At the risk of messing up your itinery, you ought to visit York. But it's been here for a long time, and it'll be here for a long time yet, so you could come on your next visit?<BR>A lot of small English towns that don't have much industry rely on tourism to remain decent places to live, so negative comments aren't helping anyone, Mr Yawn!

Louise, you're not the first person to say good things about York. Problem, as always, is too much to see, so little time!

Jim, first let me say I was disguted with that small minded bigots message at the begining of this thread-I suppose every country has these sort of idiots.ANYWAY!! the idea of "doing it" in 2 weeks seems virtually impossible as you really will not see much at all as you will be rushing from one thing to the other with no time to appreciate antything really.All the threads are true about the best places to see(possibly we are all biased about our little bit of this green and pleasant land)All I can say is my own biased opinion and if you do go to Stratford do try and go to the Cotswolds(not far from here) and get off the beaten track of all the tourist traps and get and see the little villages that are dotted all over the rural countryside there are so many that I can not start to say which is better than the other.Whatever you do end up doing have a wonderful holiday here with us and disregard the purile few idiots that take perverse pleasure in nasty replies.<BR>Tim

Thanks for your kind sentiments Tim. We do plan to go to Stratford. We have tickets to see The Tempest at the RST. The thing is, after Stratford, we will have 3 days before we have to fly home (9/12, 13 and 14). What to do? Our thought was to drive through the Cotswolds from Stratford to Bath. Maybe overnight in Bath??? Then the next day, trip to Avebury and Stonehenge which we really would like to see. If you have any suggestions for these final 3 days, they would be welcome.

Dear Jim,well it looks like you are starting to get some sort of itinery together.As you are going to drive down to Bath(my wife says I hope he has a fair bit of money,Bath is not cheap to stay at!!)think about driving through the Cotswolds-off the beaten track- with an idea of maybe heading for and staying in CHELTENHAM for 1 night.Cheltenham and Bath have an annual rivalry for best kept and prettiest town(this year Cheltenham have pulled out all the stops)They also have many entertainments and outdoor exhibits going on through the summer-you would have to check when you get there(also there are plenty of hotels in Cheltenham)The down side is my mother in law lives there LOL!!!Cheltenham to bath round about 2 to 3 hours driving TAKING YOUR TIME!Stonhenge and Avebury Circle can be reached from Bath quite easy.Also just in case you dont know yet petrol(gas)is very,very expensive here it works out at about $2-20 to the gallon(our gallon is slightly larger than yours)just be aware of it.This is one of the reasons we holiday in your country with a motorhome.<BR>Tim

Tim's suggestion of overnighting in or near Cheltenham is a very good one. There are so many wonderful Cotswold villages and you would miss most of them if you drove on to Bath from Stratford. If you stay somewhere between Cheltenham and Stow on the Wold you will have enought time to see Broadway, Stanton Hailes Abbey Winchcombe, etc. etc. Then drive on to Bath the next morning. Visit the sites in Bath and then stay outside of the city Like in Bradford on Avon or Melksham. The next day you can see Avebury and Stonehenge.<BR><BR>And I hope Tim meant a &pound; symbol instead of a $ - because petrol is definitely more than $2.20 a gallon (They price it by the litre because the price in &pound; would cause sticker shock!) Count on $4.50+ per gallon.

That sounds good. The day after we do Avebury/Stonehenge (9/14), we will be flying home (9/15). Do we dump the car in Salisbury after doing Stonehenge (unless it'll be too late in day), and take a train to London and stay in London, or do we stay near London-Heathrow and drop car off there the next morning before the flight?

