i already put this thread in off topic but someone said to put it here.... anybody know of some good auto/car/racing museums/dealers/ or just cool car places i should see in and around london? also any websites or anything like times and stuff would help.... also what are the laws/limits for driving in England/UK? could i do a driving school there, like a half day course or something? so also race tracks with schools that i may be able to attend... and that are pretty cheap, 150 to 300 pounds?/dollars mabey or is this not possible? i will be in london the end of next week and i am also looking at some schools their.. so if anybody ever went their from the USA and has any opinions on it i would like to know...
Looks like you're moving here for a short while. I've had quite a few au-pairs in my time and there are two US air bases near to me and if you are looking to stay for a while taking one or two driving lessons is very well worth the money. We drive on the other side of the road and have some driving situations, like roundabouts, that are not common in the US. BSM (British school of motoring) which is part of the RAC (Royal automobile association( is as good as any for this. The speed limit in built up areas is 30mph, on the open road it's 60mph and on dual carriageways and mootorways it's 70mph, but these are not hard ways to know. The speed limit is always posted as you enter a speed limited area and there is a sign to say 'national speed limits apply' (white circle with black diagonal). Schools, I guess for your kids?, are a difficult matter. They depend on where you live and if the school has room etc. Find out where you are going to live and then contact the local council (Westminster council for Westminster etc) and get a list. You can then see how each school performs by looking on the web. Call the head teacher too of the one's you like. There are plenty of very, very cool places both in London and within easy reach (it's one of the most popular tourist spots on the planet) and there are lots of car related things you could do. As for race track days, check this site out, they are often ones poosted here. Welcome to the UK
"I'm from Sveeden and I'm here my english to improve. Ooh meester Robin!!!" Wow Robin. There's hospitality and there's hospitality Kevin
hello i am 17 years old and am going to be looking at schools/college in england, and its a family trip and i want to go to some automotive places... also there are absoloutely no races tracks anywhere near me so i would like to if possible go to a track day/ or school and really be able to push a car to the limits... we will be going north to Lichestier(SP?) 120 Miles north of london... and would try to go to a track then, or mabey a factory, like Aston Martin, or lotus, if there their... i know i could look this stuff up but im kinda on a time crunch, but if i find stuff ill ask for opinions and what not i already know most of the laws of the road in england i meant like what age do i have to be to drive? can i have an international drivers license? and drive there? in the USA its 16 or 15 years old to be able to drive...
I assume you mean Leicester and if thats the case then you are on the doorstep of Donnington Park racetrack and motorsport mueseum information can be found here http://www.donington-park.co.uk/
If you have a US licence and are 17+ then you're fine to drive here, assuming you can get insured. Driving without insurance is a very serious offence in the UK. Be careful of your speed to as many roads have speed cameras. (grey or blue box with a flourescent orange bit) Donington is a good place to visit if you are going up to Leicester as they have a great museum there too. factory visits are tricky- usually require booking ages in advance, but you never know your luck. Jaguar and Aston Martin do good tours. Other good museums in the UK are in the South away from London- there's a great one at Beaulieu in the New Forest, and the Haynes Museum in Sparkford, Dorset. Let me know if you want more info and I'll look them up. Both are in beautiful parts of the British countryside and I'm sure your family would enjoy a visit! Robert.
In central London head down to South Kensington on the tube. Straight across the road is Lamborghini London. Go past Lambo and about 10mins down the road is HROwen which is a Ferrari, Maserati, Lotus and Noble dealership. Jump back on the tube and head up to Hyde Park Corner and wander up Park Lane. You've got McLaren (with F1 in showroom), Rolls Royce, BMW, Mini etc etc up there. Wander around Mayfair area and you'll find the Aston Martin and Bentley dealerships. If you want to spend a few minutes car spotting, go to Victoria Embankment at around 6/7pm on a weekday and you'll see a fair few 360s etc. Hyde Park Corner is supposed to be the best place though, although im hardly ever around there. Rico
Seth noble are near Leicester, can you post the dates that you are here and I'll let oyu know of any track days that are happening
A train from London Waterloo will get you to Egham in Surrey - home of Ferrari UK / Maranello Concessionaires (Britain's largest ferrari & Maserati showroom with a good shop too) and also a classic / used Ferrari dealer called Talacrest (which is literally right next to the railway station). There is also a JFK Memorial Park just around the corner near Runnymede if you're feeling patriotic... have a good trip. John PS It's spelt Leicester but pronounced 'Lester'. Ain't English great..?
thank you very much... yes i do mean Leicester and the University of Loughbrough... and Donnington Park!! wow that will be fun... and thanks for the auto dealers, i have there address but dont really know how to interpret them... but with the tube stops and what not that helps a lot... also how is Loughbrough pronounced? we cant seem to figure it out... "noble are near Leicester, can you post the dates that you are here and I'll let oyu know of any track days that are happening" as for the dates I will be there March 10-18(19), and in Leicester the 16-17 i think... not for sure yet.... also "there's a great one at Beaulieu in the New Forest, and the Haynes Museum in Sparkford, Dorset. Let me know if you want more info and I'll look them up. Both are in beautiful parts of the British countryside and I'm sure your family would enjoy a visit!" i dont know exctally where this is but our main problem is this... my dad wants to go to old houses/ National Trust places... I want it to be nothing but automotive related places... my mom only wants to be/stay in london but she'll come along driving... so if thoses museum's are in the country side even better, because of the National Trust houses and what not.... again thank you all very much... seth
Luffbruh. Also: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/ http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/ Both sites should have fairly comprehensive maps/directions. Beaulieu is well worth the visit if you can make it. You even get the best of both worlds for your parents.
thank you all again but were still having trouble pronouncing the words Loughbrough - Luff-bruh Leicester- Lester Donington - ?? Vauxhall - ??
