American going to Dublin and the UK, London, Manchester and Scotland 2024. What fun things to do?

GT1015
GT1015 Posts: 205
So I am going to the June 25 , 2024 Manchester PJ show and have time prior to that to see Dublin, London and Glasgow and Edinburgh.  I have never been over seas.  What are the places I need to see!  Best restaurants, pubs, shops, etc.  I have some ideas but really looking for local residents to say if you only have 1 day you really need to do this!  Best local beer to try, food, small music club, whatever it might be.  I am not renting a car, and will be taking trains, buses, underground to get places.  Should I buy a train pass the day of when I am there or buy before hand?  Tips for getting around?  Still need to figure out the train from Glasgow to Manchester.  
  
I will have 2 days in Dublin and already have my Guiness tour booked, and am staying out near the Howth coast.  
I have 4 days in London and want to do a Stonehenge tour, globe theater and watch Euro cup game England v Serbia.  What pub will be the best for that?  Staying near the tower bridge.  And have noted a bunch of free art galleries.  What else?
I have 4 days in Glasgow but will take a train into Edinburgh.  Maybe Glengoyne tour? castles? Watch Scotland v Hungary, where?  What else, where to eat? 
I have 3 days in Manchester.  Maybe train into Liverpool?  

Really open to anything as long as it doesn't take a long time to travel to the place.  But really looking for the locals to tell me go to "X" to eat, you must visit this street to see "X" , take this tour for "X", etc.  Or even the avoid "X" as it is no fun and over priced.  

I will thank you all in advance of your replies and try to monitor this and answer any questions anybody poses back to me.  
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Comments

  • BlueLedbetter
    BlueLedbetter Posts: 1,392
    edited March 2024
    Barrowlands is a legendary music venue in Glasgow, if there is anything on while you are visiting its worth going to 

    Edinburgh is much more touristy if that's your thing do the castle, Royal Mile, Grassmarket, Rose Street. All walking distance from the train station but as I say very touristy and a bit over priced 

    If its your first time the hop on hop off bus is decent in London to see the sights and the tube is easy to use 
    Post edited by BlueLedbetter on
  • kaw753
    kaw753 Posts: 941
    An Irish friend told me about a bar where Conor McGregor was too scared to go. Three of us went there and a guy came up to us, "playfully" punched me in the stomach, spilled my friend's beer, and asked us if we were detectives.

    If you go, ask them if they ever solved those shootings from a few years back.

    Noctor’s

  • matt84
    matt84 Posts: 836
    Nicest city is Newcastle Upon Tyne - enjoy a walk along the quayside, plenty of lovely National Trust locations, lovely beaches nearby, Tynemouth market etc. Second favourite city is Liverpool.
  • tino_11
    tino_11 Posts: 2,229
    Sorry, generic advice but it might be useful. 

    If it’s your first time in London, just embrace the tourist stuff. There’s so much to see and do and most of it is free, even the museums. Camden is a cool area with lots of pubs and restaurants by the canal.

    For Manchester - take a tour of the Lake District, visit the football (soccer museum), take the train to York (see the minster, Viking museum, shambles etc).

    Glasgow - take the train to Edinburgh, tour Loch Lomond.  

    If you like Indian food there’s Dishoom in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. It’s usually great. The Dome in Edinburgh is great, you can just go for a drink if you don’t want to eat there. 
    'F*** the pessimists. F*** 'em.' Eddie Vedder
  • tino_11
    tino_11 Posts: 2,229
    Also Paesano pizzeria in Glasgow is amazing, you should definitely go there if you can
    'F*** the pessimists. F*** 'em.' Eddie Vedder
  • Planet of Sound
    Planet of Sound UK Posts: 636
    edited March 2024
    Top tip: Sunday roast at Black Lock (there are five in London and one in Manchester).  Delicious!  Must be booked ahead.

    Dishoom is good but expect a long line/queue at peak times if you haven’t booked.

    London views: if you like rooftop views over London the Garden at 120 is great, free and doesn’t have to be booked in advance; Sky Garden is also good and free but usually needs booking in advance and tickets are released on a Monday for 3 weeks ahead.  The Shard is of course is the tallest and is nice, but very expensive.

    London: recommend a river boat to Greenwich, can get an Uber Boat from Tower Bridge pier, Greenwich is a really nice part of London in my view (there are touristy boats too but this is the cheapest and local way to do it).

    Personally I’d avoid Camden unless there is a gig on there you want to go to, it is mostly just crappy markets.  

    York is one of my favourite cities, you’ll love it there.  Look out for all the black cats in the windows and around the city.  Take a walk along the old city walls, magic.

    Stonehenge is interesting but a lot of people find in underwhelming it seems.  The nearby city of Salisbury is lovely, including its cathedral, and so if you are in the Stonehenge area I’d recommend visiting.

