Moving to London in a week (study abroad)

[sou1 so1di3r]

Premier league teams you are looking at generally £40+ Some of the lower teams might be cheaper but to see one of the top teams then that is what you need to budget for. If you want a proper football atmosphere I would avoid Arsenal

If you want to see a game but cheaper then West Ham are London based and are in the Championship (second tier). Their tickets are a bit cheaper about £25-30 iirc. Just avoid West Ham v Millwall.

Wasn't West Ham and Millwall the two clubs in the movie Green Street Hooligans? That was a great movie. And thanks for the advice!

American football is ridiculous. Look at all that protection they have yet in rugby they wear nothing!

Rugby is for real men!

Haha I've never really seen a rugby match, but would love to check one out. I'm an all around sports enthusiast. I also would love to catch a cricket match or something!

Also be very careful using the word ‘spunk’. It has an entirely different meaning.



Hehehe… Indeed. I always laugh and shake my head when I see American "football" players.

hahahahah hand-egg. That's great. I love both sports but American Football is so engrained into our culture, and when you finally understand the game and can notice the little nuances, and when your team (DA BEARS!) played in the NFC championship last year, it's hard to not get excited. I challenge some of you guys to try to get into the NFL! Too bad they don't have NFL network otherwise you guys would be hooked for sure!

He doesn't need an Oyster card to use the tube but if he's trying to not spend to much it would be silly not not get one.

OP, you can buy an Oyster card right at the tube station. If you have to stop there anyway to buy a ticket you might as well buy the Oyster card right away.

Yeah I guess I probably should just get a card right away. No reason not too.


I don't know if anyone would know what prices will be to the NFL game at Wembley? Or if they know roughly how much they were for last years game?

£40 honestly doesn't sound terrible to see a premier league match either. I've paid $65 + to see a Cubs game (baseball) in literally nose-bleed seats before.

Tickets for an NFL game in Chicago are pretty impossible to find for under $100 each.. and those are also for pretty terrible seats.

 

[mroddjob]

I was in kensingon for uni a while back, nice part of town to live, but nothing much to do close by, you'll want to head to places like camden, clapham, soho, angel etc, for better night life which are all too far to walk easily but all possible by bus.

If you think you're going to be using the bus or tube more than once a day then you might want to look into getting a week/month/2 month travel card or bus pass as it works out cheaper than single fares. Bus pass will let you get as many busses as you want, travel card will let you get any bus (anywhere in london) or use the underground in the zones that you buy the travel card for. Last time i got a months bus pass it was about £55 but it will have gone up a bit. No idea about travel card prices. Check out http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ for details on prices.
Also ask your college if they know if you will be eligible for applying for a student oyster card and how to do it as that will bring the cost of bus/travel cards down.

Do you know if your credit card will work ok in the UK, if not you might want to look at getting a pre-paid credit card which you can top up online, this will make buying things a lot easier.

Have you though about electronics, cell (mobile) phone, laptop? If you have a macbook i think the power supplies work over here you just need a uk adaptor for it, check apple store. I have no idea if your mobile phone will work, if it does that call charges will be extortionate, you might want to look at getting a cheap prepay phone from one of the super markets mentioned (asda, tesco, sainsburys).
Hope that helps

 

[paulsalter]

I don't know if anyone would know what prices will be to the NFL game at Wembley? Or if they know roughly how much they were for last years game?

Seem to be between £45 & £100

http://www.nfllondon.net/tickets.html

would love to get more NFL here, I usually end up listening to it on the radio

 

[sou1 so1di3r]

Do you know if your credit card will work ok in the UK, if not you might want to look at getting a pre-paid credit card which you can top up online, this will make buying things a lot easier.

