Thames Cruises & London Walks - February 2012 Highlights

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NAVIGATION

Skip the Line at the Tower of London

Get your tickets ahead of time and stroll right in when you arrive. The Tower was built to awe, subdue and terrify Londoners and to deter foreign invaders. It's an iconic symbol of London and Britain and one of the world's "must visit" tourist attractions. Take the Beefeater tour and you'll be amazed, appalled and amused by the tales of passion, treachery and torture delivered with a smile and a swagger. Click here

OUT & ABOUT HOME

What's on in London - February, 2012

Thames Cruises & London Walks

Enjoy a Thames cruise for lunch or dinner, or cruise for the whole day in style, with champagne reception, lunch, afternoon tea and gala dinner. Discover Shakespeare's medieval city, the Victorian ghettos of Jack the Ripper and the City's ghostly past on London Walks.

Memories of London: Thames Day Voyage

Venue: MV. Spirit of Chartwell, River Thames, departs from Canary Wharf.
Date: Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays. Departs 11am. Disembark 10pm.
Tickets: From Ł145 - Ł220. Online Booking or telephone 0845 299 4172 .
London Transport: Nearest tube. Canary Wharf.
Description: A delightful day-long voyage on the Thames. Sail to the Thames Estuary at Gravesend , returning to the Upper Tideway at Chelsea and Putney. You pass all London's iconic riverside Landmarks with calls at Tate Modern and Greenwich Maritime for Greenwich Palace.
While on board the MV Spirit of Chartwell, nostalgically designed with retro fixtures and fittings for the 1929 Cote d'Azur Pullman Express, enjoy a Captain's champagne reception, a silver service luncheon, traditional English Afternoon Tea, bar service, and a formal gala dinner. Strongly recommended!
Burlington Bertie's Tip Book your partner and yourself into one of the boat's elegant State Cabins for Ł98 and enjoy a night onboard either before or after the day's voyage.

MV. Passepartout: Passage to Cliveden

Venue: MV. Passepartout, River Thames, departs from the Runnymede-on-Thames Hotel with return to hotel at 4.30pm, or Canary Wharf in central London at 6pm .
Date: Daily. Departing 10.30am.
Tickets: Ł95. Online Booking or telephone 0845 299 4172.
London Transport: Nearest tube. Hatton Cross; Egham Rail station.
Description: Whether you are looking for an extension to the Memories of London Voyage or if you wish to cruise in the Thames Upper Reaches, the Passage to Cliveden offers a high quality dining experience on board the MV Passepartout, as you sail past all the sights from Runnymede to Cliveden.
Tables are arranged along the boat's curved glass upper structure, affording guests with fine viewing opportunities from both sides of the vessel.
The cruise begins from the private mooring at the splendid Runnymede-on-Thames Hotel and passes upstream past Magna Carta Island, Windsor, Eton, Bray, Maidenhead and Taplow, before turning to moor at Cliveden itself at 2.30pm. On arrival at Cliveden there is time to explore the house and gardens before you are driven back to the Hotel for 4.30pm, or to the Spirit of Chartwell (Canary Wharf) for 6pm.
Recommended nearby Accommodation Runnymede-on-Thames Hotel, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0AG. Tel: 01784 220960. This 4 star riverside hotel offers comfort and riverside terrace dining, together with Spa, sauna, gym, swimming pool and tennis courts. Admirably situated for Windsor, Ascot, Twickenham Stadium and Heathrow Airport, it remains within easy reach of central London by London Transport. Weekend breaks from Ł127.

MV. Symphony: Thames Dinner Cruise

Venue: MV Symphony, River Thames, departs from Embankment Pier.
Date: Daily, 2011. Departs pm, return 10.45pm.
Tickets: From Ł75 - Ł125. Online Booking, or telephone 0845 299 4172.
London Transport: Nearest tube. Embankment.
Description: Enjoy a 2.5 hr river cruise with 4 course a la carte menu and after-dinner dancing to a live combo. You pass London's spectacularly lit sights as you sail past the Houses of Parliament, London Bridge, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Docklands and the Millennium Dome to Greenwich and return. Your boat, The Symphony is a modern elegant and spacious cruiser with an all-glass structure to allow uninterrupted views of the passing scenery. Book now for Christmas and New Year.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Make your requirements known when booking.

