Toucan2

As some Fodorites know, I am working on a trip to take my MIL, Shirley, to England. My MIL has terminal cancer, and has always wanted to go to England. Hopefully on Thurs the Dr will tell her it is fine to go (we think it will be).

That said, when I asked her where she wanted to go and what she wanted to see, she said "I want to see castles. All I know about England is what I get from the books I read (lots of Agatha Christie) and the shows I watch. I want to drive through the countryside and see villages." She also wants to see some London sites and changing of the guard.

Here's a tentative plan:

Sat am Arrive London, Hotel night-London, Naps, Big Bus Tour
Sun London, Hampton Court Palace (there's a boat up the Thames to it I think)
Mon Transfer to Windsor, see Windsor Castle, 11 am changing of the guard, Drive SW to Devon
Tues Devon area
Wed Devon area, Drive to Cornwall
Thurs Cornwall area
Fri Drive back to London, Driving all day probably.
Sat Hotel night London, Day in London, see The Mousetrap
Sun Fly home

I'm basing this on getting some castles and palaces in there, and heading to the countryside. I wonder if I should switch Cornwall for The Cotswolds. That drive back from Cornwall to London is a pretty healthy one.

I need to make the itinerary fairly loose as she does tire easily. Thus the bus tour in London where she can ride around and see things. And I think there is a boat you can take up the Thames to Hampton Court Palace.

The rest of the time, as long as I have a car I can always had back to our base when she tires.

I'm open to suggestions on whether Cornwall or the Cotswolds would be better given the distance from London, and, for good places to base ourselves in those areas. Or, is there a central area that we could drive down into the Devon area and up to The Cotswolds and not have to change lodgings too much?

I've got to plan this fairly quickly, so do appreciate your input.

cynthia_booker

The boat from London to Hampton Court Palace does not run all year round, so I looked up the link for you. I got the last run of the year last October, and the link says it starts again in April, but when in April? Maybe one of our expert can find out and post here. You are very kind to do this for your MIL.
http://www.wpsa.co.uk/

cynthia_booker

BTW, there are refreshments available on the boats, good enough restrooms, and it is a very relaxing trip. I would take the train on the way and the boat on the return.

Bokhara2

Absolutely delighted you're planning to go, Toucan. I may have missed your proposed dates and I'm sure you'll have factored it in, but mention of April above reminded me that London will be a zoo with Easter and the Royal wedding if you happen to be thinking about the last couple of weeks.

I bet this will be a wonderful trip for you all. Bittersweet certainly, but a very special shared time.

A friend took her mother on a farewell trip around Europe and although there were a few days when she was a little off-colour, she was quite fine for the majority of the two months they were away.

We were talking about your post earlier today and my friend says these days were some of the happiest she'd ever seen her mother. She also made an interesting comment. Knowing her time was limited, her mother seemed to be more relaxed, flexible and just enjoyed each day; somewhat of a departure from her usual rather more uptight traits.

Best wishes to you all.

PatrickLondon

This might help in the planning:

http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk

alanRow

Windsor is only about 20 minutes from Heathrow so you might want to consider starting there and finishing in London

Maudie

Not sure if its feasible but I believe you can visit Agatha Christie's house "Greenway Estate". As she is a fan it might be something she could relate to.

CaliNurse

The lovely green rolling hills and old villages of the Cotswolds may be exactly what Shirley envisions when she speaks of driving through the countryside and seeing the villages.
i'd recommend having a look at posts here on suggested routes/overnight stops
ou cna find wonderful counryside al over the country, but as you are looking for convenience too, Cotswolds would not be too far from London. And you're not far from Stratford on Avon , if she has any desire to see it.

The trip...what a beautiful gift to you all!!!

PatrickLondon

Good point, Maudie. Not my sort of thing, but from what I remember of a TV programme about it, it's a beautiful location:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...ce/w-greenway/
http://www.torbayhospitality.com/aga..._greenway.aspx

flanneruk

"Or, is there a central area that we could drive down into the Devon area and up to The Cotswolds and not have to change lodgings too much?"

Not unless you want to spend a lot of time on motorways.

In your position I'd challenge Cornwall. Picture-book England is really in Suffolk (east of London), the Cotswolds, Dorset/Somerset/Wiltshire and Devon. Oh and the Yorkshire Dales. Cornwall's rather starker, often much more impressive and beautiful - but very short of thatched cottages. And in summer (if relevant), its roads get very choked.

If what you want is a meander through Miss Marple territory, the highest concentration of photogenic villages, corpses in libraries and elderly ladies with spectacularly preserved human insight is in the swathe 30 or so miles east of an imaginary straight line from Banbury to Torbay.

tahl

Following up on flanner's point about going for picturesque (and I agree, the Cotswolds sound ideal), I have one general suggestion and one very very specific suggestion.

General: If your budget will stretch to it, you might consider trying to stay in an old-manor-house type hotel. Fun in itself, and your MIL would get a special experience even if conserving energy meant spending a quiet afternoon sitting in the parlor.

Two good places to find such things:
http://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/
and the Karen Brown's guidebook (and, I believe, website).

