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Post by Oz-T on Jan 13, 2015 21:34:36 GMT
"It is wise to drop Stonehenge if short of time. I will contradict what a lot of people say about it though, even though it is only some stones in the middle of a field it was one of the highlights for me and wouldn't have missed it for the world."
Personally, I agree, Tassie. Stonehenge is a place I always wanted to see because it combines so many interesting features (astronomy, history, pagan rituals etc). I was spending so much time looking at it and listening to every word emitting from my recorded device that Mrs Oz had to keep poking me to hurry up.
I think that Stonehenge depends on a person's tastes - had it not been included on our big UK tour I would have sought to do a day-tour. However, Mrs Oz would have argued that it would have been a waste of a day to go out looking at a pile of stacked rocks. I can understand both opinions.
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Post by Tulips on Jan 13, 2015 22:13:59 GMT
Elizabeth,
I did London on my own in November. I've been a bit lax in completing my tale. Life has taken over. I do intend to finish it very soon though. I would be happy to help if you have any specific questions about sites as I did several when I was there.
The start of my tale is in the travel tales section.
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Post by tassiedevil on Jan 13, 2015 23:07:42 GMT
"It is wise to drop Stonehenge if short of time. I will contradict what a lot of people say about it though, even though it is only some stones in the middle of a field it was one of the highlights for me and wouldn't have missed it for the world."
Personally, I agree, Tassie. Stonehenge is a place I always wanted to see because it combines so many interesting features (astronomy, history, pagan rituals etc). I was spending so much time looking at it and listening to every word emitting from my recorded device that Mrs Oz had to keep poking me to hurry up. I think that Stonehenge depends on a person's tastes - had it not been included on our big UK tour I would have sought to do a day-tour. However, Mrs Oz would have argued that it would have been a waste of a day to go out looking at a pile of stacked rocks. I can understand both opinions. Exactly Oz! You hear a lot of negative about Stonehenge. If I listened to what everyone was telling me about it before my trip I wouldn't have visited it as everyone was telling me not to go (I didn't have one person say it was worth seeing). It's a place people really need to do a little research of their own rather than listen to other people. It seems you either love it or hate it. It's a personal choice, if you really want to see it go for it don't worry about 'losing' half a day, but if unsure it would be best to give it a miss.
I partially negated the wasting of time to see it (for the first time) by choosing a tour that also went to Windsor Castle and Bath. I thought if I didn't like Stonehenge at least I was able to visit 2 other great places.
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Post by purvis on Jan 15, 2015 4:20:12 GMT
When one has a limited time in London as Elizabeth does I really think she should spend it wisely and not spend it travelling to out of town sites when there is so much to see within the city of London. If one can combine several locations on one trip then it would be worth the time and money but otherwise not wise. As for Stonehenge I have been there twice and thought it was as Oz's wife says nothing but a bunch of stones placed in a circle in a field by a bunch of Druid who worshiped I know not what. I know others have different opinions but this is mine. Purvis
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suec
New Member
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Post by suec on Jan 16, 2015 10:52:43 GMT
Hi Elizabeth when I did a week in London I prepaid my tour of Stonehenge bath and Windsor through my TA I was given a number to ring in London and a booking number I had to book the tour 24 hr in advance which was great because the day we thought we would go was wet so booked the following. Also I would go to stone henge on our tour first was Windsor castle if I had know how much ilked it and what I saw of Windsor would have done a whole day there 2hours was nowhere near enough. Plus we also had in Windsor buy lunch to eat on the bus as we headed off to Bath. The baths were good and we did drIve around Bath looking at the different buildings etc then to Stonehenge due to traffic issues we got to Stonehenge late in the afternoon not many people around the stone seemed to glow with the sun behind them it was a life long dream to see them.you can also do a tour where you get to go in and touch the stones