Trip to Ireland and England

[Ichabod]

Hey everyone,

I'm planning a trip to Ireland and England, to stay there for about a month (two weeks in each country), traveling alone. I'd like to get good weather, so I'm planing to go between July and August.

I'm brazilian and this will be my first time travelling by myself, to a very distant place. So, if you guys have any advice, suggestions of nice places to visit or anything that seems meaningful that I'm very likely to be overlooking (I bet a lot of you have travelled way more than I have, so any type of general travel advice can help), I made this thread to ask for your help.

I have a longtime friend that lives in Ireland, so he'll help me survive there. But I'd be by myself in England.

I'm more interested in knowing the normal life of the place, rather than the touristic things. That being said, I'd like to see some places. The one that comes to mind immediately is Stratford-upon-Avon. I really want to visit there. Also, Stonehenge, to increase my wonder count. But nothing is really set in stone for now.

Finally, if any of you want to go out for a beer while I'm there, you can have the opportunity to laugh at my bad english and how I'll probably pass out after 2 glasses of irish/english beer.

[rho21]

I'd like to get good weather, so I'm planing to go between July and August.

You have as good a chance then as any time, but the British Isles are not a place to choose for a holiday if you want good weather.

Are you planning to hire a car or use public transport while in England?

I'm more interested in knowing the normal life of the place, rather than the touristic things.

Are you interested in observing people in their normal life, or more just visiting a variety of places to get a feel for them?

That being said, I'd like to see some places. The one that comes to mind immediately is Stratford-upon-Avon. I really want to visit there.

Stratford is very pretty, but will be absolutely full of tourists throughout the summer.

Also, Stonehenge, to increase my wonder count. But nothing is really set in stone for now.

You could also visit small bits of the Parthenon, which are (controversially) in the British Museum in London.

[ReallyEvilMuffin]

Hey everyone,

I'm planning a trip to Ireland and England, to stay there for about a month (two weeks in each country), traveling alone. I'd like to get good weather, so I'm planing to go between July and August.

I'm brazilian and this will be my first time travelling by myself, to a very distant place. So, if you guys have any advice, suggestions of nice places to visit or anything that seems meaningful that I'm very likely to be overlooking (I bet a lot of you have travelled way more than I have, so any type of general travel advice can help), I made this thread to ask for your help.

I have a longtime friend that lives in Ireland, so he'll help me survive there. But I'd be by myself in England.

I'm more interested in knowing the normal life of the place, rather than the touristic things. That being said, I'd like to see some places. The one that comes to mind immediately is Stratford-upon-Avon. I really want to visit there. Also, Stonehenge, to increase my wonder count. But nothing is really set in stone for now.

Finally, if any of you want to go out for a beer while I'm there, you can have the opportunity to laugh at my bad english and how I'll probably pass out after 2 glasses of irish/english beer.

I've never actually been to stonehenge despite living about an hours drive away. You cannot get too close to the thing. If you do visit, the trees are planted in the battle formation of the ships at the battle of the Nile in the napoleonic wars. If you're a Shakespeare addict then the rebuilt globe theatre is probably a better idea - indeed you can see plays there http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/whats-on and they do do a lot of tours to to outdoor venues.

Apart from that depending on your command of the language I would recommend seeing some live comedy as the stand up circuit is the best in the world in the UK. Depending on when you are there you could feasibly do Edinburgh festival which is one of my most enjoyable weeks. It goes on for roughly a month each year. Probably more worth a trip than London IMO. But would lose something if you struggle with the puns/stories.

For normal life I would recommend join a queue, and complain about the weather. You'll blend in fast then.

[Brian Shanahan]

Weather wise, September is probably the best month to go. It is the closest to a guarantee that it'll be good that month (all the kids going back to school has to be good for to make them miserable). As regards events, if you're in Ireland at the right time: First or third week in September you could try and take in the all-ireland finals {though getting tickets for either game will be damned hard}; you could go to the ploughing championships (and learn more than man should know about tractors); or even take in the Electric Picnic; or even find yourself a nice Irish girl to marry.

The best single event is probably the Willy Clancy Summer School, a week long festival of beer and Irish music which takes place the first week of every July in Miltown Malbay. The best things on in August are the Puck fair and the Fleadh.

Drop me a line if you want to meet up while in the country.

[The Black Sword]

take in the all-ireland finals {though getting tickets for either game will be damned hard};

This is my usual recommendation too, watch some GAA. I'm a football person but I think hurling is more of a novelty for people. Getting tickets to one of the earlier round games shouldn't be too hard(I could possibly get some for a Dublin game through the club if you're having trouble).

[darrelljs]

I'd make a Zika joke, but I can't think of a good one. The problem is Ichabod is too nice.

Darrell

[Brian Shanahan]

take in the all-ireland finals {though getting tickets for either game will be damned hard};

This is my usual recommendation too, watch some GAA. I'm a football person but I think hurling is more of a novelty for people. Getting tickets to one of the earlier round games shouldn't be too hard(I could possibly get some for a Dublin game through the club if you're having trouble).

Never knew you were Irish. Which club you with?

[The Black Sword]

St Vincents, yourself?

[Jkaen]

I am in London if you want to meet up.

For Stratford, all the hotels are really pricey around town and not worth the money, so I would stay a few minutes out.

For food there I strongly recommend Sorrento's Had a really good meal there about 1 month ago.

Oh you just need 1 day there too, can cover everything easily in that time

[Brian Shanahan]

St Vincents, yourself?

Pallasgreen in Limerick. If you're looking for famous players think of Dr Dick Stokes who won an all Ireland for Limerick in '40, and managed the '73 team, playing also with UCD when studying for Medicine.