# Going to England **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 16, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002 "2009-06-16T23:02:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/41 "2009-06-18T17:39:08Z")
If you enjoy theater, go to the [Globe](http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/)theater. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/42 "2009-06-18T22:05:18Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > Incidentally, if you’re on the motorway DO NOT stop to eat/drink/refuel at any of the M/way service stations unless you’re very rich, those buggers will rob you blind. > > Also, do not be put off by the reputation of transport cafes as being tatty and filthy. > > They’re not, a very good full English can be had at one of these places and very cheaply It’s possible to have a shite one, though, too…although I concede that the element of chance is preferable to certain failure at Welcome Break. (I recently had a top-notch freshly-baked steak pie at a services on the A1, having driven past all the motorway ones 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/43 "2009-06-19T02:17:25Z")
Please visit The White Horse - it’s just magnificent. [http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/oxfordshire/featured-sites/uffington-white-horse-and-dragon-hill.html](http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/oxfordshire/featured-sites/uffington-white-horse-and-dragon-hill.html) Also close to The Ridgeway. Stonehenge, well, you’ve seen the pictures, as other posters mention there are plenty of other sights. The Rollright Stones have an amazing atmosphere although there’s not much to them. England is peppered with ancient sites. The B&B is definitely the way to go. Check this blog for eateries: [http://russelldavies.typepad.com/ateaandathink/](http://russelldavies.typepad.com/ateaandathink/) Really though, you can just bumble around. [Brill - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brill) My little village! Some people say it’s Bree from the Lord of the Rings - we are a hairy toed lot so there may be some truth in that. If you’re into the Industrial Revolution there are several museums I’ve found fascinating but can’t for the life of me remember where they are. The Clifton Suspension Bridge up on the Downs is impressive. I wonder if Banksys exhibition will still be on there when you go. [http://www.completely-cotswold.com/bourton/attract/village/village.htm](http://www.completely-cotswold.com/bourton/attract/village/village.htm) Another treasure in the Cotswolds. ---
**Author:** ![Goggles03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@Goggles03](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goggles03)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/44 "2009-06-19T10:24:35Z")
The B&B route sounds good. I’ve stayed in enough hotels in my life, different is better. Following everyone’s links has been the best part, I would have never run across these places. I understand the M roads are equivalent to US interstate highways and the A roads are more typical roads. What’s with pubs, isn’t that English for bar? Did I miss something? ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/45 "2009-06-19T10:54:32Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > I wonder if Banksys exhibition will still be on there when you go. I’m afraid not: it finishes on August 31st. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/46 "2009-06-19T12:08:09Z")
Lord above, do not go to Blackpool. It’s a complete shit hole. If you want to visit the north, and let’s face it, who doesn’t, then York or Chester are two Roman and Viking cities, (York, having once been the capital of the north, has more to do, with a load of museums, the minster etc.) Manchester, the UK’s second city, is also a good base for exploring North Wales, Derbyshire, the Fylde Coast, rural Lancashire, the Lake District, Liverpool etc. from (and has a lot to see in its own right). ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/47 "2009-06-19T12:34:24Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > [http://www.completely-cotswold.com/bourton/attract/village/village.htm](http://www.completely-cotswold.com/bourton/attract/village/village.htm) Another treasure in the Cotswolds. Blimey. I’ve never seen so many parking spaces available in Bourton. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/48 "2009-06-19T13:50:17Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > It’s possible to have a shite one, though, too…although I concede that the element of chance is preferable to certain failure at Welcome Break. (I recently had a top-notch freshly-baked steak pie at a services on the A1, having driven past all the motorway ones 🙂 ) I do believe that there is a trophy awarded annually to the best/cheapest/cleanest/value for money Transport Cafe in the UK. A few years ago I had a meal at the winning TC which is just outside Connahs Quay, N.Wales but I forget the name of it ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/49 "2009-06-19T14:06:52Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Manchester, the UK’s second city, is also a good base for exploring North Wales, Derbyshire, the Fylde Coast, rural Lancashire, the Lake District, Liverpool etc. from (and has a lot to see in its own right). Birmingham wants a word with you over that second city thing. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/50 "2009-06-19T14:27:21Z")
