| TourEast London Travel Trade Update THE TOURISM VOICE OF EAST LONDON |
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September 2007
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Inside This Issue...FOCUS: Coach Potato Make it Easy to Visit East London Celebrating 20 Years of Docklands Light Railway Eurostar on the Move to St Pancras International Eastside Venue Guide Moves Online New Website for London Bridge Business Improvement District License to Wed at Canary Wharf Cutty Sark Restoration Resumes in September Despite £16 million Funding Shortage Christmas Village in Maritime Greenwich New Royal Arsenal Attractions Group Package Going Great Guns The Queen Mary Undercroft at the Old Royal Naval College Reopens Christmas at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich |
WelcomeDear ColleagueWelcome to the TourEast London Travel Trade Update packed with developments and destination news, plus reasons why you should be including east London product in your London packages. This edition features a focus on Coach Potato Tour Operators, Docklands Light Railway which celebrates its 20th birthday this year, The O2 and plenty of forthcoming events and updates across east London. This newsletter is sent to over 1,300 regional, national and international trade contacts, press, VisitBritain and Visit London. Use the contents menu on the left to browse articles in this newsletter, or simply scroll down the page. Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@visiteastlondon.co.uk. Recommend this newsletter to a colleague by telling them to send an email to info@visiteastlondon.co.uk with 'SUBSCRIBE TT NEWSLETTER' in the subject bar. Visit www.visiteastlondon.co.uk/grouptravel.html for all you need to know to plan a successful trip to London, from quirky attractions, colourful markets and great London icons to a range of coach parking and tour guide services Best Wishes TourEast London N.B. Should you not wish to receive news from TourEast London, please reply with 'UNSUBSCRIBE TRADE' in the subject line. |
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TourEast London Update Familiarisation Trips This summer, TourEast London worked with VLM airlines to host six corporate and agent familiarisation trips, visiting London City Airport, Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge Exhibition and the Pool of London, Maritime Greenwich and The O2. The fam trips provided an excellent opportunity to showcase partner products and revealed to the groups how accessible east London is by including travel by air, river, Docklands Light Railway and tube. 'Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for all your help with organising and leading such great educational trips for us. Without exception, all of my agents thoroughly enjoyed the visits (as I did) and were all impressed with what east London has to offer.' Paul Fletcher, VLM Airlines For further information about our programme of fam trips around World Travel Market, please contact Mary Tebje: Mary@visiteastlondon.co.uk ^ top ^ |
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Celebrating 20 Years of Docklands Light Railway
During the past two decades, DLR has grown from an 11-vehicle fleet serving 15 stations to an award-winning operation with 94 vehicles and 38 stations. DLR's network has successfully extended to Bank, Beckton, Lewisham and London City Airport. Passenger numbers have grown impressively and recently surpassed 60 million for the first time. DLR's accomplishments have been underpinned by a specific commitment to local regeneration and sustainability. The railways's extensions have been a major contributor to the ongoing renaissance of east London. Serco Docklands have proved instrumental in the success; since becoming the DLR operator in 1997 the railway's punctuality and dependability has increased significantly and now rates as the best in mainland UK.
