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Post by efliernz on Aug 7, 2017 10:03:54 GMT 12
Well I'm thinking of dropping in next year as part of my 50th birthday wander.
Question time to those that have already been. I'm in Wisconsin the previous week and traveling to the Netherlands around the date of the airshow. How hard is it to arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick early am... and public-travel / train to Cambridge or Royston Stations (to get the shuttle bus) to get to the show? I'm traveling solo.
It looks like public travel is a nightmare if I stayed for the twilight show so I'm unsure whether I try to find local accomodation (probably booked out already) or take the public bus/train to Stanstead on the show evening for a night-flight to Amsterdam.
Opinions here guys please. Obviously a year away but we all know how fast cheap fares and accomodation disappears!
Btw - yes I will return to Wisconsin for that 'other show' at the end of July...
Pete
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Post by skyhawkdon on Aug 7, 2017 10:13:01 GMT 12
Have you considered getting a rental car at the airport and driving to Duxford? Much less hassle than using public transport I would suggest.
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Post by delticman on Aug 7, 2017 10:24:36 GMT 12
Well I'm thinking of dropping in next year as part of my 50th birthday wander. Question time to those that have already been. I'm in Wisconsin the previous week and traveling to the Netherlands around the date of the airshow. How hard is it to arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick early am... and public-travel / train to Cambridge or Royston Stations (to get the shuttle bus) to get to the show? I'm traveling solo. It looks like public travel is a nightmare if I stayed for the twilight show so I'm unsure whether I try to find local accomodation (probably booked out already) or take the public bus/train to Stanstead on the show evening for a night-flight to Amsterdam. Opinions here guys please. Obviously a year away but we all know how fast cheap fares and accomodation disappears! Btw - yes I will return to Wisconsin for that 'other show' at the end of July... Pete |
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Post by delticman on Aug 7, 2017 10:45:55 GMT 12
Now I've just spent two and half months in the UK so I've a pretty good idea of how the trains work and the best way to get to Duxford.
By car even on a week day it can be a hassle. I went from Oakham to Old Warden (ok) Old Warden to Duxford (really busy thru Royston- I could have done with a second person navigating. Duxford to Oakham at leaving at 1830, a nightmare on the motorway system. Took Ninety minutes to get back.
In 1985, I went to an air show at Duxford and went by train from London/ Liverpool Street to Whittlesford on the line to Cambridge. From there it was a thirty minute walk to the Air Show entrance. There was a footpath on the busy main road. I would say there is a local bus but on a fine day, the walk is good.
Now the above rail line goes past Stanstead. Trains north out of Stanstead may only have the first stop at Cambridge. This may be ok to go back but most of the Cambridge-London trains now go to Kings Cross.
If you were to fly into London Heathrow, it's a 15 minute train ride to Paddington, plenty of accommodation around there. In the morning Circle Line from Edgeware Road to Liverpool Street Network Rail. A flight in to Gatwick is 30 minutes + on the train and then that's into Victoria and then a few changes on the underground/tube to get to Liverpool Street.
There is plenty of websites on rail time tables but best is google, "London/Liverpool Street to Whittlesford". The only possible problem is engineering works but they run replacement bus services.
If you decide rail might be the best, pre-purchase your rail tickets. On the day is rather expensive.
You might even have to pre purchase your air show ticket. Quite a lot of events are sold out before the day.
Best of luck.
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Post by delticman on Aug 7, 2017 10:49:11 GMT 12
opps
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Post by efliernz on Aug 7, 2017 11:04:20 GMT 12
Exactly the sort of stuff I wanted to hear - many thanks. I'll do some planning but I'm aware that we are likely to 'do the UK' in a year of two and it may be easier to hold-off this time. It is a lot of hassle for a weekend!
I am spoilt in Wisconsin... my twin (who happens to be turning 50 too) is 20 miles from OSH in Fond-du-Lac. Rather convenient lol.
I do know there is so much to see around that area in the UK that making it a quick stop-off isn't an ideal use of time and resources.
Many thanks again... Pete (brain going around and around....)
