Maxy Mouse

Thanks everyone. I will read over it all again and hope something sticks.

I am so very confused. Please help me figure out what card is best and how best to purchase. We are doing a quick tour pre cruise. The plan is to arrive at Heathrow and taking the tube to a central London hotel. During our London stay we will be walking most places but taking an occasional short tube trip with a half day outing to Hampton Court Palace. On day 4 we take the tube to Kings Cross for a he train to York (ticket already purchased on line thanks to early booking tips on CC).

Is the oyster card the thing? How does it work for the teen? Where would you recommend making the purchase?

I am grateful for your guidance.

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Get discussing this on your roll call. We did a cruise over Easter once. It turned out a minister was traveling that week. We had early morning bible study them did a sunrise Easter service before arriving in port. It was wonderful.

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Thanks that does put things into prospective. The bridge closing is something to be aware of but panic is not called for. I have taken my chill pill.

I did know about the similar names. We have the same issue here. There is a Montgomery County Maryland (my employer) and Montgomery County Virginia about 200 miles away. Then about an hour north west of us is Frederick Maryland. A bit less than an hour south is Fredericksburg Virginia. Easy for the unaware to find themselves in the wrong place.

Check out Grand Central trains as well, they can be a bit cheaper than East Coast.

 

One word of warning for York, currently the main bridge (Lendal) over the river has restrictions on when you can drive across. It has been closed from 10:00 to 15:30 each day, including weekends, to cars. £60 fine for driving over it. This was a trial closure to see the effect on traffic, air pollution, etc, however the trial officially ended at the end of February BUT the restrictions are still in place, and there are no plans to remove them. If City of York Council get their way it will be closed from 7:00 - 19:00 each day.

 

So I just wanted to let you know that so that you can avoid a nasty surprise on your credit card from Avis. Make sure to ask Avis about the restrictions when you pick up the car.

Heh Dave,

I don't get it. Does that mean we would not be able to legally leave York. I think the car hire office opens at 9. How is this supposed to work?

Hello All,

I just signed up for the alert on train fares from London to York. Our plan is to pick up a rental car in town the next morning then use John Bull's route for stages down to Southampton where we drop the car near the port in the evening, stay at a nearby hotel then get to the ship the next day. After the cruise we have a day before our flight. My thought was to hire a car in the port area and drive to Windsor for the day then overnight in Sunbury on Thames then to Heathrow to drop the car and take a late morning flight home.

Mr. Bull can you suggest a route? Anyone have any tips or suggestions?

Thanks for all your help. I made a booking with Princess. We will decide a few days ahead if we will go with them or try the local bus. The cost is a real consideration for us.

Thanks. I finally took car of the car. Avis from the city center in York. I emailed our hotel and they said the location is a short walk away. We would return the car to the Southampton airport then find our way to our hotel for one night before going to the ship. DD is a Titanic I believe their is something of interest involving that in the city. Any ideas? Can anyone recommend a hotel?

Hainford I thank you. Sorry I did not respond to your suggestion before. Looking at their site I see the cost as 125 GBP each. Since there are three of us in today's money that comes to slightly more than $600 for a day's outing. I just can not do that. It does should like a great tour though.

Sorry, can't help re music, though London is likely to be your best bet because it has much much more than the provinces and you have more flexibility there. Check out the events for the Royal Albert Hall (music school adjoins), & or the South Bank Centre (near your hotel)

 

 

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The tube to Waterloo (nearest your hotel) involves one change of train.

Or mebbe change at Barons Court (which I believe is a particularly easy change) for a tube to Westminster, then walk or taxi across Westminster Bridge.

 

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York is quite some way out on a limb (200 miles from Heathrow & 150 back to Stratford-upon-Avon) but it's perfectly feasible if you keep to the motorways in order to give yourselves time there and at Stratford. And although you'll not see much (any?) countryside on those two boring motorway journeys, your route can make up for it after Stratford.

 

For those last three days, throw the GPS out of the window & try to meander such as

Stratford to Oxford via Shipston-on-Stour, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Norton, Woodstock (Blenheim Palace?). Takes 90 minutes instead of just under an hour using the M40.

Oxford to Bath perhaps via Burford, Lechlade, Marlborough, Silbury Hill, Avebury Ring, Lacock. 2 hrs 20 mins rather the most direct route at 90 minutes.

Bath to Southampton gives you the opportunity to visit Stonehenge (just 6 miles off your route), and drop into an Salisbury for an hour or more, rather than taking the ring road. Journey time about 1 hour 45.

