London, UK trip

[Peter Pedisich]

Hello,

In the near future I'll be spending a week in London and I'd like to visit some woodworking stores, any creekers out there know of any? In particular I'd like to see hand tools, Festools & old wood doors.

Are there any UK members of SMC that live in or near London?

Thanks,

Pete

[Cecil Arnold]

Peter, don't know about doors and such, but on my last trip to the UK I did find some shops in S. England (Salisbury) that had a number of old hand tools--planes and such--unfortunately they knew what they were worth.

[Michael Ballent]

Hello,

In the near future I'll be spending a week in London and I'd like to visit some woodworking stores, any creekers out there know of any? In particular I'd like to see hand tools, Festools & old wood doors.

Are there any UK members of SMC that live in or near London?

Thanks,

Pete

Old wood doors are every where ;) My suggestion is to avoid the British food and enjoy all the Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai food that London has to offer. :)

[Rob Will]

Pete,
Be sure to see St. Paul's Cathederal.
"Look up in Wonder" as they say.
Lots of WW carving....... (understatement of the year).
Doors the size of a motor home.

Unrelated suggestions: If the Lion King is still in the theatre, it is an awesome live show in London.
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/westendvenues/lyceum.htm

If you don't mind blowing the sawdust off and dressing up a bit, afternoon tea is a good way to see the inside of the Ritz Hotel. Sorta fun - once.
http://www.theritzlondon.com/tea/index.asp

Rob

[Larry Browning]

I know that Ian Barley live just outside London. He invited me to visit him when I was in the UK this past November. I was unable to work it in, but I sure wanted to visit. You might PM him to set it up.
BTW, when are you going to be over there? I also have another trip to the UK planned around the 1st or 2nd week in Feb. When are you going to be over there?

[Matt Meiser]

If you've never been, there is so much to see that you'll never get a chance to see it all. I spent a total of a month over there in 98/99 and I was worn out when I got home from trying to see so many different things. Probably the coolest place I visited was Bath. It was pretty wild when they were talking about structures that far older than anything you could see in the US.

[Richard Niemiec]

[quote=Peter Pedisich]Hello,

In the near future I'll be spending a week in London and I'd like to visit some woodworking stores, any creekers out there know of any? In particular I'd like to see hand tools, Festools & old wood doors.

I was in London over a weekend in November, and really didn't have time to search out retail outlets, but did go to the Portobello Road flea market and found about 3 dealers in old tools; inventory changes of course, but generally I found they had a lot of chisels, measuring tools and only a few planes. I didn't find anything of use to me, but did have a wonderful chat with one vendor who, prior to his career as a schoolteacher, was a tail gunner in a WWII Lancaster (or was it a Halifax) bomber. An interesting and colorful guy. If you're interested, google Portobello Road and the merchants have a website with locations.

[Jim Becker]

SMC member Ian Barley lives outside of London near Guildford (where I have an office)...which is reachable by train. I visited with him awhile back and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Peter Pedisich]

Thanks guys!

[Hank Knight]

Last time I was in London I picked up a very nice Norris A5 on Portobello Road for under $200 American. Portobello Road is the London flea market. Try to go on Saturday morning because many sellers are not there during the week. It will be crowded, but a loft of fun. I found several stalls with old tools scattered among the rest of the stuff, and there are a couple of dealers that sell old tools regularly there. See link for info: http://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/
Click on "Dealers" and scroll down to "Woodworking Tools."
Have fun. London is one of my favourite cities.
Hank

[Ian Barley]

Peter

If you have a week you will be running around pretty fast to see much. If you are staying in Central London you will find woodworking stores thin on the ground. The best that you are likey to find will not be much better than the tool corral at the borg. We may have a historical tradition based on the skills of the Sheffield toolmakers but we have largely killed it off. You will also find prices pretty scary. If you are looking at old tools then street markets can be OK but too many tools end up as decorators items in naff pub restorations.

The Festool UK website lists dealers - link at the end of this post. None of these is particularly handy for the "tourist" areas of London but if you can tell me where you are staying I can point you at the nearest one.

If you want to appreciate some old time woodworking - my favourite is Hampton Court Palace. Lots of Grinling Gibbons woodcarving and fantastic architectural details along with some impressive furniture if you want to see the stuff that reproduction furniture is reproducing. Also nearby is the delightful Ham House - much smaller than Hampton Court but a classic presentation of an important historical venue on a more managable scale. Both these are close together but would represent at a half day activity at least but IMNVHO are well worth it.

