Happyboating

I've found this short clip showing the inside of Liverpool's Cunard Building:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7816440.stm

We'd certainly like to do a departure from there. Liverpool was one of our stops on a Round Britain voyage and we were very impressed - there was lots to see and do and everyone we met welcomed us. It was possibly the friendliest place in the UK we've ever visited.

My tip for something not to be missed on the QE is a meal in Verandah. It is an extra pay restaurant but, IMHO, well worth the extra cost. You can find the menu via this link:

https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/life-on-board/example_menu

And this link gives the taster menu which, I think, is about $35 pp but I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong:

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=39307579&postcount=5

Enjoy!

Hi Sarah

This link will show you the dress codes for your cruise:

https://ask.cunard.com/resources/carnivaluk/life-on-board/qe_dresscodesv8.pdf

Enjoy!

Another valuable set of information, Nicky. You have been so helpful. Thanks! I watched 1/2 of the Roman Circus youtube video and will watch the rest later. I read much of the "Camulos" and will read more later. The Camulos Roman Colchester walking tour will be very useful for our Colchester exploration along with the information you provided.

 

I wonder if the Mayflower Project will expand to include ships that followed. My dh's ancestors came from England to Massachusetts Bay on one of the ships soon after the Mayflower.

 

Maybe we'll buy peanuts in Harwich for the squirrels to feed on the way to Colchester. Sounds like the squirrels are well feed.

 

Enjoy your holiday! Very nice for you that you can take your cats on your trip. Our cats are homebodies.

 

Kathy

Hi Kathy

I'm pleased you enjoyed the links. To be honest, I only found the Camulos website yesterday but it's excellent isn't it? It might not be an official site but, WOW, it certainly tells everyone all they need to know about Colchester. In particular, I thought the virtual tour of the Castle was very useful for anyone who is disappointed that it's closed this year:

http://www.camulos.com/virtual/castle.htm

The virtual walls tour is also good:

http://www.camulos.com/virtual/townwall2.htm

And the full virtual tour of Colchester is excellent:

http://www.camulos.com/virtual/guidea.htm

With regard to the Time Team Special video, I was disappointed when the presenter started the programme by saying that East Anglia was the wettest part of the Roman Empire - it might well be in regard to the Roman Empire, however, you should be aware that it is a FACT that East Anglia is the driest part of the UK.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy your time exploring Colchester and feeding the squirrels. Incidentally, you have a Lidl's supermarket right next to the Premier Inn where you are staying and a Morrison's supermarket on the shopping complex right opposite.

Have fun!

Nicky

Have a great holiday, and thanks for all your info.

 

I look forward to your recommendations for a traditional fish and chips lunch in Harwich, once you've had a chance to go back... Thanks! :)

Hi Turtles06

Yes, sorry about that! I'm afraid our winter carried on for longer than usual this year so, apart from the fact that I didn't fancy the 45 minute drive to Harwich (along with the cost of diesel!), with the cold temperatures and strong winds that we've had, it wouldn't have been pleasant walking around either!

My friend who lives in Dovercourt recommends Mr Chips and the "map" tab on this link shows you where to find them:

http://www.fishandchipfinder.co.uk/search_results.php?directory_id=4036

I have discovered from another website that they are only open in the evenings though! You will also see that this link shows all the other "nearby" fish & chip shops which I will investigate once back from holiday now that the foot ferry is working and our weather has now realised that it's summer.

Nicky

Hi Kathy

When I lived in Colchester, several years ago, this is the tea room that I used to go to:

http://www.poppys-victorian-tearooms.co.uk/index.php

It was before the days of wi-fi though and as my (now antique) iPad has 3G, I have no reason to make a note of wi-fi spots - sorry. You can always email them and ask if they have it though.

I have also met friends for lunch at The George Hotel in the High Street:

http://www.bespokehotels.com/thegeorgehotel/

I see that they have free wi-fi in the bedrooms but the website doesn't say anything about free wi-fi anywhere else. Again, it may be worth emailing them and asking.

It may also be worth emailing the Tourist Information Office:

http://www.visitcolchester.com/

as they may well know of free wi-fi hotspots around the town. This website lists all the usual outlets:

http://www.wificafespots.com/wifi/city/GB--Colchester

Re the squirrels, only buy one bag of food as, by the afternoon, they are well fed and you may have trouble finding a recipient although if you scatter the food on the ground, around the trees, it certainly won't go to waste. In the morning though, they will almost be jumping on your feet - that's certainly been my experience.

