Great Britain 2010

Guidebook corrections:

Please note: The following corrections were submitted by readers and have not yet been confirmed by Rick. Check updates from Rick for the latest.

In October 2009, the Apsley House (Wellington Museum) in London was open 11am to 5pm, not 10am to 4pm. The nearby Wellington Arch, however, continues to open at 10 or 10:30, I believe.

Matt L. in Arlington, VA USA 10/21/2009

Travel Guard does not provide CDW insurance for rental cars for residents of Texas.

Laurel Casas in Round Rock, TX USA 10/05/2009

Unfortunately, City Sightseeing no longer operates a hop-on, hop-off tour in Stirling. http://www.stirling.co.uk/localservices/bustours.htm

Christine Dabrowski in Spring Valley, CA USA 09/18/2009

Some tour and museum prices were off but we imagine that is unavoidable.

Cadenhead's Whiskey shop has changed and doesn't give tastings anymore but we are guessing you know that because one of your editors came into the store while my husband was getting his whiskey education.

Pam Davis in Chicago, Il USA 08/08/2009

78 St. Vincent Street in Glasgow is no longer an eatery that specializes in British cuisine. It now serves Italian and is called "Paperino's".

Valerie Brodie in Coventry, CT USA 07/25/2009

Great Britiain, 2009: p 444 Ewe-Phoria Sheepdog Show, near Ruthin, North Wales: This attraction is temporarily closed. The owner is "having troubles with his voicebox" and is unable to speak. He is arranging for a friend to take over the public presentations in August.

Jeff Weber in Madison, WI USA 07/04/2009

The National Gallery in London is no longer open extended hours on Tuesday evening. I believe it's now Friday.

The most important website for public transport in Britain is traveline, which you mention, although you don't sufficient emphasize it. But you have the web site wrong. It isn't www.traveline.co.uk, which is some squatter website. It's www.traveline.info or www.traveline.org.uk, take your pick.

There were other web pages which were incorrect. It's time for a re-check.

Ethan Solomita in San Francisco, CA USA 05/30/2009

I have tried multiple times via email and telephone to reach the Forth House in Warwick England and never received any reply or response to the voicemails that I've left. This is from your 2007 book, so maybe they're already gone, but if not you should consider dropping them.

Ron Martin in Schlossborn, Germany 03/11/2009

Aonach Mor in Edinburgh has now changed hands, but still offers the same deals as before, and the trademark friendliness and standards are still there!

Chris King in San Diego, CA USA 12/02/2008

The Indian restaurant, Kyber Pass, is gone. This restaurant was on Bute Street near South Kensington Tube Station. In the same space is now a wine bar. However, a Thai place, Bangkok, is on the same side of the street and it is good and inexpensive--nice young and attentive staff.

Susan Jennings in At, USA 11/08/2008

We got utterly confused finding our hotel, The Holly Vita Guest House, in Bath. Another couple at our hotel was also using the same guest book and had the same problem. It's just off the map, and you might want to consider expanding the map a little to include this and the other hotels on the same street.

Shane Day in Seattle, WA USA 10/13/2008

A few corrections for the coming year would just be typical price increases. The Tower of London and City Sightseeing Buses were roughly $4 higher than listed per person. This was in Edinburgh as well. But these fluctuations should be anticipated.

Robyn Zicker in Forest Hill, MD USA 10/10/2008

The Goya Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar in London, and receommended in Great Britain 2008, has closed. It has been replaced with a Bistro style restaurant, but I neglected to note the name. We decided not to try it as the menu seemed a bit expensive.

Pat Best in Kingston, ON Canada 10/04/2008

I have the 2007 guidebook so it may have already been changed but Hotelink for London has changed its name and phone number. The new phone number is 44-0-845-368-2368. There is a Gatwick Express train from Victoria Station and I suppose to Victoria Station from the airport. It is very slick, has adequate luggage racks and takes a half an hour. It also accepts the BritRail pass.

Catherine McNabb in Port Townsend, WA USA 09/13/2008

The Scotish Tourist Board now charges 4 Pounds to book a room. Considering they spent 20 minutes on the phone finding an open room in Oban, I thought it was a good deal.

