United Kingdom 2007

"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." - Saint Augustine, Roman Theologian



Arif's Graduation

Posted: 1 May 2007.

According to the University of Sheffield website, Arif's ceremony is slated for:
Wednesday 18 July 2007 at 12 Noon

Arif will be graduating from the faculty of Engineering under Mechanical Engineering. Some notes:
  • Currently, only guaranteed 2 tickets, so some of us might not be able to attend the actual ceremony
  • Guests will be seated 20 minutes prior to start, while candidates must be seated 30 minutes prior
  • Ceremony is about 60 to 90 minutes long
 University of Sheffield

Flight Itinerary

Posted: 7 April 2007.

My brother is graduating from the University of Sheffield this summer of 2007, and a whole bunch of us are going to the United Kingdom to see the sights. I've put together this page to plan and execute on our trip. I'm hoping to share our budget, our preparation checklist, as well as our proposed itinerary for the trip. For starters, here's our flight itinerary:
Travel Dates for July 2007

SunMonTuesWedThurFriSat
    567
891011121314
15161718192021
222324    

DEPARTINGVANCOUVER - LONDON (Heathrow) RETURNINGLONDON (Heathrow) - VANCOUVER
FlightBritish Airways #86 (Class N) FlightBritish Airways #87 (Class N)
DepartureYVR - 05 July 5:45pm DepartureLHR - 24 July 1:10pm
ArrivalLHR - 06 July 10:50am ArrivalYVR - 24 July 2:35pm

Suggested Activities

Posted: 14 April 2007. Updated: 1 May 2007

Here is a list of things we'd like to do there:
Time at Windsor Castle:
Windsor Castle

Tentative Schedule

Updated: 19 May 2007.

SUN MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT
        5
VANCOUVER
Depart 5:45p		 6
LONDON
Arrive 10:50a
National Rail
Rest & Regroup		 7
SCOTLAND
National Rail
Car Rental
Check-In COTTAGE
8
SCOTLAND
Blairgowrie
Dundee		 9
SCOTLAND
Loch Ness		 10
SCOTLAND
Glasgow
Stirling		 11
SCOTLAND
Edinburgh		 12
SCOTLAND
Blair Castle
Killiecrankie		 13
SCOTLAND
St. Andrews		 14
SHEFFIELD
National Rail
Car Rental
Settle-In Arif APT
15
LEEDS
Visit Eva
Wentworth Castle		 16
SHEFFIELD
Peak District		 17
SHEFFIELD
Grad. Preparations
Strawberry Farm
Conisbrough Castle		 18
SHEFFIELD
Grad. Ceremony
Clumber Park		 19
SHEFFIELD
Alton Towers		 20
LONDON
National Rail
Check-In FLAT
Madame Tussauds		 21
LONDON
Windsor Castle
Harrods
Trafalgar Square
22
LONDON
Tower of London
Catamaran Cruise
London Aquarium		 23
LONDON
Send Off
Check-In B&B
LSE		 24
LONDON
Depart 1:10p		        

London Arrival / Transit

Posted: 2 July 2007.

DAY 0 (Friday)
10:50 AM -Arrive in Heathrow Airport
1:20 PM -Clear Customs.
Take Underground to Paddington Station, London
2:01 PM -Departure by Train from Heathrow
5:48 PM -Arrival by Train @ Sheffield (< 4 hours)

Scotland Itinerary

Posted: 19 May 2007.