As today is 1 May, the Harwich Foot Ferry starts working for the season and so I can drive down to Shotley and catch it, across the Harbour, to Harwich. I actually like going for the ride to Felixstowe and back as I love the way the ferry lands on the beach there. Sadly, I won't be going this week as I have mundane washing and packing to do as we're going away on Saturday for a week. That said, I'm pleased to report that, on this occasion, as we're going away in our caravan, our two cats will be going with us - they like investigating new areas as much as we do.

Anyway, when I next go across to Harwich I want to go and investigate the Mayflower Project:

http://www.harwichmayflower.com/joomla/

Here is what the BBC have to say about it:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22358276

And here is a short video from BBC Look East:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-22361661

Finally, you should be able to get details of the Roman occupation of Colchester, as that is your particular interest, from theTourist Information Centre in Colchester. I guess you've already seen this website:

http://www.camulos.com/virtual/romantrail.htm

You may also find this Channel 4 Time Team Special, on the discovery of a Roman Circus in Colchester, interesting:

This appears to be the latest update on the story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-18057382

Nicky

Hi Kathy

I have to confess that I'd forgotten about this thread until I received an email this morning showing your post.

Anyway, in answer to your questions, you can catch a train at 33 minutes past the hour from Harwich International to Colchester Station. The journey should take approximately 30 minutes and you will have to change trains at Manningtree. Going to Colchester you will simply have to walk from one side of the platform to the other which is about 12 feet. Going back to Harwich you will actually need to change platforms which will involve going down some steps and then walking through an underpass under the main lines and up again where you will then see your branch line train waiting for you to board.

Here is a map of Colchester:

http://mediafiles.thedms.co.uk/Publication/CE/cms/pdf/Town%20centre%20map%202013.pdf

You will see "Colchester Station" at the top left of the map. It's up to you, you can either get into a taxi - which you will find waiting immediately outside as you exit the station - or you could walk into town. Please note though that the walk is up hill. If you are up to walking a pleasant walk is from the back of Leisure World, in Cowdray Avenue, up through Castle Park into town - if you don't fancy negotiating the busy roads from the Station to Leisure World then you could, of course, simply get a taxi to that point although there are crossings for pedestrians.

If you take that option you will start your walk by crossing over the river via one of the bridges. The paths into town are all tarmacked so, apart from the incline it's an easy walk. The local wildlife, mainly squirrels, will most likely greet you along the way in the hope that you have nuts for them - if you want to feed them on the way back there's a pet shop in Eld Lane where you can buy a bag of squirrel food. Some will take the food from your hand although most would prefer you to simply throw it on the ground.

As you will see on the map, there is a red line which looks like it should indicate a railway line - it actually indicates the ruins of the Roman wall. In the park the wall separates the "park" from the formal "gardens". In the summer the gardens are really beautiful and if you have any questions there's a good chance that there'll be a gardener around to speak to.

On the map "Castle Museum" is the Castle - note the tree on the top. Standing with the Castle behind you, if you exit out of the gate on the left, and cross the road, you will find the Tourist Information Centre. Incidentally, if you decide to get a taxi into town, I would suggest asking the driver to drop you off at the Castle. In the Tourist Information Centre you will be able to pick up numerous free brochures and also purchase books or a DVD (they should have some in an American format) detailing the local area. Incidentally, during the summer there's an open deck double decker bus that does a tour around Colchester and you can catch it outside the Castle, opposite the Tourist Information Centre.

Anyway, if you decide to walk around the town, I would suggest walking along the High Street to Balkerne Passage/Balkerne Gate where you will see some more ruins of the wall. You could then continue to Church Walk, across Head Street and into St Isaac's Walk and Eld Lane. There are several "tea shops" along here. The George Hotel in the High Street is also a good place to stop for refreshments - they also have a small courtyard at the back where you can sit outside.

Anyway, from Eld Lane (where the pet shop is) you can cross over Queen Street and then turn left (by the wedding shop) into Priory Street. Once in Priory Street, on your right you should see the entrance into St Botoph's Priory and more ruins. Once you've looked at those I would suggest that you continue walking along Priory Street and, when you reach the end, turn left onto East Hill and then walk back up to the Castle. I think, if you follow this circular route, you will definitely be able to say that you have seen ALL the ruins in the town centre!

I have to confess that when I lived in Colchester I always used to go to Maharani and was very sad when they decided to stay closed at lunch time - I'm not sure why, but most Indian restaurants remain closed during the day now. I'm not familiar with the Indian restaurants in Harwich but I've been to the Mogul in Manningtree which is actually open at lunch time. It's very nice but, be warned, they won't cook a nan at lunch time! My friend who lives in Dovercourt tells me that he's heard a lot of good reports re the Joi but hasn't actually been there himself - I'm not sure that he eats Indian food. In any event, I see from their website that they are only open in the evenings.

