Britain Itinerary Suggestions
May 7th, 2015, 03:50 PM
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Britain Itinerary Suggestions
Leaving in a few weeks for Europe, starting in Paris for five nights and then have 14 nights to spend in Britain. I intend to take Eurostar from Paris (transfer via Paddington in London) to Oxford for 2 or 3 nights, then to Hay On Wye 2 or 3 nights (my partner is book lover) to Stratford on Avon 2 nights to London for 5 nights.
Will pick up car before leaving Oxford. We like walking/hiking, all outdoor activities, nice dinners, outdoor food markets, occasional museum.
Would love to go to Edinburgh and/or Lake region but I'm afraid there's not enough time. We don't want to drive more than 3 hours between destinations.
Questions:
1.Are our choices of towns in Britain good? We're open to suggestions.
2. Is it an easy transfer from Eurostar to train to Oxford?
3. Would love to spend a day in Wales from Hay on Wye. Is this feasible?
4. Is there an alternative town close to Hay on Wye in which case make a short daytrip to Hay on Wye?
Will pick up car before leaving Oxford. We like walking/hiking, all outdoor activities, nice dinners, outdoor food markets, occasional museum.
Would love to go to Edinburgh and/or Lake region but I'm afraid there's not enough time. We don't want to drive more than 3 hours between destinations.
Questions:
1.Are our choices of towns in Britain good? We're open to suggestions.
2. Is it an easy transfer from Eurostar to train to Oxford?
3. Would love to spend a day in Wales from Hay on Wye. Is this feasible?
4. Is there an alternative town close to Hay on Wye in which case make a short daytrip to Hay on Wye?
May 7th, 2015, 04:11 PM
#2
1) All are fine (or you could pick a hundreds others which would also be fine)
2) Not particularly. You have to take the tube, a bus or a can from St Pancras to Paddington. Tube would be the hardest.
3) Very. Especially since H-o-W is IN Wales
4) Ross-on-Wye, Hereford, Ledbury, etc.
2) Not particularly. You have to take the tube, a bus or a can from St Pancras to Paddington. Tube would be the hardest.
3) Very. Especially since H-o-W is IN Wales
4) Ross-on-Wye, Hereford, Ledbury, etc.
May 7th, 2015, 05:52 PM
#4
oops -- the typo in my thread 
>>the tube, a bus or a ca<B><red>b</B></red> from St Pancras . . . <<
A taxi is the easiest -- cost varies a lot depending on Traffic. Count on around £20. But could be anything from £15 to £40.
>>the tube, a bus or a ca<B><red>b</B></red> from St Pancras . . . <<
A taxi is the easiest -- cost varies a lot depending on Traffic. Count on around £20. But could be anything from £15 to £40.
May 13th, 2015, 10:23 AM
#5
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Decided to skip overnighting in Stradford on Avon and go to Cambridge instead. But now I'm rethinking the itinerary which is currently:
Paris 4 nights
Oxford 3 nights
Bath 3 nights
Hay on Wye 3 nights
Cambridge 3 nights
London 5 nights
If I were to eliminate staying in Cambridge or Oxford, which one would you recommend as a day trip instead from London? Where would I stay those 3 nights if I eliminate 1 of these? I'm thinking I'd like a smaller city in the above mix (to replace either Cambridge or Oxford).
Paris 4 nights
Oxford 3 nights
Bath 3 nights
Hay on Wye 3 nights
Cambridge 3 nights
London 5 nights
If I were to eliminate staying in Cambridge or Oxford, which one would you recommend as a day trip instead from London? Where would I stay those 3 nights if I eliminate 1 of these? I'm thinking I'd like a smaller city in the above mix (to replace either Cambridge or Oxford).
May 13th, 2015, 11:23 AM
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<<Would love to spend a day in Wales from Hay on Wye. Is this feasible?>>
Isn't Hay in Wales? So . . . you're already there. Other than puttering about looking at olde books, what is your purpose there? There's a decent sized national park thisclose to Hay.
And yeah, Edinburgh would be a colossal haul from where you're going to otherwise be.
Isn't Hay in Wales? So . . . you're already there. Other than puttering about looking at olde books, what is your purpose there? There's a decent sized national park thisclose to Hay.
And yeah, Edinburgh would be a colossal haul from where you're going to otherwise be.
