Reply With QuoteUse the tube, traffic is shocking in London you'll spend most of you're time sat in a cab, not moving and paying for it!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Later this year there will be 24 of us heading to London for a weekend of birthday and stag celebrations.
Rather than wasting valuable time walking between various venues one thought is to hire a minibus with driver who can be on call to ferry us around as required. Using the likes of Uber for 4 large cabs each journey has the potential to be a bit of a nightmare depending on the availability of vehicles and I imagine the fares will soon rack up.
Can anyone recommend a minibus company in the London area (we'll be based at Angel/Islington) where you can book a vehicle for a set length of time say between 8pm & 2am on a Fri and Sat night?
Thanks
Use the tube, traffic is shocking in London you'll spend most of you're time sat in a cab, not moving and paying for it!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Take a look at limo service they charge by time.
You'll spend more time in taxi than in pub,one day you could do circle line,get off at every stop and go to nearest pub for a drink,there's about 30 stops I think
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Whereabouts in London are these venues? If they're all central london/west end then i certainly wouldnt bother with a minibus as most places should be within walking distance or a tube ride. Its also a nightmare finding parking so not sure where your minibus will wait as you lot get legless.
Angel/Islington itself has loads of decent pubs and bars on Upper Street.
24 people you'd need two mini buses
We always do this in Vegas for the evenings, hire a stretch limo or hummer and keep them on hand (10/15 mins notice) and it works a treat. Price wise very good between 12/14 people. So I like your idea, however just not sure it's practical or financially sensible in London.
On the Fri night we'd be looking at for example from the hotel over to Brick Lane which looks like Angel to Old St on the tube then a walk which I reckon could take up to 45 mins in total.Originally Posted by Casper
Most I could find was up to 16 in a stretch Hummer, we'll have 24.
Liverpool st, Aldgate or Aldgate East are all better for brick lane than old st station. Depending where you are planning on eating.
I could easily see your 45 estimation in a bus sat in London traffic,
Hmmm I'm getting the impression this idea may not be one of my best. I think it's back to the drawing board on this one.
Why not put up your groups itinary and I'm sure those of us with local knowledge can chip in.
Here's what we're thinking so far, nothing is set in stone and we're most definitely open to suggestions:
Fri afternoon, drop the bags at the hotel then stay local. Pubs such as The Castle, Craft Beer Co, Brewhouse, anything in that general area really.
Back to the hotel, shower changed then a couple of drinks in the hotel lounge. Probably look to head out again 7.30 - 8.00pm ish.
Fri night, there are a couple of options to start. Either head straight over to Brick Ln for a curry or head to the Bavarian Bar down near Old St where we could have food. From there we'd look to head to another pub or 2 ideally ending up on Shoreditch High St around midnight.
Sat late morning/afternoon we quite like the sound of the Swingers crazy golf place down near The Gherkin and also something like Flight Club for an hour or 2.
Sat night, this is proving the tricky one at the minute. We've looked at an organised pub crawl round Shoreditch which sounded ok. We want to find somewhere lively to end the night such and have looked at places such as the O2 Islington or Piccadilly Institute . The age range of our group will be from mid 30's through to late 50's but there's still life in the old dogs yet.
If you're heading to Shoreditch, make sure you are all clean shaven and wearing clothes that suit the occasion. That way, later in the evening you'll be easier to spot in a crowd of Tramp bearded, waistcoat wearing hipsters.
Here's a few pub crawls I've been on. Might give you a taster for your Friday, they are almost all good old pubs back to the 1500's in a few cases.
But being close to the city many wouldn't be open Saturday making Friday afternoon prime time to sample the City.
There are a bunch of places to eat around Smithfield and Fabric for clubbing if thats your want, or the City of London East to Brick Lane Pub Crawl gets you back to Brick Lane for curry.
If you find yourself in or around Brick Lane and need a snack, try the 24 hour brick lane beigel bake at the Bethnal Green Road end on your way to Shoreditch where there are a bunch of late night spots I believe.
London Bridge / Borough Market Pub Crawl
A short pub crawl that has no more than 2min between pubs so offers pleanty of scope to dip in or out as time allows, Borough Market is a great foodie market and allows you to grab some food on the hoof as needed.
London Bridge is a couple of stops on the tube for Angel and easy to get back to Liverpool Street via Moorgate, if you want to get direct to Brick Lane.
London Bridge Station.
Bunch of Grapes 2 St Thomas Street,*London SE1 9RS www.bunchofgrapesborough.com
BARROW BOY AND BANKER 8 Borough High St,SE1 9QQ www.barrowboy-and-banker.co.uk/
THE OLD THAMESIDE Pickfords Wharf, Clink St, SE1 9DG www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/
THE RAKE 14 Winchester Walk, SE1 9AG www.utobeer.co.uk/the-rake/
THE MARKET PORTER 9 Stoney St, SE1 9AA www.markettaverns.co.uk/
THE SHEAF 24A Southwark St, SE1 1TY http://sheaf.london/
THE SOUTHWARK TAVERN 22 Southwark St, SE1 1TU www.thesouthwarktavern.co.uk/
THE GEORGE INN The George Inn Yard, 77 Borough High St, SE1 1NH www.george-southwark.co.uk/
THE OLD KINGS HEAD King's Head Yard, SE1 1NA www.theoldkingshead.uk.com/
London Bridge Station.
