# I'm going to London in 11 days... What do I want to do?? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 1, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053 "2004-07-01T14:50:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/101 "2004-07-13T10:26:52Z")
Tipping: In a bar: Not expected. We Don’t. If you are feeling especially generous you can offer to buy the barman a drink (he gets the money later), but this isn’t a common occurance. Restaurants: betwenn 10-15%. However check the bill, quite a lot of places include service (usually at 12.5%), and the rotters have a habit of including the services and then leaving the tip space blank. Other people you may wish to tip: Taxis (not compulsory by any means). Porters like the luggage porter. Barbers/hairdressers. Lap dancers 😛 By and large Britain doesn’t have a tipping culture - certainly nothing like the states. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/102 "2004-07-13T10:43:14Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > Tipping: > > In a bar: Not expected. We Don’t. If you are feeling especially generous you can offer to buy the barman a drink (he gets the money later), but this isn’t a common occurance. > > Restaurants: betwenn 10-15%. However check the bill, quite a lot of places include service (usually at 12.5%), and the rotters have a habit of including the services and then leaving the tip space blank. > > Other people you may wish to tip: Taxis (not compulsory by any means). Porters like the luggage porter. Barbers/hairdressers. Lap dancers 😛 > > By and large Britain doesn’t have a tipping culture - certainly nothing like the states. Thanks - great info. Although, if I ever patronize a lap dancer, I’m thinking I’m the one who’s been tipped - on my head. Unless they have male lap dancers that I’m not aware of? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/103 "2004-07-13T10:58:27Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > . Unless they have male lap dancers that I’m not aware of? 😉 There are plenty of establishments down Old compton St that offer this sort of thing…you won’t get chatted up either 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/104 "2004-07-13T11:23:52Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > …you won’t get chatted up either 😃 Well that’s no fun, is it? 😉 Last night I was so bored that even the idea of calling Zanis, the Greek guy from the London Bridge, didn’t seem so horrible, if only because it would give me something to do. :eek: The craziness passed quickly, luckily. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/105 "2004-07-13T11:32:12Z")
“Come to London and see the magnificence of Green Lanes” doesn’t really have a ring to it does it? ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/106 "2004-07-13T12:10:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Do you mean the Princess Louise in Holborn? - if so I’d second this recommendation, good beer and a fabulous building - a real victorain gin-palace (look up at the ceiling). The gents is good as well - lovely old plumbing and fixtures. D’ats the bunny. About to head down there for lunch actually. > [@](#): > > p.s I used to work near there too - In Great Queen St by the Masonic Temple, and handy for the Elite model agency, which was nice. Most of the drinkers in the PL seem to work for digital. I know it - i’m just down the road in Kingsway. > [@](#): > > There’s a nice old pub around the back of the tube station (I think it’s called the ship) which is nice at weekends but full of briefs during the week. The Ship Tavern - it got refurbished about 6 months ago and lost some of its charm. Still good as a bog-standard boozer though, and serves a cracking pint of Kronenbourg. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/107 "2004-07-13T12:20:13Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > Anyone else up for Saturday at Princess Louise? > > I just have to mention that I went food shopping here for the first time. There’s a Marks and Spencer right on the corner near me, so I popped in there, not knowing really what to expect. It was definitely an experience. I think I circled the refrigerated section five times before finally figuring out where things were. And the coolest foods. Could be worth posting a heads-up at NADS: [http://p086.ezboard.com/fnadsfrm2](http://p086.ezboard.com/fnadsfrm2) There’s usually a bunch of Londopers always up for a drink or nine. (I, however, am flying out to Greece on Saturday. :D) ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/108 "2004-07-13T12:28:40Z")
