4days to travel from Manchester to London
 

Hi everyone we have 4days at our disposal to travel by car from manchester to London. we would like to travel through wales and take in the scenery. Will appreciate your comments as to places to see on our way and BB that have nice ambience to stay during that time.
thanks
Karl

If you must do this then I'd skip Wales and perhaps do the Cotswolds and Gloucester area. However, I'd highly recommend spending more time in London, even if it is a repeat visit.

Sorry I did not clarify myself. We will be in england for 12 days and spend 5 days in London before heading off to Manchester to see friends and then drive back to london. It is our third visit to U.K.
we were not sure if there were good enough roads(loking at the maps) to drive through Wales.
thanks for your comments m-kingdom2.
karl

How good do you need the roads to be, if you have 4 days ?! Chester is nice; then meandering down from Chester through mid Wales past Lake Bala to Aberystwyth and then Pembrokeshire is a lovely drive. (We drive from Edinburgh to Pembrokeshire in 10 hours, including a lunch stop.) There's lots to see in Pembrokeshire. Then you could explore your way back through south Wales, visiting the Gower (area of outstanding natural beauty) and Cardiff; Laugharne if you're interested in Dylan Thomas; and the valleys if you are interested in industrial history. Then get the M4 straight to London.

I'm assuming you've already done what most people seem to consider their must-sees on a first visit - the Stratford, the Cotswolds and Bath ?

I took a similar trip a few years ago and we went Manchester -York - Stratford-Upon-Avon (for Cotswold access) - Oxford - London (but we relied on train travel). It worked really well. I've never been to Wales so cant comment on driving there.

If you plan to drive through North Wales in the Snowdonia area, the roads are extremely narrow and winding (but the scenery is fantastic.) We stayed 4 nights at Sygun Fawr House (Beddgelert) a few weeks ago: wonderful food and views, but a deluxe room was tight for 3. Conwy is a lovely town and wish we had spent more time there; Caernarfon Castle was great fun.

thanks for your comments, we have decided to drive through wales and stop over for a day or two and then stop outside Bath and head back to London. Will it be O.K. to look for accomodation--BedBreakfast place as we get there or should we book in advance. We will be there during the 3rd week of sept.
karl

In Manchester itself you can see the worlds first passenger railway, good museums of science and technology and of art, and Roman remains, a surprise amid all thast Victoriana. Chester is strong on things left by Romans and in the middle ages, and there is good hill country in Wales to the south west. The roads of mid Wales are narrow, and people drive with mutual courtesy and rather slowly, but that is good if you want to see the scenery. Shrewsbury is a beautiful town clustered round the Abbey (perhaps you read the Cadfael stories ?), and surrounded by further beautiful hills towards and in Wales. Llandindod Wells is a spa town, a little English looking, relaxing and well built, and with good country to the west. I should omit south Wales, and head as you say via Bath to London.

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If you just want to get just a taste of Wales I think the Wye River Valley, including Tintern Abbey is a lovely area. Take the time to actually spend 2-3 hours actually walking along the river from Tintern Parva to the Devil's Pulpit. It is well worth it. You could then cross over the bridge near Chepstow and head over to Bath. We have an absolutely fabulously dinner at Tintern Parva Farmhouse & Restaurant once (accomodation itself was OK but nothing flash) but as that was some 10 years ago I don't know if it still exists or could easily be run by someone else now. We had no trouble with the roads at all in that area.

I have to agree with Mrs Jones,If you want the scenery there is beautiful areas in the Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire National Parks.
The roads are pretty much the same as most country areas, so a gentle wind down through Wales is not difficult.
Farms and miles of open countryside.

The M4 gives easy access to the south of Wales and England.
You really must visit Cardiff the capital city of Wales with its Castle in the town center and possibly Europes biggest castle at Caerphilly.
Museum of Welsh life at St Fagans nr Cardiff.
If you like sport, visit the Millenium stadium, home of Welsh football and rugby and all English competion finals, for the last few years.
Sit in the cafe qtr and watch the world go by.
Yes Mk2, civilisation even exists in Wales.
Once you have visited Wales and filled your lungs with clean fresh air, you will be prepared to go to London and breath in the dirt and fumes.

Muck

Good Luck with your planning