OK, brothers and sisters in the UK.
I plan to take my daughters (19 and 11 yrs) on vacation to the UK this spring. My date range is 5-12 April.
Looking for activities and things to see.
The list currently has the following:
LONDON
Museums
Universal Theaters Harry Potter
Looking for suggestions and recommendations as well as tips and tricks for keeping costs down. Not against traveling to other parts of the UK but would prefer to stay within the radius of train travel. I've also heard of a museum attractions card or something like that.
I am also definitely not against a couple of hours flight time in a sim.
Thanks!
Warren
The UK is the best place to come!
If you're into it, it's worth trying to see a Theatre Production in the West End, it's brilliant.
The Harry Potter Studios Tour is AMAZING, I went there at Christmas last year and it's awesome.
If you're looking for a scare the London Dungeons are good. Other attractions in London you should see are the London Eye and also try to travel on the Tube (underground). It's not exactly a tourist attraction but you just should whilst you're here.
For free you can go to the Natural History Museum and The Science Museum, both really interesting places at no cost.
The Rainforest Cafe is quite interesting as well so it's worth trying to book a table.
If you have any questions, you can feel free to ask me or any of the other british members.
with the weather we are having i suggest you bring a boat :)
Hi Warren
I second the Science Museum. Also worth seeing are The Tower of London, a trip on one of the Thames River Boats ( best way to see a City is from it`s river!) If you like really good Indian Curries then a visit to Brick Lane in East London is well worth it. As well as "the street of a thousand curries", this area is full of modern and contemporary history - "Jack the Ripper Tours" and you can see where the Diagon Alley scenes were shot for Harry Potter.
My sim is not yet flying, but if you fancy a meet up for a few beers in London I am game, I can also guide you to Brick Lane if you want and the dates are suitable
Regards
David
I'd suggest madame tussauds if you are going to London, Very good in there all wax statues of famous people!
all you need to know on visiting London ;)
http://www.spotterswiki.com/index.php/London_Heathrow_Airport (http://www.spotterswiki.com/index.php/London_Heathrow_Airport)
duxford air museum, if you can get out there:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/IWM-Duxford/ (http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/IWM-Duxford/)
Thanks everybody!!!
Excellent suggestions all!
Duxford air museum sounds great... are there any Battle of Britain or D-Day type museums/exhibits that are close to London? I was fortunate to be part of the Airdrop for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day back in the '94, so as we roll into the 70th, I hope to see something on the other side of the channel
Madame Trussauds is on the list now
Now I'm tracking the museums too. I have heard of a card I can buy that basically gives free entrance to the museums, tower and dungeons. Anyone know of this?
Please keep the suggestions coming.
Warren
i think this is what your after, its defo not free however if you plan on seeing everything there is to offer then it works out a lot cheaper to do it this way
https://www.londonpass.com/ (https://www.londonpass.com/)
be wise to get a travelcard also (same website) saved you waiting ages to get a tube ticket
Thanks Phil! That was exactly what I was looking for. Couldn't remember the name. Perfect!
Quote from: fsaviator link=topic=4076.msg31432#msg31432
are there any Battle of Britain or D-Day type museums/exhibits that are close to London?
Please keep the suggestions coming.
Warren
Hi Warren
I think you'll enjoy the RAF Museum in London.
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/ (http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/)
Be touched by the bravery of the Battle of Britain Fighter Pilots by viewing our multimedia show 'Our Finest Hour'.
OK!!
Plane tickets have been bought and I've locked in a serviced apartment in London. The girls and I are committed.
Look out London, here we come!
Arriving on 4 April and departing on 9 April. It's not as long as I had originally planned on but work was getting in the way. Regardless, it's a few good days on the ground.
I am leaving a full day open to get away from London if desired.
Now it is time to figure out what passes/tickets/trans options I need.
Good for you!!
As far as I remember there is a high speed train from Heathrow to downtown (Paddington?) , The "Underground" and cabbies do the rest.!!
Enjoy and report. ;)
Hello again.
