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BS: 3 days in England

24 Jan 12 - 01:42 PM (#3295524)
Subject: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,jimmyt

Hi, Longtime, no post! My son, (39) and I are going to Romania for a holiday in April, and will have a 3 day layover in England. I have been there probably a dozen times but this is his first. I thought about going to Wiltshire and letting him see all the fabulous antiquities, but will consider other itineraries. Anyone have any suggestions? I don't want to go farther than about 3-4 hours drive from Heathrow. I will have a car. He also wants to see some soccer. Doesn't have to be top league. Any help would be appreciated. I haven't been to Kent, so that is an option I might like. thanks jimmyt. (also,anyone who has any info on Transylvania would be welcome)


24 Jan 12 - 02:00 PM (#3295532)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: MGM·Lion

For a first visit to any country, I always think the capital city should be explored first; so why not show your son London? Plenty there to occupy three days.

~Michael~

As to Transylvania, my advice would be to carry plenty of garlic & crucifixes and don't become too familiar with any bats or Counts...


24 Jan 12 - 02:11 PM (#3295541)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: gnu

James! Long time fer sure. Hope all is well with you and yours.

Tower of London tour. I've seen most of the You Tube vids and they are great. The Yeomen (particularly the Irish guy) are VERY humourous. Just don't watch the vids before you go.


24 Jan 12 - 02:19 PM (#3295548)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: kendall

I'm not good on distances, but the Tower of London would be on my list.
Also, Hampton Court.
I could make a long list but you don't have the time.


24 Jan 12 - 02:30 PM (#3295554)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Amos

Hallo, Jimmy!! Long time!!

You might start with a quick survey of the highpoints of London's history, and then choose the locations that you think would be inspiring or informative.


A


24 Jan 12 - 02:39 PM (#3295560)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Tate


24 Jan 12 - 02:40 PM (#3295562)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Manitas_at_home

Wiltshire would be less than 3 hours from Heathrow so you could see Stonehenge and Avebury.


24 Jan 12 - 02:42 PM (#3295564)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: John MacKenzie

Oxford


24 Jan 12 - 02:50 PM (#3295569)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Arthur_itus

Like John, I thought Oxford one day (75 minute drive, as long as it isn't rush hour), Windsor another day (40 minutes)and London.

Oxford

Windsor


24 Jan 12 - 02:54 PM (#3295575)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: katlaughing

Good to see you back here, jimmy! Micca is quite used to squiring round 'catters when in his home city of London. I'm sure he'll have some great ideas. I'd second the Tower, though I haven't been there, I've read a lot about it and would love seeing it.

MtheGM beat me to warnings on Transylvania.**bg** I love their trad. fiddle music and dances. Would also love to visit Budapest.

Have fun and welcome back!


kat


24 Jan 12 - 02:55 PM (#3295576)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,999

"and will have a 3 day layover in England"

Better not be telling your missus that, jimmyt.

Bruce M


24 Jan 12 - 03:15 PM (#3295587)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST

(not an anon. guest, jimmyt w/out his cookie:-)

I didn't say a 3 day lay, over in England. God, I too old forthat. It would be a 30 minute lay and 73 1/2 hours of talking!

No offense to the suggestions so far, but we are specifically staying out of London. Tim was actually in London for afew days when he was younger, so we are going countryside this trip.

In addition to Romania, we will spendthe last three days in Budapest.

As for Soccer, generally will I be able to find matches during that time of year? (last week in April.)


24 Jan 12 - 03:17 PM (#3295589)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Joe Offer

If I had only three days, I'd spend it all in London and walk, and walk, and walk. I suppose if it were raining, I'd think otherwise. I ran Micca ragged when I was visiting. He had to stay home and recuperate after the first day we spent together in London.
Heck you could spend a whole day just exploring the marvelous railway stations in London, and another day just getting a taste of museums, and another day in Greenwich.
I was disappointed that they were charging ten pounds to visit Westminster Abbey, and another ten pounds for St. Paul's. All I wanted was to step in and take a peek. The National Gallery and the British Museum had free admission.

