Rubens Palace Hotel/London

[TZMOM]

Hi everybody!! My 14 y.o. DS and I will be making our 1st trip abroad to London at the end of August. We're staying at Rubens Palace, which looks to be very closely located to a lot of the "touristy" places in the city. Has anyone stayed there or have any opinions about this hotel?

I'm just curious and EXTREMELY excited to get there, so I'm trying to find out as much as I can, + I'm driving all my co-workers nuts with my enthusiasm.

Any suggestions for our first day? I assume we'll be pretty tired unless we can get in a few hours sleep on the plane. We're flying United leaving Philadelphia on a Saturday night at 8:00 p.m., getting into Dublin at 7:35 a.m. on Sunday, and finally making it to Heathrow at 10:35 a.m. Sunday. I was thinking maybe we'd try to get over to Harrod's and have a look around.

I've bought a London Pass travelcard w/transport for both of us (just had a 10% off special.) We're planning on taking a day trip to Stonehenge/Bath one day and I would like to try and get to Hampton Court Palace also, but they way things are looking, I think we'll run out of time

Thank you for any tips or opinions you may be able to share.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

The Rubens is very nice - the rooms can be a bit on the small side, but the public areas are spacious and comfortable. It's very close to Buckingham Palace and only a few minutes walk from Victoria Underground/Rail station.

Hampton Court Palace is a very easy journey from central London. Easiest way to get there is to take a train from Waterloo station. Journey time is about 40 minutes, and the Palace is just a couple of minutes walk from Hampton Court train station.

If you're tired on the first day perhaps you could take a bus tour around the city? It's an easy way to see a few sites without having to put much effort into travelling around.

Regards

Rob

 

[juliebro]

Hi,

We have stayed at the Rubens hotel a couple of times, although it was about 5 years ago. We really liked the hotel - not too big, but of a good standard. I seem to remember the beds being really comfortable.

There is so much to see and do in London - and I'm sure you will get many suggestions. I would consider the London Eye which will give you get views over the city - and probably the Tower of London - which has probably enough gruesome history to keep your DS interested!

I hope you enjoy it.

Julie

 

[TZMOM]

Thank you both so much for your help.

Rob, I'm looking at my tube map - please correct me if I'm wrong (not very good w/these kinds of things. . . . .)

If I'm leaving from Victoria, would I take the District line to Embankment and change to the Northern line to Waterloo, then catch a train to Hampton Court? Do you think that planning a good part of a day for visiting here?

I'm so excited - I'm wishing the days away until we get there. . . .

Thanks again!!

 

[BONZO]

Hi,

From ViICTORIA take CIRCLE LINE towards EMBANKMENT

or DISTRICT LINE towards UPMINSTER

or DISTRICT LINE towards TOWER HILL

and change at EMBANKMENT


at EMBANKMENT


Take NORTHERN LINE towards MORDEN

or NORTHERN LINE towards KENNINGTON

or BAKERLOO LINE towards ELEPHANT & CASTLE


Arrive at WATERLOO

 

[Olaf]

Bonzo, I'm impressed. Did you come up with that just off the top of your head?

 

[TZMOM]

I'm pretty impressed myself!!

Thanks for the help.

 

[BONZO]

Did you come up with that just off the top of your head?

Why of course!


Ok - so I lied! - LOL


Click here for the Underground Journey Planner

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by TZMOM
Do you think that planning a good part of a day for visiting here?

Depending on your interests it would be fairly easy to spend a day visiting Hampton Court Palace and its environs. The Palace itself is quite interesting if you're into that sort of thing, the gardens are very impressive and don't forget the Hampton Court Maze which is a lot of fun (especially for your DS). More info on the Palace here and here.

If you wanted to be a little adventurous you could take a river cruise up the Thames from Westminster to Hampton Court Palace (returning to London by train). More info here. If this took up too much time but you still wanted a river trip there are several companies which offer short hops from Hampton Court Palace to Richmond and Kew.

Regards

Rob

 

[Dimplenose]

I have sent you an Email with a few ideas/thoughts. I hope you get it.

Libby

 

[littlegreydonkey]

HI there - you know when you read something and you think, I'm sure.... well I just checked. Don't plan to go to Harrods on Sunday, it's closed according to the website. Hate you to miss out.
Check the opening hours on www.harrods.com