Visiting the UK

madllama · 6 Aug 2008, 20:14

Hey Guys!

Me and my Girlfriend are going to the UK, more exactly Edinburgh, Liverpool and Brighton, in the end of August. Why these cities? Because we're interested of the universities.

Was just wondering if you have any suggestions on where to live, hotels or hostels, and what to see or visit in the cities mentioned above.

We're thankful for any suggestion and tips.

//madllama

Mike Lucey · 6 Aug 2008, 22:48

Hi Madllama,

I don't know Edinburgh or Liverpool but I do know Brighton. Its a
fun place with lots to do and see. You will have to check out the
Royal Pavilion,http://www.royalpavilion.org.uk/

Accommodation can be expensive in the UK but maybe not so bad in the
month of September.

Here are a few links you might like to check out,

http://www.yha.org.uk/
http://www.a1-playfairhousehostel.co.uk/
http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/england/liverpool/
http://www.st-christophers.co.uk/brighton-hostels
http://www.internationalinn.co.uk/
http://www.uktrail.com/

Mike

madllama · 7 Aug 2008, 04:11

Thanks Mike

Wow! The Royal Pavilion looked very nice. I'm just have to see it with my own eyes. It is now on our to-see-or-visit-list

Jackson · 7 Aug 2008, 06:18

Henrik,

Where in Sweden are you from/living? (PM me if you don't want to go public). I'm from Edinburgh, but now live and work in Malmö- I've actually lived in Sweden 3 times (long story, starting with me studying architecture in Lund), but this time it is hopefully permanent.

There's tons to see and do in Edinburgh, but unfortunately for you there's a bit too much at the moment as the Edinburgh Festival is running until the end of August. On one hand that means there are literally tens of thousands of shows, events, exhibitions to see around the city, on the other hand the population of Edinburgh triples during August- meaning even the less-touristy things to see and do in Edinburgh tend to be swamped with tourists and more importantly accomodation of any standard (and especially the cheap variety) is extremely hard to get hold of, although you might get lucky as you're travelling at the tail-end of the festival.

I'll write more when I've got a bit more time,

Vi hörs,
Jackson

madllama · 7 Aug 2008, 10:30

I live in Linköping. What was the reason for you to go to Lund and study? The university in Edinburgh seems much better.

Sounds fun with the festival and less fun with more turists. Just so you know Jackson, we're only going to be in Edinburgh for two days, so we cant do to many things. One thing we're going to do is to visit the university.

If you have any tips on where to live, quite cheap and quite down town, dont hesitate to wirte.

Looking forward for your next post.

Hade bra
Madllama

Alan Fraser · 11 Aug 2008, 07:14

Henrik,
I'd suggest checking out the student Halls of Residence in both Edinburgh and Liverpool (John Moores) Universities. I know that all Edinburgh student accomodation is available for uses over the Summer. The same is probably true of Liverpool. It will be adequate and probably cheaper than most other places.
As Jackson says, it's worth bearing in mind that the Edinburgh festival is on during August and accomodation will be almost impossible to find. If you are going at the very end of the month, or even early September, it would be better, as many of the tourists will have gone home by then and rooms will be much easier to find (and cheaper).

madllama · 13 Aug 2008, 19:48

Thanks Alan. Me and my girlfriend have already unfortunately booked rooms in all cities... maybe we should do a second look on the student accommodations. As you said the should be much cheaper than a hotel or even hostel. In Edinburgh we've booked a mixed dorm room which means that we'll have to share it with eight others. Maybe not that fun but it will be an experience. I'm most deffinatley looking up the universities tomorrow. Thank you yet again for the tip Alan.

madllama

madllama · 26 Aug 2008, 06:29

Thank you Jackson for your little tour guide. I'm gonna print it out and then we'll see how we do.

What is the age limit in pubs and such in the UK... is it 18 like it is in Sweden?

Jackson · 26 Aug 2008, 06:46

@madllama said:

Me and my girlfriend have already unfortunately booked rooms in all cities
That's actually very good news, at least as far as Edinburgh is concerned!

If you only have 2 days in Edinburgh (and 1 visiting the Uni) I'd strongly suggest NOT visiting Edinburgh Castle- the queues this time of year can be 2 hours long, it's expensive (about 150SEK each) and to be honest the sheer number of tourists packed into it pretty much ruin the experience. Much better to save that for a future visit, maybe off season and during a weekday when you can get the space and time to enjoy it.

