[Thrillhouse]

Originally posted by SoCalGirl
I've only been to Mexico.
But these travel tips are from women that live in Europe. http://home.ix.netcom.com/~sigmakappaeurope/

United Kingdom

London:
make sure to a buy a TimeOut to find out everything that is happening in London.

Consider purchasing the London Pass before arriving - it offers discounts at almost all the attractions and gives you a discount on your tube fare - plan what you want to do, how long you'll be here and then see if the London Pass is worthwhile for you.

Go on the London Eye - book before you arrive because tickets can be hard to come by - it's a great thing to do at the beginning of your trip to get a feel for the city.

Take a London Bus Tour - there are three bus companies that provide a hop on, hop off service and point out all the sights in London - The Big Bus, The Original Tour and The Frog (which combines land and a boat trip on the Thames) - people say it's great for a quick trip to take in all the sights

See The Tower of London and Crown Jewels - the queues can be long and the price is about £12 ($18), but the Beefeaters tours are fantastic - when you get into the main gate, ask when the next tour is; they're free and you'll enjoy the Tower much more having a tour with them.

Go on the Jack the Ripper Walk - this commences outside Tower Hill tube station, where you get off for the Tower of London, and is run by The Original London Walks - the guy doing the walks is usually the author of a book all about Jack the Ripper; the critics say his theories are the most plausible. It's great to take the walk at dusk, or as it gets dark, as it enhances the experience - check TimeOut for the times

St. Paul's Cathedral - This is where Princess Diana and Prince Charles got married - it's a massive church and very pretty inside - Tube stop: St. Paul's

St. Martin's in the Fields Church - located in Trafalgar Square - pick up a brochure on your way in for the self-guided tour - You may also want to pick up a list of their upcoming chamber music concerts and come back in the evening - Downstairs in the crypt they have an amazing gift shop, a fun stone brass rubbing centre and a fantastic café with reasonable prices for the amount and quality of food

Dennis Sever's House - 18 Folgate Street, E1 - near Spitalfields Market - Dennis wanted to create a house from the 18th century, complete with antiques and furniture, as well as food! Entering it is just like the family ran out for a pint of milk down the street - it's amazing, but it's not always open, so check out the web site for times and book in advance

Buckingham Palace - no trip is complete without seeing the palace - you can enter the palace in August, but it's like any other palace, if not more ordinary, and way too expensive - to see the changing of the guards, you'll need to walk to Whitehall, through St. James Park - while at the palace, go to the middle of the round about and face northeast away from the palace for a spectacular view of Big Ben

Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and Parliament - Coming from the palace and walking through the horse guards where the changing of the guards takes place puts you on Whitehall. Take a right and you'll run smack dab into Big Ben - from there you can walk along the outside of Parliament and go into Westminster Abbey (Tube: Westminster)

head to Tate Modern, and then enjoy lunch or dinner at Tas (a nearby Turkish restaurant)

wander through the Egyptian rooms at the British Museum

see daffodils welcoming spring in St James' Park

go to the Borough Food Market - Friday and Saturday - located at London Bridge Tube Station off Southwark Street under the train railways - if you have access to a kitchen, pick up dinner here, otherwise just nibble all the samples, such as boar sausages filled with Chianti and shallots, fresh fruit and veg, cheese, ostrich steaks, homemade breads and pies, and gourmet delicacies from around Europe - keep an eye out for Jamie Oliver - the celebrity chef

wander through Spitalfields Market, one of London's largest, on a Sunday (underground: Liverpool Street) and when you are done, wander up to Brick Lane and the Colombia Road flower market (but the flower market is only open until 2 pm)

go to St James' Church, place of William Blake's baptism, designed by Christopher Wren - there is also a cute market in the courtyard, and you can follow a visit with afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason (underground: Piccadilly Circus or Green Park)

for a really special meal when you don't mind spending about $130 each, head to Gordon Ramsey's at Claridges

for more restaurant recommendations, pick up the TimeOut guide to eating and drinking


Around the UK:

Hampton Court - well worth a visit, especially in the summer or on a sunny day when you can spend the afternoon walking through the gardens and labyrinth - this was Henry VIII's residence and they've left it just as he would have lived in it at that time - to get there, it's best to take the train (check the train timetables - departs from Waterloo) - you can also take a boat from Richmond, but it costs more and needs to be pre-arranged because it takes about 2 hours to get there

ride a hot air balloon over the British beach town of Bournemouth

head to eastern England to the town of Aldeburgh for the Benjamin Britten festival

be surprised by how small the stones at Stonehenge are in reality!

A good general website to visit about the UK: www.visitbritain.com

What she said, lol. Also, take your time there and enjoy the sites, its a nice town.