MV Symphony: Thames Lunch Cruise

Venue: MV Symphony, River Thames, departs trip from Embankment Pier.
Date: Wednesday - Saturday. Special Sunday lunch cruise with music. Departs 12.30pm, return 2pm. 2011.
Tickets: From Ł29 - Ł40. Sunday Special Ł47 - Ł67. Online Booking or telephone 0845 299 4172.
London Transport: Nearest tube. Embankment.
Description: Enjoy a 3 course set lunch while cruising down the Thames for 1.5 hours. Sail past the Houses of Parliament, London Bridge, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Docklands and the Millennium Dome. Book now for Christmas and New Year.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Make your requirements known when booking.

Fly the London Eye
60 minutes - Daily 9:30am and 10:00pm
The world's highest observation wheel provides a slow moving flight over the capital in a fully air-conditioned capsule.
Click for details

London Eye Cruise

Venue: London Eye Millennium Pier.
Date: Daily. Departures half hourly from 11.45am - 4.45pm, April- October.
Tickets: . Ł10.80 online. Ł12 at London Eye. Concessions.
London Transport: Nearest tube. Waterloo.
Description: Enjoy a unique 40 minute circular sightseeing cruise on the River Thames with live commentary that brings the city to life, presented by specialist guides. Highlights include Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
The London Eye River Cruise operates two boats, the 'Silver Bonito' and the 'London Eye Barracuda'. The 'Silver Bonito' has both covered and sun deck seating and is fully wheelchair accessible for disabled ticket holders. Toilets are available onboard. The 'London Eye Barracuda' is all covered seating and hosts an onboard bar situated on the upper deck where additional drinks may be purchased. Toilets are available. This boat is not fully accessible.

London Sightseeing Cruises
Tower of London and Thames River Sightseeing Cruise - 1 Day Pass
Combine a visit to the Tower of London and a Thames River sightseeing cruise with this convenient one-day pass. You'll experience two of London's most popular highlights, with the freedom to plan your day of sightseeing how you please.
Thames Hop-On Hop-Off River Cruise - 1 Day Pass
The best way to see London's sights and splendor is from the deck of a boat. With this hop-on hop-off pass you can cruise up and down the Thames, alighting at your leisure, for a whole day.

Thames Clippers - One-Day River Roamer
1-Day Unlimited Pass or Point to Point pass
The fastest fleet on the river - a fleet of hi-speed catamarans which operate daily with departures every 20 minutes from piers including Embankment, London Bridge, Tower, Greenwich, Waterloo, Canary Wharf and The O2, London's premier concert venue. The luxurious boats include an indoor seating area as well as a covered outdoor area and refreshments are available onboard. Use your river roamer ticket for unlimited river travel and combine it with one of the riverside attractions such as Shakespeare's Globe, Tower of London, Tower Bridge Exhibition and much more.
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Red River Rover
Unlimited day river travel between Westminster, Tower and Greenwich
Use the Thames to sightsee during the day... a great way to see London.
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London Duck Tours
75 minutes - Departing from Chicheley St. Waterloo (behind the London Eye), these yellow amphibious vehicles drive past famous London landmarks such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square before a dramatic launch into the River Thames from a slipway at Vauxhall for the waterborne part of the 75 minute tour of london. Guides providing an alternative view of London's history, plus fascinating facts and figures about the vehicles themselves. Tours run daily subject to weather conditions. Last tour is subject to dusk. Closed 24th Dec, 25th Dec, 26th Dec, 31st Dec & 1st Jan.
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London Dinner Cruise
2.5 hours - Offering the finest food, breathtaking river views, live entertainment and professional service, a Thames river dinner cruise provides the perfect indulgence. Specialising in modern European cuisine, guests on board the dinner cruises will experience a dinner with high quality food and presentation, and the professional and friendly service of the team onboard.
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London Thames River Lunch Cruise - 1.5 hours
London Thames River Jazz Lunch Cruise - 2.5 hours

The London Showboat Evening Cruise
3.5 hours Dinner & Show on the River Thames London Showboat glides past some of London's landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral and under Tower Bridge, as it cruises from the center of London to the Thames barrier and return. You will be welcomed aboard the London Showboat with a pre-cruise cocktail in the lounge saloon. A choice of a half bottle of red or white wine is included with your four course meal.
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London Walks

Jack the Ripper Walk

Venue: Aldgate, Whitechapel, Spitalfields. EC. Tel: 020 8530 8443
Date: Daily. 7pm-9pm. Check website for date confirmation.
Tickets: Ł8. Online Booking.
London Transport: Aldgate East, (District, Hammersmith and City Lines).
Description: Guided Exploration of the Whitechapel and Spitalfields alleys and pubs where serial killer Jack the Ripper murdered at least five and possibly many more prostitutes in a reign of terror during 1888. Richard Jones, author of the much acclaimed DVD Jack the Ripper will lead you on the bloody trail of London's most infamous murderer. The walk lasts approximately 1 hr 45 minutes.

