rafiki_
Well-known member
Jubilee line to Bond Street on Oxford St circa 25 mins.
London Boat Show, or Not
- Thread starter Sheppy
- Start date
Jubilee line to Bond Street on Oxford St circa 25 mins.
Poignard
Well-known member
Any thoughts from people that have gone to the London show before would be appreciate
A pleasant day out, and a good opportunity to meet some of the many friends one has made posting on these forums during the past year.
A pleasant day out, and a good opportunity to meet some of the many friends one has made posting on these forums during the past year.
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Sport? LOL, I must point that out to swmbo, when she complains that I should do more sport...
Yeah I did think hard about using that word but over here we call darts and snooker a sport so boating seems positively energetic in comparison
Anyway what are we supposed to call it? Hobby? Pastime?
neale
Active member
No it's not. It 35 mins according to TFL website.
Earls Court is 18 mins from Oxford Circus so for those nostalgic types we are only talking about 17 mins on your journey.
If you take Waterloo as a starting point, which might be more realistic for the south coast boater, Earls Court is 20 mins and Excel is 23 mins.
All this talk of Excel being difficult to get to and in the middle of no where is nonsense IMHO.
At least with Excel you have the realistic option of going by road. And it really isn't a difficult journey from the south coast, I do it many many times every year. In fact I bet I could drive from the South coast to Excel quicker than the South coast to earls court.
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Cardo
Active member
I have been to the SBS the last couple of years and went to the LIBS the couple of years before then (seeing as I lived in London at the time). I usually only bother with the SBS now (as I have it just down the road) and I find they both offer similar experiences (pretty, new boats and more chandleries than you can throw a stick at).
However, seeing as we weren't able to attend the SBS as we were collecting our new boat and getting her home, we will be going to the LIBS instead.
LIBS has the benefit that if the weather is horrible you will remain nice and warm and dry.
However, seeing as we weren't able to attend the SBS as we were collecting our new boat and getting her home, we will be going to the LIBS instead.
LIBS has the benefit that if the weather is horrible you will remain nice and warm and dry.
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Excel to Oxford Circus was actually 43-45mins on the TFL website at about 21.00 last night but I'm prepared to believe it's quicker in the daytime but that ignores waiting time and walking to the station so the average journey is going to be about 1 hour. Any comparison with Earls Court should also consider taxi times. It takes but a few minutes by taxi into Knightsbridge but I dread to think how long it would take from Excel in the evening. As for getting to Earls Court by car, I always found that quite easy. Down the A40, park in the Hilton Kensington car park and 10mins walk.
I too have spent many days standing on (non boaty) exhibition stands at Excel and I know it's an ugly airless shed in the middle of nowhere which doesn't exactly encourage visitors to attend. Sorry but the proof of the pudding is in the ever declining numbers attending LIBS since LIBS decamped to Excel. I'm not trying to slag LIBS off here but in the 25yrs I've been attending LIBS, it has gone from an exciting international event in the centre of London to a domestic sideshow off the A12 and I find that sad
andyjcox1
Member
I used to love going to the London boat show when younger, looking at all the amazing Sunseekers etc. Now I am actually a modest boat owner, and in the market for a 20- 25ft sport boat that won't cost millions, I don't find it worth the trip, as there are fewer stalls for bits and bobs, and very few smaller exhibitors in the range I can afford.
Is there a decent small to medium sized boat show? now that i would go to, or I'll stick with the SBS next year.
Is there a decent small to medium sized boat show? now that i would go to, or I'll stick with the SBS next year.
neale
Active member
Oxford Circus is a strange starting point for anyone from outside of London trying to get to a boat show by public transport. A better comparison would be looking at all the mainline terminals. Now Paddington is going to be nearer to Earls Court, but Liverpool street and Fenchurch street are nearer Excel. Waterloo is pretty much in the middle (waiting time and walking time applies to any journey to anywhere so can easily be discounted) Kings cross I reckon is nearer Excel etc etc.
