Been to London in the Spring of 1996 for a week.

 

Sophomore College London Spring Semester 1974, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rocky Horror Picture Show Stage Show and a large group of avant garde, traditional and S.African, Anti-Apartheid plays.

2001 Honeymoon, started in London, 3 days after 9-11 and finished after touring the continent there about 2 weeks later, and returned to USA under massive security. Saw my first New MINI ads there. I couldn't get over the American Tourists in our hotel in Paris literally crying because their return flights were temporarily cancelled and they were "stuck" in Paris for an extra week. They were so scared they wouldn't leave the hotel. We had a wonderful honeymoon, although at times and places there was extra security.

Europe has been under that kind of security for decades, we just now are having to live with it. UK and Ireland is a nice european vacation without, sort of, the language difficulties.

 

I have not been to England, but I did tour the BMW plant in Munich. Is that half credit?

 

I've been there (only London though), and I'd love to go back and explore the rest of the country. I actually fell in deep lust with the London taxis , but when I found out how much $$ they cost, I dropped my idea of buying one and having it sent over here.

 

Lets see, Born Bodmin Cornwall 16th March 1970 (England), 1974 moved to South Africa 1987 moved back to Cornwall (England). 1993 working on Cruise ships (Diving Instructor) 2002 moved to Michigan still there (got married). every year while on cruise ships went back home on vacation. Still have a valid UK driving license, passport..... So I think I've been there

 

Born there never been back.

 

I was born in England (many years ago). My Dad was in the US Military. We lived in Pinner England, which is a suburb of London. I even started school at a British Primary school. This summer after 40 years, my whole family is going back to visit England and retrace our lives their. We are also going to try and visit the factory in Oxford.

 

Lucky enough to have spent several of my army reserve annual trainings in the UK. One of these days I'm going back on my own dime.

 

I never found driving on the left side to be difficult in the UK. I did find shifting with the left hand odd. The hardest part of driving over there is the roundabouts - by far.

 

Got my first tattoo in Portsmouth in 1975. Visited London, Stratford upon Avon, Liverpool and a few other places. Was great always wanted to go back.

 

I was on a ship that pulled into Felixstowe on a saturday once a month. Gangway hit the dock at 0600, I was off and running, usually in London proper by 11 or 12, then out and about via the tube, back to the ship about 2200 for an 0030 departure! Some long but fun days.

I've been to heathrow several times stopping over flying other places. Does that count?

 

This past October I was there for 10 days. 5 in Winchester, 5 in London. Didn't get a car. The trip ended up being only a week after my MSC was delivered so I kept telling everyone I worked with "I just got one of those!".

 

I attended the FSU study center in London in the winter semester of 1981 and had such a great time that I've been back probably 8 times since. The last time was on 9/11/01 and I met some of my friends from Florida at Gatwick. We got the train to Victoria and had a coffee, dropped our bags off and went to see the Mclaren showroom on Park Lane. Then we test drove MINIs from BMW Park Lane. We had a great pub lunch and headed back to the hotel for a nap (flew all night) and watched the disaster unfold on our TV screen. Quite an experience being out of the country when that was going on. The rest of the week was a little weird, but everyone had somewhat calmed down by the time we attended the Goodwood Motorsports Revival. We chatted up Alain de Cadenet and he expressed some real concern for our feelings and the well being of our country that I'll never forget.

Every trip to London is a memorable one and the city is really so huge and everchanging that you can never experience the whole thing. The countryside is also spectacular, and I will hopefully get to sample things like Oxford (MINI assembly plant), Hethel (Lotus HQ and test facilities), and perhaps a northern city just because I've never been. The next trip (hopefully this year) will be to Scotland to visit my wife's uncle. He's north of Inverness and I'm a huge fan of the highlands, so it should be good. Must update that passport...

 

Much family over there, primarily in Kent. Have been to the Channel coast two or three times on business and for family reunions. Did extensive driving on two trips - one to Sandwich in Kent (on Business) and one to Bath (for another reunion) from London.

I find that the driving is easier than expected, though you need to be careful. My only mistake was when I was lost in rural England late at night and having no clue where I was - I was mad over a missed turn and jerked the car around to retrace my route - and started driving rapidly down a country lane on the right.... and only realized my error when stared down by flashing headlights. I DO find that I have a tendency on the high speed motorways to drift to the right without thinking, often over the line - I honestly think that your mind subconsciously wants to put you back where you are comfortable on the highway and you need to consciously fight that instinct. Still, it makes for more concentrated driving but nothing that difficult.

The amazing thing to me is that MINIs often look HUGE on English roads - many cars are smaller and while MINIs are comfortable on the smaller lanes and byways, they are by no means the smallest of the day-to-day vehicles you encounter.

Bill

 

Had no problem in Jamaica with left hand road.Shifting was a little strange.Round abouts ok.Jamaican ran into us though.Our rental car was a wreck when we originally picked up so went to hard ware got a 5.00 chinese tool kit and took fender off, straightened up.No drama when we returned it.

 

I'm in England right now, been over a year and about 2 more years to go!

 

I spent 20 years there.

 

I have been to Europe a couple of times already and Once to the UK (Early 2001). London was fantastic and enjoyed the "Tube" metro rides (Mind the gap, anyone?)

London was a little dirtier than I expected it to be. Still, Paris continues to be my all time favorite European capital.

Among the many places we were in England, we visited Oxford in May 2001. At the time, I had NO IDEA, that BMW was reading up production for the all new 2001 MINI Cooper that was to be introduced on July of that year. Oxford is a very nice and kinda quiet college town. Look forward to go back there again and take the MINI factory tour.

We left England by the way of Dover to mainland Europe. Our 1 and a half hour ferry ride through the English Channel (Very rough seas the day we made the trip) took us to Calais, France and from there we drove to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Europe is a very cool place and one that I keep looking forward to come back to.

 

I spent a month in GB after my 3 years in Germany.

 

Quite a few times. My first trip was a 3 week tour all over. We hit some of the major 'sites' and explored quite a few places. I've been back to London a few times since then. I adore London. Its a fabulous city.

 

I've been to London 3 times, including doing the Italian Job event in 2004 (London to Italy and back). I love to travel, and Brits are fun, friendly people!

 

I've been to England 4 or 5 times... all for pleasure.

I got used to right hand drive pretty quick but wacked my hand against the door repeatedly trying to shift with my right hand!!! Instinct I guess. Remebering to look both ways when turning right takes some getting used to. Also, when turning at an intersection I have to constantly remind myself which lane to turn into.

 

Been there many times, very odd cars there by the way. Pretty fascinating as you consider the depth and breadth of history. Piccadilly Circus is probably one on the best places on the planet to see all forms of humanity! And the cliffs at Dover are really white. We would take the hovercraft over to Calais for a beer run of all things! I consider myself fairly well traveled and had an absolute blast doing it, but you know, I sure like home (USA currently Avon, Ohio). The fog off San Francisco running north, standing on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon at sunset and the pinnacle experience.....Driving The Dragon!!

....Les

 

Parked my '86 Volvo on this London street next to where I lived for 12 months in 1993/1994. Last summer I noted the road has been taken over by MINIs!!

 

Does Scotland count?