janisj

meant to add - if she is set on Sandeman's you are sort of stuck, but London Walks offers a much wider variety of walks. http://www.walks.com/

janisj

OK -- I've looked up two different companies/tours that cover Leeds/Canterbury/White Cliffs/Dover Castle/Thames cruise. It looks like the only things you 'visit' are Leeds and Canterbury Cathedral. In 'tour speak' -- "see" means see from the coach - not go in or even stop most times. So you'll 'see' the cliffs and 'see' the castle from the distance. Only you can decide if that is worth £80 per person.

texasbookworm

Just seeing CS Lewis sites in Oxford could dictate your day (definitely see Magdalen College, which is probably open after noon--check their website to be sure--and go to the Eagle and the Child). Might see if the Tourist Office's Lewis and Tolkein tour is offered when you're there. If not, just get a map, get a list, and strike out. Oxford is beautiful and walkable--and reachable by bus or train easily from London. You could look at my trip report to see how we saw some Lewis places and the town, too http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-day-trips.cfm
See Day 5

Also see my trip report for how we explored Dover--saw the Cliffs up close and the Castle--by ourselves (so we didn't see Canterbury or Leeds but we LOVED our time in Dover).

kristanp

texasbookworm, I skimmed your post briefly and it looks like you had a fabulous trip! I wish I could spend 14 days in the area and have a trip like yours. It sounds very similar to something I'd like to do... I just have less time. But I'm blessed beyond measure to be going in the first place, so I can't complain. Thanks for the link! Also, I see you're from Corpus... I'm a Dallas gal myself (well, born and raised, I left for college and am now in Huntsville... hope it's not as cold and rainy where you are!)

@janisj, the company we'd be using is Premium Tours. I'm going to try and see if I can work on the schedule a little if we didn't do the daytime tours and see what I can come up with. Here are the pages for the tours though (didn't want you to do more work trying to find them):

Leeds, Canerbury, Dover: http://www.premiumtours.co.uk/tours/...7&iPictureID=1

Stonehenge, Windsor, Bath: http://www.premiumtours.co.uk/tours/...p?iProductID=1

janisj

Premium was one of the tour companies I looked at before posting.

The Premium is s bit less ££ than the other company, but the other one at least gives you a glimpse of Dover castle from the outside. Otherwise they are just about identical. Notice it doesn't say anything about stopping to view the White cliffs.

Funny thing is both companies promise "Private viewing" of Leeds Castle. It ain't a 'private' tour, it is just that you and the other tour buses are there looking at the place before opening time.

Actually Premium's Windsor/Stonehenge/Bath tour is better than the Leeds/Dover/Canterbury/Greenwich one. The Leeds/etc tour spends a large % of the time on a boat from Greenwich to Westminster.

The Windsor/Bath tour gets you inside more things and more time in them. Though I do laugh at the "included" <i>Entrance to the delightful Georgian Pump Room</i>. The exit from the Baths takes you right through the Pump Room - one doesn't pay a separate charge. It is just the way you walk out -- so they really aren't providing anything . . .

I just <i>love</i> 'tour speak' -

oh2doula

March is a great time to be in London - we were there last year and literally had NO line at Tower of London - i mean none!!

I was told over and over "you cant see it all".... well you know what - I did and more!!!

we got up around 9am - I had the day planned ( plan to get lost at least once a day but sometimes that was the best thing we found). We were back to the room around 9 pm - you can do tons in 12 hours!!

www.walkit.com is AWESOME!! I literally had my route for each day worked out - it will show you walking, tube, bus - you can see which makes most sense.

jetlag really didnt kick in - we were in LONDOn and sooo excited!!

drink water! sleep on plane!

sunday was fun for markets.

one thing I wish i had done - buy flowers when you first get there - one of the outdoor markets - and have them in your room - i really wish we had done this!!!

everyone was helpful - the tube is easy to figure out - just when you think you cant find something - BAM there it will be. we found a lot of things were actually closer than we thought.

Dirty Dicks is a fun pub - I bought a tshirt and asked if they sold glasses and he GAVE me four different ones.

have fun!!

texasbookworm

Second the walkit site mentioned above--it's fun! And it seems to be accurate in matching my previous experience there.

sassy_cat

Please reconsider Versailles especially if this is a first trip to Paris as there's so much to do/ see in Paris.

If possible try to be flexible especially regarding jet lag. In practice what this means is do not book timed tours back to back or two or three times daily.

