Upminster anyone! | Older Travellers - Lonely Planet Forum

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Thu, 30 May 2013 21:22:09 +0000

What a boring tedious adventure I 'enjoyed' this afternoon.

It started with meeting Julie at Westminster Abbey at 4.30pm this afternoon for the 5pm service. Julie was told that if she wanted to visit Westminster Abbey without paying the 17GBP for a guided tour, is to attend one of their services. So, I thought that it was a jolly good idea especially as one gets to hear choir and organ in action. What a bargain.

Before heading off to work, my daughter told me to catch the train/tube to Upminster. Not sure why but I thought she said to get off at Upminster. Yes, you guess it, I was like two to three stops away from Upminster before I worked out that perhaps I have gone past my stop. So, I had to run around to the next platform and catch another train back to Westminster. Even then I got it wrong and was heading to the wrong site until I thought to ask a kind bobby the whereabout of Westminster Abbey. lol

Happy to say that I got to the Abbey (after commuting for 2 and a half hours) in time to enjoy the service. :)

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Fri, 31 May 2013 10:03:59 +0000

Ummmm - that stop called 'Westminster' is a dead give-away. :>))

But yes, it's a good way of getting into churches/cathedrals etc without paying the now-horrendous charge they make.
St Paul's is the same; go after 4.15 pm and you don't have to pay the stupid-money entrance fee - which I think is insulting, especially being at odds with the sandblasted 'welcome' on the glass doors..

Southwark cathedral is one which doesn't charge. Because of that, I always put some money in their donation box and/or use their cafe (which is also reasonably priced). It's well worth a visit if you';re doing a South Bank walk as it's very pretty.

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Sat, 01 Jun 2013 20:11:08 +0000

Put it down to experiencing a senior's moment. lol

Good tip about St. Paul's. I must look into that. :)

Or, perhaps not, I may go all religious. Any other tips that will help stretch the budget?

For those of you who like train travel, the man in seat 61 is a great site to research for 'cheap' fares. I managed to save a few pounds by booking my fare with Virgin train. For example, the fare to Canterbury cost GBP29.10 (same day return) instead of GBP34 or 35.

Hmmm! perhaps I should post in that thread you have started about savings. :)

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Sun, 02 Jun 2013 06:16:37 +0000

[www.redspottedhanky.com] is a good site for cheap train fares. I've tested it against others and it always comes up trumps.

But, if time isn't the main consideration, national express and/or megabus for coach journeys usually works out much cheaper than the train. Megabus especially, if you book far enough in advance.
London - Oxford is served by a bus called the oxford tube, which costs £14 for a one-way ticket or £17 for a same day or next day return. [www.oxfordtube.com]

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