I do hope that this further information is of help to you and that you have a FAB time whilst visiting the UK.

Nicky

PS: I should probably have said that the trains from Colchester, back to Harwich International, leave Colchester at 17 minutes past the hour.

Thank you so much for taking time to research and answer my questions. I will definitely check and bookmark the site you suggested. We will also be in Liverpool the following week. You are correct about the numberous questions, mainly shared vats of oil and cross contamination of materials.

 

Actually the Pier Hotel sounds like the most likely choice if we can enjoy lunch at noon. I will email the brasserie and see if they can also accommodate my diet. We will be in port on a Monday, May 13 as we are doing the back to back Transatlantic and British Isles. I just believe that fish and chips is something to not be missed even if I have to forgo the malt vinegar.

 

A nice lunch and walk would make for a good day. If you have suggestions for a leisurely walk or nice gardens, please share.

 

Thanks again for sharing.

Hi Bakcd

You are very welcome.*

Personally, I would go for a walk along the sea wall to Dovercourt Bay. Opposite the Pier Hotel, just on the actual pier, you will see a little (and I mean "little") round building on the left, that is the Tourist Information Office. The person in there should be able to supply you with a free street map and mark out the route for you.*

I do hope you have a superb lunch - I have to confess that I always go to the Pier Hotel although a lot of people also recommend The Ship:

http://www.theshipatoldharwich.co.uk/

I must try it sometime but clearly not on a Monday or Tuesday as I see that they are closed!

Liverpool is excellent - we stopped there on our Round Britain cruise and we were simply spoilt for choice on what to do. *In fact, I'm now thinking along the lines of booking another British Isles cruise on Infinity. *The ship looks beautiful and I particularly like the look of the SS United States Restaurant which I understand has some original fitments?

I see that Celebrity also have excursions from Harwich to Cambridge and Lavenham. If anyone is going to Lavenham I can recommend the Swan Hotel for lunch:

http://www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk/

As you may be starting to work out, I'm a lady who likes to lunch but, sadly, the dress size shows it!

Enjoy your time in Harwich.*

Greater Anglia run a direct "cruise train" only on the days a cruise ship is embarking/disembarking.

 

http://www.harwich.co.uk/cruise_trains.asp

That's brilliant - they will definitely be the ones to catch.

Does anyone serve gluten free fish and chips in Harwich?

Hi Bakcd

I have now spoken to the Pier Hotel in Harwich:

http://www.milsomhotels.com/thepier/restaurants/default.aspx

who tell me that they would be happy to cook you gluten free fish & chips. *Clearly, as you can see from the link, they are a proper restaurant and the prices reflect this fact. *As I said to an earlier poster, the best views are from the upstairs restaurant (for which you pay a premium), as opposed to the downstairs brasserie, but I have just been told that the upstairs restaurant is now closed on a Monday and Tuesday (a very recent decision) so if you are in Harwich on either of those days then going upstairs won't be an option. *You can access both menus from the link above.

When I'm next in Harwich, and investigate the fish & chip shops (hopefully before Easter), I will endeavour to find out if any of them can cater for you - my friends sister-in-law is a coeliac so I shall get her to advise me on exactly what questions to ask although, personally, I feel that you would be safest going to a reputable hotel/restaurant, like the Pier, or a kitchen where gluten free is the norm, like The White Horse, but, clearly, it's your decision - I have visions of someone in a fish & chip shop telling me "yes, I can cater for that" without having any idea what it means and, if they do know, I shall ask why they're not on the list that I posted for you yesterday!

I'll be back again on this subject.....

I am looking at taking the train from London Liverpool Street Station to Harwich International on the day of my cruise. The cruise train is very appealing as it is non-stop, but expensive and times are very limited.

 

However, the regular train from Liverpool Street to Harwich has about a 5 min layover time to change platforms at Manningtee Station (down stairs, tunnel under the tracks and then up the stairs on the other side). I am in fairly good shape but no olympian and doubt I could make this transition in the given time.

 

Does anyone have any input on the idea of purchasing one ticket from LIverpool Street to Manningtee and then a second ticket (departing 30-60 min later) to proceed from Manningtee to Harwich.

This would give me many more options as to what time I depart (the cruise train seems to only be 1-2 times daily but the regular train seems hourly) and I believe I could manage my bags up and down the stairs for a platform change if I had more than 5-10 min window.

Aging is not for sissys.

Thank you

Hi Cynthia

You will be fine to purchase a ticket on one of the regular trains as the "boat trains" are actually there to connect with the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry service and actually nothing to do with the cruise ships although, of course, they are convenient.

