how many of you MINI owners have ever really been to England? i had the pleasure of spending thanksgiving 1999 there (i live in cleveland, ohio). my girlfriend at the time was going to school for a few months in London. It is one of the greatest places i have ever been.

 

I wish I have does that count?

 

I've been, twice, both times were during NYE... talk about a PARTY!!!

 

I have, mid 70's, saw the original production of Jesus Christ Superstar, in London. Just found my ticket from Amsterdam to London. I was working for Magic Bus at the time, took a group there.

 

Had to see Hawaii first. Now that we've been there, the British Isles are on our radar screen for 2007.

 

Been to London and suburbs on biz - moved a company office from someone's flat into a "real" office.

I (unlike many) do respect BT, the "phone company"

I also (like some who don't live in the UK) think y'all need to "work harder" LOL.

Lastly, I quietly envy both the work-ethic and the massive (compared to typical US) number of "holidays".

I am looking forward to my next tube ride to Piccadilly, during my trip to visit friends and the MINI plant (yet to be arranged). Hopefully I won't be shopping for network hardware at the time. Though, I DID manage to pick up an Arsenal Gunners jersey (the "home stripe"?) from Lillywhite's whilst I was downtown (gave a bloody fortune for it, dipped into my Cuban cigar money).

The moral of the (boring) story: the actual SUN did SHINE during my 2-week visit, but it was during my ride in a black taxi back to Heathrow to go HOME! (typical Tatt-Timing).

Highlight of my visit? 1) censored activity due to site guidelines , and 2) the most nicest wonderful Indian FEAST I have ever tasted.

Not so worldly, but still grateful,
Tatt

edit (seconds later): Flav this a nice thread... Tattman-points for interest and originality

 

I've been five times now, including a one-year stint. Growing up in Australia I can tell you the 21 hour flight to get there seemed LONG.

Now I'm on the US east coast the trip seems so quick I once took my wife to London for a long weekend! ($200 ROUND TRIP on Virgin Atlantic)

Oh - and England is the only place I've seen more Mini's than Australia.

 

Three weeks a while back. Found out that you REALLY have to fight yourself to stay on the freaking "wrong" side of the road! It just ain't natural.

 

London was the starting and ending point for our family vacation in Europe in 94.

One of the best places I've been to. Rome is second.

 

My ex wife's family was from England. I have been there many times. (like 12 - maybe more)

I love London and the UK in general.

 

I went in April 2004, hence the start of my obsession with owning a Mini. I was visiting friends who live there and they took me out every day sight seeing. I couldn't get over the looks of the Mini's in the city..... classic ones and newer ones. Got back to the states, read up on them, and realized that a Mini would be the logical progression from my Miata, if I wanted to get more functional space and retain the "fun" factor in driving.
Problem was, didn't know where to get one. There were no Mini dealers in Tallahassee and it took me awhile to take the leap of driving 170 miles to the closest dealer in Jacksonville.
The very first time I had ever driven a Mini was when I pulled out of the dealer's parking lot with an off the show room floor, 2006 PW/B MCS - best leap of faith I had ever taken.

 

I have been numerouse times. I was also fortunate enough to be there on a short term assignment for my previous job. I had a flat in Harrow on the Hill. It was just up the street from Harrow school. Our son is currently in his second year at University of St. Andrews in Scotland. So we will be making several more trips to the UK in the next few years.

 

I was there four years ago. My wife and I drove from Paris to London via the chunnel in a rented renault laguna. It was a great experience. I was on the autoroute to Calais from Paris, going around 120mph when a porsche 911 passed me like I was standing still. The drivers in France practice some pretty serious lane discipline - I wish it was like that here. England was too damn congested for any sort of lane discipline.





Driving about London was actually pretty easy - I was used to Chicago and NYC traffic, so it wasn't that bad. I didn't drive on the wrong side once while in London, but we took the ferry back from Dover to France and while in Dover I made a wrong turn down the wrong side of the street. In London this is almost impossible due to the traffic, but Dover was quite deserted (I'm sure it was a bit more crowded pre-chunnel) and there was no traffic to follow. It was cool in london to be able to ask the cabbies directions while waiting for a light, as I had a LHD renault.

London was where I started to get hooked on the mini as well. I wish they had a european delivery option like BMW, Saab, MB, and Volvo - that would be one pretty cool way to break in a new Mini.

We'll definitely go back in a year or two when the kids get a bit older. I would highly recommend renting an apt. in London (as well as Paris) as its a very cool way to hang out in those cities. It makes you feel as if you're living there, as opposed to staying in a hotel. The rates are quite reasonable as well, and there are lots of companies that do short term rentals if you're not staying there a week or two.

 

Just got back home to Germany from visiting London for the weekend. What a lovely (but expensive) town.

Can't wait to go back and see the rest of the country.

 

Been there once for a week. My mom and I took off from Newark a few hours before all the 9/11 hijackings started and landed in London right about the time the first plane hit the towers. Kind of put a damper on the trip but we still tried to enjoy our time there (and wondered if the airports would be open by the time we were scheduled to travel home).

We stayed with a friend in a town outside of Leeds and made day trips to various little towns in the area. I think York was my absolute favorite. What an awesome little walled city. If I had the money I'd go back in a heartbeat.

I forgot my camera at the house one day and remember seeing a classic Mini with a UJ painted on the roof. Made my mom take a picture of it for me.

 

both in collage. First time was out freshman spring break, the second time was when I studied in ireland for a half a year.

In ireland, there was this crazy guy patrik with an old mini that was all hopped up. Since he was hopped up as well, it was something to behold...

-jac

 

I was in England/Wales way back in 1998...I loved it and even bought a ticket to return a few months later, but circumstances changed and I wasn't able to go. Now I'm trying to get back there next summer - London is a great city!!! As is Cardiff!

 

Went to school there for awhile in college and have been back several times including last year.

motoringfile.com/2004/04/15/driving_in_the_uk_from_an_american_perspective/

motoringfile.com/2004/04/28/an_auto_holiday/

 

Hoping to go this year for the F1 Silverstone race! We have friends that live in London.

 

Several times beginning way back in the '60s when I spent a year studying, travelling all over Europe. The UK is probably my favorite for the simple reason that the people are so .... well, friendly ... nice. If I had a chance to spend some time there - long-term - months or maybe even a year - I'd jump at the chance. Its expensive to be sure, but I don't care if I never see France again.

 

how did you do that.....it's freaky and crazy.... ???

 

The wife and I are off to London on Feb 10th for a week. Spent last april in Scotland.

 

never been to london. But as the winner for the creativity contest for the MINIUSA.COM Scavenger Hunt, will go there this summer to visit the factory in Oxford and get some unknown surprises from the people at MINI.
Hopefullly, I'll get to drive an MCS there.

 

My wife and I took a trip to the UK last Dec, originally because she had to go to an a-ha concert in Manchester. But what was my purpose for the trip? Surely it couldn't be to see a-ha. Because I treat my MINI as my only child, I had to visit my MINI's birth place.

So the week before we left I sent off an email to Plant Oxford to enquire about attending the tour. Unfortunately, the email I received back said that they were all booked for the only day we would be able to travel to Oxford .

I replied back a couple of days later and said "if by any MINI miracle two seats become available please let me know." The following day I was surprised to see a reply from Oxford. And wouldn't you know, a MINI miracle had taken place - they had two cancellations !

 

Lived there for 3 years.