    Post edited by Planet of Sound on
  • ilockyer
    ilockyer Posts: 2,272
    edited March 2024
    London... Best Indian food can be found at Veerashwarmy. 
    Street food at Borough Market, Broadway Market.
    Great coffee at Bar Italia in Soho. 
    Regency Cafe in Pimlico... traditional English cafe which has been in lots of films.
    Post edited by ilockyer on
    The secret to a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits
  • RatherStarved
    RatherStarved Posts: 5,855
    Stonehenge is totally overrated and a waste of a day.  

    Cliffs of Moher in Ireland are nice.  Also if you have time a trip to Derry (some people call it Londonderry - I’m not taking sides…) to see the site of Bloody Sunday.  

    London has so many things to see and do it just depends what you want.  I always enjoy the place in Greenwich where you can have one foot in the Western Hemisphere and one in the east.  The old Prime Meridian.  


    PJ: 2013: London (ON); Buffalo; 2014: Cincinnati; 2016: Sunrise, Miami, Toronto 1-2, Wrigley 2; 2018: London (UK) 1, Milan, Padova, Sea 2, Wrigley 1-2, Fenway 1-2; 2021: SHN, Ohana, Ohana Encore 1-2; 2022: LA 1-2, Phx, Oak 1-2, Fresno, Copenhagen, Hyde Park 1-2; Quebec, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto; MSG, Camden, Nashville, Louisville, St. Louis, OKC; 2023: St. Paul 1-2, Chicago 1-2; Fort Worth 2; Austin 1-2; 2024:  Vancouver 1-2, LV 1-2, LA 1-2, Napa, Barcelona 1-2; Indy; Chicago 1-2; MSG 1-2; Philly 2; Boston 2; Ohana 1-2; 2025: FL 1-2, ATL 1-2, Nash 1-2, Pit 1-2.
     
    EV Solo: 2017 Louisville and Franklin, 2018 Ohana, 2019 Innings Fest, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Dublin and Ohana; 2021 Ohana Friday (from beach) and Saturday; 2022 Earthlings Newark; 2023 Innings Fest and Benoraya 1-2.

    Gutted:  London 2 2018, Sacramento 2022, Noblesville 2023
  • GT1015
    GT1015 Posts: 205
    Top tip: Sunday roast at Black Lock (there are five in London and one in Manchester).  Delicious!  Must be booked ahead.

    Dishoom is good but expect a long line/queue at peak times if you haven’t booked.

    London views: if you like rooftop views over London the Garden at 120 is great, free and doesn’t have to be booked in advance; Sky Garden is also good and free but usually needs booking in advance and tickets are released on a Monday for 3 weeks ahead.  The Shard is of course is the tallest and is nice, but very expensive.

    London: recommend a river boat to Greenwich, can get an Uber Boat from Tower Bridge pier, Greenwich is a really nice part of London in my view (there are touristy boats too but this is the cheapest and local way to do it).

    Personally I’d avoid Camden unless there is a gig on there you want to go to, it is mostly just crappy markets.  

    York is one of my favourite cities, you’ll love it there.  Look out for all the black cats in the windows and around the city.  Take a walk along the old city walls, magic.

    Stonehenge is interesting but a lot of people find in underwhelming it seems.  The nearby city of Salisbury is lovely, including its cathedral, and so if you are in the Stonehenge area I’d recommend visiting.

    I have heard that Greenwich is very nice and a cool place to walk around.  I read that using the cable car system to get there is better than the boat ride.  Opinions?  
  • GT1015
    GT1015 Posts: 205
    kaw753 said:
    An Irish friend told me about a bar where Conor McGregor was too scared to go. Three of us went there and a guy came up to us, "playfully" punched me in the stomach, spilled my friend's beer, and asked us if we were detectives.

    If you go, ask them if they ever solved those shootings from a few years back.

    Noctor’s

    I will file this under "maybe" or if someone pays me enough to enter.  
  • RatherStarved
    RatherStarved Posts: 5,855
    GT1015 said:
    Top tip: Sunday roast at Black Lock (there are five in London and one in Manchester).  Delicious!  Must be booked ahead.

    Dishoom is good but expect a long line/queue at peak times if you haven’t booked.

    London views: if you like rooftop views over London the Garden at 120 is great, free and doesn’t have to be booked in advance; Sky Garden is also good and free but usually needs booking in advance and tickets are released on a Monday for 3 weeks ahead.  The Shard is of course is the tallest and is nice, but very expensive.

    London: recommend a river boat to Greenwich, can get an Uber Boat from Tower Bridge pier, Greenwich is a really nice part of London in my view (there are touristy boats too but this is the cheapest and local way to do it).

    Personally I’d avoid Camden unless there is a gig on there you want to go to, it is mostly just crappy markets.  

    York is one of my favourite cities, you’ll love it there.  Look out for all the black cats in the windows and around the city.  Take a walk along the old city walls, magic.

    Stonehenge is interesting but a lot of people find in underwhelming it seems.  The nearby city of Salisbury is lovely, including its cathedral, and so if you are in the Stonehenge area I’d recommend visiting.