Here is our tentative itinerary for Scotland (See Scotland Google Map):

DAY 1 (Saturday)
9:00 AM -Depart from Arif's Apt
9:54 AM -Departure by Train from Sheffield
3:37 PM -Arrival by Train @ Perth (< 6 hours)
4:00 PM -Car Rental @ Perth
4:30 PM -Drive to Cottage @ Blairgowrie (30 min)
5:00 PM -Check-In at Cottage @ Blairgowrie
6:00 PM -Unpack and Settle-In
7:30 PM -Dinner
9:00 PM -Sleep Early & Prepare for Next Day

DAY 2 - 7 (Sunday - Friday)
DAY TRIPDriving Tour: Blairgowrie & Dundee
DAY TRIPNature Tour: Loch Ness
DAY TRIPCity Tour: Glasgow & Stirling
DAY TRIPCity Tour: Edinburgh
DAY TRIPNature Tour: Blair Castle & Killiecrankie
DAY TRIPCity Tour: St. Andrew

DAY 8 (Saturday)
10:00 AM -Check-Out of Cottage @ Blairgowrie
10:30 AM -Return Car Rental @ Perth
11:05 AM -Departure by Train @ Perth
4:41 PM -Arrival by Train at Sheffield (< 6 hours)

 Big Ben

For a Map of Places on the Itinerary, See Scotland Google Map.

Sheffield Itinerary

Posted: 2 July 2007.

Here is our tentative itinerary for Sheffield (See Sheffield Google Map):

DAY 1 (Saturday)
4:41 PM -Arrival by Train at Sheffield (< 6 hours)
5:00 PM -Car Rental @ Sheffield
5:30 PM -Drive to Cottage @ Penistone
6:30 PM -Check-In at Cottage @ Penistone
7:00 PM -Unpack and Settle-In
8:30 PM -Dinner
9:00 PM -Sleep Early & Prepare for Next Day

DAY 2 (Sunday)
DAY TRIPVisit Kak Eva @ Leeds

DAY 3 (Monday)
DAY TRIPPeak District

DAY 4 (Tuesday)
DAY TRIPStrawberry Farm & Conisbrough Castle

DAY 5 (Wednesday)
DAY TRIPArif's Graduation & Clumber Park

DAY 6 (Thursday)
DAY TRIPAlton Towers

DAY 7 (Friday)
9:00 AM -Check-Out of Cottage @ Sheffield
9:30 AM -Return Car Rental @ Sheffield
10:27 AM -Departure by Train @ Sheffield
2:12 PM -Arrival by Train at London (< 4 hours)

For a Map of Places on the Itinerary, See Sheffield Google Map.

London Itinerary

Updated: 2 July 2007.

Here is our tentative itinerary for London (See London Google Map):

DAY 1 (Friday)
2:12 PM -Arrival by Train from Sheffield (< 4 hours)
3:00 PM -Check Into Hotel
4:00 PM -Leave for Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
5:00 PM -Visit Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
6:00 PM -Head for Maroush Restaurant
6:30 PM -Dinner at Maroush Restaurant
7:30 PM -Finish Dinner. Can Head Home or British Museum
8:00 PM -Visit British Museum
8:30 PM -Head Home
9:00 PM -Rest and Prepare for Tomorrow

DAY 2 (Saturday)
9:00 AM -Leave Hotel for Windsor Castle
9:45 AM -Visit Windsor Castle
11:15 AM -Head back to London
12:00 PM -Visit Kensington Palace
2:00 PM -Lunch at The Orangery, or Hyde Park, or Harry Ramsden
3:00 PM -Visit Harrods and/or Watch a Movie (It's FREE!)
5:30 PM -Visit Trafalgar Square and the Surrounding Area
- Free Gift at Crest of London
7:00 PM -Head Home
8:00 PM -Dinner and Relax

DAY 3 (Sunday)
TBD -Extended Family leave for Malaysia

DAY 4 (Monday)
TBD -Visit London School of Economics

DAY 5 (Tuesday)
9:30 AM -Check-Out from Hotel
10:00 AM -Depart for Airport
11:10 AM -Check-In at Airport
1:10 PM -Depart for Vancouver

Big Ben

For a Map of Places on the Itinerary, See London Google Map.

Budget and Expenses

Updated: 2 July 2007.

