2011 London Before or After ABD Ireland Questions

[allforpooh]

Hi All,

Starting to seriously plan our summer 2011 trip to Ireland, we are going to either book the Jun 25 or Jul 5 ABD trip. We would like to also like to go to London before or after Ireland, and would love any suggestions on the best way to do this and also what to do in London.

Here are a few questions, but any other helpful hits will be welcomed.

The plan is 6 or 7 nights in London booking everything ourselves, trying to use Marriott Reward Points.

1) Before or After...we originally thought to go before, for the people who have gone on previous ABD trips what do you think?

2) Best strategy for getting to Ireland from London or reverse if at the end of the Ireland trip.

3) Recommended Hotels in London, or neighborhood to stay?

4) London, what shouldn't we miss. ( Husband is big WWII buff, and I love Castles, DD18 shopping)

5) Thinking of taking the train to Belgium one day to visit some exchange students we had with us this summer. Suggestions...is this too much?

6) Anyone that has done the Marriott Point packages for Air and Hotel, suggestions welcome.

Thanks for all of your help,
Denise

 

[Dimplenose]

I don't think there is a right order to do this - do you want to be jet lagged in Ireland or London?

Dublin to London, Heathrow is less than an hour by plane.

London, St Pancras to Brussels is about 3 hours by Eurostar - a very easy journey that takes you right to the city centre but won't get you there until lunchtime as Belgium is 1 hour ahead of UK times.

 

[torsie24]

Hello!

What does the Ireland ABD trip include, and how long is it?

If the Ireland trip is quite an active one and short, then maye start in London, that way you could have a day or two just seeing some sights/shopping at your own pace and you won't tire yourselves out too much - I find the jetlag west --> east to be pretty tough for a day or two. You certainly won't want any early mornings.

Your daughter might like to visit Selfridges, which is a big department store (take the tube to Bond Street and it's almost opposite) and we like to shop in the huge TopShop at Oxford Circus - she will love it in there!

If you like castles there's a beautiful pink one about 2 hours away by Eurostar - but seriously Leeds and Hever castle are both gorgeous if you don't mind heading out of the city a bit. We live right by Hever so wave as you go by!

 

[aoifesmom]

Hi


Your husband will love the imperial war museum in London




Jo

 

[aoifesmom]

Sory should also have said, my husband is from Dublin and the only reasonable way to get their is to fly as previous poster said. the sea crossing is at least 4 hours and very rough. Put it like this, I have been with him for 17 years and we live in England and I have never got the ferry.


The London eye is a must as well, great panaramic views of London

Jo

 

[Sapper383]

another vote for the IWM....your husband will love it

Buckingham Palace would be a good place to visit

You can get open top bus rides showing you the sights of London....an advantage of this is that you can get on and off as you please.

and if you want an abundance of castles.....Wales is the country you should visit......there are 4 within 30mins of where I live

 

[allforpooh]

Thanks for all of the suggestions...we are now booked for 7 nights London then 1 night Dublin then the ADB Ireland trip.

I have added all of your suggestions to my to do list...and now I am looking at Wales...whew maybe 7 nights was not enough...Oh well what ever I don't fit in this time means we will just have to go back again.

 

[JonFozz]

Try visit other parts of the UK while you are here. Yorkshire is beautiful with some great Cities like York & Leeds as well as the best countryside in the UK with hills, national parks, moorland forests and open farm land.

If your husband is from Ireland, then he will just love the Yorkshire Beer, while you have afternoon tea in Bettys tea rooms in York or Harrogate.

Have a great trip

 

[allforpooh]

Try visit other parts of the UK while you are here. Yorkshire is beautiful with some great Cities like York & Leeds as well as the best countryside in the UK with hills, national parks, moorland forests and open farm land.

If your husband is from Ireland, then he will just love the Yorkshire Beer, while you have afternoon tea in Bettys tea rooms in York or Harrogate.

Have a great trip

We were just talking about the best way to visit places outside of London, what's the best way to get around?

Thanks,
Denise