LOTRHP

Hi All, Will be traveling to England in August and would love to get some feedback from you. I would love to get suggestions on what towns/cities/areas have been judged most interesting/loved by you. I will be staying in London and would love suggestions on day trips from London or areas to travel for 2-3 day segments. My total trip should be about 2 weeks.

To give you some idea of what I am looking for--Basically I love England's olde history, beautiful landscapes, fun shopping areas, amazing castles...

So far I have been considering the area of Cornwall (vast I know, would love to narrow that down a bit), Stratford-Upon-Avon, Hampton Court as a day trip, London, and possibly a day or overnighter to Edinburgh, Scotland (I think Ireland might be a bit too far for my time frame--am I wrong?).

I know this is a rather vast topic but I would appreciate some advice so I could narrow my trip to England down some.

Thank you very much!

m_kingdom2

Cornwall is dreadfully touristy, and in high season is, in my opinion, unbearable!

I'd suggest hiring a car, and driving in the general direction of Edinburgh. You can take in the Cotswolds, then move more into the Midlands or Wales, then continue driving further north, perhaps see Newcastle (which has improved vastly in the past few years) and then a little more coastal driving. If this appeals, please feel free to ask for more specific information.

However, if you would really like to do something different that comes highly recommended from me...fly to the Isle of Man (50min flight from City airport/Luton/Gatwick) and spend 5-7 nights there. In August all the heathers are out in the hills/mountatins, the coast is dramatic and the island itself is largely unspoilt by tourism. Also, there's opportunity for watching seals and other wildlife if you are that way inclined. No great gastronomic finds, there are a couple of excellent Italians, a French, and a couple more modern restaurants, not madly cheap, but by no means expensive. Stay at the newly refurbished Hilton, or the Sefton, they're comfortable, not luxurious. I really love the island just to get away from it all, it's fabulous going for a drive, having a little picnic on some deserted beach, and experiencing something that simply cannot be found on the mainland.

henneth

Just wanted to clarify if it's actually "the best areas to travel" in the British Isles that you need information on. If that is the case and you like landscapes and castles then Wales has alot to offer.
For a shorter overnight trip try a journey around the Cotswolds leaving London on the M40 then A40, then continue towards Wales, west to the Wye Valley, Tintern Abbey and the castle at Chepstow. One of the best views in the area can be taken at Symonds Yat Rock between Gloucester and Monmouth which is half way on your journey between the Cotswolds and the Welsh Borders. At the end of your drive pick up the M48 and M4 back to London.
An overnight stop could be made in a Cotswold village on the western edges of the region, possibly Winchcombe or Northleach, purely for convenience sake (in relocating the A40) but there are many other wonderful places to stay in that area.

Underhill

kent is beautiful and has many attractions; probably our favorite area, although we also like the cotswolds, somerset and dorset, and the peaks district.

LOTRHP

Hi All,
Thanks for all the advice. I should say that I am not going to drive or rent a car so any transportation would have to be a tour or train or bus.

henneth

Okay, without a car I think you'll have difficulty with public transport visiting the Cotswolds and the Welsh Borders along the route that I have illustrated above. Tour buses rarely do the Cotswold region justice in my opinion with the exception of the London Walks Explorer Days and Astral Travels 'Cotswold Connection' tour, both out of London or the range of tours offered by Cotswold Roaming in Oxford. At least these tour firms try and get you off the beaten track and down to some unspoilt villages.
Now Stratford on Avon is a simple train journey from London Marylebone. You can even fall asleep for the entire journey, safe in the knowledge that Stratford is the terminus and you'll not end up in some far off town in the conurbations of the West Midlands. Within the town you'll find Shakespeare's Birthplace and Exhibition a short walk from the station. Nearby is all that remains of his final home, New Place, torn down in 1759. At the end of Chapel Lane, turn left to Old Town to visit Holy Trinity Church to see where his baptism and burial took place.
Ther are two more worthwhile stops to be made on the train back to London so leave soon after lunch. First station after leaving Stratford is Wilmcote, a short walk from the platform is Mary Arden's house, Shakespeare's mothers home. You could allow yourself an hour there then continue on the train a couple of stops to Warwick. It's a ten minute walk from the station to Warwick Castle. Try and get there for 3pm as closing is at 6pm. When the security guards start rounding up the last visitors just after the closing bell, simply walk back to the station and get the next train back to London.

LOTRHP

Thanks again!

Henneth, I notice that you have responded to my other 'English' question...
I'd love to 'pick your brain' some more about how to get around Cornwall (when one is not driving) and other places that you have found interesting, oh and any other useful tidbits you care to share.

You made Stratford sound so lovely. Can't wait to go now!

Thanks again.

cclayton

Hi Lotrhp,

England in August... should be great for weather. Cornwall is a fantastic place, the people are very different to those in London - I far prefer them! I also love the cornish pasty!

If your interested in a tour to Scotland, then check out this site... http://guidedlondontours.com/catalog...products_id=56 where this tour is 3 days and is from Evan Evans Tours, it is also discounted and not currently on Evan Evans web site as yet. At least last time I checked it wasnt.

If your looking to travel to Ireland its entirely feasible and not too expensive if you research flights... try www.ryanair.com - they are a low cost airline.

wojazz3

Without a car or a tour bus, I would think getting around Cornwall would be pretty difficult. In response to it being touristy, it depends on where you go. August will be pretty crowded almost everywhere and Cornwall no more than places like Stratford on Avon and the like. Every tour bus through England probably stops there as well as countless day trips from London.

