Something a big different
 

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>

Anna, <BR>For something out of the ordinary and certainly something no American visiting London would expect might be a visit to Little Venice adjacent to the Warwick Avenue tube station on the Bakerloo line. Little Venice and the Regent's canal is certainly out of the ordinary. Another advantage in visiting the area is "Crockers" at 24 Aberdeen Place near Little Venice. It's one of London's few and finest surviving gin palaces (shades of Hogarth!). Also in the area is the Warrington at 93 Warrington Crescent, a beautiful pub/restaurant featuring Thai cuisine. The whole area is charming; residential with lovely town houses, well worth a visit.

I agree that the pubs, double decker buses, high tea things sound very British. I live in DC and of course we have pubs here, mainly Irish, but it's not quite the same. This isn't for London exactly and I don't know of an exact venue, but I would think it very nice to have a tour of some grand mansion with beautiful English gardens--sort of like that old Churchill place outside London, forget its name. For something out of the ordinary and English, I would like to meet Prince Charles, I think he's a real scream. Could you arrange that?

Hey Anna.., another sporting event, not sure if your visitors or even you play.., but a round of golf at a famous London area course would always make me happy!

Second about golfing near London, Last year I arranged for some golf fans to play at Royal Blackwell golf course (supposed the oldest in U,K, reportedly Henry the eithth played there also). So far, they still rave about the experience.

Anna, on my first trip to England my cousin took me on a nighttime driving tour of the city. On such a short trip, and with everyone chiming in with so many absolute "musts," this is a good way to take your guests around. It frees daytime hours for activities you can't do at night; if you make it an after-dinner excursion the traffic is lighter; and Parliament, Big Ben and many other must-see sights are even more gorgeous at night anyway! I've done this not only in London but also in Bangkok, and it's a great way to steal some time on a short trip. <BR> <BR>Assuming they fit in with your guests' interests, I'd second the votes for Covent Garden and St. Paul's and add votes for the Tower tour and a concert at St. Martin In The Fields if there's a good one; eating at the Cafe in the Crypt is great fun, too. The changing of the guard didn't do a thing for me, but I guess I'm in the minority there. <BR> <BR>There's WAY too much to do and see in such a short time, so you really can't go wrong--whatever you do is bound to leave them hungry for a return trip! Have a great time playing tour guide, and I hope they return the favorite when you get to go to DC!

depending on ur guests' tastes, tickets to a play at the globe theater might be a good idea--even the 5-pound standing-room tkts, not only bc most people in shakespeare's time attended plays that way, but also bc i hear many people leave before the ending after getting a taste. my mom was very disappointed at not being able to see macbeth there (it sold out on opening night). also, almost everyone in the behind-the-scenes tour of the globe the day i went was american (and dressed in black, for some reason).

I too am english and here are a few of the things that I have taken foreign visitors to with excellent results:- <BR> <BR>1) Bushey deer park near hampton court, easy to get to and very beautiful with fabulous deer in it, not as well known as it should be <BR> <BR>2) Kenwood house on hampstead heath, fabulous house with great paintings on the heath with fabulous views of london (I cheat a bit and get a post card from the tate of constable's famous paintings from the haeth and play spot the diffrence) <BR> <BR>3) somerset house. Just brilliant. Wonderful art in a wonerful setting and not too well known yet (but it will be!) <BR> <BR>4) Wimbledobn village, literally a village in london with the common behind, you can go horse riding and the 16trh century pubs all have good food. I recommend the crooked billet and cazenove house is a country house hotel in london, have adrink in the piano bar. <BR> <BR>5) Highgate cemetary, or if its the right day (check time out)Kensal Green, go when the catacombs are open, spooky indeed! <BR> <BR>6) Kew/chiswick/strand on the green to twickenham, along the thames, lots of pubs, great views and quiet <BR> <BR>I hope this helps <BR> <BR>DAvid <BR>Who clearly cannot type <BR> <BR>6) MAyfair and especially shepherds market (no not for that!). Very much what americans think london is like <BR> <BR> <BR>

Are other Brits allowed to suugest or just Americans? <BR> <BR>I hope thisbhasnt been mentioned as I am at work so I have just skimmed teh thread, but how about a night at the Dog Races. <BR> <BR>Many of my colleagues go of an evening, and it's a very english thing... <BR> <BR>And perhaps more down to earth than the horse racing and less expensive and they would meet some real brits rather than the more internation feel of horse races..? <BR> <BR>Just an idea. <BR> <BR>Punting is good idea, I think someone mentioned it. <BR> <BR>Also depending on ages, a few markets, pick from Camden, Spitalfields, Notting Hill/ Portabello Road etc... <BR> <BR>

Hi Kavey - of course other Brits are allowed, I just thought Americans would have a different idea of Britishness and I was interested to know what it was. I love your idea of going to the dog races. I've never been in London, though - where do your colleagues go? <BR> <BR>Unfortunately, so much of their time has now been booked up in meetings (some going on into the evening - huh!), but we should have 3 free evenings, one of which we will use to go on the Eye - and probably a walk along the South Bank of the Thames to Tower Bridge. <BR> <BR>Thanks everyone for your help - I won't be able to use many of your suggestions, but they've really helped get me thinking.

The best laid plans of mice and men..... <BR> <BR>Well, no-one can say I didn't try! They arrived last Monday am and, not surprisingly, were too tired to go out Monday night. <BR> <BR>Tuesday, I'd organised a surprise - a trip on the London Eye. They had no idea we were going on it until I picked up the tickets just before we joined the queue. When I produced a disposable camera each from my bag, they were over the moon. That was definitely the highlight of the week, despite the atrocious weather. Then we got soaked walking to a Turkish restaurant nearby, but the food more than made up for that. We didn't do the also planned stroll along the Thames - it was just too wet. <BR> <BR>Wednesday we worked late (boo), but we did take them out to lunch in a 14th century country pub (we went to our Bracknell office for the day), which was also a popular choice. <BR> <BR>Thursday we had a beer in a fairly traditional pub, followed by a big team dinner in a place called Porters in Covent Garden. Very bangers and mash and steak and kidney pudding. Again, a popular choice. <BR> <BR>Friday afternoon and Saturday they were free, and it seems both had friends in London who they met up with and did their own thing. <BR> <BR>They had a great time, but I didn't get a chance to use any of your suggestions. Never mind, I'm sure there'll be a next time. Thanks again for all your help.

Take them to a Football match, piss on the backs of those seated in front of you because you can't get to a W.C. and then riot after said match. <BR> <BR>

just sounded cool...

Hi Anna; <BR> <BR>Sounds like everyone has given you good ideas - Could I impose on you for the name of the Indian restaurant in Southall? We will arriving next week, and my husband's mouth is already watering at the thought of the Indian restaurants...where we live it is a two hour drive to the nearest curry.

Anna, <BR> <BR>What a great host you were! I really like the disposable camera idea. I frequently entertain out of town business guests for our company here in the SF bay area and will definately incorporate that into my bag of tricks!