I'm a Londoner (cor-blimey geezer!)
I'd offer you a tour of my cockpit but there is not much to see yet. I can offer you plenty of advise on london related stuff though.
Heathrow usually uses runway 27, with any luck you'll get a LAM approach and see a bit of london from the sky (if its not blanketed in cloud). Get the charts and check yourself.
(here: https://charts.aero/airport/EGLL)
From Heathrow, there is a express train that will get you to Paddington Station in West London, it take 15 minutes but is quite expensive. £21 each. You will still need to travel onward from paddington depending on where you are staying. (where are you staying roughly?)
The alternative is the Underground or the Tube as we call it. It takes much longer to get to central london (about 45 minutes) but is cheaper and gives you more options. For all public transport you will need an Oyster card, an electronic tag card that is used on all trains, tubes and busses. London transport is quite expensive compared to other major cities. The oyster can be topped up and used on a pay as you go basis or you can buy a daily/weekly/monthly pass for different zones (1-6 centre to outer). Use after 9.30/10 in the morning (it costs more in the morning rush).
Buses can be fun but slow depending on traffic, but you can see a lot on a bus.
Taxis (black cabs) can be hailed on the street (look for the orange light if its free). They are not cheep either. They are well regulated though, safe and reliable. Drivers will vary from polite, interesting, over chatty to cold and quiet. They are very rarely rude.
Count on everything being expensive. Entrance to any attraction will cost, even with a discounted pass it will still add up.
Weather in April can do anything. Its snowed in april, its also been hot and sunny. Check daily or in the morning for a forecast. Rain is what you want to know about (waterproofs and umbrellas if your touring town).
I use a site called raintoday.co.uk, not a forecasting site but a historical rain radar, you can make your own prediction based on the previous 4 hours.
Get a local sim card for you cell phone (we don't call them cells here but just mobile phone)
All of the major providers do pay as you go options. The sim is usually free when you buy a £10 credit. Calls are reasonable unless calling abroad.
I can post some more if you let me know if theres anything you want to know about.
Thanks for tips Miles. Looking forward to the trip
Quote from: milezee on March 03, 2014, 10:46:13 PM
From Heathrow, there is a express train that will get you to Paddington Station in West London, it take 15 minutes but is quite expensive. £21 each. You will still need to travel onward from paddington depending on where you are staying. (where are you staying roughly?)
We are staying in Notting Hill (close to the tube station). I was looking at taking the tube in from the airport to Notting Hill.
Quote
The alternative is the Underground or the Tube as we call it. It takes much longer to get to central london (about 45 minutes) but is cheaper and gives you more options. For all public transport you will need an Oyster card, an electronic tag card that is used on all trains, tubes and busses. London transport is quite expensive compared to other major cities. The oyster can be topped up and used on a pay as you go basis or you can buy a daily/weekly/monthly pass for different zones (1-6 centre to outer). Use after 9.30/10 in the morning (it costs more in the morning rush).
Buses can be fun but slow depending on traffic, but you can see a lot on a bus.
Taxis (black cabs) can be hailed on the street (look for the orange light if its free). They are not cheep either. They are well regulated though, safe and reliable. Drivers will vary from polite, interesting, over chatty to cold and quiet. They are very rarely rude.
Any tips on Oyster vs. Travelcard? Looking at three of us (one is 11 yrs old) using the tube and busses to get around to all the attractions. I was debating a London Pass with the accompanying Travel card but some things I read say it isn't worth it. There is a 2-1 attraction offer that goes with a Travelcard if bought from a Rail station (of course the airport doesn't count). I'll be studying this for a few more days...
Quote
Count on everything being expensive. Entrance to any attraction will cost, even with a discounted pass it will still add up.
I've read museums are free, and that the London Pass isn't worth it... other sites say the discount coupons that come with the London pass are great... so confusing. I'm already seeing that expenses add up.
