eacandrmc

Hi,

We will be going to Europe for the first time in Sept; to the UK. We have a 12 day visit, (actual time there, excluding flying). Friends live in Chester and will be meeting us in London and we will be driving with them back to their area for a stay in and around there.

Any suggestions on your favorite areas in en route? We will be going to Stratford and Cotswold area. But wanted to get some feedback on favorite areas along that route.

Once in Chester also, do you have any favorites for that area ..those of you that are familiar with it?

On the tail end of the vist we are headed back to London and will be spending 4 days in that area.

So much to see and not enough time but will savor each day and am beyond excited!!

rmc

kaneda

From Chester you could pop into Portmeirion on the Welsh coast, the strange Village in the Prisoner TV series. Liverpool has a fair bit to see. Stratford is a fair distance from Chester. You could see what tours are available locally as that may be easier than driving lots of miles.

janisj

"popping" over to Portmerion would be more like an all day jaunt since it is all the way across on the western Welsh coast. But north Wales (castles, Snowden and Portmerion if there is time) would be a "must" for sure.

eacandrmc: You got several suggestions on your first thread - it looks like the Scotland idea has been ditched. How many days are you planning for the drive from London to Chester?? It is a 1-day drive if just going from point A to point B. But if you want to visit the Cotswolds, Oxford, Stratford and Warwick you'd need at least a few days.

hetismij

I would second a trip to North Wales. Portmerion is fine if you are a prisoner fan, otherwise I think it is overrated. Snowdon (not SnowdEn - that's in Kent) and surrounds. Conway castles and or Caernarvon Castle.
Visit Chester cathedral, and admire the wood and stone carvings done by assorted Fodorite ancestors!

ElendilPickle

We liked Portmeirion; it's unlike anything else we saw on our trip.

If you like, you can read our trip report at http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35015831 and see our pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/elendilp...utTheUKMay2007

Lee Ann

eacandrmc

Lee Ann..

Sorry for the delay in posting. We have just had a full month of non stop visitors since late July!! So just getting back to this.

thanks for the link to your wonderful account of your trip!! and the great photos!!

We definitely will see some of Wales as you and others recommended, as our friends who live near Chester, said they live very near Wales and it is on the list of places they have planned as a tour for us. Part of our trip will be with them in various areas near them, and part on our own in London

We also while in their neck of the woods will be in Liverpool for the day. Being great Beatles fans we are planning on one of the tours there. I am going to post a separate question about this as there are a number of tours to choose from (in addition to the National Trust tours of John and Paul's homes).

again, thanks for your the links and yours and everyone's input.

eacandrmc

atp2007

When you are in the Cotswolds, try to see more than just the typical tourist towns (like Broadway, Stratford) and go to some of the really special places like Chipping Campden, Mickleton, Snowshill... which are really attractive and less crowded.