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Post by plane2catch on Jun 17, 2015 23:13:00 GMT
Hi, Just wonder if any one has gone on Trafalgar's Best of Britain in the last few years. Would like to read any tour reviews written on this trip. I'm really missing the old Trafalgar BB especially the tour tales as I always found them to be a wealth of knowledge. Just can't believe the company didn't set up a heritage form as did Insight. Also, has anyone stayed at the Riverbend hotel on the Thames. This is the London hotel that Trafalgar is using for this trip. I am more familiar with the Thistle Marble Arch hotel and found a great fish and chips pub close to that hotel. Wondering about the food choices available around the Riverbend hotel? Also, anyone done both the Shard and the London Eye? If so, which did you prefer? Thanks for any and all feedback.
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Post by chech on Jun 18, 2015 0:23:40 GMT
Hi I know OzT was on a UK tour in the last year or so. He's traveling right now but he might be able to answer your questions. Not sure what the Shard is, but I did the London Eye and enjoyed that despite the cloudy day. Great views of so many iconic spots.
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Post by tassiedevil on Jun 18, 2015 0:41:16 GMT
I went up the Shard last week. It is higher than the Eye (which I did almost exactly 8 years ago) so you get a better overall view of London from the Shard. However the 2 are situated in different parts of the city so get to see different things. From the Shard you get wonderful views down onto Tower Bridge and the Tower of London as well as good views onto the city of London. While from the Eye you get better views of the city of Westminster; Big Ben, Buckingham Palace etc. So it really depends on which part of London you want to see in more detail.
The Eye was more popular than the Shard, they had huge lines while the Shard had a lot smaller line and it wasn't too crowded up on either observation deck.
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Post by tassiedevil on Jun 18, 2015 0:42:13 GMT
Hi I know OzT was on a UK tour in the last year or so. He's traveling right now but he might be able to answer your questions. Not sure what the Shard is, but I did the London Eye and enjoyed that despite the cloudy day. Great views of so many iconic spots. The Shard is the tallest building in Europe!
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Post by tassiedevil on Jun 18, 2015 2:04:06 GMT
Hope these few photos might help you make a decision Plane2catch. If it was me and I had the time I would do both.
This is a view from the Shard looking down river
Another view from the Shard looking up river (can see the London Eye in the background)
This is a photo I got of the net showing a typical view from the London Eye
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Post by tiffany on Jun 18, 2015 11:59:12 GMT
I’ve never been on this tour, but I did go on Trafalgar’s Grand Tour of Great Britain and Ireland a few years ago (it has a different name now), and it was a great tour. I’m sure you’ll love traveling around Britain. If you have the time and can afford it, I would recommend adding a few days in London, as Trafalgar doesn’t offer much in terms of sightseeing in London.
I’ve never been to the Shard, but I did go on the London Eye when I was in London a few years ago. We paid extra for the “skip the line” tickets, although we still waited 20 mins for our turn. While I’m glad I went on the London Eye once, I found it very expensive (about $35 Cdn back then), and I wouldn’t pay to go on it again. I’m going to London this fall, an my friend wants to go on the Eye, as she’s never been, but I’m going to pass as the cost is now about $60 Cdn. I just don’t think it’s worth the money.
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Post by chech on Jun 18, 2015 13:04:28 GMT
Oh...didn't know about the Shard when I went...I'd do it next time I go.
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Post by plane2catch on Jun 18, 2015 19:07:32 GMT
I’ve never been on this tour, but I did go on Trafalgar’s Grand Tour of Great Britain and Ireland a few years ago (it has a different name now), and it was a great tour. I’m sure you’ll love traveling around Britain. If you have the time and can afford it, I would recommend adding a few days in London, as Trafalgar doesn’t offer much in terms of sightseeing in London. I’ve never been to the Shard, but I did go on the London Eye when I was in London a few years ago. We paid extra for the “skip the line” tickets, although we still waited 20 mins for our turn. While I’m glad I went on the London Eye once, I found it very expensive (about $35 Cdn back then), and I wouldn’t pay to go on it again. I’m going to London this fall, an my friend wants to go on the Eye, as she’s never been, but I’m going to pass as the cost is now about $60 Cdn. I just don’t think it’s worth the money. Didn't realize it was quite that expensive. If only Britain was as cheap as Turkey!! Had a beautiful time exploring the city in my youth back in 1980. Took the tube everywhere and packed so much in such a short period of time. Back then the you could make a 360 around Piccadilly Circus or was it Trafalgar Square. Saw some changes back in 1997 when I had a return visit to London and now with the London Eye and Shard there are still more changes. Seems like the shows in the West End and the wonderful taste of their Fish and Chips is one constant. Hoping to see the musical Mama Mia. I know about the half price ticket booths in Leicester (sp?) Square. Maybe I'll get lucky and save a few pounds. Tiffany, thanks for your feedback.
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Post by tiffany on Jun 18, 2015 19:22:19 GMT
I’ve never been on this tour, but I did go on Trafalgar’s Grand Tour of Great Britain and Ireland a few years ago (it has a different name now), and it was a great tour. I’m sure you’ll love traveling around Britain. If you have the time and can afford it, I would recommend adding a few days in London, as Trafalgar doesn’t offer much in terms of sightseeing in London. I’ve never been to the Shard, but I did go on the London Eye when I was in London a few years ago. We paid extra for the “skip the line” tickets, although we still waited 20 mins for our turn. While I’m glad I went on the London Eye once, I found it very expensive (about $35 Cdn back then), and I wouldn’t pay to go on it again. I’m going to London this fall, an my friend wants to go on the Eye, as she’s never been, but I’m going to pass as the cost is now about $60 Cdn. I just don’t think it’s worth the money. Didn't realize it was quite that expensive. If only Britain was as cheap as Turkey!! Had a beautiful time exploring the city in my youth back in 1980. Took the tube everywhere and packed so much in such a short period of time. Back then the you could make a 360 around Piccadilly Circus or was it Trafalgar Square. Saw some changes back in 1997 when I had a return visit to London and now with the London Eye and Shard there are still more changes. Seems like the shows in the West End and the wonderful taste of their Fish and Chips is one constant. Hoping to see the musical Mama Mia. I know about the half price ticket booths in Leicester (sp?) Square. Maybe I'll get lucky and save a few pounds. Tiffany, thanks for your feedback. The tickets may be cheaper if you purchase them there, but when I went to their website (below), the fast track tickets were £28.35, which is about $55.26 Cdn at the moment. Viator was selling them for $60.00 Cdn. It’s just not worth that price to me. The exchange rate was much better when I was there a few years ago, but, unfortunately, our dollar has dropped since then. Going to London will be more expensive for me this time around, unless our dollar picks up before the fall. www.londoneye.com/tickets-and-prices/general-tickets/
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