Day in Oxford and 3-Day Bicycle Tour of the Cotswolds
May 15th, 2012, 10:01 PM
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Day in Oxford and 3-Day Bicycle Tour of the Cotswolds
Hi All,
My brother is getting married in Sweden this July, and since I'm a not-so-flush-with-cash recent graduate, I'm trying to take advantage of the mandatory trip across the Atlantic and am planning to make a brief visit to England the week before the wedding (a long-time and previously out-of-reach dream vacation of mine). However, I'm a timid traveler, and haven't done any solo traveling whatsoever, so needless to say I'm a bit nervous.
Current trip status:
I'll have five days on the ground in England before needing to hop a flight to Stockholm, which I realize is not a lot of time. Currently my plan is to arrive at Heathrow and either recover as needed or see a sight or two in London before taking a train/bus out to Oxford for the overnight and the next full day. Early the following morning I'd take another train/bus out to the Cotswolds (Moreton-in-Marsh?) to rent a bicycle. Then I was thinking of spending the next three days (two nights) seeing the Cotswolds by bicycle (currently aiming for Chipping Camden, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Burford). I'd get myself back to London on the last on-the-ground day and have a bit of time to see one or two things there before the flight to Stockholm early the following day.
Where I need help:
1. I'm a fairly capable cyclist (I have a 20-mile/32km commute that I ride a few times a week in LA), but I don't know that I could equate having a bicycle with having a car. Should I base-camp out of, say, Stow-on-the-Wold, and take day trips to Chipping Camden and Burford? Do you think I'd still have time to see sights around those towns if I ride about 10 mph/16km/h? I don't want to feel like I have to race from place to place, but I'd hate to have to eliminate a sight-to-see because of time constraints.
2. Any specific recommendations for B&Bs (especially if you second the Stow-on-the-Wold base camp idea)? I know there are lots of great recommendations on the forums, but thought I'd ask in case my travel details spark any particular lightning bolts.
3. Any cycle rental shops you'd recommend?
4. Advice on buying Ryanair/other discount airlines to Stockholm: When should I buy?
I realize this is a lot! Much advance thanks to anyone who takes the time to read all the way through and respond!
My brother is getting married in Sweden this July, and since I'm a not-so-flush-with-cash recent graduate, I'm trying to take advantage of the mandatory trip across the Atlantic and am planning to make a brief visit to England the week before the wedding (a long-time and previously out-of-reach dream vacation of mine). However, I'm a timid traveler, and haven't done any solo traveling whatsoever, so needless to say I'm a bit nervous.
Current trip status:
I'll have five days on the ground in England before needing to hop a flight to Stockholm, which I realize is not a lot of time. Currently my plan is to arrive at Heathrow and either recover as needed or see a sight or two in London before taking a train/bus out to Oxford for the overnight and the next full day. Early the following morning I'd take another train/bus out to the Cotswolds (Moreton-in-Marsh?) to rent a bicycle. Then I was thinking of spending the next three days (two nights) seeing the Cotswolds by bicycle (currently aiming for Chipping Camden, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Burford). I'd get myself back to London on the last on-the-ground day and have a bit of time to see one or two things there before the flight to Stockholm early the following day.
Where I need help:
1. I'm a fairly capable cyclist (I have a 20-mile/32km commute that I ride a few times a week in LA), but I don't know that I could equate having a bicycle with having a car. Should I base-camp out of, say, Stow-on-the-Wold, and take day trips to Chipping Camden and Burford? Do you think I'd still have time to see sights around those towns if I ride about 10 mph/16km/h? I don't want to feel like I have to race from place to place, but I'd hate to have to eliminate a sight-to-see because of time constraints.
2. Any specific recommendations for B&Bs (especially if you second the Stow-on-the-Wold base camp idea)? I know there are lots of great recommendations on the forums, but thought I'd ask in case my travel details spark any particular lightning bolts.
3. Any cycle rental shops you'd recommend?
4. Advice on buying Ryanair/other discount airlines to Stockholm: When should I buy?
I realize this is a lot! Much advance thanks to anyone who takes the time to read all the way through and respond!
May 15th, 2012, 10:22 PM
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<i>Currently my plan is to arrive at Heathrow and either recover as needed or see a sight or two in London before taking a train/bus out to Oxford for the overnight and the next full day.</i>
There's a direct coach service from Heathrow to Oxford, so there's no need to stay in London to recover.
As for cycling - be warned the roads in the Cotswolds are narrow and busy
And for flights - see whichbudget.com - you buy as soon as you know when you want to travel as like all airlines the prices go up. From Oxford consider flights from Birmingham, Bristol and Southampton as apart from Heathrow all the London airports are a fair hike from Oxford - don't forget to check the mainstream airlines as they may work out cheaper door to door. At a push consider flying from Gatwick as it's the easiest London airport apart from Heathrow to use. Of course you could always spend a night in London before your flight and see some sights then you aren't restricted in London airports
There's a direct coach service from Heathrow to Oxford, so there's no need to stay in London to recover.