-Joe-


24 Jan 12 - 03:59 PM (#3295623)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Arthur_itus

Tottenham Hotspur 28 Sat April

Home

Blackburn

Barclays Premier League

15:00

Local Derby Chelsea v QPR

28 Sat April

15:00

Home

QPR

PREM

Links
Chelsea http://www.chelseafc.com/

Tottenham http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/index.html


24 Jan 12 - 05:28 PM (#3295669)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Jack Campin

Where are you thinking of going in Romania?

I was thinking of going back there this summer.


24 Jan 12 - 08:05 PM (#3295731)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: kendall

Three days in England is like one potato chip.


24 Jan 12 - 09:04 PM (#3295754)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: gnu

Kendall... well said. Oh, to spend weeks, months touring JUST the British Isles... then the conitinent and beyond. It is to dream. I gotta win that lottery soon!


25 Jan 12 - 12:15 AM (#3295831)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: ChanteyLass

Bath.


25 Jan 12 - 01:01 AM (#3295848)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: MGM·Lion

Cambridge


25 Jan 12 - 03:10 AM (#3295877)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Keith A of Hertford

St.Albans.
Medieval Cathedral, Roman town and museum, battles-Romans v Boudica, Lancaster v York twice, .....


25 Jan 12 - 04:29 AM (#3295892)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: MGM·Lion

Ancient University cities ~~

Oxford can combine with Blenheim Palace. Cambridge with Ely Cathedral & Newmarket Horse-Racing Museum.

~M~


25 Jan 12 - 04:31 AM (#3295893)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,Sugarfoot Jack

Plenty of old things to see, including Stonehenge, Avebury, Silbury and the whole slew of stuff our ancestors busied themselves with on Sailsbury Plain. There's Sailsbury itself which is a lovely cathedral city, as is Winchester, ancient capital of England just down the motorway from the Smoke. Beyond lies Glastonbury (stay at the George and Pilgrims on the High Street and ask for one of the Monk's cells), Bath, Cheddar and some wonderful countryside. You could combine many of the above in one three-day trip.

Canterbury is supposed to be excellent, although I've never been it's on my list. Kent is lovely.

The south coast is an good choice and if you have three days you could get out to places like Lyme Regis in Dorset, Chesil Beach and other towns along the Dorset and Hampshire Coast.

Heading north there's Cambridge (never been) and the wilds of East Anglia.

As for football, you'll get a game anywhere but a Premier League match is always worth seeing, however don't discount the Championship matches- check on the BBC sports site for extensive coverage. An alternative is to head up the motorway to the second city, Birmingham, and go and watch the mighty Aston Villa at Villa park.

One hint - get in as many pubs as possible; they're still the mainstay of social life on our islands and you'll get good food, cheap lodgings and (most importantly) good beer and company in many of them. Buy a pub guide and study it when planning your trip; it's still possible to drink in taverns that have existed for many hundreds of years, and some are still quite unchanged and represent the waxing and waning styles of the centuries.


25 Jan 12 - 04:42 AM (#3295897)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: John MacKenzie

The Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne Nice pub nearby for lunch too.


25 Jan 12 - 04:56 AM (#3295900)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Arthur_itus

I would have suggested Aston Villa SJ, but thought better of it, with the boring football our current manager seems to like.


25 Jan 12 - 07:03 AM (#3295928)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: theleveller

"The Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne Nice pub nearby for lunch too."

Oh yes - in the past I've enjoyed many a pint of Owd Roger and game of bar skittles in The Boat Inn.


It's a pity you won't have time to venture oop north to Yorkshire and Northumberland and see the real England ;). However, if you're in London in early April don't miss David Hockney's exhibition of amazing (and huge) paintings of my native Yorkshire Wolds, on at The Royal Academy until 9th April. A Bigger Picture

Oh, and forget about football and go and see a great game of rugby union.


25 Jan 12 - 07:30 AM (#3295933)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,Patsy

It might be a little out of your way but Hay-on-Wye is worth taking a look for the novelty of a street that is literally made up of book shops, the outside 'honesty' bookshop is very quirky and unusual. If you were going to stay overnight I would recommend staying at the 'Rest for the Tired' a lovely B&B, rooms decorated entirely with books even the tv stand is literally a pile of books (warning very low beams!). The Landlady is a mine of information and encourages everyone to get to know each other by having breakfast around one large communal table. On the far corner of the high street opposite is a coffee shop with the most amazing lemon meringue pie to die for.


