| TourEast
London "THE TOURISM VOICE OF EAST LONDON" Travel Trade Update |
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February
2006
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Inside This Issue...Docklands Light Railway has Landed at London City Airport Pontoon Dock Station Connects Thames Barrier Park New Tourism Development Manager for East London Unquiet Thames Exhibition at the Museum in Docklands FOCUS: The Pool of London Partnership Tower Bridge Exhibition Undergoing Revamp for 2006 Tower Bridge Exhibition Offers and Events New Time Galleries Open at the Royal Observatory, Maritime Greenwich City Cruises Sails into 2006 with New Launches! The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Private Summer Parties at Novotel London ExCeL Novotel London ExCeL Launch Shuttle Service to Canary Wharf Leisure Breaks at Crowne Plaza Docklands Hotel Special Delegate Rates at Custom House Hotel New Thames Path Walking Guide from Tower Bridge to Greenwich |
WelcomeDear ColleagueWelcome to the TourEast London Travel Trade Update bringing you the latest news and developments, openings and events, including the new Docklands Light Railway to London City Airport service and fantastic promotions from Tower Bridge Exhibition and City Cruises. TourEast London also invite the UK travel trade to join them for shopping and hotel themed fam trips which will run in April 2006. Use the contents menu on the left to browse articles in this newsletter, or simply scroll down the page. London's Eastside is the fastest growing destination in London offering quirky attractions and activities, a range of coach parking and value for money. Read on to find out more about the resources available to you as a member of the travel trade and an overview of the Eastside product offering. Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@visiteastlondon.co.uk. 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 Fam Trip Invitation TourEast London will be running two fam trips for UK-based members of the travel trade in April 2006. Launch of New WebsiteTourEast London's new website is live! The development of separate home pages for business and leisure ease navigation and simplify an ever-growing website. Now, users can choose whether to access the homepage for visitors and local residents or the separate corporate homepage for travel trade, MICE buyers, press and industry members. In addition, a search function has been added to the visitor homepage, making it easier than ever for visitors to locate specific information on the site. All events on the new website are segmented by target market, with families, heritage seekers, quirky explorers and locals now able to view information on events that interest their group. In addition, with a strong emphasis on targeting the local market and encouraging Londoners to get out and explore East London, the new website includes a specific section for local residents. To visit the homepage of the new website, please click here. New Visitor Guides TourEast London is in the process of updating its comprehensive Leisure Guide, which will be available from April 2006. ^ top ^ |
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Docklands Light Railway has Landed at London City Airport
Pontoon Dock Station Connects Thames Barrier Park The new route to King George V also stops at Thames Barrier Park, the green symbol of East London's regeneration. Now, the moment visitors arrive at Pontoon Dock Station, they are greeted by 32 fountains playing in a stone courtyard and can grab a cup of tea at the Visitor Pavilion and Coffee Shop. Families can then head to the children's play and picnic areas or to the riverside for stunning views of the Thames Barrier, a wonder of structural engineering. Definitely one of the hidden secrets of London's Eastside! ^ top ^ |
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New Tourism Development Manager for East London
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Unquiet Thames Exhibition at the Museum in Docklands
For further information, call 0870 444 3856 or click here to visit the Museum in Docklands website. ^ top ^ |
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FOCUS: The Pool of London Partnership The riverside path between City Hall and Tower Bridge is currently being widened and refurbished to provide a more aesthetic frontage to Potters Fields Park and, so the riverside can cope with the ever-increasing hoards of visitors that TourEast London help to attract to the Pool of London. Upcoming Temporary Attraction Permission has just been granted by Southwark Council for a temporary indoor winter sports centre adjacent to Potters Fields Park. ‘The Ice Box’, as it will be known, will be made of ice. Visitors will be given a long coat and a souvenir pack of hat, gloves and leg warmers to wear. Subscribe to the Pool of London e-newsletter to be kept up-to-date on news regarding this and other issues. Subscribe here. Updated Pool of London Visitor Planner
