England for about 1 week in October - please advise
#41
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Sorry… Previous post got cut short for some reason. Anyway, we'd like a little more off-the-beaten-path things. I think the idea of getting as far north as we can is appealing, I'm just not sure what I can specifically recommend seeing or doing. Goal is to be in London at the end of these 3 days.
Also, how are the various train stations in terms of storing a carry-on rolling piece of luggage? Do all train stations have this capability, is it variable? Is it expensive to store luggage? Just wondering if this is something we can count on if we stop in a town just for the day. Possible stops, nothing set in stone: Newcastle, Ludlow, Inverness, Leicester, Shrewsbury. Thanks.
Also, how are the various train stations in terms of storing a carry-on rolling piece of luggage? Do all train stations have this capability, is it variable? Is it expensive to store luggage? Just wondering if this is something we can count on if we stop in a town just for the day. Possible stops, nothing set in stone: Newcastle, Ludlow, Inverness, Leicester, Shrewsbury. Thanks.
#42
itspat - for some idle pootling about which seems to be what you're after, I think that Wales would suit you better than the north of England; also this would bring you back in the right direction to get back to London quickly - there is a very fast service into Paddington from Cardiff.
#43
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I wouldn't count on that many stations having left luggage facilities. Many locations lost these facilities back in the '70's to prevent IRA terrorist attacks. The large London stations have them, as do a few large provincial stations but most other places don't, so this can be a real headache if travelling around by train. Check your station of interest under "Staffing and General Services" on http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/statio...s/default.aspx
#44
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Thank you Gordon… You saved me hours of Internet planning, however I am disappointed to see that Ludlow does not have a left luggage option. I really wanted to go to Ludlow. Are there really no alternatives to this other than lugging our bags around? We were not planning to stay the night. I am really seeing very few left luggage stations in England, I must be late to the party because I thought they were fairly common.
Another question – besides London, what other city or town do you feel provides the most versatile options as a homebase to take some daily tours out of? Again, we are not planning to do the big tourist sites like Stonehenge or Bath, we would be looking for more picturesque walks around town, eating and meandering. Many thanks.
Another question – besides London, what other city or town do you feel provides the most versatile options as a homebase to take some daily tours out of? Again, we are not planning to do the big tourist sites like Stonehenge or Bath, we would be looking for more picturesque walks around town, eating and meandering. Many thanks.
#46
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. I really wanted to go to Ludlow>
I did a day trip to Ludlow from nearby Shrewsbury - also a wonderful rather unheralded town IMO - and Shrewsbury may have left luggage or stay there and day trip to Ludlow - which is a neat neat town known for great cuisine.
I did a day trip to Ludlow from nearby Shrewsbury - also a wonderful rather unheralded town IMO - and Shrewsbury may have left luggage or stay there and day trip to Ludlow - which is a neat neat town known for great cuisine.
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One last question, as I've focused some other questions on Liverpool and BritRail and such on different threads.
From Edinburgh, if you were seeing England for the first time and wanted picturesque and relaxing train travel (fewest change of trains), ability to walk from train stations to town centres/hotels or B&Bs, possibility of left-luggage services (although I understand these are few), would you recommend:
Edinburgh - Newcastle - York - Liverpool
or
Edinburgh - Glasgow - "Lakes District", possibly Windemere - Liverpool
Also (sorry, 2nd question) - does anyone know if the Tower of London reenactments that are listed on their website are year-round - no October dates are listed. Particularly the Richard III one. Sorry, it's a random desire to see this.
From Edinburgh, if you were seeing England for the first time and wanted picturesque and relaxing train travel (fewest change of trains), ability to walk from train stations to town centres/hotels or B&Bs, possibility of left-luggage services (although I understand these are few), would you recommend:
Edinburgh - Newcastle - York - Liverpool
or
Edinburgh - Glasgow - "Lakes District", possibly Windemere - Liverpool
Also (sorry, 2nd question) - does anyone know if the Tower of London reenactments that are listed on their website are year-round - no October dates are listed. Particularly the Richard III one. Sorry, it's a random desire to see this.
#50
The reenactments at the Tower are relatively low key. Not a reason to go or not go to the Tower. I was last there in early May and the enactment was basically a couple of actors standing on a balcony and nearby sidewalk talking to each other and to the crowd. (we ducked into the cafe then . . .
