Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Tips for London Travellers

0 views
Skip to first unread message

Dave M

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/26/00
to
Hi!
I am an American who will have a free weekend (10-21 & 22) in London. Does
anyone have any suggestions as to things I should definitely do in London.
Dave M

guy_ro...@bigfoot.com

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/26/00
to
In article <7g2A5.20801$nk3.1...@newsread03.prod.itd.earthlink.net>,
"Dave M" <DinD...@yahoo.com> wrote:

rec.travel.europe should give you a better response but here are some
role-playing friendly ideas.

Visit Leisure Games. Not only will you meet authentic UK role-players
but you will also be able to buy a French role-playing game from their
stock. Be the first role-player in your block to own some of the best
games in the original French.

Check Phil Master's web page www.philm.demon.co.uk for any RPG
conventions on that date, there might be one in London on that weekend.

See the London Dungeon, a tourist spot with an ironic sense of humour.

Go to the Millenium Dome and get an avatar of yourself made in the BT
TalkZone. The 24-a-side table football is pretty good too.

Go to the Science Museum and see the reconstructed brass computer that
was reconstructed from Charles Babbage's 19C plans.

Go to the Imperial War Museum and see more periods of military history
than you can shake a stick at.

Hope you enjoy the trip!

--
Guy Robinson
www.legendary.freeserve.co.uk

[all standard disclaimers apply]


Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Phil Masters

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/26/00
to
Dave M wrote:
> I am an American who will have a free weekend (10-21 & 22) in London.
> Does anyone have any suggestions as to things I should definitely do in
> London.

We could give you the locations for a couple of Central London games
shops, but the odds are that you've got some kind of shop in your home
town, and you'll hardly want to pay import prices and haul something
back on the plane that you could get there...

So it's fairer to give you a quick run-down of Stuff In London that a
gamer might enjoy. The first snag is that you said "weekend," and even
in October, good places to go in London tend to be jammed solid at
weekends. Tourist city and all that. So be prepared to adopt a Zen
attitude when trying any of the following - the hordes of screaming kids
who just trod on your feet do not really matter...

Okay. Stop 1. Museums. The British Museum in Bloomsbury (tube -
Tottenham Court Road or Holborn) is just plain one of the world's great
museums. If your interests extend to ancient cultures, archaeology, or
whatever (and most gamers' do), it's mandatory. Decent (if not terribly
cheap) restaurant, too. Several other major museums are down in
Kensington (tube: South Kensington), and include the Victoria & Albert
(art and design, including samurai swords, medieval armour, and a
plaster cast of Trajan's Column), the Natural History (dinosaurs, more
recent stuff, and berserk Victorian architecture), and the Science
(machines and more machines, including loads of aircraft, cars, and
steam engines).

There's also the Imperial War Museum south of the river, and loads of
smaller museums for special interests. Find a good guidebook. If you
want paintings, the National Gallery is on Trafalgar Square; I rather
like the National Portrait Gallery (basically round the back of the
other), which has more paintings of famous Brits than you could ever
want.

Flipping away from Old Stuff for a minute, the London Eye, on the south
bank of the Thames (tube: Waterloo), is the world's biggest ferris
wheel. You'll have to book in advance (see www.ba-londoneye.com), but
the view from the top is amazing.

Obvious Old Building for gamers to visit; the Tower of London (complete
with Crown Jewels, tube: Tower Hill).

The Millennium Dome sounds so naff I've avoided visiting it, but if you
insist, take a boat ride down the Thames, get an eyeful of the stuff on
the banks en route, and give yourself enough time also to go see the
National Maritime Museum round there.

Best and weirdest eatery with gamer cred (well, it looks like the set of
a cyberpunk movie); Belgo, in Covent Garden. Serious industrial chic and
great mussels and beer and stuff at fair prices.

Anything more specific you're after?

--
Phil Masters * Home Page: http://www.philm.demon.co.uk/
"Battle not with flamers, lest ye become a flamer; and stare not too
deeply into the 'net, or you will find the 'net staring into you."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche (loosely translated)

Jane Williams

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/26/00
to
On Tue, 26 Sep 2000 19:32:30 +0100, Phil Masters
<ph...@philm.demon.co.uk> wrote:

...... many good things, all of which I agree with. But let me add a
few.

>Dave M wrote:
>> I am an American who will have a free weekend (10-21 & 22) in London.
>> Does anyone have any suggestions as to things I should definitely do in
>> London.

>Okay. Stop 1. Museums. The British Museum in Bloomsbury (tube -


>Tottenham Court Road or Holborn) is just plain one of the world's great
>museums. If your interests extend to ancient cultures, archaeology, or
>whatever (and most gamers' do), it's mandatory.

And it will take you almost all the weekend to see all of it. Get a
guidebook at the entrance, and pick bits. I'd choose the Sutton Hoo
collection myself, but ti depends on your interests.

> Victoria & Albert...., medieval armour,

The Wallace Collection is probably better for armour and swords,
though far less well-known.

>Obvious Old Building for gamers to visit; the Tower of London (complete
>with Crown Jewels, tube: Tower Hill).

If you're after Real Old Stuff in London, there's some city wall still
standing, and a temple to Mithras near Bank tube station. The Museum
of London is also good. But, apart from the afore-mentioned Tower,
most of London is pretty modern. (Well, post-Great Fire, anyway, which
is "modern" by my standards of Places to Visit). For Old Places such
as the USA does not have, you need to leave the city: and with only
one weekend, it probably isn't worth it.

>The Millennium Dome sounds so naff I've avoided visiting it,

I went a few days ago: not bad, quite fun in parts, but nothing very
gamer-specifically good. (Well, unless you want to be scanned for a
virtual-reality avatar, but that's computer games)

>Anything more specific you're after?

Quite. London is way too big to do in a weekend.


Dave M

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/26/00
to
Hi!
I kinda figured, that's why I am trying to get advice from a "cool" group.
Thanks for the good tips. The other thing I am not sure about is food. You
have to understand it is pretty much a joke in the US that British food is
mostly inedible (e.g., Blood Sausage). I find that hard to beleive, so I
would ask for good English food to try while I am in town. I have no real
dietary restrictions. Let me know what you might suggest.
Thanks already,
Dave M

"Jane Williams" <ja...@williams.nildram.co.uk> wrote in message
news:39d0f168...@supernews.nildram.co.uk...

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/26/00
to

>Hi!
> I kinda figured, that's why I am trying to get advice from a "cool" group.
>Thanks for the good tips. The other thing I am not sure about is food. You
>have to understand it is pretty much a joke in the US that British food is
>mostly inedible (e.g., Blood Sausage).

This from the nation that gave us MacDonalds.... :-)

If, by blood sausage, you mean black pudding - try it! It is quite
nice, if prepared without the gallon of grease transport cafes tend to
throw at it. Honest.

>I find that hard to beleive, so I
>would ask for good English food to try while I am in town. I have no real
>dietary restrictions. Let me know what you might suggest.

You'll be familiar with most of the fast food rubbish (MacDonalds, BK,
Pizza Hut....), but try fish'n'chips (it's unfortunate that you're only
hitting London - Yorkshire is second to none wrt this "delicacy" :-)).
Other than that, it's hard to find traditional English food in London.

--
Ian R Malcomson
Erstwhile Domicus bloke
Domicus website: http://www.domicus.demon.co.uk
Aldor creator & designer: http://www.d20games.com
ProFantasy Freelancer: http://www.profantasy.com

ed

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/26/00
to
The noble "Dave M" <DinD...@yahoo.com> spake on the day of Tue, 26 Sep
2000 20:52:04 GMT:

>Hi!
> I kinda figured, that's why I am trying to get advice from a "cool" group.
>Thanks for the good tips. The other thing I am not sure about is food. You
>have to understand it is pretty much a joke in the US that British food is
>mostly inedible (e.g., Blood Sausage).

