Land Rover Experience Eastnor

[nat_89]

Hi just wondering if anyone has visited or know anyone who has visited the Land Rover Experience centres at Eastnor Castle.

Just thought it would be an awesome day out and id love to shoot over and go for a visit.

If anyone has been or heard id love to know.

Cheers :p

[LoveB]

i'm booking a tour of the solihull plant in november. I'd like to know too!

[nat_89]

i'm booking a tour of the solihull plant in november. I'd like to know too!

I have looked at the Soulihill one and i would like to do that to but i thought it would be awesome to spend a full day messing around in the cars so thats kinda why i wanted to do the full day one and skip the plant but i would like to see the Range Rover VIP tour they have!!

[solmanic]

The Solihull Land Rover Experience is AWESOME. It is a great full day with lunch provided. You start with some obligatory Land Rover PR videos & stuff followed by the factory tour. Even the trip around the actual plant is interesting in their modified 7 door Defender bus (I assume they still use this). They show you everything except the paint shop due to its clinical requirements. Panel pressing, Discovery/RRS assembly and of course, Defender assembly. They feed you then you get to pick a couple of different models to try out on their test tracks. Eastnor Castle is far prettier, but they still have plenty of obstacles just on the factory tracks. The Solihull site is also where they have one of their famous see-saw bridges.

Also - Solihull is nice and close to Birmingham where SWMBO can be sent to shop for the day :wasntme:

[LandyAndy]

Agro Jnr(Adam) has the pleasure of having a father in law who works there,he has done a few trips there.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/international-reports/184315-heritage-motor-centre-uk.html
Andrew

[nat_89]

The Solihull Land Rover Experience is AWESOME. It is a great full day with lunch provided. You start with some obligatory Land Rover PR videos & stuff followed by the factory tour. Even the trip around the actual plant is interesting in their modified 7 door Defender bus (I assume they still use this). They show you everything except the paint shop due to its clinical requirements. Panel pressing, Discovery/RRS assembly and of course, Defender assembly. They feed you then you get to pick a couple of different models to try out on their test tracks. Eastnor Castle is far prettier, but they still have plenty of obstacles just on the factory tracks. The Solihull site is also where they have one of their famous see-saw bridges.

Also - Solihull is nice and close to Birmingham where SWMBO can be sent to shop for the day :wasntme:

Thanks heaps for that i would be keen to do the factory tour but probably want to spend more time in the cars playing around hahaha greedy i know, I've just got to talk the boss into it she's not keen on messing around in cars all day doesn't care for it at all haha. Thanks for your input.

[nat_89]

Agro Jnr(Adam) has the pleasure of having a father in law who works there,he has done a few trips there.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/international-reports/184315-heritage-motor-centre-uk.html
Andrew

Thanks for that, wow awesome looking place! Love all the heritage cars and that looks unreal!!

[camel_landy]

There might just be someone on this site who works there... :angel:

Eastnor is in the middle of some fantastic countryside with some wonderful walks. It's also not far from the likes of Cheltenham, Gloucester, Worcester & Malvern where there's plenty to see do and plenty of 'Retail Opportunities'. ;)

A Full Day Experience is what you want, lunch, etc... provided but if you want you can combine it with a day out around the factory too. (The factory visits are awesome!)

M

[dullbird]

Maybe me and Muddy should do a factory visit.....

we going back at Christmas..

Not worried about the experience I heard them blokes cant drive :angel: :p :D ;)

[nat_89]

There might just be someone on this site who works there... :angel:

Eastnor is in the middle of some fantastic countryside with some wonderful walks. It's also not far from the likes of Cheltenham, Gloucester, Worcester & Malvern where there's plenty to see do and plenty of 'Retail Opportunities'. ;)

A Full Day Experience is what you want, lunch, etc... provided but if you want you can combine it with a day out around the factory too. (The factory visits are awesome!)

M

Thanks i would love to spend a full day driving all the cars factory would be interesting but nah spend a full day in the cars that's funner hahaha thanks though :)

[p38arover]

I'm not sure whether to go there during our UK visit. Elisabeth is OK with the idea.

I'm still trying to generate some enthusiasm in myself for the trip. I'd rather stay home.

[nat_89]

I'm not sure whether to go there during our UK visit. Elisabeth is OK with the idea.

I'm still trying to generate some enthusiasm in myself for the trip. I'd rather stay home.

I was just thinking about flying over seeing a few sights and going to the LR Experience thing, but the boss she's not really keen on the whole car thing so its gonna take some convincing!!

[p38arover]

MY wife has suggested that, as we will be spending a few days in Bath, I should drive up to Eastnor Castle and to the LR Experience thing.

I just looked at the price. I don't think I will be doing it. She says it's OK.

[nat_89]

MY wife has suggested that, as we will be spending a few days in Bath, I should drive up to Eastnor Castle and to the LR Experience thing.

I just looked at the price. I don't think I will be doing it. She says it's OK.

Yeah it is quite expensive for what you get but i guess it would be an awesome awesome day out!! I just saw on Land Rovers face book page they are having experience days in QLD NSW and VIC i think and its like 1 hour drive in a car of your choice around a full on training track check it out on Land Rovers Aus website

[p38arover]

My wife is trying to push me into the full day at Eastnor.