The worse case scenario I can think of, off the top of my head, would be Paddington. TFL tells me that its 10 mins to Earls Court and 40 mins to Excel. An extra half an hour each way or one hour on the whole day isn't really that bad. I can lose a lot more than that because of Traffic driving down to Southampton boat show and I guess equally you could lose half an hour in traffic with no trouble at all driving into Earls Court.
The reality is that getting to either is easy once you are in London and where ever the show is, some will win and some will lose but really we are only talking minutes on what will for most people, be a long day.
Whether Excel is a good show or not is another debate. I just don't get the argument that Excel is difficult to get to.
Oh, and to be pedantic, its actually a domestic sideshow off the A13
The worse case scenario I can think of, off the top of my head, would be Paddington. TFL tells me that its 10 mins to Earls Court and 40 mins to Excel. An extra half an hour each way or one hour on the whole day isn't really that bad. I can lose a lot more than that because of Traffic driving down to Southampton boat show and I guess equally you could lose half an hour in traffic with no trouble at all driving into Earls Court.
The reality is that getting to either is easy once you are in London and where ever the show is, some will win and some will lose but really we are only talking minutes on what will for most people, be a long day.
Whether Excel is a good show or not is another debate. I just don't get the argument that Excel is difficult to get to.
Oh, and to be pedantic, its actually a domestic sideshow off the A13
PowerToSail.com
New member
Not all manufacturers are represented at Southampton; so a visit to London is required. Ferretti, Pershing and Riva do not do the Southampton Show and there will be very different stock advertised at the Yachtbrokers village. London kick starts the season a bit, where browsing/research seems to be the order of the day at Southampton.
Nick_H
Active member
How many Ferretti's, Pershing's and Riva's will be there?
Does the Yachtbrokers Village have very different stock to that on their web sites?
gjgm
Active member
I will have to send this to the moderators as it is clearly an attempt to cause a fight on the forum
It is local for me, so I dont have any issue on the transport. It's certainly alot closer than SIBS but for some reason no one complains that takes two hours from London !
Anyway.. there are some bigger boats, but the smaller sportsboats and ribs dont feature much. It is a good winter boating fix, and like any show a good place to see electronics, outboards, tenders etc etc all in one place instead of travelling all round different dealers. Not alot of base chandlery, but then why not buy online for that stuff anyway.
Its ok for a few hours, but its not a patch on SBS if that helps.
PowerToSail.com
New member
The new Riva ISEO will be there apparently plus 32 scale models of pretty much the rest of the ranges of Ferretti, Pershing and Riva according to Ventura. Regarding the Yacht Brokers village; no there will not be any other boats available which are not on the public website; but there will be brokers on hand to field enquiries. I am looking for a small sailing boat for myself and will be going to London with the express purpose of buying one; when I was looking at SIBS the season (for me May - Oct) seemed too far away to consider a purchase. January on the other hand, the season seems a bit more immediate. For me, I consider being able to go from stand to stand talking to the manufacturers representatives before making a buying descision of either a new or used boat important.
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Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
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Well I guess you're the only LIBS visitor living in Essex
Its the A12 if the wife is driving
rafiki_
Well-known member
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Well I guess you're the only LIBS visitor living in Essex
Its the A12 if the wife is driving
Nope. I live just outside Stratters on Avon. XL is the wrong side of London for me, but no more difficult than Earls Court to get to.
However, I much prefer SIBS, but generally visit them both. LIBS feels a bit more synthetic to me, outside of my season, fewer boats, less friendly venue.
Double arvor
New member
Funny do canning town to bond street in just under 25 mins most days excell will take around 30mins
martin
Member
I agree with GjGm
The answer depends on where you are and what your interested in...
My experience is as follows.
I love LIBS..I gave up SIBS about 5 years ago, fed up with driving hours to get there, being rained on and paying for hotels. For me LIBS is less than an hour, has massive halls filled with boats and lots of people that like boats are there...and its in January when I need to dream about the summer and how fantastic its going to be this year.........how bad can it be?
That said if I lived in southampton ...or somewhere near...different matter
On the subject of exhibitors...If I was a serious buyer..I would not use the boat show to judge a builder...surely that should be done on a 1 to 1 basis away from a show and where the saleman can give you his undivided focus..these places are a zoo.. to me its just a bit of fun and great place to browse and say hi to some mates..
