Hi there.

My husband and I are going to Italy by way of LHR and have have a friend in Swindon with a nice home, offering us his guest room (yes, we are aware... it's Swindon). Anyhow, it's our base, and he's a good friend who is open to us staying with him and going wherever we want. We have two free days (post jet lag recovery). We've been to London and loved it. We're trying to figure out what to do for the two days. That being said, here are some thoughts...

We’ve done some of the great sites in London and beyond - Tower of London, seen the exterior B Palace, London Bridge, been to Salisbury Cathedral and Windsor Castle, been to Stonehenge - and loved them all. Have been to a bit of the Cottswalds (Chipping Campden and a bit beyond) and are totally open to more of that (loved the Cottswolds). We’ve never been to Bath. We're wide open to exploration and ideas, within our time constraints.

On our last day, we want to end up in London. There's a restaurant (Chutney Mary) that was probably the best restaurant we've ever been to (ever), and we want to go again. We figure we'll say in London that night and fly to Italy the next day. So that should be taken into consideration.

Anyone care to throw some ideas out there for two free days based in Swindon? (We're headed to Florence, Tuscany - Montici, and Venice after).

If you need more info, just ask.

Thanks!

If you're in the mood for some bucolic rambling, the source of the River Thames is very near Swindon along with the Thames Path that follows the river all the way to the Thames Barrier the far side of London. A likely section for you to walk would be from Cricklade to Lechlade, 11 miles (or any part of that).

http://www.thames-path.org.uk/thames..._lechlade.html

Very near Lechlade is William Morris's wonderful house, Kelmscott Manor, if you have an interest in the Pre-Raphaelites (or even if you don't. Good food in the tearoom). Then across the river from there is a big house to visit, Buscot Park.

https://www.sal.org.uk/kelmscott-manor
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buscot-park

All this very near you.

" London Bridge"......Really? I think you probably mean Tower Bridge:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._tall_ship.jpg

Malbrough is an ancient market town.http://www.marlboroughwiltshire.co.uk/
Then take the old road a4 towards Avebury.
Avebury; it is a much more interesting place than Stonehenge.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/avebury
https://sacredsites.com/europe/unite...m/avebury.html
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/v...laces/avebury/
along the way stop off at.
stopping to see historic places like Clatford; Overton; (Seven Barrows) Piggle Dean (Devil's Den Sarsen stones), Fyfield; West Kennet Long Barrow http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/v...t-long-barrow/
Silbury Hill
a list of old churches in the area. http://www.upperkennetchurches.org.uk/ourchurches.htm
This is a wonderful route to explore at your leisure.

another day could be spent driving (normal roads nearby) or walking some of the route of Britain's oldest road. http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway

Hoomameye - Yes, of course I meant the Tower Bridge. I guess my glass of wine put (incorrect) words in my mouth. Forgive me? Something tells me you and others knew what I meant.

I can say this about Avebury: several years ago I took a friend who is VERY into the "spiritual" aspects of life and he enjoyed being able to walk amongst, and touch, the stones.

Avebury has or used to have that something. It was owned by the Keiller Family (Famous for their Marmalades) The museum is small and unassuming and interesting. But still worth a stroll around feeling the vibes.
I had to rush around earlier so ended the post quickly.
Going back to the Ridgeway there is a great walk between The white Horse at Uffington and the long barrow at Waylands Smithy. That was a spooky location! http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/v...ylands-smithy/
An Historic house: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashdown-house

Thanks, everyone. Great recommendations.

Besides Avebury . . . Anywhere along the Thames from Oxford to Windsor -- Including Henley, Marlow, Wallingford, etc.

Highly recommend Kelmscott if you are interested in the Arts & Crafts movement -- but anywhere really in the area along and near the river will more than fill your couple of days.

No one has mentioned the Uffington White Horse which is close to Swindon. A trip up into the downs to walk a part of the Ridgeway, which runs close by the horse is a worthwhile walk. Waylands Smithy is also close by.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/white-horse-hill

Hoomameye - Yes, of course I meant the Tower Bridge. I guess my glass of wine....

Oh come on. We all know that precisely 98.34% of tourists think Tower Bridge is called London Bridge.

(I may be out by a fraction)

"...98.34% of tourists think Tower Bridge is called London Bridge."

And of the ones who know it's not London Bridge, about 98.34% wonder why the City of London would sell the actual 19th c. London Bridge to an Arizona developer rather than fix it. Most peculiar.

"Oh come on. We all know that precisely 98.34% of tourists think Tower Bridge is called London Bridge."

Maybe but that doesn't make right, the same as the Cotswalds, St Pancreas, Edinburg, London Tower, Glascow, Stonehenge etc,etc.

"Maybe but that doesn't make right,..."

I think we just reached the completely-muddled point in this thread.

****hetismij2 on Aug 26, 16

No one has mentioned the Uffington White Horse which is close to Swindon. A trip up into the downs to walk a part of the Ridgeway, which runs close by the horse is a worthwhile walk. Waylands Smithy is also close by.*****

I did, in a post 2 days before yours.

"I think we just reached the completely-muddled point in this thread."

What's "muddled" about it, Tower Bridge is not London Bridge....it's easy.

Whatever you say, HooRewe.