Have you though about electronics, cell (mobile) phone, laptop? If you have a macbook i think the power supplies work over here you just need a uk adaptor for it, check apple store. I have no idea if your mobile phone will work, if it does that call charges will be extortionate, you might want to look at getting a cheap prepay phone from one of the super markets mentioned (asda, tesco, sainsburys).
Hope that helps

I have a Discover card, so it won't work everywhere. I also have a Visa debit card that I can use to get cash at any ATM, and plan ordering some currency here so that I can arrive with around £300 already in hand. I should be able to get by with just my debit/cash right? I spent a week in Italy in Feb and had no problems with that method.


I already purchased a MacBook adapter charger for like $1 on ebay.. just got it a few days ago. Also am planning on using my iPhone, already have a Gevey SIM ultra and have a giffgaff SIM on my desk that a very helpful community member mailed to my home! Just need to top it up with a goodybag the day before I leave and it should be smooth sailing!

Seem to be between £45 & £100

http://www.nfllondon.net/tickets.html

would love to get more NFL here, I usually end up listening to it on the radio

That's not terrible I guess. For me it's a once in a lifetime thing.. I can't miss the Bears in London. I'm assuming they will televise the game there for sure... listening is one thing, but it's nothing like actually watching the game on TV. A whole different beast.

 

[paulsalter]

That's not terrible I guess. For me it's a once in a lifetime thing.. I can't miss the Bears in London. I'm assuming they will televise the game there for sure... listening is one thing, but it's nothing like actually watching the game on TV. A whole different beast.

I agree, we get 1 free game per week on free tv (usually record this as its on from 1am till about 4am), the radio is, I think only one a week also but this starts at 9pm so better times

more games if you pay for tv (which i dont)

anyway, it would be a great experience to go and see it in wembley

for your earlier comment, visa debit/cash will be fine, I use this combination here all the time

 

[sou1 so1di3r]

I agree, we get 1 free game per week on free tv (usually record this as its on from 1am till about 4am), the radio is, I think only one a week also but this starts at 9pm so better times

more games if you pay for tv (which i dont)

anyway, it would be a great experience to go and see it in wembley

for your earlier comment, visa debit/cash will be fine, I use this combination here all the time

awesome. thanks.

I just bought myself a Slingbox Solo and hooked it up to my home DVR.... so I can watch all my Bears games and as much ESPN/NFL network as I need and also record the games when they are on at like 3am!!

 

[RedTomato]

Bikes are a good idea if you can deal with the London traffic. It's summer, it's the perfect time of the year to cycle and explore the back streets. Kensington is a good place to cycle to various other places from, and there are huge parks just round the corner.

Boris bikes are good for the occasional ride, but not such good value if you ride a lot or are new in town - you aren't gonna know where to return them.

There are plenty of places to rent from - look on the internet. If you're renting for more than a week or two, perhaps better to buy a clapped out bike for a few tenners + a decent lock, then it's all yours. Also, save some money for taking bus/tube when it's pissing down.

One advantage of bikes is it's easier to get home after partying late at night Tube shuts down around midnight, and there is a 24 hour night bus service but it can be a pain sometimes. Good chance to talk to random young strangers while out of your head though

 

[sou1 so1di3r]

haha yeah being drunk and talking to strangers sounds like a great time to me

 

[paulsalter]

haha yeah being drunk and talking to strangers sounds like a great time to me

you need to get a taste for british real ale

good few pints of that

 

[sou1 so1di3r]

you need to get a taste for british real ale

good few pints of that

my buddy studied in london and swansea last year and said you guys like to drink a lot of hard cider.

Also, do you guys seriously drink your beer at room temperature? because that's pretty gross and idk if I can adapt to that nonsense

 

[paulsalter]

my buddy studied in london and swansea last year and said you guys like to drink a lot of hard cider.

Also, do you guys seriously drink your beer at room temperature? because that's pretty gross and idk if I can adapt to that nonsense

if its real ale its usually warmer

if its beer out of a normal tap its cold just like lager/cider

once you get used to the real ale its great stuff, but can give you a hangover if you have to much of it

I am not in London (opposite end of England) but many pubs around here have real ale of the week, get a new one to try all the time

perhaps if you get chance, go to a brewery to see where/how its made

 

[iStudentUK]

Also, do you guys seriously drink your beer at room temperature? because that's pretty gross and idk if I can adapt to that nonsense

Yeah we do if you order real beer! It's flat too, and often much darker in colour.