Quote
Weather in April can do anything. Its snowed in april, its also been hot and sunny. Check daily or in the morning for a forecast. Rain is what you want to know about (waterproofs and umbrellas if your touring town).
I use a site called raintoday.co.uk, not a forecasting site but a historical rain radar, you can make your own prediction based on the previous 4 hours.
Great tips.
Quote
Get a local sim card for you cell phone (we don't call them cells here but just mobile phone)
All of the major providers do pay as you go options. The sim is usually free when you buy a £10 credit. Calls are reasonable unless calling abroad.
definitely looking at a local simchip. Any recommendations on coverage?
I really appreciate you taking the time to spell some of this out.
Warren,
Mobile provider for your pay as you go sim doesn't matter as the coverage in London is awesome with all of them.
I would recommend just getting an Oyster card or 3! for travel and you can just top it up as you go.
Underground (tube) is easy from Heathrow. Much better option than the Heathrow Express.
Im in Germany next week if your about? Im up north in Cologne though. Not sure when I'm in Stuttgart next.
Hope you have a fun trip
Rhys B
Wow, you seem to have it all sewn up, but if you want free B and B in the Cotswolds with me and family and then fly the Comet and see our new Harrier, you will be most welcome. Other things in the area, Warwick Castle, Blenheim Palace, and the beautiful Cotswolds [maybe not top of your girls list]. Invite is there, just let me know, Charlie Grant.
Thanks Charlie! Sounds like a great offer.
I'm away from home right now. I get back Friday so I'll see what the girls have lined up... I've left them at home with instructions to map out in priority what they want to see.
More to follow.
Warren
No problem Warren, you can mail me on whbandb AT yahoo dot co dot uk if you feel like coming up [we are 1 1/2 hrs from London Paddington by train - direct!]. My wife can help the Girls do the sights whilst you fly our Comet and maybe the Harrier, which we are just connecting up. Charlie.
So! Here I was, ready to head to the UK on Friday and I get home to an email... flight cancelled because of strike... Ouch.
I've just spent the last couple of hours trying to figure out how to get to the UK. I ended up going with Ryanair and hopefully the apartment will be available an additional night as we have to stay another night to fly out at oh-dark-thirty.
That all just tacked on another $400 to my vacation by the time I paid for the difference in tickets, baggage, the transfer to/from Standsted, another night of lodging... yay!
The good news is it gave me an additional day and half in the UK. Now to see how we make this work
So Charlie! I am a complete idiot.
I spent last night spastically trying to confirm that our apartment would be able to host us one more night on the end as I had to push the trip to the right one day.
Finally got their confirmation today and then realized... you run a B&B... I could have just cruised up to you, spent the night, then drove to the airport the next day
I'll have to see if they will let me off the hook for the night of the 9th. Regardless, we'd still like to come by.
How's your schedule look next week?
Warren
No problem at all Warren. I will PM you with the details - no charge for B and B, we stopped it last year but the rooms are still made up!! Charlie.
Hello everyone! Back from the UK! What a great time the kids and I had.
We saw all the sights, and even got out into the country to visit some friends. I won't bore you with pictures of the Tower of London, Big Ben etc but will get to the real good stuff.
As some will know, whenever I travel I try to fit in time for my hobby. That usually involves my trying to talk someone into showing me their sim. Well this trip was no different.
This trip I had the privilege to drive up and visit Ian Sissons. He and his lovely wife welcomed my daughters and me in and we flew a Frankfurt to Gatwick flight in his excellent 737 sim. Thanks Ian. It was truly and experience to fly the 737 that has been an icon to a lot of us.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi274.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj267%2Fwsoeldner%2FFamily%2FLondon%25202014%2FP1020390Medium_zpsebe6dab4.jpg&hash=7accfc2a55ddda340e735198c3fbde3876efbf02)
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi274.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj267%2Fwsoeldner%2FFamily%2FLondon%25202014%2FP1020394Medium_zpsa5fc3113.jpg&hash=596bd48dbcde0629495005d9e7bada29a602ca40)
After leaving Ian we headed south to the Cotswalds for an overnight with CeeGee (Charlie) and an opportunity to fly a Comet 4. Charlie and his family were the perfect hosts and I can't thank them enough for how comfortable they made us feel. Thank you Charlie.