Click here for further information about the Pool of London Partnership. ^ top ^ |
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Tower Bridge Exhibition Undergoing Revamp for 2006 Tower Bridge is undergoing a major overhaul which will be completed by March in readiness for the Summer visitor season. It will soon benefit from a range of new interactive elements all within the Engine Rooms. A major new attraction will also offer visitors a real visual insight of how the bridge lifts, as if the visitor is standing underneath the bridge itself. This unique view can only be experienced using the latest in technology and giving future visitors a memorable 'wow' factor to their Tower Bridge experience! Tower Bridge Exhibition Offers and EventsJoint Ticket Promotion with HMS Belfast
For further information on group travel and the joint ticket offer contact 020 7 403 3761 (Tower Bridge Exhibition) or 020 7940 6320 (HMS Belfast). New Experiences in the Engine Rooms – From May Bank Holiday Weekend
Visitors are invited to view the newly refurbished Victorian Engine Rooms, and enjoy the ‘Bridge Lift Experience’. From October 2006, the Monument will be closed for refurbishment for 18 months. Groups can take advantage of this special promotion before the closure and climb the steps of the both the Bridge and the Monument - and receive a certificate marking their achievement! Click here to visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition website ^ top ^ |
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New Time Galleries Open at the Royal Observatory, Maritime Greenwich
Click here for further information about the new galleries. ^ top ^ |
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City Cruises Sails into 2006 with New Launches!
Also available are packages which combine a lunch or afternoon tea cruise with entry to the Cutty Sark and unlimited travel on the Docklands Light Railway as well as on City Cruises’ boats. To find out more about the new trade packages and 2006 prices and timetables, call City Cruises on 020 7740 0400 or click here to visit the City Cruises website. ^ top ^ |
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With the focus on East London in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, TourEast London will include an industry update in future editions of the Corporate Newsletter. Walk the Bid Guide Residents and visitors to the capital can now see London’s Olympic Games sites for themselves thanks to a new Walk the Bid guide launched recently. The guide, which provides illustrated maps and information about the existing landmarks, the Games and the proposed venues, allows people to explore the 500-acre Olympic Park in the Lower Lea Valley and the venues in and around Greenwich. To request a copy, please click here. To view an interactive map displaying what's planned and where, click here. For more information on the Olympics, please follow this link: www.london2012.org Tower Hamlets Fact sheet for Local Businesses Tower Hamlets, one of the host boroughs for the forthcoming games has produced a fact sheet for local businesses. It answers some common questions about businesses and the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and gives sources of further information and support. To view the document click here. ^ top ^ |
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The Made in Deptford Festival, 19th - 21st May 2006
For further information contact jennifer.taylor@lewisham.gov.uk or click here to visit the festival website. ^ top ^ |
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Private Summer Parties at Novotel London ExCeL
Novotel London ExCeL Launch Shuttle Bus Service to Canary Wharf Novotel London ExCeL have launched a new shuttle bus service to Canary Wharf. The new service provides convenient access for visitors heading to Canary Wharf in the morning and wishing to return after meetings, shopping or eating in the district. There are four shuttle services leaving Novotel London ExCeL each morning at 07:00, 07:45, 08:30 and 09:15. The pick up point for the return shuttle from Canary Wharf is No. 8 Canada Square (HSBC). Return shuttle services depart from Canary Wharf at 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:15 and 19:00. All shuttle journeys take 15 minutes. For more information please call Sales on 020 7055 1903 or email: H3656-SL@accor.com Click here to visit the Novotel London ExCeL website. ^ top ^ |
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Leisure Breaks at Crowne Plaza Docklands Hotel