As for cycling - be warned the roads in the Cotswolds are narrow and busy
And for flights - see whichbudget.com - you buy as soon as you know when you want to travel as like all airlines the prices go up. From Oxford consider flights from Birmingham, Bristol and Southampton as apart from Heathrow all the London airports are a fair hike from Oxford - don't forget to check the mainstream airlines as they may work out cheaper door to door. At a push consider flying from Gatwick as it's the easiest London airport apart from Heathrow to use. Of course you could always spend a night in London before your flight and see some sights then you aren't restricted in London airports
May 15th, 2012, 11:01 PM
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You can walk from Chipping Campden to Stow almost as quickly as cycling. It's 28 miles each way to Burford on a road I'd have thought would be absolutely horrible for most cyclists.
I'd very strongly recommend you spend a day walking the footpaths AND sampling walking on the conventional roads round here before committing to hiring a bike (though no-one ever does walk on the roads, because the footpaths take different and much nicer routes, a few hundred yards on them is an instant introduction to the nastiness of being on our roads without a car to cocoon you).
Our roads in the Cotswolds aren't just narrow and busy: they're undulating and winding. Car drivers (who mostly don't think they're narrow, because we live here, and see no reason not to drive 50 mph at all times) often have less than a second from the moment they see a cyclist to the point they must be stationary to avoid hitting him.
Most Cotswold roads really aren't suitable for cyclists - especially by people unused to our roads - and very few footpaths are geared to them. They're absolutely perfect for walking (because you don't need to be on roads), and OK-ish for getting round on public transport. The New Forest, OTOH, is perfect for cyclists.
We do get some cycling visitors, who rarely seem to grasp what a menace they can be. The area's actually quite good for organised cycling events, where the bikes can be herded into pelotons on suitable roads and both we and they can be managed not to hurt each other. The area's also good for local cyclists, who've learned the roads to choose and how to co-exist with their walking and driving neighbours.
Birmingham and Southampton airports are an hour by hourly train from Oxford, whose station gets hourly trains from Moreton in Marsh and Charlbury. Gatwick is also a single -connection hourly train journey from the Cotswold stations: both it and Heathrow have frequent buses from Oxford bus station - a 10 min walk from Oxford railway station - and Luton and Stansted also have (less frequent) buses. Bristol airport is to all intents and purposes inaccessible by public transport from the northern Cotswolds
I'd very strongly recommend you spend a day walking the footpaths AND sampling walking on the conventional roads round here before committing to hiring a bike (though no-one ever does walk on the roads, because the footpaths take different and much nicer routes, a few hundred yards on them is an instant introduction to the nastiness of being on our roads without a car to cocoon you).
Our roads in the Cotswolds aren't just narrow and busy: they're undulating and winding. Car drivers (who mostly don't think they're narrow, because we live here, and see no reason not to drive 50 mph at all times) often have less than a second from the moment they see a cyclist to the point they must be stationary to avoid hitting him.
Most Cotswold roads really aren't suitable for cyclists - especially by people unused to our roads - and very few footpaths are geared to them. They're absolutely perfect for walking (because you don't need to be on roads), and OK-ish for getting round on public transport. The New Forest, OTOH, is perfect for cyclists.
We do get some cycling visitors, who rarely seem to grasp what a menace they can be. The area's actually quite good for organised cycling events, where the bikes can be herded into pelotons on suitable roads and both we and they can be managed not to hurt each other. The area's also good for local cyclists, who've learned the roads to choose and how to co-exist with their walking and driving neighbours.
Birmingham and Southampton airports are an hour by hourly train from Oxford, whose station gets hourly trains from Moreton in Marsh and Charlbury. Gatwick is also a single -connection hourly train journey from the Cotswold stations: both it and Heathrow have frequent buses from Oxford bus station - a 10 min walk from Oxford railway station - and Luton and Stansted also have (less frequent) buses. Bristol airport is to all intents and purposes inaccessible by public transport from the northern Cotswolds
May 15th, 2012, 11:33 PM
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You could also try www.skyscanner.net for the flights to Sweden. Bear in mind that Ryanair may land some way away from the centre of the city they're nominally taking you to.
May 16th, 2012, 05:41 AM
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check out the cyclist touring club
www.ctc.org.uk/
www.ctc.org.uk/
May 16th, 2012, 06:22 AM
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i'd check out http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ note the map section takes a bit of getting used to but will show you levels of road safety
To find bike rentals go to google maps. Get up the map of the area you want and then type "bike rental" into the map search engine. dots should spring up but do not expect many as rental is relatively rare except in University towns. Oxford is the obvious solution.
You can take bike on trains in the uk but you need a bit of help on which ones and what the rules are. Look at the bottom section of this page http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/Essex_Bike.php and follow the links.
To find bike rentals go to google maps. Get up the map of the area you want and then type "bike rental" into the map search engine. dots should spring up but do not expect many as rental is relatively rare except in University towns. Oxford is the obvious solution.