Whatever you do DON'T drive into London.<BR><BR>You could use the extra night in the Cotswolds, Salisbury or Windsor. All are within reasonable drives of LHR.<BR><BR>My rec would be to visit Stonehenge and Salisbury then head north to Avebury. Then on to Windsor to spend your last night. Windsor is only a few miles from LHR.<BR><BR>If you wanted to go into London instead - drive from Avebury to LHR and turn in the car and then take the train into London. <BR><BR>But if you have an early flight, Windsor is more convenient.<BR>

Jim, Janice is right I should have multiplied and not divided my figures SORRY!!!Petrol is an obscene price here not to mention the proliferation of speed cameras everywhere-just keep an eye out for yellow boxes on posts by the side of the road.Also Janice is spot on with the Windsor idea and then drop off at LHR.If London must be done the train or underground is by far the best means to get in from the outskirts,you could spend hours and hours hardly moving in the totally congested roads that are London let alone trying to find somewhere to park.If you drop the car at LHR you can take the Heathrow express straight into Londons Paddington station which then gives you access to the underground network without having to go out of the station.

Thanks. I had NO intention of driving in London. I would just drop off at LHR the day before, train it into town, stay overnight, and train it back the next morning.

By the way, what does it mean when a show "previews" for a while and then what is "press night"? I just found out that the show I am seeing at RST in Stratford, previews starting 9/7 and "press night" is 9/12. Because of my schedule, I got tickets for 9/11, which I now discover means that it is during the "preview" period and the night before "press night." It's too late to change it now, but does that mean an inferior show? When the box office said "preview special price" I had no idea what that meant, but that it was cheaper.

Don't worry about preview performances. This is the custom at all the theatres in London as well. They are not dress rehearsals - but full blown performances with the regular cast. Previews usually last about a week. Sometimes Press Night is actually the 2nd night of the regular run and sometimes the last night of the previews. <BR><BR>Previews are cheaper but not lesser quality - and you are there towards the end of the preview period anyway. Any bugs will have long been worked out. <BR><BR>Many in-the-know theatre goers make a point of going to previews because of the money savings.

Jim, Do yourself a favour and give the UK a total miss, the people are like their country, sullen and unsociable, you will also be 'ripped off'. Come over to old Ireland where you will be welcomed with open arms, thats a quarantee, Americans are especially welcomed. You are a great people and nation.

Thanks Martin for the kind words. Our tix are booked, however, but next time we will visit Ireland! By the way, I've visited London before and found the people to be very friendly.

Joining this thread late as I've just happened upon this site. First, let me say as a Brit that you will be very welcome here - especially in Scotland. I'm a Londoner but given your objectives I think you're right to leave London out of your main trip - even though it is better than ever these days. (Tate Modern ... Shakespeare's Globe, built to the design of the original Globe theatre ... the Londoin Eye - giant ferris wheel opposite the Houses of Parliament ... and, finally, excellent, good value restaurants. Though I have to say that hotels in London tend to be expensive.)<BR><BR>Next to Yorkshire, where I was brought up (talk about rural beauty!), Scotland is my favourite part of the UK. I agree with the poster who recommended visiting the west coast - around Loch Maree and Loch Torridon is so beautiful, and especially the coast road from Loch Torridon down to Applecross. Also, try to drive through Glen Coe. Read up the history first. Personally I would spend more time in the Scottish Highlands rather than N Wales - but this is just personal preference I guess. The Cotswolds are also beautiful, eg Broadway. And if you're staying in or near Bath (a wonderful Georgian city!), take a detour through the charming village of Castle Combe - which won the most beautiful village competition for several years.<BR><BR>Enjoy my country!<BR><BR>Alan

How much time to leave for a connection at Heathrow? Flight gets in at 7:05 AM. I assume no problem with a 9:00 or 9:30 connection to Edinburgh?

Oops, meant to say 8:30 connection.

Jim: Your Edinburgh flight will likely be from a different terminal. Term's 1,2 and 3 are near each other while Term 4 is more remote -- almost a different airport. <BR><BR>If you only have carry-on luggage, or if your bags are checked through, AND your arriving flight is not delayed and gets a gate quickly, you can do it in about an hour+/- - and I have done it faster. But if you have checked bags to claim plan on 2 hours MINIMUM.