Edinburgh in August will be very crowded and very difficult to get a room with the Festival going on. I do like m-kingdom's idea of going to the Isle of Man, something I haven't hit yet.

If I were you and trying to see as much as you would like to see (without a car), I'd consider one of the tour companies that uses smaller vehicles and are perhaps a bit more flexible. They are more expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Hope this is helpful. If you are interested, here is a link to my journal that include Wales and SW England.

http://www.geocities.com/obeirne_wales_2004/

Bill

JudyC

August in Cornwall will be very crowded; but travelling in Devon/Cornwall by public transport is quite easy, for the network details, please check: www.carfreedaysout.com.

m_kingdom2

If you're not going to be hiring a car, then the Isle of Man has a great bus service that you can circumnavigate the entire island with. It's not touristy which is always pleasant.

If you'd like to explore this option further I'll be delighted to elaborate on any aspects that may concern you.

azwurth

Trying to plan a trip ourselves in late July..I believe I have read that trains run from London to the Cotswolds often and take about 90 minutes? Correct me if I am wrong anyone. How often do they rur...anyone? Thanks.

annesouness

Hi
pretty much everywhere in the Uk in August is busy and unfortunately public transport leaves a lot to be desired. September is much quieter if your plans are flexible. I agree Stratford on Avon is a good option for a trip from London. Again remember you may have to queque for quite some time to get in to the various attractions. get in touch with Stratford tourist information office and they will help. there is a bus tour that you can buy which covers all the historical places and you simply hop off the bus when you want and catch another later to the next destination on your list. Mary Arden's house is well worth a visit and usually not too busy and there are a couple of good pubs within walking distance. A few days in stratford would be a good base. from there you can visit Warwick Castle which is very impressive and also the ruins of Kenilworth castle. Blenheim Palace in oxford is also lovely. From Stratford you can also get a train to Birmingham city centre-a city that has changed so much over the last few years. try to see a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Company-but book now! Should you decide to go to Cornwall-North Cornwall is my personal favourite but August is v busy. Places to visit in north Cornwall-Eden Project, Tintagel(of King arthur fame), Padstow(v v busy but v good restaurants Rick Steins, the Ebb. Ripleys in St Merryn, the black Pig in Rock, the Blue Tomato in Polzeath)Great beaches in this area-Polzeath,Daymer bay and then the seven bays near Padstow, notably Harlyn Bay. Again without a car, careful planning is needed. Good luck and bonnes vacances Anne

m_kingdom2

I want someone from this forum to experience the Isle of Man, it's a fabulous place. Cornwall compared to it is an utter dump lacking in soul.

Just book it up, trust me, and take the leap of faith!

henneth

Azwuth, you can get trains from London Paddington to Moreton in Marsh which is at the edge of the Cotswolds, but by no means one of the pretty Cotswold villages that feature on countless chocolate boxes, calendars and jigsaw puzzles. The railway company even market this route as the "Cotswold Line", yet take a look at a map of the Cotswold Region in the 1960's and you will see several more (long since closed) railway lines that actually ran through the Cotswolds rather than skirting the edge of it for a dozen miles or so. The train is an option but not the best one. I'm afraid it's the private car or hire car option that'll get the best results.

Fi_UK

m_k - I agree with you ref the Isle of Man. Beautiful unspoiled countryside. But a word of warning, the Manx TT runs for 2 weeks from Aug 20, first week practice, second week racing. This means some road closures and if you're not a motorbike fan then it could be a bit offputting. Not as busy as the TT in May/June but still attracts a fairly large crowd.

fOsh

If you are not looking for a luxurious tour and/or get stuck in the tour coach most of the time, you might want to consider a few of the backpackers tours. Below are two urls which you can consider. I took both before, but I prefer the Haggis Backpackers Tour better than the other. I reckon its the guide that make the difference... Ask for Diana if she is still working there. She's fantastic!

http://www.haggisadventures.com/HTML/defaulta.htm
www.macbackpackers.com

Daisy54

Hi LOTRHP,
I've visited the UK several times and always taken trains & buses, I've never driven there (Too chicken to try to drive on the left after a lifetime of driving on the right!) I'm a history & castle lover too, and some of the places I've visited and loved, and reached by train, include Hampton Court, Windsor, Stonehenge, Warwick, Blenheim, Brighton, York, Edinburgh, Inverness. Oh, and Winchester, Battle/Hastings and Canterbury. The locals may bemoan the state of British public transport, but compared to the U.S. it is fabulous. Try getting to sites of interest here by train! I think my favorite castles have been Edinburgh & Stirling in Scotland, and Windsor & Warwick in England. For palaces my faves are Holyrood in Edinburgh, Blenheim in Woodstock outside Oxford, and Hampton Court outside London. Brighton Pavilion is an amazing place to visit also, for sheer opulance I would rank it as a palace, don't miss the dragon chandelier in the dining room, the thing is amazing!

Toriliz

Bath, England is reachable by train pretty easily from London, and the Ancient Roman spa (Aqua Sulis?) is fabulous, as is high tea in the Pump Room above it.

I have to also agree that Blenheim Palace was wonderful, especially the grounds (I especially loved the Rose Garden that was blooming in July).

GreenDragon

http://members.fortunecity.com/green...landwales.html

This is my travelogue and pictures (dialups beware, it takes a while... I have to cut the sizes down when I redo the site).

We have similar tastes and interests. We had a car and drove two weeks. You might be able to pick up some ideas

Good luck!