    I have heard that Greenwich is very nice and a cool place to walk around.  I read that using the cable car system to get there is better than the boat ride.  Opinions?  
    You can get there on a light rail called DLR that connects with some London Underground stations.  
    PJ: 2013: London (ON); Buffalo; 2014: Cincinnati; 2016: Sunrise, Miami, Toronto 1-2, Wrigley 2; 2018: London (UK) 1, Milan, Padova, Sea 2, Wrigley 1-2, Fenway 1-2; 2021: SHN, Ohana, Ohana Encore 1-2; 2022: LA 1-2, Phx, Oak 1-2, Fresno, Copenhagen, Hyde Park 1-2; Quebec, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto; MSG, Camden, Nashville, Louisville, St. Louis, OKC; 2023: St. Paul 1-2, Chicago 1-2; Fort Worth 2; Austin 1-2; 2024:  Vancouver 1-2, LV 1-2, LA 1-2, Napa, Barcelona 1-2; Indy; Chicago 1-2; MSG 1-2; Philly 2; Boston 2; Ohana 1-2; 2025: FL 1-2, ATL 1-2, Nash 1-2, Pit 1-2.
     
    EV Solo: 2017 Louisville and Franklin, 2018 Ohana, 2019 Innings Fest, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Dublin and Ohana; 2021 Ohana Friday (from beach) and Saturday; 2022 Earthlings Newark; 2023 Innings Fest and Benoraya 1-2.

    Gutted:  London 2 2018, Sacramento 2022, Noblesville 2023
  • JT167846
    JT167846 Posts: 995
    Spend a good few hours doing the Guinness Storehouse tour in the arvo. Do the tour and cash in your token for your pint, then hang and shoot the shit with fellow visitors in the gravity bar. Not everyone likes stout and most go to enjoy the view. You'll find a few people who are kind enough to offer you their token and before you know it you've been on the piss for four hours with a great view and all for the price of a ticket to the Storehouse. Given the 10 Euro mark has been cracked for a pint of the black stuff I'd say any cheap nights out would be most appreciated.
    Stars are suns to other people.

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  • just_one
    just_one Lisbon Posts: 2,308
    edited March 2024
    since we are talking about travelling tips need some tips for Glasgow , going there june 25th and june 26th to see green day and the killers before heading to london to see PJ.

    Already saw in a post above the Peasano pizzaria , any more good places to eat?
    Also what should i take prority to see during the morning and afternoon of june 26th?

    any help would be very appreciative
    Post edited by just_one on
  • ilockyer
    ilockyer Posts: 2,272
    There's an app you can download called Citymapper. It includes all transport routes (Bus/Tube/Train etc) for London. 
    Recommend avoiding any long journeys on the Central line (underground) during the summer, it is very hot and there is no aircon.
    The secret to a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits
  • JeBurkhardt
    JeBurkhardt Posts: 5,387
    edited March 2024
    Google maps worked great in London and Paris for using the Undergrounds in both cities. Just put in your destination and it listed all of the different ways to get there and where the stations were along with schedules. 
    Post edited by JeBurkhardt on
  • JeBurkhardt
    JeBurkhardt Posts: 5,387
    Stonehenge is totally overrated and a waste of a day.  

    Cliffs of Moher in Ireland are nice.  Also if you have time a trip to Derry (some people call it Londonderry - I’m not taking sides…) to see the site of Bloody Sunday.  

    London has so many things to see and do it just depends what you want.  I always enjoy the place in Greenwich where you can have one foot in the Western Hemisphere and one in the east.  The old Prime Meridian.  


    We went to Stonehenge in 2022 when we went the shows in Hyde Park. It does take a long time to get there and back, but as a lifelong Spinal Tap fanatic, I couldn't go to England and not go there. We did stop in Bath during the trip and loved that city. 
  • lastexitlondon
    lastexitlondon Posts: 15,198
    Bath is lovely. Stone henge i agree is a complete waste of time. London has so many places to see. But its really busy 


    this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
  • Micheyb21
    Micheyb21 UK Posts: 346
    The lilockyer said:
    There's an app you can download called Citymapper. It includes all transport routes (Bus/Tube/Train etc) for London. 
    Recommend avoiding any long journeys on the Central line (underground) during the summer, it is very hot and there is no aircon.
    Citymapper- the greatest app invented. I use it for multiple cities across the world and makes trying to work out transport systems a dream and definitely in countries when its not in English and trying to work out when its your stop or what platform you need.
    2000 Cardiff/ 2006 Paris/ 2011 Toronto/ 2013 Chicago/ 2014 Amsterdam 1 & Milton Keynes, 
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  • GT1015
    GT1015 Posts: 205
    I leave in like 10 days...anything new or changed/ updated that I need to be aware of?  Any other good places to eat in London? Manchester?  
  • rw160510
    rw160510 Posts: 1,089
    I’d recommend Horizon 22 if you want to do a viewing platform in London. It’s free but you have to book ahead.