Mark Walker in Turlock, CA USA 08/30/2008

Winchester Hotel in London is no longer owned by the family listed and on the web site. The on-site staff told us it had been sold two years ago. the foreign-born staff was not particularly knowledgeable about the area, restaurants, etc.

Joan Anderson in Federal Way, WA USA 08/25/2008

Gill Brow Inn is listed as "rough" - yes the farm is, but not the house. It's immaculate cozy and charming. But the drive there is somewhat unnerving - winding, single lane road up on a ridge.

And PLEASE note that driving can be nerve-wracking because street signs are so hard to find.

Susan Armstrong in St. Paul, MN USA 08/24/2008

As of May, the Queen Anne's Guest House in York seems to be under different ownership than listed in the 2008 guide and is for sale. Quality may have suffered--our ensuite bathroom needed real attention to cleanliness and renovation.

Elizabeth in Minneapolis, MN USA 05/19/2008

We just came back from Great Britain & had a wonderful trip! When we went to Stonehenge, we found out that there is no longer the option to take Public Bus #3 from Salisbury to Stonehenge - they stopped that service 2 months ago. The only bus service is the Stonehenge Tour already mentioned in the book. Later that day we ate lunch in Salisbury at Reeve the Baker. Food was excellent! However, when it came time to pay, they ONLY accepted credit cards that had "chip & pin". We explained how frustrating this was - that's not widely used technology in the US yet. We've been to over 80 countries and this is the first time we've ever encountered this. We had to go down the street to an ATM to get cash to pay our bill. Just wanted readers to be aware.

Jamie Wallace in Fayetteville, GA USA 05/06/2008

According to its website, the Turret Guest House in Edinburgh is currently operating a reduced service and will be closing for good in May.

Rob in Victoria, BC Canada 03/23/2008

I just got an e-mail from the Belford Guest House in Edinburgh. His (Tom Borthwick's) business is now closed.

Monica in Simsbury, CT USA 03/05/2008

I was given the 2006 book by some departing Australians - as a Londoner living in Wales I've never celebrated All Saints' Day / November 1st in Britain (see page 505. The book is useful but there are many more interesting and beautiful places than just those listed in it

Brenda in village of Gwernymynydd, Wales 11/01/2007

In Great Britain 2007, the opening hours for Eton College in Windsor need to be updated. They are currently closed until Easter 2008. Apparently they are only open during the summer.

S. Scruggs in Longmont, CO USA 10/18/2007

We have friends that live outside of London and grew up in Edinburgh. They assured us that "napkin" at a restaurant meant the paper or cloth used for meals and we don't need to say "serviette".

Lisa Lysack in Liverpool, NY USA 10/17/2007

It's 12 pounds to visit Parliament - I found no mention of that in the guidebook, just the fee for the guided tour.

Joanne in Fong, CA USA 10/04/2007

London: Tower of London tickets can not be purchased at Tower Hill Underground TI.

Bath: Custume has been called Fashion Museum for a while.

Bath: The $$ Prior House B & B was a big disappointment. Tired and barely fuctioning shower in the third floor.

Stow-on-the-Wold: The Pound is really well run place. Immaculate and toughful touches like bottled waters in the room.

Young Heinbockel in Swarthmore, PA USA 08/30/2007

the buses to the b&bs on dalkeith do not stop in front of the disney store across from the ti. we were told by the bus driver that we were going the wrong way and had to get off and cross the street to catch the correct one.

Aimee in Oakland, CA USA 08/26/2007

Great Britain book, page 360 - Penrith to London by train - we tried to get to Lonodn on a Sunday by 3:00pm and couldn't do it. Had to change our itinerary and go to Durham to catch a train to London.

Kathie Roon in Marysville, WA USA 08/06/2007

There's no other place besides the Toy Store that's left renting bikes in the Cotswolds.

Sharon in Pasadena , CA USA 07/01/2007

We stayed at the Bakers Hotel in London (p. 127 of your 2007 book) and discovered that the breakfast is not "full", more like continental, which was disappointing. Also our triple, ensuite room was £63 which is slighly higher than the range quoted in the guidebook. Nevertheless our room was clean and the beds comfortable and the locationis very convenient so I would still commend it to anyone who prefers tea and toast for breakfast.

