Hi all. I'll be in London for a week in September, (and possibly Prague) for photography. I was interested in hopping on a train and seeing an English city that had as many of these as possible:

- half timber framed buildings
- red phone booths
- glorious town square
- canal or river going through the city if possible
- city clock
- magnificent cathedral that helps define the city
- stark contrast to London
- as close to London as possible.

Currently I'm deciding between Canterbury and Chester. Chester is quite a bit farther, just a little too far to justify a 2+ hour train ride. I'm not interested in Bath, Cambridge, or Oxford so thank you in advance. If anyone can think of somewhere that ticks off several of the above please let me know! Thanks

I was going to suggest Chester, until I saw the close to London bit.

Maybe Salisbury? Have no idea whether you're going to find red phone booths anywhere.

I poked around looking at Salisbury on Google Earth last night and it didn't really pop out at me. Wish York and Chester were closer

St Albans maybe? Not sure about half timbered houses, but it does have Roman ruins and a lovely Cathedral.
http://www.enjoystalbans.com/index.html

Ely, is lovely. Or Norwich perhaps?

I meant to say I wouldn't bother with Canterbury, which has very little on your list and millions of tourists.

You could visit Ely for the cathedral and river. Then stop at Audley End station on the way back, get a cab or bus to Saffron Walden and that's your half timbered fix.

Otherwise consider York which is doable as soon day trip

BTW I do think you might be looking for more of a town/village feel to contrast London which is at odds with cathedral must have on your wish list.

ps sorry for typos - on a mobile.

Ely did have an amazing looking cathedral. It appears to be the main draw from what I could see. I'll have to check out some of the other places and look forward to more suggestions. The half timbered buildings are the most important item on my list.

Heti, St. Albans also came to my mind as I read the request. I loved the Roman museum there and think I recall an old pub that was half timbered.

While I love Ely cathedral, I am not sure that it meets the other specifications.

I was also thinking of Winchester. Half timbered houses, stream running through, lovely gardens beside the cathedral.

York certainly springs to mind. The fastest trains from Kings Cross to York do the journey in an hour and three quarters.

I was also thinking York...

Winchester and Salisbury come to mind for me.

Chester was nice and had the clock.

Chichester?

If you want quintessential English country with quaint towns, sheep, country roads, thatched roofs, rivers running through the main square, I would go to the Cotswolds region. It is slightly north and west of London and a very easy trip (1.30 hr) by train.

http://www.cotswolds.com/plan-your-t...s-and-villages

A bit closer than York, less crowded, hits all your bullets. Lincoln.

https://goo.gl/maps/8uJSSHGZgs32

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...bfe268d388.jpg

The Cotswold would not work very well as a day trip and don't have cathedrals (though lots of beautiful churches)

York for sure - an easy day trip from London. Lincoln is nice too but York ticks all the boxes.

"As close to London as possible" - made me think of something like Cotswolds with a cathedral in nearby Oxford which is much closer distance and time wise.


I would think a three hour trip (one way) from London to York would be quite a bit longer.

this is very helpful. I'll take a closer look at York and Lincoln tonight.

good luck and happy travels tailsock - and quite honestly anywhere in England is a good choice

Nanabee: the Cotswolds is not day trip material.

And York is not 3 hours from London. 1.75 to 2 depending on the train . . .

Not that much longer than to moreton in marsh.