Will be going solo in February. Retired male. Public transportation only. I have been to Great Britain many, many times and have seen London and other major cities several times over. So what I am seeking are suggestions as to places that I haven't been. No manors, castles or estates. No driving, period. I do like off the wall museums. Military stuff is good. No long walks. Enjoy B&B's, nice pubs, beer and single malt. Like trains very much and do not want to spent more than two nights in any place. My last night will be in London. Total time for this trip will be 8 full days. Does not count the day of arrival nor the last day of departure. Thanks for your suggestions.

All Britrail passes are 20% reduced thru the end of Feb (travel by 2-28) and if traveling that much strongly look at the 8 straight day pass

first class has senior rates for over 59 and these too are reduced 20%. I always recommend www.budgeteuropetravel.com because you can talk to a British rail expert and lack of mailing fees. www.britrail.com is the official site. www.ricksteves.com also good info. Passes good on all trains in UK - airport expresses, etc. any train anytime - but even at the discounted online tickets at www.nationalrail.co.uk you'd be hard to beat the per day cost of an 8-day pass if traveling as much as you indicate and then you have non-changeable non-refundable tickets to deal with losing all flexibility

while these are great for folks only say going London-Edinburgh they are not good for flexibility and traveling each day on a whim perhaps.

Sure you've been to Hendon RAF Museum on London Tube.

Thanks for the quick reply. Actually I have been using the 8 day 1st class pass for several years. I kind of plan my trips around the pass. Regarding Hendon, yes, Last year I did the RAF Cosford. My only "set in stone" is on arrival at Heathrow I will bus to Cambridge, then the next day I will visit Duxford. The following day I will validate my pass and take off for...?

Imperial War Museum in Duxford has collection of military and civilian aircraft. It's near Cambridge. There are walks between the hangars.

Sorry I didn't see your post that you already intended to go to Duxford.

One suggestion: www.museum-mile.org.uk

Irritating they're adopting a gimmick from somewhere as bereft of decent museums as New York (and there's a spelling mistake on the site so egregious you'd have thought even a web designer would have spotted it).

But there are a couple on the list I bet you've not tried. And, since a couple are medicine-related, and medicine, like choir singing, is what we do best, try www.medicalmuseums.org.

Bletchley Park
http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/

Difficult to answer as I don't know where you've already been. York may be of interest to you, possibly Leeds for museums. Cambridge is interesting if you haven't been there.

You say Great Britain and then mention have seen London and other major cities several times. Now I have to ask this did that include any of wales or scotland.
If not then Cardiff could be an option straight throught train cardiff to Paddington a 2 hour trip. Now I know you said no castles, but Cardiff caslte has the Museums of the Royal Regiment of Wales so you could just to that.
Take a tour Millennium Stadium, I am not sure if the Brains brewery still do tours but worth checking that out. Pop down th cardiff bay take a boat trip over to the barriage. While in Cardiff bay there are a few of the older type pubs that were there before the treny bars opened. You could take a tour of the Wales Millennium art Centre, maybe even catch a show if but not sure if that is something you would like.
http://www.cardiffharbour.com/leisur...ttractions.htm d

Thanks for your thoughtful replies. To answer a couple of questions. Regarding Scotland and Wales. Yes to both. Cardiff and general as well as Conwy and points West. Scotland, well, a lot. Oban, Mull, Skye, Fort William, Troon, St. Andrews, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Orkney and places I have forgotten about. In England, York, Durham, Whitby, Just about every major town, Oxford, Berwick, Cambridge and more places than most. I have done the coast, like Portsmouth, and places between London and Exeter, and the list goes on. So now you know why I need suggestions. There just has to be some places I have overlooked!!

This is difficult as you seem to have been to most places. Therefore, I will give you a list of places I like: Oakham and Rutland Water, The Lake District: Ambleside, Windermere, Kesick (no need to walk, good transport), Bakewell, Matlock, Castleton and Youlgreave (Derbyshire, good pubs, good transport), Plymouth (you've probably been), village of Grantchester (near Cambridge - pubs, meadows, the Orchard if you like cream teas), Chester (interesting town), Cornwall (pubs once again).

I wasa going to say the same sort of thing that Carolina said. As you have been to many places already I will also suggest my favouite spots. West Wales all long that coast is beatiful I would think you could do Tenby in the winter months by train. Tenby is a very pretty place with a few musems and Art places as well as several pubs. http://www.tenbyguide.com/history.asp

The other places really need a car or the summer bus and train time tables.
The Gower coast train to Swansea and the buses out to the Gower coast itself. I have not done it that way as we drive. Breacon is another nice place I love the town and I have done day trips on the canal. You could maybe think of doing a canal boat trip for a few days in Monmouthshire & Brecon.
These sites might help.

http://www.brecontown.co.uk/intro.htm
http://www.aus.visitwales.com/server.php?show=nav.4285

http://www.traveline-cymru.org.uk/

Might not fit into the schedule, but the Channel Islands have some interesting museums, eg the German Underground Hospital, War Tunnels, various Military Museums plus a motor museum. There are German bunkers dotted around the islands. No trains but good bus service. The local beer in Jersey is Mary Ann.

I live near Duxford, and have often visited the air museum there. How about the Royal Navy's Fleet air Arm Museum? I found that very interesting.

http://www.fleetairarm.com/

Since you've been to Portsmouth, you have probably seen the RN museum there. Then there's the submarine museum at Gosport.

The army also has many museums, which you can locate at:

http://www.army.mod.uk/museums/museum_regional_map.htm

Have you been to Chatham Dockyards? http://www.chdt.org.uk/

Also agree that Rutland is worth a visit. Or the Isle Of Wight maybe.

Might be worth a try to look at Leeds. It has a samll commercial centre which includes some fine museums and just outside the West Yorkshire Sculpture park (not worth travelling the world for) but if in the area has some very nice European bronzes.

rogeruktum:

Ely Cathedral can be reached from Cambridge by train or bus http://www.cathedral.ely.anglican.org

http://www.ely.org.uk/tic.htm

Carolina and hetismij - I'd like to hear more about Rutland Waters. Thanks.

Sandy

Thanks again for all of your suggestions. I am going to visit the Chatham Docklands, but most likely will stay in either Whistatable or Broadstairs. Then I think the long way to Arundel via Hastings, Rye, Brighton and Barham. Remember, I do like train travel!!

SandyBrit: Not Carolina or hetismij - but a bit about Rutland Water. It is a VERY large reservoir w/ good fishing, water sports and lots of interesting things to see nearby. Oakham, Stamford, Burghley House, etc.

(Rutland was the smallest country in England - then "disappeared" in local govt reorganization back in the 70's. It became part of Leicestershire. I'd set out to visit every county in the UK - but Rutland ceased to be before I got around to it. Then back in the '90's it became a county again - so I rented a lodge on the shore of Rutland Water for a week and REALLY enjoyed exploring the area.)

janisj - thanks very much for the information on Rutland Water.

I always wanted to visit Burghley House so this area may well work for us after our annual visit to see my mum who lives in Felixstowe.

Sandy