If you plan to catch a train from London Liverpool Street after the morning "rush", say from 9.30am, you will be fine - most of the problems of travelling in the rush are caused by the volume of trains on the track, many of which are parked in sidings at Stratford throughout the day, and then brought out again at 4.00pm for the evening rush. The trains that leave "on the hour" are timed to connect with the Manningtree to Harwich connection so I would suggest getting one of those.

When you get to London Liverpool Street you should find your train waiting for you on either platform 8, 9 or 10 but still check the information boards. Your train will be listed as a NORWICH train, stopping at Colchester, Manningtree, Ipswich and Diss. I think I'm right in saying that there are luggage trolleys situated on platforms 8, 9 and 10 as people travelling on the Intercity service often have luggage so you should be able to put your bags on one of those and simply push the trolley down the platform - a member of staff may even assist you.

You should be able to board your train 10-15 minutes before departure which is good as, ideally, you need to walk all the way to the front of the train (the second carriage from front is best) to be near to the stairs/underpass when you reach Manningtree - if it's a slam door train (which is most likely) there will be 12 carriages but if it's one of the newer electric door trains then it may be smaller with just 6 carriages.

Assuming that the train is a slam door type, when you board the train and turn either left or right to enter the carriage, once through the sliding door, you will find a stacked luggage rack on one side, before the seating starts, so if you have a large case, that is where to put it as, clearly, you won't want to be lifting it onto the overhead luggage rack. Also, depending on the configuration of the carriage, some have tables that four people sit at and others have "aircraft" style seating, if you're in a carriage with tables, there is also room to put a case between the backs of the seats, except for the middle of the carriage where there's a rubbish bin.

Your journey to Manningtree should take approximately an hour and during that time the guard/ticket inspector should walk through the train and, if you have any questions re your connection, they will answer them. Someone should also walk through the train with a refreshment trolley but you will find a refreshment car situated between the first and standard class carriages should you not want to wait for the trolley service. I should perhaps mention here that, going from London to Norwich, on the slam door trains, the first class carriages are at the back of the train so just buy a standard ticket. These trains are designed for long distance and are nice and comfortable, with air conditioning, so enjoy the ride. In the unlikely event that the air conditioning isn't working in a particular carriage (it does happen occasionally) just move carriages. If you are travelling outside of the "rush" the train won't be crowded. There are also toilets at each end of every carriage where you board the train.

On arrival at Manningtree, on a slam door train, to get out you will need to put the window down and having heard the "clonk" of the door locks being released, lean out to use the door handle to open the door - I tend to stand back and let someone else do it - otherwise call out to someone on the platform and they will open it for you. Then, go down the steps, through the underpass and up the steps the other side and, again, the train to Harwich should be waiting for you on the left. Whilst you are doing this, the station platform staff will be running the full length of the train checking that all the slam doors are shut, then he will blow his whistle to indicate to the driver that it is safe to leave and then, he too, will have to go down the stairs, through the underpass and up the steps the other side, to send the Harwich train off. Although 5 minutes to change doesn't sound like very long it is actually plenty of time and, during the day, they will generally "hold" the Harwich train to ensure that everyone gets their connection. I would, however, suggest that the latest train you book from London should be the 2.00pm (14.00) which means that you will catch the 3.00pm (15.00) connection at Manningtree.

The punctuality statistics for our line are, I think, 95% - and that figure includes the rush hour trains that I used to commute on - so, to be fair, we do actually have a good service and, in the unlikely event that there is a problem on the day that you travel, the Intercity trains are given priority. There are passing points along the track and slower trains (ones that stop at more stations) pull over to allow the Intercity train to pass but clearly, if you plan to leave London before mid day you will have plenty of time. Also, the delays that may occur during the rush are often cleared by 10.00am.

On disembarkation days the journey back into London may not be as smooth as you may actually travel during the rush, depending on what time you disembark and, if there have been engineering works the day before, they have been known to over-run which means that the early trains get delayed which then causes a knock-on effect through the rush - not good for the stress levels if you have a mid day flight and have to check-in 2 hours earlier! Clearly, if you have a flight booked for mid to late afternoon onwards there shouldn't be a problem.

Finally, about 5 mins out of London, at Stratford, on the left facing the way the train is travelling, you will see the Olympic Stadium and on the right you will see the tower blocks of Canary Wharf - the world headquarters of HSBC is probably the easiest building to spot. When the train departs Colchester you will have about 10 minutes to gather yourself, and your belongings together, before you reach Manningtree.

Enjoy your train journey and have a FAB cruise.

Does anyone serve gluten free fish and chips in Harwich?

