Fri
7 August 2026
Shifnal → Oxford
Morning
Drive from Shifnal to Lara's — TF11 9QF → OX3 8HX
About 1hr 20min via A34. Straightforward run — leave after the morning rush for an easy arrival.
On arrival
Home Jobs
Lara's — OX3 8HX
Evening
Settle in, good meal, early night — big day Saturday
Sat
8 August 2026
Oxford Tube → Holy Grail → Avenue Q
09:50
Leave Lara's → Drive to Thornhill Park & Ride
OX3 8HX → OX3 8DP — 5 min drive
Park up, unload luggage, and make your way over to the coach stop.
Parking: £8.50 for 24–48 hours — pay at the machine on arrival.
10:11
Oxford Tube from Thornhill Park & Ride
Stop A, Thornhill P&R, London Road, OX3 8DP
Journey is 1hr 34min. Return stop in London: Marble Arch, Park Lane (Stop S).
Tickets: £45 return for two — buy on board or via the Stagecoach app.
11:45
Arrive Marble Arch → Central line to Holborn (10 min) → Drop bags at hotel
Thistle Bloomsbury Park is a 5 min walk from Holborn tube. Too early to check in, but they'll store luggage no problem.
~12:00
Mystery of the Holy Grail
Starts at Temple Church, Fleet Street area — ends at Fleet Street via Lincoln's Inn Fields
Self-guided mystery adventure from mysteryguides.co.uk — a London journalist claims to have solved the search for the Holy Grail, and you're following the clues. Allow around 3 hours including optional stops at two historic taverns along the route. Finishing on Fleet Street around 15:00.
Optional: The guide mentions two historic taverns on route — ideal for a mid-hunt pint. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street is one of London's most famous old pubs, worth popping into if you haven't before.
~15:00
Finish tour on Fleet Street → check in to hotel → get changed
Fleet Street to Holborn is a 15 min walk through the Inns of Court. Check in should be available by now — you've got a comfortable 2+ hours before Flat Iron, so plenty of time to freshen up and get changed at the hotel before heading out.
17:30
Dinner — Flat Iron
Flat Iron, Tottenham Court Road — 12 min walk from the hotel
Pre-booked. Simple, excellent steak — one cut, salad, done. Perfect pre-theatre fuel without being too heavy.
~19:00
10 min walk from Flat Iron → Shaftesbury Theatre
19:30
🎭 Avenue Q
Avenue Q
Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8DP
~21:45
Out of the theatre → post-show drinks in Soho — you're already there
Sun
9 August 2026
Explore → The Comedy About Spies → Home
Morning
Breakfast at the hotel
Thistle Bloomsbury Park — B&B included
~10:00
Find something for a fun morning! 🎉
Bloomsbury / Covent Garden on your doorstep
British Museum is a 5 min walk from the hotel and free. Covent Garden Piazza is 15 mins on foot — world-class street performers on a Sunday in August. Or just wander — you're in a brilliant part of town.
~13:00
Light lunch before the show
Near the Adelphi / Strand area
Show's at 16:00 so a relaxed lunch around 1–1:30 works well. A few good options nearby:
Suggestions
Gordon's Wine Bar
London's oldest wine bar, tucked into a candlelit cave on Villiers Street — 4 min walk from the Adelphi. Charcuterie, cheese platters, wine by the glass from £6. Brilliant atmosphere.
Wahaca Covent Garden
Colourful Mexican street food on Chandos Place — tacos, burritos, margaritas. Light, relaxed, easy on the wallet.
The Ivy Market Grill
Just behind the Adelphi on Henrietta Street — proper restaurant if you fancy something a bit more sit-down and celebratory.
~15:30
Short stroll to the Adelphi Theatre (~10 min from Covent Garden)
16:00
🕵️ The Comedy About Spies
The Comedy About Spies
Adelphi Theatre, 409 The Strand, WC2R 0NS
~18:15
Out of the theatre → grab a drink or bite on the Strand, then head home
Central line from Tottenham Court Road to Holborn — collect luggage from Thistle Bloomsbury Park, then back on the Central line to Marble Arch. Allow ~30 minutes for the luggage detour.
~19:15
Collect luggage from Thistle Bloomsbury Park → Central line to Marble Arch
19:22
Oxford Tube from Marble Arch → Thornhill P&R → home 🎉
Arrives Oxford 20:43. If you miss the 19:22 the 19:37 gets you back by 20:58 — runs every 15 minutes so no stress.