In London and the EU for the Summer, what to do? (WRC, 'Ring and Beer)
 

So I'm attending Summer School at LSE this summer. I actually arrived on July 3rd.

I'm staying in Central London, more specifically the WC1 area. I've done some of the tourist stuff: Camden Locks Market, Regents Park, Hyde Park, walked along the Thames, Trafalgar Square, Chinatown, etc.

What else should I do in London? I missed the GP race, tickets were too expensive and I prefer to see the German WRC next month. I'm not currently much of a F1 fan at the moment, that looks to change within the next two years though.

After finishing up here in two weeks, the plan is to:
-visit Dublin
-fly to Belgium and visit some crazy Brewing Monks (I need to find out specifics)
-goto Germany and drive the 'Ring
-German beer
-will probably stay in Edelweiss for a couple nights
-maybe the Porsche or BMW museums
-fly to Warsaw and visit some cousins
-and maybe a stop in the Czech Republic

Any ideas from our resident Europeans would be helpful. Is anyone planning on attending the rallye-deutschland or wanna meet up at the Ring?

Chris

in the words of hustler, die of aids

http://www.vanillaafro.com/images/jealous-again.jpg

Sheesh, if you can't find enough to do in London alone, you're in pretty bad shape. There's more museums there than anywhere else, on every possible theme.

Hit the London Eye, Tower bridge and HMS Belfast tours.

haha, what rleete said. I think I could spend a whole year in London and not be bored in the slightest

I will be at the ring on the 17th of sept with at least 1 other boosted mx5, maybe 2 others. Since moving to the uk 3 years ago I have run out of things to do in London, but make sure you swing out to the "ace cafe" if only to say you have been there.

Assuming you're 18+, single and non-gay, I'd HIGHLY recommend a visit to Copper Face Jack's around the corner from St. Stephen's Green while in Dublin. I used to live right down the street and never crawled into my bed alone after spending the night there. It's wild. Flannery's on Camden is also fucking amazing. Avoid Citi Bar.

If you're gay, go to the George or the Dragon, both on S. Great George's street. I'm not sure what they're like inside, but I used to see cat fight-like brawls spill out onto the sidewalk from there. I'd also see dudes making out, eww.

You can do the Temple Bar thing, but most of those bars are expensive as shit and geared toward tourists (read: you). Check out Gogarty's Pub on Fleet Street, no tv, music or any bullshit, just toasted sandwiches, pints and conversation. Purdy Kitchen, also in Temple Bar, was pretty decent as was some of the places on the N. side of town (be careful over there), look up the Woolshed, one of the only places in Dublin serving beer in pitchers.

Eat at a Supermac's and be sure to eat at an Eddie Rockets (direct Johnny Rockets knockoff). Don't be shocked when you have to pay 10e for a meal or a pack of smokes, it's fucking nuts. Might as well check out the Brazen Head if you're into the touristy stuff.

Stay in a hostel and destroy it. Some of my fondest memories of Dublin life include going back to a hostel with some Australian girls whose room we (my buddy and I) DESTROYED after running a choo choo.

Any other Dublin-related questions, just pm me. Oh, I'd HIGHLY recommend going to Edinburgh at some point. The Hive club is amazing, fucking AMAZING.

Go see Top Gear??

Hell no dude. That waiting list is years long...

if you are going to visit belguim go to http://www.brugge.be/internet/en/index.htm Most beautiful city I visited.

I saw the coolest bar fight in London, this guy started beating this other guy with his cell phone, cop showed up and swung his night bat around, they calmed down, and everything was cool. Nobody got arrested.
I know it sounds weird, but that just wouldnt happen here, the people are just different. I got allong so much better with brits I had just met than with just about anybody I know here.

What you SHOULD do it visit Sweden, of course. ;-)

The city of Praha is fantastic so if you have time to swing by “The Czech Republic”: do so!

The area around Nurnburg is also very nice. Take some time to visit the city and for example the castles in the area, not just the Ring. And of course: Check the Ring-Calendar carefully before you go so the whole day isn’t booked by the BMW-owners wife-swapping club or something. Book a room at “Der Blaue Ecke” (aka: “The blue corner”), which is the small hotel where all the race stars used to live back in the F1-age of the ring. It is theeee place for Ring-Drivers, a nice hotel AND rather cheap.

A word of warning regarding the ring. You most likely know this, but I type it anyway: Driving the ring and just hanging around at the ring is great fun! Fantastic, do it do it do it! But… Respect the danger. Don’t try to set a record, don’t try to see how fast you can go. It is a fantastic track, like no other anywhere in the world. It is also dangerous as hell. There are blind corners, crests, bumps, hidden corners with off-camber and so on. Add a bunch of tourist-drivers AND, for example, some of the worlds best touring car drivers training or actually qualifying at the same time and you have… well, the German version of “safety” = personal responsibility. Don’t mess up, they WILL send a bill for that Amco-rail to the hospital, right along with a bill for the rental car, the towing of the rental car and a German ass-rape for good measure.

If you are into Club-life, London is your city. If you are a rich guy and like shopping, London is your city. If you are of a more standard wealth-level, unfortunately, London tends to rape you financially.

Have fun!!

I'll be back in the States by the end of August. Y'all should do a mid-August run. :idea:

Is this the Ace Cafe you're talking about: http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/ace-cafe-london-london?

I'm not looking specifically for the Tourist stuff but what the locals like. I'll probably visit one or two of the Museums but not most of the other touristy shit. I've already had a river tour and seen the O2 and Financial District from the Thames.

The tourist stuff gets old quick, the culture and experiences are what stays with you.

Thanks for the Dublin advice, I'll check out some of those places for sure.

I've been to a couple of the London clubs (Roadhouse, 30 minutes of live music then back to a Club, WTF), but I enjoy the pubs a bit more (like Porterhouse). I skipped going to the overpriced Ice Bar.

I saw it live on the BBC Sunday.

I've heard they've some great Pubs, I'm researching the best places to hit. Have any pointers or know anybody that's been to the pubs?

Yea, London is raping me. Even staying at the school residences is expensive with the added benefit of having shit food. But, I expected it for the most part.

I agree about the 'Ring. I'm tempted to just taken a regular rental car there but the added safety of a roll cage is highly tempting. Thanks for the heads up on the Blue Corner.

Chris

Oh, I almost forgot -- try to hook up with an Essex girl.