jasonrhcastle

Hey all. Know there are a lot of UK members here. Heading back to London in 6 days for some R&R with my dad. Will be in London for 4 days, then off to Glasgow to watch the Open Championship. I have been to London before, and seen most of the tourist type sites. My dad has also been, but not been there in 30 years. Any advice. Still looking for a great hotel in London, so any suggestions there would be awesome as well.

Quick question. We are getting a 5 day BritRail 1st class pass on Thursday to travel to Scotland. When in Glasgow, how easy is it to get to Turnberry? I assume there is train service. Any suggestions to help get to the Open in the easiest manner would be great. Thanks!

One last bit, prepaid SIMs. I was looking at a couple of the Orange UK SIMs that allow pretty cheap calls back to the US. What carrier seems to have the best rates and rather good coverage? I assume everyone there is 3G now, but is EDGE available in non-3G areas?

Thanks guys!

J

kscarrol

Hmm, let's see. The Imperial War Museum is always a solid choice. Tate Modern is a great museum as well. Not many folks hit the Victoria & Alberta in Kensington. If you have not done Kew Gardens, well worth the short train ride to reach.

Hotels, a ton to choose from. One near our flat is the Goring, near Buckingham Palace and Victoria train station. GREAT restaurant in house as well.

http://www.thegoring.com/

As for trains, you'll have to rely on our UK friends, can't quote you timetables.

I bring my AT&T phone (first a blackberry then the iPhone) and they both worked well. Rates for international plans w/ AT&T are not that good. We travel there frequently so we have Virgin Mobile pay-as-you-go phones. You can literally get a phone for free if you top it up with 10 or 20 pounds for calling. International rates are much better than the AT& plans. And yes, EDGE works when 3G not available, at least in areas where I have been. Have never been to Glasgow but 3G and EDGE were available in Edinburgh.

radzM

stay at the Ritz!

sdg1871

I'd stay at Brown's Hotel in Mayfair -- home of the best afternoon tea in London: http://www.brownshotel.com/

There is so much to see and do in London I would not know where to start. I loved the British Museum, Westminster Abbey, Maddam Tussad's and the Tower of London. But, being the political junkie that I am, my favorite part of the trips that my wife and I have taken to London in sitting in the Stranger's Galley at the House of Commons and watching the debates.

I really liked some of the day trips we took from London. We've been to Bath, Cambridge and York. We really adored Bath -- an easy day trip on the train.

I also adore Indian food and London has some of the most amazing Indian Restaurants in the word. I love Mela (http://golondon.about.com/od/guidere...melareview.htm and http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/mela-london-2#hr...n%20restaurant) and Tamarind (http://www.tamarindrestaurant.com/).

I have also heard great things about Benares Restaurant (http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/benares-re...n%20restaurant) but have not been there yet.

Enjoy.

kscarrol

Good call on the day trip to Bath! Agreed it is well worth the trip. If you like Indian, a place we frequent is Amaya. http://www.amaya.biz/