Amy

Am planning a theater trip to London in late Aug/early Sept. Any suggestions for tours specializing in theater trips that includes a few extra days for touring?

janis

I am probably not giving you the type of answer you are looking for - but You do not need to go on a tour. London is very easy to do independently and you often can get better bargains on your own than staying in the hotels tour firms use.<BR><BR>80% of the plays in London are available at the 1/2 price TKTS booth so you don't have to pay the full ticket prices incorporated into the tour's cost. <BR><BR>And you can do what you want, when you want and don't have to eat breakfast with the same 40 people (the tour group) every morning.<BR><BR>Then you could either do a small tour outside of London or better yet also tour around independently.

Amy

Thanks for your reply...I traveled independently many years ago and will try it again.

Simone

Try http://artsexperience.com/index.htm.<BR><BR>I go to London twice a year, specifically for the plays. Although I travel independently now, my first trip to London was with a small group from our local theatre. The theatre organizes an annual London trip and six or so NYC trips. Consider contacting a local or regional theatre group for possible London tours.<BR><BR>In planning my latest holiday, I came across the following website that offers arts tours of London ---http://artsexperience.com/index.htm. <BR><BR>As for Janis' demand that you travel independently - it is not for everyone. If you are more comfortable traveling with a group then that is how you should travel. <BR><BR>If you do a search for say, "small group tour england" on www.google.com you'll find many companies that specialize in tours of 8 - 20 guests. <BR><BR>Here are several small-group tour companies that offer general tours of the UK --- <BR><BR>www.gentlejourneys.co.uk<BR>www.backroadst ouring.co.uk<BR>www.britainshrinkers.com<BR>www.by wayholidays.com<BR>www.untour.com<BR>www.rowan-tree-scotland.co.uk<BR>www.lynotttours.com<BR>www.moorl androver.co.uk<BR>www.astraltravels.co.uk<BR>www.t imberbush-tours.co.uk<BR><BR>I hope this helps.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

janis

Gee Simone - lighten up. I re-read my post several times and don't see and "demand" anywhere in it??? I just offered another way of looking at Amy's trip - that she could do it on her own.

Carla

Amy, Susan Allen Toth is one of my favorite travel writers and in one of her articles for The New York Times, she touts the Theater Museum, National Museum of the Performing Arts as a MUST SEE for anyone interested in the theater: "NOEL COWARD'S red silk dressing gown, with monogram, hangs not far from the ballroom gown Julie Andrews wore in ''My Fair Lady'' in 1958. Around a corner and down the hall, a makeup artist is about to turn a teen-age girl into a wrinkled old woman. And when her transformation is complete, racks of flamboyant costumes await her on a nearby stage for an improvisational performance. All this can be found in a place that captures the essence of London's many theaters: the Theater Museum in Covent Garden." Doesn't this sound interesting? It's a little hard to find - the entry is on Russel Street in the Old Flower Market Bldg. I'm leaving for London Tuesday and this is one attraction I'm REALLY looking forward to. Hope your trip is GREAT!<BR>

janis

carla - the theatre museum IS great, as is the London Transport museum which is practically right next door.<BR><BR>don't worry - the museum entrance is not at all hard to find. It is right on Russell street between Covent Garden and the Theatre Royal Drury lane.<BR><BR>yes - isn't Susan Allen Toth a wonderful writer! I corresponded with her several years ago and we almost met up in London but complications developed and we only spoke on the phone.<BR><BR>Her observations are really fabulous.