would like to do that one day. We got back into London quiet late but had a great day This photo was taken on my second visit to Stonehenge on a sunny English morning with trafagler scenic England tour. their is so much to see and do in London it hard to fit it all in. I forgot to mention it was a Evans and Evans tour I went on. Around Buckingham palace you could visit the royal mews and see the carriages and horses the royal gallery and wandering around the gardens looking at the squirrels we don't have them in Australia. It is much easier to do these well after the changing of the gaurd as the crowds can be crazy. Another way to see some of London is on a bike tour they are fun informative and not to hard , fat bike tours go through Hyde park and on Sunday the day we did we got to ride down pall mall and up the side of Buckingham palace as the road is closed to traffic, there was from young children to older people and families on the bike tour. Another fun one is the duck tours where you drive around London in a amphibian vehicle then you drive into the Thames for a trip up the river was cool.Kew gardens are good to ,the palm house is amazing. Enjoy your trip sue
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Post by purvis on Jan 16, 2015 17:23:27 GMT
Elizabeth: As I said there are different opinions of Stonehenge. With all the different sites to see both in London and in the nearby countryside it will be a challenge to pick and choose the ones you want to see. Time is the most important thing to consider in order to maximize your tour experience. With pre-booked entry fees often you can get into your destination without waiting in line . Some tours outside London can incorporate several of the places you want to visit all together so checking out the available tours before you leave home might help quite a bit. Evans-Evans tours are listed on your computer. Worth a look-see. Purvis
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Post by elizabeth on Jan 23, 2015 3:26:53 GMT
Vacation weeks approved. Confirmed that the hotel did receive my reservation. Flight booked. Arrive in London May 3.
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Post by kiwigrandma on Jan 23, 2015 6:00:08 GMT
Elizabeth: Oz is so right about planning your own tour to London . It is not all that hard to map out what you want to see then pick a hotel that is near a tube station. With an Oyster Card you can travel cheaply throughout the London area and at your own speed not to that planned by others. Side trips out to Windsor Castle, Canterbury etc. are not all that difficult to get to if you are interested in these locations. Since you have to pay separately for your air the only extra expense is your hotel ,food , entry fees and oyster card all of which are much less than what you would pay for a guided tour. I have been collecting info for a 8day tour (which I'm trying to convince my son to go on) with 4 nites in London followed by 4 nites in Paris. All the info you will need is easily available on your computer. If I can organize such a tour I have no doubt that you can also. By the way I'm 80 years old. Have been on many Trafalgar tours to the US, Canada and Europe and find that many of the sites I had wished to see were not on the itinerary so planning your own trip has many advantages. Purvis Elizabeth, it has been a couple of years, but I stayed at this Premier Inn County Hall, you can walk everywhere, close to everything, net door to the Mariott County Hall where day tours stop for pickups, very good price, attentive and helpful personnel. Here is the link if you are interested: www.agoda.com/en-ca/premier-inn-london-county-hall/hotel/london-gb.html?type=1&site_id=1622863&url=http://www.agoda.com/en-ca/premier-inn-london-county-hall/hotel/london-gb.html&adid=49339153289&network=g&adpos=1t2&expid=&rand=2076518079807685051&device=c&tag=7e694d90-f64f-4a7b-a9fc-cd39f842349a&gclid=Cj0KEQiAuMOlBRDf6_izz93n-pEBEiQAsJCJWln6z_C8Wlmae2B3jadQS3q7TaUBzkH0GlH9aGrtBbkaAmld8P8HAQ&cklg=1
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Post by kiwigrandma on Jan 23, 2015 6:01:35 GMT
Thanks California for hint about hotel in london. County hall. Have booked it for our stay in london
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Post by purvis on Jan 25, 2015 0:21:51 GMT
Kiwigrandma: Like you I am planning (hoping) to get to London with my son for 4days in the late spring then onto Paris for 4days. I have gone ahead and booked Premier Inn London Waterloo which seems to be identical to Premier Inn London County Hall. Stayed at Park Plaza County Hall for 2 nites many years ago so am acquainted with the neighbourhood. With easy access by train from Heathrow to Waterloo station nearby,and for out of city tours from Waterloo station this location is ideal. It is a very short walk to some of the main attractions of London . Have been checking on restaurants in the area and there seems to be quite a lot of types and prices to choose from. Purvis
