Thursday 10 March 2011

Be A Local Tourist in Eltham: Sunday 20 March

Eltham's Local Tourist day is happening again. This time on Sunday 20 March 2011. Free walks, building tours, half price to Eltham Palace for local residents and other discounts.

Although I'm not complaining, Greenwich strangely appear to be having this 'local tourist' thing in Eltham alone in the borough this year (unless I'm mistaken?). Some geographical confusion was noted last year with the event - wonder why Eltham alone, when there are loads of other places of interest around the borough? Anyways...

List of available tours and walks in Eltham on 20 March 2011:
  • Free town centre guided walk

    2pm, meet outside main gate of Eltham Palace, Court Yard
    Duration: 1hr 30mins
  • Free guided tours of The Lodge, Royal Blackheath Golf Club, Court Road

    10am, 11am, 12 noon, meet outside The Lodge
  • Free 'Views of Eltham' circular walk (via The Tarn/King John's Walk)

    1pm, meet outside Mottingham Station
    Duration: 1hr 30mins.
  • Half price entry to Eltham Palace (Greenwich borough residents only, subject to proof of residence)

    10am to 5pm.
  • Farmers' Market, Passey Place

    10am to 3pm, with musical accompaniment from singing duo "Brothers in Swing".
  • Bob Hope Theatre, Wythfield Road

    11.30am to 3.30pm
    Open House with memorabilia on display and free refreshments.
  • St John's Church open house

    11.30am to 3.30pm, Eltham High Street.
  • Eltham Fire Station open day

    10.30am to 4pm, Eltham High Street.

Shopping and dining discounts:
Shops and restaurants will also be offering discounts to visitors who present the Be a Local Tourist flyer, which you can collect at the Eltham Centre in Archery Road or any of the open-house venues:
  • Tudor Barn, Well Hall Pleasaunce

    10% off evening a la carte menu from 6pm on presentation of Be A Local Tourist Day flyer.
  • Park Tavern, Passey Place

    Complimentary selection of hot and cold nibbles and buffet items on the bar at lunchtime and early evening for customers' enjoyment.
  • CafĂ© Dee, Pound Place

    10% discount when spending £5 or over, on presentation of Be A Local Tourist Day flyer.

More events:
In the week leading up to Be a Local Tourist Day, there will also be a range of other events:
  • Tuesday, 15 March

    Eltham Nature Club open meeting at St Mary's Community Centre, Eltham High Street at 7.30pm: 'The Private Lives of SE9's Birds', an illustrated talk by Greenwich Park Ranger John Beckham Entrance: £1.
  • Wednesday, 16 March

    Friends of Well Hall Pleasaunce Annual General Meeting: Free Talk at the Tudor Barn (7.30pm)  'Me and the Crown Jewels' by John Newson, former senior guardian at the Tower of London.
  • Thursday 17 March

    St Patrick's Day Celebration, Tudor Barn, Well Hall Road: Live entertainment in the restaurant from 8pm until 11pm - fancy dress welcome. Guinness and whiskey by the bucket load! Free entry.
  • Friday, 18 March

    Friends of The Tarn, St Andrew's Church, Court Road at 8pm, free talk - 'The defences of south east London in World War Two' by Chris Mumbray.
  • Sunday, 20 March

    Tudor Barn, Well Hall Pleasaunce Spring Wedding Fayre, 11am to 4pm: over 30 exhibitors offering various services 
See Greenwich Council for more details.

(Last year's event here)

[note: some additions made later to this post...]

    3 comments:

    hilly said...

    You might know this already, but Greenwich Card holders currently get free access to the grounds of Eltham Palace all year round, although the golden bathroom has to be seen at least once!

    Raven said...

    Timely to have that reminder, thanks.

    Yes, we have wandered around the grounds for free, when the English Heritage membership ran out (though I don't remember showing our Greenwich cards...). And yes, the bathroom was something, not to mention the rest.

    What occurred to me after I wrote this post, though, was why Greenwich Council seemed to be promoting only Eltham for this day? I couldn't find any refs. to events in other towns. It didn't hit me at the time - doh.

    hilly said...

    well, at a guess, i'd say that the council want to encourage internal tourism, i.e. getting people from within the borough to visit eltham... which as i'm sure you'll agree has a lot to offer to local people. i've been going to the palace for years now, but i'm yet to see the servants' quarters... how bad can they be?