Literary England
Jan 13th, 2012, 05:34 PM
#1
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Literary England
I am looking for advice/help in planning my own itinerary for the literary trip I've always dreamed of. Here are places I want to see:
Haworth
Rochester (Dickens's last home)
Chawton
Bath
Grasmere
I can't stay more than 10 days. I wouldn't mind spending a little time in London, but not more than 2 days. I also want to spend more time in some places than others. For instance, even though Haworth is the most important place for me to visit, I assume I can do it in a day (since I'm mainly just going to see the Bronte Museum). On the other hand, I would love to spend more time in the Bath area and especially in Gramere/the Lake District, and I don't want to rush around a lot.
My main problem is that I can't even figure out what order I should go to places in. It seems like it shouldn't be so hard, but it seems like some of the writings I've seen conflict with what is on the map! I am also not sure how many hotels I should book. (For example, is it possible to stay in Bath or Rochester and go to London for the day? Is it possible/advisable to stay in Grasmere and visit Haworth for the day?)
I would also welcome advice on whether or not to rent a car. I know it will make me more mobile, but I don't really like driving and train travel seems like fun. But am I crazy to try to do all these places by train?
I was considering lumping the trip into two parts: 1) Haworth/Grasmere/Lake District, and 2) London/Rochester/Chawton/Bath/Cotswolds. Would that make sense?
Haworth
Rochester (Dickens's last home)
Chawton
Bath
Grasmere
I can't stay more than 10 days. I wouldn't mind spending a little time in London, but not more than 2 days. I also want to spend more time in some places than others. For instance, even though Haworth is the most important place for me to visit, I assume I can do it in a day (since I'm mainly just going to see the Bronte Museum). On the other hand, I would love to spend more time in the Bath area and especially in Gramere/the Lake District, and I don't want to rush around a lot.
My main problem is that I can't even figure out what order I should go to places in. It seems like it shouldn't be so hard, but it seems like some of the writings I've seen conflict with what is on the map! I am also not sure how many hotels I should book. (For example, is it possible to stay in Bath or Rochester and go to London for the day? Is it possible/advisable to stay in Grasmere and visit Haworth for the day?)
I would also welcome advice on whether or not to rent a car. I know it will make me more mobile, but I don't really like driving and train travel seems like fun. But am I crazy to try to do all these places by train?
I was considering lumping the trip into two parts: 1) Haworth/Grasmere/Lake District, and 2) London/Rochester/Chawton/Bath/Cotswolds. Would that make sense?
Jan 13th, 2012, 06:11 PM
#2
That is simply too much to cover in 10 days. Just the drive from Rochester to Chawton to Bath to the Cotswolds to the Bronte Parsonage to the Lake District (a more or less linear route will take 3 days). Adding time for each of them plus London and a day or so to recover from jetlag and you have a 2+ week trip.
Which is MOST important to you: London/Rochester/Chawton/Bath - or - Yorkshire/the Lakes/London. Either of these would make a nice 10 day trip.
Which is MOST important to you: London/Rochester/Chawton/Bath - or - Yorkshire/the Lakes/London. Either of these would make a nice 10 day trip.
Jan 13th, 2012, 08:17 PM
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While I respect Janet's expertise and experience, I don't think that what you want to do is that impractical in 10 days.Perhaps a bit hectic, but if you wanted a relaxing holiday, you would have gone to the beach.
To do your trip, I would spend 5days in London, one of them being the so-called jet-lag day. One day for a couple of the standard tourist attractions, being literary you would probably want a visit to Poets corner in Westminster Abbey, a day for London literary things, the British Library collection and Dickens House at least, I would think.
Then 3 separate day trips by train to visit Bath, Chawton and Rochester, returning to London each night. There are frequent direct trains to Bath and Rochester, for Chawton, it would be train to Alton, and bus or taxi from there.
Then morning train to Windermere, bus to Ambleside or Grasmere for overnight. You should be able to visit Rydal Mount and Dove Cottage that afternoon.
Next day train to Keighley for overnight, visit Haworth in the afternoon.
Next day train back to London.
And you have one extra day.
To do your trip, I would spend 5days in London, one of them being the so-called jet-lag day. One day for a couple of the standard tourist attractions, being literary you would probably want a visit to Poets corner in Westminster Abbey, a day for London literary things, the British Library collection and Dickens House at least, I would think.
