Advice on my post-London itinerary for England (Wales?) please
Jan 9th, 2013, 03:38 PM
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Advice on my post-London itinerary for England (Wales?) please
Hello, My family of four (we have two boys, 12 and 15) is traveling to England in April. We'll be in London for 6 days, and I'm trying to put together a plan for the next 4 days. (leaving London on a Sunday, and will need to get back for a 2pm flight from Heathrow on a Thursday). We would like to spend these days somewhere in the countryside. We're interested in moderate hikes/walks, and one son would like to see "dramatic" scenery; the other son would love to ride/see steam trains. There are two big issues: 1. we won't be renting a car and 2. we'd like to shoot right up to Liverpool Sunday morning for the day (and see the Beatles sites). So we'll be heading our final destination Sunday night, and I'd like to use that location as a base until we have to return to Heathrow. Here's what's confusing me:
1. My children really wanted to visit Wales. The older scenery-loving son has been reading about Snowdonia, and my younger son loved the Thomas stories and still likes trains. I quickly looked at a map and thought Liverpool seemed close enough to Wales, but of course after further research I see that it's tough to go from one point to the other, and that it's silly to be in N. Wales without a car. Am I correct in thinking that I should forget Wales for now?
2. I've been reading about the Lake District, Yorkshire, and the Peak district for our post-Liverpool days. I'm thinking my best bet is a larger hotel in the countryside: somewhere we we could take scenic walks right from the property and perhaps walk to a nearby village. I've been reading through dozens of listings looking for a family-friendly spot that's somewhat close to a rail stop.
3. I'm thinking that we should leave whereever we end up staying on Weds. afternoon and go to Windsor and stay the night there so getting to the airport won't be so stressful the next day. Does that sound right?
We really want to spend those days after London walking in the country and relaxing. I don't want to waste too much time transferring trains etc. I guess my other question is, do you think we should do the Liverpool visit as a day trip from London instead? It seems to be making everything difficult! I was in London years ago, but the rest of my family has never been, and the kids have never been out of the U.S. I'd like to say we'd be coming back soon, but it's taken this long to get there, so I want to make sure we use our time wisely!
Thanks so much, and if you have any different ideas all together about a "base" after we leave London, I'd love to hear them.
1. My children really wanted to visit Wales. The older scenery-loving son has been reading about Snowdonia, and my younger son loved the Thomas stories and still likes trains. I quickly looked at a map and thought Liverpool seemed close enough to Wales, but of course after further research I see that it's tough to go from one point to the other, and that it's silly to be in N. Wales without a car. Am I correct in thinking that I should forget Wales for now?
2. I've been reading about the Lake District, Yorkshire, and the Peak district for our post-Liverpool days. I'm thinking my best bet is a larger hotel in the countryside: somewhere we we could take scenic walks right from the property and perhaps walk to a nearby village. I've been reading through dozens of listings looking for a family-friendly spot that's somewhat close to a rail stop.
3. I'm thinking that we should leave whereever we end up staying on Weds. afternoon and go to Windsor and stay the night there so getting to the airport won't be so stressful the next day. Does that sound right?
We really want to spend those days after London walking in the country and relaxing. I don't want to waste too much time transferring trains etc. I guess my other question is, do you think we should do the Liverpool visit as a day trip from London instead? It seems to be making everything difficult! I was in London years ago, but the rest of my family has never been, and the kids have never been out of the U.S. I'd like to say we'd be coming back soon, but it's taken this long to get there, so I want to make sure we use our time wisely!
Thanks so much, and if you have any different ideas all together about a "base" after we leave London, I'd love to hear them.
Jan 9th, 2013, 07:03 PM
#2
OK - <i>why</i> no car? Renting a car for the 4 days (or even 3) Could simplify a lot of things.
But I'm not sure why you think you can't do N. Wales. Liverpool to Conwy takes less than 2 hours. Conwy would be a great base train connections, wonderful castle, not far from Snowdonia.
Then Conwy to Windsor would take about 5-ish hours via train to central London and tube/train from London to Windsor.
OR -you could do London to Conwy on Sunday and hit Liverpool on Wed. Liverpool to Windsor is only 3.5 - 4 hrs, again via central London.
Or you can do the Peaks instead - but if you really want to see Wales you can.
But I'm not sure why you think you can't do N. Wales. Liverpool to Conwy takes less than 2 hours. Conwy would be a great base train connections, wonderful castle, not far from Snowdonia.
Then Conwy to Windsor would take about 5-ish hours via train to central London and tube/train from London to Windsor.
OR -you could do London to Conwy on Sunday and hit Liverpool on Wed. Liverpool to Windsor is only 3.5 - 4 hrs, again via central London.
Or you can do the Peaks instead - but if you really want to see Wales you can.
Jan 10th, 2013, 06:35 AM
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I think Janis's suggestion of going to Walws from London and then Windsor via Liverpool is a good one.
I spent a week in Conwy without a car many years ago. It really does have all that you are looking for. There is a castle right in town. The town walls (or at least most of them) are still in tact.
From town take the train to BlenauFestiniog and catch the steam train to Portmeiron and change down to Harlech for another wonderful castle.
Snowdonia can be reached by bus and take the cog rail to the top. Caernarvon and Baumaris are castles within reach of conwy also.
There is a post by IndyDad today. Click on his screen name and find his trip report on Wales. He is an American in England for his job and takes his family lots of cool places. They stayed in Conwy on one of their trips.
I spent a week in Conwy without a car many years ago. It really does have all that you are looking for. There is a castle right in town. The town walls (or at least most of them) are still in tact.
From town take the train to BlenauFestiniog and catch the steam train to Portmeiron and change down to Harlech for another wonderful castle.
Snowdonia can be reached by bus and take the cog rail to the top. Caernarvon and Baumaris are castles within reach of conwy also.
There is a post by IndyDad today. Click on his screen name and find his trip report on Wales. He is an American in England for his job and takes his family lots of cool places. They stayed in Conwy on one of their trips.
Jan 10th, 2013, 06:40 AM
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Thanks so much for that information, janisj and irishface. I must have been looking at the wrong "end" of Snowdonia and thought I couldn't get there from Liverpool. Your suggestions sound perfect! I'm going to look into Conwy now.
