Need advice-confused about England already!
Jun 11th, 2008, 06:40 PM
#1
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Need advice-confused about England already!
So we are trying to possibly plan a trip to England for late September/early October. We have only recently begun planning and I'm already confused! We have the Frommer's guide to England (maybe that is the problem) and it separates England by neighborhood and there are about...oh I don't know...eight million of them? I understand the London part, but from there I don't know what to do.
I guess I'm just wondering if there is enough to do in London for 4-7 days (yes a big range I know) or is it better to travel around England? And if it is better to go all over, where do I start? I know that a lot of Americans have been able to figure this out so I must be making it harder than it is.
We basically want to see the major sites, a show or two, some castles and such (I can already sense my husband's eyes glazing over so that may have to be limited to not so many), and a museum here or there. I know this is a very general question but any info you could give that would give me a good starting point for my planning would be appreciated!
I guess I'm just wondering if there is enough to do in London for 4-7 days (yes a big range I know) or is it better to travel around England? And if it is better to go all over, where do I start? I know that a lot of Americans have been able to figure this out so I must be making it harder than it is.
We basically want to see the major sites, a show or two, some castles and such (I can already sense my husband's eyes glazing over so that may have to be limited to not so many), and a museum here or there. I know this is a very general question but any info you could give that would give me a good starting point for my planning would be appreciated!
Jun 11th, 2008, 06:54 PM
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Yes, I'd also say stay right in London. You will have more than enough to keep you busy for 4-7 days.
Luckily you can find castles right there - the Tower of London is an amazing complex of walls and towers (oldest part from just after 1066!). Also, Windsor is just outside London, and Hampton Court (more a palace from the era of Henry VIII) similarly close.
Our first trip to London was 6 full days and we didn't even make a day trip! But if you want one or two there are some very manageable ones that will give you a taste of England without you having to move all over the place in a fairly limited amount of time.
Give a look to the "Destinations" tab above for some suggestions about visiting London. That, and reading the London section of your guidebook, will give you a good start.
Luckily you can find castles right there - the Tower of London is an amazing complex of walls and towers (oldest part from just after 1066!). Also, Windsor is just outside London, and Hampton Court (more a palace from the era of Henry VIII) similarly close.
Our first trip to London was 6 full days and we didn't even make a day trip! But if you want one or two there are some very manageable ones that will give you a taste of England without you having to move all over the place in a fairly limited amount of time.
Give a look to the "Destinations" tab above for some suggestions about visiting London. That, and reading the London section of your guidebook, will give you a good start.
Jun 12th, 2008, 01:26 AM
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I'm confused, too. Is the whole trip only 4-7 days? If so I'd not leave London, except for Windsor or Hampton Court.There is enough to do in London for 4-7 weeks or years.
IMO trips thru the countryside really are best by car unless you are just visiting larger towns.
IMO trips thru the countryside really are best by car unless you are just visiting larger towns.
Jun 12th, 2008, 01:53 AM
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show or two, some castles and such (I can already sense my husband's eyes glazing over so that may have to be limited to not so many), and a museum here or there
You can get all that in London.
I'd stay there.
You can get all that in London.
I'd stay there.
Jun 12th, 2008, 03:29 AM
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We basically want to see the major sites, a show or two,>>>>
Most of the "major sites" are in London (well the ones that toursits like are). Also The West End is where Britains major theatres are (assuming you want to see things like we will rock you, lion king, mama mia etc)
some castles and such (I can already sense my husband's eyes glazing over so that may have to be limited to not so many),>>>>>>
London doesn't really do castles - at least not in the sense that most Americans mean. The tower is a castle but it's more of a palace, as is Windsor. Both are ever so good though).
If you're looking for the kind of castle that Robin Hood might attack you'll need to go out of London. Leeds castle (in kent not Leeds) is pretty much what you want:
http://www.leeds-castle.com/goto.php...|s0|g1|d0&
or maybe Hever Castle (ann Boleyn's home):
http://www.hevercastle.co.uk/Home/Castle.aspx
ps is Hever's the worst website ever designed?
and a museum here or there. >>
You want museums. You want London. We nicked stuff from all over the globe and brought it back. And we put it in London.
Most of the "major sites" are in London (well the ones that toursits like are). Also The West End is where Britains major theatres are (assuming you want to see things like we will rock you, lion king, mama mia etc)
some castles and such (I can already sense my husband's eyes glazing over so that may have to be limited to not so many),>>>>>>
London doesn't really do castles - at least not in the sense that most Americans mean. The tower is a castle but it's more of a palace, as is Windsor. Both are ever so good though).
If you're looking for the kind of castle that Robin Hood might attack you'll need to go out of London. Leeds castle (in kent not Leeds) is pretty much what you want:
http://www.leeds-castle.com/goto.php...|s0|g1|d0&
or maybe Hever Castle (ann Boleyn's home):
http://www.hevercastle.co.uk/Home/Castle.aspx
ps is Hever's the worst website ever designed?
and a museum here or there. >>
You want museums. You want London. We nicked stuff from all over the globe and brought it back. And we put it in London.
Jun 12th, 2008, 03:51 AM
#8
The whole of UK (wjich is more than just England) has 60Million people while London has 12M. So might as well stay in London unless DH has something special has to see. For example Stonehenge or Oxford (the library is older than the US including pre-revolution)
Jun 12th, 2008, 05:47 AM
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I agree- there is more than enough to do in London for 4-7 days. If you want to venture out of the city, take a day trip to Dover, Stonehenge, or Oxford (all VERY different depending on what you enjoy doing). You can easily get to all of those places and get out of London for the day... but, 4-7 days won't even begin to cover London.
