Sightseeing in England - mmmm not sure I’ll bother

[Lenny HB]

Youre right, its getting more ridiculous as the days go on. Our workaround is to use Park4Night and e-bikes to the venues. We do spend on admission charges but we’ve budgeted for this.

I wouldn't want to risk thousands of pounds worth of e bikes left outside a venue for hours.

 

[Lenny HB]

Running any kind of business in the UK has become much more expensive in recent months due to higher overheads forced upon them, so the public have to pay

But our pensions haven't increased at anything like the same rate. Minium wage has gone up but my pension is less than half that.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I wouldn't want to risk thousands of pounds worth of e bikes left outside a venue for hours.

One of the reasons I've never bothered. Ebikes are ok for riding round in circles but if you want to use them to go anywhere you'll be coming home on the bus

 

[Steve and Denise]

One of the reasons I've never bothered. Ebikes are ok for riding round in circles but if you want to use them to go anywhere you'll be coming home on the bus

If there are any buses running ?

 

[JamesT@Dundee]

Decided to have 3 weeks instead of 4 in France and visit some things and places in our own country that we usually dash past and I’m not sure we should bother
First Mary rose … no motorhome parking anywhere , even p&r has height barrier so we will go to port Solent marina . Approx £30 return taxi and £72 admission TO MARY ROSE

Second stone henge… £56plus parking

And we need to book a site for overnight

Why bother…..

Plenty other "henges" about that aren't overrun with tourists.
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/stones-of-stenness-circle-and-henge/ (probably older than Stonehenge as well)

Ring of Brodgar

Walk among the enormous stones at one of the most spectacular prehistoric monuments in the British Isles.

www.historicenvironment.scot

Though you'd need more than a week

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[TDub49]

Currently in Bavaria and taken advantage of their €40 14 day pass for up 40 of their major palaces and castles etc. It’s a bargain considering most cost €10 and over individually. Even €10 to visit one of Mad King Ludwigs palaces is a bargain in my view.

Stellplatz are in the €15-28 per night range.

Aren't the Germans (and as mentioned in a previous post, France) in some kind of pan European club whereby money is pooled and grants dished out to help fund some of these things. Just wondering . . .

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Whilst costly, most of these attractions become a bit cheaper if you can book ahead, online. Portsmouth Naval Dockyard is at least a fiver cheaper and ticket lasts a year which is necessary if you want to see most of the stuff there. And you can also save more with things like Tesco clubcard vouchers, which can also be used for English Heritage memberships.

Too many complain of campsite prices and locations. I've just returned from C&CC Slapton Sands, Devon. Hourly daytimes bus 10-15 minutes walk takes you to Dartmouth for £3 (along some very quaint narrow roads that can give parts of the NC500 a good name), or free if you have your oap pass. The site was 5-10 min walk from a great locals pub selling proper affordable home cooked pub food and real ale pints less than a fiver. Best was my quite spacious pitch, grass no electric with sea view behind full access to a clean toilet/shower block for £10.20 a night with members singleton and wrinkly discounts.

 

[Roby2008]

Aren't the Germans (and as mentioned in a previous post, France) in some kind of pan European club whereby money is pooled and grants dished out to help fund some of these things. Just wondering . . .

Eu may be right........

 

[March Hare]

Decided to have 3 weeks instead of 4 in France and visit some things and places in our own country that we usually dash past and I’m not sure we should bother
First Mary rose … no motorhome parking anywhere , even p&r has height barrier so we will go to port Solent marina . Approx £30 return taxi and £72 admission TO MARY ROSE

Second stone henge… £56plus parking

And we need to book a site for overnight

Why bother…..

Ref The Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth, you've already discovered about staying for free at Port Solent (max 2nts), but I'd definitely recommend the X4/X5 Solent Ranger bus to get into Portsmouth for the Historic Dockyard (it's the final stop "The Hard Interchange").

Then for your tickets to the Historic Dockyard, if you have Tesco Clubcard vouchers, then you can use these to buy your entry tickets. If you go for the "Ultimate Explorer" tickets at £46 (£23 Tesco Vouchers) then that gets you in to see all the attractions (you'll need more than a day though), and the harbour 1hr boat trips, for a year!

So, combined with the free Port Solent stay, the bus to get you into Portsmouth, and hopefully Tesco Vouchers to buy your tickets, we think it works out at terrific value. You'll have a fantastic time, it's one of our favourite places to visit.

 

[Carpmart]

Running any kind of business in the UK has become much more expensive in recent months due to higher overheads forced upon them, so the public have to pay

Income tax will not go up was the manifesto… well it hasn’t, but bloody hell they’ve worked out lots of ways of increasing the tax take from the average working Joe or retired Joanne!

All I am concerned by these days is the Euro/GBP exchange rate… we spend as little as possible in the UK these days!

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[Steve and Denise]

Income tax will not go up was the manifesto… well it hasn’t, but bloody hell they’ve worked out lots of ways of increasing the tax take from the average working Joe or retired Joanne!

All I am concerned by these days is the Euro/GBP exchange rate… we spend as little as possible in the UK these days!

