Chartwell & Blenheim
 

We are planning a trip to Kent and Oxfordshire to visit the Churchill homes, Chartwell & Blenheim. Which airport would be easiest and where would be a good location to stay. Also any tips from anyone having done this recently? <BR>Thanks, <BR>Jerry

Hi Gerald. Am assuming you are flying in from the States - Heathrow is handier to Blenheim and Gatwick to Chartwell. My personal choice if you are renting a car is Gatwick, it's smaller and easier to get out of. But if you're an experienced England driver, Heathrow may not scare you. Not sure what you are looking for re: accommodation but Bladon is a lovely little place near Blenheim (and is actually where Churchill is buried) or Woodstock is bigger with lots of shopping. Also lots of choices near Chartwell, Sevenoaks is a nice size, can recommend other places if I know if you are looking for B&B, small village, self-catering cottage, bigger centre, etc. Tips - Blenheim you must go on a tour, huge place so normally accommodates a lot of people. Make a half day available, at least, the grounds are massive. Can go from there to explore Cotswolds if you have time. Chartwell is exquisite, but tickets are timed and there isn't a lot of space. Go during week, avoid weekends like the plague and try and go after the first crush in the morning (hour after opening) or later in the afternoon. Lots of other places in area to see including Knole, Sissinghurst, Bateman's (Rudyard Kipling's home), Bodiam Castle, Hever, etc. If you are planning on seeing a few of them look into a Great British Heritage Pass. We figure it saves us after three or four places. Have fun and feel free to e-mail me directly if you have other questions.

When we visited Blenheim we stayed at the Feathers in Woodstock - a really charming hotel which also left homemade cookies by the bed at night ... it's a five minute stroll from there to the gates at Blenheim, so we were able to be there early and really enjoy the day.

If you have a car or don't mind taking a bus or taxi, you can also visit Blenheim from Oxford. <BR> <BR>Oxford Visitors Information www.oxfordcity.co.uk/ <BR> <BR>Blenheim Palace <BR>www.camelotintl.com/heritage/house/ <BR>blenheim.html <BR> <BR>There is an Oxford tour company using minivans, called "Spires & Shires", 4 Walton Well Rd Oxford OX2 6ED,tel: 0865513998; fax: 0865791469. This company offers daily half day tours to Blenheim as well as walking tours of Oxford. Reservations should be made in advance. The Blenheim tour bus meets one or more of the trains at the Oxford train station which come from London.