Thanks Janis. Guess you're saying that an 8:30 flight's not a good idea. Problem is that the next one (for that price, anyway) is at 12:50, so we'd have a long and tiring layover.

Also, how difficult is it to drop off a rental car at London Heathrow if we were to spend the night before someone nearby, like Windsor? By "difficult" I'm referring to the driving, since I don't want to drive in London (although by that point I'll have driven in UK for nearly 2 weeks). Am I better off returning car somewhere like Salisbury?

Jim: None of the rental car agencies are actually on LHR. All are between 2 and 5 miles away and use shuttle buses. So you would not be driving inside the LHR ring road. Most are easy or semi-easy to get to. You have some options - but wait until you find out where your agency is. If the agency is north or west of LHR just take a cab to Windsor - or the agency might even drop you there. Or take the shuttle bus to LHR and then either a bus or a cab to Windsor. If Windsor is your final destination, dropping the car at the airport will be much less complicated than dropping it at Salisbury. If you decide to go into London instead I would still drop it at LHR.<BR><BR>About you flight connection - sometimes the early morning flights actually arrive EARLY since they have the jet stream pushing them. Of course there are no guarantees - it may be delayed 2 hours on the ground in the States?! A couple of times I have booked a flight from LHR to Scotland w/ a 4 or 5 hour layover and ended up making an earlier flight. But this only works if you have only carry on's and no checked bags.<BR><BR>If you decide on the later flight and land early you can try to get on the earlier flight. If not, there is plenty to keep you busy for the approx 4 free hours you would have.

Thanks Janis. Good idea about just planning on the later flight, and then trying to get on the early one if possible. This shouldn't be a problem as long as there are seats on the earlier one (and we make it on time, of course). We'll be flying different airlines, so bags will not be checked through.<BR><BR>My next question is about where to pick up the rental car. We're picking it up in Edinburgh, but on Monday (which is actually 2 days after we arrive; no need to have car for stay in Edinburgh). Are we better off at the airport location, or a downtown location? I would tend to favor airport because I won't have to drive in Edinburgh, but then I have to go out to the airport to get it, which might be inconvenient.

Also (sorry for the constant questions), which village in the Cotswolds would you recommend us to stay over? We were thinking that Chipping Camden (sp?) or Broadway might be good, since we're coming down from Stratford, but that Bibury or Painswick might be a little less crowded. We will of course explore many of the towns in the area, but just wondering whether any one is preferable for staying over?

Definitely pick the car up at Edinburgh airport. Driving in the city can be a nightmare and the airport is right on the motorway system to get you on your way easily.<BR><BR>As for your Cotswold stay - all four of those towns/villages are wonderful. Of the 4, Broadway and Bibury would be the most crowded. Poor little Bibury is overrun by day trippers and the traffic/parking situation can be really bad. Broadway would have the priciest accomodations<BR><BR>Chipping Campden is lovely, as is Painswick. Either one would be fine, or try Stow-on-the-Wold or Burford<BR><BR>

Jim, I'd agree with Janis and go with renting the car at the airport. There's a pretty good bus service from the City Centre (opposite the taxi entrance to Waverley station) which only takes about 15 - 20 minutes.<BR><BR>I'm not sure how big your party is, biut if there's only two of you here's a tip. Apparently, if you book one of the smallest ones on the Hertz website, you will automatically get an upgrade as they don't have the smallest size car there. I got lucky once and booked the smallest and cheapest one, and ended up with one two sizes bigger (booked a Fiat Seicento, got a Ford Focus!)

