Amanda and I are planning a little trip to England later this year... She's been there many times before (she has lots of family there - aunts, uncles, cousins, etc). I've never been anywhere overseas, so this is all new and exciting (and maybe a bit terrifying!) for me! We'll mostly be in London, but making a trip to Nottighham for a day or two.
Amanda actually has a work conference on the continent, so we're also crossing to France and travelling to Boulogne-sur-Mer (where my great uncle is buried), and Vimy Ridge, and Paris for a few days before the conference!
So, dwellers and travellers of the Green and Pleasant Land... and France... my question you all is:
WHAT ARE THE MUST DO/SEE THINGS?!
(in London and Nottingham and Paris)...?
Posts
For Nottingham you would probably want to visit Games Workshop - Warhammer World:
ReplyDeletehttps://warhammerworld.warhammer-community.com/
Other attractions - in Nottingham you can see where Charles I raised his standard in 1642. In the outskirts Caliver Books. In Lenton - short way outside city centre - Warlord and North Star (visitors appointment only). Newark has Partizan show in October - between Nottingham and Newark is Wargames Foundry.
London - lots of free museums.
Neil
Thanks Neil!
DeleteWarhammer World is definitely the main reason we're heading to Nottingham! When I was pointing out all the events that go on there, Amanda even suggested that WE should play in one if we can (yes, she wants to bring TWO armies along so we can BOTH play in it). Obviously I'm not going to haul an entire 40K or AoS army (let along TWO!) across the pond when this is only ONE of the places we're headed. If there ends up being a Kill Team or Warcry or Warhammer Underworlds event... that could be doable... easy to haul two little warbands around!
I will definitely look into English Civil War locales and the standard raising site! It's been a while since I've worked on those collections or played with them, so I hadn't even thought of that - thanks for bringing that up!
I knew the Foundry was somewhere nearby, and I'd have loved to go check that out... but we're not renting a car and just getting around by public transit, so probably going to give that one a miss. I might look into Caliver though!
Thanks!!
Not a dweller any longer but for you in London...Imperial War Museum, HMS Belfast, National Army Museum would be on my list...non war related....try and do one of the Thames River cruises down to Greenwich.
ReplyDeleteI have only been in Nottingham once, but we went out to Sherwood Forest and that was pretty cool. Of course, Nottingham is the centre of wargaming figure production, so you could probably spend a whole day touring different manufacturers premises....check out Alys Toy Soldiers ( if you don't already) Aly lives in Nottingham so I am sure he could give you some good tips....
Imperial War Museum and National Army Museum were definitely on my list of things to check out. I will look into the HMS Belfast (I know there were other things we were planning on doing in the vicinity)! Thanks!
DeleteThe Victoria and Albert museum , Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Natural History Museum are some non military highlights plus The National Gallery. I hope you all have a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
Thanks Alan! The Tate Modern and Tate Britain and National Gallery are on the list! The others... I'm pretty sure Amanda visited The Victoria and Albert museum and Natural History Museums just last year when they went with Morgan... so a little lower on the list! There are so many things I'd like to see and do and so little time!
DeleteIf you fancy a smaller museum with a wonderful armour collection, a splendid cafe and lots of other art, try the Wallace Collection.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Someone else below mentioned the Wallace Collection, which I had not heard of but will definitely look into! Thanks!
DeleteNottingham - Warhammer World and, if you can get there, Wargames Foundry in nearby Newark (they have a lot of the "oldhammer" figs on display there that you won't see at WW).
ReplyDeleteLondon - I second the Imperial War Museum and the National Army Museum (the former is WWI/WWII, the latter 18th/19th C - including, when I was there, the skeleton of Marengo and a great Waterloo in miniature diorama)
Paris - Hopital des Invalides (Napoleon's tomb, and an amazing museum of French WWII, Napoleonic, and Renaissance exhibits - real bucket list stuff!)
Take a lot of money... :)
Ha-ha! I'm trying really hard NOT to make this a shopping trip... So much stuff is so readily available through mail order these days, so it shouldn't be TOO hard. That's why I'll probably give Warlord Games a miss - even though it looks like it's a few blocks from Warhammer World... As far as I can tell, it's just a bit shop with ALL THE STUFF... well I can get al the stuff online, so...
DeleteThere are a few things that they sometimes have at Warhammer World that they ONLY sell at Warhammer World, that I might like to pick up...
BTW, is Amanda a dual national UK/Canadian citizen? If so, be aware of the new UK passport rules that took effect a couple of weeks back. I got caught and couldn't get a UK passport in time for the trip I had booked for March and had to cancel it. Ping me if you need more info.
ReplyDeleteShe is not. Her parents were from the UK, but she was born in Canada.
DeleteAs a sometimes tourist to London (from the wilds of Scotland) I have to say. The British Museum is a must see, and if you are interested at all in medieval armour a hidden gem is the Wallace Collection
ReplyDeleteNoted! Thank you!
DeleteOh wow, that sounds amazing! I have only been to London and Paris, but here are some ideas (most of which you have above)
ReplyDeleteLondon:
Imperial War Museum is a must see
British Museum, also a must see, can get very crowded
National Gallery has of course some amazing portraits
The Tower and its museums are interesting as well, and are close to other things you might be interested in walking by (Hind, and the Globe)
Walking down by St. Pauls is also recommended, because looking at all the old Wren churches and their proximity to each other really gives you an idea of how dense post fire London was.
