London "Must Do's"

[WeLoveABD]

We went and loved the village (Windsor)--wish we had more time to explore. We ate at a small multi-story restaurant called, I think, the Crooked Inn (the building was leaning--on a corner along the main street).

 

[BriarRosie]

Thanks for the Ceremony of the Keys info. I think at least half our group has sent away for the ticket. I must say that I'm glad they sell International Reply Coupons on usps.com. My local post office does not sell them. Considering this was a "free" ticket, I paid about $20 just to send out my request and get a reply.

Wish me luck that I am not the schmo who just missed out on the last ticket.

 

[pjacobi]

Has anyone done a trip to Windsor Castle on their pre-trip days? I would really love to go but am so short on time. Really the only time I can do it is on our arrival day (the day before the ABD trip starts). Our flight gets in to Heathrow at 8am and we're staying at the same hotel as for the ABD trip - the Renaissance Chancery Court.

Windsor Castle is located less then 10 miles west of Heathrow airport.

When you arrive, consider checking your luggage at the airport, seeing Windsor Castle, returning back to airport to collect luggage, then travel to hotel in London in the afternoon. Your hotel room may not be ready when you arrive in the morning.


-Paul

 

[kristilew]

Windsor Castle is located less then 10 miles west of Heathrow airport.

When you arrive, consider checking your luggage at the airport, seeing Windsor Castle, returning back to airport to collect luggage, then travel to hotel in London in the afternoon. Your hotel room may not be ready when you arrive in the morning.


-Paul

Can you still do this with your luggage, with all the security? I know when we were in San Juan last month, this was no longer an option. (We have fond memories of a trip years ago that involved a long layover, checking our luggage at the airport, and gambling the afternoon away....)

Anyway, Sarabi's Cubs, check the Windsor Castle schedule for the day you are interested in going. We found that sometimes parts of the tour are closed, since it is still a working residence. It may help you to decide, if you can know that you will or won't be able to see the parts that interest you.

As for timing, we stayed in Windsor and took a train into the city in January, and all told it took about 40 min. We had to change trains at least once, depending on where we were going. I agree with Paul that it would be easier to go from the airport. Not sure about your baggage, though....

 

[WeLoveABD]

We took a private cab to Windsor, and had a set time to meet him in the town later in the day; they might be able to watch after your luggage if you can't store at the airport. Are you taking the tube from the airport to the hotel, or did you do a pre-night through Disney? (If so, maybe Disney can take the bags and you can arrange for transportation to the hotel later--or there might be others who are meeting Disney for a prenight through them, and that transport company can take your bags to the hotel?) We did a couple of nights at the Renassiance (love the hotel and the location!) prior to last summer's Baltic with the DCL, and took the took straight to the Hoborn Tube stop and walked a block up to the hotel--took a while, but stayed on the same line. Very easy--although there is one set of steps you have to drag your luggage up (in the airport station I think), but not too bad.

 

[sayhello]

I was also wondering if you have your transportation from the airport arranged by ABD. If so, I agree with the very smart WeLoveABD, that you should contact ABD and see what options you'd have with their transportation.

Sayhello

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

Our pre-night is at the Renaissance but not through ABD (using Marriott points) so no ABD transportation. I will have to check into storing our luggage at the airport though. Leaving directly from Heathrow sounds like a great idea.

Laurie

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

I looked on Heathrow's website and it says they don't have baggage lockers for security reasons but they do have a "Left Luggage" area in all 4 terminals where you can check bags for up to 24 hours for L8 per bag.

Thanks for the great tip! Now I'm thinking we'll have time to see Windsor, collect our bags, check in at the hotel, and catch a show that night!

Laurie

 

[sayhello]

I looked on Heathrow's website and it says they don't have baggage lockers for security reasons but they do have a "Left Luggage" area in all 4 terminals where you can check bags for up to 24 hours for L8 per bag.

Thanks for the great tip! Now I'm thinking we'll have time to see Windsor, collect our bags, check in at the hotel, and catch a show that night!

Laurie

Very cool! I'm so glad it will work out!

