three days in London, usually at the end of our visit, but the rest is spent in areas we love and/or areas we've never seen before.
But whether you do that or stay in London, I think depends on a great number of things. Is this the only trip you can make to England? If so, it makes sense to focus on London because it is an amazing city with tons of things to do. With a daytrip here and there you can get a slight taste of what the rest of the country has to offer and perhaps that's good enough.
Do you only really feel alive in big cities, as opposed to hiding out in a stone self-catering cottage in North Wales where the electricity runs on a meter and the aga in the kitchen is your only source of heat?
Do you need a major dose of museums, shopping, the theatre - or are content with watching the fishing boats come in to port somewhere in Cornwall?
Neither choice is right or wrong, that's the great thing about travelling, especially in England, there's something for almost everyone. But I do think that londonengland's point is a valid one - to remind visitors that there are lots of other really interesting, spectacular, breathtaking, moving things to see outside of London.
We travel to England about every two years and have been doing that for the past 25 years and in that time have met many (the majority) of fellow tourists who do not venture out of London, or if they do its on a daytrip, which is alright for seeing a monument/estate, etc., but not for learning very much about England.
Like many other newcomers our first few trips were focused on London, but as we become more confident about driving on the 'wrong' side, researched more, talked to other travellers and English people we ventured out into the rest of the country. Now when we go to England, we spend two or three days in London, usually at the end of our visit, but the rest is spent in areas we love and/or areas we've never seen before.
But whether you do that or stay in London, I think depends on a great number of things. Is this the only trip you can make to England? If so, it makes sense to focus on London because it is an amazing city with tons of things to do. With a daytrip here and there you can get a slight taste of what the rest of the country has to offer and perhaps that's good enough.
Do you only really feel alive in big cities, as opposed to hiding out in a stone self-catering cottage in North Wales where the electricity runs on a meter and the aga in the kitchen is your only source of heat?
Do you need a major dose of museums, shopping, the theatre - or are content with watching the fishing boats come in to port somewhere in Cornwall?
Neither choice is right or wrong, that's the great thing about travelling, especially in England, there's something for almost everyone. But I do think that londonengland's point is a valid one - to remind visitors that there are lots of other really interesting, spectacular, breathtaking, moving things to see outside of London.
Oct 25th, 2004, 10:42 AM
#22
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m_kingdom, I agree with you 100%!
Maybe if I lived in New York, I'd be less enchanted with spending my holiday in London, but I don't. I get enough small town atmosphere at home. That said, I do enjoy both country and city life in the UK, and have covered much of the isles, but the countryside and small towns pale in comparison to the charms and excitement of London.
Maybe if I lived in New York, I'd be less enchanted with spending my holiday in London, but I don't. I get enough small town atmosphere at home. That said, I do enjoy both country and city life in the UK, and have covered much of the isles, but the countryside and small towns pale in comparison to the charms and excitement of London.
Oct 25th, 2004, 11:02 AM
#23
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if you look past all the nitpicking about whether it is 9/10 posts, 7/10 or whatever, I think londonengland has a valid point.
The british countryside can be spectacular and is grossly underrated (mostly by the british themselves) in my opinion.
Even in a quick visit to some of the prettier villages just outside london (for example, even in some of the london bedroom counties like surrey and kent) you will see a completely different way of life in the countryside.
likewise, the seacoast of england, wales and scotland is spectacular and has a whole culture and history to itself. i have been all over and i am still awed by the UK's coastline in places like devon, dorsett, cornwale, most of wales, etc.
in short, i agree with the OP that you end up with only a tiny view of england if you visit only london. after several trips to london, you may understand london very well but not england.
Of course, a trip to london will give you NO understanding of wales and scotland, in my opinion, but i think this point is more widely understood.
The british countryside can be spectacular and is grossly underrated (mostly by the british themselves) in my opinion.
Even in a quick visit to some of the prettier villages just outside london (for example, even in some of the london bedroom counties like surrey and kent) you will see a completely different way of life in the countryside.
likewise, the seacoast of england, wales and scotland is spectacular and has a whole culture and history to itself. i have been all over and i am still awed by the UK's coastline in places like devon, dorsett, cornwale, most of wales, etc.
in short, i agree with the OP that you end up with only a tiny view of england if you visit only london. after several trips to london, you may understand london very well but not england.
Of course, a trip to london will give you NO understanding of wales and scotland, in my opinion, but i think this point is more widely understood.
Oct 25th, 2004, 03:10 PM
#24
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Patrick agreeing with MK2 - that doesn't happen everyday. 
I happen to agree with both of them,as well. I love London amd I've enjoyed everyone of my daytrips and plan on doing some longer visits down the road.
I'll be in London in a matter of days - it is my 8th visit and there are still things I've not done. There is so much going on in London. I will never tire of that city.
I happen to agree with both of them,as well. I love London amd I've enjoyed everyone of my daytrips and plan on doing some longer visits down the road.
I'll be in London in a matter of days - it is my 8th visit and there are still things I've not done. There is so much going on in London. I will never tire of that city.
Oct 25th, 2004, 03:34 PM
#25
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I think there should be a topic of London only. Can't please everyone but Patrick,Ira, m_kingdom2, flanneruk and Ben Haines can always be counted on to post their opinions and helpful suggestions. I haven't been to London in a couple of years but I have never been let down at least one more helpful suggestion from this message board to keep in my London files. Oh, I have been to several cities outside of London.
Oct 25th, 2004, 04:47 PM
#26
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We have a timeshare in London so we go every year - we LOVE it! But we always plan a second week outside of London while we're over there. It's a nice change of pace after London. And the rest of the UK has so much to offer.
Along the same lines... Whenever we've talked with Brits and ask if they've been to the US, the only answers we've ever gotten are New York City, Florida, Las Vegas and maybe a few for California.
Along the same lines... Whenever we've talked with Brits and ask if they've been to the US, the only answers we've ever gotten are New York City, Florida, Las Vegas and maybe a few for California.
