The 2010 Baltic Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[MrsScooby]

Andrew (or any one else who is willing to comment)

Looking for tour company in London. Four adults who would prefer a guided day tour rather than on your own. Dad's words were "the royal tour." Car, van, or tour bus to pick us up from our B&B, provide transportation and guides for the day. No hassle with tubes and trying to arrange for a guided tour after arriving at the attraction.

Thank you so much.

Heidi

Heidi, I can't speak from experience, but these are some that I came across during my own searching. If we could have afforded it we would have gone this route as well.
Maybe someone who has taken a tour like these can recommend a specific one
I have heard that it is worthwhile to stick with a bluebadge guide.
Good luck

http://www.bluebadgetaxitours.com/

http://www.blackcabtourslondon.com/bluebadge.htm

http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Home/Whistle_Stop_Tours/default.aspx

 

[MrsScooby]

Anyone eaten at Punch Tavern in London

The menu looked good and the London Pass gives you a discount there

http://www.punchtavern.com/

 

[Doingitagain]

DD found an iPad / iPhone app where you can download the London Tube Map. She said it has all the major attractions by the tube and shows where to get off. You can click on a station name and it will bring you to that station on the map. You can click on a tube line name and it will highlight that line. It also has closures. It was $2.00 and she found it under the travel category.

 

[MrsScooby]

DD found an iPad / iPhone app where you can download the London Tube Map. She said it has all the major attractions by the tube and shows where to get off. You can click on a station name and it will bring you to that station on the map. You can click on a tube line name and it will highlight that line. It also has closures. It was $2.00 and she found it under the travel category.

Gotta make sure to get that
Thanks

 

[Rogillio]

Are all the rental cars in London right-hand drive or can you get either? I'm trying to imagine using a stick-shift with my left hand. My wife says the right hand drive would probably server to remind me to stay on the left side of the road.

~Mike

 

[WVMD]

Left hand drive cars are rare - only something imported will be left drive - I've never seen a rental with left hand drive. It is quite different shifting with the left.... my right hand feels left out...

Virgil

 

[K8T]

Are all the rental cars in London right-hand drive or can you get either? I'm trying to imagine using a stick-shift with my left hand. My wife says the right hand drive would probably server to remind me to stay on the left side of the road.

~Mike

They are definately all RH drive. However, I know from experience driving abroad myself, that you do get used to using the other hand to change gear remarkably quickly!

 

[RJAYL]

Okay which Bus company to use in London the Hop on Hop off or Big Bus?

It seems you can get a slightly better deal with the Hop on Hop Off, however I like that the Big Bus really has a simplified loop design they both have river cruises included?

Also which is the best way to book advance tickets for the Tower of London?

 

[Rogillio]

Okay which Bus company to use in London the Hop on Hop off or Big Bus?

It seems you can get a slightly better deal with the Hop on Hop Off, however I like that the Big Bus really has a simplified loop design they both have river cruises included?

Also which is the best way to book advance tickets for the Tower of London?

I'd like to know this too.

Why do you think you need advance tickets to the Tower of London. That is on our list of places to visit but I never thought about getting advanced tickets.

~Mike

 

[xangav]

I just booked mine through the Tower of London website. Very easy and they arrived within a week.

http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/

 

[wintergreen]

Okay which Bus company to use in London the Hop on Hop off or Big Bus?

It seems you can get a slightly better deal with the Hop on Hop Off, however I like that the Big Bus really has a simplified loop design they both have river cruises included?

Also which is the best way to book advance tickets for the Tower of London?

We did the Big Bus when we were in London a couple of years ago, and thought it was great. I've also done the Tower several times, but never got advance tickets.

 

[sbell111]

Okay which Bus company to use in London the Hop on Hop off or Big Bus?

It seems you can get a slightly better deal with the Hop on Hop Off, however I like that the Big Bus really has a simplified loop design they both have river cruises included?

Also which is the best way to book advance tickets for the Tower of London?

The 'Original' is much cheaper ($7.5 GBP) than Big Bus when purchased online using the discount code.

