London Tours

[RichNY]

Can anyone suggest a private guided tour company for London...?? We might have 6 or 8 people...

 

Thanks

[route 66]

The major sights are actually quite close together so if you cannot find a private tour guide, we have Hop On/Hop Off buses plus local transport is excellent and very frequent and not forgetting the underground which is well signposted. Day travel passes are available.

[handfordr]

For Central London having a bus and guide is a big handicap rather than an asset. Because of the total lack of parking you'd need a driver plus separate guide which for such a small group is not economic.

 

As mentioned above, using the HOHO buses to get orientation the first day then striking off independently and getting a guide where you need them is a good strategy.

 

If you really must have a guide all the time, look up the Blue Badge Guide site (http://www.blue-badge-guides.com) and select a guide suitable for your group, using public transport to get around.

[RichNY]

Thanks for the info......we are leaning toward the HO HO Bus..

 

Question...can the HO HO tickets be bought along the route or must we buy them at a starting point ???..

[RichNY]

For Central London having a bus and guide is a big handicap rather than an asset. Because of the total lack of parking you'd need a driver plus separate guide which for such a small group is not economic.

 

As mentioned above, using the HOHO buses to get orientation the first day then striking off independently and getting a guide where you need them is a good strategy.

 

If you really must have a guide all the time, look up the Blue Badge Guide site (http://www.blue-badge-guides.com) and select a guide suitable for your group, using public transport to get around.

 

 

Thanks for the info....we were thinking more in terms of using a car service ...I do see your point.

Thanks

[handfordr]

Thanks for the info....we were thinking more in terms of using a car service ...I do see your point.

Thanks

 

For eight people you will need a mini bus which is treated the same way as a big touring bus in terms of parking ($10 an hour), access to streets etc.

[peachquilter]

Thanks for the info....we were thinking more in terms of using a car service ...I do see your point.

Thanks

 

For eight people you will need a mini bus which is treated the same way as a big touring bus in terms of parking ($10 an hour), access to streets etc.

 

Hello Handfordr--just wanted to thank you for all of your help in planning our week in England following our Mediterranean cruise.

 

Rich -- we got back from London earlier this month. We used various modalities for getting around. As Handfordr said, the HOHO bus is great for getting your bearings and seeing a snippet of everything. We frequently took the Tube (however, it is crowded, hot and sweaty, but it gets you from place to place quickly). We also took a day tour with London Walks to Oxford and the Cotswold (via a train and it was fun) and finally, Harry of London Tours (www.Londonstours.com) picked us up from our cruise ship (he owns a private tour company) and took us to Stonehenge, Salisbury and Old Sarum Castle. We spent a day with him and then he dropped us off at our hotel in London. He was great fun and I would recommend him.

 

Marilyn

[RichNY]

Thanks for all the help. It looks like we'll be HO HOing it...:D

[snorklinbarb]

Hi Rich,

Just saw this post as I was searching some Dover info.

 

HO-HO'ing is the way to go. I think this is the one we used:

http://www.bigbustours.com/eng/london/default.aspx

 

Unlike these buses in places like Helsinki or Barcelona (where you just get headphones & brief info), these London buses have really fun guides who provide all the history & details. Sitting up top is the way to go if it's a nice day. Even if you don't have time to get on and off on all 3 routes, it's worth taking the tour around (like 2 hrs) just to get an overview & their great narration.

 

We bought a 2 day ticket and it's wonderful to take the river cruise in connection with the Tower of London, if you're planning to go there (well worth it).

 

Have a great trip on the Jewel.:D

[RichNY]

We leave tomorrow.......thanks everyone