I’ll be going to Sandwich in Kent in a few weeks on business.
Does anyone here have any recommendations for places to stay or eat?
I plan on getting to Dover to see the castle at least but I don’t know how much spare time I’ll have.
What about music?
Thanks
Sadly much of Kent is currently carved up with roadworks as the tunnel “Gateway to Europe”. Spent some happy times on the east coast in the early 80’s…cricket, cherry orchards, music…and a visit to Canterbury is a must.
www.kentfolk.com is as good a starting point as I can find for trad music.
Trisha
Thanks Trisha. If this had been “going to Ireland” thread it probably would have gotten a billon reponses.
I need further help.
We’ll arrive at Heathrow at 8:30 AM sunday the 18th. We have the whole day to mess around.
So if we want to see the typical touristy stuff in London should we drive or use public transportation?
What restaraunts would you recommend?
Can someone explain to me English coinage in comparison to US coins?
Are there cultural things I might do as a USian that would be horribly offensive over there?
I want to see where Jack the Ripper hung out. Is it a safe neighborhood?
i’d advise public transport, any driving experiences i’ve had in london have not been fun. Also the parking isnt the best so you’d spend most of the day trying to find car parks near the tourist sites.
restaraunts, in the city centre, Chinatown at Leicester Square is great if you like chinese food, there’s a few ok but pricy places in Soho.
Not sure about where he hung out but i think his preying grounds are near westminster abbey, and definately a very safe place.
coins, from smallest to largest
1P = small copper coin, very similar to a 1 cent piece
2P = slightly bigger, worth about 3.5 cents
5P = silver coloured coin, tiny, worth about 8 cents?
10P = kinda like a quarter, worth about 18 cents
20P = funny little seven (?) sided coin, silverlike
50P = funny big seven sided coin, silverlike
£1 = small but thick gold coloured coin, worth $1.85
£2 = big, bi-metalic, you cant miss it.
as for the cultural things, the fact that you’re asking the question indicates that you’ll be fine, there’s nothing in particular that i can think of.
Take the train to London! Driving in London is pants, and so is finding a parking-space (and it’s expensive).
Sandwich…lovely. There’s a gorgeous little village called Eastry not far from Sandwich. I spent many glorious times there with my grandmother.
Deal has a fine castle too, and is just down the road apace from Sandwich. Walmer Castle is well worth a visit too. There are some fine sea-front pubs and hotels along the beach road in Deal, good food, good views. If the weather’s clear, you can look out at the wrecked ships lying offshore on the Goodwin Sands.
The whole area is rich with history, if that’s what you’re into. And if you do visit Deal in particular, have a look for the TimeBall Tower Clock…
Ah bugrit, go here: http://www.deal.wisdom.co.uk/heritagepage.htm
Brings back so many memories 
I used to go fishing on Deal beach, back when there were still cod out in oggin. And sit and eat Banana Splits in the Deal Beach Parlour…wonder if it’s still there?
As for coinage, you’ll soon get used to it. The pound coins are chunky little fat brassy-looking things. Two-pound coins are two-tone, silver in the middle and brassy around the outside. 50p and 20p coins have egdes, 10p coins are about the size of a dime and the 5p coins and below are bloody worthless anyway so don’t worry about 'em.
Whitechapel… haven’t been there in ages. It’s probably as safe as any other part of London at night. Which is probably as safe as any major US city at night. Just be sensible.
Hope this helps…
Hey thanks!
I figured the train would be better. I avoid driving in any major metro area. It would be especially difficult learning to be on the other side of the road.
Unfortunately my boss is an ex-race driver and he’ll probably want to take on London just for principle.
I intend on seeing as much historical stuff as time will allow. Kent seems to have been a much trampled area.
Gary, are you the author of, “English Fiction of the Romantic Period, 1789-1830”?
Sadly, no 
If you are around on the week of the 6th Aug. Plenty of music/sessions etc. A lovely seaside town as well.
http://www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk/
Dave.
