hi
Thanks for all the help fodorites.

I am taking this 7 week trip this summer with my two boys and I only have one last bit to plane.

The way our many flights worked out we arrive at Heathrow and have 4 days before we leave for
our journay onward.

Origanlly It was my plan to spend the few days in London although I have been several times my kids have not... but since planning the rest of our trip I have had some time to think and I am now not so set on London. I guess since I live in New York City another big city doesnt thrill me so I was thinking that we can drive or train out of London for the 4 days.

Last summer we took an amazing 8 week England Scotland trip that I would redo in a heartbeat, it was that good.... but we did see many sites ... so the Cotswolds, Oxford, Bath, York, Lincoln or Stamford are not a choice here. I mention these beacuse they seem to be the most popular for a weekend visit. We did not go south of London at all or towards Cornwall or east Norwalk etc... and we did miss Derbyshire.. There are tons of places you cant get to but I am speaking of major regions I was interested in going to.

What we love is open space green pastures or coast.. I love a good Heritage house and Garden...
we all love beautiful market towns... We would like to be in an area that would fill the 4 days with
things to see.

So any idea and thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

With four days you could go anywhere. You could base in York, or in Kent/East Sussex, or in the Devon'Dorset area, or in Edinburgh or any number of other areas. . . . BUT while <i>you</i> have been to London, your sons haven't. If it was me, I'd take the opportunity to show my children some of the terrific things in London.

Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds, Ely, there is even a bike route between all three and places to hire bikes.

This is an old site, holding together just about but it has a load of useful links, not that almost all the bike route can be reached by local train.

http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/Essex_Guide.php

oops "note that"

I'm sure you have thought of this, but just in case, have you thought how your kids will feel being tempted with London and then told they're not going there but are going to spend 4 days going round some gardens? Even a load of castles aren't going to make up for that, IMO.

I'd hop on a train or fly to Edinburgh, get a car and spend it along the Scottish and Northumbrian coast east and south from Edinburgh. You've got terrific coastal scenery, picturesque villages on both sides of the border, fabulous castles in Bamburgh and Alnwick (Harry Potter sites too) the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne, heather covered moorland in the Lammermuirs... great stuff. You could do the same trip from Newcastle too. If you take the train, consider a few hours in Durham en route - Durham Cathedral wins my vote for the most impressive building in Britain, and in the top ten for all of Europe.

<<What we love is open space green pastures or coast>>

http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/

What ages are the boys?

What about asking your boys to get involved? Give them a couple of guide books and have them list some things which interest them. And as Annhig said upthread, your boys have not been to London so reconsider leaving that fabulous city! I took two of my nephews there when they were 10 and 12 and we did a million things and could have done a million more! We traveled out to the Welsh border country near Chepstow and visited castles to their hearts' content.

thank you for all the thoughts. As far as my boys go they have travelling feet and are happy to go anywhere and everywhere.. this is just the beginng of a italy france germany trip and I feel England is so much more than just London. London is still an option but I would like to present them with two choice one city and one rural. We loves the countryside so much on previous trips !
We have done Alnwick castle and a bit of that area which was gorgeous and I would love to explore more but it maybe a bit far for the 4 days ... I will look into Chepstow and Dorset.... has anyone been to the Isle of Wight.?? many thanks for all your thoughts

Dorset (my birth county) is wonderful, especially along the cliffs and beaches. Look out for Corfe Castle, Badbury Rings etc

Isle of wight, were even the dead boring are bored. Queen Victoria went here to get away from it all.

If you don't want London . . . 4 days for Edinburgh and Northumberland would be terrific. Edinburgh Castle, and then a car for Tantallon, Lindesfarne, Bamburgh, Alnwick (IF they are HP fans -- Alnwick is a no brainer) and even a little time for Hadrian's Wall.

You could Pick up a car leaving Edinburgh and drop it at Newcastle . . .

I'm fond of the Isle of Wight but for particular reasons that may not appeal, even to boys of indeterminate age who like everything. Juliet Margaret Cameron & Osborne House, very Victorian. Also Benedictine Quarr Abbey for the Gregorian chant.