Going to London

[Johnny Canuck3]

My wife is, that is, with her mother, in a couple of weeks.

They're staying at a place called the Thistle Marble Arch.

Is that a nice place?

What would you recommend they do? Keep in mind that my m-in-law is retired, relatively healty, but still.... retired.

 

[maes]

It's in marble arch, which is very central, on Oxford St (the main, hellish, shopping st), and a pretty good area. Quite posh.

 

[zenie]

They have to go for lunch at Claridges and have afternoon tea at The Ritz

 

[frogwoman]

they should run naked i the street, have a bit of fun in their old age

no seriously there are some nice theatres and stuff in covent garden you could take her to a play ... and have a meal afterwards

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

they should run naked i the street, have a bit of fun in their old age

My mother in law is the retired one, not my wife...

I'll suggest it, if you'll offer to run naked with them.

 

[frogwoman]

depends what the weather's like

 

[marty21]

They have to go for lunch at Claridges and have afternoon tea at The Ritz

i was going to suggest that

take a stroll on the south bank, the london eye, the tate modern and that

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Should they boycott the Elgin Marbles?

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Should they visit brixton, but without wearing provocative clothing?

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

No replies?

Should two Canadian women take a little tour of Brixton?

 

[Bonfirelight]

not a slur on brixton, but if i had people coming over i wouldn't take them there.

its pretty good for nightlife and things but its not really touristy and theres more to be had in other parts of the city with museums and theatres and what have you.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

not a slur on brixton, but if i had people coming over i wouldn't take them there.

its pretty good for nightlife and things but its not really touristy and theres more to be had in other parts of the city with museums and theatres and what have you.

But surely a city isn't just about museums and theatres.

 

[Derian]

What types of things do they enjoy?

Are they particularly restricted budget-wise?

 

[Bonfirelight]

well yeah. like i say, it depends what they're after.

if they want to see a bit more of 'real' london and enjoy some bars and food then Brixton is fine, i just meant if i had someone coming over or indeed if i was going somewhere i'd want to see the sights a bit.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

well yeah. like i say, it depends what they're after.

if they want to see a bit more of 'real' london and enjoy some bars and food then Brixton is fine, i just meant if i had someone coming over or indeed if i was going somewhere i'd want to see the sights a bit.

Fair enough. I find it interesting that no one who lives in Brixton has a comment.

 

[sheothebudworths]

Don't get the question really....


Wouldn't you know best if they'd be likely to enjoy a visit to a local neighbourhood over more of the usual tourist stuff?

 

[sheothebudworths]

Should two Canadian women take a little tour of Brixton?



Should they visit brixton, but without wearing provocative clothing?

???

 

[Bonfirelight]

Fair enough. I find it interesting that no one who lives in Brixton has a comment.

i wouldn't read into it too much.
i doubt people from most of londons neighbourhoods would recommend them for tourists. i wouldn't unless they had a reason.

great places to live in, but if you're just visiting then you want to see the famous stuff and the impressive stuff.

 

[sheothebudworths]

...plus, this is the travel forum (hardly heaving) and you did only ask for the first time last night.

You could always put a thread directly into the Brixton forum if you/your wife/her mother really aren't able between the lot of you to decide what they'd like to do on their hols.




You see....I know my mum would rather visit a local neighbourhood than go for the equivalent (in wherever she was visiting) of tea at The Ritz for instance.......but I wouldn't expect anyone who didn't know her to know that too!

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

???

Is that picture from 1975?

 

[sheothebudworths]

I don't fuckin know!

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

...plus, this is the travel forum (hardly heaving) and you did only ask for the first time last night.

You could always put a thread directly into the Brixton forum if you/your wife/her mother really aren't able between the lot of you to decide what they'd like to do on their hols.




You see....I know my mum would rather visit a local neighbourhood than go for the equivalent (in wherever she was visiting) of tea at The Ritz for instance.......but I wouldn't expect anyone who didn't know her to know that too!

I'm sure they can decide, but it's fairly common for people to come to the travel forum and ask for recommendations or advice from locals, or people who have visited before.

It's more of a personal touch than opening Fodors, and picking a page at random.

If you don't have time for a serious reply, that's fine.

