Planning a trip to England in February. Planning to start in London for about a week with some day trips. Then thinking 4-5 days around Cornwall. What is open that time of year? Or what is closed? Need ideas on what all to see, where to stay, etc. Thinking of taking the train from London and then getting a car, is this a good idea? Maybe get a cottage near the coast? Will probably do a hotel in London so thinking that might be a nice contrast. We are a couple in our late twenties.

Not sure where you're from - or what the weather is like in Feb there - but can;t imagine spending a week in a cottage on the coast that time of year. And yes, a bunch of places will be closed or operating on sorter hours - and the weather will likely be quite chilly and rainy. Is that what you want in a small town cottage?

In Feb I would stay in cities - where things are open and bad weather doesn't matter.

Not sure where you're from - or what the weather is like in Feb there - but can;t imagine spending a week in a cottage on the coast that time of year. And yes, a bunch of places will be closed or operating on sorter hours - and the weather will likely be quite chilly and rainy. Is that what you want in a small town cottage?

In Feb I would stay in cities - where things are open and bad weather doesn't matter.

Don't you also have to go to Stoneleigh Park? How will Cornwall fit in w/ that?

Cornwall is a lovely part of the country -- and I have stayed in Devon and/or Cornwall during the winter. But for a first timer, I honestly don't think I'd choose staying there in Feb.

Many things will have limited openings. For instance: St Michael's Mount is open 1 or 2 days a week but only when weather permits. The Eden project is open about 4 hours a day. Lanhydrock House is closed (though I <i>think</i> the gardens may be open). Cotehele House is closed but the shop and restaurant are open.

But - if you really want to visit Cornwall, a cottage short break or a comfy B&B would be my choice. I'd definitely choose a property IN a largish village w/ pubs, shops and services so if the weather is dreadful, you wouldn't feel compelled to drive far.

"<i>Will probably do a hotel in London so thinking that might be a nice contrast.</i>"

To be honest -- w/ a whole week in London, it would be best to rent a flat. A small London hotel room will seem smaller and smaller each day. A flat in London will be larger and cheaper than most any hotel. Whereas, a Cornish cottage would be nice but for only a few days a B&B would be a reasonable option too.

I've stayed in a Cornish Landmark Trust property in February and had a lovely week with bright blue skies and sunshine and warm enough to walk on the SW coastal path without a jacket
I'd choose north Cornwall, somewhere like Saunton Sands, Braunton or Woolacombe Bay. If you're still going to Stoneleigh, that would be a straightfoward drive down M5 to J27, then A361 towards Barnstaple; A399/A3123 (193 miles about 4 hours).

Was thinking 4-5 days in London, train to Cornwall then get a car, 4-5 days there, then take the car to Stoneleigh where we'd then have transportation with friends for 4 days. Think it would be nice to just relax in Cornwall, visit the beaches and check out the local pubs. We are farmers from the Illinois and not much into big city stuff. I think the time in London would be enough for us and then just some time to do not much! Won't the weather be chilly and wet everywhere? I am open to other suggestions but had read about a couple nice vacations to Cornwall in the winter. Just dont want to be too busy seeing sites all the time as we don't get much down time at home. We would like to go to Cornwall for at least a day anyway to visit a farm he does business with so I thought it would make sense to stay a while. Other ideas??

"Won't the weather be chilly and wet everywhere?"

Cornwall is typically a bit wetter - and a great deal less chilly - than the rest of the country. Compared to Illinois, it's downright tropical in February. In fact, it's very, very rarely chilly: people retire there to get away from the chillier bits of Britain. The beaches and cliffs can be fabulous in midwinter (though by the standards of the rest of Britain, never mind those parts of the world that get real winters, February's scarcely midwinter. Not judging by the state of the daffodils and the lambs), though walks along them can sometimes be a bit bracing. Do understand, though, that they're fabulous in Feb only as long as you stay moving, and even then a nice spot of rum in the nearest pub is always highly recommended.

However, Cornwall CAN be more liable to some weather extremes (well: extremes by our standards). On the rare occasions there's snow, gales or floods, they can wreak more havoc in Cornwall than elsewhere in Britain.

I think the county (or Duchy or whatever they call it) is fabulous in what's really early spring.

We have just come back from 3 days in Cornwall. Two days were very wet and windy, while the middle day was fine and dry. Our cottage was warm and comfortable, and we had not travelled that far to get there. Many Cornwall visitor attractions are aimed at families and visiting in the summer, so their closure did not affect us. Places like Mousehole, Fowey and Mevagissey were very quiet, which made visiting them easy, although the wind and rain did not help.

Cornwall in February would not be my first choice if I lived in Illinois, but each to his own.

<< I'd choose north Cornwall, somewhere like Saunton Sands, Braunton or Woolacombe Bay. >>

These 3 places are all in North Devon. Saunton is really just the beach, but Braunton is a pleasant enough small town and well situated for day trips. Woolacombe is OK, but you are a bit more out of the way there, IMHO, as it takes so much longer to get anywhere from there.

