Pre-cruise information - London and surrounding area

[TravelLizzy]

April 25, 2022 at 11:55 (U.S.A.)           Four adults cruising from Southampton, England late July wanting to know if anyone has recommendations about renting a vehicle (MVP) with driver/guide for one or two days to see sights outside London?  Pickup and drop off at our Hotel in order to visit Stonehenge for Sunrise Inner Experience, town of Bath and Windsor Castle all in one day - a 9 to 12 hour day.  Appreciate advise on hiring a driver with MVP and their contact information.

Edited April 25, 2022 by TravelLizzy

[Globaliser]

2 hours ago, TravelLizzy said:

Pickup and drop off at our Hotel in order to visit Stonehenge for Sunrise Inner Experience, town of Bath and Windsor Castle all in one day - a 9 to 12 hour day.

 

If all goes well on the roads (and it often doesn't), that's about 5½ - 6 hours of driving before you have spent a single minute seeing any sights.

 

From London, Bath is really a whole day trip all by itself.

[Crown Vic]

TravelLizzy, where is your hotel located?

[John Bull]

We need more information, Lizzie - particularly the day's start & finish locations - I'm guessing Southampton and/or central London?

But even starting at daft o'clock for the sunrise at Stonehenge that's probably too much to fit into one day. And 5 to 6 hours on the road.

 

BTW, there are strict low numbers  of pre-booked visitors for the pre-public admission at Stonehenge, and you may already be too late. Mostly it's pre-history scholars and enthusiasts, usually in groups with their own guide - there are no audio-guides, food or drink, etc for those sessions, everything is closed except the toilets.

 

Two of the three are do-able in one day, especially if you combine them with a transfer from Southampton to London.

 

JB 🙂

[TravelLizzy]

Hey All - we had an amazing and long day of visiting Stonehenge at Sunrise and being part of the Circle Exp - left our hotel at 3:00 am arrived in plenty of time for Sunrise - before the staff of Stonehenge.  (Doubletree hotel is next to the Tower of London) Spent a good 2-21/2 hours at Stonehenge wandering around the stones and the outer area to take the unique photos and had time to talk with the security about the area and the military maneuvers going on. Then off to Bath where we spent about 3 hours touring and stopping for lunch. Prior to Bath we stopped in a small English town to explore and talk with the locals. Because of the long walk to Windsor Castle we scratched it and oped for more of the countryside and small English towns before arriving back at our hotel. It was a 12 hour day and worth it. So yes, anyone with no mobility issues can make all 3 sites in 12 hours and have ample time to get a taste of each location.

[Eliot Ness]

Lizzie, did you drive yourself or use a service?  We will be in London the end of October and that sounds like a great (long) day trip.  Can you also give me some more info about your hotels location (address)?  Was it in a good spot to do sightseeing?  Also, how long was the trip to South Hampton, how did you get there, and did you stay in a hotel? 

 

Thanks in advance!!!!!

[Turtles06]

9 hours ago, Eliot Ness said:

Also, how long was the trip to South Hampton,

In case you are doing any research or searches, it’s Southampton…

 

Enjoy your trip! 

[TravelLizzy]

ENess and Turtles our bus drive from Southampton to London was 4 hours due to CONSTRUCTION! I mean major construction - highway, city streets, buildings, etc, etc. Otherwise we thought it would be the expected 2 hour drive.

 

ENess we contracted with ADLG - they are typically a limo service for airport/cruise ports, but when researching for a driver and car for a long day for 4 adults the one company I emailed is not doing business and referred me to ADLG - adlg.co.uk and the contact person Trina arranges everything for you.  Our goal was Stonehenge and so I looked for other points of interest.  Bath is a Jane Austen interest and she used Bath as a backdrop in many of her books.  She moved with her family to Bath when she was in her 20s.  Returning to London brings you to Windsor Castle, but we choose the country drive and villages after Stonehenge, our driver was GREAT - its his forte.  For 4 adults for 12 hours with an SUV size vehicle and driver our cost was 595 pounds.  Of course they do shorter trips, but driving to Stonehenge was almost 2 hours and we spent a good 2 hours there because we did the Stone Circle Exp and it was worth it.  They do Sunrise and Sunset, we choose Sunrise.  They have lots of great reviews, too.                          We stayed at the Hilton Doubletree Tower of London - it is within walking distance of the Tower of London, but not centrally located. Better stay would be Trafalgar Square or Piccadilly area. Trafalgar puts you closer to the London Eye - skip the line tickets on line are your timesaver and gets you YOUR time.  Great panoramic pictures from here.  Other points of interest -  Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Parliament and less than a mile is Buckingham Palace - Palace changing of the Guards is every day at 11:00 a.m.  One hotel in this area is Trafalgar St James by Hilton - never stayed here.  Cunard put us up at the Tower Bridge Hilton or we would have been centrally located.      BTW - Taxies in London were worth the cost - less than 20 pounds for 4 of us.  Didn't seem to matter where we went - BUT always ask the price before getting in - some were chatty others not so much.    Tower of London is worth seeing and we were within walking distance.    One last item the hop on hop off double decker busses are great getting around from one venue to the next, however stay away from the Tootbus hop on/off - they don't show up or when they did the  bus sat for 45 minutes when other busses - Big Bus and one other had busses show up every 15 minutes. We couldn't get a refund and in Paris they never showed up at the pick up point - we used a cab and now are attempting to get our money back on that one.     Sorry this is so long but hope it helps.

[Eliot Ness]

On 8/12/2022 at 7:59 PM, Turtles06 said:

In case you are doing any research or searches, it’s Southampton…

Opps!  Thanks for the clarification, it is very much appreciated!

 

On 8/14/2022 at 7:29 PM, TravelLizzy said:

ENess and Turtles our bus drive from Southampton to London was 4 hours due to CONSTRUCTION! I mean major construction - highway, city streets, buildings, etc, etc. Otherwise we thought it would be the expected 2 hour drive.......

 

Lizzy, thank you so much for all of the valuable information!  One more question, we are reading mixed suggestions on converting money; some say to just get a little and use credit cards, what was your experience?  Thanks!!!