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| I am planning a trip to the UK in the end of February, and I have never been. The sole purpose for my trip is to film both Bedford, and Airkix for my documentary on VWTs. I want to stay in a nice place as I will be bringing my production assistant (girlfriend) and would like to keep her as well as myself nice and cozy while we sleep(no Tents . So I guess what I am asking for is some helpful tips? Where to stay, and the easiest way to travel between the two tunnels? I mean easy cuz I never been there, and will have no idea where I am at. Oh yeah also, where should we fly into? Thanks in advance for the input!
Shane Tully
WindWorX Productions
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The Boss
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Last Login: 23/10/2007 12:58:29
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| Hi Shane
Are you going to be JUST visiting our wind tunnels or doing a bit of sight seeing whilst you're over here too?
Airkix (Milton Keynes) and Bedford (erm, at Bedford) are just 18 miles apart from each other, but this journey takes about 40 minutes by car - it's not a "straight journey". Bedford is the furthest North and the furthest away from an Airport.
Where are you flying in from - are you coming in straight from the USA and if so from which airport?
Exactly how many days do you plan on staying?
Give me a few more specifics and I'll help you plan it if you want.
The closest airports to Milton Keynes can be found at this web site.
http://www.upmystreet.com/local/transport/airports/l/Milton+Keynes.html
regards
James
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| | I can recommend a really nice, typically English, pub/hotel that is adjacent to Bodyflight Bedford. It is the Queens Head hotel in Milton Ernest. http://www.queenshead-miltonernest.com/ their email address is 6495@greeneking.co.uk and their telephone number is +44 01234 822 412. The hotel is really easy to find as it is on the A6 just North of Bedford. If you mention Bodyflight when booking you get a reduced rate of £65 per night. The food is excellent and the bar is really friendly. |
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| James, nice!! Thank you! Here are your answers:
Are you going to be JUST visiting our wind tunnels or doing a bit of sight seeing whilst you're over here too?
Mostly Just a tunnel trip. Maybe a day of sightseeing if I can pull myself away.
Airkix (Milton Keynes) and Bedford (erm, at Bedford) are just 18 miles apart from each other, but this journey takes about 40 minutes by car - it's not a "straight journey". Bedford is the furthest North and the furthest away from an Airport.
So how should I travel? Rent a car? Are there trains we could take?
Where are you flying in from - are you coming in straight from the USA and if so from which airport?
Orlando Intll
Exactly how many days do you plan on staying?
5-7 Days.
What about Hotels, and advice on that? Thanks a lot for your input in advance! This will help me a bunch! If you are around when I am there, i would love to fly with you at some point, maybe even both places!
Shane Tully
WindWorX Productions
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The Boss
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Last Login: 23/10/2007 12:58:29
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| Shane
I don't know if you've sorted flights out yet, but this is what I recommend.
Go Virgin Atlantic, great planes, direct flights, no changes. Flight length should be about 8 hours and when you get here you won't be exhausted.
If you book NOW you should be able to get Orlando to London Heathrow for about $530 a ticket.
You can get cheaper .. but probably only by $50 or so .. and the journey will take another 5 hours. It's not worth it. http://www.virgin-atlantic.com
> So how should I travel? Rent a car? Are there trains we could take?
If you think you are likely to want to nip between the 2 tunnels frequently then yes hire the cheapest car you can. There may be people around to help you get between the two, but if you are with your partner then you will appreciate the flexibility your own car can bring. Bedford is an amazing, amazing tunnel but whilst I appreciate you are here on a tunnel trip you might find that it's a little bit isolated and a car would free you from that. There are always people about but I think it's too hit and miss as to whether someone will have time to ferry you about when you want.
Rent a car at Heathrow Airport and return it at the end of your journey.
If you are committed to spending X many days at one tunnel and x many days at another, and don't think you'll want to drive much between the two - you could probably get away without the car, but if you're anything like me you'll want to do whatever takes your fancy at any given moment in time.
> What about Hotels, and advice on that?
Bedford now has it's own accomodation I think, they have rooms there (paulipod on here might want to confirm that, I could be wrong) and you might find that is a good cheap option for a couple of days. However, I personally would stay in one of the nearby hotels. One thing you need to be aware of, is that our hotels do not offer the same level of value as those in USA and with the exchange rate as it is even staying a week could prove quite expensive.
I stayed in this hotel the other night http://www.corushotels.co.uk/hotel.asp?hotelID=43, it was pretty good (not amazing) and cost $70 per night. It was 15 mins from Bodyflight Bedford and about 25 mins from Airkix. I went to both tunnels quite comfortably from the hotel. What level of comfort and flexibility do you want? There are a few accomodation options .. what type of thing are you looking for?
J |
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| We do indeed have rooms at Bedford, they are bunk rooms, so its up to you if thats where you would like to take your girlfriend!! Like James said though, you might well be better off in a hotel for that much time.
I agree in that you are probably best off hiring a car if you can, the cost of trains everywhere will very quickly add up to the cost of hiring a car (they aren't that cheap here) and its nice to have the extra flexibility!!
The bedford to milton keynes journey is not too hard, Fabien managed it and he doesn't drive on the correct side of the road either!!  |
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| Dave, and Cloudfall,
Thank you both for your answers I am getting more excited about my trip everyday. I think we will stay in a hotel. James I will check out that one you gave me the link to. I am thinking renting the car would be the best as well. As far as the hotel goes, I don't need anything much, and would LIVE at the tunnel under a staircase if possible, but my girl on the other hand wouldn't be having that. So we nee some decent accomodations Clean, Private bathrooms. Stuff like that no 5 star, but 3 or 4 would be cool with her. Thanks for all of your helpo guys! Keep all advice coming!!
Shane Tully
WindWorX Productions
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The Boss
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Last Login: 23/10/2007 12:58:29
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| Well, you let me know when you're getting here and I will take a few days off work and come meet up and fly with you.
Good times.
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