Map: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.50...htTom8LA?hl=en
City of London Pub Crawl
This crawl has longer between pubs but only a max of ten mins walk, going through the hart of the City of London ending up in the Smithfield market area, Smithfield Meat Market is the only remaining working old market in London, has plenty of food options at the Smithfield end and offers Fabric and other late ish bars if you end up here.
Short ride on the tube form Angel to Bank to start and then Chancery Lane Station to Liverpool St for Brick Lane or change at Bank to get back to Angel.
Bank Station
Jamaica Wine House St Michael's Alley, London EC3V 9DS http://www.jamaicawinehouse.co.uk/
The Williamsons Tavern 1 Groveland Ct, London EC4M 9EH, UK https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/res...andcourtlondon
The Blackfriar 174 Queen Victoria St, London EC4V 4EG, UK http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/rest...slondon/findus
The Viaduct Tavern 126 Newgate St, London EC1A 7AA, UK www.viaducttavern.co.uk
Hand & Shears Hand & Shears, 1 Middle St, London EC1A 7JA, UK
Ye Olde Mitre 1 Ely Pl, London EC1N 6SJ, UK http://www.yeoldemitreholborn.co.uk/
Cittie of Yorke 22 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BN, UK
Chancery Lane Station Central Line to Liverpool Street and walk to Brick Lane
Map: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RV...NQ&usp=sharing
Smithfield Market Pub Crawl
A version on the City of London crawl that cuts out the city, focusing on Smithfield and adding some extra pubs, all of the benefits of the above but with less time between pubs 2-3 mins max, some of my personal faves on this one!
Same return options.
St Pauls Station
The Viaduct Tavern 126 Newgate St, London EC1A 7AA, UK www.viaducttavern.co.uk
Hand & Shears Hand & Shears, 1 Middle St, London EC1A 7JA, UK
The Fox and Anchor 115 Charterhouse Street London EC1M 6AA http://www.foxandanchor.com/
The Old Red Cow 71 Long Ln, London EC1A 9EJ http://theoldredcow.com/
The Hope 94 Cowcross Street, Smithfields, London, London, EC1M 6BH http://www.thehopesmithfield.co.uk/index
Ye Olde Mitre 1 Ely Pl, London EC1N 6SJ, UK http://www.yeoldemitreholborn.co.uk/
Cittie of Yorke 22 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BN, UK
Old Red Lion, Holborn 72 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS
Holborn Station
Map: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1dQ...6I&usp=sharing
City of London East to Brick Lane Pub Crawl
Another city of London based crawl but this time heading east towards Brick Lane, haven't done this one for a while but all good solid pubs and the bonus of finishing on Brick Lane.
Bank Station
Jamaica Wine House St Michael's Alley, London EC3V 9DS http://www.jamaicawinehouse.co.uk/
Lamb Tavern 10-12 Leadenhall Market, London EC3V 1LR, UK www.lambtavernleadenhall.com
East India Arms 67 Fenchurch St, London EC3M 4BR, UK www.eastindiaarms.co.uk
The Ship 3 Hart St, London EC3R 7NB, UK http://www.shipec3.co.uk/
The Cheshire Cheese 48 Crutched Friars, London EC3N 2AP, UK http://www.greatukpubs.co.uk/cheshirecheeselondon
Three Tuns 36 Jewry St, London EC3N 2ET, UK www.threetunsec3n.co.uk
The Peacock 41 Minories, London EC3N 1DT, UK
The Hoop & Grapes 47 Aldgate High St, London EC3N 1AL, UK http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/rest...saldgatelondon
The Williams Ale & Cider House 22-24 Artillery Ln, Whitechapel, London E1 7LS, UK http://www.williamsspitalfields.com/gallery
The Pride of Spitalfields 3 Heneage St, London E1 5LJ, UK
Map: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1s3...dA&usp=sharing
Hope that this helps a bit...
hopefully not too late but avoid Brick Lane for a curry. It really is a tourist trap. they harass you to the point of running after you, offer you x+1 (where x= what the next door place offered you!) Cobras and after all that the quality is pretty dire.
Dishooms in Shoreditch is very good. They take bookings for parties over 6. very nice grub a bit pricer than the norm but worth it imo. but it does get busy http://www.dishoom.com/shoreditch/
or Tayyabs in Whitechapel a bit further East but very tasty and good value and BYO. Their sizzling platter of tandoori chicken, lamb chops and sheek kebabs are so nice! http://tayyabs.co.uk/
Very popular
Thanks for the advice guys, any more sugggestions for Stag activities over that end of town are more than welcome.
Avoid the piccadilly institute at all costs.
I spend most weekends in Soho ( heading there in 20 mins) and the Institute is full of idiots, none aged over 25 years old. .
I come past about 2-3am and it's carnage outside.
I'm a member of an old school private drinking club in the very heart of Soho, unfortunately there's too many of you to sign in. Shame as the drinks are are only £2.50 each.
You are Jeffrey Bernard* and I claim my £5.
*Are you well?
Are we talking full on pitch battle in the street type carnage or drunken, stumbling gibberish type carnage?
Posting Permissions