"Black Pudding" but lots of countries have Blood sausages.

London has lots of places to eat a variety of nation's foods. But if you
don't want to be adventurous then there is always MacDonalds.
ed
--
edh...@equus.demon.co.uk | Dragons Rescued | _////
http://www.equus.demon.co.uk/ | Maidens Slain | o_/o ///
For devilbunnies, Diplomacy, RPGs, | Quests P.O.A. | __\ ///__
Science-Fiction and other stuff | | <*>

Nick Eden

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/26/00
to
On Tue, 26 Sep 2000 14:19:47 GMT, "Dave M" <DinD...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Hi!


> I am an American who will have a free weekend (10-21 & 22) in London. Does
>anyone have any suggestions as to things I should definitely do in London.

> Dave M
>

What sort of things do you like doing? I thought the London Eye was
rather fun, but it would be dismal in the rain. Is this completely off
topic for this NG?
-----------------------------------------------------
Hero Wars Resources, fonts, breifings, cults soon
http://www.pheasnt.demon.co.uk/HeroWars/HeroWars.html

Michael Cule

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/26/00
to
In article <U%7A5.22359$nk3.9...@newsread03.prod.itd.earthlink.net>,
Dave M <DinD...@yahoo.com> writes

>Thanks for the good tips. The other thing I am not sure about is food. You
>have to understand it is pretty much a joke in the US that British food is
>mostly inedible (e.g., Blood Sausage). I find that hard to beleive, so I

>would ask for good English food to try while I am in town.

Well, that may have been true in the 1950s but things have improved
since then. If you're in London I'd stick with the numerous Chinese,
French and Indian establishments. 'Traditional English Food' is very
well done in small country pubs and private houses, very badly (by and
large) in all but the most expensive restaurants.

I don't like Black Pudding myself (blasphemy for a Northerner I know)
but do try a good 'Full English Breakfast' while you're here. Bacon,
eggs, fried bread, mushrooms and even some peculiar import called hash
browns....

We British are cultural magpies: we will steal whatever songs, food and
customs strike us as pretty and claim them for our own.

One thing to be avoided: a certain 'Medieval Feast' tourist trap in
Central London. I know because I have worked there....
--
Michael Cule

Terry Boon

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/26/00
to
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

In article <c2n1tscd72a80jmou...@4ax.com> you wrote:
> On Tue, 26 Sep 2000 14:19:47 GMT, "Dave M" <DinD...@yahoo.com>
> wrote:

>>Hi!
>> I am an American who will have a free weekend (10-21 & 22) in London. Does
>>anyone have any suggestions as to things I should definitely do in London.

> What sort of things do you like doing? I thought the London Eye was


> rather fun, but it would be dismal in the rain. Is this completely off
> topic for this NG?

Well, we *do* have a "uk" in the title, so it's only 2/3 off-topic (if
we ignore the fact that 85-90% of the UK population isn't in
London)...

Actually (obRPG), it reminds me of the character questionnaires in the
Amber Diceless RPG.

Perhaps something like "Your character is planning to have a few days
break in London on Shadow Earth. How does he spend his time there?
What sights does he go and see? What might he prefer to avoid?"
(Naturally, even with an infinity of universes through which the royal
family of Amber can travel, "Shadow Earth", bearing a striking
resemblance to our present-day Earth, has plenty of Amberites dropping
by.)

Maybe I'll try it out on my players when I finally get round to
running the Amber game I've been meaning to do for months and see what
sort of response I get...

- --
Terry Boon, Hertfordshire, UK
te...@counterfactual.org
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.0.1 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: Processed by Mailcrypt 3.5.5

iD8DBQE50SdnB+GG7A6DEUARAuCLAKCFr6PIosFDsdINc4A2JnD0ihHVwwCgpx26
+a5Sb8XO3qKam+6CEPlMjwU=
=xyeW
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

James Wallis

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 7:03:10 PM9/26/00
to
In article <c2n1tscd72a80jmou...@4ax.com>, Nick Eden
<ni...@pheasntDOTdemon.co.uk> writes

>On Tue, 26 Sep 2000 14:19:47 GMT, "Dave M" <DinD...@yahoo.com>
>wrote:
>
>>Hi!
>> I am an American who will have a free weekend (10-21 & 22) in London. Does
>>anyone have any suggestions as to things I should definitely do in London.
>> Dave M

>>
>
>What sort of things do you like doing? I thought the London Eye was
>rather fun, but it would be dismal in the rain.

Actually the view from the London Eye is still pretty impressive in the
rain. It's bloody spectacular on a sunny day.

--
James Wallis
Director of Hogshead Publishing Ltd (ja...@hogshead.demon.co.uk)
Posting this from his home address (ja...@erstwhile.demon.co.uk)
Hogshead Publishing supports DRAGONMEET 2000 http://www.dragonmeet.com

James Wallis

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 7:02:11 PM9/26/00
to
In article <3H0ZZjAI...@domicus.demon.co.uk>, Ian R Malcomson
<i...@domicus.demon.co.uk> writes

>
>You'll be familiar with most of the fast food rubbish (MacDonalds, BK,
>Pizza Hut....), but try fish'n'chips (it's unfortunate that you're only
>hitting London - Yorkshire is second to none wrt this "delicacy" :-)).
>Other than that, it's hard to find traditional English food in London.

Yes, but if you're after excellent modern cuisine, London is generally
considered to be the centre of Europe right now. You may have to spend a
bit more than your average fish-supper and make some reservations in
advance, but your tastebuds will thank you.

(The secret to eating well in London, of course, is to avoid any
restaurant that looks as if tourists eat there regularly.)

Michel Morton

unread,
Sep 26, 2000, 11:18:22 PM9/26/00
to

Dave M wrote:
>
> Hi!
> I am an American who will have a free weekend (10-21 & 22) in London. Does
> anyone have any suggestions as to things I should definitely do in London.
> Dave M

If you're a gamer you might be interested in the Wallace
Collection in Manchester Square, it's got one of the best
collections of edged weapons and armour in London. Best of
all, you usually have it to yourself as not on the regular
tourist trail.


My personal inclination would be to avoid the "big" things
like the British Museum, wait till you've got more time on
another trip and can see it properly.

--
Michael Morton
>==========================================================<
School of Information Systems | Everything is linear if
University of East Anglia | plotted on log-log with
Norwich | a fat magic marker.
>==========================================================<

David Damerell

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 12:24:22 AM9/27/00
to
Ian R Malcomson <i...@domicus.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>>Thanks for the good tips. The other thing I am not sure about is food. You
>>have to understand it is pretty much a joke in the US that British food is
>>mostly inedible (e.g., Blood Sausage).
>This from the nation that gave us MacDonalds.... :-)

My partner is from Canada, which is culturally the same in this regard;
part of the problem is that many North Americans do not regard organ
food (or other bits of the animal that aren't just meat) as edible. No
haggis, no steak and kidney pie, no liver, no tongue, no heart - and no
black pudding, either.

--
David/Kirsty Damerell. dame...@chiark.greenend.org.uk
CUWoCS President. http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~damerell/ Hail Eris!
|___| fak...@chiark.greenend.org.uk exists only to discover senders |___|
| | | of UCE. Please do not mail it; you are likely to be blacklisted. | | |

Nick Brooke

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 1:29:12 AM9/27/00
to
Dave M wrote in message ...

>Thanks for the good tips. The other thing I am not sure about is food. You
>have to understand it is pretty much a joke in the US that British food is

>mostly inedible (e.g., Blood Sausage). I find that hard to beleive, so I

>would ask for good English food to try while I am in town. I have no real
>dietary restrictions. Let me know what you might suggest.


If you want very traditional "English" food, try Porters English Restaurant
in Covent Garden.

17 Henrietta Street
Covent Garden
London

Tel: 020 7836 6466

There are better places to eat, but this one's English. For what that's
worth.