I'd spend more time in London and less time on a coach but at least coach travel will give you time to rest
Your coach tours are on the weekend so will be busier than weekdays (both the tour itself and the areas you're visiting). Pick one.. don't worry so much about not getting back to see whatever.
I'd pick the Bath tour because I love the city and I've always been drawn to Stonehenge (some might tell you to skip the pile of rocks!)also janisj recommends it as the better tour! You say you're not so well informed about Oxford so skip it this time.

One more thing.. as you're a teacher (take ID) ask at the Science/ Natural History museum for some of their educational materials. They usually have some good stuff such as worksheets etc

Please post a trip report when you get back; I'm sure it'll be a fun trip.

kristanp

Ok, so I've kind of taken everyone's advice and gotten rid of the long day tours. How does this look now? Does this look do-able or did I miss anything major that we should see as first timers?

Sunday, March 14
12:00: Piccadilly for St. Patrick’s Day Parade (if we feel up to watching a little bit of the parade)
1:00-4:00: Sandeman’s Walking Tour
*after tour, return to Picadilly for remainder of St. Patrick’s Day festivities—if we feel up to it.

Monday, March 15
9:00-12:30: Tower of London, Jewel House, White Tower, Bloody Tower
2:00-3:30: St. Paul's Cathedral Supertours
4:00-6:00: British Library to view/Magna Carta (*can go back on Tuesday afternoon until 8)

Tuesday, March 16
9:30-1:00: Windsor Castle
1:20-2:20: Travel Time back to London/Paddington/South Kensington
2:30-5:30: Natural History Museum

Day Four (Wednesday, March 17)
5:30AM: Leave for Overnight Trip to Paris through RailEurope

Day Five (Thursday, March 18)
View from hill of Sacre Coeur
9:40PM: Arrive back in London/ Kings Cross

Day Six (Friday, March 19)
9:45: Watch the Tower Bridge Lift
10.45 ROYAL LONDON & WESTMINSTER ABBEY tour with London Walks (Green Park Tube)
*changing of the guard today.
2:15-6:00: Greenwich

Day Seven (Saturday, March 20)
9:45-6:45: Stonehenge, Salisbury tour with London Walks (Waterloo Railway Station at 9.45 am.)

Day Eight (Sunday, March 21)
Oxford
(taking texasbookworm’s advice, Magdalen College, Christ Church, any more suggestions?)

Day Nine (Monday, March 22)
10:40 Flight back to Houston

emily71

YMMV but it seems like an awful lot of organized tours. I love London but after a couple walking tours, I was toured out. I think St. Paul could be done without a tour. One thing I might suggest is a walk through one of the royal parks. Some of the flowers should be out I love to sit on a bench and people watch and dog watch. You'll forget you're in the middle of a major city. I would also agree in going your separate ways if each wants to see something different.
St. Patrick's Day in London in a lot like St. Patrick's here in the States. Packed bars, drunk guys in oversized green hats, etc. But enjoy Paris and Oxford!

colleen61

I'm no expert on London{only been once} but I can recommend the London Walks tour of Salisbury/Stonehenge-I took that tour in Sept.09 and loved every minute! I also spent 5 days in Paris and never made it To Versaille as there was just SO much to see in Paris. Whatever you choose have a fabulous trip!

kristanp

I guess the reason I keep going back to the tours is for the information. I'd like to learn and experience the city and I'm not sure if we'd get that without a guide. But if we can, I'd be more than willing to do it without a guide just for the freedom it opens up for our days! I've heard the St. Paul's tour is a great one to go on... they also offer the audio guides, which we could do as well... as long as I get to the top and see the whispering gallery, I'd be good!

Iowa_Redhead

At St Pauls, I'm glad to see you're planning to go on the Supertour. The tour is fantastic. You get a lot of good information and you get to see the geometric staircase that you don't get to see otherwise. Try to get there early, I belive the tours are limited to a certain number of people. After the tour, head up to the galleries for the views.

At the Tower, be there before they open for the day so that you can take pictures of the outside and then get in line to go in. Once you're in, head straight for the Jewel House (it's pretty well signed). If you're there early you can wander a bit and go at your own pace. The crowns are kept in cases that have conveyor belts both in front AND in back. Go on one side, then you can go back again and go on the other side. If you wait until later in the morning the line to get in goes about 100 yards out the door! Once you've been through there, go join the Yeoman Warder tour at the front gate. The warders are fun and have excellent information and stories. At the end of the tour, some people tip the warders so you may want to have some coins available incase you want to.

