Vacation in Britain

[Drac]

I wonder what that is all about? In Britain we tend to work to live, but in America you seem to live to work. Then, because you have so little off-time to devote to a holiday you rush madly from pillar to post.

It is a failing of ours. Not quite as bad in Amy and me. We don't have kids so, unlike many of my co-workers, we don't rush much after work. Both of our jobs allow for leaving it at the office when the 5 o'clock whistle goes. We don't take vacations to relax, we don't have high stress lives. We take vacations to learn and see.

What makes us seem a bit rush-rush is that we aren't the tour the country side sort of people. We are city folk. Our idea of roughing it is a hotel with no Wi-Fi. Shopping is a recreational sport for us normally and combat training on sale days. So our intrests look like people trying to squeeze something into every moment but we take it slowly so that we can enjoy what we do. We don't expect to do it all in one trip. WE WILL BE BACK!!

Elizabeth I was inprisoned there, her mother was inprisoned and excuted there, Lady Jane Grey was inprisoned and executed there. The Tower isn't a good place to see it is required for Amy

Outside of the two places for me above I am looking forward to going through the markets and food stores at a leasurely pace. Food shopping and eating is one of my biggest passions.

Jim

[Pleater]

I'm curious about this statement. What is it about London in July that's not fun (presumably as opposed to other months)?

Maybe I am just a country girl at heart, but London in July seems hot, crowded, bad tempered and uncomfortable. The only worse place is London in August.

Perhaps it is just that I am armpit high to straphanging men on the tube.

If you have to do the tourist sites, early is better - children slow down the families. Be prepared for crowds and queues.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[EagleJCS]

When I was over for the World Scout Jamboree in July/August 2007, we had three days of touring in & around London before the big event. We spent about 1/2 day or less in six locations. My troop went to Eton/Windsor the first day, the Tower and Greenwich the second day, and St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey and the British Museum the third day. As it was, we didn't have enough time to read all of the exhibit descriptions, etc. We just hit the highlights at each place. I personally could have spent a full day at any one of the locations I visited. For a Tudor historian, the Tower, Westminster Abbey and Windsor would probably be more than enough. Transportation (coaches - tour buses for the North Americans) and lodging (in Hertfordshire) was arranged for us, so we didn't have to worry about figuring out the Underground, etc. or waiting for public transportation.

For someone accustomed to July in the Ohio River Valley (high temps in the mid to upper 90's F and humidity running about the same - 80% and better) the weather in London/Essex was fantastic - and they were having a 'heat wave' (high temps in the mid to upper 80's F and humidity approaching 50%)! In fact, the guys in my troop, and those from locations further south and west of us in the U.S., needed jackets and occasionally long pants in the mornings.

Whatever your decision, enjoy the trip.

[seanachie]

I wonder what that is all about? In Britain we tend to work to live, but in America you seem to live to work. Then, because you have so little off-time to devote to a holiday you rush madly from pillar to post.

To me it is a shortsighted policy and in the long run, hurts the business. So in that respect your guaranteed annual holiday time in Europe is a great improvement over ours. There are companies here that offer fantastic benefit packages, really good perqs and what a surprise most of the employees seem extremely dedicated and loyal.

[seanachie]

Argyll and Inverness anytime except the deepest of winter months. .

After this note I hope I get lucky, I will be in Inverness 19 January. I have a ticket on the Caledonian Express to return to London and I hope the service is running.

[ThistleDown]

After this note I hope I get lucky, I will be in Inverness 19 January. I have a ticket on the Caledonian Express to return to London and I hope the service is running.

Yes, I recall the thread about your trip. I, too, hope you get lucky. Right now the temp is just up from freezing and snow is in the forecast for the next few days. The last half of last January was not too pleasant and if we get a repeat this year you will definitely want to give a pass to a battlefield saunter.

[Jock Scot]

I cannot agree more with Thistledown and others, darting around like a headless chicken for 5 days trying to see the UK will get you nowhere and will most certainly cause you frustration and ultimate disappointment if you are not careful. As a local I am really the last person, in many ways, to advise on what to see and how to do it, but there has been some really good advice given in the various threads here. What I can say, however, is that even after 70 years of pretty extensive travel around the UK, I know full well that I am nowhere even close to seeing all that our small country has to offer.

[ThistleDown]

I What I can say, however, is that even after 70 years of pretty extensive travel around the UK, I know full well that I am nowhere even close to seeing all that our small country has to offer.

Just so, Jock. I haven't yet seen all the bits and pieces I have on my close-to list, let alone those a hundred miles away. Giving up England entirely, I would devote two months just to attacking the top ten best places in Scotland on my list -- and I live almost half my life here

[Downunder Kilt]

As many others have said Drac and obviously as you have come to realise 5 days is just not enough. I spent 5 weeks in England, Wales and Scotland and still felt like I had rushed around like a mad idiot. I found that I could have spent a week each in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh. I also found that everytime you went driving through the countryside there was some interesting village, monument etc that would sideline you for at least a couple of hours.
Wherever you decide to go Drac, have a great time and I can assure you that you will want to return

[Drac]

From what everyone is saying I take it that it is not worth it to come for a week? I am getting constant 5 days is enough.

Should I put this off 30 years until I can spend a month or two? You all keep saying anything else will be a disappointment.

Jim