Add another 15 mins or so if from Salisbury, instead of direct to Southampton (A36), you take the Bournemouth road (A338) as far as Fordingbridge & cut across the New Forest to Cadnam, just outside Southampton.

All those times exclude stops, & you'll want to stop here & there.

 

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Yes, the cruise bus

https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/southampton-cruise-tour-transfer-to-london.html

from your ship to Heathrow via Salisbury, Stonehenge & Windsor makes a great deal of sense. Means you'd not need to visit Stonehenge pre-cruise, though IMHO Salisbury is still worth a visit pre-cruise since you'll be passing anyway - though that might depend on what time you crawl out of bed. ;)

 

JB :)

John,

Thanks for the details. This should be a great help. I may well just try to meander ( great word. So underused in or rush to get where?)

That sounds a pretty good tour, obviously you have put thought into what you want to see and visit.

 

I would think about taking the train from London-York and picking up a car there the next day (depending on the one-way fee to drop off at LHR). It's a fairly long drive with a lot of motorway. You could do most of your tour by train quite easily, but having the car for the rest is probably sensible.

 

One thing to think about for DD is that York is home to the National Centre for Early Music. I am a keen amateur choral singer and have had the good fortune to sing with some of the good folk associated with NCEM (such as The Sixteen and I Fagiolini). It would be worth seeing if they have anything on in York when you are there. ncem.co.uk

Thanks Eagle,

I like the concept of picking up the car in York. We would have to pay the drop off fee at any rate not to talk about the premium for an automatic transmission (don't scoff). On British Rail I see fares from 26 to 196 for now. What would be the best way to get a good fare?

I will look at what is on with NCEM. Thanks

I will be traveling with my husband and 13 year old in June. The plan is to fly into Heathrow and spend 3 days in London, take a short driving tour ending at Southampton for our cruise aboard the Ruby Princess. We fly out of Heathrow the day after arriving in Southampton. Both adults have visited London a few times. I did a driving to tour about 20 years ago but haven't driven on the left since then. By the way DD is a vocal music student. If you know of things she should miss please let me know.

Here are the details

Arrive Heathrow about 8 am Tube to County Hall hotel London 3 days with one half day at Hampton Court

Day 4 Tube County Hall hotel to Heathrow, pick up rental car drive to York see city walls and York minster

Day 5 drive York to Stratford upon Avon

Day 6 drive stratford upon Avon to Oxford see Christ Church College

Day 7 drive Oxford to Bath see Roman Baths, Royal Crescent and have a Bath Bun at Sally Lunn

Day 8 drive Bath to Southampton dropping off car

We have the day the ship returns to plan. One thought was to take a bus transfer that includes Windsor and staying at a hotel near Heathrow.

Okay tell me what you think. Is this reasonable? What adjustments would you suggest? Any tips? I will be ever so grateful for any help you can give.

Riff,

Thanks so much. That was my fear. I did book with the cruise line although I was hoping for another option.

Thanks everyone. I emailed all the car hire companies and each of the tour agencies listed on the tourist information site. All automatic cars and all guides were booked. I like the local Stagecoach bus and downloaded their brochure. I only hope we can get seats. I guess all we can do is get off the ship as quickly as possible and hope for the best. I emailed Stagecoach asking if tickets could be purchased in advance to assuer space but no answer. That was about 10 days ago and again yesterday.

Again thank you.

Thanks for the info. I checked both. They are booked I also tried the car hire/ rental agents for a automatic. Our port day for Kirkwall is is July 5. I read somewhere that it is the biggest day for cruise passengers this year.

Hello we are having a great deal of trouble planning for the port. We will be aboard the Ruby Princess on 5 July. Any recommendations for how to see the prehistoric sites? All reasonable options welcomed. I looked at hiring a car but couldn't find an automatic. Haven't been found a guide. Any help welcome.

I have given strict orders to family....one piece of luggage each....BUT bet they won't be carry on size.....hey....I have twin 20 year old girls.....their make up/hair stuff bags could take up one suite case alone!! ha ha ha AND I must be fair to them.....I am also known to over pack.....but am going to be "reformed" on this trip!!! I can wear the same outfit for 3 weeks!! :)

We have agreed to the same things for the same reasons but I have no idea how it will work. Perhaps the promise of a trip on the subway/ tube with our own luggage may be the incentive needed to keep the load light.