We believe that these trips are the very safest way to travel. You are supervised at all times, and in company with many other trustworthy people. The coach is attended or locked at all times and is parked well out of the city overnight. There is a reminder on each Personal Itinerary to be vigilant about unattended baggage at any venue. The coach drivers are all highly professional with their own assigned coach, and experienced in London driving.
Generally, we suggest that for the bulk of the trip you dress 'smart casual' with no visible slogans on the clothes. We think this means no jeans, t-shirts, leather jackets or trainers, but we want you to feel comfortable. warm and respectable. London is always relatively warm (compared with the north!), and you do not have to be out in the weather for more than a few minutes.
However, at the British Museum and at the Bethel you should dress particularly smartly; your dress should be 'as for a meeting' which means brothers should wear a collar and tie, and sisters should avoid trousers. See this link to the tract prepared by the Society (approx 2mb PDF file).
Yes. Often they can be asked to meet you at the reception desk at Bethel. Also, at the initial planning stage of your trip, it may be possible to include the cost of some Bethel guests at dinner at the hotel. Also, depending on the number of available seats, it may be possible for some Bethelites to join us for the Sunday in a tour of London.
Yes. We have a wheelchair available on advance request. Also, at most venues we can borrow without charge several wheelchairs. If required, we can hire a specialist wheelchair-lift coach although this adds significantly to the cost. If you need an en extra-width seat, you can pay extra for using 2 seats, usually £35. If you are not very mobile, its probably best to sit at the front of the coach or near the middle exit door.
The coach company has to announce that seat belts are provided and tell you to wear them, if over 14 yrs of age. There is no enforcement for those aged under 14 years.
The following is based on text from Government website:
Seated passengers aged 14 years and above must use seat belts where they are fitted in all coaches. Children up to 13 years should use the belt provided.
An official announcement by the vehicle operator must be made when the passenger joins the bus or within a reasonable time of his doing so.
An "official announcement" means one by the driver, by a conductor or courier or by a group leader of any passengers on the vehicle.
There is nothing in law to prevent child restraints being used if they fit in a bus or coach. However, these vehicles may only have lap belts and most child seats need lap and diagonal belts in order to be secured. In addition, the seats in these vehicles may be the wrong proportions for child restraints.
Do [child] seat belts and child restraints have to be worn?
It is important that the seat belts or child restraints which have been fitted are worn. Children should wear a seat belt not only for their own safety, but the safety of others in the vehicle. Parents should actively encourage their children to wear a seat belt. When supervising a trip, parents, teachers and supervisors, should try and ensure that the restraints are worn. A single seat belt must not be used by more than one child, nor should a belt be placed around a child who is on an adults lap.
In the rear seats of coaches and larger minibuses there is no statutory requirement for children to wear a seat belt or child restraint, but they should always be actively encouraged to wear them, when they are available.
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
A £30 fixed penalty notice. If a case goes to court, the maximum fine is £500. Penalty points are not applicable. In 2004, there were some 200,000 fixed penalties issued by the police and about 5000 cases went to court.
Yes; the quoted cost is for the featured number of nights. Usually this is now £49 as a total for the 2 nights. This charge is made because hotel prices are based on 2 people sharing the space and facilities of a room.
It depends on which hotel, and what they have available. These requests are best made at the earliest possible time, and I can see what is available. The easiest option is for a bed settee to be added to a twin room; or sometimes we can arrange for interconnecting rooms (multiples of 2 persons each room as a minimum, at full rate); or adjacent rooms; a limited number of 'family' rooms is sometimes available, which can take up to 4 usually. A cot is also available free of charge on request, in any room.
The inclusive lunches can be varied for special needs; be sure to give us plenty of written notice (minimum 2 weeks before trip). Usually there are plenty of 'spare' lunch items including fruit and yoghurt which may also suit your needs without further action. Or you may have to purchase your own. The hotel dinners can be varied by your arranging directly with the chef upon arrival.
Usually twice. The driver's hours are a factor, also the comfort of the passengers. Normally we will not drive any longer than 2.5 hours, and usually about 2 hours between stops.
Yes. Best to think of this as 'emergency only' though.
