Returning from London

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bigdog

Senior member
 Walla Walla, Washington
Sat on the Stansted airport express leaving Liverpool station to head back to Germany. Unfortunately. The only thing we enjoyed was meeting our friends whom were on holiday in England. We were all stationed in Japan in the 80's. The visit to Hallmark motorsports to look at some lotus 7's also went well. The wife liked the 7's much more than she thought she would.

Can't say to many good things about our overnight in Ilford. The hotel was nice, as we're the staff. But the folks who were at the night club next door were poster children for what's wrong with the youth of today. The girls were the worst. They were the ones fighting and yelling until 4AM. And that was a Thursday evening. The hotel had guards posted at the door and didn't allow the female staff to work at night.
It will be good to be back in good old Germany. We are more country folk than big city types. So ended up not liking London at all. We much prefer the North Yorkshire/Lake district.

Was surprised with the 7's and how the various types fit us. Sat in a Westfield seiw ( not bad ) a Westfield se ( way to small ) a Caterham classic with the one piece seat back on the wall ( that fit us perfectly ) and a Tiger super 6 ( that was almost to roomy )

Edit. I don't or didn't mean to imply that London isn't a nice place. It's just that I nor the wife enjoy the rat race pace of things in London. Always having to dodge the folks who have their earbuds in and their heads down not watching where they are going. The constant ques to do any thing. It's also about a third more expensive than here in Germany. And more than double the cost of doing things in the USA.
 
:? Sorry to hear of your bad experiences.
I'm a Londoner, and I'll be honest I'm not a fan of Illford at all. I've had similar experiences in Pais Nice & barcelona, but I still love those places.

Please don't be put off coming back, London is a MASSIVE city and like all cities has its nice and not so nice arrears. If you ever heading back I'd be more than happy to recommend hotels and areas.
 
I did warn you about Ilford bigdog! :thumbsup: :)

London is very busy, and can be too full-on for those who are used to a quieter, slower pace of life. I've never been but I assume New York and Tokyo are very similar?

If you ever come to Robin Hood country you'll have to let Darren and I know!
 
ESP said:
:? Sorry to hear of your bad experiences.
I'm a Londoner, and I'll be honest I'm not a fan of Illford at all. I've had similar experiences in Pais Nice & barcelona, but I still love those places.

Please don't be put off coming back, London is a MASSIVE city and like all cities has its nice and not so nice arrears. If you ever heading back I'd be more than happy to recommend hotels and areas.
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I certainly don't dislike London. I think that one thing that hurt the experience was timing. It is a very busy time of year. So there were ques to do anything. Then there was the cost of doing those things. The wife and I get paid in $ so buying the rather inflated pound was also a negative.
 
original guvnor said:
I did warn you about Ilford bigdog! :thumbsup: :)

London is very busy, and can be too full-on for those who are used to a quieter, slower pace of life. I've never been but I assume New York and Tokyo are very similar?

If you ever come to Robin Hood country you'll have to let Darren and I know!
Click to expand...

Yes. I was warned.
If it weren't for the motorsports dealer in Hainault (Hallmark cars) that had all those 7's. I wouldn't have had a reason to go to Ilford. I felt bad for the folks at the hotel we stayed at. As the club opened up after the hotel had been established. For us it was worse. In bed Wednesday at 10PM. Up at 3AM on Thursday morning for the flight. Then no sleep Thursday night courtesy of the dregs of Ilford. Then trying to see London starting Friday with our energy reserves nearly empty. So it was destined to be a rough weekend.

The hotel we had in London proper was very nice. 146 suites on Gloucester Pl. just two blocks from the Baker St. tube.

I must say that Hallmark was awesome. They came to the train station to collect & return us. They knew per a previous phone call that I would not be buying a 7 at that moment in time. Yet they let us sit in every type of 7 they had so that we could try them on for size. They happily answered a multitude of newby questions by me. It really helped us out. They even got us a nice big cup of tea. Well done Hallmark.
 
London reminds me of the film 'I am Legend' - occupied almost by a different society day/night, weekday/weekend.

London offers so much, it attracts both the best & worst the UK has on offer,so wish that next time you come to stay have a better experience, as form the little I've travelled in Germany understand exactly where you're coming from, even from some of the big cities like Dusseldorf during their Xmas markets - different world.
 
if your thinking about buying a 7 go to one of the owners clubs and buy from a member, i guess a bit like this site. what is very very different tho is knowledge of the individual cars cars. what i mean is buying a Z as its a German made production car is much less of a gamble. than buying a 7. the westfield may have been called an Sei but i would put money on it not being a "standard" model.

sounds like you had a s**t hotel, ilford doesnt get much of a good rap from poeple i know down that way. come back and stop in a nicer place. also ffor what its worth if you do come back visit the westfield factory. they will be more than happy to show you about and will be much better than some dealership.
 
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