[nat_89]

My wife is trying to push me into the full day at Eastnor.

The way i would look at it is your already over there why not hook in with it!! It might be dear but its cheaper than flying back over there to do it haha

[p38arover]

I have no plans to go overseas again - ever.

[nat_89]

I have no plans to go overseas again - ever.

Not the way air travel is going at the moment haha!! Hook in do it while your there it would be awesome fun!

[p38arover]

Should I travel the extra distance to Solihull and do the factory tour as well?

[scarry]

Should I travel the extra distance to Solihull and do the factory tour as well?

Definitely,as it would be something that you will remember for a long time,and maybe never get the chance again.

Also something to look forward to:)

[nat_89]

Yeah I would shouldn't be that far the distances are pretty short over there!! I wouldn't miss it in a heart beat!!

[jon3950]

Go to Solihull Ron. I've done it from Bath, its only a couple of hours if the traffic is ok. Its a long but fairly easy day and worth the effort.

Trust me, you'll enjoy it more than Bath.

Cheers,
Jon

[p38arover]

I'm afraid my wife isn't very happy with me for not booking the tour and Experience. In fact, she's not talking to me at the moment.

Wouldn't the Experience be just like doing a 4WD trip in a Land Rover - not that I've done many of those in the past 12 years. (The P38A has been mildly off road twice since I bought it 12 years ago.)

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Just do it Ron;)

[jon3950]

I did an experience at Snowdonia and loved it, but yes it is just like doing a 4wd trip in a Land Rover, if you think that way. (Apologies to Camel Landy et al - I don't think that way. Next time I'm in the UK I'm coming to Eastnor.)

If I could only do one or the other, I would definately do the factory tour, its very interesting. The drive on the jungle track, whilst tame, is also interesting because of the history.

Do it Ron. It beats a day in Bath looking at old frocks.

If you do travel up from Bath for the day, the worst traffic you will encounter is coming down from the M4 into Bath. However, there is a back road you can take to avoid this. Let me know if you want the details.

Cheers,
Jon

[p38arover]

Do it Ron. It beats a day in Bath looking at old frocks.

Just looking at images from Bath on Google Maps - by heck, there are some beautiful buildings there. My interests are engineering and old buildings, etc. Not interested in the arts. That's why the LR factory tour is of interest.


If you do travel up from Bath for the day, the worst traffic you will encounter is coming down from the M4 into Bath. However, there is a back road you can take to avoid this. Let me know if you want the details.

I might have to get that info. BTW, M4 or M5?

[jon3950]

There are some beautiful buildings in Bath and it is worth seeing, although very touristy. I have relatives there so it's not my favourite place. ;)

The basic route from Bath is up the A46 to the M4, then head west to the M5. Take the M5 north to the M42 and follow that around to Solihull. Leave Bath early enough to avoid peak hour on the M42.

The part of the route you need to avoid is the A46 heading into Bath. You can do this by going through Landsdown via Lansdown Rd and Gorse Lane. Have a look on Google Maps, its a fairly obvious route.

Travelling by road in Britain can be unpredictable. Although the distances are relatively short the traffic can be shocking. The whole country has peak hour, not just the cities. Its a weird experience for an Australian to be stuck in a traffic jam in the middle of the countryside. Their villages are really just suburbs surrounded by paddocks.

Another good day trip from Bath is to Bristol. Some interesting old industrial architecture, plus the SS Great Britain and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Cheers,
Jon

[p38arover]

Thanks Jon. We'll be going to Bath via Cornwall and Bristol. Clifton and Gt Britain are on my lists (as are HMS Victory and Warrior in Portsmouth).

I'm also looking at anything else by Brunel that I can find.

[p38arover]

I'm still waiting on a reply from LR Experience to see if I can get onto the factory tour and 1/2 day Experience at Solihull. I emailed them a couple of days ago. I expected a reply by Monday arvo their time.

Maybe tonight (Tuesday dayshift their time).

Otherwise, I'll go to Gaydon to just look around.

[jerryd]

If you go to Gaydon Ron :angel:, could I give you my chassis number to check out in their archives ??

I'm told that one of the assistants would find the info and pass it on to you.

[p38arover]

Of course.

My last RR, an '86 model had written on the back of a panel, in black felt pen, the words "The Last Aquila".

I faxed them and got the info back. It seems Aquila was the code for the introduction of the EFI RR.

As I wrote about my RR on my website:

Nick-named "The Last Aquila" because of a label found under the dash. According to Rover, Aquila was the code name for introduction the EFI Rangie known as the Highline in Australia (as opposed to the low line standard Range Rover) and the Vogue in Britain. Land Rover Traceability have advised that mine was not the last one off the production line. It was made on 17 Sept 1986, 2 weeks before the 1987 model started on 1 Oct 1986.

So why it had the label is anyone's guess.

[p38arover]

Got a reply and have now booked for Solihull factory tour and half day Experience.

They had one place left for the 15th.

[LandyAndy]

Got a reply and have now booked for Solihull factory tour and half day Experience.

They had one place left for the 15th.
I hope you enjoy it.
Send a PM to AgroJnr,his father in law is involved there,you may get a better Experience;);););).Hell of a nice bloke met him on a WA AULROians trip when he was out here on holidays.
Andrew