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Tokyo Williams Regular user NYC 126 Posts |
Greetings all...
I'm going to be in Edinburgh for two weeks in late July/early August for a friend's wedding. While both my partner and I are in no financial position to globetrot (or do much of anything, really), we've decided to make a vacation out of it since neither of us has seen the UK outside of your less than scenic airports. As a result, we'll be spending just under a week in Edinburgh (filled with wedding activities, but with some free time) and the same in London. As a result, I thought I'd ask some of our brethren across the pond for some suggestions on things to do in or around both of these cities. I'm posting this here because, along with the usual tourist itineraries, I was hoping that my fellow bizarrists might also point me towards the strange and unusual. They need not be magic related (the Skirt indulges my hobby, but she's not exactly a connoisseur), and the cheaper the better (as I'm still trying to figure out what or whose body parts I'm going to have to sell to pay for the almost conspiratorially over-priced UK flights this season). Also, if anyone has inside info on cheap accommodations in London town, that would also be much appreciated. Right now, it's looking like hostels and EasyHotels for us, which is a daunting prospect for someone who is both 6'4" and hates the club scene. Anyhoo...thank you much in advance for any information you can provide. If any of you would rather send items directly to me rather than post, you're more than welcome to reach me at tokyowilliams(at)gmail(dot)com.
I have nothing to say
And I am saying it And that is poetry. -John Cage |
Leslie Melville Special user Blackpool-U.K. 708 Posts |
If you do nothing else -take the 'City of the Dead' evening tour of Greyfriars Churchyard! Very spooky! - You will learn about the very real MacKenzie Poltergeist and the Covenanter's Prison. Lots of interesting bodies buried there, too!
The evening tour of 'Mary King's Close' is also quite interesting - providing you are not expecting it to be too spooky! The tour takes you to the city beneath the old town! If it's on when you are there, also try to get tickets for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo; it takes place in the courtyard of Edinburgh Castle - it is a fine military/musical spectacular. Have a wonderful time - it's a great city! Whilst I have no personal experience of it - there is a very good 'Jack the Ripper' tour in London - look out for the promotion in 'What's On'. Leslie
Stories....?....That's telling!
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PROF BC Inner circle 1445 Posts |
I can vouch for the Ripper tour in London. Meet at the Tower tube station with five pounds most any evening. Very good. You can pick up a 'Walking Tours' brochure in the lobby of most hotels in the City and get all the information from that. In fact, there are dozens of walking tours of London (Ghost walks to Beatles walks), and all are quite worth the time and five pound note. If you are there on a Thursday or Saturday, I can warmly recommend the Southwark Market. Just walk across London Bridge around noon, and you'll see it on your right about five hundred feet past the south end of the bridge. Food, produce, some live entertainment (often ad lib), and a really splendid time.
Walk to the top of St. Paul's Cathedral. Take the Number 11 bus from St. Paul's heading west, and you will pass all of the most famous sights in London (Trafalgar Square, Parliament, Westminster, Victoria Station, Sloane Street, King's Road, World's End). Get off at World's End, jump on the Number 11 going back and see it all again. Buy the 7-day Oyster card. It's a bargain (if you are going to be there for 7 days) and allows you unlimited access to the public transportation (Bus and Tube). You'll probably need no more than the zone 1-2 pass if you are staying in London proper. Zone 1-2 will take you to Chelsea, Hampstead Heath, and all the way out to Greenwich (which you should also see). If you have a sweet tooth, visit Mr. Humbug's sweet shop in the Marketplace at Greenwich, and do take the walk up to the Royal Observatory. There's a beautiful park beyond the Observatory, too, where the Del Toro Wolfman was filmed, and they play cricket there on weekends (often to the accompaniment of a band in the Victorian era bandstand). In Edinburgh, think about eating at The Witchery by the Castle. You'll enjoy the atmosphere, and the haggis isn't bad, either. DO NOT MISS the natural history museum in Edinburgh, a genuinely splendid experience with roots deep in the Victorian world. There's an interesting Camera Obscura at the top of the Royal Mile (near the castle and the Witchery) if you are interested. You'll also want to take the tour of Holyrood (pronounced Holly-rood) at the other end of the Royal Mile from the castle (provided HM isn't in residence when you are there). The history of the place is quite fascinating.
Phasmologist
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LebanonCircle Special user London, UK 908 Posts |
Ok, my top tips for London -
The Wellcome Collection - free and full of odd stuff including shrunken head and the torture chair - http://www.wellcomecollection.org/ Highgate Cemetery for a quiet afternoon in the most Gothic burial ground you'll ever see - http://www.highgate-cemetery.org/ The Last Tuesday Society - the picture says it all! http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/ And there's always the Lebanon Circle studio, of course! Regards, Dan |
PROF BC Inner circle 1445 Posts |
. . . and all of Dan's recommendations are within zones 1-2. In fact, the Archway station for Highgate Cemetery is the farthest you can travel in that direction before entering into zone 3.
And if I'm not mistaken, Lebanon magic is on the way to Greenwich in Deptford . . . Dan?
Phasmologist
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
You might also want to see Andy Nyman's Ghost Stories in the West End. And, I think comedy magicians Barry and Stuart are doing a show in the Edinburgh Fringe. It is called 98% Seance, and it sounds like it could be a lot of fun.
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Balaram Special user 904 Posts |
The British Museum is a must--plan a full day, and that's just for the mummies and select bits--the Crystal Skull, Easter Island statue, the Elgin Marbles, Lindow Man, Rosetta Stone (the original and a faux replica you can put your hands on), you'll never cover it all. Here is the JTR tour we took, highest recommendations, BOOK AHEAD http://www.jack-the-ripper-tour.com/
If you want to see North London, the former Colney Hatch Asylum was a highlight for me, about 1hr 15min by tube from central London. If you want to go, PM me and I will give you the contact for the local historian who gives tours--you can't enter much of the complex now, but the grounds are open to the public. Near-by New Southgate Cemetery once held the mass grave for the asylum residents--however, this area has been covered over with soil, and new graves are being placed on top now. So it goes... And Highgate Cemetery is the cemetery described in DRACULA! |
Tokyo Williams Regular user NYC 126 Posts |
See...this is why I didn't bother posting on a travel site.
Thank all of you for the excellent ideas. My itinerary runneth over (but don't let that stop anybody from posting more suggestions).
I have nothing to say
And I am saying it And that is poetry. -John Cage |
IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
From liverpool street station, gun street, then up to shoreditch - the ten bells pub, original ripper pub, and they serve absinthe...
just walk around london and remember to look up! you'll see loads of interesting things... get the number 11 bus, and just jump off whenever you see anything exciting, you'll be taken from liverpool street station through to Victoria, you'll pass loads of interesting places... you can also try the national gallery, tate modern, natural history museum...oh and pop into covent garden for a tea or coffee in the charles dickens coffee shop then head in Treadwells book shop...
I've asked to be banned
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