Very very specific: Ettington Park Hotel, just outside Stratford upon Avon, in the "pretty belt" flanner mentions:
http://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/ho...on-park-hotel/

I haven't actually stayed there, but I've been there for tea (years ago, now). Why did I go? Because like your MIL, part of my name is Shirley, and the reason it's Shirley is that that's a family surname -- and Ettington Park has been owned by the Shirley family since before the Domesday Park, and up through the present day. The Shirley Family Association has done events there. Here's some of the history of the house:
http://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/ho...hotel/History/

tahl

Here's a thread where some Fodorites talk about staying at Ettington Park:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-stratford.cfm

irishface

I would think, in view of your one week time slot, that the Cotswolds might be a better choice than Devon/cornwall. Lots to see and less driving.

If you want to see more castles after Windsor, there are tons in South Wales just beyond Bristol. I based myself in Chepstow for a few days with my nephews and we saw lots of castles (Chepstow, Caldicott, Coch, Caerphilly, Cardiff) and Roman ruins at Newport. check out Patyrick's website.

In the Cotswold area, I visited Sudely Castle (last home of Catherine Parr, widow of Henry VIII). the village (Wynchcomb-sp?) is also a pleasant walk around. Hidcote Gardens are stunning.

Someone mentioned Stratford and all the Shakespeare sights. Not far from Stratford is Warwick Castle--some call it touristy, but in my opinion a pleasant visit.

Right in London is the Tower. A visit there is definitely a castle view. there are also the Crown Jewels. Right out the door is Tower Bridge--one of the icons of London. You can go up in the bridge and see its workings (It is a drawbridge) and get good views of the tower and other LOndon sights.

Have a wonderful trip!

Toucan2

Fabulous suggestions, thank you. I was starting to lean away from Cornwall, and I think the above has confirmed it. I'll look at all the links as well.

I think we are trying for May. I'll know more after the drs appt on Thursday. On another thread someone had mentioned that we might want to wait a bit after the chemo so that her immune system builds up. And, sadly, we don't want to wait too long so May seems ideal.

My general plan will be to have information on what's a possibility, and then take it as it comes, depending on how she feels each day. I agree that in this case our lodgings will be rather more important that they might usually be, just in case she wants to stay in.

CaliNurse

Toucan, you are very wise to look at your plans as possibilities, rather than set in stone. As a hospital Rn on an oncology floor, i see the unpredictable are the effects of chemotherapy.

Drives in the countryside nr the Cotswolds --finding some unexpected place that feels as if you've discovered it yourself. One example: Compton Wynyates, which i came upon during a walk near where i lived 40 yrs ago (yipes)!! this would be a lovely "off the beaten path" drive, if in the "neighborhood" heading toward places like Shipston on Stour in the Cotswolds:

Too long a walk for Shirley, but do read the UK Auto Ass'n description of the walk--stiles, etc. So British!! ( I lived at Broomhill Fram, on the map

http://www.theaa.com/walks/perfect-m...ynyates-420195

CaliNurse

p.s IF due to time/ernery constraints, you have to chose between Windsor and the Tower of London, IMHO it's a no-brainer --The Tower!!

Baxterpoo

The Tower of London is so much better than it used to be. More to see, lots of ticket booths which have helped to eliminate the huge line ups. There is a cafe where you can have a bit of a rest. Please ensure you take the free included tour. Windsor Castle if very different, it's more "feminine" than some of the other castles. Hampton Court is very nice but for a first trip I'd do Windsor rather than Hampton Court. I would seriously skip Cornwall, it's a very long way in the time you have. Consider Oxford (Blenheim Palace is about a 20 minute cab ride away) and Stratford Upon Avon (Warwick Castle - spooky and gruesome in some ways but one of my favourites). We did the bus tour just last May and found it quite chilly up top so if you want the best view take something really warm to wear (really, really, warm). Take a scarf to wrap around the ears as mine ached by the time we were done from the cold wind. Unless it's a hot and sunny day, then still take something to protect the ears.

Baxterpoo

Of course if you seriously want an all castle tour head up north to Northumberland where we spent a full week. You have Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Chillingham Castle and well too many to mention really. Alnwick is in my top 3 favourite castles in England and the gardens are spectacular.

Toucan2

I'm settling in for an evening of planning, and will look closely at all suggestions above.

Not looking for an all castles tour, but need a few castles and some countryside. I've scratched Cornwall, and maybe even Devon. I've got the map out, and using the suggestions above will try to zero in.

Part of the reason for Windsor is that I am already familiar with it as my goddaughter lives in Eton. And, of course, I want to see my goddaughter It's an easy way to ease into the week as I know my way around.

janisj

It looks like you are considering 7.5 days plus your departure day.

If it was me in your situation, I'd consider staying the first night in Windsor in a nice hotel. Your mom (and you ) can recover from the flight/jetlag and see the castle/guard change if up to it.

Then drive out to the central or western edge of the Cotswolds. Rent a cottage in a pretty village (you'll probably rent it for 7 days but eat the last day -- still cheaper than a B&B for 6 days). Having a cottage will let you eat whenever and not be limited to specific meal times if your mom needs a down day here and there.

She can get her fill of lovely villages, a few castles, some amazing gardens - and not have any one long car day.

Early Sat. morning leave the car at Heathrow and travel into town either by car service or the tube.

You'll have all day Saturday to explore a bit of London (or you could travel in to London on Friday and have two full days there)

As long as you miss the first and last weekends of May you might find a cottage that would rent for 5 nights -- but even having to 'eat' 2 nights at the cottage could pencil out --