Have you ever wanted to see London through a tourist's eyes?
To know random bits of information such as why Benedict Arnold's door is painted red?
Where the Queen almost lived instead of Buckingham Palace?
All while stopping to soak up London's 'atmosphere' along the way?
Well....
Put on your baseball caps, white socks and College T-shirts, cause we're heading out on the UKTE BIG BUS PUB CRAWL on August 4th from 2-6pm!
Please, Please, Please RSVP Charleen by clicking here so we know how many will be coming. It looks to be a BIG crowd!
Start & Finish Line: The Swan Previous UKTE Planning 'Dinner' @ The Swan
(note can of Pringles)
The Route: We will be using the Big Bus' Blue Line as our 'taxi' for the afternoon. All pubs are within less than 50yds. from Big Bus scheduled stops, so grab a map from the bus driver and follow along. Here is the route and our stops:
The 'Schedule': first, keep in mind that this is a FUN day out, so we ain't rushing ourselves! But.... in order to hit all 5 pubs and return to The Swan by 6ish, look to spend about 30 minutes in each venue (1-2 pints, perhaps?). Keeping in mind the Big Bus Guided Live-commentary (oooooh) transfer times, the Rough Schedule is:
The Swan: pre-2 until 2:10 The Old Monk: 4:15 - 4:45
The Metropolitan: 2:30 - 3:00 The Stanhope Arms: 5:10 - 5:40
Blue Posts: 3:20 - 3:50 Then back to the Swan!
Stop #2, The Metropolitan Bad Pic of good pub, Equally Bad Pic of Stanhope Arms
The Blue Posts
The Transport: The Big Bus! Yes, the pinnacle of every American Tourist's trip to The Big Smoke. Big Bus offers live, wacky commentary as we bound around the city. The factoids come fast and furious. Don't forget to talk reealllly loud in American accents and mis-pronounce as many street names as possible! If you want more info on The Big Bus, you can check out their web site at www.bigbus.co.uk.
O.K. ONE little bummer: We CANNOT drink on the Big Buses themselves. We know, a pain, but we've planned out the route so you're never more than 15 minutes between pints!
Drinkee in the Pubs GOOD Drinkee in the Buses BAD
The Cost: The cost for this adventure is £18 plus whatever you drink and eat on the way. Big Bus tickets are £15, and we'll buy them as we get on the bus at Lancaster Gate. We're asking for a £3 donation to the cause that is UKTE, payable to Charleen or Rick at The Swan.
Who Can Join Us: EVERYONE! Bring your friends, flatmates, whoever, the more the merrier. We aren't sure what the children policy is at every venue, and to be honest, this may not be the best joyride for the youngsters.
Pub
Directions and Details
Our starting/ending point will be The Swan (1) 66 Bayswater Road, Lancaster Gate Tube Stop on the Central Line, Big Bus Stop #52. Exit the Tube station and turn right on Bayswater Rd., cross the street at the lights, stay on Bayswater about 30 yds. and you are there. Its a block from the home of UKTE Football, The White Hart, but we aren't going there, as its a little far off the Bus route.
The Metropolitan (2) Big Bus Stop #26 A bar with an oddly nostalgic student union feel to it. Exit the Big Bus and walk up to the Baker St. Tube entrance, its right next door. There's a big J.D. Weatherspoon's sign in the front. Easy on, Victorian pub purists, there are many of those to follow. Mind the hoard heading to Madams Tussauds.
Then onto one of the legendary Blue Posts (3), 18 Kingley St., off Carnaby Street near Picadilly Circus, Big Bus Stop # 30. This is the most challenging venue to get to from the bus, that's why its early on! When you get off the Big Bus, walk about 10 yards back up Regent Street towards Oxford Circus and you'll see an alley. Go through the alley and take a left, The Blue Posts is about 20 yds up at the next corner. A total of a 2 min. walk.
The Old Monk (4) Horseferry Rd, Big Bus Stop #35, Irish pub near Westminster Abbey. if you're facing the road at the Big Bus stop, take a left away from Westminster Abbey and then take a left on Horseferry Rd and its a few yards down.
Then The Stanpole Arms (5) Big Bus Stop #44, next to Gloucester Rd. Tube Stop in S. Kensington. As this pub is in the advanced stages of the crawl, its literally right next to the Bus Stop.
Then we'll return to The Swan for post-game
analysis.
So again, please RSVP by clicking HERE
as soon as you know you'll be able to make it, and let us know how many friends
you're bringing!
See Ya'll on the 4th!,
Charleen B. and Rick K.
UKTE Social Director & Presidente