Buckingham Palace tour?
Aug 20th, 2012, 05:42 AM
#22
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TfL group tickets are only valid on certain National Rail routes, and as far as I can tell group travel arrangements with national rail companies don't cover London travelcards. Besides, if you gave a group ticket, someone is going to have to be group leader and manager to herd everyone through the manual gates as a group.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14416.aspx
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_...roup-discounts.
The TfL group ticket would start paying for itself if everyone together as a group used it for more journeys on tube or bus on the day of arrival from Heathrow. Thereafter, your chouices are:
- get a Tfl group ticket every day, but don't bother with 2for1s
- everyone gets their own Oyster, either at Heathrow or at a nearby tube station once in central London, but don't bother with 2for1s (and everyone is responsible for carrying their own card and getting themselves into and out of the automatic barriers)
- everyone buys individual day travelcards at a National Rail station for the days you want to use 2for1s (and everyone is responsible for carrying their own card and getting themselves into and out of the automatic barriers, <b>and</b> for bringing it out when the time comes to buy the 2for1 tickets - and someone has to be responsible for printing out and carrying enough copies of the 2for1 voucher for each attraction you want to use them for).
Where is the hotel - we can advise about which National Rail station is nearest.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14416.aspx
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_...roup-discounts.
The TfL group ticket would start paying for itself if everyone together as a group used it for more journeys on tube or bus on the day of arrival from Heathrow. Thereafter, your chouices are:
- get a Tfl group ticket every day, but don't bother with 2for1s
- everyone gets their own Oyster, either at Heathrow or at a nearby tube station once in central London, but don't bother with 2for1s (and everyone is responsible for carrying their own card and getting themselves into and out of the automatic barriers)
- everyone buys individual day travelcards at a National Rail station for the days you want to use 2for1s (and everyone is responsible for carrying their own card and getting themselves into and out of the automatic barriers, <b>and</b> for bringing it out when the time comes to buy the 2for1 tickets - and someone has to be responsible for printing out and carrying enough copies of the 2for1 voucher for each attraction you want to use them for).
Where is the hotel - we can advise about which National Rail station is nearest.
Sep 11th, 2012, 06:44 AM
#23
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Update: We've decided to take the Diamond Jubilee Buckingham Palace tour on Sunday morning, then take a train out to Windsor for lunch and spend the afternoon there visiting the castle and surrounding town.
We're skipping the Changing of the Guard altogether.
Late afternoon we'll head back to London for dinner and maybe a walking tour. Any suggestions on fun and interesting walking tours? By the time we return from Windsor I believe all the attractions will be closed so would like to find a cool area to visit and perhaps combine that with a walking tour.
Thank you!
We're skipping the Changing of the Guard altogether.
Late afternoon we'll head back to London for dinner and maybe a walking tour. Any suggestions on fun and interesting walking tours? By the time we return from Windsor I believe all the attractions will be closed so would like to find a cool area to visit and perhaps combine that with a walking tour.
Thank you!
Sep 11th, 2012, 07:39 AM
#24
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Hi - can someone advise the best site to book a Buckingham Palace tour, or the Diamond Jubiliee Buckingham Palace tour?
This says they're not selling any:
http://buckinghampalace.londonpass.c...ass-prices.php
Thanks!
This says they're not selling any:
http://buckinghampalace.londonpass.c...ass-prices.php
Thanks!
Sep 11th, 2012, 07:47 AM
#25
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I enjoyed the Palace tour of the State Rooms, which took me about 2 hours. It is very extensive, with many rooms full of art, furnishings and amazing architecture. Not to mention the diamonds!
I believe I bought my timed-ticket from this site:
http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/vi...ckinghampalace
I bought the Royal Day Out ticket, to see the stables.
One point is that they will validate your ticket at the Palace tour, which gives you free entrance for a year. So maybe you could divide your visit into two days, if you run short of time on your first day.
Here is my recent thread, about our trip to London last week:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...tate-rooms.cfm
I believe I bought my timed-ticket from this site:
http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/vi...ckinghampalace
I bought the Royal Day Out ticket, to see the stables.
One point is that they will validate your ticket at the Palace tour, which gives you free entrance for a year. So maybe you could divide your visit into two days, if you run short of time on your first day.
Here is my recent thread, about our trip to London last week:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...tate-rooms.cfm
Sep 11th, 2012, 09:02 PM
#26
Judy: After Buckingham Palace and Windsor you may not be in the mood for (or have time for) a walking tour too. The Palace will take a couple of hours. After traveling out to Windsor you'll spend at least 3 or 4 hours between the Castle and the town - then the travel time back into town. You'll probably be eating after 7PM.
Logan: Book tickets through the official website as PeaceOut suggests
Logan: Book tickets through the official website as PeaceOut suggests
Sep 12th, 2012, 01:55 PM
#27
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@ PeaceOut: Booked my tickets on the site you suggested, thank you!
@ janisj: You might be right about the timing -- we're only visiting London for 3 days so I'm trying to see and do as much as possible within that time frame, so maybe I'm being too ambitious as to how much I can do in a given day! Good advice, thank you!