I'd suggest walking up to the castle (which is in the highest oldest part of Edinburgh known as the Old Town), but rather than go in just take a few photos from the outside and turn around and walk down the Royal Mile- avoid the tacky tourist shops and spend your money on some good Scottish beer (or whisky) in some of the old pubs instead! Take a right onto George IV Bridge and walk straight ahead to the Museum of Scotland (free)- two museums in one: a fantastic 150-yr-old building with a very impressive cast iron and timber glazed roofed atrium which is brighter than you would ever expect of the Victorians and a wonderful extension built about 10 years ago by Benson & Forsyth Architects- easily my favourite building in Edinburgh. The view from the roof terrace is spectacular- especially back towards the castle. Both buildings house fantastic collections of both Scottish and "imported" artifacts.

Walk back up George IV bridge and meander down the Royal Mile ending up at Holyrood Palace and Enric Miralles' Scottish Parliament... the jury's out on the latter, I love parts of it and really dislike others- it's a very complex design. I've never met an Edinburgh taxi driver yet who liked any of it. All in all that should take you a morning depending on how much time you like to spend in museums, if any.

After that I'd strongly recommend the National Gallery of Scotland (free) on the Mound (road that twists up from the orthogonal 250-yr-old New Town to the Royal Mile- it has an excellent collection of Impressionist paintings displayed in very bright homely galleries above the more imposing blood red velvet walled main galleries on the ground floor. A free bus leaves every 15 mins between all the national galleries in Edinburgh so you could jump on that and head down to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (free) and check out a few Picassos, Warhols, etc and a small, but very good surrealist collection or take a taxi (always metered and very well regulated- if their orange light is on then they're available- they won't try to rip you off like Malmö taxis! LOL) down to the Botanical Gardens (yep, you guessed it... free)- which are amongst the best in the world.

As for the evening, if you want to go clubbing I'd either head to George Street in the New Town for loads of fashionable bars and clubs (Tiger Lily, Opal Lounge, Le Monde, Why Not?... all pretty expensive) where all the footballer and brats hang out or my preference would be to head back up to George IV Bridge in the Old Town for more trendy studenty bars (Bar Kohl, The Village, Assembly) and finally a short walk down Victoria Street to Espionage (free entry)- a huge cavernous 5 floor club underground with different music on each floor so you're bound to find something you like.

Or, for a quiet, but perfect Edinburgh night out take a taxi to Kay's Bar in the New Town (taxi probably necessary as it's difficult to find even if you know Edinburgh) and just sit and chat and drink until closing time- my favourite pub in the world:, absolutely tiny, great beers, whiskys, real coal fire, no food, no tourists, no music, just a genuine mix of older regulars leaning against the bar and younger Edinburghers who know where to go to get away from it all and get a good pint.

Finally if you have any spare time and energy (unlikely) and the weather is nice (very unlikely) on your 2nd day, it really is worth walking up Arthur's Seat hill (only takes about 30 minutes) which overlooks the Old Town- the views across Edinburgh are excellent and the fact that there is a large park of virtually untouched Scottish landscape right in the middle of the city is something Edinburghers probably appreciate even more than tourists.

Well... that's my application for Edinburgh Tourist Board sorted!

madllama · 26 Aug 2008, 13:45

Thanks Jackson, would be a shame if we went to the UK without being able to enjoy a good old pint.

/madllama

Jackson · 26 Aug 2008, 13:46

Yep, 18 is the minimum limit, although some bars and clubs choose to enforce higher limits- 21 or 23. As a general rule the bars and clubs on George Street (the posh ones) tend to have higher age limits, but most of the other bars/clubs I mentioned will be over 18.

Jackson · 26 Aug 2008, 13:49

Make sure you try a pint of Deuchars, a really nice IPA made by the Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh- my Swedish girlfriend loves it, we always bring a couple of bottles back with us.

Alan Fraser · 26 Aug 2008, 14:15

I'd recommend the Jeckyll and Hyde pub in Hanover St. just off George St....if you can get in the door. It's very popular with the local student population. The decor is...err....different.

madllama · 27 Aug 2008, 05:16

I will deffinatly try a Deuchars, and the Jeckyll and Byde pub looks great... writing it down so I don't forget it.
Thanks guys. At 12:15 swedish time we're off.