Going to the UK for the first time, suggestions?

[Malkavia]

I am going to the UK (I will be staying in Edinburgh) for about a week over Christmas Break to look at graduate schools. I will be flying into London first because me and my friends would like to also look around London before we take a train to Scotland. Does anyone suggestions for a good time? Specifically either while we are in London or Edinburgh.

[Cooper]

Stick to the neighborhood pubs...much better time then the touristy ones. Catch "Spamalot" if it is playing (live) somewhere. Wear well broken in shoes.

[daydreamer]

try the cider :)

the play's the thing in london, catch a show :)

[Vivexemplum]

Plenty of good art galleries and museums to choose from. The Victoria & Albert not to shabby I can assure you. However i'm from the Midlands so you can disavow any and all advice from me :p

[themuzicman]

You must go watch a professional football match. Preferably someone from the Premier league.

[Cisco Skywalker]

I've lived & worked in London and Edinburgh.

Check out the Time Out weekly entertainment magazine for London and the fortnightly Edinburgh/Glasgow entertainment magazine The List online &/or from a newsagent.

The Geek Atlas has lots of worldwide places of interest to visit and London and Edinburgh has lots of places to visit.

What do you intend to study at grad school? Edinburgh uni is known for law & medicine. Strathclyde Uni in Glasgow is known for engineering & IT & MBAs, UCL in London has a good reputation for telco/ IT. Cambridge & Oxford aren't reknown for technical courses.

The east coast ie London King's Cross to Edinburgh trains have free wireless access & free electrical sockets for charging items.

[Seriously]

I'm with daydreamer, see a play and try the cider. In Edinburgh go to the castle of course...try some haggis...watch some footie.

There are a million things to see and do. What are your particular interests? I'm a castle freak so I went to as many as possible. :) If you can make it to Stonehenge I would highly recommend it...awesome vibe.

[thod]

You cannot look around London in a few days. It is a huge city and people live there for decades finding new aspects. If you really don't know what you want, do the tourist bit and go look at the tower, Buckingham palace, a ride on the London eye etc. Everything that you can imagine, and many things you cannot, exist in London.

If you can make it to Stonehenge I would highly recommend it...awesome vibe.

Stonehenge is difficult to get to without a car, wired off, and disappointingly small. If you like stone circles I would recommend heading to Avebury about 20 miles from Stonehenge. It has a whole village inside the circle and you can sit on the stones.

[Malkavia]

What do you intend to study at grad school? Edinburgh uni is known for law & medicine. Strathclyde Uni in Glasgow is known for engineering & IT & MBAs, UCL in London has a good reputation for telco/ IT. Cambridge & Oxford aren't reknown for technical courses.
.

Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. Edinburgh is ranked really high when it comes to that. My top choices in the UK are Edinburgh, Cambridge and Durham. It honestly all comes down to what funding I get before I decide which one to go to.

But back on topic I will be at Edinburgh for the most part of the week so things about Scotland are especially important.

I understand that it's hard to see London in a few days, New York City is the same way. I wish I could stay longer but alas, college will call me back soon (and I am staying with a friend and his parents and could not impose too long).

[Cisco Skywalker]

Wow, wonderful subjects. Have you heard of School of Oriental & African Studies, SOAS in London? Yes, Edinburgh uni is very good. I don't know about its language department.

I'll gather some Edinburgh/ Scotland info for you.

[tp6626]

Ooh on your train journey watch out for a place called Doncaster (that's my home town). Also watch out for the fucking huge sign before York at the side of the track, which points

< EDINBURGH 200 MILES .......... LONDON 200 MILES >

And exclaim "Fuck, we're going the wrong way!". Well maybe not, but it always brought a smile to my face. I prob got the distances wrong. I seem to recall 163 miles for one of them though.

Anyhow. Also, a little south of Doncaster is where the world record for the fastest steam locomotive took place. The Mallard, designed and built in Doncaster, travelled 126 miles per hour on that stretch.

And as you're going to Kings Cross, might as well pop in next door to St Pancras. That's one of my favourite buildings - it's pretty astounding. Make sure you look up, and take plenty of pics. Quite possibly my favourite statue is in there too.

York station is impressive. It's a pretty big one, with an amazing roof. Nice city too, shame you can't get off an look around. York was famous as a viking city. In fact, alot of the towns on the east coast mainline were ancient settlements. Doncaster was a originally Roman settlement called Danum.

You'll go through Durham on the train too. You'll know when you go across a big viaduct into a station, and to the right there's the town and castle etc... My mate is still at uni there (7 years after starting!). Nice place. Excellent chip shop in the centre called Bimbi's.

Oh, good fish and chips would be good to get while you're in england. I think fried chicken is bigger in america, but in the UK it's fish and chips that's popular.

You'll go through Newcastle, and across some pretty spectacular bridges. Look out for the Gateshead millenium bridge. My firm designed parts of that! :)

I wish I could go on the train more often, I used to get on for free and really enjoy it. Excellent scenery to watch passing by. Probably the best way to see the country actually. Most comfortable in my opinion, as long as the train's not too busy! :)

Have fun! :)

[Malkavia]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

@Cisco Skywalker - feel free to send me whatever info you like. I am very excited about seeing Edinburgh... The uni there is my top choice currently for grad school.

[MartinH]

For a cool experience, especially if you like architecture, so for a wander around the square mile (the City, or financial district) at the weekend - it's empty, noone lives there and there's these amazing urban landscapes. It's a weird but excellent vibe.

I'd second Avebury too, there's barrows you can go in too (not wheel barrows) nearby, West Kennet springs to mind.

[endless]

There is a soup/milkshake shop in Edinburgh on the royal mile called "Chocolate Soup," it is amazing extremely cheap and you get a lot for your money, great place for lunch, and its slightly elevated so you can sit and watch people from the windows.

The beer battered fish and chips served at the Albanach on the royal mile is second to none except maybe that which you find in dorset.

[Aristarce]

Rain gear - umbrella, mackintosh. It is wise to figure it will rain at some time on most days. I agree that fish and chips are a must and local pubs. Oxford street and Regent street for the xmas decorations in London.

Have fun. Ari.