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Originally Posted by buzzpat
(Post 1934427)
Hey Guys,
Pardon the departure from the current topic. I'm thinking of taking my family to London for Christmas. Anybody ever do that? Any tips on where to stay, things to do? I've been there but it's been awhile. It'll be a first for my family. Thanks so much. Buzz I took family last New Years as my oldest was marching in London New Years Day parade. We arrived on the 28th of Dec and left on the 3rd. Depending on the age and interests of the kids, your itinerary could change. Just riding around London on the top deck of a public bus intrigues my youngest. We stayed at the holiday inn kensington (one of the crew hotels) and the advantage to that was the pub and restaurant on bottom floor give 50% off (food and spirits) and the breakfast buffet was pretty expansive. I found a rate online cheaper than what the hotel offered via a "crew" rate, but I also waited until the day before to book and paid about $180/night all in all. Hotel is right on Picadellli line so easy one train ride right from LHR, no transfer with bags, etc. Starbucks on same block and the area around kensington is the big museum area as well. If your into any history, recommend the Winston Churchill / WW2 bunker museum by parliament building downtown. Part of it is actual bunker the way it was at the end of WW2, the other half was very well done museum about Winston Churchill, intriguing to anyone, even kids. Also, recommend a visit to Greenwich, where you can tour the original telescopes that some of the most famous astronomers used and stand on the prime meridian, very well done. Included is a tour of the National Maritime Museum at the bottom of the hill which had an amazing display of ancient time pieces used by explorers to try and discern their longitude. Very well presented, and actual log books from Captain Cooks voyages etc on display. Obviously you have the london eye (btw, the concierge at the Holiday inn had access to tickets that were about 25% less than online or if you stood in line). During the winter (at least last year and I suspect every year) there was a massive "winter wonderland" village set up in Hyde park that was open each afternoon till midnight where it was part beer garden, amusement park, craft sale, and entertainment bonanza. It was going from mid november till Jan 10th I believe. Lastly around town there were mini christmas villages that had ice skating rinks and things to eat and buy. Obviously it is weather dependent, but otherwise we had a great time. LUV |
Originally Posted by badflaps
(Post 1934472)
Planning tip: Take the whole bottle in case they stop the count down. And if you do take the whole bottle, have somebody help you with the ladder.;)
Moving on up, one number at a time...:D |
Buzz, Tower of London and the Royal Armory and the RAF Museum of London.
Things to see | London | RAF Museum |
Long time lurker, first time poster, and not a Delta pilot (but hoping to be in the near future).
Buzz, Depends what you're into. I love history and books; lived in Cambridge for 3 years, married an English girl, and we made many weekend trips into London. My list of must see items: - Tower of London (can be pricey, but worth it if you're into history/learning experience for the kids) - The War Rooms. Churchill's underground command bunker during WWII. At the end of the war they basically left all the charts on the wall and just walked out, so its largely preserved exactly the way it looked in 1945. - Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard. Mandatory. Changing of the Guard happens at 1100?? (I think) - Free lunchtime chamber music at St. Martins-in-the-Fields church. They also have evening concerts. Highly recommend. - Foyles bookstore. It's huge...5 or 6 floors. - Walk from St. Pauls cathedral, over the millennium bridge to the Tate Modern on the Southbank of the Thames, then along the Southbank to Westminster bridge (not a short walk!!!). - The British Museum if you like history/archaeology. Location of the rosetta stone. - Have dinner at Veeraswamy. It is the oldest indian restaurant in London, and is the best Indian food I have ever had. It is not cheap. I recommend the 4(5??) course sampler menu. It is 50 pounds sterling per person. - I do recommend a double-decker bus tour. I did one with my parents a few years ago; its a great way to see much of London pretty quickly, and get a sense of what you might want to go back to. Cheers, Sled |
Originally Posted by Carl Spackler
(Post 1934437)
It's easy to make the mistake between slowplay and Sailingfun because their posts are nearly identical. But the posts you're referencing were made by slowplay...not sailingfun.
Carl Sailing, Mea Culpa. That was meant for slowplay. |
Originally Posted by satchip
(Post 1934498)
Nah, you can handle that ladder all by yourself. Take two bottles up there....
Moving on up, one number at a time...:D |
Originally Posted by qball
(Post 1934546)
What's your SSN Bender? Take 3 bottles
|
Topic change
can anyone tell me if SLC is a FA base ?.....a pm would be great if there is a security concern.
thanks, BG |
Originally Posted by FedElta
(Post 1934619)
can anyone tell me if SLC is a FA base ?.....a pm would be great if there is a security concern.
thanks, BG |
Originally Posted by full of luv
(Post 1934487)
Buzz,
I took family last New Years as my oldest was marching in London New Years Day parade. We arrived on the 28th of Dec and left on the 3rd. Depending on the age and interests of the kids, your itinerary could change. Just riding around London on the top deck of a public bus intrigues my youngest. We stayed at the holiday inn kensington (one of the crew hotels) and the advantage to that was the pub and restaurant on bottom floor give 50% off (food and spirits) and the breakfast buffet was pretty expansive. I found a rate online cheaper than what the hotel offered via a "crew" rate, but I also waited until the day before to book and paid about $180/night all in all. Hotel is right on Picadellli line so easy one train ride right from LHR, no transfer with bags, etc. Starbucks on same block and the area around kensington is the big museum area as well. If your into any history, recommend the Winston Churchill / WW2 bunker museum by parliament building downtown. Part of it is actual bunker the way it was at the end of WW2, the other half was very well done museum about Winston Churchill, intriguing to anyone, even kids. Also, recommend a visit to Greenwich, where you can tour the original telescopes that some of the most famous astronomers used and stand on the prime meridian, very well done. Included is a tour of the National Maritime Museum at the bottom of the hill which had an amazing display of ancient time pieces used by explorers to try and discern their longitude. Very well presented, and actual log books from Captain Cooks voyages etc on display. Obviously you have the london eye (btw, the concierge at the Holiday inn had access to tickets that were about 25% less than online or if you stood in line). During the winter (at least last year and I suspect every year) there was a massive "winter wonderland" village set up in Hyde park that was open each afternoon till midnight where it was part beer garden, amusement park, craft sale, and entertainment bonanza. It was going from mid november till Jan 10th I believe. Lastly around town there were mini christmas villages that had ice skating rinks and things to eat and buy. Obviously it is weather dependent, but otherwise we had a great time. LUV Thanks so much! Exactly what I was looking for. Our kids are 16,13 and 10 so a little bit of the London sightseeing plus a few museums is perfect. I'll look into the Holiday Inn Kensington. A nice pub nearby doesn't hurt either. Thanks brother! |
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