Three choices in life; Give up, Give in or Give all you've got!!

Buffythedebtslayer

So glad to read that you are going to London!

It is marvellous

and you have lots of fantastic advice XXXXX

Sun_Addict

Glad you decided to go for it. It will be a fantastic experience for all of you.

poohbear59

Don't forget that in Tower of London etc. You get in free as DH's carer. Take proof of disability with you.

Have fun. You will all love it in Londonxx

please-let-me-be-lucky

Thank you everyone for all your help and advice. Getting excited now (if I don't think about packing this afternoon, then work, then a long drive tomorrow).

Thanks to an amazing friend, we are also going on the London Eye and River cruise in London on Monday. I am so lucky to have such special people in my life, and when I grow up I want to be just like her!!

Today should've been my Dad's 60th. 10th birthday he hasn't been here to celebrate .

beanielou

Enjoy your trip

blackcatsx2

So glad you are going to London and hope you have a great time. If you are going on the river cruise which goes to Greenwich you can have a short walk to Greenwich market where there are some amazing food stalls to get a nice but cheap lunch - yummy Ethiopian food stall but lots of other choices too. You can get a bus using your travelcard to the cable car from Greenwich, it's not too expensive on the cablecar as you get a discount with a travel card. It's something a bit different. I think you have got loads of suggestions for the day so I'm sure you will be able to put together a great itinerary. Enjoy yourselves

*Robin*

Do believe you've just set off with your very excited boys Lucky; so drive safely, and have a wonderful time making some very special family memories in the days ahead! :j

ETA: Ah, am still on European time - maybe you're still squishing the last bits of luggage in the car while the lads wolf down their breakky..
Posting now anyway, so everyone's good wishes can help keep you safe on that horrible road which should have been widened years ago - Sunday is definitely the best time to do this journey.

dawnybabes

If you take Dh DLA letter up a tube office they can link his card to yours and you get a discount

please-let-me-be-lucky

Morning all, we are back, and have had an AMAZING trip.

Robin, you were indeed right that we had just set off when you posted. Early Sunday morning was a great time to travel, and even with a couple of decent stops we were at our first hotel in Putney Bridge just after 2pm. Got a car parking space at the hotel (was worried about that as it said online that spaces were limited and first come first served), dropped our bags and got straight on the tube! DS1 was 10 (!) not 11 and so travelled for free (:o), as did his brother. DH and I travelled using our debit cards but alas I didn't read the tip about linking them for a disabled discount in time. Nevertheless it was a cheap way to travel, and we all enjoyed it.

Got off at St James' and saw the Palace. Walked down the Mall and saw the horse guards, Downing St, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. We then walked up to Picadilly Circus and used a voucher I'd taken to get 20% off at Rainforest Cafe for our evening meal. It was still expensive though .

The next day we were back on the tube to Waterloo and off on the River Cruise and London Eye. Both were fantastic experiences, though I have to admit I think I preferred the cruise. I loved seeing under the bridges and all the landmarks fairly close, such as the Tower of London, the Shard, Shakespeare's school and dare I say it, the ITV This Morning Studios . The guide on the boat was super funny too. DH said he preferred the Eye, as he loved how far you could see and how high it was. Probably says a lot about how he is always 'top' priority and I'm on the bottom!!! The boys just loved it all.

We then got the Tube to Hyde Park and ended up at the Hard Rock Cafe. This was our other extravagence but again I took a voucher and a problem with DS1's food meant that was also removed from the bill, so it wasn't too expensive in the end. After that we collected the car and drove to the second hotel.

The next hotel was a Marr1ott and worlds apart from the Prem1er Inn, but what it gained in impressiveness it lacked in humanity. When we checked in, having already prepaid, they wanted a £100 authorisation on a credit or debit card 'incase of damages'. I explained that I didn't have a credit card and there wasn't £100 in my bank account! The receptionist eventually said I could go back the next day to sort it out - needless to say I spent the next 3 days avoiding reception!! We found a supermarket along the road and stocked up on drinks and snacks etc so we didn't have to pay hotel prices.

Breakfast at the hotel was awesome though, and we filled ourselves up each day so we wouldn't need lunch!! Legoland was good but very busy and super hot at 34•c. We soon ran out of fluids we had taken, so I bought a refillable cup for £8 and we all shared that all day. It also cost £5 to park (which I still think is a rip off when you've paid to get in already!) and £10 in the gift shop.

Our final day was at Harry Potter Studios which was out of this world. Really recommend a visit. Such a magical (pun intended!) experience. It's fabulous to be in the original sets, see the original props and find out how it was all done.

Drive home yesterday was nowhere near as good as the drive down. Stood still for an hour on the M1 behind a two truck accident and then had severalstop start delays the rest of the way. Only stopped af services once as was desperate to get home, not least because I have a gammy eye! A lovely stye has appeared on my lower eyelid, not the souvenir I wanted from my holidays!!

All in all a fab trip though and lots of memories made (for 3 out of 4 of us anyway). Attention now turns back to reality of school stuff, birthdays and Christmas :eek:.

beanielou

Awesome memories to treasure
So glad that you had a lovely time.
Boo to your eye though.