Dublin/London Filter
July 9, 2010 11:03 AM Subscribe
What shouldn't I miss in Dublin and London this month?
I'll be in Dublin from the 10th until the 18th and in London from the 19th until the 23rd. It's my second time in Dublin and my first time in London; what shouldn't I miss while I'm there?
I'll be in Dublin from the 10th until the 18th and in London from the 19th until the 23rd. It's my second time in Dublin and my first time in London; what shouldn't I miss while I'm there?
Best answer: There is no better concert venue in London than Somerset House. It's hard to get tickets, but beg, borrow and steal to see if you can find some.
Failing that, Time Out is a good source of info. This is another decent guide.
The Proms is a cracking summer event. If you can't get to go see it, you can watch it in Hyde Park.
You can't do either of these things below because they're not on when you're here, but in your timings things change or you come back:
There's also the Notting Hill Carnival.
Buckingham Palace is only open over the summer, if that's your bag.
posted by MuffinMan at 12:25 PM on July 9, 2010
Failing that, Time Out is a good source of info. This is another decent guide.
The Proms is a cracking summer event. If you can't get to go see it, you can watch it in Hyde Park.
You can't do either of these things below because they're not on when you're here, but in your timings things change or you come back:
There's also the Notting Hill Carnival.
Buckingham Palace is only open over the summer, if that's your bag.
posted by MuffinMan at 12:25 PM on July 9, 2010
Best answer: Oh my...this is a tall order. For a never been there before visitor I'll give a suggestion and then one place to go for each (but you truly picked two of the coolest cities in the world so I'll post one thing and the let others fill it up with more/better suggestions).
First get the Time Out Guide for both as MuffinMan suggested. These are great travel guides as they really concentrate on cities and parse out a lot of data on historical sites, entertainment, pubs, music...well everything really. Available everywhere.
London: Tower of London. Everyone knows what it is. Get the audio tour and do not miss the guided tour with a Beefeater. Informative but mostly hilarious, I couldn't stop cracking up. Don't miss it.
Dublin:I would assume the walking tour MM mentioned would include the General Post Office where the battle mostly occured. Go to Kilmainham Gaol also to finish off the Easter Rising history then. Otherwise just hang out with the people. They are my biggest draw.
Do one walking tour in each place, I liked the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl and the Jack the Ripper one in London (maybe dorky but that guy was a lot of fun).
It should go without saying that the pubs are ridiculously cool in both. Go into many, you will make friends. The people in both towns are remarkably witty and incredibly friendly. Have a good time..I'm jealous! (sorry no links, it is my first ten minutes on MeFi)
Natives and many-timers will have more and better suggestions, heed them.
posted by AliJayBey at 3:07 PM on July 9, 2010
First get the Time Out Guide for both as MuffinMan suggested. These are great travel guides as they really concentrate on cities and parse out a lot of data on historical sites, entertainment, pubs, music...well everything really. Available everywhere.
London: Tower of London. Everyone knows what it is. Get the audio tour and do not miss the guided tour with a Beefeater. Informative but mostly hilarious, I couldn't stop cracking up. Don't miss it.
Dublin:I would assume the walking tour MM mentioned would include the General Post Office where the battle mostly occured. Go to Kilmainham Gaol also to finish off the Easter Rising history then. Otherwise just hang out with the people. They are my biggest draw.
Do one walking tour in each place, I liked the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl and the Jack the Ripper one in London (maybe dorky but that guy was a lot of fun).
It should go without saying that the pubs are ridiculously cool in both. Go into many, you will make friends. The people in both towns are remarkably witty and incredibly friendly. Have a good time..I'm jealous! (sorry no links, it is my first ten minutes on MeFi)
Natives and many-timers will have more and better suggestions, heed them.
posted by AliJayBey at 3:07 PM on July 9, 2010
Best answer: Yes, the walking tour I mentioned does conclude at the GPO. Also seconding Kilmainham Gaol, it's a very cool place. Oh, and I almost forgot: The last time I was in Dublin I met a very cool MeFite who took me on a pub crawl to a bunch of cool places. He was kind enough to make a Google Map of it in case I ever wanted to do it again. Check it out if you're in the mood for that sort of thing. Just make sure to take a friend. Or steal one from the first bar.