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Aug 7, 2017 23:53:06 GMT 12
Hey Pete, I'm in the early planning stages to return there next year. Unfortunately Flying Legends clashes with RIAT (happens every second year due to Farnborough Airshow). Accommodation around Cambridge is already filling up but still deals to be had but I wouldn't wait too long... Booked mine yesterday. Hint: go through Booking.com or similar and grab a place now & chose the option for free cancellation up to a week prior to the stay. I have only booked accomodation for places near to the 4 airshows we are attending but each are filling fast and this option means you are locked in early with no deposit & an exit strategy if your plans change. Seriously consider doing Duxford on the Friday & Saturday then heading over to Fairford that evening (just over 2hrs drive) to see RIAT. It is the RAF's main airshow and remember 2018 is the 100th anniversary of the RAF so I expect it will be a bobby-dazzler  I'm flying in on the 6th and going to the RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day on the 7th, Flying Legends on the 13th (not sure what we'll see that day but at least the museum) & the 14th, then RIAT on Sunday 15th and lastly Farnborough on Saturday 21st then flying home on the Sunday. The 2 weeks between the shows will be spend crawling about as many museums, old airfields, pubs and things of military interest as we can squeeze in  Oh and we are going by rental car. All the best with your planning! |
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Post by suthg on Aug 9, 2017 12:02:20 GMT 12
11SQNLDR - I did much the same thing in 2015 but included Formula 1 at Silverstone the week before Flying Legends! Had already visited Yeovilton to view the Museum but not an airshow/open day. While down that neck of the woods, a trip to Solent Sky Museum is very interesting (yes there is a full Short Sandringham there ex RAF Sunderland MkIII, TEAL & ANSETT etc, ZK-AMH - I think at one stage) and the Portsmouth dockyards. - Victory and other vessels of note. Cambridge is not too far away from Bomber County of Lincolnshire and the two Lancasters... I am likely heading over to UK again in July 2018 mainly to catch up with my son & partner now in Glasgow to play rugby for two seasons. Not sure of it will tie in with anything aviation...  Graeme
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Post by Bruce on Aug 9, 2017 20:55:23 GMT 12
Another tip that I found useful when I visited in 2013 - over airshow weekend accommodation in Cambridge is very scarce. You can however book a room in a University hall of residence using universityrooms.com .The Airshow is held during term break, so there are plenty of very tidy rooms available for very little. Also, if staying in Cambridge, don't expect to be able to drive into the town centre to get a meal - There's no parking nearby and every street is really narrow and crowded. I developed pretty bad blisters from standing around on hot tarmac at the Air show (all the nice grass sitting spots were taken up by people with big windbreak / sunshades) so the walk into town was unfortunately quite unpleasant. make sure you take appropriate footwear! I had a rental car, but used the park and ride airshow bus service from the transport centre by the Motorway - that worked really well and reduced queueing significantly.
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Post by planecrazy on Aug 10, 2017 8:13:53 GMT 12
May work in with a Europe holiday we are thinking about next year and if the boss lady approves!
Couple of questions, are the gold passes worth it? Based on the 2017 price they will be around
$255.00 aud for the two days. A lot of money but I'm thinking this will be once in a life time and
from all reports this show can be very crowded. I'm keen on getting some photos and thinking
the gold passes extra accessibility would make seeing the aeroplanes a lot easier?
Finally on that question of crowds because this show will clash with RIAT would I be correct in
assuming Flying Legends may not be as well attended people wise?
Thank you.
PS One more question, hire car looks like the way to go transport wise will be staying in Kent near
Ramsgate from what I can see they have a drive, park then bus service for gold pass holders?
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Post by Gavin Conroy on Aug 10, 2017 19:28:11 GMT 12
To answer a few questions, I agree with Don hire a rental and drive, Heathrow is not too bad if you arrive early in the morning, I ended up there at 12.00pm this year and a lot of aircraft arrive at that time so quite a while getting through customs mainly due to so many people who were not fluent in English but that is all part of it and the drive isn't too bad getting to Duxford, more of a headache getting back though.
As for Duxford, have a look online and book into the Holiday Inn Express on Station Rd which is a two minute drive from Duxford.
I was given some Goldpass tickets to Legends this year and they were quite good and yes it can be a crowded show if the weather is good but you can get good photos of top side passes from nearly anywhere on the airfield.
I doubt RIAT will have an impact on legends, I went to both this year and to make it easy on yourself you need to be at RIAT very early in the morning and get in the que and wait until opening time.
Duxford is a lot easier in my opinion so people will naturally gravitate there and I doubt the crowd number would be down when RIAT is on for the reasons I mention and due to the fact that the shows are so much different.
