Trip Report- Days 1-2
Aug 4th, 2007, 11:08 PM
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Trip Report- Days 1-2
Just a few things from our first trip abroad...I will post in more detail later. We left the US on July 25...traveled overnight from JFK to Heathrow. We did not sleep much on the plane. I think next time if I fly overnight I will upgrade to first class. There was, however, free bar service and 2 meals served on the plane.
Arrived in Heathrow-July 26 (7:10AM)- no luggage problems, long lines at customs, but we were meeting our driver by 7:50 AM. Used Just Airports as recommended by someone on this site and it was flawless (31 GBP) into London. City Inn Westminster was very nice. Staff friendly, room and bath nice, breakfast included, and interet available for 15 GBP per 24 hours. Booked through LondonTown.com and after finding a slightly lower rate, my rate was adjusted.
Checked in immediately (room was ready), walked around the corner for a hot chocolate and baguette, and went back to the room to sleep and shower. On the double-decker tours bus, but around 3 PM and got acclimated to the city. Had lunch at the Sherlock Holmes Pub- went shopping for souveniers in Piccadilly Circus and also found discount tickets to Spamalot for the next night. Rode the London Eye, and then walked back to our hotel which probably should have been about 15 mins. but we took about 45 and looked at Vendors and wandered abit. Went back to the hotel and had a sandwich and a drink and were ready for a good night's sleep (around 11 PM).
Day 2 - Using our DD bus as transport, we went to The Tower of London, took the Beefeaters Tour, and saw the Crown Jewels. The lines were very short and we did not wait very long at all...bought tickets there on the spot...Went on to the Globe Theatre, took the tour, watched an actual play rehearsal, and then took the boat tour (included in our DD bus rate) back to Westminster. Westminster Abbey was incredible and I highly recommend seeing it. We got there around 3:30PM so we missed any guided or audio tours, but we used the directory and saw all the things we wanted to see...(For me Poet's Corner was a must).
Stopped at Mcdonalds of all places....Walked back to the hotel...showered, freshened up, and then took the tube (about 10 minute walk from our hotel) to the theatre area. Found a nice Med Cafe across the street from our show...sat a lovely outside table...good prices...and we were in the theatre by 8:15...show started at 8:30...we were upgraded b/c it was the show's first night opening at 8:30 instead of 8, and we had great seats. My son is a Monty Python fan, but I am not, but this was the best show I have ever seen. Far topping anything I have seen in NYC, Chicago, or anywhere in the states. Back to our hotel...sleep and the next morning we opted for no wake up call, even though we had a couple of things we wanted to do before our 1:30 PM train to Earlestown. Got up a little late, nice breakfast and taxied to Abbey Road. Since my son is a big Beatle's fan, we had to get the pic crossing the road. It was great fun! Then we caught the tube back to our hotel....got a taxi, had the taxi stop at a cash point, and we were off to Euston Station...just in time to catch our train going to Earlestown...more later...
Arrived in Heathrow-July 26 (7:10AM)- no luggage problems, long lines at customs, but we were meeting our driver by 7:50 AM. Used Just Airports as recommended by someone on this site and it was flawless (31 GBP) into London. City Inn Westminster was very nice. Staff friendly, room and bath nice, breakfast included, and interet available for 15 GBP per 24 hours. Booked through LondonTown.com and after finding a slightly lower rate, my rate was adjusted.
Checked in immediately (room was ready), walked around the corner for a hot chocolate and baguette, and went back to the room to sleep and shower. On the double-decker tours bus, but around 3 PM and got acclimated to the city. Had lunch at the Sherlock Holmes Pub- went shopping for souveniers in Piccadilly Circus and also found discount tickets to Spamalot for the next night. Rode the London Eye, and then walked back to our hotel which probably should have been about 15 mins. but we took about 45 and looked at Vendors and wandered abit. Went back to the hotel and had a sandwich and a drink and were ready for a good night's sleep (around 11 PM).
Day 2 - Using our DD bus as transport, we went to The Tower of London, took the Beefeaters Tour, and saw the Crown Jewels. The lines were very short and we did not wait very long at all...bought tickets there on the spot...Went on to the Globe Theatre, took the tour, watched an actual play rehearsal, and then took the boat tour (included in our DD bus rate) back to Westminster. Westminster Abbey was incredible and I highly recommend seeing it. We got there around 3:30PM so we missed any guided or audio tours, but we used the directory and saw all the things we wanted to see...(For me Poet's Corner was a must).
Stopped at Mcdonalds of all places....Walked back to the hotel...showered, freshened up, and then took the tube (about 10 minute walk from our hotel) to the theatre area. Found a nice Med Cafe across the street from our show...sat a lovely outside table...good prices...and we were in the theatre by 8:15...show started at 8:30...we were upgraded b/c it was the show's first night opening at 8:30 instead of 8, and we had great seats. My son is a Monty Python fan, but I am not, but this was the best show I have ever seen. Far topping anything I have seen in NYC, Chicago, or anywhere in the states. Back to our hotel...sleep and the next morning we opted for no wake up call, even though we had a couple of things we wanted to do before our 1:30 PM train to Earlestown. Got up a little late, nice breakfast and taxied to Abbey Road. Since my son is a big Beatle's fan, we had to get the pic crossing the road. It was great fun! Then we caught the tube back to our hotel....got a taxi, had the taxi stop at a cash point, and we were off to Euston Station...just in time to catch our train going to Earlestown...more later...
Aug 5th, 2007, 03:24 AM
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I recommend that when you post this on the Europe board, you should (1) post all your days in one thread, making each installment as a reply to the original message; and (2) use a title that indicates what countries you visited, rather than a generic term like Trip Report.
Aug 5th, 2007, 03:41 AM
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Hello,
Nice report.
Do repost on the Europe board add some paragraphs. Makes it so much easier to read.
Agree needs a better title and keep it all together.
Looking forward to reading more on the Europe board.
Sandy
Nice report.
Do repost on the Europe board add some paragraphs. Makes it so much easier to read.
Agree needs a better title and keep it all together.
Looking forward to reading more on the Europe board.
Sandy
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