Janice and I decided to try an Internet weekend
break in London taking in the sights during May 2002, something we haven't done for many years
in the Capital. We booked our accommodation through
www.latminute.com for a package
which consisted of one night in a Luxury 4* Hotel
(the Grafton - Radisson,
Tottenham Court Rd) with full English Breakfast and a ticket for the British
Airways London Eye. Cost £77.00 each. We decided that the drive down to London
was
not the ideal way to start a weekend so booked our rail tickets on the Virgin
Web Site at a very reasonable £19.00 each, return with reserved seats. When we
arrived at Euston, London, we were only a 10 minute walk from our Hotel
but although we were way too early for our 14:00 check-in the concierge
arranged for us to take our room and actually upgraded us to a suite at no extra
cost. Nice
start. We bought an all day travel ticket and jumped on the Underground to
Leicester Square where we decided to buy Theatre Tickets from the Half Price
booking shops. The queues were quite long but we soon found our way to counter
and although the top shows were all sold out for months we bought tickets for
Willy Russell's Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre for £22.50 each (half
price). Then it was off to the London Eye for our "flight". We travelled on the
Underground to Waterloo and as you emerge from the Station and look down the
Thames you get your first view of the awesome eye, what a sight. London
town kindly served up a lovely Spring afternoon and the Eye was very busy. The
queues seemed endless but after the initial confusion over tickets (you have to
check in and be issued with passes even though your time is pre booked) we were
soon on board our "pod". The wheel never stops but you have no feeling of
movement and the views are stunning. There were ten people in our capsule so
there is plenty of room to walk round and take in all the views and take
advantage of the photo opportunities. In about 45 minutes you are back on the
ground and I have to say left with a great sense of approbation. This part of
London seems to be the hub of tourism with boat trips, bus trips the
Houses of Parliament and much
more. After a walk down the Embankment it was back to the hotel to get ready for
the West End and Blood brothers. We soon found the Theatre and after a drink in
the bar made our way to the seats. I was surprised to find how good they were,
in the centre of the dress circle. The show was superb with Lyn Paul (I'd like
to teach the world to sing) singing brilliantly in the leading lady role. The
West End was buzzing when we came out so we found a nice eatery and had supper
before returning to our Hotel. The Buffet breakfast in the morning was top class
and set us up for a shopping trip on Oxford Street. It was such a nice day
Janice said she would like a trip on an open top bus, so we chose a tour with
"The Big Bus Company". An all day ticket includes 4 different tours on the open
topper with a free boat trip down the Thames and three different walking tours
all with guides. There are also many cheap ticket offers and free drink and food
tokens. At £18.00 each this is great value. The trips are superb with the guides
giving you a running commentary, I thought I knew London until I made this trip!
Fascinating! We
finished
off the day with another visit to Leicester Square and watched the various
buskers. There were all manner of entertainers to watch here, many of a higher
standard than their surroundings deserved. So then it was back to the Hotel to
pick up our bags and head for home. The Virgin train on the return journey was
pretty grubby and late but all in all I think it was a superb weekend and we were both
left with that, we really must do that again feeling........ London has many
surprises so why not go and discover a few for yourself.
Click the Thumbnail Pictures for a larger view
Sadly I missed out on the opportunity to drop in on Fat
Git of Dartford, our resident jokester but just to give you an insight on life
in this dark corner to the South East of London here are a few pictures to be
going on with.....
Dartford New Town Plane over Dartford Typical Dartford
des res The Station
Fat Gits Car
Fairfield Centre Royal Vic
& Bull errr! the bridge
Couldn't find the Ramsden School for boys,
Tintagel Road, Orpington where our fat git
was educated, I believe they had to burn it
down to get him out!!!!
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