ABANA Trip to London

Here are some pre-trip items to tackle: 

  1. Obtain (or renew) your passport. If you are a US or Canadian citizen, you will need a valid passport. Your passport should be valid for the entirety of your stay. (If you live elsewhere, please consult your country’s travel requirements.)
  2. This trip will require a lot of walking and stair climbing; ensure your endurance is up to the task!
USA Passport Info
Canadian Passport Info
REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THE UK

Suggested Reading:

English Ironwork of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries by J. Starkie Gardner

Historic Pubs of London by Ted Bruning

ABANA is putting together a trip to London with the help of the National Heritage Ironwork Group (NHIG) in the UK. Registration will open shortly. If you want to receive information about the trip, enter your information below, and we’ll keep you updated. Thank you!

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Trip Overview

Think of this trip like a treasure hunt! Activities and tours are organized so that each day offers something new to experience, but you will also have time to explore London on your own. 

Official Activity Dates: June 2 – June 8, 2025 

Step 1: Get yourself to London. Travel to and from the UK is not included in the price of this trip. We have potential travelers from multiple countries, so plan your travel to arrive in time to be ready for activities starting on the morning of Monday, June 2.

Pro Tip: If you arrive early enough, Mark Aspery and few hearty souls will be visiting the Crossness Pumping Station for the architecture and interesting history on Sunday, June 1st. This is not an official part of the trip; it is just a friendly “come along if you like.”

Step 2: Book your hotels.

  • London: You will need accommodations in London from the date of your arrival through checkout on Friday, June 6. We suggest finding a hotel near Victoria Station. It is a good starting point as a central transportation hub, and we will plan a group meal or two nearby. Choosing your own hotel allows you to book accommodations that fit your lifestyle, taste, and budget, whether posh or economical. Please check reviews, as London has a wide array of options, from a bed in a windowless room to extravagant suites.
  • Hereford: The group will travel via coach from London to Hereford on Friday, June 6, to participate in a forging event on June 7 and 8 at the Hereford College of Art (HCA) on the campus of Holm Lacy College. You will need accommodations for the nights of June 6 – June 7 in Hereford. We will likely have a meal at The Green Man (which also offers rooms). There are several hotels and B&Bs in town, and many are on a bus line.

Note: Coach transportation will be provided to and from Hereford. Consider if you plan to leave immediately upon returning to London or if you need a hotel room in London for the night of June 8 (or additional nights if you plan to extend your trip).

Cost: $1,200 for ABANA members and $900 for an accompanying spouse.

The cost includes:

  • Behind-the-scenes tour of ironwork and weaponry at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). J. Starkie Gardner gate outside.
  • Tour of ironwork in Greenwich by Brian Hall of Hall Conservation, who has done much of the conservation work there. Site of the Old Royal Navy College, Queen’s House, etc. The Queen’s House is the site of the Tulip Stairs, Britain’s first self-supporting spiral staircase.
  • Lunch in a pub or cafe while in Greenwich.
  • Tour and talk at Hampton Court Palace by conservation blacksmith David James, a member of the Historic Royal Palaces team. This is the site of the 300-year-old Jean Tijou screen.
  • Lunch in a pub or cafe at Hampton Court.
  • Transportation to and from the town of Hereford.
  • Admission to the forging event at the Hereford College of Arts.
  • Food provided while in Hereford:
    • Friday night dinner at The Green Man pub. (Food only, drinks are on you.)
    • Saturday’s breakfast and lunch will be catered. Dinner will be a BBQ meal on site.
    • Sunday’s breakfast and lunch will be catered.
  • Visits to St. Paul’s Cathedral to view more work by Jean Tijou and a visit to the Globe Theater where the main gates feature work from 150 artists worldwide (including the US’s own Darryl Nelson) are also on the itinerary.

The cost does not include:

  • Travel to or from your home and your accommodations (hotels) during the trip. You will be responsible for booking and paying for these items.
  • Meals not already provided and any alcohol purchased.
  • Side excursions, travel around town (bus, tube, etc.), shopping, and so on will be your financial responsibility.
  • Travel insurance. We highly suggest you purchase travel insurance through a company like Berkshire Hathaway or World Nomads. Make sure you are covered for trip cancellations, travel delays, medical coverage, etc.  Note: US Medicare cannot be used internationally.

Some of the Sights:

Blue whale skeleton at the Natural History Museum.
Queen Mary II commissioned Tijou to work on the new royal palace under construction at Hampton Court in 1689.
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The Burnley Mill engine in Energy Hall at the Science Museum.
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J. Starkie Gardner was a sculptor of, and historian on, decorative ironwork. He also wrote on geology and botany and collected fossils.
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Panel six of the Tijou Screen, including the harp royal cypher, representing Ireland.
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With cozy English charm, a well-rounded menu of food and bevvies, and cheery staff, Elephant & Castle is the place to get your Brit on.
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The view from atop St. Paul's Cathedral.
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Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. By Shawn M. Kent - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=123959424
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