May 13th, 2015, 04:39 PM
#7
Doing both Oxford and Cambridge on the same short trip is overkill IMO because they are very very similar experiences. If you are going to one -- it should be Oxford. Fits in MUCH better w/ the rest of your wish list. And I wouldn't take a day out of London for Cambridge in this case since you have very little time in the city.
Even for a huge book lover -- 3 nights in Hay-on-Wye is probably 1 or 2 too many.
You already have several small cities on your itinerary - so I'm guessing you are asking for suggestions for some small towns/villages.
If it was me -- I'd probably do something like this:
Paris 5 nights
Bath 2 nights (you could fly to Bristol and pick up a car there)
The Cotswolds 3 nights (visit Oxford as a day trip from the Cotswolds)
Hay on Wye 1 or 2 nights
<strike>Cambridge 3 nights</strike>
York/Yorkshire 3 or 4 nights
London 5 or 6 nights
Even for a huge book lover -- 3 nights in Hay-on-Wye is probably 1 or 2 too many.
You already have several small cities on your itinerary - so I'm guessing you are asking for suggestions for some small towns/villages.
If it was me -- I'd probably do something like this:
Paris 5 nights
Bath 2 nights (you could fly to Bristol and pick up a car there)
The Cotswolds 3 nights (visit Oxford as a day trip from the Cotswolds)
Hay on Wye 1 or 2 nights
<strike>Cambridge 3 nights</strike>
York/Yorkshire 3 or 4 nights
London 5 or 6 nights
May 13th, 2015, 10:32 PM
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"You have to take the tube, a bus or a can from St Pancras to Paddington. Tube would be the hardest."
Of the three, bus is by a million zillion lightyears the toughest and in your case isn't worth thinking about for a nanosecond.
Getting to the cab rank and hanging round its (efficient, but inevitably slow-moving) queue takes longer than getting to the tube platform. The cab can take a lot longer for the journey as well.
But dealing with ticketing (queues at the ticket machines closest to the Eurostar can be horrendous, though there are dozens of queue-free ones a few yards away) might be more than you can face. Easier to get an Oyster or Travelcard when you arrive back in London and fork out the £20 for a cab when arriving on the Eurostar.
If you're unfamiliar with our systems, buying a Travelcard at a railway ticketing office on your return might be easier than dealing with the machine-only environment that tube station will be by the time you get here.
Of the three, bus is by a million zillion lightyears the toughest and in your case isn't worth thinking about for a nanosecond.
Getting to the cab rank and hanging round its (efficient, but inevitably slow-moving) queue takes longer than getting to the tube platform. The cab can take a lot longer for the journey as well.
But dealing with ticketing (queues at the ticket machines closest to the Eurostar can be horrendous, though there are dozens of queue-free ones a few yards away) might be more than you can face. Easier to get an Oyster or Travelcard when you arrive back in London and fork out the £20 for a cab when arriving on the Eurostar.
If you're unfamiliar with our systems, buying a Travelcard at a railway ticketing office on your return might be easier than dealing with the machine-only environment that tube station will be by the time you get here.
May 14th, 2015, 06:14 AM
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janisj--I will have a car in Hay on Wye and although 3 nights is a bit much, my travel partner really wants to explore the bookshops. There should be hiking opportunities near Wye with the national park so close. Other towns to explore nearby? Have been to Paris many times, 4 nights should be good.
Was hoping to explore the Cotswolds from Bath and also en route from Oxford to Bath. Which towns would you recommend?
Your recommendation to skip Cambridge and go to York instead is appreciated. Will explore that possibility.
flanneruk-- cab from St. Pancras to Paddington is definitely the way to go, thanks for the info. Not familiar with Travelcard, but will look into it.
Was hoping to explore the Cotswolds from Bath and also en route from Oxford to Bath. Which towns would you recommend?
Your recommendation to skip Cambridge and go to York instead is appreciated. Will explore that possibility.
flanneruk-- cab from St. Pancras to Paddington is definitely the way to go, thanks for the info. Not familiar with Travelcard, but will look into it.
May 14th, 2015, 06:25 AM
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Mark--
disagree with Janis (who I realize is much more expert than I am that Oxford and Cambridge are very similar or that you should do only one on a short trip. Our first time in UK, we did day trips to both (one from Cotswolds and one from London) and found each very interesting and very different. But Cambridge would not take three days to see, unless you had some particular reason to stay there.
