Linda Hardy

"Ken Blake" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Except for a single afternoon in London a couple of years ago, my
    > wife and I have never been in the British Isles. We've made no
    > plans yet, but were thinking of spending 3-4 weeks there next
    > spring, from roughly mid-April to mid-May, or alternatively in
    > the fall from mid-October to mid-November.
    > I had thought we might spend a week in London, a week in Dublin,
    > and the rest of the time traveling around visiting other sites.
    > The "traveling around" time is time when I would typically want
    > to rent a car, since using public transportation normally makes
    > it difficult to get to more than one site a day, because train or
    > bus schedules would likely mean that we'd be spending most of our
    > time in train and bus stations.
    > But the problem is that I'm from the USA and used to driving on
    > the right-hand side of the road. The thought of driving on the
    > left makes me uncomfortable and I'm reluctant to do that.
    > So, reluctantly, one of things I thought we might consider is a
    > tour, for at least part of the time we're there. I say
    > "reluctantly" because the idea of organized tours is not one I
    > like. I much prefer to decide for ourselves where we want to go,
    > sleep, eat, etc. and when we want to do those things. But if
    > that's the choice that makes the most sense, then that's what we
    > should do.
    > So I'm writing here to ask for advice, on any or all of the
    > following:
    > - the wisdom of taking a tour
    > - a specific tour or tour company recommended
    > - renting a car and driving ourselves
    > - using public transportation
    > - recommendations on specific places to visit
    > - anything else you might think helpful.
    > --
    > Ken Blake
    > Please reply to the newsgroup
Hi Ken,

A relative of mine in England took some American friends touring in England,
contact me and I'll put you in touch with my rellies, this is genuine.

[email protected]


Linda

Ken Blake

"Padraig Breathnach" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "Ken Blake" <[email protected]> wrote:
    >>So, including the disappointing Joyce day, how long would you
    >>recommend in Dublin?
    > Taking note of what you said earlier, I suggest about five
    > days, so
    > that you can tick off all the tourist things, do the Joyce
    > thing, and
    > build in a leisure element which you might use for rambling
    > about and
    > getting a feel of things.
    >>I don't *want* to take a tour, but wanted to consider it only
    >>if
    >>it seemed better than the alternatives.
    > One alternative is to shape your itinerary to what can be
    > conveniently
    > done using public transport. You won't have time to see
    > everything, so
    > choose those places you can reach easily.


Yes, that might make good sense. Can you recommend a site for
information on public transport in Ireland?

Thanks again for all your help. Thanks also to the many others
from whom I found answers with good information this morning. Too
many to reply to individually, but your messages were very
helpful.


--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Besses O' Th' Barn And

The Reids <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Following up to Margaret
    >
    > >A week in London will just get your feet wet :-). While in England
    > >definitely plan to head North to the Lake District! May is a beautiful time
    > >to see this region of the country. Stay in a B&B along one of the Lakes and
    > >explore the towns. For this stretch of your journey you will need a car.
    >
    > I very much agree with this post!

I'm not going to say someone shouldn't have a car in the Lake District,
but as a contrasting opinion, it's obviously not essential to visit the
area, as I've been there recently! It's got a pretty good bus system on
some of the quieter routes- again, not exactly every 10 minutes, but
armed with schedules you can get around. I know several keen hikers
who've pretty much traversed the area, and don't drive!

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

The Reids

Following up to chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and
prestwich tesco

    >> I very much agree with this post!
    >I'm not going to say someone shouldn't have a car in the Lake District,
    >but as a contrasting opinion, it's obviously not essential to visit the
    >area, as I've been there recently! It's got a pretty good bus system on
    >some of the quieter routes- again, not exactly every 10 minutes, but
    >armed with schedules you can get around. I know several keen hikers
    >who've pretty much traversed the area, and don't drive!