So I cant see how and impartial answer is possible really..it depends why you want to go and if you think that the show is a good place to get what you want.
The answer depends on where you are and what your interested in...
My experience is as follows.
I love LIBS..I gave up SIBS about 5 years ago, fed up with driving hours to get there, being rained on and paying for hotels. For me LIBS is less than an hour, has massive halls filled with boats and lots of people that like boats are there...and its in January when I need to dream about the summer and how fantastic its going to be this year.........how bad can it be?
That said if I lived in southampton ...or somewhere near...different matter
On the subject of exhibitors...If I was a serious buyer..I would not use the boat show to judge a builder...surely that should be done on a 1 to 1 basis away from a show and where the saleman can give you his undivided focus..these places are a zoo.. to me its just a bit of fun and great place to browse and say hi to some mates..
So I cant see how and impartial answer is possible really..it depends why you want to go and if you think that the show is a good place to get what you want.
rubberduck
Well-known member
We always go as its local & where I buy most of my clothes.
Croc
New member
There are those that like to moan about....well ....anything and there have always been those who say Excel is not a good/ has no atmosphere/ difficult to get to compared with Earls Court.
I first went to a Boat Show at Earls Court in 1957 or 1958. ...difficult to get to....appalling food , filthy toilets, stroppy staff, horrible air quality....after a full day there in the 50s and 60s you coughed up a horrible black phlegm...nasty little guest houses around...awkward layout, Freezing cold first thing in the morning.....nothing about it apart from boating friends that are no longer around do I miss about Earls Court.
Whereas I can drive from Norfolk in less than two hours or leave the East End of London and be at Excel in 20 minutes even with two tube or DLR changes. When I get there it is clean and warm, well laid out, half decent food and drink and you can go straight out in the evening without having to change because the atmosphere is clean and so are you.
I much prefer the 21st century Boat Show experience to that of the last century.
I first went to a Boat Show at Earls Court in 1957 or 1958. ...difficult to get to....appalling food , filthy toilets, stroppy staff, horrible air quality....after a full day there in the 50s and 60s you coughed up a horrible black phlegm...nasty little guest houses around...awkward layout, Freezing cold first thing in the morning.....nothing about it apart from boating friends that are no longer around do I miss about Earls Court.
Whereas I can drive from Norfolk in less than two hours or leave the East End of London and be at Excel in 20 minutes even with two tube or DLR changes. When I get there it is clean and warm, well laid out, half decent food and drink and you can go straight out in the evening without having to change because the atmosphere is clean and so are you.
I much prefer the 21st century Boat Show experience to that of the last century.
Sheppy
New member
Hmm, a mixed bunch of replies, more good than bad though, but thanks everyone. Some good points about the show’s product line up too. I’d like to go but am obviously thinking about the cost of fuel etc – a bit daft to worry about fuel costs when I own a boat!!!
I must admit, I thought this show was more about the small stuff but I guess I got that wrong.
I just wish trains, busses and tubes were more sensibly priced. I used to live in Surrey and work in London and the thought of going back from quiet Devon fills me with dread! Oh yes, the M25 too - ahhhhh
But on the whole, I’ve taken into account the various comments and feel maybe couple of days in town might be the best option. I do think though that driving is best – stupid isn’t it that the car is still the cheapest and easiest way to get about? Not that I’m saying cars should be more expensive, heck no, only that buses, tubes and trains are so stupidly priced now.
Well, hopefully see you there, unless someone persuades me otherwise
I must admit, I thought this show was more about the small stuff but I guess I got that wrong.
I just wish trains, busses and tubes were more sensibly priced. I used to live in Surrey and work in London and the thought of going back from quiet Devon fills me with dread! Oh yes, the M25 too - ahhhhh
But on the whole, I’ve taken into account the various comments and feel maybe couple of days in town might be the best option. I do think though that driving is best – stupid isn’t it that the car is still the cheapest and easiest way to get about? Not that I’m saying cars should be more expensive, heck no, only that buses, tubes and trains are so stupidly priced now.
Well, hopefully see you there, unless someone persuades me otherwise