London - Day 12 & 13

We are traveling on the England, Scotland & Whales trip departing may 26, 2013. We are interested in how much free time we will have in London on either Day 12 or Day 13 for a possible visit to the London Eye. Could you give us an idea if we would possibly have enough free time to add this to our schedule?

Thanks
Bill A

Comments

  • Hi bill, we will be on the May 26 trip. Where are you coming from? Bruce and Eileen
  • We are going in June/July. I hope someone answers your question, Bill A. We want to do a cruise & Eye tour. Wonder if we could do it on day 13, before Tower diner.
  • We did the tour in 2012 and were able to do the Eye on our free afternoon before the dinner. There is a pedestrian bridge near the metro station closest to the hotel that goes over to the area near the eye so it is easy access from the hotel. We were there at the end of September and the lines were long, but they move quickly. Just a tip...you will need to pick up your tickets inside a building (line, but it moves right along). Once you have your ticket, you go back outside and get at the end of the line for the Eye. If it is like the day we went, you will be a ways away from the base of the Eye. The line moves quickly (thankfully) but it is still a wait. There are food booths etc in the area. We were lucky to have a clear day so we got a great view. :-)
  • You can buy tickets online to save time. If you want to pay more, there are ticket options that offer priority boarding. The eye takes about 30 minutes, once you're on board. There are also 40 minute river cruises that leave right from the London Eye pier. Details at www.londoneye.com. The eye is a short walk from the hotel, less than 1/2 a mile via the Hungerford Bridge, just north of the hotel (a pedestrian bridge attached to the railroad bridge that serves Charring Cross station).
  • ecurb7342 wrote:
    Hi bill, we will be on the May 26 trip. Where are you coming from? Bruce and Eileen
    We are coming from Florida.
  • Grandcache wrote:
    We did the tour in 2012 and were able to do the Eye on our free afternoon before the dinner. There is a pedestrian bridge near the metro station closest to the hotel that goes over to the area near the eye so it is easy access from the hotel. We were there at the end of September and the lines were long, but they move quickly. Just a tip...you will need to pick up your tickets inside a building (line, but it moves right along). Once you have your ticket, you go back outside and get at the end of the line for the Eye. If it is like the day we went, you will be a ways away from the base of the Eye. The line moves quickly (thankfully) but it is still a wait. There are food booths etc in the area. We were lucky to have a clear day so we got a great view. :-)



    Thanks for the information. Do you recall the approximate time you arrived at the Royal Horseguards in London after the Windsor Castle tour? Still trying to decide which day to try the London Eye.
    Thanks
    Bill A
  • My husband's journal notes that we arrived at the hotel around noon. We didn't bother with a sit down lunch, just headed over to the Eye.

    Ken's post reminded me that we also stayed on in London a couple of days and spent one day in Greenwich. We took the boat up and the train back. Easy commute from the hotel. We purchased a travel card and it was good for both types of transport. Very convenient and cost effective.

    One of the nights we were in London, we caught a play--Chariots of Fire. If theatre is something you enjoy, be sure and check online to see what's playing while you are there.
  • These questions are for anyone who has been on this trip before or simply spent some time in London.

    Should we purchase tickets to the Eye in advance? Are they date and time specific? I know you can but them online.

    If anyone has gone to the theater in London while on this trip, did you but tickets in advance, use the concierge service at the hotel to get tickets, or simply go to a discount ticket booth similar to those in NYC on the day and take pot luck?

    Another question: What is the accepted dress code for the dinner at the Tower on the last night in London?

    Just planning ahead..........Linda
  • We went to the London Eye the day after the tour (we spent two extra nights at the Horseguards). Since we weren't sure exactly which day we would be going we didn't buy tickets online. It is expensive, for what it is, but something you have to do. The concierge can take care of your tickets, too. We actually waited to see what the weather would be like. We went early in the morning and the line was not long. I wanted some sunrise pictures which were just OK, since you are taking pictures through glass.

    The concierge was very helpful with everything except laundry. We wanted to find a place that would do service laundry since we were heading for the Tauck Best of Ireland tour after this one and they sent us to some laundry halfway across town. It was closed, so they gave us another place (also half way across town) and the laundry there did a great job (two long cab rides later). The next day, on the way to the Tube station just across the street from the hotel we walked past a laundry that advertised service laundry. They dropped the ball on that one.

    You'll love the Royal Horseguards. We actually sent an email asking for a room with a view of the Thames and got it. We did have some problems with our neighbor (VERY LOUD MUSIC day and night and smoking in a non-smoking room) and didn't get much satisfaction out of the night manager. However, the next morning the "real" manager moved us to the Apartment on the top floor....Wow, what a place. That was our residence for the rest of the stay in London.

    Dress for the London Tower evening was coat/suit and tie. You'll enjoy that evening.

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