We also have that lager crap you have if you like to drink girly stuff, they even serve it cold.

 

[firestarter]

my buddy studied in london and swansea last year and said you guys like to drink a lot of hard cider.

Cider is possible with youths who haven't yet developed a taste for bitter. They will grow out of it.

If you're served cider with ice in it, go to a different pub.

Also, do you guys seriously drink your beer at room temperature? because that's pretty gross and idk if I can adapt to that nonsense

Well, strictly speaking it's at 'cellar temperature' - which is usually fairly cool - definitely cooler than room temperature. If it was drunk ice cold, you would loose the taste (it's not Budweiser, so that's not the aim).

Some mass produced beers are sold 'extra cold' (Guinness, John Smiths).

 

[Jaffa Cake]

But I do want to also catch a real foooooootball match (soccer eh!) sometime if I can. Not sure how high ticket prices run for those things, and I'm sure it depends on the league etc.

As luck would have it, Leyton Orient have just launched their new online ticket office.

As you're coming here to study it's worth noting that most clubs offer concessions on tickets on production of a valid student card, so you can put the money towards a lovely scarf or something.

Also, do you guys seriously drink your beer at room temperature? because that's pretty gross and idk if I can adapt to that nonsense

As firestarter says, beer should generally be drunk at the temperature it's brewed at – for British-style bitters that's generally 12-14°C.

If you're served cider with ice in it, go to a different pub.

In London I was once offered ice in my ale. Bloody savages.

 

[rovex]

It's not cider, it's cidre.

 

[firestarter]

It's not cider, it's cidre.

Eh? In France maybe, not here!

 

[rovex]

Eh? In France maybe, not here!

Straight from the horse's mouth:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOX3JA7E1RM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[sou1 so1di3r]

Yeah we do if you order real beer! It's flat too, and often much darker in colour.

We also have that lager crap you have if you like to drink girly stuff, they even serve it cold.

haha I love how lager beer is "girly" to you guys.

I can count the number of girls I know on on hand that actually like to drink beer.

One of them is my sister.

Most girls hate the taste of beer and will only drink mixed drinks (vodka-cranberry, rum and coke, etc.)

****ing gross!!

Everytime I meet a woman who shares my love of beer, I almost immediately fall in love with that woman hahaha

 

[Jaffa Cake]

It's not cider, it's cidre.

Eh? In France maybe, not here!

It's definitely 'cider'. 'Cidre' is merely a Belgian marketing gimmick to cash in on the current fad in apple-based booze.

I expect you're supposed to drink it with ice or something.

 

[iStudentUK]

haha I love how lager beer is "girly" to you guys.

I can count the number of girls I know on on hand that actually like to drink beer.

I may be exaggerating a bit! I do drink lager, it's good with things like pizza. However, in a pub I always order ale or cider (proper cider). Ale is much better than lager, give it a try. My gf enjoys real ale too!

When you have some free time check out Greenwich Royal Park and town. It's often overlooked by people, but it's one of my favourite places in London. The old Royal Observatory is very interesting and there are great views. There's also a maritime museum for free there. The town centre has a market and the whole area is a world heritige site. I enjoy walking around there in a summer evening, and ordering a pint of "Doom Bar" from "The Gipsy Moth" pub- thank me later!

 

[firestarter]

It's definitely 'cider'. 'Cidre' is merely a Belgian marketing gimmick to cash in on the current fad in apple-based booze.

Exactly.

And that Stella-Artois 'cidre' is a bloody awful industrial product. There's much better stuff out there which isn't advertised to death...

However, in a pub I always order ale or cider (proper cider). Ale is much better than lager, give it a try. My gf enjoys real ale too!

