FromAtlanta

\/ TAKE NOTE PEOPLE: You CAN write an informitive subject title AND get people's attention at the same time!

I never felt the urge to do the really "touristy" things (but to be fair, I DID do some rather touristy things like Buckingham Palace my 1st time to London, so I am not immune.)

The thing is, I keep reading about this "Medieval Banquet" quot;> (You can't get any touristy than that!) WHY it is starting to appeal to me, I have no idea! But is is...

I need someone to either talk me out of it, or tell me SPECIFICALLY why it won't be a waste of my time and money. (Maybe the food is REALLY good. etc. )

Help!!

tpatricco

LOL. I was thinking you meant Madame Tousseauds (sp?) or London Dungeon. Avoid those. They are truly a waste of your time. Maybe someone else can advise on the "Medieval Banquet" Let's hope it's not like "Medieval Times" here in NJ. That's pure cheese.

SeaUrchin

Ha I have to laugh in agreement with you. I "had" to accompany a relative when she visited the UK for the first time to a medieval banquet. In fact I went to two of them with her (she tends to obsess).

The one at the Wharf near The Tower was dreadful, IMHO. Not so good food and amateur (now we will laugh!!) entertainment. We sat cheek to jowl, literally, with other tourists and I eventually waited outdoors where I could breathe.

The second one was better and it was in a "castle" on the outskirts of London, I am sure others know the name or I could look it up for you. The food was better here and the entertainment was pretty good. If you are up to an evening which consists of your fellow tourists jumping on a stage to be crowned Henry the Eigth or Queen Something and then watching them make fools of themselves, this is the place.

You sort of have to get into a certain mindset to enjoy it.....

SuzieC

I think there is nothing at all wrong with a little cheese once in a while. Maybe you don't mention to travel-snobs (hehehhehe..) but you go...you laugh, enjoy...have something in your hotel room to munch on if dinner...well...sucks...and you indulge a whimsical fancy...
I'd do it! I'd gp to the Medieval Banquet. I enjoy the "romance" of a period we only can read about!

Patrick

I often laugh when people specifically avoid anything that might be "touristy". In many cases the reason those things are touristy is that they are the best things that place has to offer. I went to Key West several times refusing to take the "touristy" Conch Train. When I finally did, for the first time I really got a sense of history of the place and what's more I really enjoyed it.

If you want to go to the Medieval Banquet, then go and have fun. I wouldn't expect the greatest meal of your life, but it's bound to be fun.

Too bad so many people miss so much in their travels because they're worried about doing what "everyone" else does.

TopMan

I totally agree with Patrick. I'm not sure it wouldn't be a waste of MY time to try to convince you one way or the other.

I wouldn;t go for the food, if I went at all...I'd go because I wanted to go and I also wouldn't be enough of a wimp to let a bunch of faceless strangers on a travel board talk me in or out of it.

janis

OK - if you MUST, go to the one at Hatfield House (which is probably the one SeaUrchin is talking about). Hatfield is an interesting stately home with a fascinating history and the medieval banquet is fun, if a bit schlocky.

Any others will be worse than the Medieval Times in Orange County CA - and that is saying a LOT. (Well, the one at Ruthin Castle is good - but it is in N. Wales and a bit far from London)

FromAtlanta

Patrick,
I agree and disagree with you about your definition of "touristy" Like tpatricco so eloquently pointed out, I don't think Mde Tussauds OR the London Dungeon is the best the city has to offer! (Although I do admit that one should probably go to Tussauds at least once ... but WHY they would keep coming back is beyond me. (Of course, I have to admit I am a very slow learner! I've been twice - The 2nd time wasn't anywhere near as nice as the 1st ... I won't try for a 3rd!) LOL! I just remembered this HORRIBLE place I went to in 1997. (My 1st time in London) It was called the Tower Hill Pageant or something like that. It was a "dark ride" ... I was tasting cheese for a long time afterward! (I think it is similar - from what I understand - of Jarvik (sp?) in York)

Anyway, I am still torn on this banquet. Thanks for the heads up on the one near the Tower, SeaUrchin. - The nicer one you mentioned was it in Warwick. I seem to remember one advertised near Warwick Castle.

Anyway, I'm not leaving for several months ... so there is still time for people to post on here and give me their opinions

FromAtlanta

TopMan,

Did I hold a gun to your head and force you to post on here? ... Hey, if this is such a waste of your time, why bother?

I'm on here because I have nothing else to do right now. - If my innocent post is keeping you from doing something much more important ... you better get back to it!!