Meanwhile DLR will play a critical role in the success of the 2012 Games as it will directly serve the Olympic Park and several competition venues. For further information please visit www.dlr.co.uk ^ top ^ |
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The O2 is Alive
Not forgetting performances in IndigO2 bringing diverse acts such as Jools Holland, Timbaland, Joss Stone and Natalie Cole who thrive in such close quarters with their audience. Even if you don't have tickets to a specific event at The O2, There is plenty to keep you entertained! Cinema Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of The Pharaohs Organised by National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, and sponsored by Credit Suisse, 'Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs' will be the first exhibition to take place in The O2’s 6500m2 exhibition centre, The O2 Bubble. Some of the treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb were last displayed in the UK in 1972 and attracted some 1.7 million visitors, setting travelling exhibition attendance records. The British Museum hosted the previous Tutankhamun exhibition and will once again participate in the new display, which will be housed in 11 different experiential galleries. Unique to the London exhibition will be a dedicated gallery to Howard Carter, the British archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb. For further information on exhibition ticket prices, restaurants and bars, the music and sports event schedule and travel information, visit www.Theo2.co.uk |
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Eurostar on the Move to St Pancras International
The move from Waterloo means journey times are at least 20 minutes faster, with London - Paris in just 2 hours 15 minutes, London - Brussels in 1 hour 51 minutes, and London – Lille in only 1 hour 20 minutes. Eurostar trains travel at 186mph – 50% faster than any other rail service in Britain. St Pancras International is the best connected station in London, with seven domestic rail operators serving St Pancras, King’s Cross and nearby Euston; and six underground lines including the Hammersmith & City and Northern, which both connect with the DLR and Jubilee lines to serve East London. Ebbsfleet International opens too
Stratford 2009 From 2009, high-speed domestic rail services will link Ebbsfleet, Stratford and St Pancras, making it even easier to connect between Eurostar and east London. Local Community Involvement
Eurostar are working with TourEast London to market the attractions of east London to continental visitors. With the opening of High Speed 1 and two new international stations, this vibrant part of the capital is even closer to mainland Europe. For further information visit the corporate website www.eurostar.com ^ top ^ |
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Eastside Venue Guide Moves Online
The new site will be found at www.londoneastside.co.uk and will contain listings of accommodation providers and venue services in the same way that the hard copy venue guide has in the past. There will no longer be a hard copy venue guide. Click here to download the current Eastside Venue Guide For further information contact Rob Ellwood: rob.ellwood@towerhamlets.gov.uk ^ top ^ |
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New Website for London Bridge Business Improvement District
• A brand new attraction – the London Bridge Experience – is due to open on the spookiest night of the year, Halloween! Located below London Bridge itself, visitors take a special effects tour through its breathtaking history before heading down to the London Tombs – a thrilling ride sited in the former tomb of a long-forgotten chapel. For more details about the London Bridge area and the London Bridge BID Company email marketing@londonbridgebid.co.uk ^ top ^ |
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License to Wed at Canary Wharf
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News from Lewisham Council New 'Secrets' Guides Launched!
Deptford Station is currently being redeveloped and a new arts and crafts market will be opening this month just off Deptford High Street. For further information contact jennifer.taylor@lewisham.gov.uk ^ top ^ |
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Cutty Sark Restoration Resumes in September Despite £16 million Funding Shortage
Cutty Sark had been a quarter of the way through a £25 million pounds conservation project and as such, half of the ship had been removed including the masts, coach houses, the beautifully panelled master’s saloon and the figurehead collection—the largest in the world—are all safely stored off-site. Significant amounts of planking were also removed and the bow end of the ship was largely unaffected with even the plastic webbing covering the scaffolding remaining intact.
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Christmas Village in Maritime Greenwich Maritime Greenwich, London’s Christmas Village, has an exciting programme of festive activities, exhibitions and events running through December into New Year 2008. Greenwich will take on a special festive atmosphere with open-air ice skating, shopping, twinkling fairy lights and decorations, a giant Christmas tree and visit by Santa Claus and his helpers. Visitors will be able to soak up the unique ambiance and join in a variety of events.
