nini

We will be in England in late May. We will fly into LGW and get a car there. Our final destination that day is Wells. On the way to Wells we plan to stop by Stonehenge. Now I have a real desire to see the cathedral in Winchester but my husband thinks it may too much out of the way and could complicate the first day of driving. Any advice or experience to share?

travelbunny

..Winchester is out of the way BUT dont miss it..A lovely town with a magnificent Cathedral..a "working" high street, and the lovely river walk. Stonehedge is right on the way to Wells but I think Stonehedge is quite overated..I absolutely loved Wells..so peek at you iotinerary and see if you can somehow get to Winchester..If hubby is a naval buff you might tell him Winchester isnt too far from Portsmouth.

jsmith

A few years ago we drove from Gatwick to Cirencester (actually the great Hunters Lodge BnB in Minchinhampton) with a stop in Avebury for lunch. It was a pretty full day and we were ready for sleep right after an early dinner. The distance is about the same as Gatwick to Wells via Stonehenge.

Our flight was from Boston and we had driven a few times in the UK. I believe we left Gatwick between 9 and 10 AM and avoided the M roads if possible to see more of the countryside.

I think you would be pressing your day if you tried to visit Winchester and I have to agree with your husband. Is there a chance you could make your first overnight in Winchester and continue to Wells the next day?

BTW if you check my postings you will find Winchester is one of my favorites.

nini

Thanks tb--Not sure exactly how we selected Wells but have only had positive feedback on it. We have been to Bath and decided to see/stay in a different place. One night in Wells and then on to the beautiful Cotswolds and then Lake District (4 nights each) and finally to Scotland. I do want to manage to get to Winchester.

travelbunny

..agree with above poster..too much for day 1..my comment was to try to work it in your trip at another time.

travelbunny

..I spent a week in Wells..I think it is a place that is a gem..much less touristy than bath..lovely tiny cathedral, Bishops Palace is interesting..though when I went, I spent most of the time visiting the swans as one of my children was fascinated by them.

janis

I love Wells and Glastonbury - the cathedral is one of my very favorites. BUT driving to Wells from LGW after an overnight flight will be a bit much. You will likely be exhausted even if you are able to sleep during the flight.

If it were me I would SERIOUSLY consider only driving as far as Winchester the first day. See the cathedral, walk around the city and just get over the jet lag. The next morning visit Stonehenge and then drive up to the Cotswolds.

Driving all the way to Wells and then the next day a long way up to the Cotswolds would not be my choice - and I drive a LOT in the UK. I'd give up Wells and substitute Winchester this time . . . . .

henneth

Winchester is not out of the way if you are on the A303 to Stonehenge, it's just a short side trip. However I strongly agree with Janis, a journey as far as Wells with Winchester and Stonehenge thrown in on the way will be too much. Driving with a lack of sleep on unfamiliar roads? Try and stay in Winchester, not just for the Cathedral but for the Great Hall, College, main street, and fantastic pubs.

flanneruk

Depending what you define as the Cotswolds, your drive to them from Wells will be somewhere between 45 mins and a couple of hours. Most of it along roads so Cotswoldy they're part of the holiday, as long as you enjoy driving.

Which, to be honest, is about as long as your visit to Wells will take, unless you plan (as you most certainly should, IMHO) to walk up to Preedy or to drive on to Glastonbury.

Wells is a jolly nice town. But its cathedral isn't a patch on Winchester's, either in its importance or in the sheer wealth of STUFF inside. And, pretty as the Close in Wells and all the area around it is, you'd be pushed to meander peacefully round them for more an an hour or two (tnough if you're there on a Sunday, since it's term time, be aware that the main service in the Cathedral not only has the usual wonderful choir, but also gets most of Wells School joining in and is as close as most visitors will ever get to taking part in the full English Public School experience)

So drive to Winchester and stay the night there. Drive on to Wells, do all your strolling around and then drive on to spend you second night in Broadway or Bibury or Lower Campden on the Wold.

twoflower

Easy drive from Gatwick to Winchester via some charming villages (East Meon is a must), but I'd stay in Winchester - or better still Romsey (just beyond Winchester) if you want somewhere more relaxing. Then up via Salisbury to Stonehenge if you must (I personally would go the few extra kms to Avebury) then west to Wells.
Worth doing while in the vicinity of Wells is the Cheddar Gorge.

twoflower

Now I have my travel notes in front of me I can give better information than in my previous post. Drive S from LGW (the B2036 from Horley to Uckfield is more pleasant than the A23 from Crawley to Bolney). Turn W onto the A272 and follow all the way to Petersfield. There are some attractive villages along way - Wisborough Green with its typically English cricket pitch on the village green, Petworth with its grand walled house, Midhurst and its waters. Past Petersfield (at Steep) turn S (left) onto the A3 then shortle (at Stroud) W again (right) to rejoin the A272. At Langrish turn L onto unclassified side road to loop around East Meon and back up via Riplington and West Meon to rejoin the A272 to Winchester.
As I said I'd go on to Romsey overnight, or if I had a day or two to spare I'd go on just a bit further to my favourite part of England: the New Forest. Wonderful atmosphere, walks, picturesque villages. But if you don't have the time, the A27 from Romsey takes you to Salisbury (lovely town, but it can get trafficky) and then either the A345 or the A360 to Stonehenge.
Hope this is useful.

m_kingdom2

It really isn't anything special at all, certainly not worth going out of your way to see. However, if you can work it in and not sacrifice something else then it will be interesting for you.

luvengland

You've gotten some good advice. We also did Heathrow-Minchinhampton in pouring rain after overnight flight. Would never do it again. I'm not a timid driver, but really wasn't safe with RHD and being that tired on M-way in rain and heavy traffic. Much better on another trip when we meandered from Gatwick towards Kent doing places like Ightham Mote, Penshurst, etc., having tea and relaxing before an early night. Look for a first night destination about 50-75 miles with some sightseeing mixed in. You'll feel like you've had an extra day.

Will be crossing your path late May to Gatwick, but sticking to the southern counties this trip to fill in some gaps and visit Sissinghurst again.

USNR

Years ago we found ourselves driving through Winchester about 5 p.m. This must have been time for change in shifts at the mills or factories or whatever. We were surrounded by bicycles and pedestrians, almost all of whom were Indians and/or Pakistanis, smiling and waving at our daughters. We could have been in Simla or Orissa, for all it mattered. But Winchester seemed the quintessential English town, crowded, pleasant, packed with busy people peacefully finding their way home.

henneth

That sounds to much like L.S Lowry meets Bollywood to me.

nini

Thank you everyone for your feedback. It is a lot to consider--at this point we are locked in to most of our B&B's as far as dates. I think we will be fine on the drive from Gatwick. We drove to Bath from London (from Marble Arch where we got rental car) on a previous trip. I must say we would NEVER do that again! The small villages that someone mentioned sound interesting. And we will be starting this trip on a Sunday so we may have a nice experience seeing one of the cathedrals--or maybe two.

willit

"Years ago we found ourselves driving through Winchester about 5 p.m. This must have been time for change in shifts at the mills or factories or whatever. We were surrounded by bicycles and pedestrians, almost all of whom were Indians and/or Pakistanis"

I do wonder where they all came from, as I live only a few miles from Winchester, and it is not noted for its large "ethnic" population.