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Post by purvis on Feb 14, 2015 18:51:40 GMT
Kiwigrandma: Like you I am planning (hoping) to get to London with my son for 4days in the late spring then onto Paris for 4days. I have gone ahead and booked Premier Inn London Waterloo which seems to be identical to Premier Inn London County Hall. Stayed at Park Plaza County Hall for 2 nites many years ago so am acquainted with the neighbourhood. With easy access by train from Heathrow to Waterloo station nearby,and for out of city tours from Waterloo station this location is ideal. It is a very short walk to some of the main attractions of London . Have been checking on restaurants in the area and there seems to be quite a lot of types and prices to choose from. Purvis
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Post by purvis on Feb 14, 2015 18:52:11 GMT
Kiwigrandma: Like you I am planning (hoping) to get to London with my son for 4days in the late spring then onto Paris for 4days. I have gone ahead and booked Premier Inn London Waterloo which seems to be identical to Premier Inn London County Hall. Stayed at Park Plaza County Hall for 2 nites many years ago so am acquainted with the neighbourhood. With easy access by train from Heathrow to Waterloo station nearby,and for out of city tours from Waterloo station this location is ideal. It is a very short walk to some of the main attractions of London . Have been checking on restaurants in the area and there seems to be quite a lot of types and prices to choose from. Purvis
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Post by purvis on Feb 14, 2015 18:56:56 GMT
Elizabeth: Look into the river cruises from the dock at The London Eye. Am planning to take a cruise up the Thames from this location to Greenwich return. There are many stop off points such as The Tate, The Tower etc. If you have a Oyster Card and show it you can get a discount on the price of the cruise. Worth looking into.
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Post by kiwigrandma on Feb 15, 2015 3:06:37 GMT
Purvis you reminded me. Took a cruise on river Thames to Greenwich some years ago when in london. Really enjoyed it will probably do it again when in london in may. There was a lovely shop and I ended up buying a chandelier (small) which I just love. Still in my house. But had to carry it round our travels in Ireland and on trafalgar tour. Still laugh at the things we buy on our travels. Bought a marble chess set once in Tijuana. That was heavy but managed it. Still have it as well.
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Post by marielouise on Feb 15, 2015 15:35:06 GMT
Elizabeth: Look into the river cruises from the dock at The London Eye. Am planning to take a cruise up the Thames from this location to Greenwich return. There are many stop off points such as The Tate, The Tower etc. If you have a Oyster Card and show it you can get a discount on the price of the cruise. Worth looking into. Purvis we took the boat to Greenwich on a very nice day. We really enjoyed it. There is a fairly steep hill to the Observatory. Look outside the Observatory for a statue of General Wolfe, famous for winning the Battle of Quebec at the Plains of Abraham in 1759. We didn't know about it and were quite surprised.
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Post by elizabeth on Mar 1, 2015 3:48:46 GMT
Time for a couple of questions for the pros.
Based on where I am staying, where can I pre purchase tickets for the Tower once I arrive to avoid the lines on the day I want to visit? This question probably covers off other attractions. Hop on Hop off buses, where is the closest location from Westminster Bridge to hop on? Should I try to pre book a ticket or just show up?
Thank you
Liz
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Post by tiffany on Mar 1, 2015 17:49:52 GMT
Hi Elizabeth, when I was in London in 2010, my friend and I bought our tickets for the Tower of London at our hotel. They had someone in the hotel at various times throughout the day offering different excursions and sightseeing tickets, and we bought our tickets through her so we'd be able to skip the line once we arrived at the Tower. I'm not sure where you are staying, but you may want to see if your hotel has someone there to help you with excursions and sightseeing.
Viator is also a good company to use to book sightseeing tours. My friend and I are stopping in London on our way to Greece this Fall, and we are going to book two Viator tours, one to St. Paul's with Tea, and the other to Buckingham Palace.