Then 3 separate day trips by train to visit Bath, Chawton and Rochester, returning to London each night. There are frequent direct trains to Bath and Rochester, for Chawton, it would be train to Alton, and bus or taxi from there.
Then morning train to Windermere, bus to Ambleside or Grasmere for overnight. You should be able to visit Rydal Mount and Dove Cottage that afternoon.
Next day train to Keighley for overnight, visit Haworth in the afternoon.
Next day train back to London.
And you have one extra day.
and is very much worth exploring!
Jan 14th, 2012, 02:04 AM
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Rochester is an easy day trip from London (or the other way round) - it's not far and plenty of people commute it every day, plenty of trains, and Rochester is a nice compact little town to walk round to all the Dickens related places.
Jan 14th, 2012, 03:07 AM
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Depending on the time of year you are coming you may like to add Broadstairs to your trip to Rochester, it's about an hour away by train. Broadstairs is where Dickens spent his holidays and wrote Nicholas Nickleby and based Betsy Trotwood's cottage on what is now the Dicken's House Museum. There is a Dickens week in the town each June which may also interest you, and the house in which Dickens stayed is overlooking the main bay, (Bleak House). Google the town and the festival sites will give you a better idea.
Jan 14th, 2012, 03:18 AM
#8
[almost] what Ron said. [sorry jj to disagree with you for once!]
but Ron, the OP has only 10 days, including as i read it, arrival and departure day. s/he doesn't have time to have 5 days in london, plus 3 day trips, plus 3 days in the north.
you could of course intersperse your day trips between your days in London which would make it less tiring. think about this:
Day 1 - arrive. rest and possibly walk around Westminster area etc.
Day 2 - London sightseeing.
Day 3 - Rochester/Broadstairs. [try to do this on a nice day]
Day 4 - London
Day 5 - Bath/Chawton [sorry, you can't do both]
day 6 - London
Day 7 - train to windermere, bus to Grasmere. [staying there will cut down on the time you spend travelling around]. afternoon and following morning here.
Day 8 - morning in/around Grasmere. Bus/Train to Keighly.
Day 9 - morning visit Haworth. afternoon return to London.
day 10 - home.
but Ron, the OP has only 10 days, including as i read it, arrival and departure day. s/he doesn't have time to have 5 days in london, plus 3 day trips, plus 3 days in the north.
you could of course intersperse your day trips between your days in London which would make it less tiring. think about this:
Day 1 - arrive. rest and possibly walk around Westminster area etc.
Day 2 - London sightseeing.
Day 3 - Rochester/Broadstairs. [try to do this on a nice day]
Day 4 - London
Day 5 - Bath/Chawton [sorry, you can't do both]
day 6 - London
Day 7 - train to windermere, bus to Grasmere. [staying there will cut down on the time you spend travelling around]. afternoon and following morning here.
Day 8 - morning in/around Grasmere. Bus/Train to Keighly.
Day 9 - morning visit Haworth. afternoon return to London.
day 10 - home.
Jan 14th, 2012, 08:20 AM
#9
For those of you who have not had the experience I would not wish anyone to stay a night in Keighley. I live in the next valley and while Haworth was a terrible place when the Bronte's lived there I promise you that Keighley is one now.
I suggest stay in Leeds, Bradford or Haworth itself
I suggest stay in Leeds, Bradford or Haworth itself
Jan 14th, 2012, 10:26 AM
#11
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Thank you for the itinerary ideas, everyone! I have a lot more thinking to do still. I'm glad to hear more tips as well -- the one about not staying in Keighley is great, since I had been considering it, so thank you!
Jan 14th, 2012, 10:30 AM
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Haworth itself has lots of places to say. I've stayed here and can recommend.
http://www.rosebudcottage.co.uk/
http://www.rosebudcottage.co.uk/
Jan 14th, 2012, 03:13 PM
#16
kendalcottages: Good post -- <u>except</u> for linking to your website/rental. The editors are very strict about advertising. So just a heads up for your future posts . . . give advice/info but not the ad. Otherwise you'll find yourself nuked . . .
Jan 14th, 2012, 06:02 PM
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“Depending on the time of year you are coming you may like to add Broadstairs to your trip to Rochester, it's about an hour away by train. Broadstairs is where Dickens spent his holidays and wrote Nicholas Nickleby and based Betsy Trotwood's cottage on what is now the Dicken's House Museum.”