SeaUrchin

HI, I am pretty sure it was Hatfield House like janis suggests. We had a driver take us, but I think that it is part of a day tour from London as well.

Like I say, if you go knowing full well what it is you can spend a few hours beforehand psyching yourself up for an evening of good clean fun. It might help to imbibe in that sweet wine too!! Then you will get in the swing and jump onstage yourself, please write a report on how you were crowned Queen Victoria!

jarmnm

If you feel like doing this, then do it! You'll be on vacation, expecting to do the "important touristy things - galleries, museums, etc." and yet, the cheesy sometimes add some of the best memories because we let our guard down and just plain have fun! No one is directing traffic for you, so do what sounds like fun to you and don't worry about the what "is right"!! I have a feeling that some of the things DH and I did on our recent trip would probably not be everyone's idea of the perfect trip, but for us, it has built memories and we really did have a wonderful time. Have a great time planning your trip! Enjoy!

Julie

nocinonut

Here it is:

http://www.theoldpalace.co.uk/banquets/history.htm

merrittm

Stoop! Stoop! Many of the "touristy" things I've done in all my travels have been hysterical if you go with the right attitude. That banquet will be as close to time travel as you can get right now. Have fun, suspend disbelief and be glad they are not staging it in "smellivision".

Patrick

OK, now I'll really go out on a limb here. I'm amused by so many people always ranting about how awful Madame Tussads is. If you go there, you probably know it is a big museum of very real looking wax statues representing various famous people from the past and present. Why would someone go if they didn't understand that? And what is there to disappoint about the place if you went expecting just that? It is hard for me to imagine that they could be any more real looking. The place is spectacularly set up, user friendly, and clean. What more would you want of a wax museum? Now don't get me wrong. If you have two days in London, I can't imagine either why you would put this at the top of your must see list -- in fact probably not in a whole week. But what is it about that place that makes everybody rant so. What did they go expecting out of it?

Oh, and this wasn't aimed at you, FromAtlanta. I agree with your assessment completely.

Actor

I am a cheesahloic. I believe in seeing the 'cheesy' sites at every place I go. Face when you travel, for pleasure,you are a 'tourist. Live with it. However, you go to a cheesaholic meeting once in a while.

I live in Manhattan and see French, British and British tourists gushing over Rockefeller Center and at trips of NBC.
Don't apologize for your cheesiness, be proud of it. YOU ARE NOT ALONE

janis

Me too, Me too! I actually go to Mme Tussaud's about every 6 or 7 years. There is a remarkable turnover in the figures represented and it really is fun as long as you get tix outside (from the little store front down the street or in advance) and don't wait in that looooooong line

Fairhope

Patrick--I am sure I am the only person to take the Conch Train in Key West and get SEA SICK!--But I loved the history.

Do ALL the "touristy" things--and enjoy! What is so terrible about being a tourist?

FromAtlanta

Patrick,
I never get offended by what you have to say. I always find your comments very constructive and polite. (Not like some others ) - I can't help commenting though on what you said about Mde Tussauds. As far as a wax museum goes, it is the best. 99% of the figures look very REAL (others - like the new Jennifer Aniston I just saw on tv are so-so) The best part of the museum is the "Garden Party" I love how that is set up. Once you get into the hall with the "Royals" It doesn't look as nice ... and then all of a sudden, it's over. I keep expecting more, but that's it. Then the cab ride was GREAT in 1997. (Maybe it was new then?) I loved it so much my friend and I asked to ride it 2 more times ... that is what I remembered and why I went back in 2002, but it was so different. It seemed so much smaller ... and the ride seemed seriously run down. I think I enjoyed Rock Circus the best, but of course it was all ready closed down by the time I got there in 2002. I can't understand why. It was much bigger than Mde Tussauds (yes, I know Rock Circus was owned by Tussauds) and I felt I got my $ worth a lot more - the animotronic show at the end (brand new in 1997) I remember being VERY impressed ... of course, I could have been very disappointed the 2nd time just like I was at Mde Tussauds. There is something about seeing somehing for the first time.

This post was much longer than necessary. Just some thoughts on my mind.

Jocelyn_P

FromAtlanta, you will probably enjoy this thread about cheesy tourist attractions:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34462003

Nice title!

Merseyheart

Oh, Rock Circus was the cheesiest! I thought that was a waste of my money (and time.) The worst part was the horrendously high volume of music they played. I hope the employees were smart enough to wear ear plugs. I didn't have any.