Now Tavistock on the mid-Cornwall and mid-Devon border is a good central location. It's an easy drive to the north Cornish coast (Bude, Tintagel, Boscastle). Also easy to Plymouth and the South Hams area of Devon (Salcombe, Burgh Island), and the rest of Devon is easily accessible from Tavistock. Going into Cornwall is not difficult either - Eden Project, Bodmin, Jamaica Inn and Bodmin Moor, Launceston, Truro and many more places.

This part of England has lots of farm B&Bs, and self-contained farm cottages, which might just suit you.

www.holidaycottages.co.uk

http://www.farmholidays-southwest.co.uk/

http://www.devonfarms.co.uk/

http://www.cornishfarmholidays.co.uk/

Looking at some of the farm cottages, a cozy converted barn with a hot tub and fireplace...sounds like heaven to me! Would like to find all of that with maybe a view of the water. Not sure if I'll find that exactly, any suggestions though? I did pick Cornwall over the Lake District because of the milder temps. Anything above 0 C is "warm" over here! We're used to lots of snow so rain should be less of a bother. One other quick question, the prices on the cottages are really for a whole week? Seems cheap! Especially the ones that have price cuts for short breaks.

The prices are for either a full week -- or sometimes a 'short break', but they will clearly say which is which. And in Feb most cottages will cost half or less than they do in August or at Christmas. Not a busy time of year so you can get a lovely place for not much ££££.

Loving the cottages around Cornwall but haven't found exactly what I'm looking for yet. Any ideas on a cottage with a hot tub and fireplace, preferably with a sea view? Not too picky about where but of course a nice area. Will be looking for something similar around the Cotswolds if anyone knows of anything there (no sea view obviously.)

Not that they don't exist -- but I personally have never seen a stand-alone cottage w/ a hot tub. There will be complexes of holiday chalets/apartments/cottages - sort of holiday parks or developments - w/ pools and hot tubs. But if the polls are outdoors they likely wouldn't be heated in the winter anyway.

Most cozy country cottages aren't 'hot-tub-sort-of-places'.

Just a quick google of Cornwall + Self catering + hot tub comes up with
http://www.accommodationcornwall.uk....mornahmain.htm

I know nothing about this at all -- but it sounds like it ticks some of your boxes.

Let us know if you find anything!

I guess it would be more of a spa tub or whirlpool tub? Indoors I don't even have a regular bath tub at home so I'd love to splurge on a fancy tub! Especially on those cold chilly nights when everything is closed.

re BKP's link -- one of the other cottages - Meadowside - might be a better fit. It sleeps up to 4 and costs less than Tremornah which sleeps up to 11. But all three properties are already either booked up or partially booked up in Feb.

If you do contact them -- be sure to check if the hot tub is heated in Feb.

Hi, wtnc,

as a cornish resident for 13 years now, I still can't tell you what the weather is going to be like in Feb '11. you will be lucky to get away with no rain, and it may be blowing houley some days, but OTOH, if the sun shines, you may only need to wear a t-shirt.

I'm not aware of any property that meets your exact requirements, hot tubs being a bit short on the ground round here, but you may find more what you're looking for with the following company:

http://www.english-country-cottages.co.uk

they are quite up-market, and I'm sure would try to help if you sent them an e-mail telling them what you want. some of their properties have wood-buring stoves, some are by the sea, and for all i know, some have hot-tubs.

as for area, my favourite places are Falmouth and Penzance - there is plenty to do in both if it rains, which is an important consideration, but they are close to stunning scenery and walking.

the property BKP mentions looks fine, but it is way out west, with not much to do near-by if the weather doesn't co-operate.

as for things to do in Feb, as well as the Eden Project, there are the National Maritime Museum, Pendennis Castle, the Art Gallery [all in Falmouth], Penlee House Gallery in Penzance, Truro Cathedral, the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro, Trebah and Trelissick Gardens, etc. etc.

Shame you only have a week!

if you find anywhere you like the look of, I'll happily tell you what I think!

http://www.littlecallestockfarm.co.u...ges/wheal-busy What about one of these? Not sure about the area, haven't read too much about it.

Almost thinking of just doing a week in Cornwall and a week in the Cotswolds. I can't decide! London is starting to sound so tourist-y and busy compared to the cottages. I know we'll have a great time anywhere, just have to pick something.

Hi again, WTNC,

I had a look at the website of the Callestock cottages - IMO they are very well positioned and definitely away from the tourist trail, though conveniently close to the A30. you would be 20 mins from Truro, 30 mins from Falmouth & 45 mins from Penzance, and only about 10 mins from the nearest coastline. They also look pretty comfortable.

the immediate area is not spectacular, but the nearby coast is lovely with lots of good walking at nearby Portreath, Porthtowan, St. Agnes, and further afield.

if you are allergic to crowds, this may be the place for you!