Mar 19, 2002 10:01 AM
2287 Views
(Updated Mar 19, 2002 10:05 AM)
Someone wanted to know the best time to travel to the UK - well it depends on whether the agenda is shopping or sightseeing?
If you are a sightseer then the months of April/May as spring sets in are the best as the typical British chill would have disappeared. But the ever faithful 4 pm spring showers would be there as would be the very cool evening breeze - hence warm clothes would be required during the night definitely. If you are from North India and you are used to the cold then the normal Spring time day temps of 12-18C would be bearable. As the months progress into July/August/September - the typical British summer months the temperatures may rise and as they do you will find the British wearing less and less! No offense! But when they see the sun that means they all head for the beach inspite of what the temperature maybe. This is also the holiday season in the UK/Europe and the US- basically the western world - and you will find everyone is a sightseer hence getting into museums, monuments, shows maybe difficult as also the prices maybe higher.
Now if you are a shopper then the months are different and what you are exactly looing for could determine when you go shopping. In the UK just after winter - anytime from mid Jan to mid Mar you will find a lot of shops trying to off load winter stocks at unbelievably low prices. This please note is not restricted to clothes alone - it covers everything - household furniture, electronic items, toys, etc - basically the X'mas stuff!!! The bargains you can get are mind-boggling! The second good time for shopping is just after summer - around Oct / Nov as shops will now be trying to clear their shelves of summer bargains to make way for the winter stocks. Again the bargains one can get are phenomenal!!!
Personally I would always recommend the after winter sales as products on sale are more and X'mas being an important shopping and gifting festival for the UK the bargains would always be more.
But as far as an Indian goes I think he or she should also factor the weather when planning a trip to the UK - as you do not want to leave India carrying tons of warm clothes - and come back paying excess baggage! At the same time you do not want to act macho and go there in the hope of braving the cold and instead fall sick and end up buying warm clothes from there - depleting your wallet of expensive pounds!!!
But if you are a true sightseer the UK , London especially is a city where you will never run out of places to visit. The transportation system is so good, unlike the US, you will never have to rely on anyone to show or guide you around. But please make sure your wallet is loaded as the UK is and London especially is very expensive. If a budge sightseer and do not mind roughing out try and get into the YMCA. The place is functional - definitely not upper class - nothing much but centrally located and serves the purpose - in terms of a hot bath, etc.
Happy sightseeing or shopping!!!
