But now it is time to start looking into the nitty gritty of the detail. We know that we will have eight days on the non tidal river and a further seven in London. But we needed to decide where we would book our marina berth in London for the week. St Katherines Dock is centrally located but you pay for that priviledge with high mooring fees, or Limehouse a little further out of the city with cheaper mooring fees, free for 24 hours for CRT licence holders and a short public transport trip into the city? A difficult choice indeed.
In the end we have chosen St Katherines Dock. We don't plan to do this trip again in a hurry so we may as well make the most of it this time around and be right in the thick of it for the week. So yesterday I booked the berth. Decision made.
I don't know how familiar you are with public transport in London so, as you are spending a week in London, I suggest that some of your research time is spent on the Transport for London website https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/getting-around-london/visitor-information I find it all pretty confusing now and I have lived here all my life!
ReplyDeleteBuses don't take cash so you would need a Visitor Oyster Card or means of Contactless payment to use them, and a travel card may be best for the tube, depending on how much you will be traveling.
Presume you are low enough to get under Osney Bridge in Oxford ?
ReplyDeleteWe are planning on getting an oyster card each for using public transport. But yes it all seems very confusing!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes we can lower our air draft down to 6'6" to get under Osney Bridge.
Is Limehouse really cheaper though? When I last enquired a couple of Years ago, there really wasn't much in it.
ReplyDeleteWe really liked St Kats on our Christmas visit, and their weekly rate isn't too horrendous given the location so I'm sure you'll be glad of your choice :)
(Murv from YBW)
It would work out a fair bit cheaper for us as we get 24 hours free with our CRT licence and then have the option of paying in the marina or moving on up the cut.
ReplyDeleteYou are right though the weekly rate at St Kats is not bad compared to their daily rate and factoring in the location it could be a lot worse. Not got the figures to hand just now but I think it worked out at about £225 for the week plus electric, so a shade over £30 a night which isn't bad for central London I suppose!
Sounds like a whistle-stop tour of the Thames Rachael! The 'tow' to Lechlade confused me but then I realised it would be a road tow not in water! Silly me!! Looking forward to finding out your dates and proposed stops so that we can meet up and say hello over a bottle of something.
ReplyDeleteWe will be in Lechlade on 20th July and onto the tidal river on 28th July.
DeleteA standard contactless debit or credit card worked fine for us on tubes and busses when we were down there on Oleanna. Same fares as with an Oyster card but with the added benefit of a weekly cap so that you cannot pay more than you would have done on a weekly travelcard. No set up required, no Oyster card deposit to pay.
ReplyDeleteHave a great trip, we've always enjoyed it down there.
Mick
That's handy to know. Might just do it that way instead.
DeleteExcellent excellent choice :) Possibly my favorite place on the planet (and I travel a lot on business to some nice spots) but if in London always try to 'arrange' to be at the Tower Hotel so I can breakfast overlooking the dock. Dickens pub is also great (pricey but no worse than most of London).
ReplyDeleteThe tidal entrance looks a but scary when we've watched, but I guess you are experts and have the power... unlike us ditch dwellers.
To berth here even for a few nights is on my (our) bucket list.
We'll head down the GU to the Thames again this summer so maybe we'll coincide for a pint or two somewhere ??
Best
Newlands
If you see us around give us a shout. Sure we can arrange a beer or two.
ReplyDelete