Jules Europe

Lived there up until 7 years ago but I normally visit a couple a times each year, was in Manchester a couple of years ago.

YankeemovingAbroad

Thank you Jules. Have finally gotten off the wall and decided on Bucks. Now all to do is picking the house to rent and departure date. Interesting how the exchange rate is now going up as I near my leave. Can't expect everything to go as planned when visiting other countries.

srah

Wise choice and just as I said...

Bloodsport

So you've chosen Buckinghamshire...

Well I live in Chalfont St Peter, which is just about the southernmost tip of the county. We've got the main line train link going from Gerrards Cross to Marylebone which takes about 25 minutes to get to the centre of London.

Whilst glancing through the previous posts, I picked out a few of your interests as tennis, horse riding and walking, so I picked a couple of examples...

My wife goes horse riding at Windsor Great Park (which is fantastic although it's in Berkshire, I think) and we often go walking our dog for a few hours around the great networks of public footpaths in the area around us. There are loads of tennis clubs here too, although trying to get a game during the time Wimbledon is on is going to be difficult. If you want any specifics or more information and ideas, I could try to point you in the right direction.

The other good thing about this area is the easy access up the M40 motorway to Oxford (a good day out) and pretty good links to head west towards Bristol and the Cotswolds. Then there is Henley-on-Thames and Marlow as well as some great pubs and food (if you know where to go).

There are loads of things to do and you would do well to have Chalfont St Peter as your base.

....also, just because we are southern doesn't mean we are all unfriendly. It's only 98.3% that are unfriendly.

YankeemovingAbroad

Thank you for the travel tips they are much appreciated. This is going to be a very fun adventure on so many levels I'm going to try and keep my stay in the UK as relaxed and day by day as possible. Will definitely have a host of things planned prior to my departure but for the most part will decide on events the day before on most outings.

Speaking of Wimbledon, I'm in the process as we speak trying to decide if attending a long day session would be wise. I will not arrive in the UK until the second week of Wimbledon. Can't be helped due to prior commitments. I think if my day session were to get rained out there is a policy of no refunds. Might leave that decision to the side until a few weeks before the tournaments starts just in case I can still buy tickets at a later date or if I can get a read on the weather forecast at least 10 days out.

I've been told that it does rain more often in the UK during the spring/summer months. I'm so excited that I might not even mind the rain.

Fleaflyfloflum

Are you sure you will be able to get tickets at that late stage? They are notoriously hard to get hold of i am told. It is well known that people camp out on the pavements the night before just to get in!

dboy

Trust me as a former manc - stay away from manchester - there are good areas close by, so may be ok as a base location, otherwise not much going for it.

YankeemovingAbroad

I'm not sure if a later purchase is possible. Tickets go on sale on june 8th. I might just go for matches played at the new indoor stadium only. Will limit my match choices but it's the safest way to hedge my bet. And speaking of betting I think it's very cool that legal betting is allowed on tennis matches in the UK. Might have to get a fiver down on a few favorites. Why am I smiling so much

YankeemovingAbroad

Jules, would you really rather live in New York than London or Paris? I find that opinion interesting coming from a european. I have heard that New York city is considered a safer & cleaner city than London. In a few weeks I'll get the chance to truly explore all the different districts of London and get a feel for the cultures there. I'm curious, why do you prefer NYC over London and Paris?

Jules Europe

Camping on the pavements is all part of the Wimbledon experience and shouldn´t be missed.

Jules Europe

Firstly I think London is safer than NY and yes you could describe London as a dirty city in many areas. There are few cities dirtier than London probably Buenos Aires is the dirtiest I´ve seen (I am talking about civilized cities here and not the butt ends of the world) London is completely different to most european cities and for that reason its one of my favorites, for example cities in southern europe have similarities such as architectural design, atmosphere and funny smells, whereas cities in northern europe have there own architecture, atmosphere and smells etc Most of eastern europe could be grouped together as well (most are bland thanks to communist city planning) with the exception being jewels like Budapest etc.

Reason I Love NY is because it is so different to europe in many aspects, I love the greater melting pot of different cultures, the uniqueness of the city, the Bronx, Harlem, Queens and all the weirdos that roam the city at night, especially the waco´s in central park I love the feel that this was the city that offered a new world to millions of immigrants and for these reasons its unique to me, its probably my favorite city.