Hello everyone,

I need some help with accomodations for Oct in Manchester and the Cotswolds.

My dad is from the UK and hasnt been back since 1956. He was born in Bradford (suburb of Manchester) and spent some of his youth in an eastern suburb of Gloucester.

My parents are coming out for a visit this Oct (we live in London) and he wants to go back to these areas. I am trying to balance him wanting to see where he grew up, with some nicer tourist areas.

So my questions:

1. I dont want to stay in Gloucester...would rather stay in the Cotswolds for that portion (we will have 4 nights there.

What town would you recommend? Want to be in a town that has good pubs/restaurant but dont want to spend more than about 50-60 GBP a night for a room (50 for the room, not per person). Also want to be close enough to easily visit the suburb he is from on the eastern side of Gloucester.

2. Not particularly interested in Manchester, but what area is the best for tourists...the centre? Is there an area that is interesting historically?

Also, any good recommendations for hotels/B&Bs that are under 100 GBP?

We will be in this area for 2 nights.

Thank you so much! I am overwhelmed with options and I know fodorites can help

Jamikins

Painswick is a pretty small town south-east of Gloucester.

Birdlip is a village high on the hill above the east of Gloucester.

Both have accommodation, but Painswick would probably suit you best as it is closer to Gloucester, a little bigger and has some very god pubs and restaurants. You'll find some more info here...

http://www.cotswolds.info/places/painswick.shtml

Thanks so much Julia...sounds ideal!! I will check that out!

Bradford isnt really a suburb of Manchester (its about 25 miles away) - but certainly would recommend you stay there rather than Bradford itself - Leeds would be ever so slightly nearer, so you might want to stay there as an alternative.

I could have added, if its history how about staying in York - its about 40 miles away from Bradford (assuming you are set on going to Bradford).

Excellent info, thank you!

Definitely dont want to stay in Bradford! Hahaha...I'll look into Leeds and York.

We are definitly talking about the Bradford in Manchester (not the town of Bradford in Yorkshire).

There's a bit about the Manchester Bradford at
http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/dis.../bradford.html

jamikins:

Last month, after long overdue visit to London, we drove to the Cotswolds for the first time in several years. We booked a B and B in the heart of Broadway, literally next door to the venerable Lygon Arms.....

"Small Talk Lodge", great hosts, Lauren and Maggie...a full English breakfast, with choices...car park, very bright and comfortable rooms..we had a king and an enormous bathroom/bath and shower en suite...for three nights or more you would qualify for a 10% rate reduction ..we paid £59. We would not hesitate to recommend it to our closest friends or dearest relatives.

Many restaurants in town, there is also a "Small Talk Tea Shoppe" attached to the B and B....also a very appealing grocery/deli takeout a few doors down, we found that the friendly Jockey's Pub in the Broadway Hotel offered excellent lunch and dinner, selections, Tisane's popular Tea Shop, and Tandoori Indian Resto...there are several other choices with pricier menus (with the £ at 2-1).

Easy drives to many of the Cotswold's main village attractions, and to Stratfor and Warwick.

http://www.smalltalklodge.co.uk/

Stu T. (mention the Towers of California...no, that won't get the door slammed in your face!)

Thank you so much Stu...I am checking that out right now!! It sounds perfect!

Broadway is a fine place and a good base for the northern Cotswolds/Stratford, etc - but not that convenient to Gloucester or the southern Cotswolds.

Painswick is a nice village and there or nearby would a good base for the south/central Cotswolds/Gloucester plus down to Bath, etc. This one is in Edge which is about a mile from Painswick and runs about £45 double. http://www.painswickview.com/

or this one between Painswick and Edge runs £55 per night double http://www.doreys.co.uk/

West Bradford is a suburb of Manchester and I had the misfortune to live there for 3 years. For Hotels the following will give you lots of recommendations -hope the link works if not Google Manchester + hotels + Uk. There are plenty of Travelodges in the Centre that are very acceptable.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&...sults&cd=1

If you need any recommendations for restaurants I can provide some.

Thank you so much!

I would love some restaurant recommendations!

Of course it depends on what you like:

For atmosphere and great Brit food choose Sams Chop House;
For great atmosphere and tapas try El Rincon;
There is a host of Chinese restaurants we like the Koreana for spicy (ok not Chinese) food;
One of the most highly recommended for great cooking is the Market Restaurant;
Out of town is an area called the Curry Mile for Indian restaurants in Rusholme;
For a gastropub where the stars frequent try the atmospheric Ox Pub (not expensive);
For a pleasant setting but best in summer try Dukes 92.

There are plenty of other places I can suggest depending on your taste.