8 Day Itinerary for GB Late October

Old Aug 3rd, 2011, 01:26 PM
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8 Day Itinerary for GB Late October

I am trying to put together a sensible itinerary for a driving tour of Great Britain for late October. Have spent considerable time in London so would pick up car there and immediately leave. Am taking BF who has never been outside of London (although I have) and thought some cool things for him to see (I've been all over...) would be Chester, York, Cotswolds, and I'd like to go to Bath because I've never been there. Does this make any sense? Any great places we're missing or an obvious itinerary that would include these places that would make sense? Any advice appreciated! Thank you!
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Old Aug 3rd, 2011, 02:48 PM
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Are you flying in? To which airport? From where?

Driving immediately after a long haul flight is not a great idea. So staying one night in Windsor or London would be good, ad starting your driving tour the next day. Alternately - you could fly into Manchester and home from London - or Vice versa.

You could take the express coach from LHR to Bath, stay the night car-less and then after a day or two in Bath, drive up into the Cotswold, to Chester, to York and then to Manchester to fly home.
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Old Aug 3rd, 2011, 02:55 PM
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hi iregula, that's a lot to cram into 8 days - which is only 7 nights.

I agree with jj about not driving straight away, but i might approach it differently - get the plane straight to Manchester, hire car, drive to York, then work your way back.

2 nights York, i night Chester, 3 somewhere in Cotswolds, and one in Bath might just so it, but it's a long way to go for what is really only one day in York, and less than that in Chester.

if you jettisoned York and Chester, you could follow jj's idea, with 1 night in Windsor, pick up your car, drive to Bath via stonehenge, spend 2 nights, then head to Cotswolds for 3 nights, last night in Oxford, return car, train/bus back to LHR.
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Old Aug 4th, 2011, 08:39 AM
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Thank you both for your advice -- chose these towns because they stood out to me as particularly charming but see your point that it's simply too far. Can either of you recommend towns that are further south? (I'm now thinking fly into Heathrow -- way cheap -- and proceed to Oxford -- visit Blenheim -- proceed to Bath -- then TBD -- and back around to Oxford for return to Heathrow) Loved Chester for its walls and York for overall atmosphere and Viking past -- anything similarly charming/unique that would be more in line with a southern tour? Again, thank you!
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Old Aug 4th, 2011, 09:04 AM
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What does HE want to see? Charming towns or castles, landmarks, etc.?
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Old Aug 4th, 2011, 01:14 PM
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BigRuss -- he doesn't know -- generally when we travel, he barely knows where we're going So I am trying to pick an itinerary that will include some history, landmarks, great scenery, excellent accommodations, and charm. Here's what I've put together; any advice appreciated!

Thursday: Flight leaves 9:05 a.m. – arrive 9:20 p.m. (take train to Oxford from Heathrow if not too late)
Friday: Oxford Sightseeing
Saturday: Pick up Car -- Blenheim -- Stay in Oxford
Sunday: Move to Bath
Monday: Bath Sightseeing
Tuesday: Tour Stonehenge/Salisbury: Stay in Bath
Wednesday: Travel to Cotswolds (Stay in Broadway?)
Thursday: Explore the Cotswolds (Stay Broadway?)
Friday: Visit Stratford on Avon, Travel to Oxford/Drop Car Train to and Stay in Westminster
Saturday: Visit Westminster; Fly from Heathrow 6PM
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Old Aug 4th, 2011, 02:18 PM
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Oops, Westminster is Windsor
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Old Aug 4th, 2011, 07:34 PM
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OK a couple of problems:

• w/ a 9:20 landing you won't be out of LHR until 10:30 if you are lucky

• There is no train connecting LHR and Oxford. It is either a bust to Oxford, or a bus to Reading /train to Oxford, or a train into London and another train to Oxford --all after 10:30 at night

• You are zig zagging all over the place. The Cotswolds are practically a suburb of Oxford and Bath is a long way away.

What I'd do is book or priceline a hotel AT Heathrow the first night -- you'll be checking in around 11PM.

Next morning (Friday) rent a car and drive up to Oxford and spend the day exploring the city. In the early evening leave Oxford and drive up to Stratford, spend two nights.

Next day (Sat) explore Stratford and/or Warwick/Kenilworth. Take in a play.

Next morning (Sun) drive to either Broadway or better yet Chipping Campden. Stay Sun., Mon., tues, nights to give you three full days to explore the Cotswolds.

Wed morning leave for Bath. Stay Wed/Thurs nights there.

Fri AM drive to Stonehenge, salisbury, Avebury and finish up at Windsor for the night.

Sat visit the Castle, turn in the car, and fly home.
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Old Aug 4th, 2011, 08:28 PM
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Buses from LHR to Oxford leave the central bus station (for T1 &3)and Terminal 5: if arriving at T4, you need to get a free train to Heathrow Central. They leave at 2210 (2220 from T5) , 2240, 2310, 0005, 0150, then two hourly till 0540. At that time of night, they take about 75 mins to central Oxford.

I'd get the bus and stay the night in Oxford.
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Old Aug 5th, 2011, 07:55 AM
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Yes -- the bus is the easiest way to Oxford. But w/ a 2130 landing you probably be catching the 2310 coach (2240 if you are very lucky) meaning you won't be in Oxford until about 0030 and at your hotel probably 0100. I'd still opt for a hotel at LHR, and an early AM drive to Oxford.

But either option will give you a full day to explore the city, then drive on to Stratford.
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Old Aug 5th, 2011, 08:24 AM
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. It is either a bust to Oxford,>

???
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Old Aug 5th, 2011, 08:41 AM
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"It is either a bust to Oxford,>"

Oh er, where do I buy tickets for that???
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Old Aug 5th, 2011, 08:43 AM
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Some busts I want to ride but others I'll pass on!
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Old Aug 5th, 2011, 08:45 AM
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Any sensible person would know that was a typo . . . Except . . .
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Old Aug 5th, 2011, 09:02 AM
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Of course when one copies/pastes . . . Typos aren't generally a problem.
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