England in JanuaryEngland in JanuaryJanuary 21– February 4, 2010
Program itinerary:
England in January (FULL TRIP)
(arrival day) January 21st,
(departure day) February 4, 2010
Program itinerary and instructions:
Here is the schedule for the FULL 2010 trip.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20th
Depart United States. Janice and I will be on US Air flight 728, departing Philadelphia at 9:15 pm, arriving London, Heathrow, at 9:25 am Thursday morning. Those who elect to travel with Janice and I should check in about 7 pm at the US Air ticket counter in the overseas terminal. We will be in the area of the ticket counter or at the departure gate to greet you. Scheduled service is on an Airbus A330 aircraft. The balance of the group will be traveling via other airlines into London Heathrow or Gatwick.
THURSDAY, Jan. 21st
US Air flight 728 arrives in HEATHROW AIRPORT, TERMINAL 1 AT 9:15 am. For those arriving in terminal 1; upon deplaning follow the signs for arriving passengers. The first part of the process will be passport control. Follow the signs for non-EC (European Community) passengers. Here you will present your passport and landing card, (fill this card out on the plane, if you don't have one, ask a flight attendant). Then proceed down the hallway toward the baggage "reclaim" area, as it is called in England. There are rest rooms in this hallway. Entering the baggage reclaim there are luggage carts that are free for your use. The monitors will display the belt numbers where your luggage can be collected. From baggage reclaim you will pass through the customs area, use the green 'Nothing to Declare' opening and enter the Arrival Hall. At this time of the morning this area is always full of people speaking most of the world's languages. Stay in the area entrance to the Arrivals Hall. Janice and I will be in that area, our group's meeting point. If all is on schedule we will be at this area about 45 minutes after our arrival time (9:15 am). Passengers arriving on other flights into terminal 1 should make their way to meet us at this location. Our coach driver Dave will pick up our group at terminal 1 first, before going to the other terminals to pick up additional travelers. Airport information will be helpful in directing you if you require assistance. If your flight is delayed, do not despair, if need be we will be able to hold the bus at Heathrow for some time before departing for Wells in the west of England. PLEASE NOTE: Our flight arrives at TERMINAL 1, so it will take our group somewhat longer to get over to Terminals 2, 3, or 4 to meet the rest of the group.
After getting our group together we head out to the City of Wells.
ALTERNATIVE: If Janice and I are not at the designated meeting point. Please check arrival time for our US Air flight 728 scheduled to arrive at 9:15 AM into terminal 1. This can be done at the information desk. They will tell you when we will arrive. It is unlikely that the delay would be more than an hour or two. Please remain in your arrival terminals. If our arrival is later than 11:30 am, Ralph Finch has instructions and will be in charge of the group until Janice and I arrive. Ralph knows Dave very well and Dave knows the terminals, they will bring the bus to the terminals loading areas to pick everyone up, then proceed on to Wells, Janice, myself and whomever is traveling with us will catch up with the group in Wells later in the day.
WORSE CASE SENEARIO: If your incoming flight to London is very delayed or cancelled, requiring you to take a much later flight the following options are available.
Upon arriving in Heathrow Airport, and you've checked through customs, follow the signs to the Heathrow Express Station. This train travels from Heathrow to the Paddington Station in London about every 15 minutes. After arriving at the Paddington Station take a train west to the Bath Spa station. From here arraignments can be made to pick you up for the short trip to Wells. Trains leave Paddington Station for Bath about every hour and require no train changes. The trip takes about two hours. When you arrive in Bath you can call the Swan Hotel 01749 836300. Or my cell phone 215 264-7256
Overnight Wells - --- The Swan Hotel
FRIDAY Jan. 22nd
Today we travel the short distance to the Shepton Mallet Antique Fair. This is trade day so the fair is only open from 1 to 5 pm This gives the group plenty of time in the morning to hob-nob around Wells or sleep in to recover from yesterdays jet-lag.
We return to the Swan in the later afternoon. An evening dinner has been for our group has been arraigned at the hotel
Overnight Wells - --- The Swan Hotel
SATURDAY Jan. 23rd
After a breakfast at the hotel, we drive back to Shepton Mallet to finish up antiqueing. We will depart the fair around noon for the drive to the City of Bath before returning to London.
Overnight London - --- President Hotel
SUNDAY Jan. 24th
Our first full day in London, plenty to see and do. The British Museum, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, London Tower, the Crown Jewels, all can be visited and are within a short distance from one of London's 'underground' stations.
Also in all likelihood one, or several, small antique or postcard shows will be open today.
Overnight London ---- President Hotel
MONDAY Jan. 25th
A small outdoor/indoor market at Covent Garden is on today. This is easily reached by using the underground from our hotel to the Covent Garden station. And you can enjoy a lunch at one of the many nearby pubs. The rest of the day is open.
Overnight London ---- President Hotel
TUESDAY Jan. 26th
Today is the big Kempton Park fair on the outskirts of London. Kempton Park is a race track that every other month becomes a 600 dealer indoor / outdoor fair. Members of our group who have attended the Kempton Park fair in the past have had good things to say about it. Kempton Park is easily reached by using a regional British Rail train. Instructions and schedule will be provided while in London.
Overnight London ---- President Hotel
WEDNESDAY Jan. 27th
An open day, but something special is available. Janice and I will be traveling by train north to the walled city of York, (about a two-hour ride north of London.) Anyone in our group wanting to go along, welcome aboard. This trip is not part of your 'England in January' package but special arrangements can be easily made. Anyone interested in going with Janice and I should contact us at least 24 hours in advance. York is one of England's most historic and picturesque cities. You don't want to miss seeing the Shambles, Clifford's Tower, the National Railroad Museum, or the Minster and of course the Yorvic Viking Museum, which has become one of England's most important tourist attractions. Have lunch at one of the English style pubs along the Ouse River. A day in York is a day to remember. We depart York in the late afternoon for the train ride back to London.
