What to see in the UK

[zdcol71]

I am in the UK at the end of the year on holidays. Will be there for 6 weeks up to and over Christmas.
I will be going to the Ace Cafe, Donington Park, and a couple of other bike related places, but I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for car based visits, (a little left field maybe?..some Ford suggestions?.. anything really.) I am staying in London for the first couple of weeks then hiring a van and heading north to the top of Scotland and back to London for Christmas

[RSgerry]

Ace Cafe is nice. absolutely nothing around it though. there is a very interesting photo display upstairs. i was there mid morning on a weekday, so there was nothing happening, but if you check their website, they list all the various meets that occur there for the upcoming months. might be a pain getting there using public transport. i went there after collecting my hire car on the way to the M1.

there is a Ford museum, but i never made it to that, and the beauliea (spelling is very wrong..!!!) museum is not too far out of london, somewhere near southampton i believe.

besides the usual touristy things, not a lot more i can add. it is well worth taking a river cruise on the thames. it is a brilliant way to see london...an unusual perspective on many buildings and very relaxing.

[Road_Warrior]

Plenty to do in and around London, maybe also head out to see Stonehenge, take a day trip out to Bath or York perhaps.

Its going to be bloody cold and miserable that time of the year though.

[gcg2503]

Don'T forget to catch the Tube (underground train network) Jubilees line out to Canary Wharf

Get out there and get on the DLR (Docklands Light Railway ) and go from Canary Wharf to Greenwich (Cutty Sark)

From there catch the Thames Boat Cruise where they cruise up the Thames and do a little history tour

I used to do these all the time with friends/family who would stay with me whilst living in London. Sure it isnt ideal in Winter but there are nice days even in Winter trust me...lol

Also head out to Notting Hill markets on a Saturday if this coincides with your plan day wise.

The Double Decker bus tours are a must in my opinion - you really cant beat them. They were around 18-22 pounds each but allow you to hop on and off the bus many times during the same day (they also provide a free boat cruise as well)

London Eye - also a must in my opinion - hopefully its a clear day on the day you choose to do this

Stonehedge as mentioned is a must - but if you havent been there before it will surprise you how small it is!!

[GasoLane]

Your going Nth in an English winter for a holiday? Hmmm.

Make sure you go see a Castle, any Castle. You'll be surprised how big they are.

Whilst you're up that way The old Jag factory in browns Lane Coventry is now the Jaguar Heritage Museum. Or the factory itself at Castle Bromwich in Birmingham. http://www.jaguar.com/gl/en/#/experi...factory_visits

[FrogInASock]

Duxford Air Museum. War Cabinet Rooms in London. The other huge Air Museum at Cosord. Ironbridge, where can be found the world's first iron bridge (funny, that) and many historical things about the industrial age. Do the Topless Bus Tours in the major cities. Tower of London was good, but horribly ovecrowded (we went in August last year, maybe not so bad at Xmas)

[zdcol71]

Thanks guys, all good tips.
Truth be known I am originally a pom,came out as ten pound tourists with parents back in the 60s. I have been back many times, and will be staying initially in London with my brother who runs a music club in Denmark St.I think I have seen just about all the regular haunts, (will be revisiting a couple of castles. Gasolane, I have some great memories(and photos) of my kids at Urqhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness).Will be keeping my eyes open for motoring places of interest, particularly with a Ford bent to them.

[scollis]

Anfield in liverpool is a must of course apart from that in london i enjoyed the usual when i was there, london eye, big ben, river thames cruise. Go and see the crown jewels if you get the chance that was pretty good too.

[Fordman]

Dare i suggest a drive out to Cumbria, Ford Rallysport's headquarters :P

[zdcol71]

Originally Posted by scollis

Anfield in liverpool is a must of course .

There is only one reason to ever visit Anfield and thats to watch my team do you scousers again!! MUFC actally play Chelsea in London when I am there so I'd like to catch that.

[zdcol71]

Originally Posted by gcg2503

Get out there and get on the DLR (Docklands Light Railway ) and go from Canary Wharf to Greenwich (Cutty Sark)
London Eye - also a must in my opinion - hopefully its a clear day on the day you choose to do this

Stonehedge as mentioned is a must - but if you havent been there before it will surprise you how small it is!!

