Author Topic: Visiting the UK  (Read 17904 times)

fcheslop

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #45 on: March 31, 2013, 11:33:52 PM »
Sorry for the slow reply Iv been trying to master mixed media painting for a while notice the word trying :lolb:
Good luck with the visit but you should realy come to the land of the Prince Bishops  :Lol:

Offline Mosey

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #46 on: April 01, 2013, 12:38:02 AM »
I'm beginning to understand...a fair country of breweries, separated by dialects, driven by steam? I like that.

Offline doubletop

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #47 on: April 06, 2013, 08:06:33 AM »
If you are doing Oxford, there's the Didcot Railway Centre

http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/

Or model railways

There's Pendon in Abingdon

http://www.pendonmuseum.com/

Then go over to the GWR museum in Swindon.

http://www.steam-museum.org.uk/

The real plus with the Swindon Museum is scoring points with the Mrs at the factory outlet shopping centre on the same site. Its in the old railway works buildings.

http://www.mcarthurglen.com/uk/swindon-designer-outlet/en/

Then head south to Crofton

http://www.croftonbeamengines.org/

and then Salisbury Cathedral

http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/

Middle Wallaop Army aviation Museum

www.armyflying.com

and of course Stonehenge

http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/

Have a pint of 6X for me

Pete

?To achieve anything in this game, you must be prepared to dabble on the boundary of disaster.? - Stirling Moss

Offline Mosey

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #48 on: April 06, 2013, 01:18:10 PM »
Now were talking, Pete! This is a great list, just what we need.
We are planning on Oxford, and she has a big color book of the Cotswolds that seems to be full of that craggy charming cottagey stuff, great for painting. Of course we made reservations in Midsummer to meet up with the Barnaby's, hopefully he won't be busy working.

I think there are many more intriguing places to visit, but you guys (not Doubletop) are holding out, not wanting to let the secrets be known.
Normally, I don't drink, but I'll have a pint for you.
Mosey

Offline CliffH

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #49 on: April 16, 2013, 06:49:44 PM »
Might I put in a word for one or two places that I always love: 1. Rochester cathedral - it seems small (and may be smaller than many others) but is a beautiful building, and always - at least when I've been there - quiet, and well worth viewing from the adjacent keep in Rochester castle. Chatham dockyard's worth a trip, too. 2. Ripon cathedral: as above. 3. Cambridge, in particular, Fitzwilliam museum. Bedford ought to be well worth visiting, but isn't. If you travel by train, better get a mortgage arranged before you come...
CliffH
CliffH

Offline Mosey

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #50 on: April 16, 2013, 07:52:14 PM »
Thank you Cliff, we are taking it all in and planning our itinerary.
I wonder if there are places to see machine tools, just in case can sneak out. Aciera bits would be nice.
Mosey

Offline GWRdriver

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #51 on: April 16, 2013, 08:22:55 PM »
I'll be headed to old Blighty this summer myself, 10 days or so in the west counties, mostly near Bath Spa, and the rest in London.  My digs near Bath will be Limpley Stoke, a beautiful little village (last time I saw it) and Seend (nr Devizes.)  For those of you who know the movie The Titfield Thunderbolt, Limpley Stoke was the village where the movie takes place.  There's lots to see in that district, especially for a GWR fan.

If you go to Bath, head up the hill from the center of town and visit the old hardware store.
Known as Mr Bowler's Business (or Shop) IIRC.  If you visit, the volunteer at the door (the ticket agent) will ask if you are local or tourist . . . you should always answer Local!  Last time I was there townspeople got in without charge and the man at the door said I looked like a local (nudge-nudge, wink-wink) but I dropped a couple of quid in the donation box anyway.  If you Google "Mr Bowlers Business" all will be revealed.

On a clear and warm day the Caen Hill Locks, near Devizes, are a spectacular sight.
« Last Edit: April 24, 2013, 07:21:40 PM by GWRdriver »
Cheers,
Harry

Offline GWRdriver

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Re: Visiting the UK - Other Questions
« Reply #52 on: April 16, 2013, 08:41:49 PM »
I plan to take along my auto GPS (SatNav) and the UK map chip is installed and operational.
(Test command "GO London" - Answer: "Go 300 ft to End of Driveway, Turn Right, Go 4237.6 miles to destination.")

What I need to know (among many other things) is what sort of power connection am I likely to have available in an economy rental car?  My GPS/SATNAV has only a cigarette-lighter type power connector and I would like to be prepared for the connection the auto will probably have.  The rental agency can't confirm because they don't know exactly which vehicle will be available, but perhaps it's the same in everything now.  Any guesses?
Cheers,
Harry

Online sco

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #53 on: April 16, 2013, 10:06:57 PM »
I'm sure most cars in the uk will have a cigarette lighter socket - whether they are the same as US sockets is another matter though.
Ars longa, vita brevis.

Bluechip

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #54 on: April 16, 2013, 10:13:09 PM »
I think they are just about the same, loooong time since I was in the USA.

This sort of  free plug can be picked up at virtually any car accessory shop anyway.

http://cpc.farnell.com/_/353-01/cigarette-lighter-plug-12v/dp/CP02369.

Dave BC

EDIT If you look on this from Farnell Newark, they look much the same as far as I can see.

http://www.newark.com/tripp-lite/pv150/inverter-dc-ac-120v-150w/dp/81C9215?in_merch=Popular Products

« Last Edit: April 16, 2013, 10:21:33 PM by Bluechip »

Offline Deko

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #55 on: April 16, 2013, 11:10:07 PM »
I bought and sold USA cars in the late 60s early 70s and they were all the same then. They have not changed over here, so if they are still the same in the USA then you should be OK.

Cheers Dek.

Offline Mosey

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #56 on: April 17, 2013, 06:25:28 PM »
Do these hotels ring any bells for anyone? Grange Langham in London, or the Remont in Oxford?
Mosey

Offline GWRdriver

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #57 on: April 17, 2013, 07:50:45 PM »
I'm sure most cars in the uk will have a cigarette lighter socket - whether they are the same as US sockets is another matter though.
sco,
If they have them, then I would think they would be the same.
Cheers,
Harry

Offline doubletop

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #58 on: April 18, 2013, 06:59:32 AM »
Do these hotels ring any bells for anyone? Grange Langham in London, or the Remont in Oxford?
Mosey

For bookings take a look at http://www.laterooms.com/en/r100_hotels-in-uk.aspx but maybe its a bit early for these bargains.

For writeups http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ but take some of them with a pinch of salt. There are some picky buggers out there.

Don't get the Grange Langham mixed up with The Langham.

Pete
?To achieve anything in this game, you must be prepared to dabble on the boundary of disaster.? - Stirling Moss

Offline CliffH

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Re: Visiting the UK
« Reply #59 on: April 26, 2013, 07:06:21 PM »
I don't know about Aciera bits, Mosey, but there should be some good machines in some of the workshops of the preserved railways, f'rinstance at Didcot (GWR) Sheffiled Park (Bluebell Railway) Loughborough (Great Central Railway) These places have the added bonus of being well populated by the odd steam locomotive...
Cliff
CliffH

 

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