The website says>>Plus <u>daily</u> [my emphasis] live interpretation throughout the year
The remainder of the 2013 programme will be displayed soon.<<
The website says>>Plus <u>daily</u> [my emphasis] live interpretation throughout the year
The remainder of the 2013 programme will be displayed soon.<<
#51
http://www.autohorn.co.uk/leftluggage.html newcastle and york
the others
http://www.left-baggage.co.uk/locations.php is a company offerin the service at major stations
so I think Edinburgh - Newcastle - York - Liverpool is covered
no idea about lake district you need to surf http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/statio...s/default.aspx by station
the others
http://www.left-baggage.co.uk/locations.php is a company offerin the service at major stations
so I think Edinburgh - Newcastle - York - Liverpool is covered
no idea about lake district you need to surf http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/statio...s/default.aspx by station
#52
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Many thanks. I keep coming up with additional questions.
Next - I know there are lots of opinions on this, but WHERE, would you say, is the best area of London to stay, considering the following:
1) We would prefer to walk or use the Tube as much as possible.
2) Our target sights are - Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Harrod's, Westminster Abbey, British Museum.
3) We'd also like to get out to the western suburbs for part of a day. We have some friends in the area, plus we want to get some authentic Indian food! Would this involve any specific Tube considerations - are we getting into extra zones if we consider Southall, Hounslow, etc.?
4) We'd like to be in whatever the middle to upper range of accomodations you'd consider, for a tourist. We aren't particularly interested, however, in having a Starbucks or McDonald's nearby.
Where would you recommend to your best friend to stay (besides your house, of course!)
Thanks again.
Next - I know there are lots of opinions on this, but WHERE, would you say, is the best area of London to stay, considering the following:
1) We would prefer to walk or use the Tube as much as possible.
2) Our target sights are - Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Harrod's, Westminster Abbey, British Museum.
3) We'd also like to get out to the western suburbs for part of a day. We have some friends in the area, plus we want to get some authentic Indian food! Would this involve any specific Tube considerations - are we getting into extra zones if we consider Southall, Hounslow, etc.?
4) We'd like to be in whatever the middle to upper range of accomodations you'd consider, for a tourist. We aren't particularly interested, however, in having a Starbucks or McDonald's nearby.
Where would you recommend to your best friend to stay (besides your house, of course!)
Thanks again.
#53
>>1) We would prefer to walk or use the Tube as much as possible.<<
Just about anyplace in central London covers those two
>>2) Our target sights are - Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Harrod's, Westminster Abbey, British Museum.<<
These are spread all over the city
>>3) We'd also like to get out to the western suburbs for part of a day. We have some friends in the area, plus we want to get some authentic Indian food! Would this involve any specific Tube considerations - are we getting into extra zones if we consider Southall, Hounslow, etc.<<
I would not choose a location just because I was going west one day. Hounslow is in zone 4
>>4) We'd like to be in whatever the middle to upper range of accomodations you'd consider, for a tourist. We aren't particularly interested, however, in having a Starbucks or McDonald's nearby.<<
Middle to upper could mean almost anything. What is your actual budget? There are Starbucks all over and McDonalds too. Avoiding them shouldn't be a priority.
You can easily get anywhere from anywhere (which is good since your wish list is all over).
So - how much do you want to spend?
Just about anyplace in central London covers those two
>>2) Our target sights are - Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Harrod's, Westminster Abbey, British Museum.<<
These are spread all over the city
>>3) We'd also like to get out to the western suburbs for part of a day. We have some friends in the area, plus we want to get some authentic Indian food! Would this involve any specific Tube considerations - are we getting into extra zones if we consider Southall, Hounslow, etc.<<
I would not choose a location just because I was going west one day. Hounslow is in zone 4
>>4) We'd like to be in whatever the middle to upper range of accomodations you'd consider, for a tourist. We aren't particularly interested, however, in having a Starbucks or McDonald's nearby.<<
Middle to upper could mean almost anything. What is your actual budget? There are Starbucks all over and McDonalds too. Avoiding them shouldn't be a priority.
You can easily get anywhere from anywhere (which is good since your wish list is all over).
So - how much do you want to spend?