Getting around in London is - in my experience - slower than in many US cities. While major attractions are pretty close together other things are more spread out than you will find in somewhere like Manhattan and finding your way is more complex - no nice grid system.

As others have said I am about 35 miles west of London and if you are anywhere close you are very welcome to come visit. If there is anything I can do to help you get the most from your stay just let me know.


Festool (http://www.festool.co.uk/haendlersuche/process.cfm?kfz=1&plz=&l=es&name=&ort=&stichwort=&sortierung=name&sortiment=0&hersteller=0&dienstleistung=&plz_von=)

Hampton Court (http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/hampton-court.htm)

Grinling Gibbons (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=grinling+gibbons+&spell=1)

Ham House (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-hamhouse.htm)

[Wes Bischel]

Pete,

Sounds like you're in for a fun trip (I hope). I can't give you any WW sites, but will recommend getting to know the Tube if you are only going to be in London. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/ When we had to travel with sample cases it took 2-3 times longer to get around on surface streets. Naturally, if you have been to London before, you already know this.:D

Of course being into history stuff, I'm in a state of constant euphoria while in the UK.:p I guess that explains why I don't know of any WW places - too many history sites!

Wes

PS "Mind your step" and "Look right" - especially "Look right"!!!

[Ian Barley]

Forgot to mention - Natural History Museum - best of the London museums - Free entry. Stand at the top of the main staircase in the entrance lobby and gaze in wonder at the slice through a Redwood marked with major points in history on it growth rings. Makes you feel very very small and insignificant. - and its nearly woodowrking.

Natural History Museum (http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/index.html)

[scott spencer]

Old wood doors are every where ;) My suggestion is to avoid the British food and enjoy all the Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai food that London has to offer. :) "British" food? :eek: There's a reason there's so much Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai food available there! :D Check out the Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square too...

[john mclane]

I Was There In December And Looked In The London Yellow Pages For Tool Or Woodworking Shops And There Was Nothing In Central London.
Had A Great Talk With A Taxi Driver Whose Son Was In Iraq And He Was A Woodworker. Told Me That Tools Were Pretty Expensive Know Because A Lot Of Brits Have Taken Up Using Handtools For Making Furniture For Themselves.

My Best Day There Was When A Physician Friend Brought Me To Stonehenge Near His Home And Later That Evening I Went To The Hard Rock Cafe Vault. The Guide Will Let You Play The Guitars If Your Friendly. Got To Play Jimmie Hendrix, Eric Clapton's And Jeff Becks's Guitars! Not A Bad Day.:)

[Wes Bischel]

Actually it was hard to find "British" food last time I was there - even at the local pubs. I will admit I do like some of it - though I did have to take a second when half way through a very good meal I realized Steak and Kidney pie didn't have any kidney beans in it!:eek: :eek:

Wes

[Matt Meiser]

I was just talking to a co-worker yesterday about the food. Sorry Ian, but you guys have TERRIBLE food. :eek: Once I learned to eat at the restaraunts recommended in the tour book my mom got me before I went, things got much better, but just stopping some place that sounded good was a bad idea. One day I ate at a TGI Fridays and another time I ate at a McDonalds just to try to get something that tasted like food I was familiar with. Couldn't believe that McDonalds could be worse than at home. I did have some excellent Indian and Italian. Stay away from the beef though--they really overcook it to where there's no taste.

[Mark Singer]

Go to the British Museum, Saint Pauls Cathedral, The New Tate Museum...Scott's Seafood for Dover Sole.. Don't miss Harods Department Store...try to see a concert at Royal Albert Hall...Indian food is good....In Mayfare we stayed at the Chesterfield Hotel...Great breakfasts were included and the Hotel is reasonable considering its location...London is one of the worlds great cities...I love it! North of Gatwick Airport you are in the country...great pubs and inns....I raised a pint or two...and drank to? Well it was worthwhile trust me:rolleyes: Picture is The Chesterfield....
http://www.hotelsrus.com/hotelinfos/images/UK/LON/CHEJAC/front.jpg (javascript:enlargeImage()

[Peter Pedisich]

Wow, SMC is great.

Where else could I get such help and advice on this subject?

Anyway, thanks to all who replied!

Ian, I sent you a PM and viewed the links in your post, Hampton Court looks like something right up my alley.