Another question re: day in the Cotswolds. We will be coming from Stratford. In the morning we plan to visit Warwick, and then plan to drive down to the Cotswolds. Are we better off staying at a town in the northern cotswolds (such as Chipping Camden), checking in, and then driving around to explore some other towns such as Broadway, Bourton on Water and Upper Slaughter/Lower Slaughter before returning to Chipping Camden? Or are we better off exploring those towns on the way south and then staying at a town further south from Chipping Camden (Painswick perhaps?)? Our next stop after Cotswolds will be Bath, so it might make sense to stay somewhere to the south, but we hear Chipping Campden is so lovely.

Actually, Jim, It probably makes little difference. Warwick takes a while to see so you are not likely to get away until well after lunch.<BR><BR>But the area you will travel through is very compact - Chipping Campden to Painswick is only about 25± miles. So either would be a great place to stop over. Chipping Campden is a little more convenient to many of the villages you want to see.<BR>

Thanks Janis. Would you suggest booking ahead for Chipping Campden on a weekday in September?

Dear Jim: I'm joining this thread a little late to affect your plans, but just to let you know -- it IS possible to see a great deal of Britain in two weeks, but that's all you'll end up doing -- seeing it (as you drive past!) That being said, we did it years ago, and managed to cram in the following: London (2 days in the city, commuting from family in Surrey). In two days, we saw St. Paul's, St. Bride's, Oxford Street, The Tower, Westminster, Tower Bridge, Downing Street, Horse Guards, Fleet Street and took in a play in the West End. Then, Sissinghurst and Canterbury (day trip from Surrey), then a quick look-round and night in Bath (with a lunch break outside Windsor Castle along the way, and an attempt to find Avebury -- we didn't, but did see the giant men drawn in the turf) and took a drive 'round the Cotswolds (Castle Combe is lovely). Then (if I remember correctly), a night in Stratford (including seeing Anne Hathaway's cottage and Shakespeare's supposed grave). The next day we saw Warwick Castle (neat!) and nipped a corner of North Wales on the way to Chester. (The Cotswolds may have been the Bath night or the Stratford night; I don't remember) One night in Chester, then up the motorway to the Lakes. A nice drive around that area (pre-planned, on the "white roads") and a night just outside the area, near the motorway. Then, up through the borders to Edinburgh. Dinner there, a morning spend dashing about on the Royal Mile, with brief stops at the Castle and Greyfriars Church, and afternoon tea with the Queen (really!) at Holyrood (actually, at one of her scheduled garden parties, along with about 5,000 other loyal subjects!). Then drove up to Perth, and spent a few nights there with family, making a day trip to Aberdeen via Braemar and Balmoral, and another night spent with family in Inverness. We then drove from Perth all the way down to Cambridge (a very long haul!), spent one night there, looked around a bit and went on to family near Ipswich for lunch, then back to Surrey for one last night before flying home. Had a flying car tour of London that last night, and saw a few things (again, from the outside!) that we had missed earlier. As I said, we saw the outside of a great many things, but enough to know what we want to see on our return (whenever that may be!), and enough in enough depth to have had a memorable, enjoyable time. Good luck and have a great trip!

Jim: You can book ahead of course - but it really isn't necessary. What I would do is while in Stratford or Warwick drop into the Toutist Information Center - both towns have convenient TICs - in Warwick it is on the High street near the castle and in Stratford near the river and the largest parking lot. Tell them what you are looking for in/near Chipping Campden and then go sightseeing. The TIC will contact the Chipping Campden TIC and reserve a place for you. In hour or two go back to the TIC and they will give you the booking slip and directions to get to the B&B.<BR><BR>This way you are not wasting valuable free time tracking down a B&B. And this also gives you flexibility in case you decide to stay in some other area - the TIC can book you a place anywhere..

Dear Jim, I don't know what your budget is but an excellent BandB in Bath is Dorian House (you can fin it on the web) It is full of lovely furniture and the breakfast is excellent! We stayed there this year and intend to go back. I live in London now but I hope when you come to england next time you will go to Cornwall!! I'm sorry some people have given you a hard time. I hope you have an excellent holiday. Most of the natives are very friendly!