We are coming to England in November & want to go to Rosslyn Chapel. How do we get there?

Question

We plan to stay in London (hopefully on the Thames) central to the major attractions but can't afford a luxury hotel. We're hoping someone out there can suggest a decent place to stay that wont cost an arm and a leg! My husband is very interested in all the sites related to the DaVinci code and freemasonry and I am a medieval history buff and we would appreciate any info on sites to visit outside the usual tourist attractions. We'll be in England for 6 days.

Answer 1

Why not visit the Inns of Court in London? They are fascinating - on the south side of Fleet Street; and there is the Templars Church and would interest you both. The "Olde Cheshire Cheese" pub is where Dr Johnson ate. There are cellars downstairs with cheaper food than on the ground floor.

There are a lot of cheaper hotels, for instance, around Paddington Station, and other areas but, since I live in London, I don't pay much attention to them! Perhaps do an internet search for ones around the Thames.

All around Britain there are wonderful castles and stately homes from many periods of history in various states of preservation; you could plan visits to interest you both, perhaps on your way up to Scotland en route to Rosslyn Chapel.

There is a Museum of Freemasonry:
http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/london/museum/AM12129.html?ixsid=

Templars' Church:
http://www.britainexpress.com/London/Temple_Church.htm

Prince Henry's Room (perhaps a bit later than you'd like):
http://www.touruk.co.uk/london_museums/princehenry_rooms1.htm

Inns of Court (including your own "Walk"):
http://www.venables.co.uk/barinns.htm
http://www.london-footprints.co.uk/wkinnscourtroute.htm
http://www.gardenvisit.com/g/in2.htm

There is also Crosby Place in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea; it is probably the oldest house in London. Richard III lived there once, but all that is left is the Hall. It used to be in Bishopsgate by Liverpool Street Station, but was moved. Someone owns it now, and has restored it, but I have always thought about writing to ask for a tour. You may like to do that!

The City still has some interesting places to explore. You may like to go on a "London Walk"; brochures are available in many places, including downstairs in St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square, and the Tourist Office at St Paul's Cathedral. You can choose which walk will interest you most.

The South Bank around Shakespeare's Globe area is interesting, with some old ruins - for example, the Bishop of Winchester's Palace. (Close to Borough Market for food and the Clink Prison; and the Golden Hinde.)

Enjoy your visit - too little time, so much to do!

Answer 2

Have a look at the London Walks site, the do all sorts of guided tours, including a Da Vinci Code one. Why not pop into The National Gallery and take a look at The Madonna of the Rocks (London version) .

As far as accommodation is concerned, try the Holiday Inn group, there's lots in different locations around the city.

If you're going to Rosslyn Chapel your nearest city to stay in is Edinburgh. You can get there by train from London but you'd need to take a bus or a taxi from Edinburgh to Rosslyn.

Have fun.

http://www.walks.com/

Answer 3

Medieval history is one of my passions too. I work in London and I will ask my Colleagues and friends for recommendations as to where to stay. I am afraid when my husband and I stay in London we tend to push the boat out (The Hampshire in Leicester Square is fab!) but there are plenty of more sensibly priced hotels. The Rosslyn Chapel is a heck of a trek from London and I can't imagine how you would fit in a trip to Scotland and see many of the fabulous things that England has to offer in six days. You absolutely must visit Windsor, which is easily accessible from London, Hampton Court is a must, and my home town of Winchester. Our Cathedral is 900 years old. The Rood screen was donated by Henry Beaufort, John of Gaunt's son. I could bang on about this for hours! I will be back with more information!

Answer 4

London hotels have a terrible reputation for being pricey, and anything that is not pricey has a terrible reputation for being a dive. And quite a lot that is pricey is a dive too.

There are not many hotels on the Thames, but check ou the County Hall hotel on www.premiertravelinn.co.uk - this is one of the cheapest half decent chains operating in the city and one of the very few hotels on the Thames. You will have to book very early to get a room.

Roslin is outside Edinburgh. 4 1/2 hours by rail from Kings Cross (a much, much longer drive). It may well be cheaper to fly - rail prices are very high if you do not plan ahead and travel outside peak hours. See www.thetrainline.com for rail and www.skyscanner.net for budget airles. Do allow time to get to London's airports - while all have good public transport none would win awards for being handy.

Answer 5

The Freemasons do no longer very own Rosslyn Chapel. The bloody difficulty is falling aside and to do any huge excavation artwork might positively effect in its destruction. I take it you do no longer purely like the Vatican the two. all of us know concerning the alleged connection between the Freemasons, the Templars and the Saint Claire kinfolk - cutting-edge vendors of the Chapel. i think of you have been analyzing too many novels - attempt history. it would desire to no longer look as "attractive," even with the incontrovertible fact that that's no longer written purely for marvel fee. The DaVinci Code and its progeny (which I do savour) are for entertainment applications purely. The Masons spend their time in community provider recently. The Templars did, and can, exist - in a a procedures distinctive sort. Please do no longer equate yet yet another conspiracy concept with the Catholic Church. There are adequate that are genuine - we don't want yet another one dreamed up by employing a novelist. i've got study it and additionally you're an ignorant ***.

Answer 6

Without any idea of budget it's difficult to recommend specific hotels, but if you go to http://www.lastminute.com/ you'll get a selection of pretty good deals.

For the trip to Rosslyn Chapel you need to take a train from Kings Cross to Edinburgh and Roslin is then about six miles away, so use a cab or a bus. The journey from London to Edinburgh should take about 4 hours. Check http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ for train times and on-line booking.

There are 2 bus services that operate to Roslin - Lothian Buses service 15A (not15) and First service 62. Lothian Buses service 15A operates from Tranent to Penicuik via Morningside and you can board this service at St Andrew Square, Princes Street or Lothian Road. It operates to Roslin hourly, Monday to Friday during the day with no evening or Saturday and Sunday service. Times at St Andrew Square are 0641, 0740, 0845 then 42 minutes past the hour all day until 1747 and 1852. Return journeys are at 19 minutes past the hour at Roslin and there is timetable information at all stops in Roslin.

Service 62 operates from the new Bus Station and can be boarded there or on North Bridge. Times are as follows: Bus Station 0925, 1025, 1125, 1225, 1325 and 1425 arriving at Roslin at 57 minutes after the hour. Return journeys are at 0944, 1044, 1144, 1244, 1344 and 1444. Operates to Roslin Monday to Saturday only, no evening or Sunday service.

Timetables and further travel information can be obtained from http://www.lothianbuses.co.uk/

There's so much to see in Edinburgh it's definitely worth spending at least one night there - details of hotels as before.

Answer 7

Rosslyn chapel is in Scotland not England. It is a VERY long way!

Answer 8

Get a life!!! Half the stuff he describes is incorrect or distorted.