For years I've wanted to go to England and see the great oaks and walk on HMS Victory and stand on the very spot Nelson stood. Call me crazy, but it don't get much better than that in my book. Oh, I almost forgot, I hope to see some paintings by Turner.

Pete

[Jim Becker]

"British" food? There's a reason there's so much Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai food available there!
Scott, when I first visited London in 1998, that was absolutely true. However, on my last two visits I didn't have a bad meal in the bunch, no matter where I ate. In fact, I had a couple of meals that were nearly unequaled anywhere I have been. The effect of the EU and globalization in general has brought a lot of good eating to London...and a Starbucks on every other corner. (I swear there are more Starbucks than pubs at this point!) But said eating is quite expensive. London is the second most expensive city to visit in the world. Moscow is now first...and I'll attest to that from recent personal experience!

[Peter Pedisich]

Jim,

When I was in college in Philadelphia, THAT was the most expensive city in the world!:eek: Had to sell some Beatles records to get a hoagie.

Pete

[Howard Barlow]

My suggestion is to avoid the British food and enjoy all the Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai food that London has to offer. :)

Peter, I haven't read past Michael's post before responding, but one thing I know, Michael's response is the most important info you will ever get concerning the UK.

OK, what was your question?;)

[Matt Meiser]

and a Starbucks on every other corner. (I swear there are more Starbucks than pubs at this point!) But said eating is quite expensive. London is the second most expensive city to visit in the world. Moscow is now first...and I'll attest to that from recent personal experience!

Do the still have Pret-a-Manger (I think that's the name) They were everywhere when I was there. Latte's were 99 pence. Can you tell I went there a lot to still remember that?

I was pretty freaked out at the cost of food. I had just gotten off a project in Lima, OH when I went there. On the Lima project we had a $25/day per diem for food. In London, it was common for just dinner to be $50. I thought for sure I was going to be in big trouble with management when I got back.

[Cecil Arnold]

Peter, if you're going to Southampton to see HMS Victory then you may get the opportunity to stop along the way for a pub meal. If that is the case you can get an excellent lunch and a pint. Try the plowman's which is a large slab of Stilton, some greens, bread, and chutney, or a Shepard's pie, or almost anything else on the menu. Someone else mentioned Bath and if you get the chance you really should give it a go. And if you get to Dover you really should see the castle, light house and Roman painted house that had central heat, and H&C running water in something like 350 a.d. It really made me appreciate just how dark the dark ages were. I think you will find more little shops with interesting ww antiques once you are out of London.

Two other things, plan on spending pounds for dollars. If a burger costs $4, then it will cost 4 lb. and for Gods sake, don't eat any marmite.

[Rob Will]

Jim,

When I was in college in Philadelphia, THAT was the most expensive city in the world!:eek: Had to sell some Beatles records to get a hoagie.

Pete

Well Pete, then you'll have to eat at the original Hard Rock Cafe (London). Original "Love Me Do" jackets worn by the fab four..... hanging on the wall next to your table.

Hotel Intercontinental (*****) is right up the street from HRC, nice Arch view if you ask.

Any hotel near the Wellington Arch is out of the city center by just the right distance. You can walk to Buckinham Palace and Buckingham Fountain.

Changing of the Guard: best to book a "walking tour" with one of the tour companies. i.e. "Big Red Bus Co." They take you to the barraks to see the New Guard take formation. Then you can walk along for several blocks as they march toward the palace. Don't get caught looking like a tourist peering through the palace gates for only a glimpse.:cool:

Rob

[Howard Barlow]

Do the still have Pret-a-Manger (I think that's the name) They were everywhere when I was there. Latte's were 99 pence. Can you tell I went there a lot to still remember that?

I was pretty freaked out at the cost of food. I had just gotten off a project in Lima, OH when I went there. On the Lima project we had a $25/day per diem for food. In London, it was common for just dinner to be $50. I thought for sure I was going to be in big trouble with management when I got back.

Pret-A-Manger is still there.

For general figuring, figure 2:1 for dollar to pound. It's not quite that bad, but almost. It is EXPENSIVE there.

[Brian Jarnell]

Being a Derbyshire lad,in the Midlands,I should remind you that London is not England.http://www.imagef1.net.nz/files/lake-district-02.3.jpg

[Ian Barley]

What Jim says about the food is about right. Some of you other guys may have been caught out because we have special menus for people in loud shirts and plaid trousers!