Cheers, Nick


Phil Masters

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 2:47:16 AM9/27/00
to
Dave M wrote:
> Thanks for the good tips. The other thing I am not sure about is food.
> You have to understand it is pretty much a joke in the US that British
> food is mostly inedible (e.g., Blood Sausage). I find that hard to
> beleive, so I would ask for good English food to try while I am in town.
> I have no real dietary restrictions. Let me know what you might suggest.

British food has not always been very inspired in the past. However, the
problem is often that it's stodgy, bland, and mistakes quantity for
quality. Now, what's that about American food...

(Unless you're from New Orleans, New York, or the civilised bits of the
Pacific coast, obviously.)

London *now* has some good and even excellent restaurants (with a huge
range of prices, of course), although it's arguable that the best aren't
serving British food as such. I've already mentioned Belgo (but I'll
mention it again - you can boast that you've eaten in a place liked by
John Kovalic...); I'd also sling in recommendations for Wagamama (a
noodle bar not far from the British museum) and Antonio Carluccio's
new-ish cafe not far from Oxford Circus. (So that's Belgian, Japanese,
and Italian so far.) If you're in a hurry and just want a sandwich, the
Pret a Manger chain does some amazingly good takeaway food.

While food in museums and places can be highly bl**dy unreliable, the
best are fine. Most of the restaurants in the South Bank complex, the
British Museum, and the V&A, for example, are better bets than *most* of
the nearby eateries. Not always the cheapest for what you get, but not
too extortionate and generally competent.

Phil Masters

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 2:50:46 AM9/27/00
to
Nick Eden wrote:
> What sort of things do you like doing? I thought the London Eye was
> rather fun, but it would be dismal in the rain.

Well, if the rain was heavy enough to obscure the view, yes. Probably.
But I'd say book and take the risk.

> ... Is this completely off
> topic for this NG?

Just repeat to yourself, "What do we recommend *to a gamer*?"

guy_ro...@bigfoot.com

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/27/00
to
In article <U%7A5.22359$nk3.9...@newsread03.prod.itd.earthlink.net>,

"Dave M" <DinD...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> The other thing I am not sure about is food. You have to understand
> it is pretty much a joke in the US that British food is mostly
> inedible (e.g., Blood Sausage). I find that hard to beleive, so I
> would ask for good English food to try while I am in town. I have no
> real dietary restrictions. Let me know what you might suggest.

I recommend a curry. Curry is an anglicised dish that has become very
popular over here since days of empire. I miss curries so much that I
actually tracked down an authentic anglicised indian resturant in Paris
in cases of extreme home-sickness.

Also pay a visit to London's China Town where the resturant mentioned
in the song "Werewolves of London" can be found.

You can also track down authentic cockney food like jellied eels, peas
pudding and spotted dick if you look hard enough!

The Grouchybeast

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/27/00
to
Phil Masters wrote:

> The Millennium Dome sounds so naff I've avoided visiting it, but if you
> insist, take a boat ride down the Thames, get an eyeful of the stuff on
> the banks en route, and give yourself enough time also to go see the
> National Maritime Museum round there.

The Millenium Dome *is* naff. I got a free ticket from a friend who
works there and I *still* didn't think it was value for money.

It's like a tacky seaside resort which has been mugged by management
consultants and ad agencies ordered to make everything 'educational'.
To be postive, the structure itself is amazing.

Go to Tate Modern instead, which has just as much crap in it and is also
in a fantastic building, but has free entry.

> Phil Masters

love
Anna

Nick Brooke

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/27/00
to
I wrote:

>If you want very traditional "English" food, try Porters English Restaurant
>in Covent Garden.


Menu, reviews, etc. at www.porters.uk.com

Cheers, Nick

Phil Masters

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/27/00
to
The Grouchybeast wrote:
> Go to Tate Modern instead, which has just as much crap in it and is also
> in a fantastic building, but has free entry.

Yep. Should have mentioned that. AND it's more central. I assume that
the giant spider is gone by now, though, which is a shame. (As is the
bridge that should have made getting there easy.)

Bonus; it's close to the Globe and the replica Golden Hind.

Michael Cule

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/27/00
to
In article <+an*D2...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>, David Damerell
<dame...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> writes

>My partner is from Canada, which is culturally the same in this regard;
>part of the problem is that many North Americans do not regard organ
>food (or other bits of the animal that aren't just meat) as edible. No
>haggis, no steak and kidney pie, no liver, no tongue, no heart - and no
>black pudding, either.

No steak and kidney pie? No devilled kidneys? No Liver and bacon!

Oh, the tragedy! (Thinks: what happens to all the offal from beasties
slaughtered in the US and Canada? The dogs and cats of North America
must be doing well...)

If you get the chance to try and of these traditional recipes while in
the UK do so!

--
Michael Cule

ColDunn

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/27/00
to

Phil Masters wrote in message <39D1C850...@philm.demon.co.uk>...

>The Grouchybeast wrote:
>> Go to Tate Modern instead, which has just as much crap in it and is also
>> in a fantastic building, but has free entry.
>
>Yep. Should have mentioned that. AND it's more central. I assume that
>the giant spider is gone by now, though, which is a shame. (As is the
>bridge that should have made getting there easy.)
>
>Bonus; it's close to the Globe and the replica Golden Hind.

The Giant Spider was there on Saturday 23rd. I saw it! I also saw a load of
crap. The top floor is the only one worth seeing due to the Warhols and
Pollicks, but then what do I know about art?

If you want a bit of nightlife, head to Shoreditch - hassle and attitude
free bars (thats no attitude, not bars where you don't pay) with good
atmosphere.

Col.

David Damerell

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/27/00
to
Michael Cule <mi...@room3b.demon.co.uk> wrote:
><dame...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> writes

>>part of the problem is that many North Americans do not regard organ
>>food (or other bits of the animal that aren't just meat) as edible. No
>>haggis, no steak and kidney pie, no liver, no tongue, no heart - and no
>>black pudding, either.
>No steak and kidney pie? No devilled kidneys? No Liver and bacon!
>Oh, the tragedy! (Thinks: what happens to all the offal from beasties
>slaughtered in the US and Canada?

_Some_ 'merkins eat it, but a lot of it must go to waste.


--
David/Kirsty Damerell. dame...@chiark.greenend.org.uk
CUWoCS President. http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~damerell/ Hail Eris!

|___| I was wrong. I was wrong to ever doubt. I can get along without. |___|
| | | I can love my fellow man. But I'm damned if I'll love yours.[AE] | | |

Jo Hart

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/27/00
to

"Rex M F Smith" <sum...@gehena.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:fBgwmJA8...@gehena.demon.co.uk...
> If you want to see curry houses, Brick Lane.


Also home to the best bagel bakery in town, by several miles.

jo

Jim Davies

unread,
Sep 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/27/00
to
Also spracht guy_ro...@bigfoot.com:

>Go to the Imperial War Museum and see more periods of military history
>than you can shake a stick at.

Note that the vast majority (like 99.99%) of this is 1900+, and 80% is
1914-1945. I went there today. It's pretty good. You can easily spend
a day there and not consider it wasted, if that's your gig. UK$5.50 to
get in. The cafe is OK, the shop mediocre.

If you're only around for 2 days, don't bother with the Dome unless
you're a modern architecture fan or a management consultant. Whilst it
might be OK (I've heard varying comments from poor to OK), there are
far better things to do; most are cheaper, more interesting and more
convenient.

English food is curry nowadays; OTOH, I can't recommend any specific
good ones in London, and the quality can vary dramatically.

Avoid all restaurants within half a mile of Leicester Square, as
they'll be expensive and mediocre.

The National Theatre is outstanding, if that rings your thing. Dunno
what'll be on, offhand: book early.
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/home.html


Jim Davies
----------
Mind your manners, son! I've got a tall pointy hat!