If you are willing to backpack from pub to pub or campsite, yes,
Ive done that.
Otherwise, if you want to visit Wasdale for instance, you will
need a car or someone with a car, which could be the Wasdale Head
picking you up. The Lake district isnt that big, so a serious
walker can cross it without a car, in fact, something like
Borrowdale to Wasdale is probably quicker for a fellrunner than
by car! But for a sightseer its easier by car although as you say
services do exist.
--
Mike Reid
Wasdale "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk/page01.htm"
(see website for email)

Padraig Breathnach

"Ken Blake" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >Can you recommend a site for
    >information on public transport in Ireland?
http://www.cie.ie/home/

It might help you to know that iarnród is the Gaelic word for railway!
I think the rest of the site is reasonably transparent -- a little
slow, a good metaphor for travel in Ireland.

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED

Dan Stephenson

In article
<1gzw640.1fvx2pm1rh80flN%this_address_is_for_spam@ yahoo.com>,
chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco
<[email protected]> wrote:

    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > Dan Stephenson wrote:
    > > > The exception is the British Museum - I recommend just taking a
    > > > taxi there.
    > >
    > > As a matter of interest, why?
    >
    > I was thinking about that too. It's just as close to public transport
    > (e.g. Tottenham Court Road, Russel Sq. tubes) as many other museums and
    > galleries are- closer than some in fact.

There isn't a tube station nearby, and the bus 373 to Tottenham Court
Road drop you off someplace without the British Museum in sight and no
signs saying where it is. I wandered around for 20 minutes until I
found it.

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

[email protected]

Dan Stephenson wrote:
    > In article
    > <1gzw640.1fvx2pm1rh80flN%this_address_is_for_spam@ yahoo.com>,
    > chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    > > <[email protected]> wrote:
    > >
    > > > Dan Stephenson wrote:
    > > > > The exception is the British Museum - I recommend just taking a
    > > > > taxi there.
    > > >
    > > > As a matter of interest, why?
    > >
    > > I was thinking about that too. It's just as close to public transport
    > > (e.g. Tottenham Court Road, Russel Sq. tubes) as many other museums and
    > > galleries are- closer than some in fact.
    > There isn't a tube station nearby

It depends what you mean by "nearby". Russell Square (currently closed
of course), Tottenham Court Road and Holborn tube stations are all
within five minutes' walk. Not quite as close as the tube to the
Kensington museums, perhaps, but let's just say less of a walk than
you'll actually do WITHIN the museum itself!

Ken Blake

"Padraig Breathnach" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

    > "Ken Blake" <[email protected]> wrote:
    >>Can you recommend a site for
    >>information on public transport in Ireland?
    > http://www.cie.ie/home/
    > It might help you to know that iarnród is the Gaelic word for
    > railway!
    > I think the rest of the site is reasonably transparent -- a
    > little
    > slow, a good metaphor for travel in Ireland.


Great, and thanks once more.


--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Besses O' Th' Barn And

Dan Stephenson <[email protected]> wrote:

    > In article
    > <1gzw640.1fvx2pm1rh80flN%this_address_is_for_spam@ yahoo.com>,
    > chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > <[email protected]> wrote:
    > >
    > > > Dan Stephenson wrote:
    > > > > The exception is the British Museum - I recommend just taking a
    > > > > taxi there.
    > > >
    > > > As a matter of interest, why?
    > >
    > > I was thinking about that too. It's just as close to public transport
    > > (e.g. Tottenham Court Road, Russel Sq. tubes) as many other museums and
    > > galleries are- closer than some in fact.
    >
    > There isn't a tube station nearby,

There is- I mentioned them above.

    > and the bus 373 to Tottenham Court
    > Road drop you off someplace without the British Museum in sight and no
    > signs saying where it is. I wandered around for 20 minutes until I
    > found it.

You must have gotten lost then- it's a 5 minute walk tops.

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Besses O' Th' Barn And

[email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:

[]
    > It depends what you mean by "nearby". Russell Square (currently closed
    > of course), Tottenham Court Road and Holborn tube stations are all
    > within five minutes' walk. Not quite as close as the tube to the
    > Kensington museums, perhaps,

They are closer, but check out a map- not by much. They seem closer
maybe because of the underground walkway, but the distance you have to
walk is pretty similar.

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

Martin Rich

On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 23:45:17 -0400, "Margaret" <[email protected]>
wrote:

<lots of good stuff and one thing that I'd disagree with>

    > Be sure to get the London
    >Tube pass travelcard ahead of time (must purchase before you leave the
    >States). You'll use the underground to get everywhere and the savings to
    >purchase a 7day pass ahead of time are well worth it:
    >http://www.londontravelpass.com/index.asp. The travelcard can also be used
    >on the doubledecker buses. So you can do your own city tour.

I haven't checked recently but in the past the travelcards that you
bought in the US weren't particularly good value. The visitor
travelcard no longer exists as a distinct product but travelcards
still are sold outside the UK. But you can also buy 7-day (or 1 or 3
day) travelcards once you're in London, at tube stations and also at
lots of local newsagents.

A few other points raised in the thread:

Like many others in the group, I think a week in Ireland sounds good,
but don't spend it all in Dublin

It's unlikely you'll find public transport services which just run
once a day - but there are rural areas which have no public transport
to think of and a car will give you the flexibility to reach
interesting rural spots away from towns or villages.

Don't pick up a car in London: something like London-Bath or
London-York will be quicker and easier by train and you could use
somewhere like York as a base from which to rent a car. Also if you
are nervous of driving on the left, London isn't the easiest place to
get used to it! My hunch is that you could do well by relying on
public transport most of the time and perhaps renting cars for short
periods in 2-3 places.

As others have said, the British Museum is within 5 minutes' walk of
the tube, but also bus route 7 usually goes past the front of the
museum (it doesn't at the moment but that's only temporary)

I have some rather out of date answers to frequently asked questions
on travelling in the UK online at http://www.jackdaw.u-net.com/ukfaq/

Between Great Britain and Ireland it probably makes most sense to fly
- Easyjet and Ryanair are the best-known low-cost airlines and Ryanair
is of course Irish!! Easyjet doesn't serve Dublin but it does fly to
other destinations in Ireland. Beware that Ryanair operates with a
limited luggage allowance and they will most likely charge you if you
take more.

Would you be able to get an open-jaw flight from the US - say out to
London and back from Dublin - which would mean that you only need to
travel between Great Britain and Ireland once?

Martin

Martin

On Mon, 18 Jul 2005 17:38:14 GMT, Dan Stephenson
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >In article
    ><1gzw640.1fvx2pm1rh80flN%this_address_is_for_spam @yahoo.com>,
    >chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco
    ><[email protected]> wrote:
    >> <[email protected]> wrote:
    >>
    >> > Dan Stephenson wrote:
    >> > > The exception is the British Museum - I recommend just taking a
    >> > > taxi there.
    >> >
    >> > As a matter of interest, why?
    >>
    >> I was thinking about that too. It's just as close to public transport
    >> (e.g. Tottenham Court Road, Russel Sq. tubes) as many other museums and
    >> galleries are- closer than some in fact.
    >There isn't a tube station nearby, and the bus 373 to Tottenham Court
    >Road drop you off someplace without the British Museum in sight and no
    >signs saying where it is. I wandered around for 20 minutes until I
    >found it.

Get a street map next time? Last time we went to the BM, we took the
tube to Russell Square and walked. You don't have to be particularly
fit to walk the distance from the tube station to the BM.
--
Martin

Margaret

Interesting.. My understanding is the 7-day travelcard was more expensive
when purchased once we arrive in London. When we bought them last year we
also got a combo pack that included discounted Heathrow express transfers.
So it was well worth it.

Thanks for the tip, once less thing to remember to pack with my passport!