25 Jan 12 - 08:05 AM (#3295949)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Keith A of Hertford

If you are near Salisbury as suggested, take a walk up to Old Sarum.


25 Jan 12 - 08:05 AM (#3295950)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: ChrisJBrady

Any visit to Budapest HAS to include a Turkish Bath - try the newly (and expensively restored) 450 year-old Rudas Baths.


25 Jan 12 - 10:10 AM (#3296011)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Jim Dixon

Things I have especially enjoyed in or near London:

The Globe Theater and the adjoining museum
The National Portrait Gallery
Kew Gardens
The British Museum
The Victoria & Albert Museum
Hampton Court Palace

Big disappointments:

Stonehenge – it's just a bunch of rocks, and you can't even get very close to them. Sure, the archeology and interpretation of it is fascinating, but you can't see that, can you? I'd much rather read a book about Stonehenge, or see a documentary about it, than visit it.

The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace – way too crowded with tourists to get a good view. It might be better in the off-season.


25 Jan 12 - 10:49 AM (#3296036)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Ebbie

Welcome back, jimmyt!


25 Jan 12 - 11:36 AM (#3296069)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Leadfingers

Hi Jimmy ! PM sent


25 Jan 12 - 11:56 AM (#3296085)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Penny S.

I think the Wessex bunch of monuments would be worth the visit - even with Stonehenge difficult. Avebury would be better, with its associated monuments, the Sanctuary, Avenues and Silbury, to get a sense of the way people used landscape.

Kent has the cluster of Knole, Hever Castle and Penshurst for more recent things. Or you could go to Rochester for the Castle, the Cathedral, Roman Wall and all the Dickensian stuff. (Read Edwin Drood first. Or watch the TV.) Also Baggins bookshop, which is a tiny bit like Hay on Wye.

Penny


25 Jan 12 - 01:29 PM (#3296126)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: gnu

Jim... Stonehenge... I can see your point.


25 Jan 12 - 01:45 PM (#3296134)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Backwoodsman

Shame you seem tied by time to the Sarf and Sarf-West - there's a lot of very good stuff north of Milton Keynes.


25 Jan 12 - 02:19 PM (#3296145)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Paul Burke

April is getting near the end of the football season, there might not be a lot of choice of matches. Anything in the upper two leagues is likely to be either sold out or meaningless, so why not try one of the many lower and minor league clubs? Basingstoke Town in one of the Conference leagues, or the splendidly named Swindon Supermarine in the equally wonderfully named Evo-Stik League.. it won't cost so much to get in either.

3-4 hours from London probably won't get you to Bath except by train - which is affordable if you book well in advance, but you daren't miss it so be well prepared. Roman baths, Georgian city, set in lovely countryside.

Silchester- Calleva Atrebatum- is well within striking distance though. And it's just by Reading and Basingstoke.


25 Jan 12 - 02:41 PM (#3296157)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Penny S.

When in April? On the 8th and 9th you could see the Severn Bore in the morning.

Bore times

Tide heights in the Bristol Channel are second only to the Bay of Fundy, and the bore is the same sort of height as the one in the Amazon, or the Chinese one - though they are much much wider.

Penny


25 Jan 12 - 02:53 PM (#3296167)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: gnomad

3-4 hours from Heathrow gives you most of the country, assuming you mean by car not on foot, and that you mean to go there and stay, rather than spending your time in transit. 5-6 hours would give you all of England & Wales, and some of Scotland as a bonus (spell-check just stopped me saying Sotland, hmmm).

Three nights almost anywhere is likely to be good, if you go there then explore a bit, the inside of a car varies only in temperature and humidity, while what passes the window is available on TV.

I can't help with the football thing, at some 50-odd years (some very odd) I've yet to attend a match.

Go north or west, for choice, IMO. One day I will have a look at Kent, it sounds nice, but above all don't spend your time travelling.


25 Jan 12 - 02:55 PM (#3296168)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: TheSnail

I know I should plug my adopted home of Sussex but it's an easy, if boring, run down the M25/M3/M27 and on across the New Forest to Dorset and, in particular, the Isle of Purbeck. Beautiful coastline and scenery. Lunch in the Square and Compasses in Worth Matravers and evening meal in the Scott Arms in Kingston with a view of Corfe Castle. On the way, you'll pass through Wareham which still has its Saxon earth bank walls. The Quay Inn isn't bad.

I'd better stop.


25 Jan 12 - 03:01 PM (#3296171)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Paul Burke

"3-4 hours from Heathrow gives you most of the country, "..

unless the 3-4 hours is out and back.


25 Jan 12 - 03:27 PM (#3296190)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: gnomad

Like I said ..............


25 Jan 12 - 03:57 PM (#3296209)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: kendall

I've been from Land's end to John O' Groats, and even to Scapa Flow, and I like the whole area. Stonehenge, Glastonbury, London, Sherwood Forest, Hadrian's Wall, Edinburgh is my favorite city, the Isle of Skye, it's all good to see.


25 Jan 12 - 06:40 PM (#3296288)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST

I have also been to all of the places you just listed, Kendall. THis will be my 13th trip to the beautiful UK and have been pretty much throughout the country except Yorkshire and Kent. I enjoyed reading the great responses from everyone and in fact, most of the places bear return visits. I am intrigued by the Isle of Purbeck as mentioned by the Snail. I may have to give that a thought. I absolutely love the New Forest. THanks everyone.

As to my trip to ROmania, I am concentrating on Maramures, the far north of Transylvania bordering Ukraine. Supposedly the only remaining Peasant economy culture etc. The lifestyle in the remote villages are pretty much self sustaining by barter. If anyone has a chance, google this area and see the mazing wooden churches etc. I will report back after the trip. Thanks again   jimmyt


25 Jan 12 - 08:01 PM (#3296320)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Jack Campin

You might like to look at my travelogue about Romania a few years back:

http://www.campin.me.uk/Travel/Romania2008/

I'd like to see Maramüres/Maramaros someday too.


26 Jan 12 - 08:10 AM (#3296541)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)

Tottenham's a good suggestion for the football, especially if it doesn't have to be top class.


26 Jan 12 - 08:12 AM (#3296544)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)

Brentford's also good for football. Especially if you don't like crowds.


26 Jan 12 - 10:47 AM (#3296626)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,Shimrod

It's a pity that you won't have time to visit the North: the Peak District, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales are all worth seeing.

I don't know if I've misunderstood some of the people writing above but Budapest isn't in Romania - it's the capital of Hungary!

My favourite country in Eastern Europe is Bulgaria: the Black Sea coast is very beautiful as are various mountain ranges in the interior (I would especially recommend the Rila and Pirin Mts. in the west of the country). A bit more obscure but just as fascinating is Macedonia (i.e. 'FYROM' - the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). In the south west of this country are two massive glacial lakes: Ohrid (pronounced 'ok-rid') and Prespa - surrounded as they are by mountains, they are stunning! Both Bulgaria and Macedonia are positively laden (perhaps a bit too laden) with history.

"Brentford's also good for football." Having stayed there for a while, my opinion is that it's not much good for anything else!


26 Jan 12 - 11:07 AM (#3296633)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: billybob

Kent is beautiful in April, keep off the motorways and go from Heathrow through the countryside, you could follow the Pilgrims Way all the way to Canterbury. Oh and Leeds Castle near Maidstone, the most beautiful castle in the world! Plus Hever etc as already mentioned and Chartwell the home of Winston Churchill.


26 Jan 12 - 02:15 PM (#3296757)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Penny S.

I wouldn't recommend the Pilgrims' Way for someone not used to single track roads.

Penny


26 Jan 12 - 03:12 PM (#3296791)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: jimmyt

Leeds Casttle sounds good, I have actually been to Hever which was outstanding.that is as far as I have been in Kent though. Pilgrim's way is a go. I have driven hundreds of miles on singletrack roads in the UK in the past so that won't be a problem. ALso, somehow it has been confused,but I am also going to Romania and Budapest.


26 Jan 12 - 07:16 PM (#3296896)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: gnu

By all the suggestions, yer not gonna be sleepin fer three days. Have fun!


27 Jan 12 - 06:44 AM (#3297100)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,Eliza

Jimmy, have you visited East Anglia yet? Norfolk and Suffolk are very beautiful, full of history and relatively unspoiled and undiscovered.


27 Jan 12 - 07:07 AM (#3297110)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Keith A of Hertford

If you have any interest in seafaring, get down to Portsmouth and the old naval dockyard.
Walk the decks of Victory and Warrior.
Take the boat tour and stop off at the submarine depot where a submariner will take you around an old boat.


27 Jan 12 - 07:59 AM (#3297129)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,kendall

By all means, visit HMS VICTORY if you can find the time.


27 Jan 12 - 03:30 PM (#3297423)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Penny S.

OK on the lanes, then - but there's loads of wallies about who use them without knowing the rules. And idiot delivery vans on satnavs. I didn't mean to imply anything about your driving Jimmy! (I get a bit peeved myself after being forced to reverse down a hill for the third time, and wanted to spare you that.)

If you want megaliths, there's a few tombs just off the Pilgrim's Way.

Medway Megaliths BBC

Medway Megaliths - Wikipedia

I couldn't find mapping that was any use since Google and Bing don't show the sites except as satellite images unlabelled, and the Ordnance Survey no longer uses OS maps with historical features on line.

These sites give map references which will find them on a paper map.

Western group

Eastern Group

Coldrum's good, but the Chestnuts, if shown round by the owner, is worth a detour.

Penny

Penny


27 Jan 12 - 04:02 PM (#3297435)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: jimmyt

thanks for the good info, Penny.

Eliza, My grandma came from Great Yarmouth,my father flew B17s out of Eye, Suffolk, my Uncle flew B24s out of Norwich. I have visited this beautiful area, both time staying at he Fisherman's Return, in Winterton-on-Sea. I love Eastanglia. Of course, I love every square meter of theUK I have seen. jimmyt


27 Jan 12 - 04:08 PM (#3297441)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Paul Burke

You've not been to Mansfield then.


27 Jan 12 - 04:43 PM (#3297455)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Keith A of Hertford

with that background you should visit the WW2 airfield of Duxford which is now a part of the Imperial War Museum.

Many US airmen make a pilgrimage there. There is a vast and impressive building for US military aviation, and a flying B17 I think.
There is a memorial with every lost US plane commemorated.
it is within striking distance of Cambridge.


27 Jan 12 - 04:45 PM (#3297457)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Keith A of Hertford

http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford


28 Jan 12 - 05:17 AM (#3297699)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Keith A of Hertford

The American Air Museum in Britain stands as a memorial to the 30,000 American airmen who gave their lives flying from UK bases in defence of liberty during the Second World War, and also honours those who fought in Korea, Vietnam, Libya, Iraq and other conflicts and battles of the 20th and 21st centuries.

This outstanding example of contemporary British architecture by Foster and Partners houses the largest collection of American warbirds on display outside the United States, including a vintage B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell, P-47 Thunderbolt, and aircraft from the Cold War era such as a B-52 Stratofortress, SR-71 Blackbird and F-4 Phantom, with many suspended from the ceiling as if in flight.

'... a thoughtfully landscaped, handsomely designed aircraft hangar of a building ... The graceful structure is designed to fit around the wingspan of the terrifying Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber


28 Jan 12 - 08:38 AM (#3297789)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: jacqui.c

Kendall and I went to Duxford last year - he was most impressed and we spent quite a while looking at all the exhibits. I would definitely recommend the place - easy to get to from London.


28 Jan 12 - 05:55 PM (#3298132)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Charley Noble

Cecil Sharp House Tuesday evenings if you'd like some folk music; it's in the Camden neighborhood of London. And they have a bar as well.

Then maybe down the river to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


28 Jan 12 - 06:18 PM (#3298146)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: foggers

@Paul Burke- the only good things about Mansfield are the folk club now happily homed at the Black Bull, and the A617 which leads to the altogether superior town of Chesterfield......


28 Jan 12 - 09:01 PM (#3298202)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Jack Campin

The Cutty Sark should be open for visits by the time you get here. If you, I can recommend the train ride there or back on the Docklands Light Railway at night - try to sit at the very front of the (driverless) train so you can see out the front window at all the lights. Feels like you're in the future of a 1950s science fiction story.


29 Jan 12 - 01:32 PM (#3298545)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Penny S.

But the Cutty Sark and the Museum and the Observatory (with Prime Meridian) won't be open at night.

Pity the Pie and Mash shop's shut.