As for the comet... words can't describe it.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi274.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj267%2Fwsoeldner%2FFamily%2FLondon%25202014%2FP1020410Medium_zpsc6f672a0.jpg&hash=101d6493305ed6933a354558f92634c00409856d)
Let me prep you for the next shots by telling you that almost every gauge is fully working, every button does something, and all controls work. Even the circuit breakers!
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi274.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj267%2Fwsoeldner%2FFamily%2FLondon%25202014%2FP1020408Medium_zps85c6a08a.jpg&hash=814921ab7533a88e8664df3e7ad59f0d1ceb0588)
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi274.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj267%2Fwsoeldner%2FFamily%2FLondon%25202014%2FP1020409Medium_zps776d73a9.jpg&hash=0710c9dec40ef435b1849d438e09594fd09a9c88)
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi274.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj267%2Fwsoeldner%2FFamily%2FLondon%25202014%2FP1020403Medium_zpsacd41532.jpg&hash=768468186a0d3671e115984c9c1437ad6332eaf4)
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi274.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj267%2Fwsoeldner%2FFamily%2FLondon%25202014%2FP1020401Medium_zpse225f446.jpg&hash=d81c8d3fc870b1665201ce73da68809996ed8cea)
Charlie and his brother in law have done a fantastic job on this build. I was speechless at the attention to detail. They let me jump in and head off out of Heathrow. Now, let me say that for first time ever flying a comet (or even seeing a comet cockpit) I took off and flew a great circuit but stalled it and crashed. I was in sensory overload from everything going on in there when the very real buffet struck at 1000 feet on final. I was having so much fun hand flying and using the working trim wheels that I forgot all about watching my speed. The second attempt was much better.
Ian, Charlie... thanks again. If you guys are ever in Stuttgart let me know and I'll return the favor.
Warren
Thanks for the great pics Warren, and cheers to our shared madness and friends !!!
You know, the Comet cockpit reminds me (oddly enough) the cockpit of the Concorde where I spent a few hours including a landing at JFK, same clutter, same "roughness" and feeling of a very complex beast.
Thanks
Jack
Excellent Comet 4 sim!! I didn't even know there was one.
Nick
P.S. Jack, please tell us more about your Concord experience! ;)
Thank you Warren for your very kind words, you and your family were a pleasure to have to stay.
Now, as to the Comet 4, which is my brother in law Mike's creation and build:
Well, it is the only working simulator of the Comet 4 in the whole wide world and it all works except some of the Navigators station. Now remember that the only bits that you can pre-program in the cockpit, are the radio freqs. No GPS, EFIS etc so it is very much a 2 crew cockpit. Warren was thrown in to fly the beastie from EGLL with a tiny brief, and left to get on with it. Anyone who Warren has visited will tell you this - He has pilots hands, a very impressive display indeed - well done the B737NG pilot!!
The nicest thing by far, was being able to swap ideas and techniques, which I know that this site does brilliantly, but there is no substitute for showing creations and discussing wish-lists with someone who is as keen as you are, and is standing right next to you. Most of our visitors have never flown a sim before, so Warren was a real treat for us. Lets do more!!
The Harrier is being reassembled by Mike with alarming speed. We are using the Wilco FSX Harrier as the base model and they are changing some of the VSTOL items to suit our requirements - lots of Beta testing this end and a free patch for the Wilco model, will leave us all happy. Photos will appear as soon as the rebuild progresses.
Warren, you are welcome back any time, as is anyone else who is in the area, Ian, Rhys !! Onwards and upwards, Charlie.
I have promised a new video of the Comet to replace our very old one - and here it is. Enjoy! Mike and Charlie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuOpFjxmP4c (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuOpFjxmP4c)
Great video, Charlie! I can attest that this is one hell of a sim!