Phil Masters

unread,
Sep 28, 2000, 1:46:38 AM9/28/00
to
Jim Davies wrote:
> Avoid all restaurants within half a mile of Leicester Square, as
> they'll be expensive and mediocre.

That's slightly misleading advice. One can find numerous good eats on
the Covent Garden side of Charing Cross Road. (Time was when I'd even
have recommended the Swiss Centre restaurant *on* Leicester Square, but
that's shut now.)

Ian Sturrock

unread,
Sep 29, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/29/00
to
In article <3H0ZZjAI...@domicus.demon.co.uk>, Ian R Malcomson
<i...@domicus.demon.co.uk> writes
>You'll be familiar with most of the fast food rubbish (MacDonalds, BK,
>Pizza Hut....), but try fish'n'chips (it's unfortunate that you're only
>hitting London - Yorkshire is second to none wrt this "delicacy" :-)).
>Other than that, it's hard to find traditional English food in London.

What? Pie & Eels not traditional enough for you???
--
"I am a free prince, and I have as much authority to make war on the whole world
as he who has a hundred sail of ships at sea, and an army of 100,000 men in the
field, and thus my conscience tells me." (Captain Bellamy. A Pirate)

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Sep 29, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/29/00
to

>What? Pie & Eels not traditional enough for you???

That's traditional *London* food, not traditional *English* food :-)
England only starts once you cross out of the boundary of the M25 -
within that boundary, you're in the UK :-)

--
Ian R Malcomson
Erstwhile Domicus bloke
Domicus website: http://www.domicus.demon.co.uk

ProFantasy Freelancer: http://www.profantasy.com

Rick Meints

unread,
Sep 30, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/30/00
to
Dave,

Being an American myself, I know how overwhelming it can seem to come to a
city like London and try to take it all in, have a fun time, and fine a few good
meals
along the way. I've been living in the London area for over 5 years and still
haven't
seen all the things I've wanted too.

One thing I recommend doing as soon as you arrive is to pick up a copy of "Time
Out"
magazine. I has very good summaries of many of the events that are happening
in London and it is published on a weekly basis. They also do a more expensive
guide which is devoted to restaurants in the London area. It has some stupid
entries, but also points out a lot of gems. It's available at most of the
magazine
sellers, known as "newsagents" in the UK vernacular.

Good luck,
Rick

l_si...@my-deja.com

unread,
Oct 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/2/00
to
In article <39D2DB3E...@philm.demon.co.uk>,

Phil Masters <ph...@philm.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Jim Davies wrote:
> > Avoid all restaurants within half a mile of Leicester Square, as
> > they'll be expensive and mediocre.
>
> That's slightly misleading advice. One can find numerous good eats on
> the Covent Garden side of Charing Cross Road

Within half a mile of Leicester Sq rules all of Chinatown out (lots of
good Chinese food) and a whole slew of good restaurants in
Soho/Noho/Fitzrovia.

My recommendations for oriental eats would be the cheap Poons (behind
the Prince Charles Cinema on Lisle St) or Wagamama on Lexington St.
Otherwise pretty much any of the Chinese restaurants in the area will
do a pretty good job (not Won Kei however - the famously rude service
was sort of funny once upon a time, now its just annoying).

During the day there's a great little cafe called 'Thanks For Franks'
just off Carnaby St.

On the pricier side of things - I've had good experiences at Andrew
Edmund's (Lexington St), Zilli Fish (Brewer St), Chez Gerard (Charlotte
St) or RK Stanley (Little Portland St). You can spend up to UKP60/head
in some of these places however.

All within half a mile of Leicester Sq, except, maybe, RK Stanley.

Luke

l_si...@my-deja.com

unread,
Oct 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/2/00
to
In article <39D1C850...@philm.demon.co.uk>,

Phil Masters <ph...@philm.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> The Grouchybeast wrote:
> > Go to Tate Modern instead, which has just as much crap in it and is
also
> > in a fantastic building, but has free entry.
>
> Yep. Should have mentioned that. AND it's more central. I assume that
> the giant spider is gone by now, though, which is a shame. (As is the
> bridge that should have made getting there easy.)
>
> Bonus; it's close to the Globe and the replica Golden Hind.
>
Indeed if you are willing to walk a bit then going along the south bank
of the river from Tate Modern to the London Eye (or vice versa) is a
lovely promenade. As well as the previously mentioned bits, you get the
Oxo Tower, Butler's Wharf (food/drink), the South Bank itself (not
pretty but lots generally going on around and about) and County Hall
plus loads of good views across the river at the City and Westminster.

Y. Tremblay

unread,
Oct 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/2/00
to
In article <+an*D2...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,

David Damerell <dame...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
>
>My partner is from Canada, which is culturally the same in this regard;
>part of the problem is that many North Americans do not regard organ
>food (or other bits of the animal that aren't just meat) as edible. No
>haggis, no steak and kidney pie, no liver, no tongue, no heart - and no
>black pudding, either.

You are generalising dangerously here David. I have been eating
livers, "boudin" (blood sausage), tongue and heart since I was too
young to remember (although I've never been much of a fan apart maybe
for livers). But then, there are many that want to make the part of
North America I come from a separate country. Anyway, we sure eat
other things than McDo stuff.

About the thread, my first time over, as a North Americn not used to
old building and a mostly fantasy roleplayer, the Tower of London and
its weapon collection did impress me very much.


Yannick


--
Y. Tremblay

Phil Masters

unread,
Oct 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/2/00
to
"Y. Tremblay" wrote:
> About the thread, my first time over, as a North Americn not used to
> old building and a mostly fantasy roleplayer, the Tower of London and
> its weapon collection did impress me very much.

Unfortunately (for this purpose), I believe that most of that weapons
collection has moved up to a new museum in Leeds. The Tower may well
still be worth a visit, though.

--
Phil Masters * Home Page: http://www.philm.demon.co.uk/

David Damerell

unread,
Oct 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/2/00
to
Y. Tremblay <y...@eng.cam.ac.uk> wrote:

>David Damerell <dame...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
>>My partner is from Canada, which is culturally the same in this regard;
>>part of the problem is that many North Americans do not regard organ
>>food (or other bits of the animal that aren't just meat) as edible. No
>You are generalising dangerously here David.

_Many_ North Americans. I worded that quite carefully (having met a few
who eat internal organs with the same glee that I do.)
--
David/Kirsty Damerell. dame...@chiark.greenend.org.uk
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~damerell/ w.sp.lic.#pi<largestprime>.2106
|___| NetHack players of the world unite! You have nothing |___|
| | | to lose but your blessed rustproof +2 iron chains! | | |

Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/2/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 28/9/00 12:21 am, Cap'n Jim
Davies wrote in the log:

> English food is curry nowadays; OTOH, I can't recommend any specific
> good ones in London, and the quality can vary dramatically.

I'd recommend Govinda's, in the John Lewis area, and Rani's, in Finchley
Central. Both are veggie.


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/2/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 27/9/00 5:53 pm, Cap'n David
Damerell wrote in the log:

>> No steak and kidney pie? No devilled kidneys? No Liver and bacon!
>> Oh, the tragedy! (Thinks: what happens to all the offal from beasties
>> slaughtered in the US and Canada?
>
> _Some_ 'merkins eat it, but a lot of it must go to waste.

It goes into fast food, doesn't it?

Mmm, bull's bollocks.

:(


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/2/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 26/9/00 5:24 pm, Cap'n
guy_ro...@bigfoot.com wrote in the log:

> Visit Leisure Games. Not only will you meet authentic UK role-players
> but you will also be able to buy a French role-playing game from their
> stock. Be the first role-player in your block to own some of the best
> games in the original French

Don't forget Orc's Nest, in Leicester Square, and Forbidden Planet, in
Tottenham Court Road.


Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/2/00
to

>Unfortunately (for this purpose), I believe that most of that weapons
>collection has moved up to a new museum in Leeds. The Tower may well
>still be worth a visit, though.

The Royal Armouries. If you get a chance to go there, go - very, very
impressive, even though there are far too many guns for my liking.
Also, from Leeds you are in striking distance of the Dales, which is one
of the most beautiful regions England has to offer.

Guy Robinson

unread,
Oct 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/2/00
to
Luke Goaman-Dodson <bel...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:B5FEB0B1.21AF%bel...@btinternet.com...

I suggested Lesiure Games because of the French role-playing games. Most of
the UK ones will have reached the US as the states is the major market for
English language games.

However an American could use any role-playing shop in London to pop in and
practise his cockney in his best Dick Van Dyke accent on us Brit
role-players ...

--
Guy Robinson

[all standard disclaimers apply]

James Wallis

unread,
Oct 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/2/00
to
In article <B5FEB0B1.21AF%bel...@btinternet.com>, Luke Goaman-Dodson
<bel...@btinternet.com> writes

>While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 26/9/00 5:24 pm, Cap'n
>guy_ro...@bigfoot.com wrote in the log:
>
>> Visit Leisure Games. Not only will you meet authentic UK role-players
>> but you will also be able to buy a French role-playing game from their
>> stock. Be the first role-player in your block to own some of the best
>> games in the original French
>
>Don't forget Orc's Nest, in Leicester Square,

Orc's Nest is actually in Earlham Street, just off Cambridge Circus.

>and Forbidden Planet, in
>Tottenham Court Road.

Forbidden Planet is actually in New Oxford Street, and has a very poor
selection of RPGs. Better to go to Playing Games in Museum Street or the
bookshop opposite the Virgin Megastore at the eastern end of Oxford
Street, close to Tottenham Court Road tube station (it used to be a
Dillons but I believe it's either Waterstones or Books Etc these days).

--
James Wallis
Director of Hogshead Publishing Ltd (ja...@hogshead.demon.co.uk)
Posting this from his home address (ja...@erstwhile.demon.co.uk)
Hogshead Publishing supports DRAGONMEET 2000 http://www.dragonmeet.com


Moglwi

unread,
Oct 2, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/2/00
to
Phil Masters wrote in message
<39D8C726...@philm.demon.co.uk>...

>"Y. Tremblay" wrote:
>> About the thread, my first time over, as a North Americn
not used to
>> old building and a mostly fantasy roleplayer, the Tower
of London and
>> its weapon collection did impress me very much.
>
>Unfortunately (for this purpose), I believe that most of
that weapons
>collection has moved up to a new museum in Leeds. The Tower
may well
>still be worth a visit, though.
but leeds is around 2 hours away by train so a day trip to
the Amourey is not out of the question and as some one who
has been several time well worth it espacaily if you get an
Apex ticket. I have not seen nerlay as many of the live
dispalys as I would want I especally enjoyed the 2 kinghts
in 15c plate fighting with pole arms and talking to them
agfterwards.

--
"No Mr Bond I expect you to Die"
Goldfinger
mog...@tinyonline.co.uk

Phil Masters

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 2:39:13 AM10/3/00
to
James Wallis wrote:
> Forbidden Planet is actually in New Oxford Street, and has a very poor
> selection of RPGs.

Last time I looked, that appeared to be "very poor" as in "zero." Unless
they're hiding them very cleverly.

> ... Better to go to Playing Games in Museum Street

Pedantically... That's "Playin' Games," isn't it?

The Grouchybeast

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
Ian R Malcomson wrote:

> The Royal Armouries. If you get a chance to go there, go - very, very
> impressive, even though there are far too many guns for my liking.
> Also, from Leeds you are in striking distance of the Dales, which is one
> of the most beautiful regions England has to offer.

Not to mention several other very good museums, York, Haworth, Harrogate
and other nice days trip destinations, great pubs and good cheap curries
and *proper* fish and chips.

In fact, don't bother with London, go to Yorkshire instead.

> Ian R Malcomson

love
Anna

Tony Evans

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
In uk.games.roleplay, The Grouchybeast <thegrou...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>In fact, don't bother with London, go to Yorkshire instead.

Seconded. And then just keep going north (you can mess around in the
Midlands for a bit if you wish as well)

Tony
--
Temporary sig for now until I can find the random
sig generator I have lying around here somewhere

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to

>In fact, don't bother with London, go to Yorkshire instead.

Yay for the voice of reason :-)

l_si...@my-deja.com

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
In article <7g2A5.20801$nk3.1...@newsread03.prod.itd.earthlink.net>,

"Dave M" <DinD...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi!
> I am an American who will have a free weekend (10-21 & 22) in
London. Does
> anyone have any suggestions as to things I should definitely do in
London.

I forgot this before, but if you want a slightly different drinking
experience you could try 'The Playing Fields' on Whitfield St.

As well as being a somewhat trendy bar (esp. on Friday nights
immediately post work) it has about 30 networked high-end PCs and a
wide variety of multiplayer computer games available for those who want
to partake and are willing to shell out UKP6/hour for the privilege.

There's quite a good curry house close by ('Lords' corner of Warren St
and Whitfield St) so you can do the holy trinity (beer, curry and
computer games) in one fun filled evening.

Luke

PS
One thing you should definitely do whilst you are in London is try
authentic budweiser (Britain is the only place in the world where you
can get both kinds BTW). Ask for 'Budvar' to make sure you get the good
stuff - it makes the palid imitation that Anhauser-Busch peddle look
very sorry indeed.

Brian O'Carroll

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
Go see "Woman in Black" - Fortune Theartre. Lots of atmosphere.

(Disclaimer: I' m a little biased, I work there, but they don't pay me to
advertise ;-)

Seriously, it is a good inspiration for DMs looking to make the flat page
of their adventure stand up a little bit... "Recorded sound, Mr Kipps. That
and the imagination of our audience..."

Brian.

--
Brian O'Carroll
br...@pebblesculpt.co.uk http://www.pebblesculpt.co.uk

Phil Masters

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
The Grouchybeast wrote:
> Not to mention several other very good museums, York, Haworth, Harrogate
> and other nice days trip destinations, great pubs and good cheap curries
> and *proper* fish and chips.

Oh - you got Belgian restaurants up there now, then?

Phil Masters

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
l_si...@my-deja.com wrote:
> I forgot this before, but if you want a slightly different drinking
> experience you could try 'The Playing Fields' on Whitfield St.
>
> As well as being a somewhat trendy bar (esp. on Friday nights
> immediately post work) it has about 30 networked high-end PCs and a
> wide variety of multiplayer computer games available for those who want
> to partake and are willing to shell out UKP6/hour for the privilege.

Let me get this straight: This guy is coming all the way to London for
one weekend -- and you're advising him to spend a chunk of it in an
Internet bar?

I'm not sure what to say, but I think the words "stunted imagination"
come into it.

--
Phil Masters * Home Page: http://www.philm.demon.co.uk/

The Grouchybeast

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
Phil Masters wrote:
> The Grouchybeast wrote:

> > Not to mention several other very good museums, York, Haworth, Harrogate
> > and other nice days trip destinations, great pubs and good cheap curries
> > and *proper* fish and chips.
>
> Oh - you got Belgian restaurants up there now, then?

Of course, there are strong historical links between Yorkshire and
Belgium.

Hmm...the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. What are the
odds that the Belgians could come up with a way to make half-decent
chips on their own?

> Phil Masters

love
Anna

l_si...@my-deja.com

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
In article <39D9F63A...@philm.demon.co.uk>,

Phil Masters <ph...@philm.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Let me get this straight: This guy is coming all the way to London for
> one weekend -- and you're advising him to spend a chunk of it in an
> Internet bar?
>
Well its not an internet bar, its a computer games bar - but yes.
RPGers tend to like computer games so I thought I'd mention the
possibility. As far as I'm aware the combination of booze and hassle-
free and lag-free computer gaming offered by TPF doesn't exist outside
of London, so it might be something he'd want to check out whilst he's
in town. Then again he might not, but telling him about it gives him
the choice, no?

