This morning I met some American tourists who'd taken the train from London to visit Stonehenge, - unaware that's closed. <BR> <BR>For anyone who's planning a visit soon and doesn't already know, Stonehenge is currently closed to the public due to the risk of spreading 'foot and mouth' disease. <BR> <BR>This applies to a number of visitor attractions at present... <BR> <BR>Steve

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GRRRRR!!!!

Are any other "attractions" closed? Also, want to say how helpful all of the advice I have read on the site has been. My daughter and I are making our first visit to London. Thanks to all of you.

Yikes! My son and I are coming over on March 23rd. They won't be closing the castles as well, will they?

A number of attractions are closed: see the English Heritage website: www.english-heritage.org.uk/ <BR>and National Trust website: <BR>www.nationaltrust.org.uk/news.htm. <BR> <BR>Nearly ALL National Trust sights are closed (but they would be in March anyway). In London, Richmond Park, Windsor Great Park (but not the Castle, Hampton Court Park (but not the Palace or gardens) are closed. Loncon Zoo is still open. Obviously farms and most wildlife parks are closed, many public footpaths (if you planned on hiking) in farmland areas, the whole of Dartmoor and Exmoor. These closures won't really affect you if London was top of the itinery. However, the situation is changing constantly.

To the top!

Is Warwick castle closed? We plan to visit in two weeks.

For: JANE <BR> <BR>Warwick Castle was open at last report (March 11). <BR> <BR>Misc. other info., in case anyone is interested: <BR> <BR>Castle Howard--open (as of March 12). Gardens open now, house open starting March 16th. <BR> <BR>David White <BR>[email protected] <BR>http://www.KidsToLondon.com

My son and I plan to visit London and the English countryside in July. It is our first trip to England. Please keep us posted. This is such distressing news. We already have our excursion tickets to Stonehenge and Warwick Castle. I appreciate your updates. <BR>Thanks

Thank you for the info on Warwick Castle..the family will be delighted.

They're also having problems with their underground...read the London Dailies....

Although many areas including the Scottish Highlands & Islands do not have any 'foot & mouth' cases, there are restrictions on all activities away from public roads in virtually all areas of the UK. There is no problem for non-country locations and for visitor attractions such as castles, shopping centres,restaurants,theatres, etc. In affected areas eg Dartmoor, motorists are being discouraged from using minor country roads. Here on the Isle of Skye, the bridge from the mainland has disinfectant measures in place for car & coach wheels but the real problem for the tourist industry is that all access to open land whether that be fields, moorland or the mountains is currently not encouraged and in some cases legally banned, and notices are up to that effect. The UK government is currently reviewing whether and for how long this needs to continue, taking into account the needs of tourism as well as farming.

Is there any kind of "official" estimate on when this problem might be over? For some travelers who were planning to spend a few weeks in the UK countryside this June, should we wait until next year?

Hello Tony, <BR> <BR>My advice for now would be:- don't change your plans... <BR> <BR>There's an article in The Times today which you might be interested to read, entitled:- <BR> <BR>'Million sheep die to reopen countryside' <BR> <BR>"The cull has been ordered by ministers who are intent on returning the countryside to normal life within ten days..." <BR>www.thetimes.co.uk <BR> <BR>Watch this space! <BR> <BR>Steve <BR> <BR>

Does anyone know if this is affecting other areas of Europe (esp. Italy and France)? <BR> <BR>Thanks!

Even though Stonehenge may be closed, if your heart was set on seeing it, it's right beside the highway (A303) & you can drive slowly by & see it almost as well as walking up to it. I guess you could call it a "historical drive-by." <BR>

Just logged into the English Heritage website --- <BR>www.english-heritage.org.uk/ <BR>And yes, Stonehenge remains closed. Here's what they have to say as of this posting. <BR> --== --== --== <BR> <BR>As of 1 March 2001 - Due to the current Foot and Mouth Disease crisis and advice from MAFF regarding visits to the countryside and rural areas, as a precautionary measure, Stonehenge is CLOSED until further notice. <BR>Read more about English Heritage advice for visitors to the countryside during the Foot and Mouth Disease Crisis here. <BR> <BR>

Excerpted from www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,580-100198,00.html <BR> <BR>======================================= <BR> <BR>Berlin ready to use army in virus battle <BR> <BR>======================================= <BR> <BR>THE German Government may break one of its most cherished postwar taboos and deploy armed soldiers to enforce foot-and-mouth quarantine zones. <BR> <BR>Although not a single case has been confirmed in Germany, the country is in a state of panic about the virus. <BR> <BR>Travel agency switchboards were jammed yesterday with travellers cancelling Easter holidays in France after a case of foot-and-mouth - the first on mainland Europe - was discovered. <BR> <BR>German soldiers are often deployed during national disasters such as the flooding of the Oder River. But the use of soldiers on the frontier or, as suggested by other politicians as guards around suspected farms, comes close to a full military operation. <BR> <BR>Germany has been very wary of deploying troops within the country since the Second World War and the paramilitary border guards were created precisely to reduce the need for soldiers in the streets. <BR> <BR>However, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry said yesterday that a military operation could no longer be ruled out. <BR> <BR>The army will be required later this year to mount armed guard on the tonnes of new euro coins and notes to be delivered to banks. <BR> <BR>

I can find no impact on Italy in any way whatsoever, with the possible exception of overall lower trans-atlantic airfares and extension of sale fares. Perhaps this relates to the economy in the US overall, or cancellations related to FMD or other unreasonable reasons. <BR> <BR>In France, the closest I can find to an effect (besides the general "cancellation" effect) is on border crossings at Strasbourg. One bus line has stopped Strasbourg-Kehl service because tire disinfection is adding delays of up to 20-30 minutes. the story - - in French - - http://fr.news.yahoo.com/010315/5/11kzx.html - - doesn't add much in the way of detail. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>