You can take bike on trains in the uk but you need a bit of help on which ones and what the rules are. Look at the bottom section of this page http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/Essex_Bike.php and follow the links.
May 17th, 2012, 06:46 AM
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Wow, thanks for the advice everyone! I'll definitely check out some of those cycling resources; I'd like to take at least one day to bike, but I would also like to survive my vacation. : ) Luckily I also love walking and generally being on foot, so that's a great alternative. And being a cyclist in Los Angeles comes with its own dangers, so at least I've learned to ride defensively.
Am I right to assume since there were no assertions to the contrary that I'll be able to survive without a car considering my destinations?
I may follow up with a few more questions as I do some additional research. Quick process question as a new Fodor's user: Should I post follow ups here, or in a new thread?
Thanks again for all your advice and recommendations!
Am I right to assume since there were no assertions to the contrary that I'll be able to survive without a car considering my destinations?
I may follow up with a few more questions as I do some additional research. Quick process question as a new Fodor's user: Should I post follow ups here, or in a new thread?
Thanks again for all your advice and recommendations!
May 19th, 2012, 07:36 AM
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Hi, petersoki.
I've had wonderful trips to the Cotswold without a rental car, so I think you'll be fine. In fact, I loved using their bus and train lines.
Have you looked at the travelines.com site to plan the public transporation? If you clink on my "name," and look for my trip report to the Cotswold, I have a few links to sites that may help you.
Even as a Chicago/city biker, I'd pass on biking in the Cotswold. Those roads are narrow, winding and often have no shoulder. The beauty of England, and especially the Cotswold, is their miles and miles of walking paths in that gorgeous landscape. I hope you do the Chipping Campden to Broadway Tower to Broadway walk. (And then I took a bus back to Cheltenham, where I was based. If you haven't settled on a base town, Cheltenham was an easy place to sleep and catch the rail or buses.)
That was a great intro. walk. Hopefully you can borrow a compass. Often the walks can be googled, but if you search "The Cotswold Way," you'll likely find lots of resources for walks.
You'll have a great time!
I've had wonderful trips to the Cotswold without a rental car, so I think you'll be fine. In fact, I loved using their bus and train lines.
Have you looked at the travelines.com site to plan the public transporation? If you clink on my "name," and look for my trip report to the Cotswold, I have a few links to sites that may help you.
Even as a Chicago/city biker, I'd pass on biking in the Cotswold. Those roads are narrow, winding and often have no shoulder. The beauty of England, and especially the Cotswold, is their miles and miles of walking paths in that gorgeous landscape. I hope you do the Chipping Campden to Broadway Tower to Broadway walk. (And then I took a bus back to Cheltenham, where I was based. If you haven't settled on a base town, Cheltenham was an easy place to sleep and catch the rail or buses.)
That was a great intro. walk. Hopefully you can borrow a compass. Often the walks can be googled, but if you search "The Cotswold Way," you'll likely find lots of resources for walks.
You'll have a great time!
May 28th, 2012, 12:23 PM
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Loads of people cycle in the Cotswolds, so don't let others put you off. You can take the cycle by train (but often need to book in advance). Here's a webpage of various suggested cycle routes that are based on the North Cotswold Line out of Oxford: http://www.charlbury.info/cycling. The main Charlbury.info page gives some suggested accommodation in Charlbury; it also gives times for the train etc. Roads in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds are often very quiet indeed, & some of the trips are off-road in parts.
And here is a page of suggested walks for further afield in the Cotswold area. I find the best website for planning train & bus links is http://www.raileasy.co.uk/go/travel-...urney-planning. If you want a more organised trip (which provides you with a bike at a station) then look at http://www.cotswoldcountrycycles.com/
And here is a page of suggested walks for further afield in the Cotswold area. I find the best website for planning train & bus links is http://www.raileasy.co.uk/go/travel-...urney-planning. If you want a more organised trip (which provides you with a bike at a station) then look at http://www.cotswoldcountrycycles.com/
May 28th, 2012, 12:27 PM
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PS: Sorry, missed out the address of the walking trips; http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/?page=walks-to-download
Jun 1st, 2012, 11:47 AM
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@traveltheel
I stayed at the wonderful George hotel. LOVED it. Really. The breakfasts there were wonderful, and just around the corner from the bus stand so was very convenient. About 1.5 miles from the train station but that wasn't a difficult walk at all.
The hotel had a wonderful soaking tub and was very quiet. Here's the link. Was turned on to the hotel by Tripadvisor a couple years back... i assume reviews are still good...?
http://www.stayatthegeorge.co.uk/
oh... now I want to go back.
I stayed at the wonderful George hotel. LOVED it. Really. The breakfasts there were wonderful, and just around the corner from the bus stand so was very convenient. About 1.5 miles from the train station but that wasn't a difficult walk at all.
The hotel had a wonderful soaking tub and was very quiet. Here's the link. Was turned on to the hotel by Tripadvisor a couple years back... i assume reviews are still good...?
http://www.stayatthegeorge.co.uk/
oh... now I want to go back.
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