What do Americans enjoy doing in the UK?

[SparklyTwoes]

I have friends (childfree couple in their 50s) who will visit us in Sept to ‘do’ London & a few places outside London. Plans still quite loose now.

What are the places that American guests genuinely enjoy/ are wowed by? Is it best to lean into heritage etc?

A lot of the things that my family enjoy (Brick Lane curry, theatre, weird art pop ups, hiking national parks) - presumably are equally as available stateside as here.

[LipstickLil]

Why don't you ask them what they want to see? That seems the most obvious starting point!

[Hatty65]

I think you'll have to ask them, OP.

I'd love to go to the States, but I am not the slightest bit interested in Disneyland, Florida, etc. I'd like to see Old West ghost towns, perhaps. Or Little House on the Prairie sites.

I'm assuming everyone has different tastes.

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

I agree, ask their opinion. However on London travel groups I follow they love Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. They also seem very fond of guided tours and day trips to the Cotswolds, Bath and Stonehenge

[PossumintheHouse]

If they’re wanting to ‘do’ London, I would think that they’d want to visit the tourist hotspots - Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Madame Tussaud’s, Trafalgar Square, the Science Museum, National Gallery, a traditional pie and mash shop, a London bus tour, Tower of London, etc…

[User19792]

The Tower of London and the Crown Jewels was the highlight for many of our US visitors - they find it hard to fathom how old the stuff is

[dreamingbohemian]

where are they from in the US?
It will make a difference if they are from new york city vs small town midwest for example

I'm an American expat in London who's had a lot of visitors. Starting at Waterloo Bridge, walking down Southbank, seeing the Globe and Tate Modern, across Millennium Bridge to St Paul's, is a good shout. Tower Bridge and Tower of London.

Beyond that it depends if they're museum/book people, shoppers, foodies, etc. Do they care about the royals? Are they walkers?

[narniabusiness]

I also know that Windsor castle and particularly the chapel where the Queen was laid to rest was of interest. Highgrove gardens too. But that might just be the kind of Americans I’ve met.

[dreamingbohemian]

@PossumintheHouse

If they’re wanting to ‘do’ London, I would think that they’d want to visit the tourist hotspots - Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Madame Tussaud’s, Trafalgar Square, the Science Museum, National Gallery, a traditional pie and mash shop, a London bus tour, Tower of London, etc…

See none of my visitors have been interested in seeing any of that (except the Tower). It really depends on people's interests.

[Riverlee]

Maybe have a few planned days of doing the sites as listed above, and a few free days.

Seeing a West End show is another possibility.

[PossumintheHouse]

@dreamingbohemian

See none of my visitors have been interested in seeing any of that (except the Tower). It really depends on people's interests.

I’d definitely be keen to see some of the ‘biggies’ but I’d enjoy visiting Soho, China Town, flea markets, Notting Hill and ‘hidden’ London more.

[dreamingbohemian]

@PossumintheHouse

I’d definitely be keen to see some of the ‘biggies’ but I’d enjoy visiting Soho, China Town, flea markets, Notting Hill and ‘hidden’ London more.

Me too : ) Love the 'hidden London' websites, some of them do walking tours which look great.

[PossumintheHouse]

OP, to add to the list: a boat tour of the Thames, a traditional English afternoon tea (the Ritz or similar if they’re feeling flush), China Town, a West End musical, Hampton Court, the Maritime museum, London dungeons…

[ruthieness]

Red buses and pubs!
Big Ben

[ruthieness]

Fish and chips - reason it was our national dish is because fish was not rationed in the war!

[WASZPy]

IME Americans find anything more than 200 years old amazing. Maybe go and see Oxford University and do the oldest colleges? Or just some 15-16C National Trust properties?

[dreamingbohemian]

Oh yes, take the TFL river boat down to Greenwich and see the sights there, all my American visitors have loved that -- the view from the top of Greenwich park can't be beat.

[TakeOnFlea]

Book the sky garden as soon as it becomes available! Free and everyone loves it.

Changing of the guard, Big Ben, Tower of London, Chinatown, Harrods. Maybe see something at the RAH?

[SparklyTwoes]

They are working on ‘their’ list - but also open to suggestions.

I know expectations:vs:reality is always a thing in travel - so I was interested in what had been actual ‘hits’ rather than dutiful must-dos.

(E.g. Buckingham palace is severely dull - no? Compared to Tower of London/ Hampton Court ?

Younger European friends recently visited - and East London cocktail crawls was their highlight. I didn’t even know those places were there! )

[decionsdecisions62]

Like all Americans have the same interests 🤣🤣 what a mad thread!

[TakeOnFlea]

Wait for their list then. I love Buckingham Palace, would hate an east end cocktail crawl, bet it's a proper fucking rip off 😂

[SparklyTwoes]

They are small town midwest born and bred.

They love musicals. Have seen each one ever made from what I can gather. Are they ‘different’ watched in London.

Relatively well travelled - but usually they would go for ‘big nature’ rather than ‘big city’.

Not especially into royalty - but the ´I can’t believe how old this thing you have is’ does come up.

Gentle slightly quiet personalities. One of the reasons that I’m asking is that I worry London might feel loud/dirty/unfriendly/overwhelming to them.

[LipstickLil]

Do you know where they go/what they usually like to do on holiday? That will give you some clues if they're not being terribly helpful.

But also think - are they cerebral types who like books, art, museums, or are they more likely to enjoy something more mainstream like waxworks of the royal family in Madame Tussaud's? Also bear in mind their fitness and general stamina as you can do a lot of walking as a tourist and this doesn't suit everyone.

If you're not sure, I'd start with an open top bus tour. They are sure to want to see, if only from the outside, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Big Ben and the HoP, etc. You can also a do a day trip by bus that includes Stratford upon Avon, Oxford and Warwick Castle. It's very whistle-stop, but if they are 'doing' London (god I hate that phrase!) then it might hit the spot.

[PermanentTemporary]

Yes I'd go for heritage rather than scenery.

For theatre fans The Globe is the obvious, plus I'd really recommend the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse next door if the Globe season is over - it's an incredible recreation of a 17th century theatre and because it has a roof it's more autumn-friendly. I had one of the most intense evenings of my life there.

Trips out I'd say stay a night in a pub in Woodstock. Something like seeing Blenheim Palace in the day, lavish afternoon tea in Woodstock, stay over night having a pint by the fire, go into Oxford for a walking tour in the morning, head back early pm. That way you cover Cotswolds, Churchill, pubs, tea, Oxford etc etc.

The other classic I wouldn't want them to miss would be Bath.

[talkingteapots]

I grew up near an American Air Base and they all loved real British experiences. Country pubs, old period homes / villages (Dorset!)

[ShrubRose]

But usually they would go for ‘big nature’ rather than ‘big city’

Kew Gardens, Buckingham Palace Garden, Chelsea Physic Garden and some of the stately homes that are within easy reach of London, e.g. Kenwood, Chiswick, Ham House, Chenies Manor, Cliveden, Osterley Park.