The Shopping Package for only £69 per person offers shopping lovers one night in a twin or double room, a bottle of wine on arrival, three course dinner and full English Breakfast in the Terra Restaurant, London Transport Pass, use of the hotel's leisure facilities and pool and late check out. The Family Fun Break for only £119 per adult includes a two night stay for up to 2 adults and 2 children, full English breakfast and three course dinner at the Terra Restaurant, 2 adult and up to 2 child tickets for Madame Tussauds or the London Eye, London Transport Passes and use of the hotel's leisure facilities and pool. For further information or to book call the reservations team on 0870 990 9692 or click here to visit the corporate website. ^ top ^ |
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Special Delegate Rates at Custom House Hotel Click here for further information about Custom House Hotel. ^ top ^ |
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Events at ExCeL London
For groups seeking inspiration for their home, the Home Show is a brand new event that will bring together the very best of style and design for homes, gardens and lifestyles. Alternatively, if golf is your thing, then The London Golf Show is unmissable, with exhibitors displaying equipment, fashion and golf holidays combined with stacks of fun activities. It's a golfing theme park! After nearly 30 years in the West Midlands, The British International Motor Show makes a triumphant return to London in July 2006 for a spectacular two week summer celebration of cars and motoring. As well as motoring excitement including celebrity appearances, car handling demonstrations and test drive experiences, groups can dine and drink al fresco at the Waterside Cafes, relax and soak up the atmosphere of the live outdoor, evening rock and pop concerts. ExCeL London ideally located for access from the M25, M11, A406 and A13 and to London from Prince Regent and Custom House for ExCeL DLR stations, offers coach parking facilities for London. For further information, contact ExCeL London on 020 7069 5000 or email info@excel-london.co.uk Click here to visit the ExCeL London corporate website. ^ top ^ |
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New Thames Path Walking Guide from Tower Bridge to Greenwich and the Thames BarrierThe Thames Path is one of six strategic walking routes designated by the Mayor of London to set high standards for other trails in the capital. The path lends itself to leisurely walks for local residents and visitors alike along the river, and is signposted throughout with the words 'Thames Path' and the National Trail Acorn symbol. The new walking guide welcomes visitors to explore a stretch of the River Thames that's full of East End character, where the views are stunning and the riverside pubs alone are worth the walk.
Please click here to request a copy of the new Thames Path Guide from the TourEast London website. ^ top ^ |
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Capacity Expansion on the DLR and Jubilee Lines
For more information, visit the DLR website. An extra carriage has been introduced on every Jubilee Line train. Four new trains have also be added on the line, increasing the fleet from 59 to 63. For further information on travel to ExCeL London please click here. ^ top ^ |
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Visit London By Water British Waterways have launched a new boater's guide, highlighting the top ten visitor mooring sites in the capital, including Limehouse and Victoria Park in the East End. The free guide encourages boat owners and hirers to make the most out of London's perfectly placed canals and rivers and use them as a base while exploring the capital and surrounding areas. With many of London's top attractions only minutes away by tube or foot, visiting London by boat is the perfect way of staying close to the action without the expense of hotel bills. The new guide is downloadable from the British Waterways website. Click here for more information. ^ top ^ |
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Useful LinksRecommend 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. ^ top ^ |
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The Docklands Light Railway extension to London City Airport is now open with rapid and reliable connections for travellers to the City and Canary Wharf. With trains leaving every 7–10 minutes, this new overground service offers passengers the quickest direct airport transfers to and from central London, with services from the new London City Airport DLR station reaching Bank in 22 minutes and Canary Wharf within 14.
Exploring the mysterious, watery world hidden beneath
London’s bridges and quays, documentary photographer
Crispin Hughes captures the unseen world between the
tides – an empty, wild place in the heart of London. These eerie spaces are flooded alternately with water and light as the tide rises and then falls by 7 meters. See the foreshore revealed in intimate detail as the water creeps around the camera to create a sense of expectation and foreboding. The photographer Crispin Hughes will be giving guided tours at 2pm on 18th May 2006 and his beautiful panoramas are on show at the Museum in Docklands until 4th June 2006. 