Hi Bakcd

Unfortunately I can't see one listed at present but it may be worth keeping an eye on this website:

http://www.federationoffishfriers.co.uk/pages/gluten-free-directory-596.htm

That said, one of our local pubs, The White Horse at Tattingstone, serves mostly gluten free meals as the Landlord has been diagnosed as a coeliac:

http://www.whitehorsetattingstone.co.uk/restaurant.html

Sadly, I can't actually find the menu online but if you click on the "About Us" tab on the left you will find his email address so you could contact him direct.

To get to Tattingstone you could get the train from Harwich to Manningtree and then hire a taxi to Tattingstone - the taxi ride should take about 15 minutes as the journey is about 6 miles. You should find a taxi outside the station but if you wish to pre-book here are the details for a couple of Manningtree taxi firms:

http://www.manningtreetaxis.co.uk/

http://www.topmarxtaxis.co.uk/

I should stress here that I don't know either of them, I've simply done a Google search for "taxis in Manningtree" and these two are the only two that appear to have a website.

Have a FAB cruise and an excellent lunch.

Hi Pat

To be honest, depending on how much information you want to take in - some people are happy to simply walk around and take a few photos to prove that they've been somewhere, and others want to learn as much information as they can - you could actually do Harwich & Dovercourt and Mistley & Manningtree in the same day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). As I've just said, it really depends on how much information you want to take in as if you want lots of detail you can easily spend the whole day in Harwich. Some will be happy to do the walk on their own and others will book a private guide. Actually, I'm quite pleased, and impressed, that they will cater for private tours, like the guy that runs the light boat who is prepared to open up for a private booking if out of season, hence the reason why I was a little shocked to learn that the Port didn't run a free shuttle bus. That said, Graham told me that they used to provide one but, on a turnaround day, it simply used to sit there as no-one ever used it! He also told me that another cruise line is "visiting" (as opposed to it being a turnaround day) Harwich this year and that cruise line has pre-booked 47 buses to be at the Port to meet them to take the passengers out and about on excursions.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it would be perfectly fine for you to go to either Colchester or Ipswich for the day - both places are worth a visit - its just that you have to be aware that the "connecting" train from Manningtree to Harwich is exactly that, a "connection" and sometimes the station staff hold it for an imminent arrival of a main line train and some times they don't and I honestly have no idea what determines which choice they make! If you aimed to catch the 15.00 (3.00pm) back to Port, and missed it, you could simply get a taxi back to Port and, like the train journey, it's a pretty drive. You can usually find taxis waiting outside the station but if there aren't any there it would be worth asking the station staff if they can call you one.

Anyway, I think that you'll find Harwich to be very "quaint". It's quite different from Southern California - which I LOVE by the way - a school friend of mine lives in Grand Terrace. I've even hired a car and driven from Grand Terrace to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas and back - the hire car firm were quite surprised at the mileage we did in a week!

Re lunch, there are plenty of places to sit in and eat and I am also going to check out an authentic fish & chip shop (chips being french fries) where you can purchase fish & chips to take out (wrapped in paper) and then sit and eat, with a wooden chip fork, on the sea wall in Dovercourt - tourists from all over the world can be seen doing this at Aldeburgh. On the other hand, the ship will be close enough for you to go back there for lunch if you prefer - I've lost count of the times that I've heard other passengers moaning about an expensive (because of the exchange rate) meal ashore when the ship is within walking distance - we tend to work on the basis that as Cunard include food in the cruise price we go back to the ship for lunch.

Anyway, have a FAB cruise and a wonderful day in Harwich.

Hi, we will be in Harwich on May 13 for a turnaround day. Will have about 6 hours of free time. Any ideas on what to see? Would cabs be available? Can we book one in advance? Would we have time to take the train someplace? Thank you for any advice. Pat

Hi Pat

Here are a couple of links for both Harwich and Dovercourt:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harwich

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovercourt

Dovercourt is particularly well known, locally, for it's excellent beach if you fancy going swimming although coming from California, it may well be too cold for you!:

http://www.britishbeaches.info/dovercourt-bay-essex

Having just rang and spoken to Graham Horn, the Cruise Ship Manager at the Port, he tells me that as 13 May is a turnaround day there won't actually be any free shuttle buses, however, there will be taxis available at the Port on the day of your arrival. He also tells me that whilst there is a small tourist information section in the Port he is currently working with the town centre manager to make up some boards, with photos and a map, showing people where they are and what to do and where to go etc. along with the distance/time involved. They are also making one up showing the time to each railway station on the line. Having just consulted Google Maps, I see that the walking distance from the Port to the beach at Dovercourt is 2.1 miles and the distance into Harwich (the Pier) is 2.3 miles. The walk is flat though and you can actually do a circular walk - its quite pretty walking from Dovercourt beach along the sea wall to Harwich.