All of these are on the books gcg2503, the Cutty Sark was under threat last time I was there.It had burnt,very substantially I believe and is in the process(or maybe finished) of a major refurb. No government funding available apparently and only saved by a public campaign for funds.
I remember driving past Stonehenge on the way to a music festival at Donington Castle and thinking it was like a scene from Spinal Tap. (Obscure reference if you haven't seen the movie)

[zdcol71]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Its going to be bloody cold and miserable that time of the year though.

Never cold and miserable when sitting in a cosy pommy pub in front of a big fire with some "warm" English pints!!

[sgt_doofey]

Go watch an episode of Top Gear being filmed?

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by RSgerry

there is a Ford museum, but i never made it to that, and the beauliea (spelling is very wrong..!!!) museum is not too far out of london, somewhere near southampton i believe.

I'll second that, The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is well worth a visit for any petrol head, and it's situated in a beautiful part of the country, The New Forest.

Heaps to do there.


The National Motor Museum

[zdcol71]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

I'll second that, The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is well worth a visit for any petrol head, and it's situated in a beautiful part of the country, The New Forest.

Heaps to do there.


The National Motor Museum

It's on the list now, thanks
Pretty impressive building it's all housed in too, by the looks

[GK]

Imperial War Museum.

Awesome!

GK

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

Go watch an episode of Top Gear being filmed?

Fairly sure the waiting list for tickets is a couple of years long.

Royal Armoured Corps Museum?
http://www.tankmuseum.org/

[MAGPIE]

Here is a taster of The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu

[Jastel]

Walk down Park Lane, all the expensive car dealers are along there

Walk around Picadilly Square at night, see the local doing laps in their fancy cars

In Twynholm, Scotland, there is a David Coulthard Mueseum, his home town

Hendon in London has a good RAF mueseum

So does Elvington up near York

[scollis]

Originally Posted by zdcol71

There is only one reason to ever visit Anfield and thats to watch my team do you scousers again!! MUFC actally play Chelsea in London when I am there so I'd like to catch that.

without tryin to turn this into a footy thread and as the kop would say...

****** off CHELSEA FC
YOU AINT GOT NO HISTORY
5 EUROPEAN CUPS AND 18 LEAGUES
THATS WHAT WE CALL HISTORY

haha

[zdcol71]

Originally Posted by Jastel

Walk down Park Lane, all the expensive car dealers are along there

Haha, I actually did that ,the Rolls dealership has darkened windows and I was up close peering in; Was told by the glamour puss at front desk(yes, she actually came outside and spoke to me), that "it wasn't a good look for either myself, or the dealership to be ogling the showroom without coming inside" Obviously Rolls Royce talk for "Move along,pleb"!!

[zdcol71]

Originally Posted by scollis

without tryin to turn this into a footy thread and as the kop would say...

****** off CHELSEA FC
YOU AINT GOT NO HISTORY
5 EUROPEAN CUPS AND 18 LEAGUES
THATS WHAT WE CALL HISTORY

haha

You would say that to Chelsea, ....but not to us!!! mufc!!!

[Jastel]

Originally Posted by zdcol71

Haha, I actually did that ,the Rolls dealership has darkened windows and I was up close peering in; Was told by the glamour puss at front desk(yes, she actually came outside and spoke to me), that "it wasn't a good look for either myself, or the dealership to be ogling the showroom without coming inside" Obviously Rolls Royce talk for "Move along,pleb"!!

I went into some, there was no "help" for a tourist in jeans and they kept an eye on me but let me look, I was too scared to touch!!

Even took a picture or 2

[scollis]

Originally Posted by zdcol71

You would say that to Chelsea, ....but not to us!!! mufc!!!

As much as I hate them with a passion they are the 2nd most successful club in England behind the mighty reds of course

[tassie devil]

anywhere in the lake district(windermere, kendal,cockermouth) will be nice that time of the year

[max]

Ireland is a must! Dublin especially.

[RSgerry]

+1 for the Imperial War Museum. Also check out the Science Museum (its FREE!!!!), they have some awesome displays there.

If you can get to a game, do it. Doesnt matter who, although Arsenal would be the preference, obviously. I saw Millwall a few years ago and it was brilliant, but freezing.

[jackson105]

Westminster Abbey and the houses of Parliment also. And when we were there in May u could buy an all day ticket on the ferries that was 17 pound. U can hop off and on as often as u like, I think u can also use the same ticket on the busses aswell. Have an awesome time mate

[sgt_doofey]

http://www.news.com.au/travel/galler...7572398?page=1

Just found this on the news.com.au web site.