In the words of Garykelly: “Sadly no”. What a pity. Since our Sandwich people are very concerned about technical support during their working hours maybe they will insist that I stay until around September. But I doubt it.
Garykelly, what are your books?
But…can’t it be ‘arranged’? Or would it be unethical for tech support to, uhm, engineer the odd glitch here and there, just for a few weeks or so?
Kent’s the garden of England. Home of hops and oast-houses, great beers, cob-nuts, and one of the finest fish ‘n’ chip pub/restaurants in the country. Sadly I cannot remember its name; it’s right near the outfall of Dungeness nuclear power station. Sort of. Anyway, the fish ‘n’ chips there are worth the trip.
My books? Those in print: “The Healer”, “Heart of Stone” and “A Country Fly”… all works of fiction.
Hi GJ. I found your books on ebay. They sound good. I’ll have to read them. Maybe Geek can read A Country Fly for a hint of sordid English villages before his trip.
eBay? 
Never seen 'em on eBay before…on Amazon yes…
I’ve just come back from a trip to London. I took my own advice and went by train. G’s I’d forgotten how bloody noisy the Tube is. I had to get from Paddington right across the city to the 'burbs on the border with Essex, meant 40 minutes on the Tube (and a change from the Hammersmith & City line to the Central line). I had a roaring headache by the time I got to Liverpool Street.
Spotted a busker at Liverpool Street…playing the trumpet alongside a ghetto-blaster. No whistlers in sight and I left mine at home 
Mind you, with the headache I had I don’t think whistling would’ve been an option.
Geek… remember to stick some Advil or Tylenol in a handy pocket if you head off for Whitechapel and Jack’s old stomping-grounds.
Hey, I wish I had read this thread a while ago! I could have given you loads of advice. Whistlers should really visit the North West in England, home to a completely different kind of folk from Celtic, and well worth a listen. And that is coming from an Irish woman!
Heathrow is the other end so to speak, ie Kent is east London direction and HR the west; I should know having many a time trundled the M4 up and down to Maidenhead …
I would, like suggested above, choose a train from Heathrow into London -easy these days - then I guess it would be Euston - via Underground connections- or similar to Kentish towns and cities - ther’s a bunch. I would strongly advise you to book in advance at any B&B or Hotel - prices tend to be about par - before you leave, since it would be a sad end if arriving you found all full!
I have loads of kin in that neck of the woods so I already know how busy it can be; still, there are some excellent English Folk Clubs in Kent and going to just one would convert anybody into a folkie - don’t miss the chance if offered. You can find a session of Trad anywhere these days including Bejing China ! but a ‘real’ warm English Ale (beer) swigging night of English folk is like the cheese there, unique and very well worth finding.
I’ve only been to London once for a short while about 10 years ago, but the meal I don’t forget is a dinner I had at an Indian restaurant. Nothing fancy, a small, dark, relatively inexpensive place, but amazing, savory, complex flavors more subtle and with a different personality from what I’m used to here in California. I especially remember the mushrooms. I forget where the restaurant was, but in a section of London known for Indian food, and I’ve heard most Indian places in London (as long as it’s not a dive) are very good. A paper cone filled with fish & chips (with vinegar) is great too, for more of a “folk” meal – cheap and good.
We’ll be staying at a place called the “Blazing Donkey”. Great name. Our company travel dept made all the arrangements. Everything is booked so we don’t have to worry about that.
Sadly it’s mainly a business trip and most time will be spent in meeting rooms then site seeing.
However a kind chiffer has made an outstanding generous offer to show us around London Sunday. For which I am grateful.
I guess we’re stuck having to rent a vehicle. I’d much prefer taking trains etc but was told we wouldn’t be able to get to Sandwich that way.
I am sure this all sounds idiotic but it is my first time in Europe and the one country I’ve wanted to see the most so I’m sort of like a little child waiting for Christmas. Imagine, six years in the US navy and never left the N. American continent.
I’m sure you’ll have a blast - take lots of pictures!