The idea of seeing York/Yorkshire instead makes a lot of sense.
disagree with Janis (who I realize is much more expert than I am that Oxford and Cambridge are very similar or that you should do only one on a short trip. Our first time in UK, we did day trips to both (one from Cotswolds and one from London) and found each very interesting and very different. But Cambridge would not take three days to see, unless you had some particular reason to stay there.
The idea of seeing York/Yorkshire instead makes a lot of sense.
May 14th, 2015, 07:57 AM
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Thanks, perhaps I'm second guessing myself too much, but want to consider one more possibility instead of York and Cambridge.
We love the countryside and wondering if we'll have enough opportunities to explore the Cotswolds en route from Oxford to Bath or as day trips from Bath? I will have a car.
Instead of York or Cambridge was considering staying 3 nights in the Cotswolds exploring towns, hiking, long lunches. On TA, I see there are hotels available; the Ellenborough Park Hotel in Cheltenham looks very nice.
We love the countryside and wondering if we'll have enough opportunities to explore the Cotswolds en route from Oxford to Bath or as day trips from Bath? I will have a car.
Instead of York or Cambridge was considering staying 3 nights in the Cotswolds exploring towns, hiking, long lunches. On TA, I see there are hotels available; the Ellenborough Park Hotel in Cheltenham looks very nice.
May 14th, 2015, 08:02 AM
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<< Not familiar with Travelcard, but will look into it.>>
Considering you're a "we" instead of an "I" you ought to.
When you come back to London by train to Paddington (assuming you return the car at Oxford because you'd be completely daft to drive in the capital), go to the ticket booth on the arrival level (the one with the M&S Simply Food and Boots Pharmacy) and get a 7-day zone 1-2 travelcard for both of you. This will be a FLIMSY plastic-coated paper card that has orange bordering with the old BritRail symbol on it. You can use it on buses and Tube. Do NOT get an Oyster card.
BEFORE you leave, get passport-size photos of each of you and print out every voucher of interest from www.daysoutguide.co.uk.
At the sites covered by the vouchers, you present the travelcard and the voucher to get two admissions for the price of one.
Seems like a right PITA but it'll save you 2-3 lunches - Churchill War Rooms ($28+ per adult), Tower ($38+ per adult), Hampton Court Palace ($30+ per adult), St. Paul's (sometimes, not always), Cutty Sark, various walking tours, various stadium tours (if you think wandering the bowels of Stamford Bridge is a good way to blow an afternoon), various festivals, resto offers, etc.
Considering you're a "we" instead of an "I" you ought to.
When you come back to London by train to Paddington (assuming you return the car at Oxford because you'd be completely daft to drive in the capital), go to the ticket booth on the arrival level (the one with the M&S Simply Food and Boots Pharmacy) and get a 7-day zone 1-2 travelcard for both of you. This will be a FLIMSY plastic-coated paper card that has orange bordering with the old BritRail symbol on it. You can use it on buses and Tube. Do NOT get an Oyster card.
BEFORE you leave, get passport-size photos of each of you and print out every voucher of interest from www.daysoutguide.co.uk.
At the sites covered by the vouchers, you present the travelcard and the voucher to get two admissions for the price of one.
Seems like a right PITA but it'll save you 2-3 lunches - Churchill War Rooms ($28+ per adult), Tower ($38+ per adult), Hampton Court Palace ($30+ per adult), St. Paul's (sometimes, not always), Cutty Sark, various walking tours, various stadium tours (if you think wandering the bowels of Stamford Bridge is a good way to blow an afternoon), various festivals, resto offers, etc.
May 14th, 2015, 08:04 AM
#13
IMO if you want to visit the Cotswolds, stay in a Cotswold village or small town -- not in Cheltenham. That is essentially another city which is all you have on your whole itinerary. Check out Burford or Chipping Campden or maybe Broadway or any of a score of other lovely towns/villages.
May 24th, 2015, 08:49 AM
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I rented a car in Oxford and found it an easy drive to Burford where I stayed for five days. From there I drove to Chipping Campden and Hidcote Manor Garden, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Blenheim Palace (for a jousting match), and took a bus to Cheltenham. I'd go back to Burford and the Cotswolds in a second.
May 24th, 2015, 09:16 AM
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Buses go right front in front of St Pancras/Kings X to Paddington station in a straight line along the main thoroughfare connecting them - easy as pie - easier than The Tube I think (as janis says).
