1st Trip to England - Currency Question

[betsyboop]

The London Eye sounds like fun!
I'm not sure about the museums, since we'll have a 17yo and 11yo with us, we may have to just pick one.
Do you have any suggestions for a good place for lunch?

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

If you want a sit down meal there are loads of places (can't recommend anywhere, we do self catering so we've never done it) but I would grab some sandwiches and have a picnic in the park. The choice is infinite. Hope someone else can help you better than this.

 

[carolfoy]

The London Eye sounds like fun!
I'm not sure about the museums, since we'll have a 17yo and 11yo with us, we may have to just pick one.
Do you have any suggestions for a good place for lunch?

Theres a rainforest cafe in shaftesbury avenue and there are loads of nice pubs, I'd say go for a real British pub meal, have a pint of old english ale and a hot pot or shepherds pie! or if you want to be really British there are great Indian restaurants at Brick Lane

 

[Dimplenose]

I usually eat at TGI Friday's near Picadilly Circus if I'm in London for the day, or if I want a cheaper meal Pizza Hut do an all you can eat buffet at lunchtimes for around £5 a person plus drinks (there's one on The Strand but there are a lot about!)

Although very good I'd give the Science Museum and Natural History Museum a miss if you are short of time as a lot of their exhibits are not specific to UK or London. The British Museum is good but my children (12 and 15) can only cope with about 2 hours culture at a time! But you can easily fill your time sight seeing. Tower of London is very interesting, but food in their cafe expensive.

As you've got children I'd recommend Warwick Castle over Blenheim if you have to choose just one.

By the way which side of Birmingham are you staying?

Libby

 

[mehmetdan]

If you want a good meal try china town....you'll love it. Also make sure you purchase a travel card for zones 1 - 4 so that you can get around quickly. If you fancy something arty go to camden market.

 

[UKVermonter]

Don't make the same mistake as I did the first time I came To England, I had exchanged to British pounds and got alot of £50 notes, I'm sure at bigger stores you won't have any problem spending them but try and buy fish and chips from a takeaway shop and hand them a £50 note and they will refuse it, unlike the states where you can buy something that is $5 an hand them a $100 bill and won't blink a eye, here they are so worried about fake money they have pens they use to check and even lights they put the money under to check for fakes. never get anything over £20 notes to be safe.

 

[angel659]

Thank god we still have our british pound.

You will love London. Check out the Natural History Museum its free and the grounds are beautiful. Apparently London Dungoens are good and have a look St Pauls Catherdral where Dianna got married its lovely.

Its probably too far from where your staying but Cornwall has some lovely scenery the beaches are beautiful and Devon has some lovely waterfalls and moors you can look at. If you do go try thier cornish tea (clotted cream and scones with a cup of tea its lovely and thier traditional cornish pasties) I love Cornwall its beautiful and cant wait to go back next year.

Here is a pic of Whipsnade Beach at Newquay Cornwall

 

[aes74]

I love traveling to Europe! We went to France at Christmastime and had a wonderful time. I have desperately wanted to go to England but we couldnt afford it this last time because of the exhange rate. I live here in FL so I see the Brits ponying up big $$$ for stuff here! They make out great!

Thinking about doing the houseswap thing, we live on the water here in Florida with a nice big backyard, so maybe someone will want to switch with us.

Have a GREAT time!!

 

[betsyboop]

Thank you all for the great responses!

We're getting lots of excellent ideas!

Can anybody tell me realistically how long it will take to drive from north of Birmingham (we'll be in a little place called Barton-under-Needwood) to London?

Where we live, we're used to wide-open spaces, and being able to go about 70-75 miles in an hour.

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

That little place called Barton under Needwood is 5 minutes away from me. You are about 40 minutes from the centre of Birmingham and we drive at no more than 70 miles an hour on dual carriageways and motorways. Speed cameras all over the place round here. Outskirts of North London I would say about 2 hours.

 

[betsyboop]

That little place called Barton under Needwood is 5 minutes away from me. You are about 40 minutes from the centre of Birmingham and we drive at no more than 70 miles an hour on dual carriageways and motorways. Speed cameras all over the place round here. Outskirts of North London I would say about 2 hours.

Very Cool!
What is the area like? Are there any open areas around to fly a kite? My older daughter really wants to fly kites
Thanks for the time estimate. I'll be sure to tell my husband about the cameras -he tends to go a bit faster than he should sometimes

 

[kkymmy]

Whilst you are in London if you want some amazing views for free then go to Camden, corss the road and walk past Barclays Bank and Starbucks and keep walking....eventually you will get to Primrose Hill...a very posh area of London and a rather nice park...if you can get to the top of the hill you can see all the panorama of London without spending a ton to get up on the eye or any of the tall buildings. If it's a nice day it'd be great for a picnic but be wary of the wind factor!

Then as a reward for your climb, if you walk down in the direction of the views you see and cross the road you will arrive at London Zoo

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Very Cool!
What is the area like? Are there any open areas around to fly a kite? My older daughter really wants to fly kites
Thanks for the time estimate. I'll be sure to tell my husband about the cameras -he tends to go a bit faster than he should sometimes

Are you staying with any family or friends that will be able to help you? There are some good kite flying places but not quite sure how to direct you. Calke Abbey (National Trust property) has brilliant grassy kite flying area likewise a place called Foremarke Reservoir which is near to Calke Abbey if you look on the map. In Burton on Trent itself we have a Brewery Museum (Burton is famous for brewing beer) this place also holds the local tourist information office so would be a good place to stop off and pick up some information, shopping is not very clever though, Birmingham is best for that. We are on the border of Derbyshire (peak district - dales and pretty villages). You will also be quite close to Tamworth, they have a Snowdome (indoor skiing, ice skating etc). You will also be able to catch a direct link train to London from Tamworth. When are you coming? I'll PM you if I think of anything else before you leave.

 

[betsyboop]

Are you staying with any family or friends that will be able to help you? There are some good kite flying places but not quite sure how to direct you. Calke Abbey (National Trust property) has brilliant grassy kite flying area likewise a place called Foremarke Reservoir which is near to Calke Abbey if you look on the map. In Burton on Trent itself we have a Brewery Museum (Burton is famous for brewing beer) this place also holds the local tourist information office so would be a good place to stop off and pick up some information, shopping is not very clever though, Birmingham is best for that. We are on the border of Derbyshire (peak district - dales and pretty villages). You will also be quite close to Tamworth, they have a Snowdome (indoor skiing, ice skating etc). You will also be able to catch a direct link train to London from Tamworth. When are you coming? I'll PM you if I think of anything else before you leave.

We're leaving Friday, and will be there Saturday morning e
Unfortunately, we do not have anyone there that can help us - we'll be on our own.
We'll visit the tourist info place early, and then plan from there!
I am getting so excited!!
You guys have been such a great help, and I very much appreciate everyone's responses

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Tourist info in at Coors Museum in Horninglow Street, opposite the Police Station in Burton on Trent. You will be able to follow the brown tourist signs after leaving the A38 at Branston turnoff. There is plenty of parking at this venue. Good luck, enjoy your visit.