Amy Ferguson in Toronto, ON Canada 06/20/2007

Madame Tussauds. As of June 2007 Madame Tussauds Waxworks in London is open 9:30 - 5:30, not 6:30. The ticket office was closed when we got there to take advantage of the lasty entry discount mentioned in the '07 book. According to the taped message on their answering machine price reductions are available at "quieter times" on the half hour but they don't tell you when that might be.

Big Bus Hop-on, Hop-off London Tours. With my RS tourbook in hand, we bought our Big Bus tickets from the seller just outside Victoria Station. He then directed us to walk up the street and turn left and wait for the bus there. When we got to the bus stop we were asked by another ticket seller if we needed tickets and spotting my RS book mentioned a discount. Too late...we had already bought from the guy around the corner at full price! So, next time we'll ask about a discount. Currently both Big Bus and Original London Bus Tours offer RS discounts.

Louellen Lawton in Fremont, CA USA 06/20/2007

FYI - I just contacted The Salisbury in Edinburgh - pages 455-6 in the '07 Great Britain guidebook - for accommodations and learned that the hotel is being refurbished and won't re-open till later in the year. The owners referred me to another of their properties in town which is called the MW Townhouse - www.mwtownhouse.co.uk

Kathy Lovin in Los Angeles, CA USA 05/31/2007

In Glen Coe, Scotland. The recommended B&B Mack-Leven did not seem to be accepting guests when we were there in April. We found the house but there was no sign or anyone to answer the door.

Mary Clark in Silverthorne, CO USA 05/17/2007

Two corrections:

1 - the Orangery at Kensington does not start serving tea until 3:00 p.m. The guidebook incorrectly states that tea is served from 1 - 5 p.m. Luckily, we had time to come back becuase the tea was terrific and a reasonable price!

2 - It should be noted that on evenings that the Victoria and Albert museum is open late, many of the galleries are closed at 5:30 p.m. The bigger galleries are the only ones that remain open. We missed getting to see the photography gallery and the collection of musical instruments because of this.

Marian in Seattle, WA USA 04/25/2007

In your guidebook, you recommended a road out of York that was more scenic. I believe it was the A19. However, when I drove the road, I discovered there was a large nuclear plant along the way - hardly scenic. You drive right past it, so it looms on the horizon and keeps getting bigger. You also see it on the train trip from Edinburgh to London. A giant six-pack of nuclear fusion. If not already removed, I would take out that recommendation. It was the only misstep in a terrific book.

[Editor's Note: It sounds like you saw Drax Power Station, south of York near the town of Selby. While it is not pretty to look at, you may be happy to hear that it is not nuclear-powered but is actually coal-fired. It is the largest provider of electricity in the UK and supposedly the cleanest and most efficient coal-fired power station in the UK.]

Jemma in Seattle, WA USA 04/02/2007

For the new GB 2007, the e-mail address for Gramarvin Guest House in Oban (page 492) is incorrect. I suspect it should end in co.uk like the website, not .com.

Dave in Richmond, VA USA 03/24/2007

In the section on The Cotswolds, near the Warwick Castle and Coventry section, the word "fornifications" should be "fortifications." We were traveling with our 4 children. I always read out loud the sections pertaining to the sights we are to see that day over breakfast. My teenager immediately caught the misprint as I was reading out loud the portion on Warwick Castle and burst out laughing - leaving her three younger siblings to wonder what was so funny. My in-laws enjoyed a good laugh over it too. We often take trips with several other families and our own extended family. We have all enjoyed the insights and travel tips that these books have provided us. Although in Rome, my friends did try to locate "Rick" (as these books are affectionately known in our group) in my room one night to hold him hostage. Perhaps too much narative that day for the crowd!

[Editor's Note: Actually, the spelling of "fornifications" is a deliberate joke and has been in our Great Britain book for many years. Kudos to you for catching it!]

Joan Blackwell in Zionsville, IN USA 03/11/2007

Page 424 of the 2006 Great Britain edition has a typo at the end of the first paragraph: (132 Causewayside, see "Scottish Grub and Pubs," page 424.) Should be see page 434-435.

Heidi Schwartz in Ocean, NJ USA 03/04/2007

The email address for Jan Metcalf at the Bed and Breakfast at #12 in Durham is not correct. I haven't figured out how to contact her through email yet. Just thought you would want to know!

Jennifer Herbison in Seattle, WA USA 01/28/2007