Usually, yes. But please do not put any potentially greasy bags or food or drinks on the seats. Please also dispose of your own rubbish as the trip goes. The driver reserves the right to prohibit any food or drink.
We work with age 2 -15 for our London trips. These must be sharing a room with 2 full-fare passengers, and be supervised at all times. Some component parts of the tour may use a different age limit, but this has usually been allowed for in the total deal.
The deposit should be paid immediately upon booking, to secure your place on the trip. If you don't, then the trip is usually offered to other nearby congregations to fill the unbooked places. The deposits may be refunded in full if the places are re-booked, but we reserve the right to retain all or part of it to cover any costs. This is usually worked out the day after returning from the trip. You can also offer your place to someone else if you are unable to go, in which case they can use your deposit.
You would need to pay the normal fare (usually £30 for up to 3 days), as all seats are part of the total sharing of the total cost. Otherwise you can follow the coach and park where you can, but still use the discount rates for all the other aspects of the trip.
Any person associated with the truth, from any area, and their friends, as long as they do not smoke and are approved locally for the purposes of the trip by those responsible for the congregation's trip.
Any minor would need to be constantly and reliably supervised by two adults nominated to us as responsible for looking after them.
Normally two dinners at the hotel and one lunch are included. This may vary however, by agreement with the local coordinator at the start of the planning of your trip. Sometimes the budget is agreed in advance to cover the cost of one glass of wine (or soft draught drink) per person, and/or the cost of live piano music in the dining room or lounge. The lunches are usually packed lunches (prepared by London professionals) comprising [usually] a long thin baguette with double filling, a fruit yoghurt, spoon & serviette, banana, fruit drink and a wrapped chocolate biscuit. Or one of the lunches may be a 3-course sit-down Medieval Lunch by the Tower of London, which includes water on the table but no other included drink (extra items can be purchased from the waitress). Or one of the lunches may be a sit-down 3-course meal in a good restaurant close to one of the venues. We will always have checked out the quality of the supply in advance. No special orders are included in our provision but may be available by advance request, or arranged directly with the chef on the day, in some venues.
We started doing London Bethel trips in the 1970s, and have increasingly been asked by other congregations to organise similar trips ever since. It is not a business, but a satisfying hobby!
No, we are not directly associated with the Watchtower Society. However, the London Bethel are very positive about what we do, especially as it saves a lot of stress for local coordinators who may otherwise try and organise and guide a one-off trip themselves.
No, other than using Meander Travel as a preferred supplier of tours in the British Museum and British Library. We have known and respected Meander Travel since their origin.
This can vary. Among the things not generally included are the lunch on the journey to London, and tips for the staff and driver.
It is normal practice to tip anyone who provides a personal service. Often the staff in tourism-related jobs depend on tips for a reasonable living income, as their basic wage is often extremely low. This is true of the hotel catering and housekeeping staff and coach drivers, and the museum guides. The procedure we suggest is to leave the hotel cash each day on your room sideboard, and on the table after each meal. You can give the driver his tip on the return journey. (We also give him a thankyou card with everyone's comments written on).
Currently we use at least 4 hotels:
Ramada Jarvis at Hatfield: Close to Bethel; very cosy; excellent Japanese power showers in most rooms; a function room for use with live music if required; very close to discount shopping centre and multiplex cinema; very good rooms; in-house gymnasium plus free access to Sports Village Gymnasium across the road (7 mins walk) and free use of university swimming pool (approx 7 min walk).
Premier Travel Inn at South Mimms: Close to Bethel; recently refurbished; low drinks and wine cost; excellent lounge bar area; new gymnasium; most rooms air conditioned; unrivalled atmosphere for dining and lounge bar conversation time.
Crowne Plaza Hotel at Heathrow: close to airport; excellent swimming and gymnasium facility; top class rooms; £21 pppn extra cost.
Holiday Inn at Heathrow: adjacent to runway; highest quality of food and service; some rooms have no view; quite good all round; no pool; £18 pppn extra cost.
Most tour groups now book for next year, on the return journey. There are now over 50 different options you can choose to make your return journeys totally different to your previous ones.