London On My Mind...

[lagilman]

Starting to actually plot out the trip to the UK later this month. Convincing myself that cannot take newbie international traveler from a redeye flight and expect them to dive into a full day of touristing, especially since I have no idea how we'll be packing (we're going to be there for a week, so just-backpacks isn't possible).

So: Monday arrival, haul ourselves into Brighton via Victoria Station to get the keys to our apartment, then do an afternoon's browse through town, depending on A's recovery rate*.  Early but not too early to bed, and on the morning, back to London for a full day of tourist revelry...  (mainly museums, this go.  Possibly a few Landmarks.)

And I need to figure out where to eat, Tuesday night.  Oh Londoners?  Any advice on pubs?  Any of you want to meet up with us?

Then back to Brighton on a late train, turn around and repeat on Wednesday, with the additional fillip of me having a signing at Forbidden Planet that night.  Londoners, if you don't show up I will cry at you forever.

Thursday begins WFC.

We depart Monday evening, which means a last go around Brighton, then a lot of transit.

That should keep A. from expiring of overtouristing, right?






*I have been known to hit town, take a hot shower, and then go all day until collapsing around 9pm. But I've Done This Before.

Comments

beating jet lag (for your newbie red-eye flyer)

[gwinnydedanann.livejournal.com]

There's an old book I swear by called "The Jet Lag Diet". Depending on which direction you're going and how many time zones you're passing through, it tells you when you have to eat carbs or protein/when you're not allowed to eat carbs or protein, when you have to drink caffeine/when you're not allowed to drink caffeine. It may be placebo, but it's never failed me. When my ex and I used to travel, I'd hit the ground running and he'd curse my bones.

Re: beating jet lag (for your newbie red-eye flyer)

[lagilman]

its not only jet lag that's the concern, but not knowing if she will be able to sleep at all on the plane. , or how restful it will be...

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

There is a fair bit to do in Brighton, too.
London Chinatown is the place to eat, hands' down.

[kateyule.livejournal.com]

Current thinking has us in London Sat-Weds pre-con, with a tropism for Greenwich. Could conceivably meet up Tues.

Your default travel mode sounds a lot like mine/ours. (Will be modifying, this time, because of knee repairs.)

[lagilman]

Do you have my contact info, to arrange such a thing? I am pretty sure I forgot to enter yours into my phone, because I am a dumbass about such things.

[smoemeth.livejournal.com]

Brighton is wonderful, even this time of year. Do try to make time to eat at my favorite restaurant on the planet: Pomegranate, on Manchester Street about a 15-minute walk from the Hilton. It's teeeny, run by a lovely Kurdish couple, and the food is absolutely sublime. They put pomegranate seeds on everything. :)

My favorite pub in Brighton, FWIW, is a little place called The Globe. It's tucked in at the end of South Street, one block up from the Odeon.

If I end up with some useful recon from London this week, I'll let you know. You may be interested in the speakeasy in Earl's Court...

[lagilman]

Excellent. Our apartment has a kitchen, but I suspect we'll use it mainly for breakfasts.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Also Terre a Terre - I think it's still going. Vegetarian but excellent. I should be in town (Brighton) at some point over the weekend: at this stage, thinking of coming on Friday and leaving on Sunday. I am not booked for the con itself.

[lagilman]

I should be in town (Brighton) at some point over the weekend: at this stage, thinking of coming on Friday and leaving on Sunday.

*makes noise of cheering*


First drink's on me!

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

You're on! Just sorted out somewhere to stay.

[smoemeth.livejournal.com]

Here's the speakeasy info. It's a "detective agency". In order to "make an appointment" and then gain entry at the appointed time, you need to have your cover story ready. It's a hoot. (Frex, when I went it was to meet with a suspected jewel thief.) The food and drink are good, too.

http://www.evansandpeel.com/

[quarkwiz.livejournal.com]

Have you already booked your flights? If not, and you're concerned about your newbie traveller and the sleep issue, London is just about the only across-the-pond city to which you can get a day flight. I love taking those day flights; arrive mid to late evening, find your sleeping spot, fall down. I find it helps a little with the adjustment, too, but mainly I'm just pleased not to be cooped up in a plane convinced that I should be trying to sleep when I can't even get more than 5 minutes of uncomfortable dozing at one time.

[lagilman]

Uh, yeah, since we're leaving in 24 days, tix long-ago bought.

[smoemeth.livejournal.com]

I'm a huge fan of the leave-NYC-in-the-early-AM-and-arrive-in-London-in-the-evening flights. Just took one yesterday, in fact. It does help me get on UK time pretty much instantaneously.

[lagilman]

I've done it once or twice, and find I arrive feeling cranky and twitchy from having spent all day in a tin can, even when I manage to get work done. At least for an evening flight, I can just doze and stare at a movie until I fall asleep.

[bellinghwoman.livejournal.com]

Could I suggest The Phoenix in Cavendish Square as a possibility for Tuesday evening? We go there regularly and it's a nice pub - decent beer, decent food, nice and central - 2 minutes walk from Oxford Circus and an easy trip back to Victoria at the end of the evening - it's two stops on the Victoria line from Oxford Circus to Victoria station.

See http://www.phoenixcavendishsquare.co.uk/ for more info.