July 6, 2010 - 7/6/2010 ~ Pounds to Rubles ~ Mickey invades the Baltic Sea

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks, Andrew. I'll look forward to what you find after looking around the area. We'd really prefer to eat somewhere that's not found in the U.S. (Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock, and most definitely not McDonalds). We spent nine days last October/November eating nothing but Chinese food, three meals a day, in Shanghai and Beijing, so we'd rather not go to China Town. How about a true "fish and chips" kind of place? Or a locally owned restaurant?

Yes, I know what you mean for fish and chips, its normally 'take away', ie you do not sit down, but a pub lunch with it is nice, wherever you are, I would go with the basics and say most pubs that look nice and well kept up outside should be ok inside, they normally serve food.

The funny thing is, we do not have many English places to eat, bar 'Pub's actually you can get Indian, (Brick Lane) Italian,(Convent garden) Chinese, (Soho), Greek and Turkish, (Soho to Tottenham court road), far easier than UK stuff, thoose are often out of town a bit or at the seaside.

Lots of American, -

True Fish and chips is in Southend on sea an hour by train from London.

Just done a internet search near London eye, as thought there isnt much down there:-

All Bar one
Wasabi

 

[Deb T.]

Yes, I know what you mean for fish and chips, its normally 'take away', ie you do not sit down, but a pub lunch with it is nice, wherever you are, I would go with the basics and say most pubs that look nice and well kept up outside should be ok inside, they normally serve food.

The funny thing is, we do not have many English places to eat, bar 'Pub's actually you can get Indian, (Brick Lane) Italian,(Convent garden) Chinese, (Soho), Greek and Turkish, (Soho to Tottenham court road), far easier than UK stuff, thoose are often out of town a bit or at the seaside.

Lots of American, -

True Fish and chips is in Southend on sea an hour by train from London.

Just done a internet search near London eye, as thought there isnt much down there:-

All Bar one
Wasabi

Just my luck... fly all the way across the pond just to find only American food.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Just my luck... fly all the way across the pond just to find only American food.

Thats the UK for you, anyway, take a walk around Leicester Square, Covent garden etc, you will find nice places there...

 

[aurorafan65]

We are getting so excited about this trip! Everything is falling into place - yay! The next "big" thing we are needing to plan is our time in London. For those of you who will be in London for a few days before we sail, what are you planning to do?

We fly in on the 2nd & are staying at the Crown Plaza The City -
we also have the biggies in our plan Big Ben, Tower bridge, the Eye, we figure those will be the 1st day along with riding the top deck of 'one of those cool buses'
another day we're going to the British museum - (the kids loved the mummy movies & I think they talk about it in the 1st one)
another day will be Bath & stonehenge (the roman soldier sold them on this one) http://www.england-london-tours.co.uk/stonehenge/tours/details.asp?iProductID=156

Tim really wants to do one of the ghost tours, but me & the kids are too chicken

 

[goingsouth]

Joanne, Do you want to add the list to the website?

http://pounds2rubles.wikidot.com/castaways

Yes I think so, jeff. I'm not sure if I am allowed to add to the site ?

joanne

 

[goingsouth]

How about dining suggestions for those of us staying by The London Eye?

We're staying at the Marriott there Deb..is that by your hotel?

joanne

 

[Deb T.]

We're staying at the Marriott there Deb..is that by your hotel?

joanne

It it's London Marriott County Hall, then yup!

 

[goingsouth]

It it's London Marriott County Hall, then yup!

We're at the same hotel. We just switched from the Grovsenor. We've also decided to spend 5 nights now, then one night in Dover. I really like the location at County Hall.

 

[goingsouth]

Hi
My name is Jill and I'm Shaun's (Sharper_fin) other half. If anyone needs any information about London, please let me know amd I'll try to help you. We've been loads of times and I know the tube system very well, so can help with getting you around London. If anyone is wanting to go on the London Eye my advice would be to book now, as it does save you a lot of time waiting in line. The London Eye does close for maintainance so it's best to check before hand whether it will be open when you're there. The British Museum is great, as are the Natural History and Science Museums and best of all, they're free, or they were when we last went in. Be prepared to spend quite a lot of time in each one, as they're large and on many floors.
Jill

I have a question Jill, since you were so kind to offer. Do you recommend the fast track at the Tower of London? We're trying to spend Sunday combining the Tower with a boat trip to Greenwich. I think the rail/boat Rover ticket seems to make sense. I just don't know what to expect in terms of lines..

thanks!

joanne

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have a question Jill, since you were so kind to offer. Do you recommend the fast track at the Tower of London? We're trying to spend Sunday combining the Tower with a boat trip to Greenwich. I think the rail/boat Rover ticket seems to make sense. I just don't know what to expect in terms of lines..

thanks!

joanne

Can I jump in and say YES, if you can do that, and the same at the London Eye pre book and the guaranteed time slot.

