Expert: Alun Hill MCIJ - 4/22/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi Alun
We will be sailing out of Harwich on July 29,2011 and we would like to spend 2 days somewhere close to Harwich.  What would you suggest in the way of accommodations and sights?

Regards,
Jean

ANSWER: What sort of things are you interested in, please, and will you have a car / are you mobile for local trains?

What budget do you have, please?

This site gives some local details, but I'll be very happy to help you further.

http://www.harwich.net/essenhar.htm


Alun Hill, MCIJ

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Alun
Thanks for the swift reply.  
We have decided to stay in Colchester.  
We will not have a car and are mobile.  
Our budget will be modest as we will be staying 2 nights post cruise in London.
This is our first trip to England and would be quite interested in just exploring the countryside.  We will get our fill of museums, etc, while in London.

ANSWER: Ahh, Colchester - Britain's first town, with records going back over 2,000 years - is a good choice!

http://www.visitcolchester.com/

Has all the details  - but my favourites are the Castle and the Zoo.

vic@colchester.gov.uk will help you in more detail if you email him - and he will supply you with leaflets etc on arrival.

http://www.visitcolchester.com/places-to-stay/ has details of the local hotels, B and B's etc, and the Castle details are here:
http://www.visitcolchester.com/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=0652740

The Zoo is a great day out - do please let me know what you think of the new Wilds of Asia section - I've not seen that yet, but will be filming there later in the year for a CNN TV programme.

Above all, relax and enjoy yourselves!

Does this help, please?

Alun Hill, MCIJ

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Alun
Wow, I am utterly amazed at the speed that you have answered my question.  Thanks for all of the websites.

I have a question about the train from Gatwick to Colchester.
From our research, we will take the Gatwick Express to Victoria Stn, a taxi to Liverpool Street Stn, and then catch the train to Colchester.

We see that the cheapest fare is 5 pounds but that needs to be bought in advance.  How do we do this from Canada?  How far in advance do these tickets need to be bought?  Can we buy them as soon as we arrive at the station for a later train?

Regards,
Jean

Answer
Hi - I'm not sure where you get the five pounds fare from, as it's £35.60 (each) the cheapest way - sorry!

Take the train to London Bridge station (not Victoria - as that's further away and is a dedicated rail to air link and much more expensive).

From London Bridge it's a short (5 to 10 minutes) taxi ride across London Bridge (great views left and right!) to Liverpool Street station and then on to Colchester.

Buy the tickets at the Gatwick Airport rail ticket office (all cards are taken), asking for tickets through to Colchester via London Bridge (as this is much cheaper than buying 2 separate tickets).

(The ticket includes travel on the London underground, but as there would be a change of trains, you're better taking a taxi). Do remember that not all London taxis take credit cards (and there's an extra charge for those which do), so do have some small UK notes / bills ready!

Happy to help - keep me posted, please, wherever I can help further.


Alun Hill, MCIJ