For further information call the Tourist Information Centre on 0870 608 2000 or visit www.greenwichwhs.org.uk. ^ top ^ |
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New Royal Arsenal Attractions Group Package Going Great Guns
To book a Royal Arsenal group visit please call 020 8855 7755 or email lorraineh@firepower.org.uk ^ top ^ |
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The refurbishment work has sensitively brought the space alive; the impressive architectural details including a vaulted ceiling and newly-stripped stone columns, are now complemented by light walls, a sleek low key bar, candelabras and light wood flooring. Available during the day and evening the Undercroft provides an elegant entertaining space and can now accommodate up to 400 people for receptions, 180 for dinners and 250 for theatre-style seating. It also provides a unique venue for exhibitions. Along with the Queen Mary Undercroft, the College includes the Painted Hall, one of the finest banqueting halls in Europe, the King William Restaurant and for more intimate occasions, Admiral’s House. ^ top ^ |
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Christmas at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich Get your skates on and visit the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich this Christmas for ice skating, music and carols in and amongst Wren’s architectural masterpiece. Christmas Concert & Supper, Tuesday 11th December at 19.30 Greenwich Ice Rink, Saturday 8th December – Sunday 13th January 2008 ‘Join a Christmas Party’ with Leith’s at Old Royal Naval College ^ top ^ |
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News from the Museum of London and Museum in Docklands Museum of London and Museum in Docklands have joined forces with the First Thursdays Campaign and Lates, a Mayor of London Campaign. First Thursdays enables Londoners and visitors to enjoy arts venues at twilight, evening, sundown or lights-out on the first Thursday of each month. London, Sugar and Slavery Gallery at Museum in Docklands
On 10th November 2007, Museum in Docklands will open the only permanent gallery in London that examines the city’s involvement in transatlantic slavery and its legacy on the capital. Marking the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade by Britain, the new gallery is part of a series of events and projects planned by the Museum for 2007 and 2008. The new gallery, called London, Sugar and Slavery, will reveal how London’s involvement in slaving has shaped the capital since the 17th century, and will challenge what people think they know about the transatlantic slave trade. It will debunk the myth that London was a minor player in the trade by showing that it funded much of the city’s industrial and financial success. From Jamaica Road to the Bank of England, from the merchant houses of Blackheath to the nation’s art collections, profits from this most lucrative trade shaped the metropolis. Jack the Ripper and the East End at The Museum in Docklands
For further information visit www.museumindocklands.org.uk ^ top ^ |
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East London Art Walks
A great opportunity to view several exhibitions in one outing is the weekend programme of art walks. Each weekend, a qualified art professional guide takes visitors around 6 -10 of the most interesting exhibitions within Hoxton, Shoreditch and Bethnal Green, and talks about the history of art in east London. Walks last approximately 2.5 hours. Private walks and group rates are available upon request. Pre-booking is advisable at 020 7739 1743 or by emailing artwalks@commentart.com For further information visit www.commentart.com ^ top ^ |
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Useful Links^ top ^ |
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Coach Potato joined TourEast London in recognition of how much actual and potential business east London has to offer visitors, with its wealth of historic buildings, palaces, gardens, museums, markets, pubs and restaurants. In this area, educational visits and opportunities to attend local events and festivals are very popular, for example during the fundraising Coach Potato Marathon in April.
Coach Potato also offer an opportunity for partners to promote their businesses to group organisers and educational establishments by taking part in Coach Potato road shows. In addition, Coach Potato assist group organisers to promote their tour by producing personalised event literature and can also promote any tour or event to other organisations.
Further DLR extensions to Woolwich Arsenal and Stratford International are underway and due to open in 2009 and 2010 respectively, while capacity will be increased by 50% on all trains when an extra carriage is added in 2009/2010. The £180 million, 2.5km Woolwich extension will link Woolwich, south of the river, to King George V DLR station, just one stop from London City Airport.
The O2 has had a phenomenal first season since it opened its doors on Sunday 25th June 2007, bringing acts such as Bon Jovi, Justin Timberlake, Barbara Streisand, Scissor Sisters and Prince to the 20,000 capacity arena.
The 11 screen multiplex cinema is magnificent. The giant main auditorium seats up to 770 movie fans and has the biggest screen in London. It is here that The O2 hosted Simpsons The Movie Premiere and rolled out the ‘yellow carpet’ to a number of celebrities.
Tickets to one of the most anticipated exhibitions of the year are available for public purchase on Wednesday 12th September. More than 180,000 tickets already have been reserved for the exhibition, which will be on display at The O2 from 15th November 2007 to 30 August 2008.
From 14th November 2007, Eurostar operates on High Speed 1 - the UK’s first-high speed line - from the fabulously restored St Pancras International station, our new London terminal.
From 19th November 2007, Eurostar services also call at Ebbsfleet International, a new station just off junction 2 of the M25, close to Bluewater shopping centre and ideally placed to serve east London. Journey times to the continent are 10 minutes quicker than from St Pancras. Eurostar has up to 2500 parking spaces, and our passengers can also travel free to and from Ebbsfleet on Southeastern trains and Fastrack local bus services.
Eurostar wants to be part of the local community and with a new train maintenance depot at Temple Mills near Stratford, the Eurostar team are working with Railschool to support educational opportunities for 14 – 19 year olds across Newham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney.
