LONDON in June?

[GaryHinshaw]

[Greeting from the LNER train just about to arrive in Edinburgh, after a 2.5 hour delay due to signal failures.  But is there a better place to be stuck than the misty Scottish coast at dusk? ]

Thanks for the tips Bobster!  We're only spending a day in town, but we'll pack in as much of this local flavour as we can!  It's my 3rd trip to Edinburgh, but her first, so she gets first dibs on the agenda.  (One of the reasons we're still married after 35+ years.)

Cheers,
Gary

P.S. We had a great day at Hadrian's Wall today, but we got thoroughly soaked... 

[Bobster]

I understand.  Just hit 60 myself and 40 years married.  There is a toy museum near the John Knox house.  I would go fo a walk on the Royal Mile, High Street.  A bus tour at the train station will show you a lot of history quickly.  Sit out on top if it isn't raining.  Some of my pictures have reflections from inside the bus.  St Giles cathedral is the one with the crown on top.  The reformation preacher John Know is buried in what is now the parking lot a simple plaque marks the spot.  As you are fairly far north you will have light quite late and quite early. Whiskey museum is outside the castle.  I'm don't drink hard liquor so I did skip it.  Enjoy.

Bobster 

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, not yet in London, but on the way via Athens.
Thought I’d share a photo of the ancient Acropolis, with a “colorful” local train
Love discovering other places...
Otto K.

[SP-Wolf]

Well, not yet in London, but on the way via Athens.
Thought I’d share a photo of the ancient Acropolis, with a “colorful” local train
Love discovering other places...
Otto K.

Safe travels.

Looking forward to your photo updates.

Wolf

[MK]

Wow, that's a lot of graffiti for a passenger train!     Reminds me of the NYC subways in the 70's!

[nickelplate759]

That's part of the original metro line (started in 1896!), before they expanded the system around the time of the 2004 Olympics.
I rode it in the 1970s when it still had wooden cars.

[Simon D.]

Bit late maybe, but a few notes from a Londoner.  You may already know some of this, so apologies if you've heard any of this before.

If you are getting about on public transport buy a Oyster card, valid for all trains, buses etc - check the Transport for London website.  https://tfl.gov.uk/ But, do check the travel information as they have a nasty habit of closing whole lines at the weekend on the Underground.  Non TfL lines can be checked at National Rail Enquiries. https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

If you have time go to Clapham Junction to see a very busy passenger station in action - quick from Victoria or Waterloo stations.  Do not stand on the left hand side on the escalators in stations - this will invite dire retribution...

London is very busy, but there's a huge amount to see.  Only one LHS (situation even more dire than in the US) - Ian Allen near Waterloo which doesn't actually have that much to offer.

York is excellent, and Mrs Otto will undoubtedly enjoy the city as well.  The rail museum is brilliant, If you have time wander round the North Shed, chocked full of real goodies.

Have a great time!

Simon

[Cajonpassfan]

Thank you, Simon!
I’m sure we will. Have a great time that is.
Otto

[Kusi]

I will be in London too but at the end of month. You asked about what to see in London. Several things are alraedy mentioned for example the British Railway Museum (in York) or Cutty Sark (in Greenwich). But there is more to see.

- Tower Bridge (has a museum above the bridge)
- Tower of London
- Buckinhang Palace Guard Change
- Madame Thussauds (interesting for your wife)
- Ian Allan Book Shop (just close to Waterloo Station)
- London Transport Museum (near covent carden)
- 0° Meridian in Greenwich (Royal Observatory)
- A ride with the DLR where you can sit in the front and observe the route like an engine driver.
- Big Ben (is out of service because of ongoing renovation)
- London Eye (big wheel between Waterloo station and Themes)

There are a plenty of museum in the city you can also visit. You have to know that London could be quite expensive. Entrances to musuems can easily exeed 15£ and more.

[Simon D.]

Excellent list. Most of the big national museums: British Museum, National History Museum, National Gallery etc are actually free, but the others can indeed be expensive.

One suggestion is the Post Office Railway which is different. https://www.postalmuseum.org/discover/attractions/mail-rail-ride/#]https://www.postalmuseum.org/discover/attractions/mail-rail-ride/#[/url]. Not for the claustrophobic, Mrs D. refused to get in the car!

Weather has turned a a bit, but fairly pleasant.

Simon

[GaryHinshaw]

Good lists indeed - we hit most of those during our time there.  Being an astronomer, I had to go to Greenwich, of course.  If you do go, take the river bus to get there.  I would also put in a plug for the national museums.  The Tate Modern is especially arresting if you have any inclination to modern art and/or repurposed architecture.

I'd also like to put in a plug for London Walks.  We went on 5 or 6 of those when we were there, and they really give you a unique perspective on specific aspects of the city.

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, we’re back from London (and elsewhere). What an incredible city. I’ve traveled a lot in my time, but London is near the top of my list, stunning on so many levels, so many things to do, see, and experience. And so much history there, and not just British. Thank you to all who contributed advice and suggestions, we did see a LOT, rode the tube and double deckers, top deck front seats whenever we could... there is a helix of sorts connecting the upper and lower decks; who knew We also walked close to 20K steps a day every day, so now we’re “recuperating” and trying to catch up with obligations of normal life. It will be a bit before I can get back to modeling....bushed, my knees are killing me, but worth it!

We did make it to York, which is an amazing place in its own right and worth a visit, by high speed rail of course, pic below. The museum there is indeed top notch and even my wife enjoyed the exhibits, especially the royal coaches (She had just finished Queen Victoria’s biography and remembered reading about her as a young woman being the first royal riding a steam train, in an open coach no less, and enjoying it). I only wish we had had more time there.

London is a great place to visit, especially in June. A few pics below for those interested in such things...
Otto K

PS: the trainset on the right is the new LNER Azuma, we rode an older train at an impressive 125mph both ways.

[Cajonpassfan]

More pics (didn’t upload the first time)

[Simon D.]

Hi Otto,

So glad you enjoyed London and York.  Sorry about the weather - really rainy for the last 10 days or so!  Other times it can be glorious...

Feel free to come again any time.

Simon

[Cajonpassfan]

Thank you, Simon.
The weather was actually glorious (most of the time) as evidenced below.
Btw, you Britts have an impressive habit of incorporating old train stations into modern developments.
Otto