We think that we need to stay about 1hr out from Heathrow on the way to South Devon. Tavistock is where our daughter is living. Does anyone know of any good B&B's about that distance out? What is Reading like? too big?
Is there somewhere off the motor way a bit?

We think that we need to stay about 1hr out from Heathrow on the way to South Devon. Tavistock is where our daughter is living. Does anyone know of any good B&B's about that distance out? What about doing the M3 until about Basingstoke and then getting on the A303 going towards Exeter? Does anyone know of a good B&B around Fleet or Basingstoke or Andover areas????
any further suggestions?

Reading is a large town, I would not reccommend staying there, driving around town can be quite confusing. The town centre will also be quite rowdy on NYE.

M3/A303 route is the one I would take - slightly shorter and more interesting. Traffic should be light on NYE. (I live near Reading and this is the route I take down to South Devon/Cornwall).

Basingstoke/Fleet area, is dare I say it, slightly boring - commuter belt. 30 mins further to Salisbury area is nicer.

Sorry, I can't reccommend any B&Bs around there, but I imagine others can. Probably best to start a new thread to ask specifically about this and get more responses.

thanks optimystic I will do that - start a new thread that is. Thanks for your help so far.

No problem!

By the way, tripadvisor has reviews on B&Bs in Salisbury and surrounding area. You may want to check them out.

Could your daughter meet you at Heathrow and drive you all down to Devon to spend NYE with her?

No our daughter can't meet us at Heathrow. What or who is tripadvisor??how do I get on to them?

tripadvisor.com

it is a site where folks post reviews of hotels/etc.

Take it as a guide, not a bible. Can be useful but there is also a bit of controversy re planted reviews.

On the A303 [best route for Tavistock, IMO] try Mere - nice old coaching inn, I recall, or have a look around longleat - there are quite a few towns/B&Bs catering to its visitors.
Regards,
Ann