Sayhello

 

[WeLoveABD]

It still might be worth your while to check with ABD about having your luggage brought over to the Renassiance on the day you arrive so you don't have to lug it on the tube or worry about storing it at the airport--assuming ABD already has folks being picked up that same day who are there on an ABD pre-night. No harm in asking if your bags can hitch a ride--they's be doing so anyway the next day had you flown in then.

 

[pjacobi]

You can take the Tube from Heathrow into London for about 5 pounds, however it is very slow, about a 45 minute ride with lots of stops. It's a painful trip after sitting on the plane for 6 hours.

A better option is the Heathrow Express which gets you direct into Paddington station in 15 minutes, but cost 16 pounds. It's very convenient if you hotel is located near Paddington station, otherwise you need a short tube ride to your destination.

Cab fare is about 60 pounds, and is 30-45 minutes.


-Paul

 

[WeLoveABD]

The hotel they are staying at is just a block up from the tube station--and on the same line so no need to transfer to a different subway train. (Plus they'll have gotten a good workout walking around Windsor and the Castle!)

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

Thanks for the advice!! So should we take a bus from Heathrow to Windsor? a cab? It doesn't look like we can take the tube there.

Also, any advice on getting tickets to a sold out show? We'd really like to see Richard III and it's completely sold out while we're there. Looks like some online agencies may have tickets (more expensive of course) but I'm not sure how to verify that they're legitimate.

Laurie

 

[BriarRose59]

We got back home this past Monday from our ABD Knights & Lights tour. We spent 4 days at DLParis at the end. I had promised a review of the Dr. Who Experience. If you are a fan of the show, its fantastic. There were props, costumes, the inside of the Tardis, "making of" movies on some of the creatures and lots of other stuff. Its well worth your time. We took the tube and didn't have any problems.

Also, there is a great restaurant really close to the hotel. Its called The Ship's Tavern. They have fantastic fish and chips and great beer. Its a lovely old place with polite and helpful staff.

I hope you have a great time! We did!

 

[sayhello]

We got back home this past Monday from our ABD Knights & Lights tour. We spent 4 days at DLParis at the end. I had promised a review of the Dr. Who Experience. If you are a fan of the show, its fantastic. There were props, costumes, the inside of the Tardis, "making of" movies on some of the creatures and lots of other stuff. Its well worth your time. We took the tube and didn't have any problems.

Also, there is a great restaurant really close to the hotel. Its called The Ship's Tavern. They have fantastic fish and chips and great beer. Its a lovely old place with polite and helpful staff.

I hope you have a great time! We did!

Whoohoo! Thanks for reporting back! How long did it take you to do the Dr. Who Experience? Did it cover all of the Doctors?

Sayhello

 

[BriarRose59]

Whoohoo! Thanks for reporting back! How long did it take you to do the Dr. Who Experience? Did it cover all of the Doctors?

Sayhello

We stayed for about 2 hours. There is a snack bar at the end with sandwiches and drinks outside of the gift shop if you get hungry or thirsty. Yes, it covered all of the doctors. I don't want to tell you much more so you will still have some surprises!

I also wanted to let you know that there is no free wifi in either hotel. The hotel in Paris is no longer a Renaissance. It changed hands while we were there. I don't know what they are going to do about the wifi, but there is a McDonalds about half a block down with free wifi. In Paris, if you are a Hilton Gold member you get free wifi. Make sure to take your membership card. They don't have much luck looking up your number. If you are going to DLP, you have to go to the gift shop on the 2nd level to buy an internet card. We bought an hour for 4.5 euros. You can buy 24 hours but I can't remember how much, but it is 24 hours straight, i.e. 10 a.m. Monday until 10 a.m. Tuesday. If you buy the hour, its good for 60 minutes and doesn't expire until you use all of your time. We also found that the Earl of Sandwich in the Disney Village has free wifi. Starbucks had free wifi also, but wanted us to fill out an online form with all of our contact info. We didn't feel comfortable doing that so just stuck with buying drinks and/or sandwiches at the Earl, which has great food if you haven't tried them.

 

[JulieWent]

The British Library is also running a science fiction section right now that has a rather extensive Dr. Who section. DH was so excited to have his picture taken next to the Tardis. LOL.

