London Fog

London is full of must-see places: museums, historical sites, cultural activities. The city has beautiful parks and squares and buskers in the Tube give the epitome of the overwhelmingly hurried London lifestyle a lively atmosphere. The buskers are also quite friendly. One Scottish harpist was eager to regale us with stories of his travels in other parts of Europe.

If you are staying in London, visiting Windsor and Eton on a day trip might be worth your while. These picturesque towns offer a completely different view of England.

If you have time, Scotland and Wales have such different cultural identities from England that they add much to the cultural complexity of the United Kingdom.

Quick Tips:

When taking longer trips withing the UK, consider taking advantage of the coach system.
www.nationalexpress.com

Not all pubs have bad food, and they tend to be relatively inexpensive.

TESCO! This grocery/convenience store was a saving grace for college girls on a limited budget. The prepackaged sandwiches and scones with cream and jam are inexpensive and surprisingly good. Pick up a sandwich or some pasta and eat in a park for a pleasant and inexpensive lunch.

Chinatown is also a good place to visit when looking for a cheap meal. Many of the restaurants are very inexpensive and offer delicious meals with large portions.

If travelling in the winter, definitely bring a long coat and a warm scarf.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around London is definitely via Tube. It is fast, efficient, and there is always a station nearby.

If planning on take short trips from London (Eton & Windsor, etc.), taking the train from Victoria station is a pleasant alternative.

For longer trips, riding the train becomes increasingly more expensive. Another, more economical, option is riding the coach. National Express always has incredible deals that you can take advantage of, provided that you make reservations well in advance. Go to www.nationalexpress.com and click on "ways to save" to see your options.

Be forewarned, the Royal National Hotel is one of the worst hotels I have ever stayed in. Most of the administrative staff are incredibly rude and the hotel is dirty and smelly. Most of the fixtures (i.e., lighting and bathroom faucets) are in bad repair and be prepared to dread riding the elevator.

That being said, the Royal National is in an excellent location. It is close to the Russell Square and King's Cross/St. Pancras Tube stations and is flanked by Russell and Tavistock Squares. The neighborhood is relatively quiet and has a rather residential feel. The hotel is also just across the square from the British Museum and the bellhop/concierge desk people are quite helpful and friendly.

Wagamama is a great restaurant offering fast service, minimalist design and atmosphere, and great food. This is the perfect restaurant for a quick bite between classes or sightseeing schedule. My roomate was a vegetarian and this was one of the few restaurants that served a wide variety of vegetarian meals.

My favorite dish is the chili beef ramen. The gyozas are also a must-try!

Located in the heart of London's Chinatown, Economy is the cheapest restaurant I found in London. A meal costs about 5 pounds and for your money, you get large and delicious portions. I highly recommend the sun dried flaked white fish and rice. The beansprouts are also very good. The area is a bit out of the way, if you are not staying near Chinatown, but well worth it, especially if you have unlimited Tube access and your budget waning.

The BEST meal I had in Scotland. My roommate and I stopped at this little cafe off the Royal Mile. I had a delicious Potato and Leek soup and a Smoked Salmon Sandwich. The salmon was the best I've EVER had and it was piled high, at least an inch. I was such a simple meal. Delicious. If you're in Scotland, I definitely suggest dropping by for a nice, simple lunch.

Friend At Hand is a quaint Victorian Pub, complete with dim lighting, comfy chairs, wooden bar tables, and lots of brass. It's a great place to grab a drink after class or before a night on the town. If you stop by for lunch, you might be surprised by how the Friend At Hand defies the pub fare stereotype, offering pesto artichoke panini and the like. The bartenders are friendly and the pub is very close to Russell Square Station.

As travelling students on a limited budget, Haggis Adventures offered my roommate and me an easy way to travel through the Highlands. The tour was in a van driven by a Scottish tour guide who regaled us with anecdotes, folklore, and snippets of Scottish history. It was all very interesting and we got to visit all the major tourist sites, including Ben Nevis, Loch Ness, and the loch owned by Sean Connery. We also got to pet and feed an adorable hairy coo (highland cow) named Hamish. I would suggest bringing change to buy the little packets of food for sale at the farm, if you plan to feed Hamish.

My only complaint is that the stops at the different tourist stops were often not long enough. I definitely suggest bringing a lunch, because there is not a whole lot of time to get something to eat.

I could have literally spent days exploring the Edinburgh Castle. It is so incredibly beautiful and the exhibits are very attractively put together. It is a must-visit if you are ever in Edinburgh.

The Scottish crown and scepter are on display and, along with St. Margaret's Chapel, were the highlights of my visit.

The castle is also at one end of the Royal Mile, so there are plenty of things to see and do around the castle.