--

"Martin Rich" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 23:45:17 -0400, "Margaret" <[email protected]>
    > wrote:
    > <lots of good stuff and one thing that I'd disagree with>
    > > Be sure to get the London
    > >Tube pass travelcard ahead of time (must purchase before you leave the
    > >States). You'll use the underground to get everywhere and the savings to
    > >purchase a 7day pass ahead of time are well worth it:
    > >http://www.londontravelpass.com/index.asp. The travelcard can also be
used
    > >on the doubledecker buses. So you can do your own city tour.
    > >
    > I haven't checked recently but in the past the travelcards that you
    > bought in the US weren't particularly good value. The visitor
    > travelcard no longer exists as a distinct product but travelcards
    > still are sold outside the UK. But you can also buy 7-day (or 1 or 3
    > day) travelcards once you're in London, at tube stations and also at
    > lots of local newsagents.
    > A few other points raised in the thread:
    > Like many others in the group, I think a week in Ireland sounds good,
    > but don't spend it all in Dublin
    > It's unlikely you'll find public transport services which just run
    > once a day - but there are rural areas which have no public transport
    > to think of and a car will give you the flexibility to reach
    > interesting rural spots away from towns or villages.
    > Don't pick up a car in London: something like London-Bath or
    > London-York will be quicker and easier by train and you could use
    > somewhere like York as a base from which to rent a car. Also if you
    > are nervous of driving on the left, London isn't the easiest place to
    > get used to it! My hunch is that you could do well by relying on
    > public transport most of the time and perhaps renting cars for short
    > periods in 2-3 places.
    > As others have said, the British Museum is within 5 minutes' walk of
    > the tube, but also bus route 7 usually goes past the front of the
    > museum (it doesn't at the moment but that's only temporary)
    > I have some rather out of date answers to frequently asked questions
    > on travelling in the UK online at http://www.jackdaw.u-net.com/ukfaq/
    > Between Great Britain and Ireland it probably makes most sense to fly
    > - Easyjet and Ryanair are the best-known low-cost airlines and Ryanair
    > is of course Irish!! Easyjet doesn't serve Dublin but it does fly to
    > other destinations in Ireland. Beware that Ryanair operates with a
    > limited luggage allowance and they will most likely charge you if you
    > take more.
    > Would you be able to get an open-jaw flight from the US - say out to
    > London and back from Dublin - which would mean that you only need to
    > travel between Great Britain and Ireland once?
    > Martin

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Besses O' Th' Barn And

chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco
<[email protected]> wrote:

    > Ken Blake <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > But Dublin
    > > holds a particular attraction for me, at least in part because
    > > I'm a James Joyce fan.
    >
    > Me too as it happens, and I'm toying with the idea of a short break in
    > Dublin in a few weeks- though I admit not because of my love of Joyce.
    > That or Cork. I've been to the north of the Island, but never to Eire.
    > By the time I make a decision, the cheap flights will have
    > evapourated...

Well, I made a decision. Dublin it is for three nights at the beginning
of August!

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

B Vaughan

On Tue, 19 Jul 2005 09:43:38 +0100, Martin Rich <[email protected]>
wrote:

    >Like many others in the group, I think a week in Ireland sounds good,
    >but don't spend it all in Dublin
    >It's unlikely you'll find public transport services which just run
    >once a day - but there are rural areas which have no public transport
    >to think of and a car will give you the flexibility to reach
    >interesting rural spots away from towns or villages.

I travelled around rural Ireland about 20 years ago by public
transport. I don't know if transport has improved or declined since
then, but what I found was that transport was designed for the
residents of the small towns, not the residents of the nearby cities.
In other words, there was often a bus that went from small town into
big city once in the morning, with return service to the small town
once in the evening. That meant if you arrived in city by train, you
had to wait until evening to go to small town, and you would either
have to spend two nights there or return to city early the next
morning.


--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup