England - My Random (But Useful) Thoughts

I covered the basics in a previous post - food, money, transportation, etc. But I keep having random thoughts pop into my mind about things that were fun, or odd, or just things I think I would want to know if travelling to England. So what follows is the most unorganized, straight from my head to this web page, blog ever. Enjoy.

• The windows at either end of the Underground cars open, so if it's really hot try and stand near the end of the car for some cool air.

Queen's Guard at Windsor Castle

• There is no where that you can go where you can get up close to the Queen's Guards (red coat, furry hat). They're quite far away at Buckingham Palace, and much closer but still roped off at Windsor Castle. Even if you could, don't touch them, taunt them, pick on them. They're standing in a place of honor, leave them alone. Plus, as this video shows, they will level a weapon at you. And you'll deserve it, for being a git.

• If you want a free glass of water, order tap water. Otherwise you're getting expensive bottled water. They'll probably ask if you want still or sparkling, but you want tap. Unless you don't want tap, then you want still. Unless you want bubbles, then you want sparkling.

• Free tours are not free. Well, they are, until the end. You'll be asked to pay what you felt the tour was worth, which is probably around 10 pounds per person. I'd still recommend maybe trying out a free tour. We did one for Jack the Ripper and it was accurate, informational, and entertaining. We felt it was every bit as good as the paid tour we had looked at taking, so we paid the same price - 10 pounds each.

• British food isn't bad. It's amazing.

• There are a lot of homeless in London. It's certainly not something I'm used to seeing, being from a small town. But I will say one thing, they weren't beggers. They just sat quietly, often said hello or wished people good days, or just talked with people. I always wished I had some extra snacks in my bag to hand out, but never seemed to. Anyway, give if you'd like, or just spare a 'hello' and smile.

• I thought people and tea cups would just be everywhere. So cliche. But I really thought I could just walk into someplace, somewhere, and have a cuppa. I only saw one place, in Harrods and it was expensive! Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough. If afternoon tea is something you really want to have, scope out some places online first.

• Wi-fi is available pretty readily. Train stations, restaurants, public markets - most times when I needed it I could find it. If you're really having a hard time just find a Starbucks. The wi-fi was free everywhere I went except my hotel.

• Those signs everywhere, warning against pickpockets, are there for a reason. Don't freak out and think London is unsafe, but you do need to remain alert. Keep purses around in front of you if possible, be aware of what's in your pockets, especially if you're in a large crowd. If you're in a restaurant don't hang bags on the back of your chair. Don't leave money or your phone sitting on your table. Even if you're still sitting there! I watched two men come into a restaurant, lay a bunch of papers over a man's phone while they distracted him, and then try to pick the phone up with their papers. They didn't get away with the phone, but they did get away. All of this goes for Paris as well.

• The English like to rhyme. Just check out the public service posters around the Underground stations. They all rhyme. Cracked me up. Here's a poem for you:

Platforms are really rather long
Which is why it seems somewhat wrong
To stand together in one place
With someone's backpack in your face
By moving down a little more
You'll be much quicker through the door

• You can get tickets to West End plays for a discount on the day of the show. There's a box office in Leicester Square, very close to the Underground Station.

Elizabeth Tower, home of Big Ben

• Anyone important in British history was probably named Henry, Edward, or William. They were probably married to an Elizabeth, Anne, or Victoria. Try to keep up. British history also reads like a murder mystery thriller. It's some crazy and interesting stuff, with some of the most macabre occurring at the Tower of London.

• That big tower with the clock in it, is not Big Ben. The tower is Elizabeth Tower, Big Ben being the 13.7 ton bell inside, which tolls on the hour.

• Likewise, that big bridge with the two towers is not The London Bridge. It's Tower Bridge. London Bridge is a little more west on the Thames and is currently a rather unremarkable looking bridge. Sorry, London, but it is. The current bridge comes after original timber bridges, the "old" London Bridge that was falling down for 600 years, and a 19th-century stone-arch bridge that now lives in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA.