Advice for UK roadtrip
Oct 9th, 2012, 09:01 AM
#1
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Advice for UK roadtrip
Hello everyone,
Our family (my husband, me, 1 teenage child and 2 small children) will be in UK for 11 days in Nov'12. Am having problems to decide how many days/nights to spend in each city and whether it's wise to travel by car or public transport. Appreciate your wise advice on my itinerary.
Prefer not to have a packed itinerary as it may be taxing to all of us esp. the children. Here're the cities we'd like to visit - North Wales, Manchester, Liverpool, Oxford, Cambridge, Bath/Stonehenge.
Day 1 - London
Day 2- 7(not really sure on this) - roadtrip from Stonehenge -> North Wales -> Manchester -> Liverpool -> Oxford -> Cambridge
** Machester and Liverpool are two must cities to visit as the children are football fans.
Day 8 - 11 London
We'll be using public transport in London and rent a car for the roadtrip
Here're some questions:
1) How many days/nights should we spend in each city?
Do these look ok?
Stonehenge (1 night), North Wales (1 night), Manchester (1 night), Liverpool (a day trip), Oxford (1 night), Cambridge (a day trip) and travel back to London on the same day.
Please do recommend other routes if mine is not time saving.
2) Any other cities worth visiting or we can stop by during our roadtrip?
3) Is it recommended to travel from London to Bath/Stonehenge on bus or train and take rented car from there? Can we handover the car at a different city i.e. Cambridge? Is travelling by train/coach cheaper and easier?
I hope the questions are not too much. Really need some advice. Thank you very much in advance.
Our family (my husband, me, 1 teenage child and 2 small children) will be in UK for 11 days in Nov'12. Am having problems to decide how many days/nights to spend in each city and whether it's wise to travel by car or public transport. Appreciate your wise advice on my itinerary.
Prefer not to have a packed itinerary as it may be taxing to all of us esp. the children. Here're the cities we'd like to visit - North Wales, Manchester, Liverpool, Oxford, Cambridge, Bath/Stonehenge.
Day 1 - London
Day 2- 7(not really sure on this) - roadtrip from Stonehenge -> North Wales -> Manchester -> Liverpool -> Oxford -> Cambridge
** Machester and Liverpool are two must cities to visit as the children are football fans.
Day 8 - 11 London
We'll be using public transport in London and rent a car for the roadtrip
Here're some questions:
1) How many days/nights should we spend in each city?
Do these look ok?
Stonehenge (1 night), North Wales (1 night), Manchester (1 night), Liverpool (a day trip), Oxford (1 night), Cambridge (a day trip) and travel back to London on the same day.
Please do recommend other routes if mine is not time saving.
2) Any other cities worth visiting or we can stop by during our roadtrip?
3) Is it recommended to travel from London to Bath/Stonehenge on bus or train and take rented car from there? Can we handover the car at a different city i.e. Cambridge? Is travelling by train/coach cheaper and easier?
I hope the questions are not too much. Really need some advice. Thank you very much in advance.
Oct 9th, 2012, 09:18 AM
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I don't want to seem critical -b ut you alradyhave an extremely busy itinerary - and I'm not sure where you are going to have time to see what. Almost every day is a travel day - which means sightseeing is limited to 4 or 5 hours.
With 3 kids I would limit yourself to London and 2 other stops - with perhaps a day trip from them.
Otherwise you are bouncing around like ping pong balls.
For instance - Stonhenge/Bath is NOT one place. Bath will take a full day to see much of anything and you would need a separate day to travel from London to Stonehenge to see it an then on to Bath.
Are you planning on seeing matches in Manchester and Liverpool? If so - when will that happen? And will you see nothing else in those cities?
We always do road rips by road - since train may not follow the path you want - and it could mean a lot of backtracking. I know there are coaches from London to Oxford - but not sure if you will find anything but local buses between some of the places you're talking about - and that could take forever.
I think you need to get a train schedule so you can see how long it would take to get from one place to another on your list - but 6 places in 6 days is about as rushed as you can get.
With 3 kids I would limit yourself to London and 2 other stops - with perhaps a day trip from them.
Otherwise you are bouncing around like ping pong balls.
For instance - Stonhenge/Bath is NOT one place. Bath will take a full day to see much of anything and you would need a separate day to travel from London to Stonehenge to see it an then on to Bath.
Are you planning on seeing matches in Manchester and Liverpool? If so - when will that happen? And will you see nothing else in those cities?
We always do road rips by road - since train may not follow the path you want - and it could mean a lot of backtracking. I know there are coaches from London to Oxford - but not sure if you will find anything but local buses between some of the places you're talking about - and that could take forever.
I think you need to get a train schedule so you can see how long it would take to get from one place to another on your list - but 6 places in 6 days is about as rushed as you can get.
Oct 9th, 2012, 09:26 AM
#3
hi idah,
first of all, I love the idea of getting out of london and seeing something of England - in theory. However, you only have 10 nights, and i feel that for a first trip, you would probably want to spend longer in London than you have given it, and even if you don't you don't have the time needed to do justice [or even get to] all the places you have mentioned.
you do need to decide whether you want to hire a car or use public transport - of course a car will give you more flexibility, but a train might be less stressful.
a further point is that you should aim to put all your nights in London together - either all at the end of the trip or all at the beginning.
putting your itinerary into a sensible order [and omitting places that you haven't got time to go to, like Liverpool, Manchester and North wales - which would make a 10 day trip of their own] you could do this:
Day 1 - arrive LHR [assuming you are arriving in the early morning, about breakfast time]. hire car and drive to windsor. spend day there/Legoland. [not a good idea to drive very far on this day when you have just arrived]
Day 2 - Drive to Bath, passing Stonehenge and visiting Salisbury en route. Stay 3 nights. [personally, I'd go a bit further and stay in Bristol where there is loads to do for kids of this age, and you could see Bath on a day trip]
Day 3,4, - stay Bath/Bristol
Day 5 - drive to Oxford. stay 2 nights.
Day 6, - Oxford/environs
Day 7 - return car, get train to London. [sorry, Cambridge is too much of an outlier for this trip] stay. stay 4 nights.
Day 11 - fly home.
this puts all your london nights at the end and therefore puts you in the right place for flying home. but you could do exactly the same trip in reverse, ending up with the night in Windsor, which depending on the timing of your flight home, you could jettison for another night in Bristol or Bath, and return the car direct to LHR.
have a great trip!
first of all, I love the idea of getting out of london and seeing something of England - in theory. However, you only have 10 nights, and i feel that for a first trip, you would probably want to spend longer in London than you have given it, and even if you don't you don't have the time needed to do justice [or even get to] all the places you have mentioned.
you do need to decide whether you want to hire a car or use public transport - of course a car will give you more flexibility, but a train might be less stressful.
a further point is that you should aim to put all your nights in London together - either all at the end of the trip or all at the beginning.
putting your itinerary into a sensible order [and omitting places that you haven't got time to go to, like Liverpool, Manchester and North wales - which would make a 10 day trip of their own] you could do this:
Day 1 - arrive LHR [assuming you are arriving in the early morning, about breakfast time]. hire car and drive to windsor. spend day there/Legoland. [not a good idea to drive very far on this day when you have just arrived]
Day 2 - Drive to Bath, passing Stonehenge and visiting Salisbury en route. Stay 3 nights. [personally, I'd go a bit further and stay in Bristol where there is loads to do for kids of this age, and you could see Bath on a day trip]
Day 3,4, - stay Bath/Bristol
Day 5 - drive to Oxford. stay 2 nights.
Day 6, - Oxford/environs
Day 7 - return car, get train to London. [sorry, Cambridge is too much of an outlier for this trip] stay. stay 4 nights.
Day 11 - fly home.
this puts all your london nights at the end and therefore puts you in the right place for flying home. but you could do exactly the same trip in reverse, ending up with the night in Windsor, which depending on the timing of your flight home, you could jettison for another night in Bristol or Bath, and return the car direct to LHR.
have a great trip!
Oct 9th, 2012, 10:03 AM
#4
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Annhig makes an excelent itinerary suggestion. You could always do a Wembley tour or Arsenal/Chelsea/any other London club tour for the football fans. Not the same as Old Trafford/City of Manchester stadium or Anfield/Goodison depending which teams they support but still interesting for them.
Bear in mind also that daylight is greatly reduced in November so spending all day on the road would leave you seeing many things in the dark!
Bear in mind also that daylight is greatly reduced in November so spending all day on the road would leave you seeing many things in the dark!
Oct 9th, 2012, 10:11 AM
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And always consider the value of some "wiggle room." You never know when someone's going to be a little sick or need to rest up some blisters from too much walking the day before or want to take refuge inside from an all-day rain that would make exploring miserable.
Kandace
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Oct 9th, 2012, 10:20 AM
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I'd second the above comments, though you say Manchester and Liverpool are must see so consider staying in Chester as a base for exploring the north west and north Wales (why north Wales?)
day 1 Arrive Heathrow stay close
day 2 drive to Oxford
day 3 Oxford
day 4 Oxford
(days 2-4 also visit Bath and or Stonehenge)
day 5 drive to Chester (drop off car possibly)
day 6 Chester
day 7 Chester
(days 5-7 also visit Liverpool, or Manchester or north Wales but probably not all)
day 8 drive or train London
day 9 London
day 10 London
day 11 London and home
but it's a busy schedule and something will have to give - but it's an idea.
day 1 Arrive Heathrow stay close
day 2 drive to Oxford
day 3 Oxford
day 4 Oxford
(days 2-4 also visit Bath and or Stonehenge)
day 5 drive to Chester (drop off car possibly)
day 6 Chester
day 7 Chester
(days 5-7 also visit Liverpool, or Manchester or north Wales but probably not all)
day 8 drive or train London
day 9 London
day 10 London
day 11 London and home
but it's a busy schedule and something will have to give - but it's an idea.
Oct 9th, 2012, 11:08 AM
#7
sorry - i missed the fact the Manchester and Liverpool are must sees.
do you have tickets for a match in either city ? otherwise all you'll be able to do are tours of the stadiums as there will be no chance of getting tickets except at silly prices. i agree with hetismj that unless the kids are mad keen Man U/man city/liverpool supporters, you could do the same thing at the Spurs, Chelsea or Arsenal grounds. you might even get tickets for a match at Fulham, if you're lucky.
if you have to go "up north" then i can't see how you will get to Bath, Oxford, or Cambridge. to do all that AND london too is just too much in the time you've got.
do you have tickets for a match in either city ? otherwise all you'll be able to do are tours of the stadiums as there will be no chance of getting tickets except at silly prices. i agree with hetismj that unless the kids are mad keen Man U/man city/liverpool supporters, you could do the same thing at the Spurs, Chelsea or Arsenal grounds. you might even get tickets for a match at Fulham, if you're lucky.
if you have to go "up north" then i can't see how you will get to Bath, Oxford, or Cambridge. to do all that AND london too is just too much in the time you've got.
Oct 9th, 2012, 12:14 PM
#8
Just a few odd thoughts
There will be tonnes of fireworks set off on 2nd, 3rd and 5th of November. The majority of this stuff will go up on the 5th. If you are in the country you will want to be at a firework party or at least aware they are going on.
Are you prepared for jet lag?
I take it you googled the distances and times for the travel, add 30% on the time to get more sensible journey times.
Of the cities mentioned Oxford is very un-friendly towards cars and Cambridge is close behind. If have not experienced such a concept it may be frustrating.
Going to busy
There will be tonnes of fireworks set off on 2nd, 3rd and 5th of November. The majority of this stuff will go up on the 5th. If you are in the country you will want to be at a firework party or at least aware they are going on.
Are you prepared for jet lag?
I take it you googled the distances and times for the travel, add 30% on the time to get more sensible journey times.
Of the cities mentioned Oxford is very un-friendly towards cars and Cambridge is close behind. If have not experienced such a concept it may be frustrating.
Going to busy
Oct 9th, 2012, 12:37 PM
#9
Just to pile on -- agree w/most everything above. Please clarify - is Day 1 your arrival day and day 11 your departure day? If so, you have even less than eleven days. Day one is mostly eaten up w/ logistics/jetlag, and day 11 is pack/get to the airport and wait. So in 'real life' you have about 9 days free but have plans that would easily fill a month - three weeks minimum.
Give us more detail about what you expect from Manchester/Liverpool. Just see the grounds or actually attend a match (VERY difficult)?
If you really must do the north-then stick to the north and London. Fly into Manchester, visit the two cities plus Chester and North Wales - total about 4-ish days. Drop the car and take the train to London for the rest of your time.
That is about what you could manage.
If you want to take a day trip to Oxford - great. You don't have time for both Oxford AND Cambridge. And you <u>definitely</u> don't have time for Stonehenge, Bath, Oxford, Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales, Cambridge and London.
Give us more detail about what you expect from Manchester/Liverpool. Just see the grounds or actually attend a match (VERY difficult)?
If you really must do the north-then stick to the north and London. Fly into Manchester, visit the two cities plus Chester and North Wales - total about 4-ish days. Drop the car and take the train to London for the rest of your time.
That is about what you could manage.
If you want to take a day trip to Oxford - great. You don't have time for both Oxford AND Cambridge. And you <u>definitely</u> don't have time for Stonehenge, Bath, Oxford, Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales, Cambridge and London.
Oct 9th, 2012, 04:09 PM
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London is catnip for hobbits - double-decker buses, interactive museums, the Tower, trains, Hamley's (hoo boy - you'll be in for it there), Imperial War Museum, Harry Potterness and more. Your original itinerary stinks - too much moving around with "small children." Best to limit your locales - one near Manchester/L'pool, London and elsewhere.
Oct 9th, 2012, 11:04 PM
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If you do hope to see matches, you will have to arrange to be in Liverpool or Manchester on a Saturday when they are actually playing at home. As half of the fixtures are away matches, it is just as likely Man U or Liverpool FC will be playing in London or elsewhere. Of course if their football interests extend to Man City or Everton FC your chances will be doubled.
If you just want to visit football grounds or cities where teams are located, I believe you would be better off looking in London, where Chelsea, Arsenal, and many other top clubs reside. Don't forget the national stadium at Wembley, where the cup final and international matches are played: http://www.wembleystadium.com/Wembley-Tours.aspx
If you just want to visit football grounds or cities where teams are located, I believe you would be better off looking in London, where Chelsea, Arsenal, and many other top clubs reside. Don't forget the national stadium at Wembley, where the cup final and international matches are played: http://www.wembleystadium.com/Wembley-Tours.aspx
Oct 10th, 2012, 01:02 AM
#13
The easiest way to do this trip is as mentioned. Fly into Manchester if you can and out of a London airport. That makes much more sense and will stop you backtracking up and down the country. However, if you've already booked your air tickets, you're stuck with in and out of Heathrow unless you fly back there from Manchester on a shuttle flight.
As far as visiting Manchester is concerned, not only do we have the major club ground in the UK at Old Trafford, www.manutd.com but there is a museum at the ground too for all United fans and a stadium tour. The National Football Museum is in Manchester City Centre in the Urbis building and is well worth a visit. Entrance is free, though they do look for a donation for its upkeep.
http://www.nationalfootballmuseumcom/
If you are lucky enough to be in town when there 's a match on, you may still be able to get tickets via the club on the above link at normal match prices (or on 0044 161 868 8000) and you can collect them at the ticket office on the day of the match. Get there early though if you do this, as lots of others will be queueing too. Matches are NOT always on a Saturday afternoon and you might find a Sunday or weekday night match is available. The UK fixtures for Manchester United in November are as follows:
03 Nov Barclays Premier League Arsenal H 12:45
10 Nov Barclays Premier League Aston Villa A 17:30
17 Nov Barclays Premier League Norwich City A 17:30
24 Nov Barclays Premier League Queens Park Rangers H 15:00
28 Nov Barclays Premier League West Ham H 20:00
The home and away games are marked H or A. There is only one home Saturday afternoon game at 3pm shown.
As far as visiting Manchester is concerned, not only do we have the major club ground in the UK at Old Trafford, www.manutd.com but there is a museum at the ground too for all United fans and a stadium tour. The National Football Museum is in Manchester City Centre in the Urbis building and is well worth a visit. Entrance is free, though they do look for a donation for its upkeep.
http://www.nationalfootballmuseumcom/
If you are lucky enough to be in town when there 's a match on, you may still be able to get tickets via the club on the above link at normal match prices (or on 0044 161 868 8000) and you can collect them at the ticket office on the day of the match. Get there early though if you do this, as lots of others will be queueing too. Matches are NOT always on a Saturday afternoon and you might find a Sunday or weekday night match is available. The UK fixtures for Manchester United in November are as follows:
03 Nov Barclays Premier League Arsenal H 12:45
10 Nov Barclays Premier League Aston Villa A 17:30
17 Nov Barclays Premier League Norwich City A 17:30
24 Nov Barclays Premier League Queens Park Rangers H 15:00
28 Nov Barclays Premier League West Ham H 20:00
The home and away games are marked H or A. There is only one home Saturday afternoon game at 3pm shown.
Oct 10th, 2012, 08:08 AM
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Hello everyone,
Thank you so much for all the replies. Really appreciate all of them..
To clarify some of the questions:
1. We'll arrive Heathrow at 5-6am
2. On 12th day, we'll take eurostar to Paris (planning for this will be next in my list..mmm)
3. 15th day, we'll fly back home from CDG
4. Manchester is a really must see. The kids are excited for this trip bcause of Manchester. No plan to see any matches. Stadium tour and city tour will just do.
Will probably skip Liverpool and will take your suggestions and do stadium tour in London.
5. Ops.. another must see town is Colchester. Want to visit my old uni.
Going thru' the suggested itinerary and here's my revised iti:
Day 1 - Arrive Heathrow. London city - free n easy
Day 2 - Train to Manchester (4 hrs trip)
Day 3 - Manchester - stadium tour, etc
Day 4 - Train to London. Just resting in the hotel.
Day 5 - Day trip to Colchester (by train)
Day 6 - Day trip to Oxford (by coach)
Day 7 to 11 - London (stadium tour and other attractions)
Day 12 - Bye London
I do tend to agree. Taking train maybe less stressful as this will be the family's first time in UK.
Just trying my luck, is it still sensible to visit Stonehenge with the itinerary?
Since we'll take train/coach to the cities, do you think we can manage by walking or take local buses in Manchester and Oxford to visit the attractions?
Thanks again for all the advice.
Thank you so much for all the replies. Really appreciate all of them..
To clarify some of the questions:
1. We'll arrive Heathrow at 5-6am
2. On 12th day, we'll take eurostar to Paris (planning for this will be next in my list..mmm)
3. 15th day, we'll fly back home from CDG
4. Manchester is a really must see. The kids are excited for this trip bcause of Manchester. No plan to see any matches. Stadium tour and city tour will just do.
Will probably skip Liverpool and will take your suggestions and do stadium tour in London.
5. Ops.. another must see town is Colchester. Want to visit my old uni.
Going thru' the suggested itinerary and here's my revised iti:
Day 1 - Arrive Heathrow. London city - free n easy
Day 2 - Train to Manchester (4 hrs trip)
Day 3 - Manchester - stadium tour, etc
Day 4 - Train to London. Just resting in the hotel.
Day 5 - Day trip to Colchester (by train)
Day 6 - Day trip to Oxford (by coach)
Day 7 to 11 - London (stadium tour and other attractions)
Day 12 - Bye London
I do tend to agree. Taking train maybe less stressful as this will be the family's first time in UK.
Just trying my luck, is it still sensible to visit Stonehenge with the itinerary?
Since we'll take train/coach to the cities, do you think we can manage by walking or take local buses in Manchester and Oxford to visit the attractions?
Thanks again for all the advice.
Oct 10th, 2012, 08:08 AM
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Hello everyone,
Thank you so much for all the replies. Really appreciate all of them..
To clarify some of the questions:
1. We'll arrive Heathrow at 5-6am
2. On 12th day, we'll take eurostar to Paris (planning for this will be next in my list..mmm)
3. 15th day, we'll fly back home from CDG
4. Manchester is a really must see. The kids are excited for this trip bcause of Manchester. No plan to see any matches. Stadium tour and city tour will just do.
Will probably skip Liverpool and will take your suggestions and do stadium tour in London.
5. Ops.. another must see town is Colchester. Want to visit my old uni.
Going thru' the suggested itinerary and here's my revised iti:
Day 1 - Arrive Heathrow. London city - free n easy
Day 2 - Train to Manchester (4 hrs trip)
Day 3 - Manchester - stadium tour, etc
Day 4 - Train to London. Just resting in the hotel.
Day 5 - Day trip to Colchester (by train)
Day 6 - Day trip to Oxford (by coach)
Day 7 to 11 - London (stadium tour and other attractions)
Day 12 - Bye London
I do tend to agree. Taking train maybe less stressful as this will be the family's first time in UK.
Just trying my luck, is it still sensible to visit Stonehenge with the itinerary?
Since we'll take train/coach to the cities, do you think we can manage by walking or take local buses in Manchester and Oxford to visit the attractions?
Thanks again for all the advice.
Thank you so much for all the replies. Really appreciate all of them..
To clarify some of the questions:
1. We'll arrive Heathrow at 5-6am
2. On 12th day, we'll take eurostar to Paris (planning for this will be next in my list..mmm)
3. 15th day, we'll fly back home from CDG
4. Manchester is a really must see. The kids are excited for this trip bcause of Manchester. No plan to see any matches. Stadium tour and city tour will just do.
Will probably skip Liverpool and will take your suggestions and do stadium tour in London.
5. Ops.. another must see town is Colchester. Want to visit my old uni.
Going thru' the suggested itinerary and here's my revised iti:
Day 1 - Arrive Heathrow. London city - free n easy
Day 2 - Train to Manchester (4 hrs trip)
Day 3 - Manchester - stadium tour, etc
Day 4 - Train to London. Just resting in the hotel.
Day 5 - Day trip to Colchester (by train)
Day 6 - Day trip to Oxford (by coach)
Day 7 to 11 - London (stadium tour and other attractions)
Day 12 - Bye London
I do tend to agree. Taking train maybe less stressful as this will be the family's first time in UK.
Just trying my luck, is it still sensible to visit Stonehenge with the itinerary?
Since we'll take train/coach to the cities, do you think we can manage by walking or take local buses in Manchester and Oxford to visit the attractions?
Thanks again for all the advice.
Oct 10th, 2012, 08:29 AM
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On second thought, here's the itinerary if we drive. We'll have an extra day for London alone:
Day 1 - Arrive Heathrow. London city - free n easy
Day 2 – Drive to Manchester. City tour
Day 3 - Manchester - stadium tour, etc. Drive to Colchester
Day 4 – Colchester town. Drive to Oxford.
Day 5 – Oxford city tour, etc. Drop off car at Oxford
Day 6 – 11 London (stadium tour and other attractions)
Day 12 - Bye London
Is the driving route sensible or I should stick with the 1st revised itinerary?
Day 1 - Arrive Heathrow. London city - free n easy
Day 2 – Drive to Manchester. City tour
Day 3 - Manchester - stadium tour, etc. Drive to Colchester
Day 4 – Colchester town. Drive to Oxford.
Day 5 – Oxford city tour, etc. Drop off car at Oxford
Day 6 – 11 London (stadium tour and other attractions)
Day 12 - Bye London
Is the driving route sensible or I should stick with the 1st revised itinerary?
Oct 10th, 2012, 08:56 AM
#19
"<i>On second thought, here's the itinerary if we drive. We'll have an extra day for London alone:
Day 1 - Arrive Heathrow. London city - free n easy
Day 2 – Drive to Manchester. City tour
Day 3 - Manchester - stadium tour, etc. Drive to Colchester
Day 4 – Colchester town. Drive to Oxford.
Day 5 – Oxford city tour, etc. Drop off car at Oxford
Day 6 – 11 London (stadium tour and other attractions)
Day 12 - Bye London</i>"
I don't think this plan makes <i>any</i> sense. Manchester to Colchester is 250 miles (and you'd be going via the M25 around the northern side of London). Then Colchester to Oxford is 125+ miles and you'd be retracing your route back around the M25. No sense at all.
If you <i>must</i> do this - then do it Manchester > Oxford > Colchester. Driving from London to Manchester is not great either.
So if it was my trip (but it isn't) - assuming your flights are booked - Land at LHR, fly up to MAN. Spend that day and the next in Manchester (2 nights). Pick up a carin the early AM, drive to Oxford, spend the night, drive to Colchester, spend the night. Either drive to London and drop the car or drop the car and take the train to London.
Day 1 - Arrive Heathrow. London city - free n easy
Day 2 – Drive to Manchester. City tour
Day 3 - Manchester - stadium tour, etc. Drive to Colchester
Day 4 – Colchester town. Drive to Oxford.
Day 5 – Oxford city tour, etc. Drop off car at Oxford
Day 6 – 11 London (stadium tour and other attractions)
Day 12 - Bye London</i>"
I don't think this plan makes <i>any</i> sense. Manchester to Colchester is 250 miles (and you'd be going via the M25 around the northern side of London). Then Colchester to Oxford is 125+ miles and you'd be retracing your route back around the M25. No sense at all.
If you <i>must</i> do this - then do it Manchester > Oxford > Colchester. Driving from London to Manchester is not great either.
So if it was my trip (but it isn't) - assuming your flights are booked - Land at LHR, fly up to MAN. Spend that day and the next in Manchester (2 nights). Pick up a carin the early AM, drive to Oxford, spend the night, drive to Colchester, spend the night. Either drive to London and drop the car or drop the car and take the train to London.
Oct 10th, 2012, 09:52 AM
#20
mmm - london - manchester - oxford - colchester - london? in 6 days? not an obvious itinerary, certainly.
anyhow, i think I'd break it up differently -
Day 1 - arrive LHR 6am. clear immigration/customs by 8am. have breakfast. Get bus to Oxford. [here's the timetable - http://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/main.php?page_id=24 - they run every 30 mins all through the day and most of the night]
spend the day and night. at least. I'd stay an extra night to recover from possible jetlag, and to get a real chance to explore Oxford.
Day 2 - get train or drive to Manchester. spend 2 nights. [trains run every hour or so, some are direct, takes about 3 hours].
Day 4 - pick up car and drive to colchester. it should take about 4 1/2 hours. i would definitely suggest stopping off somewhere historical en route - what about Newark on trent? or cambridge? have a look at viamichelin.com for a route and to put in various options.
day 5 - stay in colchester.
Day 6 - train/drive to london.
anyhow, i think I'd break it up differently -
Day 1 - arrive LHR 6am. clear immigration/customs by 8am. have breakfast. Get bus to Oxford. [here's the timetable - http://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/main.php?page_id=24 - they run every 30 mins all through the day and most of the night]
spend the day and night. at least. I'd stay an extra night to recover from possible jetlag, and to get a real chance to explore Oxford.
Day 2 - get train or drive to Manchester. spend 2 nights. [trains run every hour or so, some are direct, takes about 3 hours].
Day 4 - pick up car and drive to colchester. it should take about 4 1/2 hours. i would definitely suggest stopping off somewhere historical en route - what about Newark on trent? or cambridge? have a look at viamichelin.com for a route and to put in various options.
day 5 - stay in colchester.
Day 6 - train/drive to london.
