I have mostly English heritage and someday I'd like to take my wife and kids over there on vacation. I don't feel obligated to go to the usual tourist spots. I'm an American conservative and a big Bush supporter; I don't feel inclined to say anything about this to people on my trip, just giving you some background.
Can you recommend some places to go/things to do that might accomplish the following:
1. Avoid the "chattering classes" and/or people who might like to hone in on my accent and attempt to score points against me/my family about Bush/the Iraq war. I have found in the past that when in a foreign land, idiots and louts will have no hesitancy to try to insult you (even possibly in front of your children, however small), particularly if you're American (OK, maybe I just had a bad time in Germany once).
2. Meet some "regular people" that exemplify positive values you yourself might admire.
3. If it's a Sunday morning I would want to attend church; I'm a protestant. Should I just wander around until I see a church with people in it, or is there an alternative strategy? Also, when are service times? Most churches in my area begin the main service around 10:30. Also, I suppose I wouldn't be really interested in venturing into Muslim neighborhoods, though I have only a vague idea where those are.
Keep in mind that I'm dubious about driving/renting a car on my first family trip to the UK; I would probably freak out driving on the opposite side of the road, and I only have a New Jersey license in any case.
Also, you might find this odd, but I don't own a cell phone. Additionally, although I would plan to do a lot of internet-based research prior to my trip, I would assume that I would be "cut off" once I was landed in the country.
As an aside I have a personal interest in financial history and investment management - London and Edinburgh have a big role in this to my knowledge but I'm not aware of anything I could do on a vacation to drill into that.
It's a full plate of quesitons, just want to see if you can respond to any of them. In the final analysis, perhaps I should just shoot for a "package tour", but your comments might help me modify what the package would focus on/where it would go.
Hi,
If I can suggest a couple of places you might want to start looking.
"If it's a Sunday morning I would want to attend church; I'm a protestant. Should I just wander around until I see a church with people in it, or is there an alternative strategy?"
Well, if you're going for Church of England, this looks pretty useful:
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/contact/findus/
It has links to different dioceses and contact details for them or for individual churches if you want to really plan ahead once you know where you will be.
"As an aside I have a personal interest in financial history and investment management - London and Edinburgh have a big role in this to my knowledge but I'm not aware of anything I could do on a vacation to drill into that."
Not sure if this is along the lines you wer thinking, but the Bank of England does have a museum in London. Never visited myself, so can't vouch for the quality. The Bank of Scotland has likewise in Edinburgh although the website says it is closed until September next year:
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/museum/visiting/index.htm
http://www.hbosplc.com/abouthbos/History/Museum.asp
"although I would plan to do a lot of internet-based research prior to my trip, I would assume that I would be "cut off" once I was landed in the country."
You'll be able to find internet cafes in any town of any size. Depending on where you're staying, a lot of hotels will also have internet facilities available.
"I suppose I wouldn't be really interested in venturing into Muslim neighborhoods, though I have only a vague idea where those are."
Where there are neighbourhoods as such, they're not in places where there is much likelihood of you ending up as a tourist.
We never got any grief from any Scots while in the highlands.
The western isles and Mull of Kintyre are beautiful.
The only grief we got was from some Marxist from the peoples
republic of Kanuckistan while staying at a youth hostel called
Carbisdale Castle.
We later saw Che Jr. through the window at a youth hostel in Aberdeen. Witnesses reported that he ran off in terror. Our previous defense of the 2nd Amendment apparently scared the lad.
The Scottish tourist board is a great source for info about Scotland.