[The Full Monty](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Full_Monty) Guess it was more popular in the states. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/51 "2009-06-19T14:53:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Birmingham wants a word with you over that second city thing. They can have as many words as they want; doesn’t change the fact that Manchester’s the second city. Birmingham’s not even in the same league. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/52 "2009-06-19T15:02:26Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > Please visit The White Horse - it’s just magnificent. > [http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/oxfordshire/featured-sites/uffington-white-horse-and-dragon-hill.html](http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/oxfordshire/featured-sites/uffington-white-horse-and-dragon-hill.html) Also close to The Ridgeway. Stonehenge, well, you’ve seen the pictures, as other posters mention there are plenty of other sights. The Rollright Stones have an amazing atmosphere although there’s not much to them. England is peppered with ancient sites. This is why England (along with a lot of Europe) is different to America. You can see 4,000yo monuments and they’re just sitting by the side of the road. No roller coasters or people dressed as caveman, they just sit there, watching the centuries drift by. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/53 "2009-06-19T15:17:16Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > They can have as many words as they want; doesn’t change the fact that Manchester’s the second city. Birmingham’s not even in the same league. Based on what? Birmingham is the country’s second largest city in terms of population and economics. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/54 "2009-06-19T15:43:08Z")
Based on the opinions of the [British public](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2253035.stm) (second [survey](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6349501.stm)), sporting achievements, cultural output (for a start, bands from Manchester have dominated the charts for the last thirty years) etc. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/55 "2009-06-19T15:50:13Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Based on the opinions of the [British public](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2253035.stm) (second [survey](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6349501.stm)), sporting achievements, cultural output (for a start, bands from Manchester have dominated the charts for the last thirty years) etc. The opinion polls aren’t a bad basis for the argument, although I note that the first one was commissioned by “Marketing Manchester”- but sporting achievements and record sales? Really? On that basis, Los Angeles is the most important city in the world! ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/56 "2009-06-19T15:56:29Z")
Both polls were by Ipsos MORI. It doesn’t matter who commissioned them—surely somebody had to. > [@](#): > > but sporting achievements and record sales? And based on population Mexico city is the most important city in the world. Why do you think the polls are like they are? Why is Manchester so popular in the 18–35 age range, compared to Birmingham. Because Manchester is a cultural centre, and Birmingham isn’t (to the same extent). ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/57 "2009-06-19T16:31:15Z")
Birmingham itself is bigger than the city of Manchester, but if you take the population of the entire urban areas (so including Salford, Bolton etc.), they are very close. In terms of cultural and possibly economic clout, I would agree that Manchester beats Brum hands down. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/58 "2009-06-19T17:48:19Z")
Well if you ask me, and nobody did, I’d say that Manchester is the number one city. As the saying goes “What Manchester does today London does tomorrow” And Brummigham probably never gets around to doing it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/59 "2009-06-19T17:54:04Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > This is why England (along with a lot of Europe) is different to America. You can see 4,000yo monuments and they’re just sitting by the side of the road. No roller coasters or people dressed as caveman, they just sit there, watching the centuries drift by. As a matter of fact monuments in England and Europe date back much earlier than 4000 years. The earliest stones laid at Stonehenge date back to around 3100BC. I was in Guernsey last year and there are some Dolmens which also date back over 5000 years. Gives you a strange feeling when you stand there and just absorb that fact, some guys all those years ago were stood right where you are now ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002/60 "2009-06-19T18:52:52Z")
My partner and I have a tendency, when we see something really old and manmade, to just stand there and say, “With their hands!” “Hands just like our hands… fucked _up_.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-england/500002.md?page=4)