Penny


29 Jan 12 - 03:33 PM (#3298601)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Paul Burke

Sorry Foggers, but a few years ago we took our canal boat up the canal - which is altogether beautiful APART FROM MANSFIELD. Long before we'd got through, we had no hubcaps....


30 Jan 12 - 04:18 AM (#3298864)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Kevin Sheils

Just on the football front the end of April is difficult to plan for if thinking of a top Premier League match as the TV companies will not have picked their live matches yet and any could shift from Saturday to Sunday or Monday (or even to a different time on the Ssturday).

Not to mention how difficult it is to get tickets, you'll probably have to commit before knowing the actual match day. Also premier league football in London is IMO ridiculously overpriced.

In the 3 lower leagues you have plenty of local London options West Ham, Millwall, Watford and Crystal Palace in the Championship - Brentford in League 1 and Barnet in Lge 2.

If Witshire or Oxford then Swindon Town, Oxford United and Wycombe Wanderers are at Home - Yeovil Town a bit further but not too far from Wilts.

Better value at those I'd say.


30 Jan 12 - 10:04 PM (#3299450)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: jimmyt

I think we have decided on Brentford FC on Sat April 28. My good friend Leadfingers has put me on to this and it should be a terrific afternoon of Soccer, which I have no idea about anyway but my son absolutely loves. Thanks, for everyone's help. I think for our short stop inEngland, we will head to Rye and spend a couple days there in the Rye WIndmill B and B, go to Hastings, see Canterbury Cathedral, just wander about the area, see some flowers, rest a bit before heading in to the unpredictable area of Maramures, in northern Transylvania. this is an area that the Romans didn't even try to conquer, and the Communists pretty much ignored. I will give a full account about it when I get back. anyway, if anyone has any places in that area of East sussex and Kent that you think I should try to work in, let me know! Thanks


31 Jan 12 - 04:34 AM (#3299533)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Mo the caller

Sounds like you've got it sorted.
But others might be looking for recommendations too and I wondered if the queues at the Tower of London (to get in and then to see the Crown Jewels) were as long as when I used to go with our visitors 50 years ago. They had signs at points in the queue estimating the time you would wait.


31 Jan 12 - 05:22 AM (#3299546)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: MGM·Lion

One of those coincidences ~~

As I was reading this, I had an e-mail from a cousin in Virginia, sending me the joke I had in fact come across not long since on one of Mudcat's joke threads, about the American conjoined twins who regularly visit UK, though they hate it, "because it's the only chance Jim gets to drive".

Seemed most strangely relevant to this thread: one of those "Perhaps there is a God after all" moments!

~M~


31 Jan 12 - 08:27 AM (#3299602)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Kevin Sheils

Good choice Brentford, amongst their folk related supporters are the great UK singer songwriter Robb Johnson and mainstay of our local music scene in East London Graham Larkbey.

I see they are playing Sheffield Wednesday that day, who should bring a good crowd and atmosphere.

More importantly though, since you state you're not a soccer fan, the ground has a Fullers pub on all 4 corners so drinks before are not to be missed. We usually use the "Griffin" corner of Braemar Road and Brook Road South, nearest to the main entrance, on our rare visits.


31 Jan 12 - 10:51 AM (#3299673)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: jimmyt

Thanks Kevin.

MtheGM,helluva funny joke!


31 Jan 12 - 01:47 PM (#3299762)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Jack Campin

If you are going through Budapest on your way to Romania you could drop in to a "táncház" (dance house) - there is at least one every night of the week and some of them specialize in dances from various Hungarian regions of Romania.

Táncház listing 2011

The listing should be updated shortly but won't vary much from year to year. Both the dances and the music are more similar to Romanian stuff than either Hungarians or Romanians will generally admit, so it'll be useful practice for what you'll find in the culturally Romanian parts of Romania.


31 Jan 12 - 04:14 PM (#3299852)
Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Jack Campin

Hungarian music and dance from Maramaros/Maramures:

Muszikas

Romanian pieces:

fiddle tune

*extremely* Romanian fiddle tunes

Some absolutely astonishing Gypsy music:

Nicolae Covaci of Dragomiresti, fiddle with a unique accompaniment

Following related links from those will get you lots of interesting stuff. In particular the videos of Nicolae Covaci are wonderful. And they were made only last year! He's an extraordinary link to the past and in your position I'd make every effort possible to hear him.