I live about 30 miles from Brum. Alcester is in the same county as me, but at the opposite (posh) end and probably nearer Stratford upon Avon than the city centre. Local pronunciation is Olster. Pretty little market town with an abundance of pubsBrilliant!
I already found one I want to stay at close to Birmingham.
It is the oddest looking pub, they make a point of inviting dogs at the bar and for a meal (I'll be without my dogs for 10 days so I'll need to meet other people's dogs!), menu looks easily adaptable to low carb and not too expensive, and you can put your tent up for only £10!
Bookmarked the ukcampsites website on my phone.
Pie and Mash!!! now theres a good reason to have blood sugars, literally the best food ever invented! some people dont like it but they dont count, the world has two types of people in it, people who like pie and mash and mehHi there
A few thoughts from me. I’d avoid Brick Lane. I don’t like spicy food (and it doesn’t like me!) but those I know who do say the food there is overpriced and poor quality compared to that found elsewhere. From experience, you can be quite aggressively pursued along that street by restaurant staff seeking to up their numbers! If you’re after Indian or South Asian then some of the suburbs in Birmingham - Handsworth, for example - will be a lot better for cheaper, authentic food and easy to reach from the city centre.
For ‘on the go’ low carb supermarket options then Marks and Spencer is a stand out winner with their deli section - I suspect you may already have a list from the What Have you Eaten Today thread. Some branches have a rotisserie too, for cheap, hot takeaway food.
There are still some traditional pie and mash shops around, including a couple near places I know you’re heading to and I’d you’re able to bolus well for pastry, I'd recommend giving that a try.
And proper fish and chips, of course. Poppies in Shoreditch is pretty decent. Or try in a seaside town - might be some close to Harwich.
First night spent at my aunt, we'll have breakfast shortly.Are you there yet?
Very glad you didn’t arrive last night. It wasn’t weather for camping at all! Much improved today. Safe travels.First night spent at my aunt, we'll have breakfast shortly.
She clearly plans to send me on my way thoroughly fed!
Heading for the ferry at 11 or so, it will depart at 2:15 pm.
Not sure how bad it was further south but up here in the north west, a tent wouldn't stand up to it. Even our Force 10 mountain ents wouldn't have. Em's parents had a heavy duty canvas tent in their back garden, storing stuff, and even the last, lesser storm tore it apart. Last night's would have torn it to shreds.Very glad you didn’t arrive last night. It wasn’t weather for camping at all! Much improved today. Safe travels.
Seas were very calm so the crossing was mainly boring!How was the crossing? The North Sea can be pretty rough in bad weather. Hope it wasn't too bad.
B&M Bargains, Home Bargains both worth a try.Quick question.
In the Netherlands we have this store called Action, which sells very cheap stuff.
Anything like that in the UK?
I think I need a new air mattress...
Not completely sure yet, maybe mine still stretches a bit because it's new, but I did hear a funny sound when pushing the air out this morning, and my behind is sinking deeper into it then it did this afternoon when I first sat on it after inflating.
You might struggle to find camping stuff in general stores this time of year as they clear "summer" for Christmas. Search instead for camping stores, or online use Argos to pick up in a store (they often have locations in a Sainsbury supermarket)Quick question.
In the Netherlands we have this store called Action, which sells very cheap stuff.
Anything like that in the UK?
I think I need a new air mattress...
Not completely sure yet, maybe mine still stretches a bit because it's new, but I did hear a funny sound when pushing the air out this morning, and my behind is sinking deeper into it then it did this afternoon when I first sat on it after inflating.
I think you might find that Americans call crips,chips.When my Dutch colleagues come to the UK, they always want to eat an Indian curry and, if you avoid the rice and naan, it can be reasonably low carb.
Unfortunately, I do not know the are you are visiting so cannot recommend a specific restaurant or take away but there is a large South Asian community in Birmingham so I know you will have a good choice in that area. Or, if you are in London, Brick Lane is THE Bangladeshi area (many "Indian" restaurants are run by people with a Bangladeshi heritage).
If you are looking for something that you do not have to cook and can nibble on in your tent, Britain has an amazing selection of cheeses. It would be difficult to recommend any as there are so many. But if you find a farmshop, they often have a good selection of local cheeses that you may not be able to find in a supermarket.
Talking of supermarkets, the main ones are Lidl and Aldi which you may be familiar with on the cheaper end; Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys and Coop in the middle; Waitrose and Marks and Spencer food halls are usually on the pricier side. That said, most have some sort of "budget" range although I always smile at Waitrose Essentials range which includes essentials such as avocados, baking parchment, laundry water softener tablets and halloumi.
Snacks are usually quite carby but if you can, I would encourage you to check out the British crisp (Americans call them "fries"). We have many many flavours with aisles of them in supermarkets. I enjoy Skips which have less carbs per bag (7.5g for a small bag) with a "prawn cocktail" flavour (at least that's what is says on the packet)
Yeah, that was a typo which someone else commented on but I never corrected as it would make future comments meaningless.I think you might find that Americans call crips,chips.
well if you are in or around London there is the walkie talkie building as it is like that image. It's called the Sky garden and is free of charge https://skygarden.london/what-is-sky-garden/I'll be visiting the UK for ten days early october so I thought to ask you what foods I definitely want to try!
Having so many locals on hand on the forum I would be stupid to not make use of your collective wisdom.
I'm looking for tips on supermarket foods as well as eating out in the cheaper segment.
And foods good to bring home with me as well.
Which supermarkets are the nicest? Or are they more or less the same?
I'll have a single camping cooker, a frying pan, a cooking pan and a small kettle. And a very small tent, no awning, so the ability to cook depends largely on the weather. Although I suppose I could still cook soup when it rains.
So ideas for easy (but tasty!) meals that don't need cooking are very welcome, but please add your tips for cooked meals as well, I expect it won't rain every day!
As for eating out, what are favourite places?
I'll be driving around roughly within the Harwich - London - Birmingham triangle, so specific small village places within that area are much welcomed.
I've never eaten a full English breakfast so I definitely need to try (minus toast and beans, and definitely not right after waking up), but where do you eat something like that? I'm not very experienced at eating out, not even in my own country so pretty much out of my depth here.
Should you happen to know a very nice small camping within that area, preferably with goats, chickens, guinea pigs, cows etc. or a nice view over a lake or such, tell me! So far I have only planned my first night so I can go wherever I want. The only thing I need in a camping is a spot to put up my tent and park my car, nothing fancy like electricity.
Any off topic tips on traveling in the UK, places to see, things to do are welcome too, derail away all you like!
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