It is my understanding that you can get to Wargames Foundry on the bus. I think they have the information either on their site or on the Bring Out Your Lead site.
Paris:
Hotel of the Invalids is a must see, so many interesting artifacts. Had a collection very cool scale models of all the battles of Napoleon. Plus you know, Napoleon.
You could probably speed run the Louvre and hit only the things you are interested in (plus the paintings by David, because no photograph can really prepare you for their size). Mona Lisa is overrated, but also iconic, so...?
Most of Paris is small enough that if the weather is good you should just walk places, faster than a taxi or the metro. Exception would be something like Monmartre which is too far to walk, but gives a good view of the city (if it is not hazy).
Walking by St. Pauls does sound interesting!
DeleteI think we are staying quite close to downtown in Paris and had planned to just walk everywhere... I have to admit I haven't quite wrapped my brain around the SCALE of the city..
and the scale of the Louvre!? I've been listening to an audiobook called Adventures in the Louvre (it's okay) but in the introduction there were some stats dropped, like at any given time only 30,000 of the 500,000+ items in the Louvres collection are on display and if you stood in front of each piece for 15 seconds it would take NINETEEN eight hour days to take it all in!? We are not going to be there that long.... Also, I only recently learned that it is all pre 1849 - so no impressionists or anything remotely modern... Still... I feel like I can't NOT go to the Louvre!?
Thanks!
For me, London "felt" bigger, and seems less walkable. Central Paris is pretty compact.
DeleteAnd nearly all museums have that sort of ratio... the Louvre is just really big on top of that!
I hope you both have a great time!
ReplyDeleteOthers have already mentioned GW, and it makes sense you'd already have it on your radar. I recall seeing Nottingham castle on a visit some years ago myself, but not sure if people consider it worth a stop.
There is always plenty to do in London, of course. As a geographer I "had" to visit Greenwich. And as a dino nerd I had to visit Crystal Palace Park. But I wouldn't put those at the top of the list if you have limited time or don't have those special interests.
It could be fun to catch a comedy show or music show, depending on your interests (and budget).
Amanda has informed me that we will be going to at least one play at the globe and at least one musical (possibly more!?). It very much could be Hadestown... which will be the THIRD time she's seen it!?
DeleteI've never been there but the IWM at Duxford is supposed to be exceptional for aircraft. It's near Cambridge so a day trip from London is doable and it is on the way to Nottingham. I'm not such a great fan of the NAM so I'd ditch it if you don't have enough time. It is very much a modern "less is more" type of museum. HMS Belfast is very good.
ReplyDeleteIf you can align your visit, try to go to a show. Partizan is in May (and October) and near Nottingham. Salute is in London in April. I think Partizan is better but that's me.
There is also Waterloo (the battlefield, not the station!) which has an excellent museum and is not too far from Paris / Brussels.
Thanks!
DeleteHas the National Army Museum changed? I recall (and this may be decades ago) someone at one point telling me to be sure to check it out, suggesting it was not as popular or well known as the Imperial War Museum, but they thought it was...? Better...? Or at least comparable? I have to admit, looking at their website I was a little underwhelmed and had moved it down to the "maybe" list!
Pretty sure that was me (Paul K.) - depends on your interest - if you're looking for 18th/19th C. stuff, it's worthwhile (although pales against the French collection at Hopital des Invalides in Paris).
DeleteAnother really cool place-
ReplyDeletehttps://www.londonmithraeum.com/
That does look interesting! Thanks!
DeleteSome replies to posts above.
ReplyDeleteNottingham Castle. Has been refurbished but this is not like a medieval castle - more like a C19th stately home - the original was burned down during the riots in 1831. Ticket prices were expensive IIRC. The place where Charles raised his standard is nearby - just a plaque.
Other sites in Nottingham are Courts of Justice and there used to be a tour of the caves under the city.
Warhammer - regular trams, not too far out. Caliver - bus about 30-45 minutes from city.
Getting to Foundry by bus - bit of an expedition. It's a small village. Buses are irregular.
IWM Duxford not really "on the way" to Nottingham. Not sure it's easy to get to.
Neil
Thanks Neil!
DeleteWhile we enjoyed Paris (stay downtown as much as possible), consider Bruges/Brugge in Belgium instead. What's not to like about a medieval city that hasn't changed much in 800 years? You have canals, narrow streets, colourful buildings, and have a bowl of mussels with frites and mayonnaise, with wonderful beer and plentiful chocolate. At Bologne, you're not that far along the coast.
ReplyDeleteBrugges does look lovely. Probably not going to make it there... this time... thanks!
DeleteI grew up in Nottingham during its halcyon days with Asgard Miniatures and early Citadel/Games Workshop. As somebody has pointed out, Nottingham Castle was rebuilt after fire in the 19thC and expectations around it should be managed accordingly. It's more of a visitor centre and art gallery experience. However you may wish to consider a visit to Mortimer's Hole, a tunnel that runs down the cliff below the castle. I hear the tour is quite entertaining. Followed by a stop off at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem inn, partially built into the base of the cliff and which claims to be the oldest pub in England - that claim is disputed by others but it's a lovely historic pub nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark! Someone Amanda knows had mentioned a really old pub - and I think suggested there is supposedly a secret passage in the back that led up to the castle?!
DeleteMy pleasure. I think they're one and the same, although the tunnel exit isn't inside the pub itself but that's a minor detail. Hope you enjoy your visit to Nottingham!
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