posted by lholladay at 3:13 PM on July 9, 2010
posted by lholladay at 3:13 PM on July 9, 2010
Best answer: Ahh..holladay...sorry about that. I missed you up at the top as first on...there were a lot of yellow link bits. And the walk you posted is cool, and so close to The Brazen Head (I really dug that place...I admit it has been many years...hope it hasn't gotten too touristy) Thanks for seconding the jail...everyone takes a picture of that star shaped water spout, or whatever it is that is featured in the docu/movie!
posted by AliJayBey at 4:43 PM on July 9, 2010
posted by AliJayBey at 4:43 PM on July 9, 2010
Best answer: In Dublin:
Go to the Trinity College Library. It is simply a work of art for book lovers, and apparently the inspiration for the archives of the Jedi Temple. While there you must see the Book of Kells. Even if you're not at all religious (I'm not) or christian, it is a stunning piece of art on its own.
posted by aclevername at 1:20 AM on July 10, 2010
Go to the Trinity College Library. It is simply a work of art for book lovers, and apparently the inspiration for the archives of the Jedi Temple. While there you must see the Book of Kells. Even if you're not at all religious (I'm not) or christian, it is a stunning piece of art on its own.
posted by aclevername at 1:20 AM on July 10, 2010
I'm late to this thread, but if you're still checking it... Welcome to London!
Things you must do:
--See a Shakespeare production at the Globe. It's often sold out this time of year, but you can probably get £10 "Groundlings" (AKA standing in the middle) tickets.
--For other theatre, check out the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for half price tickets. Don't be mislead by the various other ticket resellers in Leicester Square (some of whom even have "official" in their name.) The actual official TKTS booth is a freestanding booth inside the square.
--The Churchill Museum/ Cabinet War Rooms.
--The Tate Modern. I used to think I didn't like modern art but the Tate changed my mind. (It's next to the Globe, so you can combine them in one afternoon. In fact, a perfect afternoon on a nice day is to take the Tube to Embankment or Westminster, then walk along the Thames up to the Tate.)
--The British Museum. That and the Tate are the two must-see museums in London (IMHO.)
--Eat fish and chips at least once, and have a good Indian meal as well.
--I second The Tower of London. And, yes, definitely take the walking tour with the Beefeater-- I've had friends who thought the tour would be too... well, touristy... so they skipped it. That was a huge mistake. Also don't forget to see the Crown Jewels while you're in the Tower.
--One touristy thing you can safely skip: the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. It's nice enough, but I've never understood why it's such a big deal. If you've got spare time and you're in the area, sure, check it out, but don't give up something else to do it.
--Just walk around and enjoy the architecture. Stop in any big bookstore and ask them to point you to a book of London walking tours, then do a few of them.
posted by yankeefog at 4:22 AM on July 19, 2010
Things you must do:
--See a Shakespeare production at the Globe. It's often sold out this time of year, but you can probably get £10 "Groundlings" (AKA standing in the middle) tickets.
--For other theatre, check out the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for half price tickets. Don't be mislead by the various other ticket resellers in Leicester Square (some of whom even have "official" in their name.) The actual official TKTS booth is a freestanding booth inside the square.
--The Churchill Museum/ Cabinet War Rooms.
--The Tate Modern. I used to think I didn't like modern art but the Tate changed my mind. (It's next to the Globe, so you can combine them in one afternoon. In fact, a perfect afternoon on a nice day is to take the Tube to Embankment or Westminster, then walk along the Thames up to the Tate.)
--The British Museum. That and the Tate are the two must-see museums in London (IMHO.)
--Eat fish and chips at least once, and have a good Indian meal as well.
--I second The Tower of London. And, yes, definitely take the walking tour with the Beefeater-- I've had friends who thought the tour would be too... well, touristy... so they skipped it. That was a huge mistake. Also don't forget to see the Crown Jewels while you're in the Tower.
--One touristy thing you can safely skip: the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. It's nice enough, but I've never understood why it's such a big deal. If you've got spare time and you're in the area, sure, check it out, but don't give up something else to do it.
--Just walk around and enjoy the architecture. Stop in any big bookstore and ask them to point you to a book of London walking tours, then do a few of them.
posted by yankeefog at 4:22 AM on July 19, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by lholladay at 11:41 AM on July 9, 2010 [1 favorite]