lstamu

I thnk I can figure out London! These are some other things we'd like to do but not be changing hotels ( cities)too much. None of us have been to England.

Bath, Oxford, Stratford on Avon,----the Cotswolds, do we need to spend the night there? Weather permitting we'd love to hike between two but what two?Should we definitely try to see a Shakespeare play in Stratford on Avon and so would we have to spend the night there? Do we need to see Stonehenge? Can any of these be day trips?

It looks like the trains can get us to these places but suggestions and comments would be helpful. Should Bath be the last stop since we'll be flying out from Heathrow?

janisj

>>Do we need to see Stonehenge? <<

No one 'needs' to see anything specifically. You need to see it if you <i>want</i> to see it.

In your situation I would spend the week in London and then rent a couple of cars (or one MPV) and base somewhere in the mid-Cotswolds for the rest of your time. (Burford/Stow-on-the- Wold/ nearby) That would be a base for day trips to Stratford/Warwick, Bath, Oxford plus Cotswold towns/villages.

Then you'd be a reasonable drive back to LHR for your flight home.

lstamu

You're right about the needing-wanting thing. I forgot to say no one wants to drive and that does present a different problem. Thanks for your input.

MmePerdu

I think you'll find it's a rush to see London and much else too. And are you joined at the hip or could those who wish to take daytrips go and leave others to do as they wish? I'd be surprised if the preferences were identical.

Often mentioned here, and I agree, are trips to Windsor and Hampton Court Palace, easy to get to and back and very worthwhile and entertaining. A week is not much time to see all or even many of the places you mention. See London well and come back for the rest on a longer visit.

MmePerdu

Apologies, I missed the mention of the 12 days. I'll second janisj's recommendation of Oxford/Cotswolds. See what you can see by train & bus for the 5 days. In which case you might consider your last night at an airport hotel.

bilboburgler

"Bath, Oxford, Stratford on Avon,----the Cotswolds, do we need to spend the night there? Weather permitting we'd love to hike between two but what two"

You just have to get a map to understand the scale of things, also the Cotswolds are an area not a city. If you search this site for "Cotswolds" you should find a bunch of ideas for walking in this area and the public transport that would make this idea fun.

If no one wants to drive then you need
http://www.transportdirect.info/Web2...epeatingloop=Y
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
http://www.seat61.com/

I don't know this website but this might help as well
http://www.cotswolds.com/

janisj

If you don't want to drive (why not? ) that limits what you can do quite a bit.

If you won't drive, I'd spend most of the time in London. Then I'd probably take the train to Stratford and spend one night (the town really isn't all that 'worth' overnighting but staying over makes it easier to attend an RSC performance).

Then a morning train to Oxford for the day and an early evening train on to Bath. Stay in Bath for two nights, and finally take the express coach from Bath to LHR.

From your London base you can do Day trips to Windsor and Hampton Court Palace.

annhig

what jj said.

definitely get working on the tickets for Stratford if you're serious about seeing a performance there.

http://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/

as an alternative, you might like to see a performance at the Globe in London:

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/

stevewith

Are you all basically in good health and active people?

If so, I suggest you make the effort to see and do what you want to see and do, rather than go to places because the train goes there, or stay put in London because it is easier. After looking at the effort required to get to some places, you might decide to eliminate those stops. After toting up all the things you want to do in London, you might find the list is so long it makes sense to stay in London, or you might find it is brief and off to other places is a great idea.

I'm sorry, I know that sounds so basic, but a lot of people get talked out of experiencing places they would have enjoyed by others whose travel style is not very active.

MmePerdu

I absolutely agree with Steve. Unless you feel you're so "down the middle" that what other people do is what you feel you will want to do. And I don't think many really feel that way so do some good research for yourself.

You mention walking from one town to another. I walk every time I visit and you might consider, for instance, a section of the Thames Path between Oxford and Abingdon. Not too far. The walk is flat and signed, the center of Abingdon near the river is pleasant and it's easy to get a bus back to Oxford. No arrangements need to be made. Get an OS map of the area in 1/25,000 scale or there's a good map of just the Thames Path, published by Geo Projects and likely available at the Oxford Tourist Information office on Broad St. among other places (and online). Find the path across the river, west from the Oxford train station. You'll see life along the river as well as some countryside. That walk is just an example of what you'll find all over, just happens to be particularly simple for your purposes.

cathies

Seeing a play at the Globe Theatre is a good option. We did that and loved it.

lstamu

I love this forum because you get THE BEST feedback. Thank you all for the suggestions! I'm working on the trip!