"Stonehenge is really just a pile of stones"
The one subjective remark on an otherwise useful list. An idea would be to combine Stonehenge with Avebury and learn about the history of both places as they both have alot to offer.

>>5. You need to go to the bar of a pub to be served - don't sit for 45 minutes at a table and complain about the service<<

5a) don't sit in a restaurant for 40 minutes after you have finished your meal seething because that #@!^&amp; waiter won't bring the bill. If you want the bill - <b>ask</b> for it.

Be sure to tell your English friends that George Bush and Tony Blair have agree that the UK will become the 51st State of the Union. They even decided on a name -- they're going to call it
Bloklahoma. :-) ((b))

1. I second the post from Lauralamb: DO eat at Rules. Have a Pimms Cup, the lobster bisque is excellent, do have dessert. Where else can you get the Queen of Puddings?

2. DO go the Borough Market on Friday or Saturday for lunch. Have a grilled cheese sandwich for me.

3. Do buy tickets for attractions, plays, shows ahead of time so you don't have to wait in line (eg. The London Eye, Tower of London, etc).

&gt;so a large coke for instance as served in the US, contains about a pint of water and half a wine-glass of Coka Cola&lt;

True, but we buy it in the quart size.

((I))

Tube escalators actually have invisible lanes. Stand on the right side and pass on the left (just like a German Autobahn.)

But do drive on the left and overtake on the right (just a reminder)...:)

Americans may drive on the right side of a road, but British drive on the CORRECT side of the road. Don't argue with that.

Manners actually matter in England. That means queuing up (lining up) and giving up seats to the elderly, handicap and pregnant - or just those who look like they need a seat.

1. if you're american, don't walk around telling everyone within the first ten seconds of meeting that you did not vote for george bush. you might think that this will be endearing but it is not. even though we may agree with you, this is just weird and unnatural. you are visiting another country and it is not all about you and your politics.

2. yes, people here are highly unsociable, miserable and cynical. but be yourself anyway. you might just brighten someone's miserable day.

3. you might think it's quaint and nice here but the majority of people are dreaming about moving away.

And take your baseball cap off when sitting down to dinner. Please.

Just because you're not driving don't think the &quot;wrong side of the road&quot; thing doesn't apply to you. When crossing a street be sure to look the opposite way you think you should for oncoming traffic.

I'm still chuckling about avoiding anything with &quot;Ye Olde&quot; in its name. That's why we avoided &quot;Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese&quot; for years, but finally went (with a chip on our shoulder). The food was really great and the service and atmosphere were even better. We loved the place.

Be aware that at many restaurants you cannot sit at the bar and just have a drink. Some have a license that prohibits that, which also explains why so few restaurants have an actual bar.

Enjoying the humor here. . .

&quot;Manners actually matter in England. That means queuing up (lining up) and giving up seats to the elderly, handicap and pregnant - or just those who look like they need a seat.&quot;

Yes indeed. And this is a MOST annoying custom. If one more young person gets out of an &quot;elderly&quot; seat on the tube to offer it to me, he's going to get an umbrella handle you know where.

I second the warning about places using the word &quot;fayre&quot;. In any such place, the fare is likely to struggle to be considered even fair; the prices will be anything but.

Don't eat at Rules - it's rubbish aimed at yanks.

There is no theatyre dress code - where what you like

Remember that in Britain only small children wear shorts

We are wise to the whole maple leaf badge thing - you're not fooling anyone

It is customary when entering a tube carriage to shake hands with the other passengers.

Avoid the West End unless absolutely necessary

The best plays are often not in the big west end theatres but in places like the Royal court or The Bush.

The Opera at the ENO is laughably cheap - at Covent Garden it is stupidly dear.

Never ever have anything to do with Penge.

Changing of the Guards is the biggest disappointent out there

Aren't opinions wonderful?

We were introduced to Rules by a good friend -- a London native and now retired executive who still thinks it's the finest restaurant in London. Every year he still takes us there, and we've gone on our own. We are often surrounded by &quot;local area businessmen&quot;. But I guess they're really all &quot;yanks&quot; in disquise pretending to be Brits so no one will know they're eating at this horrible place. What's really surprising is how many patrons enter speaking in a British accent and are greeted by name by the long time host. Leave to those Americans to put on a good show.

I'll have to tell Brian that he and Margaret are &quot;yanks&quot;, he'll get a big kick out of it.

If they are english then they shoud be ashamed of themselves. They'll be going to Madame Tussauds next.

&gt;Never ever have anything to do with Penge.&lt;

Not even via Rumpole?

((I))

Never call 'it' a fanny pack.