 

[sheothebudworths]

Oh I've got the time me laddy!

But I don't know Brixton terribly well - soz!
I'm a north London girl y'see and I hate the whole fucking city anyway (which is why I left), so I'm not a good person to ask for recommendations (if I was pushed to make one, I'd say go to India instead ).

Anyway, the first half of that post you just quoted was a serious reply (it's a very specific question and if you're in a hurry for replies then it'd make sense to post it in the Brixton forum).

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Oh I've got the time me laddy!

But I don't know Brixton terribly well - soz!
I'm a north London girl y'see and I hate the whole fucking city anyway (which is why I left), so I'm not a good person to ask for recommendations (if I was pushed to make one, I'd say go to India instead ).

Anyway, the first half of that post you just quoted was a serious reply (it's a very specific question and if you're in a hurry for replies then it'd make sense to post it in the Brixton forum).

I'm asking about the city in general: what places might be out of the way, not the standard tourist things, but still interesting or enjoyable for visitors.

I asked about brixton specifically, because many here seem to live there.

 

[Derian]

What types of things do they enjoy?

Are they particularly restricted budget-wise?

 

[marty21]

tbh johnny, i wouldn't really recommend hackney for a tourist, so it's not really about whether or not they are nice places, if they are first timers to london, they might as well do the touristy stuff, if they came back again, they could look further afield...

 

[DrRingDing]

My wife is, that is, with her mother, in a couple of weeks.

They're staying at a place called the Thistle Marble Arch.

Is that a nice place?

What would you recommend they do? Keep in mind that my m-in-law is retired, relatively healty, but still.... retired.

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Traveller ratings summary

Overall satisfaction 80% of travellers (4 of 5) recommend this hotel
3.0
Hotel service Hotel condition Room cleanliness Room comfort

3.0 3.0 4.0 2.8



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Individual ratings and reviews

All reviews displayed below have been submitted by customers who stayed at this hotel. Only the 25 most recent reviews are shown.


A traveller from rhode island recommends this hotel


Overall satisfaction Hotel service Hotel condition Room cleanliness Room comfort

3 4 3 4 1





Posted: 29-Mar-06
the beds were terrible
the hotel is in an excellent location and if you are only there to sleep it’s fine but the beds were terrible. good value


the walking tours were great and the churchill museum and war rooms are a must for teens and adults





A traveller from Oxford does not recommend this hotel


Overall satisfaction Hotel service Hotel condition Room cleanliness Room comfort

1 2 1 2 1





Posted: 26-May-05



A traveller from Short Gap, WV recommends this hotel


Overall satisfaction Hotel service Hotel condition Room cleanliness Room comfort

4 3 4 5 3





Posted: 21-Sep-05
Nice but could be better with a little effort
We enjoyed the hotel but had some irritants. Check-in is at 14:00, don’t arrive early, they won’t give you a room even if you land at 7 AM. They provided a smoking room although a non-smoking room was requested. The room was small and difficult to maneuver in but very clean. Ice machines didn’t work and be sure to cancel wakeups or they keep coming on each following day. Good location, great bar, accomodations were almost within expectations.

Traveller's tip on shopping
Use the tube, it’s just around the corner and the day passes can’t be beat. If you take a Taxi, morgage your house first before traveling. Buy some food for breakfast and snacks at a local market (usually basements of large stores), it saves cash and also very interesting.





A traveller from Dallas Texas recommends this hotel


Overall satisfaction Hotel service Hotel condition Room cleanliness Room comfort

4 4 4 4 5

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

I think they have a dollar or two in their jeans.

My mother in law would probably like the more traditional things, but she's been there a number of times, and has seen all that. She's been talking about Portobello Road.

My wife would be open to different things, she's quite adventurous, but she's never been there.

 

[sheothebudworths]

I'm asking about the city in general: what places might be out of the way, not the standard tourist things, but still interesting or enjoyable for visitors.

I asked about brixton specifically, because many here seem to live there.

Well fine....

I find it interesting that no one who lives in Brixton has a comment.

....but I was responding more to that.

 

[sheothebudworths]

Portobello would be good - and is a pretty standard alternative stop off for tourists (similarly Camden Lock, except it's absolutely jammed these days ).