@ janisj: You might be right about the timing -- we're only visiting London for 3 days so I'm trying to see and do as much as possible within that time frame, so maybe I'm being too ambitious as to how much I can do in a given day! Good advice, thank you!
Sep 12th, 2012, 02:25 PM
#28
Judy_Rosa
it's a while since I used it, but the no 11 bus would take you to most of the plces you want to see:
<<Thinking of the 2-day HOHO bus Friday and Saturday. Visit Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Churchill War Room, Big Ben, Tower of London, using the HOHO to get around the City. >>
if you decide to spend one of your days like this, get the tube to the Tower first thing in the morning, and tour it before the coaches arrive. then get the bus/walk to st. Pauls' as your next stop.
then get the no 11 bus towards Westminster - it'll take you down Ludgate Hill, along Fleet street and the Strand, round Trafalgar Square, and into Parliament Square - alight for Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Churchill War Rooms. buses are very regular along this route and move slowly enough for you to get a good view. Much better value than a HOHO, IMO.
it's a while since I used it, but the no 11 bus would take you to most of the plces you want to see:
<<Thinking of the 2-day HOHO bus Friday and Saturday. Visit Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Churchill War Room, Big Ben, Tower of London, using the HOHO to get around the City. >>
if you decide to spend one of your days like this, get the tube to the Tower first thing in the morning, and tour it before the coaches arrive. then get the bus/walk to st. Pauls' as your next stop.
then get the no 11 bus towards Westminster - it'll take you down Ludgate Hill, along Fleet street and the Strand, round Trafalgar Square, and into Parliament Square - alight for Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Churchill War Rooms. buses are very regular along this route and move slowly enough for you to get a good view. Much better value than a HOHO, IMO.
Sep 13th, 2012, 06:22 AM
#29
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My never-ending changing itinerary is now:
Arrive Friday in London -- get to hotel (hopefully check in, otherwise leave our luggage with the porter)
Take the HOHO bus to Churchill War Rooms, get off bus to visit there, walk to Westminster Abbey.
Saturday -- Tower of London ASAP morning. Take river cruise back towards (maybe) St Paul's Cathedral, London Eye. Maybe go see Big Ben or Notting Hill in the afternoon, then dinner and theatre.
Sunday -- Buckingham Palace Jubilee Tour, then train to Windsor. Back to London in time for dinner. Would like to squeeze in Abbey Road visit, but not sure on time.
Monday -- catch train at St Pancras for Paris at 4pm. Not sure what to do before then (maybe Covent Gardens, Trafalgar Square).
There is SO MUCH to see and do (!!) I am sure I'll never get it all in in just 3 days!
Arrive Friday in London -- get to hotel (hopefully check in, otherwise leave our luggage with the porter)
Take the HOHO bus to Churchill War Rooms, get off bus to visit there, walk to Westminster Abbey.
Saturday -- Tower of London ASAP morning. Take river cruise back towards (maybe) St Paul's Cathedral, London Eye. Maybe go see Big Ben or Notting Hill in the afternoon, then dinner and theatre.
Sunday -- Buckingham Palace Jubilee Tour, then train to Windsor. Back to London in time for dinner. Would like to squeeze in Abbey Road visit, but not sure on time.
Monday -- catch train at St Pancras for Paris at 4pm. Not sure what to do before then (maybe Covent Gardens, Trafalgar Square).
There is SO MUCH to see and do (!!) I am sure I'll never get it all in in just 3 days!
Sep 13th, 2012, 12:35 PM
#32
judy - i don't know where you are staying, but I'm pretty sure that the HOHO bus is not the best and certainly not the cheapest way to get from your hotel to the churchill war rooms.
use the ordinary bus or the tube.
otherwise, it looks like a good plan.
use the ordinary bus or the tube.
otherwise, it looks like a good plan.
Sep 13th, 2012, 01:20 PM
#33
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We're staying in Kensington Gardens -- there's a HOHO stop right in front of our hotel, so as a group we will take this tour for a few hours to get a feel for where everything is.
Plus we get a river cruise ticket free (included) and we'd like to do that as well.
I'll probably leave my group to go to the Churchill War Rooms and Westminster Abbey, then either walk/tube/bus back to the hotel to meet back up with my travel group.
Plus we get a river cruise ticket free (included) and we'd like to do that as well.
I'll probably leave my group to go to the Churchill War Rooms and Westminster Abbey, then either walk/tube/bus back to the hotel to meet back up with my travel group.
Sep 13th, 2012, 05:37 PM
#34
Even though you seem to want it, I'd skip the H-o-H-o. Just take the tube or a regular bus. You can take a river trip on your own. Getting a 'free' one is not a good reason to pay that much for a H-o-H-o and it will be much slower than just hopping on the tube at High Street Kens (or whichever station is close to your hotel) and getting off at St James's Park station. No changes involved.
The H-o-H-o is not a useful/practical mode of transport. It is for sightseeing - but not efficiently.
The H-o-H-o is not a useful/practical mode of transport. It is for sightseeing - but not efficiently.
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