London Ghost Walks

Venue: Departs from Bank or Blackfriars Underground station. Tel: 020 8530 8443.
Date: Fri/Sats. 7pm-9pm, 14/15, 21/22, 28/29 January, 2011. Check website for date confirmation.
Tickets: Ł8. Online Booking
London Transport: Aldgate East, (District, Hammersmith and City Lines).
Description: Alleyways and Shadows; Ghosts, Ghouls and Graveyards; the titles of these walks, painstakingly researched by author and historian Richard Jones, perfectly conjure the haunting atmosphere of these deliciously spooky tours that venture beyond the busy main roads and twist their eerie way through forgotten medieval and Victorian London. Let Richard Jones lead you to places where the disembodied voices from London's eerie past may just whisper in your ear, as their icy fingers lightly stroke the back of your neck and your blood runs cold.

The Shakespeare City Walk

Venue: Starts from Blackfriars Tube Station, Exit 8. (Circle and District Line).
Date: Fridays, 11am, 2011.
Tickets: Ł9.(Concessions). Ł6.50 with London Pass, (Concessions) Tel: 020 7625 5155 before date for confirmation. Ł8.50 if booked online or pay Ł9 at start of tour.
London Transport: Nearest Tube. Blackfriars.
Description: Thespian Declan McHugh leads you on a 90 minute walk through the City of London, uncovering often little-known monuments and locations with connections to Shakespeare's life, his friends, his loves and his work, while declaiming the Bard's poetry and prose in fine declamatory style.

Changing of the Guards. Photo courtesy of FreeFoto.com

Free London

Don't miss out on the daily royal pageantry at Buckingham Palace, events in the Royal Parks, permanent collections in many art galleries and London's museums. They are FREE. Some individually mounted temporary exhibitions within specified museum or gallery rooms may carry a ticket charge however, (bookable online, or at the door).

Royal Heritage & Pageantry
London Music, Theatre & Dance - Hot Picks
London's Festivals, Fairs & Fine Art Exhibitions - Hot Picks
London's Museum Exhibitions
Thames Cruises & London Walks

Top Tips

London has never been better value for Dollar holders! Make the most of your visit with A Night 'On the town'
While in Festive London, treat your partner to a great evening out 'On The Town' with OfftoLondon's superbly priced Theatre & Dinner Packages.

Spare a day of your stay in London to take advantage of Offtolondon's discounted whole day visit by luxury coach to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Regency Bath for just $92.

Choose your Hotel
Use OfftoLondon's hassle-free and secure booking facilities to obtain the best internet prices for your overnight, 'City Break', or longer term accommodation requirements; from de-luxe 5-star hotels to comfortable hostels.

Book your tickets online
Book all your tickets and London Travel Passes with Offtolondon.com to ensure best seats and best prices at the events, exhibitions and shows of your choice without the hassle of price bargaining and queuing on the day.

London Transport Oyster Card
The Central London congestion charge zone for visitors driving in London now covers all main areas of attraction. It makes sense to travel by the safe London Transport bus or Tube. Buy a multi-journey Oyster Card before you arrive, (you can top this up at will), and you will save money, time and hassle.

Something for the Weekend, Sir?
Add spice to your London visit with a "Weekender" visit to Paris or Rome. Cheap and speedy Eurostar travel now brings these city gems within easy reach of all. Day trips via Eurostar to Paris for a morning's shopping, afternoon visit to the Louvre and evening meal on the Seine are now a popular excursion option for Londoners. Or take advantage of the many overnight stop or Weekend bargains! Offtolondon's associated travel specialists OfftoParis and OfftoRome will take care of all your travel and accommodation requirements and show you the sites.

London in One Day Sightseeing Tour
8.5 - 9 hours - Drive to Westminster, past Downing Street, home of the Prime Minister, and on to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Stop for a visit inside Westminster Abbey, site of many royal coronations. Visit Poets' Corner and the tombs of many well-known scientists and monarchs. Also see the Chapel of Henry VII.
Click for more information