Tag: Britain

Categories
Europe

Pounded by the Pound Sterling

I’ve seen two items in one day indicating that my recent warnings about high-cost London and Britain are still accurate.

The UK’s Guardian says that “The prospect of a further UK interest rate rise this week and continued problems in the United States housing market combined yesterday to push the pound to its highest level against the dollar in more than a quarter of a century.” Read more here in Guardian’s business section.

Joe Brancatelli, a super-experienced business traveler who writes the Seat 2B column for the new Conde Nast Portfolio magazine, says, “Later, London” and laments that although he loves the town personally, having to pay DOUBLE New York prices is causing him to lose considerable enthusiasm.

Can you imagine the costs for travel with kids, the ones who don’t have business expense accounts?

Technorati tags: travel, family travel, London

Categories
Europe UK

Travel Planning for a Trip to Britain (including links for Scotland, Ireland and Wales.)

Here are some quick links from the UK’s Times Online for planning a trip to Britain:

**  Renting a cottage in the UK (self-catering)

**  Ideas for travel to Ireland

**  Tips for travel to Scotland

**  What about Wales?

And then since you gotta eat, Jaunted gives us links to the best places to eat in Britain, including those for kids.

 

Categories
Europe

Tower of London: Quoth the Raven, “Where’d They Go?”

Been wondering where  Baldrick, Gwyllum, Thor and the other Tower of London ravens have got to? 

Gadling got the answer; they’re indoors as a result of bird flu concerns.

Tower of London exterior, next to the Thames

Categories
Europe

London Day Trip: Greenwich

Below Decks Aboard the Cutty Sark (Scarborough photo)The history-stuffed village of Greenwich is an easy day or half-day trip from London, downstream on the River Thames.

Do some investigating at the tourist Web site and decide what you and your family would like to see, but also think about how you want to get there.

I recommend taking a boat on the Thames, leaving from one of the piers at the Tower of London, Chelsea, Westminster or Thames Barrier.

You can come back to central London on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR.)

Our family’s favorite Greenwich sights include the magnificently restored tea clipper Cutty Sark, launched in 1869 and now in drydock next to the Thames. Kids love climbing all over the historic vessel.

We also enjoyed seeing where East meets West at 0 degrees longitude, the imaginary line around the globe that cuts through the Greenwich Royal Observatory and is known as the Prime Meridian.

This is where we get the term “Greenwich Mean Time” or GMT. Astride the Prime Meridian, Greenwich UK

Finally, pay a visit to the National Maritime Museum for all sorts of nautical exhibits befitting Britannia. Admission is free.

If you’d like some guidance, the always-reliable London Walks tours have the Historic Greenwich walk amongst their Tuesday offerings.

Update 11 October 2006: There’s a nice Greenwich overview article out on Frommer’s.

Update 24 August 2007: The ship suffered a horrific fire in May 2007, but crews are working frantically to restore it. The Visitor’s Center is open; click here for an update.