The TSF Travel Tips Thread
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4 and 6 eh?
Here are the bribery/'this is your part' places you can pop into between the interesting stuff...
Hamley's on Regent St- entry free but you won't get out of there without having to buy something. As toy shops go it is pretty cool. Tip - go later in the day so you won't have to carry purchases.
M&M store - this one baffles me but for some reason kids love it. Right on the edge of Leicester Sq, full of tourists but free and you can get away will just buying a bit of sugar.
Lego store - opposite M&M. Go early for a look (early in London is 0930) as queues can form. Not a patch on the one in Copenhagen but still pretty good if they like Lego. Free entry.
Natural History Museum/Science Museum - also free and have interactive stuff.
Biggest tip if you are with kids is to plan your day so you get to any 'touristy' attraction early. At that time of year the queues are hell otherwise and you will have to deal with grumpy kids.
As per the Rome comments don't be surprised if it is hot/very hot. London in the summer can be still unpredictable but over the last few summers sweltering temps are common. I'm talking 38 while surrounded by concrete and in a tube line. The UK was never built to deal with heat so you don't get much relief. Public transport in particular is not geared up for cooling. I stopped using the tube in summer and would rather ride my bike. You get to work just as wet but on your own terms and in a bit of space. -
@Crucial said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
Natural History Museum/Science Museum - also free and have interactive stuff.
if you have kids (or even if you dont really) these are must sees IMO...my kids were 3 & 6 when we went and they loved it, esp the NHM.
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I'm going to swim against the tide and say staying in Windsor is doable. Last time I visited London I stayed in Maidenhead and travelled in and it was no problem at all. 60 trains/day about half hour Windsor - Paddington .however the return fares will probably sting you 35-40 quid / day.
I just travelled after the rush hours. I only had a couple of days and managed to see everything, however that was probably because I lived there for 12 years and spent five of them as a driver so I know Central London very well.
One thing I would recommend if you have time is a trip down the Thames to Greenwich for lunch and get the dockland light rail back. Its not a show stopper but its a pleasant change of pace and you get a different perspective from the water - and also from the elevated rail through places like Canary Wharf.
Otherwise the touristy stuff
Both Rome and Paris are easily walked although Roman is quite hilly. Both great places just to get a map (open an app) and meander.
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@Snowy said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@Snowy we are going June/July. So Rome is going to be fucking packed.So it's going to be seriously hot and you have, what, a 4 and 6 year old? I look forward to your travel tales.
I think it is August when all of the Romans piss off to have a holiday.
11 and basically 9 by then, so not that bad!
And i live in the Tropics, i reckon I'll handle the heat
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@Virgil said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
This thread should be called ‘look at me I’m a piston wristed gibbon spending a month in Europe everyone look at me’
Keep in touch mate sounds like an awesome trip!
little from column A, little from column B
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@taniwharugby said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@Crucial said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
Natural History Museum/Science Museum - also free and have interactive stuff.
if you have kids (or even if you dont really) these are must sees IMO...my kids were 3 & 6 when we went and they loved it, esp the NHM.
I went to them four years ago and loved it, but then I'm still a big kid.
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@Crucial said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
4 and 6 eh?
Here are the bribery/'this is your part' places you can pop into between the interesting stuff...
Hamley's on Regent St- entry free but you won't get out of there without having to buy something. As toy shops go it is pretty cool. Tip - go later in the day so you won't have to carry purchases.
M&M store - this one baffles me but for some reason kids love it. Right on the edge of Leicester Sq, full of tourists but free and you can get away will just buying a bit of sugar.
Lego store - opposite M&M. Go early for a look (early in London is 0930) as queues can form. Not a patch on the one in Copenhagen but still pretty good if they like Lego. Free entry.
Natural History Museum/Science Museum - also free and have interactive stuff.
Biggest tip if you are with kids is to plan your day so you get to any 'touristy' attraction early. At that time of year the queues are hell otherwise and you will have to deal with grumpy kids.
As per the Rome comments don't be surprised if it is hot/very hot. London in the summer can be still unpredictable but over the last few summers sweltering temps are common. I'm talking 38 while surrounded by concrete and in a tube line. The UK was never built to deal with heat so you don't get much relief. Public transport in particular is not geared up for cooling. I stopped using the tube in summer and would rather ride my bike. You get to work just as wet but on your own terms and in a bit of space.The Harry Potter theme thing is supposed to be brilliant too.
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We did London with the kids last year, they loved it - stayed in a pretty reasonable apartment in Sth Ken, was such a convenient spot. We always found the tube pretty easy, but as warned about, if the temp hits 30 they turn to shit (the rails actually start buckling...)
All the London tips above are good, the 3 parks are also fun for a wander, morning job (me and the 2 oldest ran them a couple of times in the morning, really nice), paddle on those stupid aqua bike things.