I haven't read through the whole thread, but when we went on ABD's Knights and Lights, our favorite thing -- off tour -- was a trip to the British Museum. It's free, and the WHOLE world is right there. The Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, it's like seeing everything in London.

 

[sayhello]

We stayed for about 2 hours. There is a snack bar at the end with sandwiches and drinks outside of the gift shop if you get hungry or thirsty. Yes, it covered all of the doctors. I don't want to tell you much more so you will still have some surprises!

I also wanted to let you know that there is no free wifi in either hotel. The hotel in Paris is no longer a Renaissance. It changed hands while we were there. I don't know what they are going to do about the wifi, but there is a McDonalds about half a block down with free wifi. In Paris, if you are a Hilton Gold member you get free wifi. Make sure to take your membership card. They don't have much luck looking up your number. If you are going to DLP, you have to go to the gift shop on the 2nd level to buy an internet card. We bought an hour for 4.5 euros. You can buy 24 hours but I can't remember how much, but it is 24 hours straight, i.e. 10 a.m. Monday until 10 a.m. Tuesday. If you buy the hour, its good for 60 minutes and doesn't expire until you use all of your time. We also found that the Earl of Sandwich in the Disney Village has free wifi. Starbucks had free wifi also, but wanted us to fill out an online form with all of our contact info. We didn't feel comfortable doing that so just stuck with buying drinks and/or sandwiches at the Earl, which has great food if you haven't tried them.

Thanks again for all the info! That's a good reason to hit up Earl of Sandwich!

The British Library is also running a science fiction section right now that has a rather extensive Dr. Who section. DH was so excited to have his picture taken next to the Tardis. LOL.

I haven't read through the whole thread, but when we went on ABD's Knights and Lights, our favorite thing -- off tour -- was a trip to the British Museum. It's free, and the WHOLE world is right there. The Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, it's like seeing everything in London.

Thanks! The British Museum is definitely on my list. Many people have recommended it! Sounds great. I'll try & check out the British Library, too.

Sayhello

 

[kristilew]

So, a group of us have booked a tour for the morning before the ABD starts. It's the "Royal Day Out" tour of Buckingham Palace that includes the State Rooms, Royal Mews and The Queen's Gallery. The Queen's Gallery part is timed, and we bought for 10am. The other 2 are whenever during the day. So I'm thinking, somewhere in there, we're going to want to stop for lunch, then go back to our touring. Does anyone have a suggestion for a nice place to have lunch near Buckingham Palace? It doesn't have to be fancy. I'm thinking good food is way more important at this point! (We have a fancy dinner planned for one of our "dinners on your own" already).

Thanks!
Sayhello

Just found out I'm going back to London in August! Doing the stay-in-Windsor thing again, as it's another work trip for poor hubby, but I'm looking forward to more daylight and more days in one place this time.

I'm also excited that things that were closed in January will be open (although I'm sure crowded, oh well), and definitely want to do this Royal Day Out. Sayhello, can you tell me about booking this? Can you print your ticket or is it will-call?

Also, did you find out anything about the AAA tube pass?

Thanks!

 

[sayhello]

Just found out I'm going back to London in August! Doing the stay-in-Windsor thing again, as it's another work trip for poor hubby, but I'm looking forward to more daylight and more days in one place this time.

I'm also excited that things that were closed in January will be open (although I'm sure crowded, oh well), and definitely want to do this Royal Day Out. Sayhello, can you tell me about booking this? Can you print your ticket or is it will-call?

Also, did you find out anything about the AAA tube pass?

Thanks!

What days will you be there? I'm doing a few pre-days August 30 - Sep 1st. Wouldn't it be crazy to meet up there??

Anyways, here's a link to the site about The Royal Day out tour (scroll well down the page).
http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/default.asp?action=article&ID=32

I'm still trying to find about will-call. They mailed our tickets to us, but we bought them quite a while ago. And Princess Katherine's wedding dress is now included as a part of the tour until October!

Thanks for the reminder. Really need to talk to AAA about passes. I'm heading there tomorrow to exchange for some pounds & euros, so I'll ask them then.

Glad you're going again!

Sayhello