If you are only in port for a day, and thinking of exploring further away, I would strongly recommend booking one of your cruise line organised excursions (assuming that they have them on a turnaround day?) - that's what we always do as we like the peace of mind of knowing that if there are any transport problems, or delays, that the ship will wait for their own excursions to return. I have to confess that we've only ever cruised with Cunard (we're Platinum) although we are about to try Princess so, at present, I can only reference what Cunard do and in both Southampton and New York they do, in fact, lay on excursions even though both Ports are also turnaround Ports.

If, however, you are more confident than us, and happy to make your own arrangements, there is a train station at the Port where you can catch a train to Mistley and/or Manningtree - see post #14 above.

Once at Manningtree Station, you can then catch a train to either Colchester or Ipswich, on the main line, both of which are one stop (approximately 10 minutes). I have already posted details of Colchester but here is a link for Ipswich:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipswich

Ipswich Station is on the edge of the town and it's only a 10-15 minute flat walk into the centre of town, unlike Colchester which is a 30 minute walk up a steep hill. Obviously both stations have bus stops outside where you can catch a bus into the centre of town if you don't want to walk. Here is a link for a street map of Ipswich:

http://www.ipswich.gov.uk/streetmap

And this link shows the railway station so you can actually see where to go on arrival!:

http://www.allaboutipswich.com/documents/IpswichBluePlaques2010.pdf

If you go directly to Manningtree and then change for either Colchester or Ipswich, your journey time from Harwich will take approximately 30 minutes to both places. Obviously it will take longer if you decide to do the pretty walk from Mistley to Manningtree en route.

You asked about taxi's so here are the websites for the firms listed on the Port's website in case you decided to pre-book:

A to B Taxis - http://www.a2btaxisharwich.com/

Harwich Taxis - http://www.harwichtaxis.com/

StarlingsTaxis - http://www.starlingstaxis.org.uk/home

Hopefully others will also post their suggestions. As you may have gathered I'm a little nervous about suggesting that you wander too far and Graham informs me that if you miss the ship, it will be his job to sort you out and that most people left behind don't even have a passport, only their cabin key! I guess my nervousness stems from the fact that I commuted into London for 25 years and so I am very aware of the possible delays once you start using the main line at Manningtree hence my advice would be to explore Harwich and Dovercourt and/or Mistley and Manningtree but I know others would be very happy and confident to go further out. Anyway, I hope this information is helpful and that you enjoy your visit to Harwich.

I think I pre-date chauffeured punts! :)

 

Thanks very much for the link to the light ship. I love learning about aspects of maritime history like that. I wonder if the ship will be open to visitors in mid-October (which is decidedly off-season)... Even if not, it will be interesting to see from the dock. And I do see what you mean about it affecting the view from The Pier...

 

One question for you ... if I want the best, most traditional fish and chips lunch in Harwich (the old part of town), what would you suggest? The place downstairs at The Pier, or elsewhere? I so look forward to that lunch (and I wish it were still served in newspaper).... Thanks!

The chauffeurs are predominantly students earning money to help pay for their time at University and some punt companies have them wear a uniform consisting of a waistcoat and straw boater hat which is always good for the photos. I also noticed that one punt company gives instructions on their website on how to punt yourself. As I said earlier, if you choose this option I would recommend having a change of clothing with you as I have seen people fall into the water - usually those who don't have the good sense to let go of the pole if it gets stuck in the riverbed! I've even seen people swaying around on the pole in the middle of th river and then land in someone else's boat! Even if you don't want to hire a punt it's certainly worth spending a little time watching others.

Anyway, regarding the light ship, Tourist Information have just given me the owner's telephone number and having spoken to Colin he's happy for me to post his email address:

Colin.crawford1@btconnect.com

I got the feeling that they haven't really figured out their opening times yet but he said that if you email him, and let him know the date and time that you would like access to the ship (a private appointment), he will arrange for someone to meet you and let you on.

Re the fish & chips, are you wanting to go to a restaurant or get takeout fish & chips from a traditional fish & chip shop which you then eat out of the paper wrapping (which, as you rightly say, is no longer printed newspaper!)? I have to confess that I usually go to the Pier, where you are staying, but a lot of people recommend The Ship which is just around the corner and directly behind the Pier Hotel. If you want to try a traditional fish & chip takeout I have got a recommendation but I just need to check their opening times.

Hi Turtles06

I'm very impressed with you going punting in a ball gown. Were you one of the students the punt chauffeurs tell stories about?