Kristina, lucky you – taking a literary jaunt to England.
Before my recent trip to London I read CHARLES DICKENS by Michael Slater – a very complete biography of the novelist’s complicated domestic life, his contributions to contemporary theater and his support of fellow artists, along with lengthy descriptions of his literary endeavors.
Through it all, Dickens returned annually to BROADSTAIRS in late summer where he found some peace and time for reflection. I only made it to the DICKENS MUSEUM on Doughty Street which has excellent exhibits and remains the only one of his many residences still standing in London.
I also went to the JANE AUSTEN CENTER in Bath which would be of interest to literary aficionados like yourself.
Have a great trip and let us know how far you get….
Kristina, lucky you – taking a literary jaunt to England.
Before my recent trip to London I read CHARLES DICKENS by Michael Slater – a very complete biography of the novelist’s complicated domestic life, his contributions to contemporary theater and his support of fellow artists, along with lengthy descriptions of his literary endeavors.
Through it all, Dickens returned annually to BROADSTAIRS in late summer where he found some peace and time for reflection. I only made it to the DICKENS MUSEUM on Doughty Street which has excellent exhibits and remains the only one of his many residences still standing in London.
I also went to the JANE AUSTEN CENTER in Bath which would be of interest to literary aficionados like yourself.
Have a great trip and let us know how far you get….
Jan 21st, 2012, 01:15 PM
#18
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Thanks everyone, so much! You've given us a lot to think about. We are now thinking we will skip Bath and the Cotswolds, though we still want to go to Chawton. Here's what we're thinking:
Day 1: arrive, travel directly to Lake District
Day 2: lake district
Day 3: lake district
Day 4: lake district
Day 5: lake district/travel to Haworth to spend the night
Day 6: Haworth/travel to London that night
Day 7: London
Day 8: Day trip to Winchester/Chawton
Day 9: Day trip to Rochester/Broadstairs
Day 10: few final things in London before leaving
We will probably stay in London during the last part of the trip, for convenience. But would anyone recommend staying in Rochester, Winchester, or a nearby town instead of staying in London? We are fine with not staying in London and are more into "charming" than "modern."
Day 1: arrive, travel directly to Lake District
Day 2: lake district
Day 3: lake district
Day 4: lake district
Day 5: lake district/travel to Haworth to spend the night
Day 6: Haworth/travel to London that night
Day 7: London
Day 8: Day trip to Winchester/Chawton
Day 9: Day trip to Rochester/Broadstairs
Day 10: few final things in London before leaving
We will probably stay in London during the last part of the trip, for convenience. But would anyone recommend staying in Rochester, Winchester, or a nearby town instead of staying in London? We are fine with not staying in London and are more into "charming" than "modern."
Jan 21st, 2012, 01:27 PM
#19
good thinking, Kristina. better to see some of it properly, than be so rushed you can't see any of it at all.
ref your query about staying outside London, it's difficult to see how you could do this AND do your day trips to both Rochester and Winchester. London will make it so much easier to get about, and you can enjoy the nightlife when you get back from your jaunts.
ref your query about staying outside London, it's difficult to see how you could do this AND do your day trips to both Rochester and Winchester. London will make it so much easier to get about, and you can enjoy the nightlife when you get back from your jaunts.
Jan 21st, 2012, 01:34 PM
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I am planning a literary trip to England for my book club for summer 2013 so was so excited to read your post!
We ( 8-10) of us are contemplating London, Bath, Dorchester( for Thomas Hardy) Lyme Regis ( J. Fowles), off to Chawton and then north to Oxford, thru Chipping Campden to Stratford and to Haworth with a return to Heathrow from there. I think we are going to rent cars. Please post how your trip planning is coming along and how it went when you return. All of these tips you are getting is helping me think through our planning too- thanks!
We ( 8-10) of us are contemplating London, Bath, Dorchester( for Thomas Hardy) Lyme Regis ( J. Fowles), off to Chawton and then north to Oxford, thru Chipping Campden to Stratford and to Haworth with a return to Heathrow from there. I think we are going to rent cars. Please post how your trip planning is coming along and how it went when you return. All of these tips you are getting is helping me think through our planning too- thanks!
