Visiting Washington - White House Tours

[Darren390]

I'm off on honeymoon next June and have booked 2 weeks visiting New York, Boston, then into Canada, Niagra Falls, and finally Washington before returning to New York. I'd really love to have a tour of the White House, which you have to arrange through the British Embassy in Washington. Not a problem, but the embassy website currently says they cannot facilitate appliactions for tours of the White House.

Anyone have any ideas what I could do? Or has anyone had a tour recently?

Any help much appreciated.

Darren

[stylemaster]

Well, I have no experience with tour booking there, but if you come to the area but prepared for the hot and humid climate! Many people forget about that - as you can't see the heat on TV - and they feel horribly exhausted which makes the whole trip less enjoyable. Of course it depends on when you're exactly going but just to let you know...

[MaxMX5]

I didnt think anyone but US Citizens can go inside the White House, and even then, they have to contact the head of their state to do so. However the Capitol does offer a free tour. You just have to turn up and get in the queue, I cant remember if you can pre-arrange a time to visit so we got their early. Also I wished I had walked up the Washington Monument as inside are special bricks from each state ( I think) that you cant see in the lift. The Zoo is good too, as are the Smithisonian museums and as an extra bonus, are free of charge to enter.

[Olf]

Not sure about the White House tours but I can recommend the segway tours in Washington - great fun!

[K50 DEL]

US citizens have to book tours through their state's member of congress

Tourists can book through the embassy of their home country.
If the UK embassy are refusing to assist, there's probably not much you can do.

I tried to blag it a couple of years ago and failed miserably!

[Robatr0n]

Slightly off topic but last year we stopped off in Washington DC for one night and decided to do a spot of sight-seeing the next day before our flight departed. We had planned to see as much as possible but we didn't fully appreciate just how away some sights are from one another. I guess it's a little like London in that respects, everything is fairly close but not really that close if you're walking from place to place.

Anyway unbeknown to us, my brother booked a Segway Tour of DC for him, my girlfriend and I. It was absolutely fantastic and I'd recommend it to anyone if you find yourself at a loose end for half a day and fancy seeing all the sights in style. I can't remember the name of the company we used but once I find the paperwork I'll post their name up here.

[Robatr0n]

Olf said:

Not sure about the White House tours but I can recommend the segway tours in Washington - great fun!

Should have read this before posting!

[timmybob]

You do have to book these through your embassy, but the last time I enquired about this I was told the UK embassy have been turned down for all of their recent request so no longer waste time applying. I don't think this is likley to change in the near future.

There's a load of other things to see in DC though, and most are free. Both the Capitol Building tour and the Washington monument (once it re-opens after the earthquake damage is repaired) can be booked with a timed ticket (for a small fee) and I would recommend doing this during busy periods.

I've been here two years and there's still stuff I haven't managed to see...

[Darren390]

Thanks for the replies guys. Shame about the White House tour, but as you say plenty of other things to see and do. I'll look into the Segway tours, sounds good fun.

Darren