Have fun, and try to think of your schedule as more of a guide than as a strict schedule. Don't be afraid to split up for a few hours - spending 24/7 with someone can strain even the best travel partners.

kristanp

@Iowa_Redhead, thanks for letting me know about the Supertour, I was getting ready to drop it because I was unsure about it. I will keep it now, for sure!

I recently met some new friends from Reading and something new has popped up in my schedule. We had a team come into our school to visit and see how our school works and motivates children in poverty... all of that aside, I had a lady in my classroom who asked (along with two others) for me to come visit them while I am over there since I will be visiting Windsor Castle. I am very excited about actually knowing some people over there now and getting to see how things are done in their schools! Just gets me even more pumped for my trip! Is the National Rail the only way to travel from Windsor Castle to Reading?

I did want to ask y'all a question, since you have helped me so much already... I'd really like to go to a show while there. Possibly on Sat. night. Are there any great theater shows I should check out? I thought about Wicked (LOVE the Wizard of Oz) or The Lion King. Never been to a theater show... so I am open to new ideas worth experiencing!

mollymm

I agree about the Jet lag... We unfortunately wasted 6 hours sleeping last time we traveled to Europe So plan on a relaxing day on the first day
Also - I agree that Versailles is a worth while visit. That was our favorite place we visited when we were in Paris. Other places worth seeing while in Paris are the Arch de Triumph at night, see the glittering Eiffel Tower at night and being a top the Notre dame as the sun sets....

London - see the Seven Sister Cliffs, Changing of the Guard, Lake district (romantic and scenic) I would try and see Cambridge or Oxford. I know you can get a flight to Dublin from London for 80 round trip (or at least last time I checked

Good luck!

carolyn

My daughter and I loved Wicked, and we always see at least one play per trip--more if possible. An older one, and English in flavor, that we really liked is a musical called Blood Brothers. The official ticket booth in Leicester Square will have discounted tickets for it as well as many others. Do try to see something. London theater is wonderful.

kristanp

Okay, so there are only TWO WEEKS left until I leave for London!!! I am way excited!

I'm trying to think about the little things that I might need and one of my co-workers (who has been to London) told me not to bother to take my CHI or curling iron because it might blow the fuse on it. I've heard mixed reviews on this and was wondering if anyone had tried taking them over? I just don't want to break them if I take them over and try to use the over there.

Thanks!

enewell

As a fellow Texas who visited London in March several years ago, my advice would be to take lots of very warm clothes, which can be layered. We were freezing on the Hop on Hop off bus and were always looking for somewhere to have a cup of hot tea.

texasbookworm

Take plug ADAPTORS for all things that work on dual voltage, like phone and camera battery chargers (adaptors are just those things that go from our plugs to their outlets and make the plugs fit in). Anything, like perhaps curling irons, that don't work on dual voltage will NOT work there unless you have a HEAVY voltage CONVERTER which sometimes doesn't even work and is a lot of hassle. Appliances that don't have dual voltage won't work there. The reviews probably are about whether it's worth it to drag around converters, which sometimes in my experience are not reliable and are heavy. There's also no doubt that you will need adaptor plugs if you want to use anything like laptop battery or chargers for phone or camera. So take adaptors for sure if you're taking any electrical things; check all for whether they have dual voltage capabilities.

janisj

If your curling iron is dual voltage (it will say whether it is or not on the iron itself) - you need a plug adapter. Then you have about a 90% chance the thing will work and not melt/blow the circuit breakers in the whole bldg. Even dual voltage appliances - especially ones w/ heat - can fail. And every one else staying on your floor in the hotel will hate you if you do trip the breakers

If it isn't dual voltage - leave it home. You'd need a voltage converter/transformer and it still wouldn't guarantee anything.

If it is an expensive iron - I personally wouldn't take it even if it IS dual voltage. Just buy an inexpensive one in London - a much better idea than melting one from home.

BTW - dual voltage hair dryers/curling irons/etc won't work at their highest settings. So if you need it to get really hot - that's another reason to buy a UK model.

(BTW BTW #2 -- you won't be able to use it in the bathroom - there won't be outlets. You'll have to find a place in bedroom where you can reach an outlet and still be in front of a mirror - which isn't a given)