Apart from cheaper parking in France nothing else is cheap there,
I think we paid €19 to park at Dieppe overnight and the bars/restaurants were expensive. But luckily we got through France on one tank of fuel and a couple of drinks so did not contribute much to their economy

 

[Dorwyn]

Stonehenge you can park in The Drove and wake up to a beautiful view of the stones. You don't need to pay to see the stones there is a footpath beside them.

 

[sueandjohn]

Apparently the grove is closed off

 

[Dorwyn]

The Drove was closed when we drove by the other day

 

[Lenny HB]

Apparently the grove is closed off

Two threads running I updated that in the other thread.

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[hja]

I hate having to book ahead for attractions. I don’t know when or what time I want to visit until I get there. It seems to me this started with covid and seems to suit attractions more than visitors. The other problem is the way in which attractions want to “enrich” the experience with people in fancy dress, background sound effects, kids experiences, audio thingies etc. I just want a guide book and to wander at my own pace.

 

[jerryz]

St Pauls Cathedral £28 per adult ,,,,,Tate modern FREE guess which one got my dosh ....

 

[Barchetta47]

Apart from cheaper parking in France nothing else is cheap there,
I think we paid €19 to park at Dieppe overnight and the bars/restaurants were expensive. But luckily we got through France on one tank of fuel and a couple of drinks so did not contribute much to their economy

What you don’t buy wine in France? It basically pays for my holiday versus UK prices!!

 

[Tezza50]

Just been to Ravenglass CCC site for a few days. We didn't do the steam train, fare is £24 each for adults! Did go to Whithaven on normal train for £10.50 for 2 return.

North York moors railway £49.50 , glad last years buy once use for a year is still valid till July . Ravenglass ccc site had a deal with steam train last year , was mentioned at our check in last year .

 

[Graydo]

Agree with all the above, Europe is definitely the way to go.
British campsites are stuck in this 1950's Butlin experience nightmare and don't seem to realise that a lot of motorhomes are totally self reliant (especially for power) yet charge us for it anyway without the choice.

France, Germany etc just so much easier and cheaper to find places to stay/empty cassettes.
I just feel more welcome there, not the grudged afterthought like here in the UK.

Graydo

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[Steve and Denise]

Agree with all the above, Europe is definitely the way to go.
British campsites are stuck in this 1950's Butlin experience nightmare and don't seem to realise that a lot of motorhomes are totally self reliant (especially for power) yet charge us for it anyway without the choice.

France, Germany etc just so much easier and cheaper to find places to stay/empty cassettes.
I just feel more welcome there, not the grudged afterthought like here in the UK.

Graydo

They are all self sufficient unless it’s free leccy

 

[chaser]

They are called attractions, why , what's attractive about one set of stones as opposed to another, I have seen enough stones without paying rediculas prices to see another lot.

 

[Langtoftlad]

They are called attractions, why , what's attractive about one set of stones as opposed to another, I have seen enough stones without paying rediculas prices to see another lot.

History, Charles, history

 

[Beltie]

One of the reasons I've never bothered. Ebikes are ok for riding round in circles but if you want to use them to go anywhere you'll be coming home on the bus

I think you may need a better class of e-bike!

 

[Richard n Ann]

I think you may need a better class of e-bike!

I was insinuating they will be stolen, a better class of ebike would be even worse

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[Landy Andy]

They are called attractions, why , what's attractive about one set of stones as opposed to another, I have seen enough stones without paying rediculas prices to see another lot.

Money. If they can take money they will. It’s not as if you can get close to them even if you’ve paid the silly money. Typical UK £££££

 

[Ponner]

I object to pay any money to visit my ancestral sites
Marie rose Stonehenge even the museum's are part of MY culture
Tower of London Portsmouth I could go on and on
They wouldn't be here if not for for native Britons I deserve free entry to all of them
Charge tourists max

 

[Steve and Denise]

I was insinuating they will be stolen, a better class of ebike would be even worse

I knew that

 

[Billy Casper]

I object to pay any money to visit my ancestral sites
Marie rose Stonehenge even the museum's are part of MY culture
Tower of London Portsmouth I could go on and on
They wouldn't be here if not for for native Britons I deserve free entry to all of them
Charge tourists max

To be fair, the costs of maintaining the Marie Rose must be enormous so I can understand that. Can’t say the same about Stonehenge, don’t get the costs for that. I would imagine a donation box would do!

 

[Red Sonja]

Y we

We're in Ireland at the moment and everything is 10 to 25 % more expensive than the UK (food, wine, fuel, campsites). We were planning on 6 weeks touring but now thinking of cutting it down to 4 weeks. Usually spend 2 or 3 months twice a year touring through Europe at about half the price it's costing to be here. Also, like in the UK, they're not geared up for motorhomes. Very few aires, campsites and pub stops generally in the middle of nowhere, which to some folk is heaven, but we prefer the european inclusive attitude. I think we'll be sticking to european travels in future.

I've just come back from Ireland I shop in Lidl both in Ireland and the UK. I found certain products in Ireland a lot cheaper. Bread is more expensive but cakes, biscuits and sweets were cheaper. Lidl prices. They have 3 lots of vat there as well. Look at your bill. We have a house there. When we camp we stay in CL type sites much cheaper than UK. We found campsites on a par with UK. I don't drink so can comment on the price of alcohol. In the UK we mainly do C&CC Temporary Holiday sites or CLs.

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