Are you going with Zanis, **Jerv?** Prinny Lou on Saturday sounds alright. Don’t think I got anything planned. Or if I did, it would be about 10 minutes walk away from there in The Ship. But not the one mentioned above. I started a thread on NADS for you: [beer etc](http://p086.ezboard.com/fnadsfrm2.showMessage?topicID=1337.topic) and there you go ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/109 "2004-07-13T12:37:47Z")
> [@paulberserker](#): > > Are you going with Zanis, **Jerv?** > > Prinny Lou on Saturday sounds alright. Don’t think I got anything planned. Or if I did, it would be about 10 minutes walk away from there in The Ship. But not the one mentioned above. Nope, but I’m sure there will be Zanii for all. I shall be sailing the good ship Gin Palace about the Cyclades, just me and nine of my hearties, in typical piratey style. Yarr! ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/110 "2004-07-13T13:11:18Z")
Thanks for posting that, Paul 🙂 I tried to register so that I could respond there but it blew up on me. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/111 "2004-07-13T13:42:51Z")
I’ll be there. We got a time yet? Or are we using the “whatever time they open” thing again? ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/112 "2004-07-13T13:48:09Z")
Blew up on you? if we do something like 3 or 4pm, that gives me a chance to a) argue with my girlfriend about how she never comes out, or 2) go see Spiderman 2 first. and/or gets some food etc. thoughts and queries to the usual address. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/113 "2004-07-13T13:49:43Z")
> [@garius](#): > > I’ll be there. > > We got a time yet? Or are we using the “whatever time they open” thing again? well… you could start in Smithfield. That would give you a bit of a headstart. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/114 "2004-07-13T14:01:53Z")
Much as I hate to interupt a thread about pubs to offer some advice… The OP should buy a copy of Time out - comes out tomorrow moring. It’s a seven dat listing guide for the city covering general tourist stuff and exhibitions, comedy gigs, Sport, Music, film and theatre. Best £2.20 you’ll spend. I now return you to the pub crawl thread… ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/115 "2004-07-13T14:06:05Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > Much as I hate to interupt a thread about pubs to offer some advice… > > The OP should buy a copy of Time out - comes out tomorrow moring. It’s a seven dat listing guide for the city covering general tourist stuff and exhibitions, comedy gigs, Sport, Music, film and theatre. Best £2.20 you’ll spend. > > I now return you to the pub crawl thread… Duly noted, and definitely something I think I’ll invest in. As for time, any time works for me, so if everyone else can reach a consensus of whatever sort, I’ll just go with that. Therein lies the big advantage of solo travel 😃 ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/116 "2004-07-13T15:23:17Z")
well i’ll head down for three then. **tellme** - you may want to head down to the London Assembly Building (the modern building that looks like its about to fall over on the south side of the thames near Tower Bridge). They’ve got a (free) photographic exhibition on that i strongly recommend seeing - i saw it on saturday. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/117 "2004-07-13T15:28:48Z")
> [@garius](#): > > the London Assembly Building (the modern building that looks like its about to fall over on the south side of the thames near Tower Bridge). If only… ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/118 "2004-07-13T15:29:12Z")
Speaking of buildings, what is the tall, half-eggish looking building? It’s got to be one of the coolest I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/119 "2004-07-13T17:02:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Speaking of buildings, what is the tall, half-eggish looking building? It’s got to be one of the coolest I’ve ever seen That would be [30 St Mary Axe](http://www.30stmaryaxe.com/), formerly (until people got bored of it) nicknamed “The Erotic Gherkin”. Quite what was meant to be erotic about it I don’t know. It is the headquarters of the insurance firm Swiss Re, so however exciting and go-ahead it looks from the outside, inside it is full of deeply dull men in ill-fitting suits. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053/120 "2004-07-13T17:05:01Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > That would be [30 St Mary Axe](http://www.30stmaryaxe.com/), formerly (until people got bored of it) nicknamed “The Erotic Gherkin”. Quite what was meant to be erotic about it I don’t know. Er. It kind of looks well, like a giant dick. Or so people say. Personally, I can’t really see the resemblance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-london-in-11-days-what-do-i-want-to-do/253053.md?page=7)