A Day in London.

[mixedgas]

One of my part time clients for a non laser activity is dragging me kicking and screaming to the UK in May. Basically to calibrate a stupid 6 channel A to D converter on his client's gear to a government certification and then to write up a proposal for a upgrade. So basically two free 9-12 hour rides in a pressurized coach class tin can , then two days in the country doing lab work, and a sightseeing day for me. Given the chance, I'd rather walk a local through the measurements with the test box, but the local doesn't really know the tech side based on past stuff he has done. So he sweetened the deal by adding a goof off day in London for me.

I'll have from say 6 am in the morning to 7 pm in the evening.

What should a broke techie bloke with no massive spending cash do for a day in London??? Would prefer not to spend a day outside the palace watching the horse guards, though.

Interests: Technology, History, Trains, Planes and Ships that sort of techie thing, plus want one dose of the local fish and chips...

I won't be in town in the evening, so clubbing for lasers is out. I am familiar with big cities, and know you can only hit one or two things a day, unless a local gets you moving or you really plan ahead. I Like walking and subways, may have a slight chance at having a rental, but I doubt it.

One of my minors was English History and culture, not that it matters, except it was taught by a guy from Oxford who might have known what he was talking about.

Looking forward for your suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks,
Steve

[soforene]

Climb aboard The London Eye and take a trip.
Then a cruise (right at the bottom of the Eye, you can book combined tickets ) along the Thames where the commentary will fill you in on a lot of history you wouldn't normally get.
The House of Parliament (including Big Ben) are a 2 minute walkfrom this location too.
Do not hire a car unless you plan on spending the whole day looking for a parking space.

[Onge]

If you are interested in ships then a visit to HMS Belfast on the Thames, near Tower Bridge and the Tower of London is a possible. See http://hmsbelfast.iwm.org.uk/ for more info. Can also go and see the Tower of London as well as you like history, it is opposite HMS Belfast.

Also the Imperial War Museum http://london.iwm.org.uk

Hope that helps a bit and enjoy your visit

Onge

[Insanity]

You could also check out the science museum.. Loads of tecchie stuff in there... Even a bit of my work lurking in there

By Underground

The nearest tube station is South Kensington on the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines.
A pedestrian subway runs directly from the ticket barrier at South Kensington station to the Main Entrance of the Museum.
By Bus

Bus routes 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, 360, 414, 430 and C1 stop outside South Kensington Underground Station, from where it is a five minute walk north to the Museum's Main Entrance.

[Soulstorm]

Stop in at the train stations and have a gander
London museum etc always good.

[pelosh]

...and don't get lost as streets over here are not always perpendicular and parallel to each other

[Banthai]

i feel a PL 1 day UK mini meet coming on

i know a few of us here would luv to meet up with you steve

all the best .. karl

[mixedgas]

i feel a PL 1 day UK mini meet coming on

i know a few of us here would luv to meet up with you steve

all the best .. karl

I'm honored, but ....
I'm not THAT spectacular.....



Steve

[danielbriggs]

I was 'dawnn south' in London last year for a national science fair, and took a trip to Greenwich on the spare day. It was awesome!
It was something like a 15 min tube ride out from the centre, and the museum and observatory are great. They have fully working replicas of all of John Harrison's 4 clocks. Really good stuff, (but I don't know if you're into that sort of thing...)
There is also the Prime Meridian, which is embedded into the floor.
*AND* if you're there when it goes dark, a super green laser pops out the roof of the Greenwich Observatory and beams out the prime meridian line.

It's not a whole's day trip, but a nice half day if you have the time.

Dan

[heroic]

If you are interested in ships then a visit to HMS Belfast on the Thames, near Tower Bridge and the Tower of London is a possible. See http://hmsbelfast.iwm.org.uk/ for more info. Can also go and see the Tower of London as well as you like history, it is opposite HMS Belfast.

Also the Imperial War Museum http://london.iwm.org.uk

Hope that helps a bit and enjoy your visit

Onge

Screw both of those. Go to the Science Museum. It's free and awesome.


If you get bored there, the Natural History Museum is all sorts of fun these days, and if it's a sunny day (don't laugh, it could happen) there's some nice green space outside there to relax in and try to breathe out some of that recycled air.