We probably have some "austerity" based habits that you guys never had to develop. Steak & Kidney pie does have Kidney in it, not Kidney beans. Not one of my favourites but you have not lived until you have eaten a well cooked dish of liver and bacon in onion gravy. Before everybody gets too down on British food bear in mind that you people eat your porridge in the morning with lumps of gravel in it. And it is of course it is an established fact that Admiral Lord Nelson only got to be that brilliant by eating Marmite three times a day.

If you do go to Southampton to see Victory then you need to take some binoculars because she is docked in Portsmouth. Portsmouth would be a full day out from London and I suggest that if you are of a Maritime bent then Greenwich would be interesting and more managable. It is where the whole world (except France) measures time from and has a long naval history. Go to see Harrisons No1 - the worlds first chronometer accurate enough to measure Longitute, made famous in the book of the same name. Cutty Sark is probably closer to where you will be than Victory is. I have never been myself but some people rave about it.

If you want to see great oaks then you need to get to Windsor Great Park. Old Oaks are not that common because in the 1700's we needed most of them to build warships to deal with Frenchmen and stroppy colonials but the park has some fascinating examples and is a great setting. You also get the chance to roll up into the town of Windsor and see the castle.



Cutty Sark (http://www.cuttysark.org.uk/)

Greenwich Maritime Museum (http://www.nmm.ac.uk/)

Windsor Great Park (http://www.thamesweb.co.uk/windsor/info/grtpk.html#anchor439426)

[Ian Barley]

Being a Derbyshire lad,in the Midlands,I should remind you that London is not England.http://www.imagef1.net.nz/files/lake-district-02.3.jpg

Brian - You are completely correct. If Peter had said he was here for a fortnight I would have given a wider range of recommendations. In a week or so I suspect that London and surroundings will keep him pretty well occupied

[Brian Jarnell]

Brian - You are completely correct. If Peter had said he was here for a fortnight I would have given a wider range of recommendations. In a week or so I suspect that London and surroundings will keep him pretty well occupied
Ian-I only commented because I have friends here in NZ who go to England,wander around London and then say,I didn't think much of England.
Same if you go to USA call in at LA and say the same.

[Richard Niemiec]

Oh, forgot to mention, try and go to the Imperial War Museum. It's also free, and very impressive. Outside the front entrance they mounted a pair of 16" (or so) naval cannon which are themselves worthy of the trip. This is not to mention the P-51, Spitfire and FW-190 they have hanging from the ceiling in the main hall, right next to Snoopy's Sopwith Camel, and the Sherman tank, and the Panther tank, etc., etc. And yeah, take the tube.

[Shawn Oberdorf]

Ditto on using the tubes, learned that the first time we went to London. If you are sightseeing , you wont have time to look for wwing stuff.
I miss living in england :(

Shawn

[Hank Knight]

Ian-I only commented because I have friends here in NZ who go to England,wander around London and then say,I didn't think much of England.
Same if you go to USA call in at LA and say the same.

England is indeed a land of contrasts. This is a photo of Langdale in Northwest England, near the Irish Sea. The road through this valley has some 35 percent grades and is only one lane wide. This photo was taken from the ruins of a Roman fort that was one of the farthest western outposts of the Roman Empire. It guarded the avenue into the English interior. If your only image of England is London, try to get out and see some of the countryside.

Cheers.

Hank

[Teresa Jones]

Peter,

If you plan to visit Stonehenge, you can take in Pennyfarthing Tools which is in Salisbury.

http://www.pennyfarthingtools.co.uk/index.htm

I seem to recall it is about a 90 minute train ride from central London. We rode the train, got on a shuttle bus to Stonehenge and back and then walked to Pennyfarthing Tools.

This website has a number of locations for UK tool dealers:

http://www.amgron.clara.net/addresses/addresses.htm

"There is a flea market stall in the churchyard of St. Martins of the Fields in London, immediately adjacent Trafalgar Square, and an easy walk from Charing Cross underground station. There's an OAP (senior citizen for US-types) there by the name of John selling old tools. John says he's a retired curved staircase builder, and he's selling old tools on Saturday and Sunday."

This gentleman is a treasure to meet. It has been about five years since I was there so I don't know if he is still at the market.

Have a great trip!

TJ

[john mclane]

The British museum has a great watch and clock section. they show the watches and clocks open with the precise engineering and all are working at the time.