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Post by purvis on Mar 1, 2015 18:08:06 GMT
Hi Elizabeth, when I was in London in 2010, my friend and I bought our tickets for the Tower of London at our hotel. They had someone in the hotel at various times throughout the day offering different excursions and sightseeing tickets, and we bought our tickets through her so we'd be able to skip the line once we arrived at the Tower. I'm not sure where you are staying, but you may want to see if your hotel has someone there to help you with excursions and sightseeing. Viator is also a good company to use to book sightseeing tours. My friend and I are stopping in London on our way to Greece this Fall, and we are going to book two Viator tours, one to St. Paul's with Tea, and the other to Buckingham Palace.
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Post by tiffany on Mar 1, 2015 18:11:50 GMT
Hi Purvis, I saw you quoted me above, but your comment isn't showing up. I'm not sure if it got deleted when posting, or if it's just a glitch.
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Post by purvis on Mar 1, 2015 18:12:17 GMT
Elizabeth: You can also purchase a London Pass online which covers entry into several venues including The Tower of London. You can go online and check out the prices of just London Tower. Worth a look.
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Post by purvis on Mar 1, 2015 18:14:10 GMT
Hi Purvis, I saw you quoted me above, but your comment isn't showing up. I'm not sure if it got deleted when posting, or if it's just a glitch.
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Post by tiffany on Mar 1, 2015 18:18:08 GMT
Hi Purvis, I saw you quoted me above, but your comment isn't showing up. I'm not sure if it got deleted when posting, or if it's just a glitch. There must be a glitch in the system, because when you quote me, I can't see your comments.
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Post by Tulips on Mar 1, 2015 21:53:07 GMT
Elizabeth, If it works with your schedule, I would recommend London Walks tour of the Tower. They get you a discount on the tickets and you will get past the line and will get a great guide. They have awesome guides. www.walks.com Then you can stay as long as you like The Tower of London is one place you can spend a really long time at and outside tour companies will only be there for a short period.
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Post by Tulips on Mar 1, 2015 21:54:56 GMT
You can buy tickets online directly from the Tower's website.
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Post by elizabeth on Mar 1, 2015 23:21:55 GMT
Thank you everyone.
How do you pay for the London Walks? Is it cash or will they take a credit card?
If I book tickets on line, do I need a printed ticket to present? I will have a tablet with me, but not a printer.
Liz
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Post by Oz-T on Mar 2, 2015 9:06:12 GMT
You just roll up and pay 9 pounds cash as I understand it, Liz.
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Post by Tulips on Mar 2, 2015 22:19:32 GMT
Hi,
For London Walks, you just pay 9 pounds cash on arrival. No need to prebook.
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Post by elizabeth on Mar 12, 2015 2:26:21 GMT
Purvis, since I know you are from Canada and can identify with our electronics, do I need a voltage convertor or just an adaptor? Bringing a camera, curling iron (new), and a tablet. I brought only an adaptor when I was in Italy. Any suggestions where to buy one?
Thanks
Liz
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Post by Oz-T on Mar 12, 2015 9:25:18 GMT
Liz, You will possibly need a voltage converter as well as an adaptor in the UK. The adaptor merely connects your different shaped plugs into the wall socket. The converter steps down the 230 volts to the 110 volts your devices are rated at. Before buying a converter, check to see whether your appliances are dual voltage because if they are, they'll recognise the input current and automatically adjust for it (so buying a converter will be unnecessary). If you're unsure, seek advice because if you make a mistake you'll almost certainly fry your device in a split second and potentially start a fire or electric shock.
If your devices worked in Italy, you should find the same happens in London because the voltage and current are almost identical. That suggests to me that you already have dual voltage appliances, but you should still check.
I'll leave it to our Canadian members here to advise the best place to buy a converter if you need one.
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Post by marielouise on Mar 12, 2015 11:06:53 GMT
Purvis, since I know you are from Canada and can identify with our electronics, do I need a voltage convertor or just an adaptor? Bringing a camera, curling iron (new), and a tablet. I brought only an adaptor when I was in Italy. Any suggestions where to buy one?
Thanks
Liz Liz you only need an adapter for camera and ipad electronics. Check your curling iron if it says 120 to 220 or 240Volts. If it only says 110 or 120 V, you will need a converter. I have an old Conair one which does not need it but many curling irons do. I live in Calgary.
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