> I'm not sure what to say, but I think the words "stunted imagination"
> come into it.
>

Well the suggestions covering restaurants, afternoon walks, museums etc
were in other posts upthread, this was an afterthought really. More
conventional pub/bar options for, say, the Saturday evening are myriad
and depend far too much upon individual tastes for recommendations to
be useful I find.

I'm sorry if my imagination appears stunted to you. Ten months working
in Milton Keynes has obviously taken its toll.

Luke

Phil Masters

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
The Grouchybeast wrote:
> Hmm...the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. What are the
> odds that the Belgians could come up with a way to make half-decent
> chips on their own?

Oh. I don't know. They had to find something at which to excel, apart
from comic strips and especially dodgy colonialism, of course.

Whereas, yes, Yorkshiremen are evidently *born* with chips. Well, one
each. Two for balance, perhaps.

(RPG application... Well, aside from Falkenstein's gratuitous sinking of
the Low Countries, which must ensure that the Belgian tradition of
mussel cookery is dominant over the Dutch penchant for giant pancakes...
Dunno.)

Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 2/10/00 10:50 pm, Cap'n Guy
Robinson wrote in the log:

> I suggested Lesiure Games because of the French role-playing games. Most of
> the UK ones will have reached the US as the states is the major market for
> English language games.

That's true, but Forbidden Planet presumably has *some* stuff that hasn't
got to America (just because they seem to have everything except RPGs).

> However an American could use any role-playing shop in London to pop in and
> practise his cockney in his best Dick Van Dyke accent on us Brit
> role-players ...

Awwri', guvna!!! Aow'z i' gaoin' darn d' Yawwd?!??!?!??!?!??!??!?!??

Guudd lak too yar!!!!!!!


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 3/10/00 11:00 am, Cap'n Ian R
Malcomson wrote in the log:

> Yay for the voice of reason :-)

Yorkshire has a lack of forests to meditate in. :(


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 3/10/00 4:07 pm, Cap'n Phil
Masters wrote in the log:

> Let me get this straight: This guy is coming all the way to London for
> one weekend

Just one?!?!??


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 3/10/00 5:58 pm, Cap'n
l_si...@my-deja.com wrote in the log:

> I'm sorry if my imagination appears stunted to you. Ten months working
> in Milton Keynes has obviously taken its toll.

I would expect Milton Keynes would start effecting someone after about five
minutes...

Come to think of it, most places in Britain that aren't in London or
Cornwall have the same kind of feeling for me.

Well, basically anywhere that's in the countryside.

Sorry, I just don't like all the animal abuse there, and the Lack of Proper
Wilderness.


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 3/10/00 6:28 pm, Cap'n Phil

Masters wrote in the log:

> (RPG application... Well, aside from Falkenstein's gratuitous sinking of
> the Low Countries

You mean, in Castle Falkenstein there's no Amsterdam?

YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!

Does anyone know where I can find a Castle Falkenstein group in London?

I just *gotta* play it now!


Karim C Kronfli

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
In article <8d77b274a%peb...@pebblesculpt.co.uk>, Brian O'Carroll
<br...@pebblesculpt.co.uk> writes

>Go see "Woman in Black" - Fortune Theartre. Lots of atmosphere.

My Favourite Play.

Seen it 4 times! Interesting with the different casts.

I'll be directing it as soon as the rights become available!


Karim C Kronfli

Please remove NOSPAM from E-mail address. You know what to do!

Marcus L. Rowland

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
In article <39D97F11...@philm.demon.co.uk>, Phil Masters
<ph...@philm.demon.co.uk> writes

>
>Last time I looked, that appeared to be "very poor" as in "zero." Unless
>they're hiding them very cleverly.

As of a few weeks ago FP in New Oxford Street had a few old CoC modules
in the basement and a shelf of trading card magazines and miscellaneous
games stuff in the comics section, which included a couple of Star Trek
RPG modules. Not exactly a huge selection, and rather overpriced as I
recall, but it was there.
--
Marcus L. Rowland
Forgotten Futures - The Scientific Romance Role Playing Game
http://www.forgottenfutures.co.uk/ http://www.forgottenfutures.com/
"We are all victims of this slime. They... ...fill our mailboxes with gibberish
that would get them indicted if people had time to press charges"
[Hunter S. Thompson predicts junk e-mail, 1985 (from Generation of Swine)]

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to

>Yorkshire has a lack of forests to meditate in. :(

Are we talking about the same Yorkshire? Last time I checked, Yorkshire
definitely possessed more forests than London - my grandfather used to
take me hunting imaginary creatures in the forests of the Howardian
Hills...

And, in any case, the North York Moors are hard to beat as a place of
meditation :-) Without being eaten by a panther, or whatever it is you
night-fearing Southerners have made up to scare your children at night,
that is....

(Ah, the cheers that rang when someone suggested England should petition
for independence from the UK, with York as capital :-))

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to

>Oh. I don't know. They had to find something at which to excel, apart
>from comic strips and especially dodgy colonialism, of course.

Chocolate. Definitely chocolate.

And guess where Rowntrees is :-) Okay, Nestle these days....

>Whereas, yes, Yorkshiremen are evidently *born* with chips. Well, one
>each. Two for balance, perhaps.

The whippet can always make up the counterbalance :-)

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to

>Come to think of it, most places in Britain that aren't in London or
>Cornwall have the same kind of feeling for me.
>
>Well, basically anywhere that's in the countryside.
>
>Sorry, I just don't like all the animal abuse there, and the Lack of Proper
>Wilderness.

There's more animal abuse in London than anywhere else in the British
Isles, but that's not a political issue so the Blairites don't highlight
it.

If you think the countryside lacks proper wilderness, you've not really
seen much of it have you?

Matt Bloomer

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
On Tue, 3 Oct 2000 22:34:36 +0100, Ian R Malcomson
<i...@domicus.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>>Sorry, I just don't like all the animal abuse there, and the Lack of Proper
>>Wilderness.

>If you think the countryside lacks proper wilderness, you've not really
>seen much of it have you?

I can see Luke's point about the wilderness for large areas of the
country - I'm in a rural county myself (Northants). Pretty much
everywhere that's not a village seems to be farmland of some
description, and at night I can see the glow on the clouds from places
as far away as Coventry. There's never true darkness because there's
always this orange glow up above from all the 'nearby' towns.

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to

>I can see Luke's point about the wilderness for large areas of the
>country - I'm in a rural county myself (Northants). Pretty much
>everywhere that's not a village seems to be farmland of some
>description, and at night I can see the glow on the clouds from places
>as far away as Coventry. There's never true darkness because there's
>always this orange glow up above from all the 'nearby' towns.

I live in Northants myself (Northampton itself, in fact), and what you
say is very true - as it is true for most of the Home Counties, East
Anglia, and Midlands. A large proportion of the North is also given
over to agriculture - but if you've ever traipsed around the Pennines,
or across the Moors, or the corners of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Cumbria,
and Northumberland - there are still good, old-fashioned wilderness
areas kicking around. Wales and Scotland have a greater share of
wilderness, of course, but we're still in with a shout in that
department.

I ran a CoC game based in and around Horton and Settle once. The climax
took place on Ingleborough - and believe me, the players were faced with
a very deep sense of isolation from civilisation indeed... And not just
because of the lack of wine bars.

The point about the wilds of England is that they are not hard to find,
but you do have to look for them. Walk over Kinder Scout and across to
Snake Pass; drive from Pickering to Whitby, and pause to look over the
Moors on the way; follow the course of Hadrian's Wall; hike from Settle
to Malham - just four examples from hundreds - and then try and tell me
that there is no wilderness left.