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets a
Launching soon, 
• The much-loved London landmark – The Monument – closed in July for an extensive clean and refurbishment. Complete with a new viewing platform it is due to open again in December 2008. 
The East Wintergarden, the stunning events venue in the heart of Canary Wharf, has recently been approved by London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the solemnisation of marriages and the registration of Civil Partnerships and is now available for bookings.
The East Wintergarden is located at 43 Bank Street above the Jubilee Place shopping mall, adjacent to and linked by subterranean walk ways to the Jubilee Line underground station, Jubilee Place Mall and Car Park and the DLR station at Heron Quays.
Following the success of the 'Deptford Secrets' guide, Lewisham Council have produced secrets guides for several areas with secrets waiting to be discovered, including Catford and Hither Green, Downham and Bellingham, Forest Hill and Honor Oak Park, Sydenham, Brockley and New Cross. All brochures are downloadable from 
The Cutty Sark Conservation Project will resume in September 2007, following the major set back of 21st May 2007 when a fire broke out on the ship. Although the images beamed around the world suggested that the world’s most famous tea clipper was destroyed, only 5% of the original fabric of the maritime icon was actually lost. 
The Cutty Sark Trust had raised nearly £19m towards a £25m restoration of the ship, with the help of over £13m funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Cutty Sark was due to reopen to the public in November 2008, however, following the blaze additional funding will now be needed as well as an extra year to complete the project. Currently the shortfall stands at £16m.
The colourful Greenwich Market will be open every day for Christmas gift shopping and many of the restaurants and bars will be offering special festive party menus, while the Greenwich Theatre annual pantomime production will be Dick Whittington running from 4th December to 5th January. 
Maritime Greenwich will also have its own currency, Mince Pounds, available during the festive season. Every time visitors spend £10 in a local shop or market displaying a Mince Pound sign, they will receive one Mince Pound, which can be put towards either tickets to the pantomime, skating at the ice rink or a visit to the new Peter Harrison Planetarium.
The new Royal Arsenal groups package, available for groups of 20 or more from Tuesdays to Fridays, costs just £16 and includes: free coach parking, a visit to Greenwich Heritage Centre, a 2-course buffet lunch and refreshments, a tour of Firepower - The Royal Artillery Museum, afternoon cream tea and the chance to buy souvenirs in Firepower's renowned museum retail outlet. An optional Royal Arsenal site tour can be added to the package for just £2 extra per head.
Originally designed as a refectory for the Greenwich Pensioners, the Queen Mary Undercroft has provided a venue for dining and entertaining since the 1750s and today the Greenwich Foundation, in its 10th anniversary year, is proud to unveil a refurbished Undercroft following a £500,000 investment.
Enjoy an evening of festive music including pieces by Bach, Vaughan Williams and Haydn, performed by the Greenwich Baroque Orchestra and Chapel Choir followed by a two-course dinner in the Painted Hall. This is the perfect opportunity for groups to enjoy the concert and supper package; once you arrive our staff will be on hand to look after you and your guests, coach drop off is also available. The price also includes a glass of wine and mince pies.
December sees the return of the Ice Rink at the Old Royal Naval College. For those cold winter days, the café in the colonnades will be open for warming drinks and festive snacks. 
From May to November 2008, the Museum in Docklands is returning to the scene of London’s most infamous crimes, with its major new exhibition, Jack the Ripper and the East End. Bypassing the salacious speculation and whodunnit sleuthing that has long crowded this terrain, the exhibition will open a new path by looking at the human stories behind the penny-dreadful accounts. Bringing together the surviving original documents for the first time, including police files, photographs, and letters from the public, Jack the Ripper and the East End will map the world which witnessed the murders and was transformed by them. It will explore the complex legacy of myths and legends which have become central to London’s imagining of itself.
Comment Art is the perfect information source for the small hidden-away spaces of contemporary art in east London. Comment Art publish the quarterly East London Art Map, a free, comprehensive guide that encourages discovery of east London as an exciting place to live, work and visit. Listing over three hundred art galleries, public art installations, studios and art schools. To obtain a free copy of the art map please use the TourEast London