Hey UKers/Europeans, I need advice!

[Visirale]

I'm going to be studying at Lancaster University next fall for a semester with some close friends from my school.

I'm not too worried about the univerisity. I want advice of things we HAVE to do. I'm so excited for having a pub in my dorm and a society that treats me like an adult.

We have a few weeks free to travel and I'm going to try to hit as many countries as I can. I've already been to England, France, Holland, Italy, and Greece and I'm tempted to visit them all again. I know I will be going to Amsterdam again for sure, and I'd love to party in Paris.

Any more suggestions for fun "extracurricular" trips?

Also, what beers do I need to try? Any local liquors I should know about? I was very pleasantly surprised with Limoncello a year or so ago when I was in Italy.

Thanks! I'm so excited!

[Tsal]

Originally Posted by Visirale

Any more suggestions for fun "extracurricular" trips?
Also, what beers do I need to try?

If you have a long bit of free time, you might want to pick up an InterRail card and just cruise around on tracks. Backpacking hostels are popular, good way for meeting other people, and pretty cheap too.

As for the beer, I recommend you try ALL of them! How about keeping a small notebook with you, and writing up all the beers you have tasted while in Europe?

[Rusty Chainsaw]

Originally Posted by Visirale

I'm going to be studying at Lancaster University next fall for a semester with some close friends from my school.

I'm not too worried about the univerisity. I want advice of things we HAVE to do. I'm so excited for having a pub in my dorm and a society that treats me like an adult.

We have a few weeks free to travel and I'm going to try to hit as many countries as I can. I've already been to England, France, Holland, Italy, and Greece and I'm tempted to visit them all again. I know I will be going to Amsterdam again for sure, and I'd love to party in Paris.

Any more suggestions for fun "extracurricular" trips?

Also, what beers do I need to try? Any local liquors I should know about? I was very pleasantly surprised with Limoncello a year or so ago when I was in Italy.

Thanks! I'm so excited!

Firstly, bookmark this site:

www.ryanair.com

... they will fly you to practically anywhere in Europe for next to nothing, especially if you book well in advance. Their planes are pretty much like huge flying buses, but it's manageable as you're rarely in the air for much more than an hour. Plus, a quick tip... never take more than you can bring as hand luggage, as they charge through the nose for checked baggage.

As for places to go, go and see the rest of the UK outside London - at Lancaster, you're close to Manchester, Leeds and all those great cities in the North. Outside the UK, do go and see Paris (but make sure you know some French - the French are much nicer to you if you can speak their language), go to Berlin (awesome city), and be sure to check out Belgium - there's loads to do in Brussels and Bruges is beautiful.

Also, make sure you go to Dublin. Awesomely fun city, great people, good music scene, and pubs on every corner. But stay away from Temple Bar - it's a tourist trap. And beers to try? Try it all. That's what being a student is all about.

[Baryonyx]

By University of lancaster, do you mean the university on the self contained campus, or do you mean the University of Central Lancaster which is in Preston? If you're in Preston I can give you a lot of good advice on places to go and see (although there isn't much there!).

[Toasted]

Feel free to come accross to Leeds and see me.

[Baryonyx]

I can recommend some excellent takeaways in Preston (I spend quite a bit of time there on social trips). Students love takeaways (I did when I was a student) so get used to these.

[dj150888]

Come to Ireland, drink Guinness. Need a tour guide? I'll be happy to help.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Visirale

I'm going to be studying at Lancaster University next fall for a semester with some close friends from my school.

I'm not too worried about the univerisity. I want advice of things we HAVE to do. I'm so excited for having a pub in my dorm and a society that treats me like an adult.

We have a few weeks free to travel and I'm going to try to hit as many countries as I can. I've already been to England, France, Holland, Italy, and Greece and I'm tempted to visit them all again. I know I will be going to Amsterdam again for sure, and I'd love to party in Paris.

Spain is the easiest and often cheapest travel destination from Britain!!

It has some great cities to visit - Barcelona and Madrid are must-sees - as is the Prado and many other Art Galleries.

Granada is another very nice old-world City and the Alhambra is again a must-see! I also like Seville and Palma on the island of Mallorca.

There are of course endless beach resports with nightlife as well!

[bassybill]

While you're up at the top end of England, make a point of crossing the border and having a look at Scotland. The Borders region is not far from you and is very scenic. The Highlands are spectacular if you can get up that far, on the west coast especially.

[Vorago]

The beer is Belgium is nice, other than that the country is pretty much going down the drain...so **** it.

+1 on the Highlands and the North-West coast.

[Happynoj]

Originally Posted by Toasted

Feel free to come accross to Leeds and see me.

+1

[Grimoire]

Try any and all ales you come across, should be a nice change from the American cats pee. Small country pubs are great for micro-brewery ales. For bigger pubs, go for Newcastle Brown, or Guiness.