 

[MrsScooby]

Okay which Bus company to use in London the Hop on Hop off or Big Bus?

It seems you can get a slightly better deal with the Hop on Hop Off, however I like that the Big Bus really has a simplified loop design they both have river cruises included?

Also which is the best way to book advance tickets for the Tower of London?

I'd like to know this too.

Why do you think you need advance tickets to the Tower of London. That is on our list of places to visit but I never thought about getting advanced tickets.

~Mike

I just booked mine through the Tower of London website. Very easy and they arrived within a week.

http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/

From what I've read, the Tower of London is very popular and during vacation time expecially can have very long lines. We figured the London Pass (provided you get it from the right website) is a good buy for an intensive one day tour as it gives you front of the line access to the Tower of London as well as several other spots.
However, if you are there for more than a day or so and have the flexibility to visit the popular spots early in the morning, you can get by with regular tickets...I think

 

[xangav]

From what I've read, the Tower of London is very popular and during vacation time expecially can have very long lines. We figured the London Pass (provided you get it from the right website) is a good buy for an intensive one day tour as it gives you front of the line access to the Tower of London as well as several other spots.
However, if you are there for more than a day or so and have the flexibility to visit the popular spots early in the morning, you can get by with regular tickets...I think

This is what we were figuring. We will be there for six days wanting to hit the highlights and want a little flexibility. I crunched the numbers for the London Pass and it came out to about the same with very little savings. Mainly, because the Pass was steering us toward places we probably wouldn't go unless we had more time.

It seems that you can spend upwards of three hours at the Tower leaving not a lot of time to hit too many other attractions in the afternoon. I guess it depends on how much you want to see and how fast you can move.

I paid 54.50 pounds for two adults, one student, and one child, or $80

 

[K8T]

From experience recently, i would suggest the bus with the river cruise, it is a good way to get either to or from the tower and very interesting.

I would also get tickets for the tower if you are short of time. We didn't go in this time as the queues were so long.

Kate

 

[cindy18]

This is what we were figuring. We will be there for six days wanting to hit the highlights and want a little flexibility. I crunched the numbers for the London Pass and it came out to about the same with very little savings. Mainly, because the Pass was steering us toward places we probably wouldn't go unless we had more time.

It seems that you can spend upwards of three hours at the Tower leaving not a lot of time to hit too many other attractions in the afternoon. I guess it depends on how much you want to see and how fast you can move.

I paid 54.50 pounds for two adults, one student, and one child, or $80

The Tower is easily a 3-hour or more visit. I recommend going first thing in the morning to avoid bad crowds. The beefeater tourguides are worth the trip on their own, but the history of the place and everything there is to see and learn makes it quite worthwhile. The grounds themselves are interesting to explore after the tour, and we even had a surprisingly good lunch in the cafeteria. Given its location, we combined a morning at the Tower with a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral, a personal favorite of mine. Great day.

 

[xangav]

Thanks Cindy18,

It's good to confirmation for one's plans. That's what we were thinking as well. Now I am glad I bought the tickets ahead of time!

 

[cindy18]

Thanks Cindy18,

It's good to confirmation for one's plans. That's what we were thinking as well. Now I am glad I bought the tickets ahead of time!

 

[RJAYL]

On the subject of the tower tour check out there website they have areally good family ticket deal 44 pounds for 2 adults & up to 6 kids!

On the subject of the hop on hop off buses I also agree the original is cheaper than the big bus they have a family rate for tickets that the big bus does not.

My problem is that the original does not go by our hotel (Royal Gardens) & the Big Bus (Blue Route) does

 

[goingsouth]

On the subject of the tower tour check out there website they have areally good family ticket deal 44 pounds for 2 adults & up to 6 kids!

On the subject of the hop on hop off buses I also agree the original is cheaper than the big bus they have a family rate for tickets that the big bus does not.

My problem is that the original does not go by our hotel (Royal Gardens) & the Big Bus (Blue Route) does

We bought tickets on the website- it saved some money. Mostly, we want to save time. So few days to see London! The tickets have already arrived with a brochure and map. Makes it fun to look through before that day.