The Pool of London, from London Bridge to just past Tower Bridge, has been an area of change ever since Roman times. There have been a few bridges built over the years, a couple of major fires, marshlands have been replaced by warehouses and blue collar workers have given way to white collar workers. Further changes are now afoot, though they are not as dramatic! 
Comprehensive 'what, where, when and how much' guides to destinations are always prized by the travel trade. The Pool of London Partnership is currently enhancing their Pool of London Visit Planner for the travel industry. The updated Visit Planner will not only include run-downs on attractions, timings, costs and group discounts but also will include suggestions for things to do in the area for different target groups such as families, couples, heritage seekers and theatre and arts culture vultures. The updated Visit Planner will be downloadable from the 
Tower Bridge Exhibition and HMS Belfast are teaming up to offer Groups the chance to take advantage of a joint ticket offer throughout February and March 2006! During this period, groups of 10 or more visitors will be able to purchase a special ticket offering discounted admission, in addition to receiving 10% off all merchandise purchased in both attractions' retail shops. The joint ticket price will be:Group Adult £8.50 (saving £3),Group Senior/Student £6.50 (saving £2.20), Child Price £2.70 (saving 30p as children are admitted free onto HMS Belfast).
Visitors can now explore the importance of time in our lives through interactive exhibits at the new Time Galleries at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. The first stage of the redevelopment is now complete, with the opening of four new galleries about time:
City Cruises plc has teamed up with the Cutty Sark to launch some exciting new packages in April 2006, exclusively for groups and tour operators. Groups of 20 or more and individuals who are part of a fully inclusive tour will be able to discover the spectacular sights of London and its famous landmarks as they cruise along the Thames in comfort, aboard one of City Cruises’ luxury Riverliners. They will then be able to board the Cutty Sark in her dry dock in Greenwich. This tour of the historical sailing ship, launched on 22 November 1869, will embrace 135 years of history.The inclusive package prices, which start from only £10 for an adult ticket (£5.50 for a child) not only include a tour of the world’s only surviving tea clipper but also offer unlimited travel throughout the day on City Cruises’ boats between Westminster, Waterloo, Tower and Greenwich Piers. 
This hugely successful festival gives Deptford people a chance to showcase their many talents and brings together all that is best and diverse about Deptford. Already enjoying its recent Best UK High Street for Shopping accolade, the 'Made in Deptford' festival provides further reason for groups and visitors to choose Deptford as a place to extend the experience of London beyond W1. The creative themes of art, food, dance and heritage offer locals and visitors alike the chance to discover the hidden depths and diversity of Deptford. Local participation is at the absolute heart of the project, helping to raise the profile of existing businesses, activities and organisations within the area. 
The spectacular Upper Deck Terrace located on the first floor of Novotel London ExCeL is available for private hire throughout the Summer. Alfresco Dining, Barbecues and Cocktail Receptions can be held on the terrace overlooking the historical Royal Victoria Docks. For further information please call Conference Sales on 020 7055 1904 or email: 
Crowne Plaza Docklands Hotel located on the ExCeL London campus is offering a range of exciting leisure packages for individuals and groups to enjoy. 
The Custom House Hotel is offering special 'Day Delegate' rates of £45 per person at its Capstan Conference Centre. The Capstan Conference Centre is able to accommodate up to 100 delegates and is conveniently located close to the ExCeL London Exhibition Centre. For more information regarding conference facilities and rates, please contact the conference department on 020 7474 0011 or 
Bring your groups to London to join over half a million people cheering on what could be defined as London's 26 mile long street party - yes, come and cheer on the London Marathon runners! At the same time, groups can visit the London Marathon Exhibition at ExCeL London. 
Using the guide, individuals or groups can wind their way through some of the most evocative spots on the historic waterfront, from the Pool of London to Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs to the home of the Mayflower and the glorious Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. 
Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is going to upgrade its busiest route from Bank to Lewisham to accommodate three-car trains at peak hours. The improvements are due for completion in late 2009 and represent a £130 million investment.