French Exchange Student funds

Savvy_Sue

I wouldn't worry about parking in London and the car still being there any more than I do in Bristol, to be honest! The only time the car's been stolen was from leafy Stoke Bishop, we park most days in St Pauls and it's not a problem.

Mupette

I'm sure i'll be fine as long as i can find somewhere to park, near a tube if poss.

Then they boys will have to go at my pace (snail)

Mupette

Any hints and tips on parking in London anyone?

littlemissmoney

Would it not be easier/cheaper to get the train into London? Family railcard / advance booked tickets / Oyster? If you ask on the travel board someone will work out how to split your tickets so it costs about 99p

Do you have a disabled railcard?

piglet6

If possible, it would be easier to visit London on Sunday (don't know your plans for the week, so this may be a little bit too last minute!! ). There is no congestion charge at the weekends, so that would save you money, and a lot of on-street parking in Kensington & Chelsea (near the Science Museum) is free on a Sunday (i.e. not "Residents parking only" which tends to be Monday-Saturday). I know this for a fact because until about 12 months ago I worked in the area (and also lived in London, just south of the river) and regularly used to park in the streets for just such visits to museums when we had weekend visitors come to stay (the Natural History/Science/V&A museums are all in that South Ken area).

As a specific example, try looking for "Stanhope Gardens, SW7" on google maps - I know that you used to be able to park quite easily there on a Sunday (a lot of the people that live in that area tend to have "weekend homes in the country" (e.g. my former boss! ), so there tends to be quite a lot of parking available for those who know where to look! ). Similarly, roads behind Harrods on Knightsbridge also are free on Sundays (although for anybody planning ahead, they tend to put temporary parking restrictions in place on Sundays near Christmas, to avoid the shoppers landing and taking all the spaces for the day!), as are those around Sloane Square, towards Buckingham Palace.

Alternatively, at the other end of central London (handy for the far end of the Strand, i.e. "theatreland" and Covent Garden), it is free to park on Waterloo bridge on a Sunday - although spaces do fill up there, so it pays to arrive as early as possible.

I hope you have a great exchange week with your student - it sounds like you have planned some lovely things, and I'm sure he will enjoy his visit!

P x

Kaz2904

London on a Sunday is fab- you can go to St Pauls cathedral for free as it has services going on. When we went during the summer last year we did the Great fire of London walk but as you are disabled I think it would be too much for you. It goes through the financial district which is deserted at the weekend. DH found on the city of london website (or the corporation of London- he think it's the same site?)


Bristol wise, how about the Arnolfinni? That's free, you could then walk around and show him Broadmead and the corn exchange. Broadmead is looking quite nice now it's done up more. They generally have a french market on at broadmead when we go to Bristol!

There's ice skating, I'm not sure of the price, I think it's quite steep though. Or the national trust properties. When I was small we always went to Blaize castle but I'm not sure how much it costs.
You could pop down to the Lido that was done up recently by Ty Pennington- I think that's Portishead? If you want to come down as far as Weston, there's the eye which looks to wales and beyond. We have also got the pier being rebuilt, maybe a historical educational thing for him, examine the burning down and restoration of the pier? You could google it and I expect you'll be able to find footage of it- 28/07/08 (my nephews 7th birthday!).
We also have the walk around Uphill boatyard which is wheelchair friendly- there are kestrals there at the moment.
You could tootle along Kewstoke toll road and go down to sand bay. Or there is woodspring priory which joins sand point but you have to access from a different part of Weston.

You could go to Cheddar and show him the gorge. Or wookey hole- there's the paper mill there too.
Another thought, I'm not too sure on this though, Brean down has world war 2 battlements at the end of them. You can access it via steps (not recommended!) or via a roadway. When you get to the top it is fairly flat. We always managed with pushchairs but carried them up the steps (we made the kids walk unless they were babies!). DH went up the back way on the road. He says you can walk along the path. It is doable (I'm not sure how doable). Apparently it's no longer wide enough to drive up. When I asked if it was ok to go up in a wheelchair he said someone would have to push you- I would avoid it on this recommendation unless you can get further info from the national trust (it is a free site to get into though).
I'll update with more ideas if I think of them



Oooh ooh, how about a walk around the castle ruins by broadmead- What's that called? Castlemead? Ok, cheerio!

Mupette

Kaz2904 wrote: »

London on a Sunday is fab- you can go to St Pauls cathedral for free as it has services going on. When we went during the summer last year we did the Great fire of London walk but as you are disabled I think it would be too much for you. It goes through the financial district which is deserted at the weekend. DH found on the city of london website (or the corporation of London- he think it's the same site?)


Bristol wise, how about the Arnolfinni? That's free, you could then walk around and show him Broadmead and the corn exchange. Broadmead is looking quite nice now it's done up more. They generally have a french market on at broadmead when we go to Bristol!

There's ice skating, I'm not sure of the price, I think it's quite steep though. Or the national trust properties. When I was small we always went to Blaize castle but I'm not sure how much it costs.
You could pop down to the Lido that was done up recently by Ty Pennington- I think that's Portishead? If you want to come down as far as Weston, there's the eye which looks to wales and beyond. We have also got the pier being rebuilt, maybe a historical educational thing for him, examine the burning down and restoration of the pier? You could google it and I expect you'll be able to find footage of it- 28/07/08 (my nephews 7th birthday!).
We also have the walk around Uphill boatyard which is wheelchair friendly- there are kestrals there at the moment.
You could tootle along Kewstoke toll road and go down to sand bay. Or there is woodspring priory which joins sand point but you have to access from a different part of Weston.

You could go to Cheddar and show him the gorge. Or wookey hole- there's the paper mill there too.
Another thought, I'm not too sure on this though, Brean down has world war 2 battlements at the end of them. You can access it via steps (not recommended!) or via a roadway. When you get to the top it is fairly flat. We always managed with pushchairs but carried them up the steps (we made the kids walk unless they were babies!). DH went up the back way on the road. He says you can walk along the path. It is doable (I'm not sure how doable). Apparently it's no longer wide enough to drive up. When I asked if it was ok to go up in a wheelchair he said someone would have to push you- I would avoid it on this recommendation unless you can get further info from the national trust (it is a free site to get into though).
I'll update with more ideas if I think of them



Oooh ooh, how about a walk around the castle ruins by broadmead- What's that called? Castlemead? Ok, cheerio!

Castle park, a few mins away from where i live

thanks everyone for the suggestions, this sunday a bit soon, but next sunday sounds better for london

Mupette

I can't do London on either of the Sunday's, tomorrow too soon and have plans, and next Sunday have a Rugby match for them to see..

Mupette

Just an update on events.

Picked up student on Saturday, awww a little shy thing he is.

Took him home to drop off luggage, then took him to tescos. We got on great, he choose his own cereals for breakfast, and his chocolate milkshake in the morning (warmed up in the microwave)

He rang his parents, to let them know he arrived safely, and we all sat and watched a dvd, where he fell asleep bless.

Took him to the Fleet air arm museum on Sunday as he likes planes (just like DS)
be warned when you pay, it is for a year.

Today i roped in a friend to take them both to the fair that is in town at the moment, apparently he is a bit of a daredevil, but loved it.

So far so good.

tattoed_bum

So pleased things are going well for you and your little student