Here is a link for the light ship in Harwich:

http://www.lv18.org/

For anyone renting a car, and staying in Harwich for a few days, these two places are interesting to explore too:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orford_Castle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedingham_Castle

Orford Castle is in same direction as Snape Maltings and Aldeburgh and Hedingham Castle is in the same direction as Sudbury and Lavenham. Please check the actual websites for opening times.

Obviously, for those who are happy to drive a little further (approximately 2 hours 15 minutes), a visit to Sandringham is also interesting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandringham_House

It's more of a Royal "home" than Buckingham Palace. Again, check the actual website for opening times.

I'm not Janet, but I'm guessing she meant "been there, done that" :)

 

Happyboating, thanks for all the Harwich info. We'll have part of a day there next fall before our TA, and I'm looking forward to seeing the old part of town (the Mayflower Walk included) and dinner at The Pier...

 

I had the privilege of studying at Cambridge after college (and that was MANY years ago :))... if folks have time for a day trip there, it's truly beautiful ...

Hi Turtles06, I know the Pier Hotel well - I often drive to Shotley in the summer and then get the Foot Ferry across to Harwich to have lunch at the Pier. If you want a clear view of the Harbour though, you now have to eat in the restaurant upstairs (as opposed to the brasserie downstairs) as they now have an old light ship berthed right in front of them!!!!!! The light ship is open to the public and I keep meaning to go and have a look round it to see what it's all about - I will do so in the next few weeks.

Whenever we go to Cambridge we always book a chauffeured punt - I particularly like the ones that serve a cream tea but I presume those ones only run in the summer? For those more adventurous you can punt yourself but I would always advise having some spare clothing with you!

I will be spending a few days in Harwich prior to a Baltic cruise next summer. Can anyone recommend a day trip from there? No driving please. Don't trust ourselves to be able to drive on the "other" side of the road. No London, BTDT.

 

 

We'd probably take a train into London and transfer for someplace scenic and historic. Thought about Cambridge.

 

Would love to hear recommendations.

Hi Janet

I've been doing a little research for you. If you are staying in Harwich for a few days, without a car, you may like to do the Mayflower Walk:

http://www.harwich.net/tour.htm

As you know, Captain Christopher Jones lived in Harwich, Master of the Mayflower:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower

Train to Manningtree:

When you get on the train in Harwich I would suggest that you sit on the right of the carriage (facing the way the train is travelling) as you will then get the best views. Obviously if you are travelling from Manningtree to Harwich then sit on the left facing the way the train is travelling.

If you decide to take the train to Colchester, then I would suggest that you get off at Mistley Station and walk the 1.6 miles (on a flat pathway) to Manningtree Station. It's actually just under 1 mile to Manningtree High Street as Manningtree Station is 0.6 miles outside of the town. I checked the distance today.

On leaving Mistley Station, cross the road and then walk left. As someone else has already said, Mistley is a very pretty village:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistley

The walk will take you through Mistley village, past the Mistley Towers and then along by the river. If the tide is in then it really is very pretty. I should perhaps also mention that the swans that may greet you are friendly but please don't feed them!

As I've already said, after 0.7 miles you will reach Manningtree High Street:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manningtree

Having walked along the High Street you could then carry on walking to Manningtree Station to board the train to Colchester for the day:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchester

Just be aware that Colchester Station is about 2 miles out of town, up a steep hill. You may wish to change trains and catch one that takes you to Colchester Town Station. Sadly, that station isn't in the prettiest part of town but if you exit Colchester Town Station and turn right, and then right again at the traffic lights, and keep walking up Queen Street (a slight hill), when you get to the top of the road you will find yourself outside the Tourist Information Centre on the right, opposite Colchester Castle, with the High Street on your left.

If you wish to walk into town from Colchester Station then I can give you directions to walk up through Castle Park which is a pretty walk.

Here is the Tourist Information link:

http://www.visitcolchester.com/

Actually, I see on the "planning your visit" tab that there's a street map which clearly shows both railway stations.

I note that you've thought about visiting Cambridge by train. This is also easy to do. You will go Harwich to Manningtree, change for Ipswich (only one stop) and then change for a train to Cambridge. As its what we call a "cross country" route it'll be quite pretty. I think the journey will take you about 2 hours 15 minutes. Obviously you can go into London and out again, if you wish, the decision is yours. Just be aware that the route into London and out again is longer.