We took a train out to see Warwick Castle one day, that was a good change of scene - found a great country pub for a looooong lunch afterwards that had lots of grass for the kids to run around while we are and drank in the garden.
London in a summer is so great for beer gardens - light till 11pm, great atmosphere. I miss that.
I'd echo all the thoughts re Rome - it is the 1 country in the world where none of the touristy stuff disappoints. Vatican, Forum, all amazing - don't miss the Collosseum, you can just stand there on the concrete seats and just feel the atmosphere of the place, its fcking amazing.
Hopefully Venice is above water when you get there! Interesting city, not sure what you'd do there after a day or 2 though. Dave in Florence is obviously good, as are the leather markets if that's your thing.
I was lucky enough to be in Siena for the Paleo (completely by chance), holy shit that is insane.
My only tip for eating in Italy is if the menu is more than 2 pages, go somewhere else. There are a few horrible chain places that try to do everything, pizza, pasta, burgers, american stuff - and it's all done horribly. Italian food should be simple!
Re Harry Potter, I have also heard good things, but booking months in advance is apparently a must
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@mariner4life With kids that age it should be owesome. Get them into the history before you go. Rome is seriously cool.
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@Snowy said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
Knowing how old your kids are makes me feel like adding to the ageing thread. How did they get so old? Or how did I?
you're telling me.
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@voodoo said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
We took a train out to see Warwick Castle one day, that was a good change of scene - found a great country pub for a looooong lunch afterwards that had lots of grass for the kids to run around while we are and drank in the garden.
I love castles, Warwick Caste was one of my faves, Leeds Castle in Kent was also awesome, especially with a moat it looked more like a 'Castle'
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Two things:
@mariner4life said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
Anyway, we've got a heap of people here who live, or have lived, all over the world. Might be good to have a thread where people going on holidays (thinly disguised "I'm going on holiday fuckers")
#humblebrag
Next year I'm doing a month in Europe.
Fluffybunny
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Off peak day weekday returns from Windsor by coach or train are £12. You can get family supersavers at weekends which are about that for a family of 4:
https://www.omio.co.uk/coaches/london/windsorLots of good stuff in London is free: https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/budget-london/101-free-things-to-do-in-london
Lots of other good stuff in London is 2 for 1 if you travel by train: https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london
I am big fan of this website/app when trip planning: https://www.visitacity.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt8KdgOms5gIViaztCh1sPgTOEAAYASAAEgL-zvD_BwE
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@Snowy said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
@canefan said in The TSF Travel Tips Thread:
Do the Roman Forum tour, and the catacombs are meant to be good. The Vatican is worth a look and the Cistine Chapel
All of that is worth doing and again walkable. Be careful where you eat (price wise) and be wary of gypsies in summer.
@mariner4life You beat me to it.The old "throw the baby trick" is common and I have seen it more than once.
The money changer one is a good one too. Don't take your wallet out for anyone
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In Rome we stayed in the old town and ate around there, it was frikken excellent. I'll try dig up the names. That was in November for the ABs test and it got bloody hot during the day still.
In London, we've got a shed and a garage en bloc, I'll leave the back gate unlocked. Only 20 minutes into London Bridge! But seriously we have a couple of spare bedrooms at the moment too.
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London. Well, where to start.
Firstly, commuting in/out with kids vs staying in the city is not a big deal. If it saves you a ton, then just do it. As an aside, Windsor is a lovely town with a buzz to it, and a castle, so probably worth checking it out anyway.
Borough Market is always first on my list for guests. It's a bit more of a tourist trap these days as opposed to a market, but it's still a fantastic spot. Afterwards, tie up your shoelaces and walk along the south bank of the Thames to Tower Bridge. There will be something going on there (often small festivals on there during the summer) and then you can walk across Tower Bridge to the Tower of London. I've not been in there so can't comment, but doubt it's worth the entrance fee's.
Of the tourist traps, I'd say London Eye is the one that gets the best reviews from people who have been there. But book in advance as queue's can be off the charts. The Museums around Kensington way are excellent as well, but gotta get there for opening. Great for kids too, and (when inevitably) you have a shit day or two weather wise, these are great spots to hit. You gotta check out Harrod's too, as it must be done.
I've not been to Camden Market in years, but when I was younger I spent plenty of time there as it was so eclectic. Also always worth grabbing a curry in Brick Lane too which isn't far from there.
Last piece of advice, Hyde Park. Like Central Park in NY, it's just a massive fucking park in the middle of the city. But if here when British Summer Time festival is on, go and check it out. Some massive acts (Pearl Jam confirmed next year (I'm going but no spare tix)), but on the off days (no massive act), you can go in and wander around and ther ewill be some smaller bands playing. Well worth doing. Then you can finish off by walking out and strolling up Edgware Road, which must be the most cosmopolitan street in the world.
This could go on for hours, but the above is some initial thoughts.
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