Queues in London can be long, we have lots of tourists all year around, for example stand by at Madame Tussuad's recently was two Hours, you only have a short time here so do get fast-track, does it include the crown jewels?

Spring summer will be busy, and will the pound (£) very low, lots of people are coming here as it great value, to sightsee, eat, shop etc.

 

[LisaTex]

Joanne, Do you want to add the list to the website?

http://pounds2rubles.wikidot.com/castaways

Just wanted to say great job on the website! I hadn't noticed that part about being able to use studio sea as a meet. that could be fun?? o/w i may just have to invite all you guys' kids over to our place

And you UK guys - thanks for all the great info. Are you for hire when we get there??

 

[goingsouth]

Can I jump in and say YES, if you can do that, and the same at the London Eye pre book and the guaranteed time slot.

Queues in London can be long, we have lots of tourists all year around, for example stand by at Madame Tussuad's recently was two Hours, you only have a short time here so do get fast-track, does it include the crown jewels?

Spring summer will be busy, and will the pound (£) very low, lots of people are coming here as it great value, to sightsee, eat, shop etc.

I will definitely take your advice..fast track it is!.much appreciated, Andrew Derek.. You are most helpful and kind.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Just wanted to say great job on the website! I hadn't noticed that part about being able to use studio sea as a meet. that could be fun?? o/w i may just have to invite all you guys' kids over to our place

And you UK guys - thanks for all the great info. Are you for hire when we get there??

I will definitely take your advice..fast track it is!.much appreciated, Andrew Derek.. You are most helpful and kind.

Should hire myself out, but i have a daytime job as well.

London is a fantastic city there is so much to do there, the best thing is like a Disney park is to plan it 'commando' style, I work there and I can tell you we have had the coldest winter for 30 years, but.... we still have tourists everywhere and long queues, when I walk over the Thames I see the tourists taking photos.

Plan, book, but also have some unplanned time for a walk, maybe St Paul's, around the cathedral, the grounds, to the millennium bridge over to the Tate, and the globe theater, drop in on an old pub en route, you cant get lost you will always hit a bus route or a tube.

If you have younger kids, take the DLR, Docklands light railway from Bank, try to get front seats, no driver, it will go to Docklands, the journey is very senic, saves yuor feet, come back via Stratford to view the Oylimpic site developement that you will see in 2012.

Shopping, as well as Regent St, (Hamleys) Knightsbridge (Harrods) Oxford street, (Department stores), go to Shepards bush for WESTFIELD, a very big Shopping mall,and cheaper than the others.

 

[Monstro]

Yes I think so, jeff. I'm not sure if I am allowed to add to the site ?

joanne

I need to email you a link. Then you'll need to establish a password and all that other fun stuff. PM me your email and I'll send you the link.

Thanks
Jeff

 

[LisaTex]

Just wanted to say great job on the website! I hadn't noticed that part about being able to use studio sea as a meet. that could be fun?? o/w i may just have to invite all you guys' kids over to our place

(to meet Ashton & Kaylee so I can get away to the spa)

 

[Monstro]

My birthday is on July 12. I always try to plan our summer trips so that my birthday falls somewhere in the middle. Much better than being in the office!

Alice,

I've added you to the special occasions list.....

http://pounds2rubles.wikidot.com/castaways

Scroll over the "Top Menu" to get to other pages.

Fsih extender info from Joanne is coming soon and hopefully some more cruise meet activities.

Lisa - do you want your Palo Bruch Group listed?

 

[nzdisneymom]

Great info y'all. Jill I remember you from the med cruise! Andrew thx for jumping in and sharing your advice as a local. We are flying fro Atlanta on Friday the 2nd. We plan to do the Canterbury and Leeds castle excursion thru dcl after the cruise so all our london site seeing must be on Saturday afternoon and sunday and Monday.

Andrew do you have a recommendation for a Beatles tour? I saw a few on trip advisor but would love a tip from a local if you know.

As for the British museum we want to see the Rosetta stone if we don't see anything else. It looks like covent garden has a bit to see. Gary wants fish and chips. The boys were happy to see a mcds right by the hotel which will work to get food in them while Gary and I can get uk food elsewhere.

It's 120 days out. Anyone get to book today?

 

[brandysmommy]

Can someone help explain "fast-track". I did some googling and it looks like some brokers or tour companies are selling "fast track" tickets. The London Pass also says you skip lines. Is one different than the other? Which is better? Thanks!

 

[Monstro]

.

It's 120 days out. Anyone get to book today?

Trying to.

 

[Fivepin]

It's 120 days out. Anyone get to book today?

Wow what a tough time I had. When I made the first Palo reservation, when I hit confirm, it gave me an error message. I went back into cruise activities and it was there. This happened to me several time throughout my session. The last spa treatment I was reserving, same thing happened, but the system had logged me out. I logged back in and it said I couldn't access the reservation for 20 minutes. So, I gave up.

Anyone else have that problem?