Making the most of Harwich
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Harwich cruise terminal has very few facilities.
A railway station inside the Port allows passengers to use regular direct trains from London Liverpool Street. Extra trains are scheduled when large cruise ships call. Central London takes about 80-100 minutes to reach. Weekend timetables can be awkward because of rail maintenance, so check carefully before planning. The port station is Harwich International.
Off-peak day tickets are generally unavailable on trains arriving in London before 1000 or leaving London before 0930. They also cannot be used on Monday-to-Friday services departing London between 1629 and 1834.
Leaving Harwich at 8.33 AM and taking the 4 PM Liverpool station train back allows enough time to explore London, and an off-peak ticket will suffice.
The Off Peak Day Travel card gives unlimited off-peak bus, train and tube travel for one day on permitted routes. 1 Adult(s) costs £34.80; the Peak fare is £55.80 (Train only 30.10 and 48.00). After leaving the ship, walk to the first platform, turn right and use the last door on the right for the ticket office. Depart from the opposite platform. You will usually change at Manningtree, 10 minutes from Harwich, and the onward Liverpool station train is on the same platform.
Combining a train ticket with a Hop on/off ticket can substantially reduce the cost against a cruise-organised excursion. Most Hop on/off operators also include an enjoyable Thames boat trip.
GPS users should enter: Parkeston, Harwich, Essex, CO12 4SR, United Kingdom.
Harwich is an active coastal town and international port on the Stour and Orwell estuary in north-east Essex, England. It has long offered sheltered anchorage to shipping, and its old town is a conservation area with numerous historic buildings. It is not really a destination in its own right, however; half an hour is more than enough.
From the cruise dock, take the train to Dovercourt, the Center of Harwich; a return ticket is about 2.50 euro.
Getting around
Tour and Explore London from the top deck of a double-decker bus for an almost bird's-eye view of famous sights. With more than 80 stops, you can hop off to explore or have lunch, then board the next bus. Tickets remain valid for 24 hours from the first journey. Buses run 10am to 6pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and the tour price includes a free River Cruise.
Nearby places
Harwich is well placed for important visitor destinations suited to cruise itineraries, including Colchester, Britain's oldest recorded town; Constable Country; the perfectly preserved ancient wool town of Lavenham; and Sutton Hoo Saxon burial site. London, the UK's capital, and historic Cambridge are also readily reached.
Food and shopping
Food and shopping choices in Harwich are very limited.
Money
The pound (£) is used throughout the UK, and pounds may also be called quid. Scottish bank notes are frowned upon in other parts of the UK, so exchange them before leaving Scotland.
Most shops and restaurants accept Visa, Mastercard and Maestro.
Staying connected
English is used throughout the country, sometimes with heavy accents.
Internet access is widespread, with Internet cafés and WiFi in cities and larger towns; consult city pages for specifics. All UK public libraries offer access, often called "People's Network", usually free or low-cost but with limited time.
Trains from Manningtree to London Liverpool, a journey of about an hour, all have onboard WiFi for about 3 euro per day ticket.
The local emergency number is 999, and the EU-wide 112 also works.
General shopping hours are:
Small shops open 6 or 7 days weekly, usually 10am - 6pm. Larger shops typically stay open until 9PM, and Hyper marts often operate 24/7.