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llywelaHave just booked coach tickets to take the Small One to London for a couple of days in half term...which is coming up scarily fast now! Can't believe it's October already. She's been nagging me to take her to London for a couple of years now, not because she really knows anything about the place but just because it's a thing. She got the idea in her head and that was it, so I have finally given in and agreed to take her.
It was meant to be a very simple outing - we'd get the early bus to London, arrive around midday, have lunch somewhere, do something touristy for the afternoon (Chel suggested Buckingham Palace, which is expensive, but sounded good to me as it is just around the corner from the bus station - very handy!), then get the evening bus home again. Nice and simple, and her long-standing request fulfilled. But then Mum suggested we meet up with Big Sis and her crowd while we're there, and then Deb suggested we stay at theirs overnight (they are just outside London) and have an extra day, and then it seems that Buckingham Palace has already shut up shop for the winter meaning we have to dream up a different activity...and now that nice, simple day out has turned into something of a logistical nightmare!
It will be nice to see Deb, Ray and Shanei, though. And there are plenty of things to do in London, obviously, we just have to pick one that's teenage girl-friendly (not to mention autistic teenage girl-friendly).
In other news, it seems that the first day of the Ryder Cup has been a bit of a washout. Welcome to Wales! It is going to be like this from now until April!
Also, I spoke to my mother earlier and she informed me that she visited the shops near my house this morning and saw that they were filming Doctor Who there - just down the road from me, only I'm in work so can't go spy on them! Heh, she said they had the fire brigade there to supply fake rain, although I can't imagine why they'd need it on a day like today. She also said that she overheard one of the production staff giving a couple of extras instructions on how to walk ("just walk like you would normally walk in the rain"), and saw Matt Smith all huddled up under a shelter, waiting for his next scene. When the new season airs I shall have to keep my eyes peeled for scenes set someplace that looks like the Asda carpark, as well as looking out for the scene I saw being filmed outside the museum the other week! They've been filming in Victoria Park a few times lately, as well. The location spotting is going to be a lot of fun this season, clearly!
It was meant to be a very simple outing - we'd get the early bus to London, arrive around midday, have lunch somewhere, do something touristy for the afternoon (Chel suggested Buckingham Palace, which is expensive, but sounded good to me as it is just around the corner from the bus station - very handy!), then get the evening bus home again. Nice and simple, and her long-standing request fulfilled. But then Mum suggested we meet up with Big Sis and her crowd while we're there, and then Deb suggested we stay at theirs overnight (they are just outside London) and have an extra day, and then it seems that Buckingham Palace has already shut up shop for the winter meaning we have to dream up a different activity...and now that nice, simple day out has turned into something of a logistical nightmare!
It will be nice to see Deb, Ray and Shanei, though. And there are plenty of things to do in London, obviously, we just have to pick one that's teenage girl-friendly (not to mention autistic teenage girl-friendly).
In other news, it seems that the first day of the Ryder Cup has been a bit of a washout. Welcome to Wales! It is going to be like this from now until April!
Also, I spoke to my mother earlier and she informed me that she visited the shops near my house this morning and saw that they were filming Doctor Who there - just down the road from me, only I'm in work so can't go spy on them! Heh, she said they had the fire brigade there to supply fake rain, although I can't imagine why they'd need it on a day like today. She also said that she overheard one of the production staff giving a couple of extras instructions on how to walk ("just walk like you would normally walk in the rain"), and saw Matt Smith all huddled up under a shelter, waiting for his next scene. When the new season airs I shall have to keep my eyes peeled for scenes set someplace that looks like the Asda carpark, as well as looking out for the scene I saw being filmed outside the museum the other week! They've been filming in Victoria Park a few times lately, as well. The location spotting is going to be a lot of fun this season, clearly!
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Date: 2010-10-01 10:59 pm (UTC)Fake rain? In the UK? What the hell, lol. Doctor Who! You're so lucky you have all these awesome things filming near you. Shame you couldn't go and spy on what they were doing.
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Date: 2010-10-03 07:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-03 02:47 am (UTC)Then again, not having explored Buck House, I don't know how the public tour is arranged.
If you've got plenty of money (and I fear you'll need it) the London Eye is worth a visit.
Heading into the City, St Paul's Cathedral is fun, especially if the Whispering Gallery is open to visitors. There was a time when visitors could go right up to the top and peer out of a small window in the base of the cross at the top of the dome. That was closed off to the public for some years, but it's worth finding out if it's been reopened.
Back west... ah yes. Small might find the Natural History museum a bit dry, but the Science museum can be a brilliant for youngsters of all ages because there are so many interactive things to play with. Then again, Small's probably so used to Techniquest... What else is there? Er... Tower of London, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast - all in the same sort of area. You'll want Tower Hill (Central/District lines) or London Bridge (Northern line) underground stations for those.
Suggestion: get a family railcard. It's quicker by train, and the railcard will probably pay for itself with the one day trip to London. Up to four adults and four children can get a third off train fares, and if you're crossing London you can usually include the tube. No photocards are needed for family railcards, so you and Small can use it this time; your parents can take her somewhere someotherwhen. It's also possible that railcard + reduced train fares will be cheaper than two seats on the bus.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-03 02:56 am (UTC)"Tower of London, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast - all in the same sort of area."
... as each other, not as the museums. All three are to the east of the City, hence the suggestion to use the underground. I've no idea what Small would be like on the tube, but my children think it's great fun to go down, down, down into the bowels of the earth to catch a strange looking train.
Just thought of something else. If you get across to the Tower area, you could see if the London Dungeon (by London Bridge Station) would appeal. I confess I never quite had the courage to venture in, despite walking past the entrance twice a day for about five years.
Money is going to be your main problem. London sees tourists coming a mile off, and it ain't cheap. If you can stand the thought, I'd suggest taking some sort of packed lunch with you so you don't starve. Even the greasy spoons will probably be twice as pricey as anything in Cardiff :(
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Date: 2010-10-03 08:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-03 08:07 am (UTC)Am already resigned to expense - but have been to London enough times before to know a few places to eat that won't break the bank. The touristy thing will be harder, since Chel does take random dislikes to things based on the name and then won't even try them - anything with the word 'museum' in the title is ruled out automatically! I think she'd find the Tower a bit scary (it has ghost stories attached, no?), and although she likes the idea of the London Eye, she'd probably be a bit bored in practice. We're leaning toward London Zoo, if the weather permits - she's been there before and loved it, but didn't have time to see the whole thing!
Am listing all suggestions, though, to see if any take her fancy. :)
We're prob going to get oyster cards for the two days, for travel around London. The coach to get there and back is already booked (and was dead cheap), and we won't need the train to get to D&R's - they drive into Grenwich and then take the river boat into the centre, thus avoiding the train entirely.
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Date: 2010-10-03 03:29 pm (UTC)Rachel
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Date: 2010-10-04 07:40 am (UTC)