London – What a Capital Idea!
Jon looks at some the regular and irregular venues of London
More short breaks are taken to our capital city than anywhere else – which is not very surprising is it? Packed with more attractions than some countries can boast, we are very lucky to have it on our doorstep – even if that step is quite some distance from some parts of our Isle.
Just looking at the offerings of the theatres, we can enjoy old favourites, new shows, different types and style of presentation, and see stars – real stars, from around the world, but especially home grown. Not only do we have the shows, but we have the means to get discounted tickets for most performances via specialist companies that understand the needs of the coach operator and group organiser. Let’s face it, I think I am right in stating that the biggest percentage of UK operators breaks to London are based around a visit to the theatre, and quite a few have a loyal following that will travel more than a couple of times every year. Great business this, good regular trade where you are able to build up not only a relationship with your clients, but good ones with your ticket provider and hotelier. That is not forgetting the wholesalers either, with London specialists like LHS, and Leisure Breaks enjoying good support.
OK, we know the problems about dropping off and picking up groups from the theatres, but it is better than it was, and whilst there is still work to be done, everyone (CPT, TfL, CTC, etc) is aware of this and are working to find more solutions. When I say work to be done – I mean MUCH work to be done! Pity the poor driver, he can’t win whatever he does. Can you imagine trying to find 50 pensioners in the rain, on a Friday afternoon, when every pick up point is full, traffic is at a crawl, and you know who is just waiting for him to stop so another ticket can be issued?
I still think (am I alone in this?) that London, in its place as one of the most visited capitals in the world, needs to get a grip on coach parking, and to set the standard others will have to follow. Don’t pussyfoot around, dig a bloody great whole somewhere like just off Park Lane, make into a state of the art coach garage/coach station, cover it up again (preferably leaving a nice entrance and exit!) and problem solved! Or is that too easy? 24 hour surveillance, coach wash, toilet drop, drivers facilities, parking for 200 coaches, and still what Londoners seem to want – our coaches out of sight. £25 per night could produce £1.8m a year – and that excludes daytime parking. I feel like turning up with a couple of JCB’s and having a go myself. Stick a refuelling point in too, and it has to be worth consideration. Or again, am I being too simplistic?
We have an unparalleled choice of hotels offering central, almost central, not very central, and Heathrow locations – with prices dependant on the day of the week, location, quality, services required, and whether there is something ‘on’ in or near the City. The City of course is just the square mile of the City of London, but I am meaning it in its larger sense.
Try booking a weekend for the theatre during Wimbledon or over Remembrance Sunday and you will soon appreciate how availability and prices can change!
The hotels – all of them – vary so much it is difficult to find one that suits you and your group. It’s not only the quality of service, but the location of coach parking and access too, and this all conspires to make you through trial and error to find your ideal.
Sightseeing in London from a coach is always a challenge – not because of the traffic, which can work in your advantage by enabling you to travel slowly passed the sites, but the fact that so often you have to look up, and the roof is in the way! Blue Badge Guides are naturally aware of this, and guide accordingly, but for the less knowledgeable it is not so easy. The obvious choice is the open double deck tours, of which there plenty of operators to choose from. These are not cheap however, even allowing for group rates, and adding about £20 to the selling price of your individual prices is bound to affect successful sales. It is possible to hire a whole ‘decker for about £500 in July and August for a one and a half hour tour, which is clearly better value.
When it comes to museums you have the choice of some of the best in the world to promote. Besides The British Museum, V and A, Natural History, Imperial War and National Maritime, there is a whole more to opt for, and a quick Google search to http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/free-london-museums.aspx will show you more. Some special attractions do have admission charges, including The Cabinet War Rooms, HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge Experience, The Tower of London, and The London Transport Museum.
When it comes to art – how can you not visit The Tate Modern, The National Gallery, or The National Portrait Gallery? And these are only some of the ones will free admission – others make a small charge, including The Royal Academy, and Heywood Gallery, but all of this is just scratching the surface.
What amazes me the most, is that whilst some of our fellow Brit’s have visited London, I doubt if everyone has seen everything – which leaves a great untapped market out there. Many operators are well into this, and operate at the least weekly weekenders to see a show, or link it with some event or particular sightseeing – but is so much more that can be offered. Just a glance at the wholesalers brochures show that their planners have put together some truly great packages – some so good I would book a place!
London, like every city in the world has some extra elements that have to be taken into account. I refer to pick pockets. There have been 1603 reported robberies against the person in Westminster in the year to the end of July. This is a drop from 2009, and when you divide that by the number of visitors it is not as great as some may suppose. That is not to say that simple advice to your clients is unnecessary, and whilst not causing alarm or worry should be given. In my book the knowledge of where your money is at any time is paramount, especially when paying for something. Watching the use of your credit card to prevent fraud is common sense, and all you have to do really is to be vigilant.
I emphasise this is no worse than any other city, or for that matter any venue where there is a large crowd. My father always used to insist his jackets had a zip on one inside pocket. It seemed odd at the time – but perhaps not so now.
Enough of this – back to tourism.
I haven’t even mentioned Covent Garden, St Paul’s, Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the Guard, Petticoat Lane, The Palace of Westminster, cruising on the Thames – with lunch, dinner or a cabaret included if you wish, The London Eye, Madame Tussauds, London Zoo, The Royal Parks, The Tower and Ceremony of The Keys, or... just sit by The Embankment and watch the world go by.
London? Love it!