Just to continue iStudentUK's thread...

We have a massive organisation here in the UK - the 'CAmpaign for Real Ale' (CAMRA) - who have done a great job over the years to keep small breweries in business, ensure that a diverse range of beers are available, and to try and keep beer tax down. 'Real Ale' is the good stuff - made from natural ingredients and left to mature in the cask.

You're in luck if you're here for two months. The Wetherspoons chain of pubs (which always have a good selection of Real Ale, and are good at keeping prices down) have a 'beer festival' twice a year - and the next one is in October (5th to 23rd). During that time they usually stock a larger selection of obscure and exotic brews - and you can buy 'taster glasses' - three 1/3 pint glasses on a wooden holder, so you can try 3x as many types for the same cost as a regular pint!

 

[sou1 so1di3r]

Exactly.

And that Stella-Artois 'cidre' is a bloody awful industrial product. There's much better stuff out there which isn't advertised to death...



Just to continue iStudentUK's thread...

We have a massive organisation here in the UK - the 'CAmpaign for Real Ale' (CAMRA) - who have done a great job over the years to keep small breweries in business, ensure that a diverse range of beers are available, and to try and keep beer tax down. 'Real Ale' is the good stuff - made from natural ingredients and left to mature in the cask.

You're in luck if you're here for two months. The Wetherspoons chain of pubs (which always have a good selection of Real Ale, and are good at keeping prices down) have a 'beer festival' twice a year - and the next one is in October (5th to 23rd). During that time they usually stock a larger selection of obscure and exotic brews - and you can buy 'taster glasses' - three 1/3 pint glasses on a wooden holder, so you can try 3x as many types for the same cost as a regular pint!

Wow that is awesome! I can't wait to try some real ale.

I'm getting so excited.

So, I remember reading that most pubs close early during the week. So if you guys were going to the store to pick up say, a 6 pack (you guys have those right?) what's your go to beer?

 

[firestarter]

So, I remember reading that most pubs close early during the week.

The law used to be that pubs closed at 11pm (they often ring a bell at around 10:50 to signify 'last orders', then kick you out at 11:20).

The law changed a few years back, and now pubs can get a licence to open later. Popular pubs often stay open till midnight during the week, and often later at the weekend.

It's really easy to buy alcohol in the UK. All supermarkets have a big selection, corner shops have lots, 'off licence' (liquor stores) are common. The only limitation is that shops can't sell alcohol before 10am or after 11pm on a Sunday.

So if you guys were going to the store to pick up say, a 6 pack (you guys have those right?) what's your go to beer?

If I just wanted some regular bitter (ale), a good mid-range choice would be Fuller's London Pride. This is brewed in Chiswick (West London) and is a popular and tasty beer.

While you're here, you should take a trip to Borough Market. This is a great food and drink market near London Bridge station (quite easy to get to from Kensington). It's open Thursday, Friday, Saturday - and it's good to go at lunch when they sell hot food.

There's a great beer shop there which has a massive selection of bottles from the UK and the rest of the world. They also have their own specialist pub that sells some great beers. I was there last weekend - here's a few photos:

 

[mroddjob]

I don't generally buy beer from supermarkets but I don't think regular supermarkets sell much bottled real ale, also, if you wanted to pick up a "6 pack" from corner shops there's usually only 4 cans or some beers come in packs of 6 bottles and your mainly looking at standard largers. I love my real ale but when it comes to buying bottled beer from a shop I personally find budweiser quite refreshing when its warm, watching a game on TV. Quite like Grolsch, Kronenbourg, and San Miguel as well.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

I don't generally buy beer from supermarkets but I don't think regular supermarkets sell much bottled real ale...

Many larger supermarkets now have a decent selection in their own little section, our local ones have several dozen different beers. Not as wide a selection as firestarter's haunt though, I grant you...

There are a couple that come in packs but generally you can just mix and match bottles of your favourites/stuff that looks interesting to try.