James Wallis

unread,
Oct 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/3/00
to
In article <39D97F11...@philm.demon.co.uk>, Phil Masters
<ph...@philm.demon.co.uk> writes
>James Wallis wrote:
>> Forbidden Planet is actually in New Oxford Street, and has a very poor
>> selection of RPGs.
>
>Last time I looked, that appeared to be "very poor" as in "zero." Unless
>they're hiding them very cleverly.

They're in there: media tie-ins mostly (Star Trek, etc.). Enter through
main doors, pass tills on right and stuffed toys on left, turn
immediately left and left again, and you're facing them.

--
James Wallis ja...@hogshead.demon.co.uk
Director, Hogshead Publishing Ltd http://www.hogshead.demon.co.uk
18-20 Bromell's Road, London SW4 0BG UK T-0207 207 5490 F-0207 207 5491
Hogshead is supporting DRAGONMEET 2000, 25 Nov. http://www.dragonmeet.com


Phil Masters

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 2:37:55 AM10/4/00
to
Ian R Malcomson wrote:
> >Oh. I don't know. They had to find something at which to excel, apart
> >from comic strips and especially dodgy colonialism, of course.
>
> Chocolate. Definitely chocolate.

Ooops. Yes. Definitely.

> And guess where Rowntrees is :-) Okay, Nestle these days....

I thought that we were talking about chocolate, not sweetened mixed
fats.

(Anyway, Nestle are a bunch of ethically-stunted Swiss plutocrats.)

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to

>> And guess where Rowntrees is :-) Okay, Nestle these days....
>
>I thought that we were talking about chocolate, not sweetened mixed
>fats.

Okay, point taken... I only like 'em for the fruit pastels, anyway :-)


>(Anyway, Nestle are a bunch of ethically-stunted Swiss plutocrats.)

A trace of bitterness there (and not just in the chocolate)? I always
thought of Nestle as the example proving the Monopolies Commission is
nothing but a waste of time - "No, No, NO..oh, all right then".

Bureaucracy heading the wrong way in slow motion...

guy_ro...@bigfoot.com

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
In article <DFw70LA2...@kronfli.demon.co.uk>,

Karim C Kronfli <ka...@kronfli.demon.co.NOSPAMuk> wrote:
> In article <8d77b274a%peb...@pebblesculpt.co.uk>, Brian O'Carroll
> <br...@pebblesculpt.co.uk> writes
> >Go see "Woman in Black" - Fortune Theartre. Lots of atmosphere.
>
> My Favourite Play.
>
> Seen it 4 times! Interesting with the different casts.
>
> I'll be directing it as soon as the rights become available!

I saw it on the recommendation of a friend and I was very impressed and
suitably disturbed.

For role-players I would also probably recommend some of the better SF
comedy musicals such as "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Return to the
Forbidden Planet". Always try to get seats in the first few rows for
the LSoH, especially if you see it in London ...

People who saw the LSoH mediocre film musical might be interested to
know that the staged version (which inspired the film) is better.

--
Guy Robinson
www.legendary.freeserve.co.uk

[all standard disclaimers apply]

Speaker-to-Customers

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to

"Ian R Malcomson" <i...@domicus.demon.co.uk> wrote
(Snip)

>
> A trace of bitterness there (and not just in the chocolate)? I always
> thought of Nestle as the example proving the Monopolies Commission is
> nothing but a waste of time - "No, No, NO..oh, all right then".
>

Why is there only one Monopolies Commission?

Paul Speaker-to-Customers


Brian O'Carroll

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
In message <8rf1ji$qe8$1...@MANNET-3800-2.mcb.net>
"Speaker-to-Customers" <oct...@mcb.net> wrote:

Well, what would two such Commissions compete for?

Mark Baker

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
Speaker-to-Customers <oct...@mcb.net> writes

>Why is there only one Monopolies Commission?
>
And who oversaw the merger when it became the Monopolies and Mergers
Commission?

--
Mark Baker
Web Pages: http://www.lange.demon.co.uk/Index.html

Phil Masters

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
James Wallis wrote:
> In article <39D97F11...@philm.demon.co.uk>, Phil Masters
> <ph...@philm.demon.co.uk> writes
> >James Wallis wrote:
> >> Forbidden Planet is actually in New Oxford Street, and has a very
> >> poor selection of RPGs.
> >
> >Last time I looked, that appeared to be "very poor" as in "zero."
> >Unless they're hiding them very cleverly.
>
> They're in there: media tie-ins mostly (Star Trek, etc.). Enter through
> main doors, pass tills on right and stuffed toys on left, turn
> immediately left and left again, and you're facing them.

Phil's brain graunches into life, and reminds Phil of the difference
between "Forbidden Planet" and "Virgin Megastore." The need for which
probably shows that Phil needs a holiday or something.

Yes. RPGs in Planet. Definitely. Usually *Star Trek* stuff. Did once
have *GURPS Discworld*, but not recently. Yes. Definitely.

(Zero in Virgin. Also definite.)

Sorry about all that.

--
Phil Masters * Home Page: http://www.philm.demon.co.uk/

Phil Masters

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
Moglwi wrote:
> but leeds is around 2 hours away by train so a day trip to
> the Amourey is not out of the question

Well, if we're looking for two-hour travel times from London, the
possibilities become virtually infinite - dozens of castles and country
houses, Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, Canterbury, the air museum at Duxford,
Brighton...

Any such trip is still four hours or so out of this guy's weekend.
Whereas London still has enough weird and fascinating stuff to keep
anyone busy for months, including enough old weaponry (in the British
Museum, the V&A, the Wallace and the Imperial War Museum, just for a
*start*) to delight any gamer's heart.

So I suggest keeping all these bright ideas for when we get somebody
asking about a longer visit.

Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 3/10/00 10:27 pm, Cap'n Ian R

Malcomson wrote in the log:

> Are we talking about the same Yorkshire? Last time I checked, Yorkshire


> definitely possessed more forests than London - my grandfather used to
> take me hunting imaginary creatures in the forests of the Howardian
> Hills...

Yorkshire is a big place - probably bigger than London, but I can't be sure.


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 3/10/00 10:34 pm, Cap'n Ian R

Malcomson wrote in the log:

> There's more animal abuse in London than anywhere else in the British


> Isles, but that's not a political issue so the Blairites don't highlight
> it.

I'M NOT A BLAIRITE!!!!! I'M A GREENIE!!!!!!!

I have trouble believing that. Is there *actual surveys* to back that up?

> If you think the countryside lacks proper wilderness, you've not really
> seen much of it have you?

Too much, alas. Too much.


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 4/10/00 12:37 pm, Cap'n Mark
Baker wrote in the log:

>> Why is there only one Monopolies Commission?
>>
> And who oversaw the merger when it became the Monopolies and Mergers
> Commission?

And what happened to the Scrabbles Comission and the Risk Commission?


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 3/10/00 11:53 pm, Cap'n Ian R

Malcomson wrote in the log:

> The point about the wilds of England is that they are not hard to find,


> but you do have to look for them. Walk over Kinder Scout and across to
> Snake Pass; drive from Pickering to Whitby, and pause to look over the
> Moors on the way; follow the course of Hadrian's Wall; hike from Settle
> to Malham - just four examples from hundreds - and then try and tell me
> that there is no wilderness left.

How about forests with no-one living in them? And bears and wolves roaming
around? Somewhere where humans weren't supposed to be?


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 4/10/00 7:37 am, Cap'n Phil

Masters wrote in the log:

> (Anyway, Nestle are a bunch of ethically-stunted Swiss plutocrats.)

Which corporates aren't?


Dave M

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
The non-swiss ones, they are all that, but not swiss (thank goodness).
Dave M

"Luke Goaman-Dodson" <bel...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:B6013F8D.22AF%bel...@btinternet.com...


