England sites not to miss
 

I'm planning a trip with some girlfriends and we will be in Scotland for 2 days and England for 3 days. In England we'll mostly be around London and Oxford. We've been to both before, along with other cites: Bath, Salisbury, and Blenheim. I'm wanting to visit the Cotswolds- any recommendations on which towns to visit to get the quintessential English country visit? And what's the best way of getting there from London? What other cities should we see near London? We like the historical stuff, gardens, and castles. But kind of worried it'll turn into "seen one, you've seen them all" so if there is anything that is a must see please let me know!

Just so I understand, you want to visit ALL of the above in 3 days?

In London (I know it's south but it's worth it), if you haven't done Hampton Court Palace you should. Awesome gardens. Love that place.

If you want to do a day in the Cotswolds, I would stay a night in Oxford and hire a driver to take you to all the little villages surrounding it. Each village seems to me to have its own personality; what's considered "the Cotswolds" is a fairly large area. There are also great walks, but for the amount of time you have, that's what I would do.

I'm no expert but I just spent three weeks exploring London, Oxford, and the Somerset area in March. I wish I could live there.

I also did a London Walks tour (daytrip)in 2009 which included Oxford, Minster Lovell, and Burford. It was far too short but it was a nice snapshot and enough for me to schedule a week trip back to that area in 2014. But since you've been to Oxford, I don't think this would fit your needs. But they may have a more exclusive daytrip with just the Cotswolds. It's worth a look.

Have a wonderful trip!

>>for 3 days. In England we'll mostly be around London and Oxford. We've been to both before, along with other cites: Bath, Salisbury, and Blenheim. <<

I have no idea how anyone can help you much w/ such a short time frame. You have 3 days >>mostly around London and Oxford<< and have been to both (and the others) before. Well 3 days is absolutely no time at all. Does the 3 days include your time in London and Oxford? If so -- even IF you have been to both previously, I don't see how you have time for anything else.

Or are you asking for what to do w/ 3 <i>additional</i> days after London and Oxford.

Is your whole rip 5 days - for Scotland AND England? If not, you really do need to clarify things a bit.

Sorry I wasn't clear- it's kind of complicated. We are wanting to jump around a bit- Ireland, Scotland, England in 7-8 days. We have been to London and Oxford before so have seen/ done everything we wanted to there but we will be staying in London so looking for advice on places close by to visit. I'm that person who wants to see everything in a short time so I know it's a long stretch but just any suggestions would be helpful!

I've been to Hampton Court Palace and loved it!

Is Stratford Upon Avon worth it or is it more for the die hard Shakespeare fan?

<i>Is Stratford Upon Avon worth it or is it more for the die hard Shakespeare fan?</i>

I don't consider myself a huge fan of The Bard but we went to Stratford-upon-Avon and caught a play at the Royal Shakespeare Company. I am glad I did it. It was worth every penny.

See if they are performing something you want to see. If yes, go. if not, don't.

http://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/list....end=04-10-2014

>> We are wanting to jump around a bit- Ireland, Scotland, England in 7-8 days. <<

7 or 8 days to visit three countries? What do you mean by "Ireland" -- just Dublin or something scenic? Same for Scotland - are you JUST visiting Edinburgh or do you want to see something else too.

You will lose 1/2 a day from Ireland to Scotland. And at least another 1/2 a day from Scotland to wherever in England. So less than a full week actual free time. And - If you don't want to see/do anything in London, WHY are you staying in London?

Agree that this seems very confused.

Why not spend the whole week in Ireland and actually see some of it? Or just do Scotland? Why spend all this time seeing what you have already seen before - and in a mad rush? Or you could fly into Glasgow, spend 3 days there then to Dublin to see a little of Ireland, then home. No need to hit London at all.

Don't get me wrong - I love London and have been at least 15 times - and always find new things to see/do - but not in a mad whirl like this.

If you have already been to london and Oxford, why not spread your wings a bit and skip these and base yourself in York or Durham for the three days before heading to Scotland?

Both have a lot of history with a superb cathedral (or Minster in York) plus castle (ruined in York, part of the University in Durham). Both have a range of good mueums as well as some superb scenery around them - much better than London or Oxford...

Okay this is good- I needed a reality check. I've visited all of these countries before and seen a little bit of everything but I'm trying to figure out how to see the things I didn't see the first time but I'm going with people who haven't seen what I've already seen. For example i have driven all around Ireland and hit the main sites but never visited the Blarney Stone, Waterford or Ring of Kerry. And I've been to Edinburgh and now just really want to see the highlands, Loch Ness, and Skye. Trying to get that all in one trip is crazy I know but I like to pack things in.

Thank you for all of the advice. It's back to the itinerary drawing boards for me.

Forget the Blarney Stone, Waterford and Ring of Kerry, instead head to Galway and Donegal. The scenery is much better and there are fewer tourists.

>>and now just really want to see the highlands, Loch Ness, and Skye<<

Well that alone is several days worth and your traveling companions may want to see Edinburgh . . . so you are talking a week just for Scotland.

Same for Ireland - (No real reason to go to Waterford BTW). A week is nothing if you (and your friends) want to see any of the scenic west coast bits.

ditto England - 7 days would be enough for 2 or 3 days in the Cotswolds and 3 days in London or somewhere else in the south.

So pick ONE of the countries and spend your week there.

If you're "doing" the Cotswolds, you might as well take in SoA and Warwick Castle. Warwick would be my choice for overnight....plethora of eateries in that town....

<< I've visited all of these countries before and seen a little bit of everything but I'm trying to figure out how to see the things I didn't see the first time but I'm going with people who haven't seen what I've already seen. >>

And that means you're planning for them to miss what you've already seen. Do you understand the disconnect here?

Sorry - you really need to make some hard choices - and talk to your companions - they may not want to miss major sights just because you've already whisked by them in the past.

Focus please :-)