Calling all Americans..... <BR> <BR>I work in the UK for a global company (I'm English) and after a recent re-organisation, I'm now part of a small team divided in half between London and Washington DC. The US half of the team (all 2 of them) are coming over for our first team meeting in a few weeks' time. Neither of them have been to London before, and we are planning some trips for the evenings to show them around. <BR> <BR>We've planned a trip on the London Eye, but we want to take them to places which are a bit different and which are very "English" - things which you wouldn't do in the US, and not just the obvious tourist sights. <BR> <BR>We are also aiming to take them to Southall, to my favourite Indian restaurant, but after that we are stuck. <BR> <BR>What we don't know (being English) is what things are seen as very English things to do by Americans, so this is where I need your help. <BR> <BR>What would you love to do, if you were coming to London, especially if you were being shown around by a local so it would be easier to go somewhere you might not go to on your own? <BR> <BR>It doesn't have to be just an evening thing, as they will be here on the Saturday as well, before flying back on the Sunday. <BR> <BR>Thanks to everyone. <BR> <BR>Anna

How nice of you to want to show them a good time! If I were going to London I'd want to go the V&A, the Tate, look at the changing of the guard, visit Harrods, Hyde Park - do they still make speeches at speakers corner? - have tea in a really nice place, visit the Portobello Road, do all the touristy things. But I wouldn't want to over-book my time either. I'd try to leave room for just meandering and taking in the general feel of the neighborhoods. And there's always some unexpected discovery to explore. Now you've got me wanting to visit London again!

I don't know the seasonality of it.., but if there is anyway to get to a traditional English football match. What we call soccer can not compare to the footballl matches in Europe. I have been to two matches in all my years.., and would do anything to go again!

I remember being in London a few years ago and was absolutely enthralled with afternoon tea at a restaurant in Piccadilly Circus. It might not have been a gourmet feast by expert standards, but as a tourist I just loved it. I don't remember the name of the place, but it was a big, cavernous place - probably anywhere in the area would be good.

Great idea Mitch but, unfortunately, they are coming over mid July and that's right out of football season. I'll bear it in mind for another time though.

I don't know the gender of your guests, or if it matters..... I loved going punting in Cambridge and then having a few pints at a dark, smoky English pub, the Eagle is the one I remember. <BR> <BR>Wandering around in Picadilly is great, loads of tourists, but the atmosphere is fabulous. <BR> <BR>If football is out of season, how about Rugby (not sure what the season is for that....) Cricket? Those seem very English to me.....

High tea <BR>We're all fans of English mysteries, so anything to do with the Old Bailey, Jack the Ripper, buried bodies, etc. <BR>A really good tour of Parliament (know an MP that could host it?) <BR>Horse racing (yeah, we do it here but not with cool hats) <BR>

On our last trip to London we had lunch at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, an historic pub in Fleet Street, I think. It has huge appeal for Americans just because it's so old and has been in continuous business for a jillion years. Also, I think Mark Twain visited it. And we were captivated by the Englishness of the lunchers there -- young financial types who seemed to exude Englishness, mixing unconcernedly with tourists. <BR> <BR>I think they'll also love the language differences!

Take them for a walk down the Mall from Buckingham Palace, ending at Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster; a boat ride from the Parliament building to the Tower, a stop or at least a walk-by of St. Paul's and the British Museum, afternoon tea other than at a hotel or store (I loved Maids of Honour)--all the things we in the U.S. have always heard of but not seen. We tend to think anything 100 years old is ancient and frequently bulldoze it down to build a parking lot.

Two things, both mentioned above, but I thought I would elaborate, even though it may seem like I am obsessed with Hugh Grant or something, since they both involve his movies: <BR> <BR>First, I agree that high tea is very "English" to most Americans, and one of the best I ever had was in the Crown Hotel in Old Amersham, where certain scenes from the movie "Four Weddings and a Funeral" were filmed (includes the first Hugh/Andie "bedding" - - they will actually show you the room, if you ask!) <BR> <BR>Details on a previous thread: "Ring in tow"... <BR> <BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/crossro...messagesframe& <BR> <BR>Second, from the movie Notting Hill, Portobello Road, for bookshops, antique stalls or whatever - - would scratch an itch for lots of Americans. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Take them to Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. The pubs spill out into the streets with the young and trendy

The 2 things I enjoyed the most about London was the walking tours and the pubs.

Sounds like tea, pubs and walks are good bets - I'll work on those suggestions. Any more ideas, especially for something a little out of the ordinary?

I'm sure you can get other eclectic ideas - - but wouldn't "out of the ordinary" not fit your mold? of "perceived as very &lt;&lt;English&gt;&gt;"? <BR>

Hi Anna, <BR>Sorry, high tea is an absolute must. Some Americans really get into the double-decker bus thing, too. Seeing Big Ben from that spot near the Thames is something most of us have seen on the telly here, so if we were to do it, it would feel like we were in "the frame". Fleet Street, Carnaby Street, some of the places we've heard of but not seen might be cool, of course just riding past Windsor Castle & the Tower would be great. Watching polo might be different... <BR>BC

By out of the ordinary, I suppose I was just trying to avoid responses like - take them to see Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. <BR> <BR>I've already had some responses that I was thinking of as out of the ordinary -such as afternoon tea (you see, we really don't eat afternoon tea in England any more, so to me that's way out of the ordinary), and the English Mysteries suggestion. <BR> <BR>Perhaps I shouldn't have put that, because what is out of the ordinary to me, may not be to you, and vice versa.

Anna, <BR>Don't worry too much; you're in the process of getting a samplin/cross-section of what different Americans from different venues would find interesting, which is ultimately your goal. <BR> <BR>Something I neglected to mention, but someone here in my office raised is Harrod's. (Now the person mentioning it is a real "shopoholic", a shopping addict, but it sparked something in my memory.) Our cable TV has a travel channel & they did a kind of behind-the-scenes story on Harrod's I found fascinating. I had no idea that their oldest employee is now Mr.Fayad's revered personal messenger, that occasionally some deliveries are made in a horse-drawn carriage to this day, and was simply ASTOUNDED by the food there & the number of people who eat there and/or get take-away every day. The place is almost like a whole city unto itself! <BR> <BR>Hope these posts help, Anna. If nothing else, Americans do tend to be opinionated on this board! <BR>Best Wishes, <BR>BC

Harrods is a great idea. I don't mind opinionated - it's better than hmmm, well, maybe, no, perhaps, or would this be better? <BR> <BR>Thanks for all your ideas. Keep them coming, and I'll let you all know what we eventually decide to do - and whether they enjoy themselves!

Hi Anna, <BR> <BR>We've been to London over 20 times and we always try to run over to Covent Garden...seems different every time we go......If you could get them in to see the Ceremony of the Keys, you would really give them something to remember......

How about theater? Anything interesting showing in Leicester Sq? A ride on the tube could be fun (they can compare it to the Washington Metro system). How about a 'chance' spotting of some royalty... Check their public schedule and see if you can show up with your cohorts in tow. Remind them to look right when crossing the street! <BR> <BR> <BR>