I enjoyed both shows equally, Duxford was far more user friendly though, the RIAT crowd is huge and fortunately I had good access.
Would post some photos if photo bucket still worked :-(
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Post by planecrazy on Sept 13, 2017 7:22:12 GMT 12
Thank you Gavin great tips.
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Post by apteryx on Sept 13, 2017 13:11:35 GMT 12
I went to the Flying Legends at Duxford in 2013 and it was a fantastic show. I was staying with a friend about an hour's drive away and traffic to and from wasn't too bad. Our trick for getting away was to watch the first part of the final mass flypast (Balbo) from our spot on a grassy bank, move to the carpark for the second mass flypast, and leave before the individual group swoops (as we'd seen most of them anyway). There was no congestion on the roads as we left. Next year I'm leading a tour on the theme of Britain's transport heritage that includes Flying Legends at Duxford, and have posted this in the Forum marketplace: A boutique tour company in Hamilton, Calder & Lawson Tours, will next year be taking a tour focussing on Britain's transport heritage: Trains and boats and planes. It kicks off with the Flying Legends Airshow at RAF Duxford on 7 July 2018. Other aviation visits include the Solent Sky Museum in Southampton, Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. A free day in London would allow a visit to the RAF Museum at Hendon. |
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Post by planecrazy on Sept 13, 2017 15:44:42 GMT 12
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Post by apteryx on Oct 5, 2017 9:30:14 GMT 12
Sorry, the link was to an earlier draft itinerary. The correct itinerary is now here. |
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flyingpom
Flying Officer
Their finest hour
Posts: 65
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Post by flyingpom on Nov 20, 2017 18:19:52 GMT 12
Easy option for Shuttleworth Military Pageant, Flying Legends and RIAT is to join the Bomber County 100 tour www.aviationtoursnz.com |
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flyingpom
Flying Officer
Their finest hour
Posts: 65
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Post by flyingpom on Nov 30, 2017 7:47:43 GMT 12
If anyone is going to Legends and wants to hook up with our group for the day on Sunday you are welcome. We will be staying at the Gonville Hotel and if you can get there in the morning we will be happy to take you on our coach and drop you off. Or you can use the free airshow shuttle from Cambridge station.
We have Gold Passes and always do. We think the money is well spent because there is shelter in the marquee if it is too hot or rains, private access to the flight line and seating (not grandstand). We will be at RIAT on the Saturday so again if anyone is staying in Chelmsford and wants transport, let me know. Happy to help if you have any other questions too, we have taken our groups for the last 8 years.
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Post by planecrazy on Nov 30, 2017 8:39:55 GMT 12
If anyone is going to Legends and wants to hook up with our group for the day on Sunday you are welcome. We will be staying at the Gonville Hotel and if you can get there in the morning we will be happy to take you on our coach and drop you off. Or you can use the free airshow shuttle from Cambridge station. We have Gold Passes and always do. We think the money is well spent because there is shelter in the marquee if it is too hot or rains, private access to the flight line and seating (not grandstand). We will be at RIAT on the Saturday so again if anyone is staying in Chelmsford and wants transport, let me know. Happy to help if you have any other questions too, we have taken our groups for the last 8 years. I will be keen to catch up as it's looking like a go for me, thank you wife, wondering how you managed to snag gold passes, from the research I have done you can't buy tickets until January? PS. I do have a couple of questions re transport if this is not stretching the friendship? I will have a hire car and driving from Kent, Ramsgate, yes it is my intention to rise real early and get there early. From what I can work out if you purchase a gold pass you get parking at the show, or close to but wondering if it would be better to park away from the show and catch one of the buses you suggest, from what I can make out the traffic can be a nightmare? Thank you....... |
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flyingpom
Flying Officer
Their finest hour
Posts: 65
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Post by flyingpom on Dec 4, 2017 5:37:58 GMT 12
Great that you are coming, we'll look forward to spending some of the day with you. Just get your ticket online when they are available. They don't sell out that quickly. That's going to be a very long day though. Its a couple of hours from Ramsgate minimum and then traffic into the site maybe half an hour. Do you want to give me a ring for a chat? There is lots of aviation stuff to see in Kent if you can fit anything in, my number is on the website www.aviationtoursnz.com |
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Post by planecrazy on Dec 4, 2017 15:22:52 GMT 12
Thank for the tips I am grateful.
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