You can also get to Bury St. Edmunds by train, same route as above, and that should take you approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

I see you have also been recommended to go to Sudbury, Long Melford and Lavenham. I would certainly recommend a visit to those places too, however, you really do need a car to get there. In fact, you might like to suggest that your friends from Norwich pick you up from Colchester Station as then you will be right on the A134 Sudbury Road. You can actually get to Sudbury by train and it'll take you about 1 hour 50 minutes.

Aldeburgh is also very pretty but, sadly, you do need a car to get there.

I actually live quite local and so if there is anything else you'd like me to check out for you, please don't hesitate to post your question. I'm actually going to Manningtree again on Friday and in the next couple of weeks I suspect I'll be going to Harwich and Colchester too.

WOW - I think this is the longest post I've written!

Anyway, I hope you have a truly wonderful time in our region - be sure to bring your camera with you.

Nicky

PS: I didn't know what "BTDT" in your post meant!

Hi All

I've only just found this section of Cruise Critic but from now on I will keep an eye on it.

Sadly, you should be aware that Colchester Castle is currently closed for refurbishment and won't now reopen until Spring 2014:

http://www.cimuseums.org.uk/castle.html

That said, the gardens are very nice.

If you are actually staying in Harwich for a few days be sure to visit the Tourist Information Centre, on the left, as you step onto the pier, as you will be able to pick up details of local guided walks around the town.

You might also want to get the Harwich Foot Ferry to Languard Fort in Felixstowe:

http://www.landguard.com/

The Foot Ferry Timetable is here:

http://www.harwichharbourferry.com/timetable.html

I hope this information helps you and have a FAB cruise.

I saw the old posts about staying near the Liverpool station at the Travel Lodge near Liverpool Station..Can we stay prior to our cruise and see the British Musuem and some of the other sites? How do I pre-pay for the Harwich cruise train on Aug. 5? I tried on the anglia site and they only go until May. Also, sometimes these trains are unreliable..Has anyone had problems because I would hate to not make it to Harwich. Also, is it easy to get from Heathrow to the Travel lodge near Liverpool Station? Also, returning from Harwich, I have a 1:35pm flight from Heathrow...Can I take the train or should I use the cruise ship transfer? Trying to put this all together...Thanks!

Hi Vit4less

Firstly, welcome to Cruise Critic.

Secondly, sorry about my previous post!

You can only book advance tickets 76 days in advance so I calculate that the earliest that you will be able to book rail tickets will be 21 May. I'm sure you've already seen it, but in case not, here is the timetable for Harwich International to London Liverpool Street:

http://www.greateranglia.co.uk/files/download/774

To be honest though, if I were you, I would book the cruise ship transfer as once on the coach you can then relax.

I will leave others, more familiar with hotels in London to answer your other questions.

Have a FAB cruise.

Sorry, I nearly gave the wrong info!

According to this article Mr Palmer is considering building a fleet of Titanics:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/01/titanic-ii-australian-millionaire-interview

He's certainly convinced that he's on to a winning formula!

I've wondered if QM2 might cross in tandem with Titanic II on its maiden voyage or do you think that Cunard will keep well away?

Hi London-Calling

I have now found the quote re a 6 day crossing (whew!). If you go to the link on my post #21 and read the actual article - rather than view the videos - third paragraph to the end states:

"Mr Palmer said he is aiming to have Titanic II finished by the latter half of 2016. Upon its completion, the ship will be sailed to England, where it will board passengers and make its six-day maiden voyage across the north Atlantic to New York City."

It's only really the third class which I, personally, feel will be hard to sell but Mr Palmer, himself, seems to think that that will be the most fun place to be.

Personally, I feel that the third class has the potential to be like one of those reality tv programmes where they put a bunch of people together and watch the arguments break out. I guess it'll largely depend on IF the passengers are all segregated and kept within their chosen "class", and it's my understanding that that will be the case, however, I guess that could always be reviewed and revised accordingly.

In any event, as Mr Palmer states, in one of the videos on the same link, if anyone doesn't like it then they don't have to book it!

Yes. It was stated in one of the earlier links that I posted or maybe I read it on the website:

http://bluestarline.com.au/

Here is a link to the Titanic II technical video released today:

You can also get to it from the actual website.

I have to say, I'm actually quite fascinated and would actually like to go and view it on one of the public open days which he is proposing to have at various ports but whether I'd want to actually sail on her, I'm not so sure. I went to the Titanic Artifacts Exhitibion at the O2 in London and they had a reconstructed first class cabin there. They also had a reconstructed third class cabin, or maybe it was a crew cabin, I'm afraid I can't remember now. I found the Exhibition very interesting, and I'm pleased that I went, but I do actually wonder about the viability of running a replica as I can't help thinking, with shared bathrooms in third class, imagine the nightmare if there was a breakout of Norovirus!