May 24th, 2015, 11:01 AM
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"Buses go right front in front of St Pancras/Kings X to Paddington station in a straight line along the main thoroughfare connecting them"
For crying out loud, PQ.
It's one thing to rant on with your uninformed nonsense about politics after ODing on the paint. But do try staying off it when advising real people on real travel issues.
To get a bus from St P to Paddington means queueing up to buy a Travelcard or Oyster when you get off the train (buses don't accept cash any more, and the few Americans who've even heard of contactless credit cards almost certainly have one TfL can't handle.) By the end of June, there'll be no more manned TfL ticket offices in the KX/St P complex.
Then they've got to cross a six-lane divided highway, with luggage. The easiest and safest way is a 300 yard detour.
And at Paddington, the road's not as wide - but it's still nasty. And the bus journey is timetabled to take 30 mins. Even WITH an Oyster card, with no bags, and a no-hassle card for free bus travel, I never get the bus on that journey westbound.
Now go away and learn how London's buses operate in the 21st century. Unlike the primeval systems in your infrastructure-free bit of the third world, our transport is changing all the time. Paint-addled memories of what buses were like when they were all horse-drawn really don't help people.
For this particular journey, for someone arriving from abroad, the buses are a nightmare.
For crying out loud, PQ.
It's one thing to rant on with your uninformed nonsense about politics after ODing on the paint. But do try staying off it when advising real people on real travel issues.
To get a bus from St P to Paddington means queueing up to buy a Travelcard or Oyster when you get off the train (buses don't accept cash any more, and the few Americans who've even heard of contactless credit cards almost certainly have one TfL can't handle.) By the end of June, there'll be no more manned TfL ticket offices in the KX/St P complex.
Then they've got to cross a six-lane divided highway, with luggage. The easiest and safest way is a 300 yard detour.
And at Paddington, the road's not as wide - but it's still nasty. And the bus journey is timetabled to take 30 mins. Even WITH an Oyster card, with no bags, and a no-hassle card for free bus travel, I never get the bus on that journey westbound.
Now go away and learn how London's buses operate in the 21st century. Unlike the primeval systems in your infrastructure-free bit of the third world, our transport is changing all the time. Paint-addled memories of what buses were like when they were all horse-drawn really don't help people.
For this particular journey, for someone arriving from abroad, the buses are a nightmare.
May 24th, 2015, 12:41 PM
#17
>>Buses go right front in front of St Pancras/Kings X to Paddington station in a straight line along the main thoroughfare connecting them - easy as pie - easier than The Tube I think (as janis says).<<
Uh - nope. I'm pretty sure I said a cab would be the easiest. And I'd never misinform someone that this particular bus connection is 'easy as pie'.
Uh - nope. I'm pretty sure I said a cab would be the easiest. And I'd never misinform someone that this particular bus connection is 'easy as pie'.
May 24th, 2015, 01:33 PM
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easier than the Tube is what I was quoting you - so you don't believe a bus on that transfer is easier than the Tube? I was only referring to you saying the bus would be easier than the Tube but flanner contradicts us both and rightly so it seems.
Your quote: <You have to take the tube, a bus or a can from St Pancras to Paddington. Tube would be the hardest.>
this is what I was saying you said - Tube would be harder than a bus - that's all - sorry for the confusion on my part. And I in no way meant to quote you as saying a bus would be easy as pie - my mistake again as I should have made that more clear.
Cheers!
Your quote: <You have to take the tube, a bus or a can from St Pancras to Paddington. Tube would be the hardest.>
this is what I was saying you said - Tube would be harder than a bus - that's all - sorry for the confusion on my part. And I in no way meant to quote you as saying a bus would be easy as pie - my mistake again as I should have made that more clear.
Cheers!
May 25th, 2015, 07:29 AM
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Thanks for all your comments. I'll definitely be taking a cab from St. Pancras to Paddington.
We decided to visit Cambridge by train as a daytrip from London. This will permit us to drive from Hay on Wye to York (bypassing Cambridge), where we'll stay for 3 nights before giving up the car and taking the train to London for 5 nights.
We decided to visit Cambridge by train as a daytrip from London. This will permit us to drive from Hay on Wye to York (bypassing Cambridge), where we'll stay for 3 nights before giving up the car and taking the train to London for 5 nights.
