Help with our first trip to the UK !!!

[juliebro]

TZMOM - the Rubens hotel is on Buckingham Palace Road. It faces the Royal Mews (not the Palace itself) which house the Royal family's carriages and horses.

We have stayed at the hotel on two occasions and found it very comfortable and friendly.

Flying transatlantic is not too bad - I expect you will fly overnight and arrive in the UK early morning. You should be fine - as long as you can manage to sleep on the flight. You will probably need a couple of days to adjust to the time difference. It affects people more when they are travelling West to East - so we Brits all feel it on the arrival home. The good thing for you is that you will find it easier to adjust when you get home.

I am sure you will have a wonderful time - we have had many trips to London and the surrounding areas and there is always something new to do. The museums and art galleries alone can keep you occupied for days!

Julie

 

[carl_w]

Originally posted by Ron from Michigan
We have been reading up on your trains and they seem like a great way to go.

LOL! The UK has probably the worst public transport system in the world! I travel every day on the Stansted "Express" and can guarantee being late at least 2-3 days a week.

Althorp is well worth a trip (we got Earl Spencer to sign a book while were there) but is what we Brits consider "a long way" from London (around 80 miles). Althorp itself is huge (takes 20 mins to drive round the outside of it -- the Spencers used to be richer than the Windsors) and a long way from the railway station in Northampton. I guess you'll be wanting to get the train from Euston->Northampton (about an hour with a following wind, no snow or leaves on the tracks, the right temperature for the rails and no strikes). Alternatively if you drive you can clock triple-digit speeds on the motorways as long as there are no police or speed cameras around OTOH, in London you're lucky if you clock double-digit speeds

Train times can be looked up at www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

[florry]

Re: Althrop

you may find this site helpfull

http://www.city-discovery.com/london_tours/day_tour_out_of_london.php

Unless you are planning on car hire to get to some of these places I would suggest coach tours.

There are loads of companies who offer coach trips to Stonehenge, Bath, Windsor, Althrop Etc Etc. I should think that your hotel would have all the info you would need to get to these places.

Personally I would not rely on the trains as you could find yourself miles away from the attraction you wish to visit.

 

[mkmarty]

Hello,
Just 2 thoughts, you could go to Brighton, which we call London by the sea, but I think you will find it fasinating.
The other, not sure if this is mentioned above, you can get a weekly pass for te underground.
Have a good trip!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I have taken all the helpful tips and used quite a few of them. Thanks everyone, only 3 weeks to go!!!!

 

[Ang1e]

As you're doing the London Eye, can I recommend Frog Tours - the pick up is just across the road from the London Eye.

We did this tour last year and thought it was great - it's a London Tour in an amphibious vehicle and it ends with a dip in the Thames! and the guide was very funny and knowledgeable. DH, DD, DS & I enjoyed this ride more than the Tour Bus ride we did the previous to this.

Sounds like you have many wonderful things planned already, so hoping you have a great time

Ang

 

[mushumadness]

Hiya

Remember to take in a show

Also remember to keep safe pick pockets are rife in london so keep those wallets close,

If your looking for something different and have time, catch a train to york, its full of heritage, castles, the yok walls, and museums. A definate must for heritage fans.

Try watch the changing of the gaurds at the palace thats quiet nice.

Hope this helps

anna

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Ang1e , Thanks for the Frog tours tip ( it's now called Duck Tours ), we are giving this some thought if there is time, it sure sounds neat. We went to there website and read up on the tours.


mushumadness, We are going to see a show for sure while were in London. Two of the shows we are thinking of seeing are Phantom of the Opera or The Lion King. Have you seen either one of them or something else that is playing now.

I bought moneybelts for my wife and myself already so hope that will keep our passports & credit cards safe.

We are planing on watching the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, we already have tickets for the castle.

This is our first time to visit another country, so are a little nervous about everything, but we are really looking forward to our trip. We have wanted to visit GB for a long time.

 

[lucy_love_]

hi

i would recommend going to see a show while you are in london. i would and always do pre buy tickets. ticket master sell tickets to al llondon shows via thier web site www.ticketmaster.co.uk i dont know if you can buy them from www.ticketmaster.com for london shows but if you could that maybe better for you

love

lucy

 

[vernon]

If you're flexible on dates and times of a show ( matinees are always cheaper than evenings) there is a theatre ticket outlet in Leicester Square (middle of "theatre land in London) that often have last minute show tickets for sale at discount prices. It's on the south side of the square. You can't miss it as the square itself is only about 50 yards long by 50 yards wide.

My DG and I went to see Phantom last year and really enjoyed it. I know the Lion King is also a great show, but of the two I think Phantom is more of a "London" event than the LK JMHO.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks lucy_love_ for the ticket websites.

Thanks Vernon for the info. We are leaning towards going to see Phantom of the Opera, it just sounded like a great London show to us. Glad to hear you went and saw it last year and enjoyed it. I will keep Leicester square in mind if I don't buy tickets before we go.

I have been researching how to get around London, so hope we will manage. We have been in many big American cities but never used there local transportation.