LINERS AS HOTELS.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] • SIR,—Some time ago the Spectator suggested that liners moored in the Thames should be used as alternative hotel accommodation for overseas visitors to Wembley. At the time the suggestion was met by a considerable amount of criticism and even ridicule in certain quarters. It may therefore interest your readers to know that the experiment has now been carried through with great success.
On Sunday, June 1st, the Gelria,' a vessel of 14,000 tons, left Gothenburg with a party of over 450 Swedish people on board. The following Tuesday the passengers disem- barked in the early morning at Gravesend, and proceeded -by steam launch up the river to Westminster, where they landed. The Gelria ' was then taken up to Greenwich and anchored there. After a day's sightseeing the visitors returned in the evening in time for dinner and slept on board. Each morning the passengers were landed at Greenwich Pier, and left by specially hired motor coaches to see London and its surroundings, two days being devoted to the Empire Exhibition.
The visit was organized by a Swedish journal, Svenska Dagbladet, for the convenience of its .readers. It will be interesting to see .whether Sweden repeats the experiment and other nations adopt the idea. Greenwich, that town of splendid -mernories and squalid realities; Still foil/6s a pleasant enough spot as centre for such a Visit. tsbbter- viit6iy, Park and Naval College' amply compensate for'' its
dull streets, and it is within easy reach by road and river of all the interesting sights of London.—I am, Sir, &c., B.
Previous page