Overnight London ---- President Hotel
THURSDAY Jan. 28th
Today is Spittlefields. This indoor flea market is located in Central London and not far from an underground station. Started in 2005, Spittlefields has become popular with collectors and dealers alike and in many ways has replaced Bermondsey in popularity. Spittlefields is a morning market, so the rest of the day is open.
Overnight London ---- President Hotel
FRIDAY Jan. 29th
If its Friday morning in London its Bermondsey. Located south of the Themes River near the Tower Bridge, Bermondsey is said to be the place where antiques bought on Friday are sold at Portabelle Road on Saturday. Bermondsey is an early morning market, and can be reached by the underground or London bus system. The rest of the day is open.
Overnight London ---- President Hotel
SATURDAY, Jan. 30th
For those who enjoy attending traditional flea markets you don't want to miss Portabelle Road, London's famous Saturday morning market dating back to the 1700's. Everyone has heard about it, now is your chance to see and shop in it. Potrabelle is close to several underground stations and is easy to find, just follow the crowd. The rest of the day is open.
Overnight London ---- President Hotel
SUNDAY, Jan. 31st.
After breakfast, we depart the hotel by private coach for Lincoln in the Midlands district. Dave Able will again be our coach driver. (Depending on time and location, we may be able to stop on the way to Lincoln for a little additional sightseeing and/or antique hunting.)
In the early afternoon we arrive at the Lincoln Hotel in the town of Lincoln. The hotel is centrally located and adjacent to the historic Lincoln cathedral, (where scenes from 'The Da Vinci Files' were shot), and close to the Lincoln Castle, where one of the few existing original copes of the Magna Carta can be see.
The hotel restaurant has wonderful views of the cathedral and serves superb food with the emphasis on local delicacies, freshly prepared and cooked in-house. The hotel also has a lounge, brasserie and bar. Many nearby pubs and restaurants offer a wide assortment of foods.
Overnight Lincoln ---- Lincoln Hotel
MONDAY, Feb. 1st.
After breakfast we depart the hotel at 11 a.m., arriving Swinderby International Antiques & Collectors Fair 11:30 a.m. Today is called 'dealers only day', but special arraignments have been made so our group can enter as 'dealers'.
This fair is now operated by the DMG people, the same organizers who run the big Newark and Shepton Mallet events. Swinderby has become one of the most talked about international antiques and collectors fairs in England.
At Swinderby, 2,000 to 2,500 dealers, including many from mainland Europe, will be offering a wide array of antiques and collectibles. This quiet Lincolnshire location has become the home of millions of fine antiques six times each year. Swinderby has been the scene of many famous English antique shows, such as Bargain Hunt, televised on national, cable and satellite TV.
Tired of shopping? Our coach will be conveniently parked near the main entrance, so you can return to it at any time. We return to Lincoln in the afternoon.
Overnight Lincoln ---- Lincoln Hotel
TUESDAY, Feb. 2nd
After breakfast we travel the short distance to the Lincolnshire Fairground, new home to Arthur Swallows mammoth indoor / outdoor antiques and collectors fair. According to all reports Swallows move from the Swinderby venue to the Lincolnshire Fairgrounds has improved the shows quality greatly, and has considerably more indoor space than at Swinderby. Expect between 1,500 to 2,000 dealers to be set-up and offering all types of antiques and collectibles. Once again our coach will be conveniently parked near the main entrance, so you can return to it at any time.
We return to Lincoln in the afternoon.
Overnight Lincoln ---- Lincoln Hotel
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 3rd
Today several options exist. After breakfast our coach can take the group to either the Swinderby show or the Lincolnshire Fairgrounds show, both are in full swing today. Or, since they are no more than about 20 minutes apart, members of our group have their choice, one or the other. This can be coordinated with our driver Dave. Whichever market you chose, we will depart the fairs around 2 pm for the drive back to London where we check back into the President Hotel.
Overnight London ---- President Hotel
THURSDAY Feb. 4th
Our US Air flight729 departs HEATHROW AIRPORT, TERMINAL 1, AT 12:05 pm.
Time to go back to the good old U.S.A.. as another 'England in January' comes to an end.
England in January (FULL TRIP)
January 21 - February 4, 2010
TRIP PRICE (air fair not included)
Double or Twin room - $1,895.00 per person based on double occupancy
Single room - $2,295.00
This package includes the following.
Two nights at the Swan Hotel in the historic city of Wells.
(English breakfast and evening dinner included)
Nine nights in the President Hotel in Central London, one block from the famous British Museum.
(English breakfast included)
Three nights at the Lincoln Hotel in the old historic district of Lincoln
(English breakfast and evening dinner included)
Private bus transportation to Well and the Shepton Mallet fair. Also to Lincoln and the mammoth Swinderby and Lincolnshire Fairgrounds Antique & Collectors Fairs
Seven day London Travel Passes (zones 1 & 2)
Early buyer's passes to all fairs
(A $200.00 deposit per person with reservation is required)
Final payment is required by Jan. 1st, 2010
Make all checks payable to James Hagenbuch, and mail to:
PO Box 180
102 Jefferson St.
East Greenville, PA 18041
Cancellation penalties of $200.00 per person after December 15th, 2010
No refund will be available after Jan. 1, 2010
Read about our 2008 'England in January' trip at:
Yanks turn the page on antoerh great European tour
For more information about next years trip call:
PH: (215) 679-5849
FAX: (215) 679-3068
Email: glswrk@enter.net
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