> While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 4/10/00 7:37 am, Cap'n Phil
> Masters wrote in the log:
>

> > (Anyway, Nestle are a bunch of ethically-stunted Swiss plutocrats.)
>

> Which corporates aren't?
>
>

gra...@deletethisaffordable-leather.co.uk

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
Hi there,

On Tue, 3 Oct 2000 22:27:00 +0100, Ian R Malcomson
<i...@domicus.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>(Ah, the cheers that rang when someone suggested England should petition
>for independence from the UK, with York as capital :-))

Until the Landlord shouted "Last Orders!"?! ;-)

Cheers,
Graham.

gra...@deletethisaffordable-leather.co.uk

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
Hi there,

On Wed, 04 Oct 2000 10:47:58 GMT, guy_ro...@bigfoot.com wrote:

>People who saw the LSoH mediocre film musical might be interested to
>know that the staged version (which inspired the film) is better.

The film isn't that bad, but they did wimp out by sticking in that
naff happy ending.

Cheers,
Graham.

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to

>Well, if we're looking for two-hour travel times from London, the
>possibilities become virtually infinite - dozens of castles and country
>houses, Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, Canterbury, the air museum at Duxford,
>Brighton...

And Northampton, which is only an hour down the line. Roman and
Scandinavian excavations; Lactodorum (Towcester) and Silverstone just
down the way; the site of one of Boudicca's major battles within
striking distance; picturesque canal villages to name but a few - and,
travelling up from London, you get the pleasure of passing through
Milton Keynes (note: the pleasure is in passing through it, not in
stopping there :-))

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to

>Yorkshire is a big place - probably bigger than London, but I can't be sure.

But not in population.

Yes, it's a big place. I drove 200 miles in one day, as a precursor to
my honeymoon, to give my wife a whirlwind tour of God's Own Country -
and we really only scratched the surface of the North Riding...

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to

>>(Ah, the cheers that rang when someone suggested England should petition
>>for independence from the UK, with York as capital :-))
>
>Until the Landlord shouted "Last Orders!"?! ;-)

Last orders? In Yorkshire?

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to

>And what happened to the Scrabbles Comission and the Risk Commission?

They merged to form Hoyle's Compendium :-)

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to

>How about forests with no-one living in them?

Got them.

>And bears and wolves roaming
>around?

Bears and wolves a wilderness do not make.

>Somewhere where humans weren't supposed to be?

Arguably, that applies to virtually every corner of these islands: no
matter how you look at it, we're all just immigrants when it boils down
to it. There's a debate there I'm going to avoid getting into....

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to

>> There's more animal abuse in London than anywhere else in the British
>> Isles, but that's not a political issue so the Blairites don't highlight
>> it.
>
>I'M NOT A BLAIRITE!!!!! I'M A GREENIE!!!!!!!

One of those that places uninformed ethics over media drivel, or one
that has actually figured a moral basis out through proper study?

Unfortunately, the animal rights fraternity (and I'm not implying you
are part of that, although it is possible...) blew any credibility they
might have had with me by throwing cayenne pepper into my horse's eyes.
From that point on, I'm sorry but I see them as being hypocritical
students with too much time on their hands.

>I have trouble believing that. Is there *actual surveys* to back that up?

Statistics released by organisations such as the RSPCA (they are
publicly available) reveal that around 75% of all animal abuse cases
(and, in some cases, we're talking serious, long-term torture) are
perpetrated within urban areas, particularly London. The focus on the
countryside seems to me to be more attacks against traditions (sometimes
rightly so) which grate against some peoples' ethics rather than a
serious attempt to deal with the problem as a whole.

It's a long, complicated debate confounded by the fact that both sides
of the coin are not always in possession of all of the facts required.
I don't pretend to have those facts, and I certainly don't pretend to
have an answer. I'll just say this: some of the points raised by
protesting groups I wholeheartedly agree with; some I find ridiculously
ill-thought, conceived by people who refuse to look at the facts beyond
their cosy concrete jungles.

If you want to have that debate with me, fine - but please do it by
private e-mail. I'm sure members of this newsgroup would find the lack
of gaming content involved tedious.

Jim Davies

unread,
Oct 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/4/00
to
Also spracht Luke Goaman-Dodson <bel...@btinternet.com>:

>How about forests with no-one living in them? And bears and wolves roaming
>around? Somewhere where humans weren't supposed to be?

Sounds like Yorkshire to me. Haven't you seen An American Werewolf in
London?

Jim Davies
----------
Mind your manners, son! I've got a tall pointy hat!

Phil Masters

unread,
Oct 5, 2000, 2:44:53 AM10/5/00
to
Ian R Malcomson wrote:
> And Northampton, which is only an hour down the line.

Anybody else being paid by their home town's council to slip in a
gratuitous plug in a desperate bid for tourist income?

(Darn. My local underground Templar chapel will be closed for the winter
by then.)

Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 5, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/5/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 4/10/00 8:29 pm, Cap'n Dave M
wrote in the log:

> The non-swiss ones, they are all that, but not swiss (thank goodness).

Bill Gates is Swiss. Half Swiss half Chinese.


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 5, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/5/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 4/10/00 11:22 pm, Cap'n Ian R

Malcomson wrote in the log:

> But not in population.


>
> Yes, it's a big place.

So naturally there will be more forests than an area the size of London,
korrekt?


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 5, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/5/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 4/10/00 11:28 pm, Cap'n Ian R

Malcomson wrote in the log:

> Bears and wolves a wilderness do not make.

Bears and wolves a wilderness do make, my friend.


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 5, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/5/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 4/10/00 11:55 pm, Cap'n Jim
Davies wrote in the log:

> Sounds like Yorkshire to me. Haven't you seen An American Werewolf in
> London?

I haven't. Are they quite common?


Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 5, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/5/00
to

>So naturally there will be more forests than an area the size of London,
>korrekt?

Particularly since London is mainly concrete. Are you now arguing that
there *are* forests in Yorkshire?

Ian R Malcomson

unread,
Oct 5, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/5/00
to

>Bears and wolves a wilderness do make, my friend.

No - they just happen to be there in some wilderness areas. Distinct
lack of bears and wolves in the Sahara....

The Grouchybeast

unread,
Oct 5, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/5/00
to
Luke Goaman-Dodson wrote:
> While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 4/10/00 11:28 pm, Cap'n Ian R
> Malcomson wrote in the log:
>
> > Bears and wolves a wilderness do not make.

>
> Bears and wolves a wilderness do make, my friend.

That seems a bit unfair towards the London Zoo. I know they've had
problems with their income in the past, but surely they're busy enough
not to be described as a wilderness?

love
Anna

Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 5, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/5/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 5/10/00 1:40 pm, Cap'n Ian R

Malcomson wrote in the log:

>> So naturally there will be more forests than an area the size of London,


>> korrekt?
>
> Particularly since London is mainly concrete. Are you now arguing that
> there *are* forests in Yorkshire?

Never said there wasn't. Just said there was a lack of them.


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 5, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/5/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 5/10/00 1:42 pm, Cap'n Ian R

Malcomson wrote in the log:

> No - they just happen to be there in some wilderness areas. Distinct


> lack of bears and wolves in the Sahara....

Sahara isn't wilderness - it's human created.


Luke Goaman-Dodson

unread,
Oct 5, 2000, 3:00:00 AM10/5/00
to
While oi was sailing ahn a poirate ship on 5/10/00 1:53 pm, Cap'n The
Grouchybeast wrote in the log:

> That seems a bit unfair towards the London Zoo. I know they've had
> problems with their income in the past, but surely they're busy enough
> not to be described as a wildernes

Well it's a bit boring, isn't it?

"Oh look there's a chimpanzee look he's taking a slash harharharhar let's
have a look at the aquarium oh look there's that shark we've seen 1000 times
before oh hooray look there's a zoo worker with his hand up the
elephant's..."


It is loading more messages.
0 new messages