Comments on: Observations Made While in England http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/observations-made-while-in-england/ Nomadic Matt's Travel Site Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:02:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Frankenjamhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/observations-made-while-in-england/#comment-215051 Frankenjam Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:32:44 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=213#comment-215051 When us Brits say things are "too far" to travel to inside our own country it's not just the amount of time it would take to get there but the cost. You've already noted how much the trains and coaches cost and when you have weather as unpredictable as ours, booking in advance for a day at the beach doesn't really become a viable option.Also, screw driving! Petrol prices are insane, traffic is horrendous to most beach focussed areas and even if you do get there... you can't drink!!!I live in Portsmouth (just west of Brighton) and although we have a beach the length of the entire city, most people go to the common (a fairly large expanse of greenery) which is more sheltered than being directly on the channel. Plus it's closer to off-licenses so we can get more booze :P When us Brits say things are “too far” to travel to inside our own country it’s not just the amount of time it would take to get there but the cost. You’ve already noted how much the trains and coaches cost and when you have weather as unpredictable as ours, booking in advance for a day at the beach doesn’t really become a viable option.

Also, screw driving! Petrol prices are insane, traffic is horrendous to most beach focussed areas and even if you do get there… you can’t drink!!!

I live in Portsmouth (just west of Brighton) and although we have a beach the length of the entire city, most people go to the common (a fairly large expanse of greenery) which is more sheltered than being directly on the channel. Plus it’s closer to off-licenses so we can get more booze :P

]]> By: Markhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/observations-made-while-in-england/#comment-171876 Mark Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:12:51 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=213#comment-171876 Hi Matt,I love to visit London, but when I moved there for work a few years ago I too found it to be a quite unfriendly & lonely city. Did you visit Wales on your trip? A very friendly & laid back part of the UK... Hi Matt,

I love to visit London, but when I moved there for work a few years ago I too found it to be a quite unfriendly & lonely city. Did you visit Wales on your trip? A very friendly & laid back part of the UK…

]]> By: Luciehttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/observations-made-while-in-england/#comment-111163 Lucie Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:45:09 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=213#comment-111163 Hi, i guess you managed to have a good grasp of the Brits over your stay here. Don't agree with the London thing. Haven't met anyone here that didn't like the city, except old people maybe. Personnally, I absolutely love it and you can definitely enjoy it with a small salary! There are so many free things to do around here! For example, I saw Coldplay last night for free in a very small venue... Hi, i guess you managed to have a good grasp of the Brits over your stay here.
Don’t agree with the London thing. Haven’t met anyone here that didn’t like the city, except old people maybe. Personnally, I absolutely love it and you can definitely enjoy it with a small salary! There are so many free things to do around here! For example, I saw Coldplay last night for free in a very small venue…

]]> By: DolceMetahttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/observations-made-while-in-england/#comment-16204 DolceMeta Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:04:37 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=213#comment-16204 Very entertaining and quite true! I am returning to England for a second time this fall and only scheduled London for two days this time. On to read your takes on Oxford and Bath... Very entertaining and quite true! I am returning to England for a second time this fall and only scheduled London for two days this time. On to read your takes on Oxford and Bath…

]]> By: Travel Indiahttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/observations-made-while-in-england/#comment-6512 Travel India Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:36:59 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=213#comment-6512 Well said, that to know a place better and to see and experience their culture one should travel slow, rather than covering a whole country in a week or even less. Seeing life in its true colors are the memories that would last longer about a place.Aswathy. Well said, that to know a place better and to see and experience their culture one should travel slow, rather than covering a whole country in a week or even less. Seeing life in its true colors are the memories that would last longer about a place.

Aswathy.

]]> By: NewWrldYankeehttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/observations-made-while-in-england/#comment-3196 NewWrldYankee Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:35:56 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=213#comment-3196 That so made me laugh aloud! Most of my friends are Brits and being in England for a bit, you were spot on. I haven't traveled as much as you have there, but I guess I will stick to outside of London,eh? Considering last time I got robbed! I wrote a post about converting Brit slang to American, which might be up your alley, or at least good for a few laughs. Check it out if you want a chuckle or two. That so made me laugh aloud! Most of my friends are Brits and being in England for a bit, you were spot on. I haven’t traveled as much as you have there, but I guess I will stick to outside of London,eh? Considering last time I got robbed! I wrote a post about converting Brit slang to American, which might be up your alley, or at least good for a few laughs. Check it out if you want a chuckle or two.

]]> By: Tamarahttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/observations-made-while-in-england/#comment-3059 Tamara Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:22:31 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=213#comment-3059 Hi Matt I really didn't mean to be negative about your friends. Please don't take offence. I just wanted to point out that there are people here in London who love the city as well as those who love to hate it - as you point out. I completely agree with you - the Lake District is amazing - but it pales into insignificance when compared to some of the landscapes in your home country! Tamara Hi Matt
I really didn’t mean to be negative about your friends. Please don’t take offence. I just wanted to point out that there are people here in London who love the city as well as those who love to hate it – as you point out.
I completely agree with you – the Lake District is amazing – but it pales into insignificance when compared to some of the landscapes in your home country!
Tamara

]]> By: Anthttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/observations-made-while-in-england/#comment-3014 Ant Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:38:36 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=213#comment-3014 A tough subject to broach, and you did it well. Naturally I don't agree with everything, but I do want to applaud you on the observation that we, the English do think 2 hours is a long way to go! Its only when I set off travelling and was forced onto buses day and night (and day again) that this myth of our upbringing was dispelled. In all honesty, I think its down to petrol prices - a two hour drive isn't that long, its just bloody expensive! A tough subject to broach, and you did it well. Naturally I don’t agree with everything, but I do want to applaud you on the observation that we, the English do think 2 hours is a long way to go! Its only when I set off travelling and was forced onto buses day and night (and day again) that this myth of our upbringing was dispelled. In all honesty, I think its down to petrol prices – a two hour drive isn’t that long, its just bloody expensive!

]]> By: Wendy-Escape NYhttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/observations-made-while-in-england/#comment-2960 Wendy-Escape NY Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:23:53 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=213#comment-2960 I lived and worked in London for a year a while back. For the first few months it seemed overly subdued--i.e. your example of people not talking on the tube. But when I moved back to NYC I felt like everyone was yelling at me those first few months. London is one of the best travel hubs in the world. I miss going to Istanbul for the weekend and any number of places that are close and reasonably cheap to get to. I lived and worked in London for a year a while back. For the first few months it seemed overly subdued–i.e. your example of people not talking on the tube. But when I moved back to NYC I felt like everyone was yelling at me those first few months. London is one of the best travel hubs in the world. I miss going to Istanbul for the weekend and any number of places that are close and reasonably cheap to get to.

]]> By: Annahttp://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/observations-made-while-in-england/#comment-2957 Anna Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:11:43 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=213#comment-2957 Thanks for this post Matt. Moving to London in January 2009 - have heard mixed reviews but doesn't stop me from doing it. I like having you on the one side (the North American side) and Geoff on the other to truly get a good perspective! Thanks for this post Matt. Moving to London in January 2009 – have heard mixed reviews but doesn’t stop me from doing it. I like having you on the one side (the North American side) and Geoff on the other to truly get a good perspective!

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