UKBudget2007.xls
ItemBudget
(per person)		Budget
(family)

TRAVEL AND MEALS
Return Flight from Vancouver to London CAD5000
Return (Round-Trip) Train Fair from London to Sheffield£28CAD124
Return (Round-Trip) Train Fair from Sheffield to Scotland£36CAD159
1-Week Car Rental at Scotland (£150 * 2 cars Split 6 ways)£50CAD220
Child Car Seat Rental at Scotland (£20 per seat)-CAD88
Optional Collision Damage Waiver (£? per day per car)EXTRAEXTRA
5-Day Car Rental at Sheffield (£120 * 2 cars Split 6 ways)£40CAD176
Child Car Seat Rental at Sheffield (£20 per seat)-CAD88
Optional Collision Damage Waiver (£? per day per car)EXTRAEXTRA
Additional Car Expenses: Gas, Mileage, Tolls, Parking (£200 Split 6 ways)£34CAD150
Meals / Groceries at London (3 - 4 days)£35CAD154
Meals / Groceries at Scotland (7 days)£40CAD176
Meals / Groceries at Sheffield / Leeds / Others (8 days)£45CAD198
Extra Food Budget (Assuming £10 per day)EXTRACAD220
TOTAL TRAVEL AND MEALS£308CAD6753
 

SCOTLAND (7 NIGHTS)
Scotland Accomodations (Cottage @ £550/per week)£92CAD405
Scotland Extra Beds for Kids (2 @ £25/per bed)-CAD110
Site Seeing: Blairgowrie & DundeeEXTRAEXTRA
Site Seeing: Loch NessEXTRAEXTRA
Site Seeing: Glasgow & StirlingEXTRAEXTRA
Site Seeing: EdinburghEXTRAEXTRA
Site Seeing: Blair Castle & KilliecrankieEXTRAEXTRA
Site Seeing: St AndrewsEXTRAEXTRA
TOTAL SCOTLAND (7 NIGHTS)£92CAD450
 

SHEFFIELD / LEEDS / OTHERS (7 NIGHTS)
Sheffield accommodations (Cottage @ £450/per bed)£75CAD330
Wentworth Castle (£4)£4CAD18
Clumber Park (£2 parking per car)FREEFREE
Conisbrough Castle (£4)£4CAD18
University of Sheffield Grad CeremonyTBDTBD
Alton Towers (Theme Park) - Adult £24£24CAD106
Alton Towers (Theme Park) - Kids 4 and above £16-CAD36
Peak District (National Park)FREEFREE
- Chatsworth HouseEXTRAEXTRA
- Other AttractionsEXTRAEXTRA
Strawberry FarmEXTRAEXTRA
TOTAL SHEFFIELD / LEEDS / OTHERS (7 NIGHTS)£107CAD508

LONDON (3 - 4 NIGHTS)
London Accommodations (£65/per night)£65CAD572
One-Day Travel Pass (Public Transit)£7CAD31
Madame Trousseau's Wax Museum (£14 fast track at 5pm)£14CAD62
Maroush London-CAD50
London Pass (2 Day Pass)
- HMS Belfast (£9.95 / person)
- Tower Bridge Exhibition (£5.50 / person)
- Tower of London (£16 / person)
- Catamaran (Thames River) Cruisers (£9.95 / person)
- London Aquarium (Adult £10.75 Child £7.25)
- QUEENS Bowling or Ice Skating (£9 / person)
- Windsor Castle (£13.50 / person)
- Kensington Palace and the Orangery (£12 / person)
- Travel Card (Public Transit) included 		£57CAD251
(+ CAD32 for Kids @ London Aquarium)
Shopping, Souvernirs and Other IncidentalsEXTRACAD100
TOTAL LONDON (3 - 4 NIGHTS)£143CAD1098
 
 
TOTAL BUDGET AND EXPENDITURE£650*CAD8874**
Exchange Rate: 1 GBP = 2.2 CAD
*Budget for 1 adult exluding air fare
**Budget and Expense is for 2 Adults and 2 Children
To view full Budget and Expenses in MS Excel , CLICK HERE.

We're going to London!!!


Copyright Azroy Kandan 2007

Last Updated: 2 July 2007