We are planning a trip to England / Wales for sometime next year. What is the best time to go? What would you consider to be a good central location to stay? And, no offense to this site, but can you recommend some good BBs that are specific to England? <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance!

Can you be a bit more specific? ie where in England and Wales? They're quite big places! Chester is a nice historic town in England which is very near (north) Wales. Or are you more interested in south Wales and England?

Here are some websites that may help <BR>www.beduk.co.uk <BR>www.kgp-publishing.co.uk - <BR>www.b-and-b-online.com <BR> <BR>Here's a B & B for North Yorkshire that I got from this forum: <BR>Caroline and Nick Eddleston, phone from the US 011 44 1947 97 486, or email [email protected] <BR>These cottages are in Lealholm near Whitby in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park <BR>Children are welcome, and they can make the rounds with Caroline as she tends horses, dogs, and other farm animals. A cottage for six in the summer cost 320 pounds per week in the summer of 1999. <BR> <BR>Cornwall <BR>Lodging in Penzance: Lombard House, 16 Regent Terrace, Penzance, TR184DW <BR>phone/fax 01736 64897 B&B, with ensuite bath and breakfast. Also, Warwick House, 17 Regent Terrace, Penzance, TR184DW, phone 10736 36881. <BR> <BR> <BR>

For time of year, I'd recommend May or September, with a preference for September. Maybe it's just been luck, but when I've been there in September, the weather has been beautiful. You also avoid peak-season crowds. <BR> <BR>How long are you staying? Will you have time to do London? Thus could you consider staying in London for a few days, then taking a train to, say, Oxford, where you could rent a car and travel around Cotswolds and then go up to Wales?

Just to clarify my original message... We are mostly considering western England and Wales, but haven't got to the decision of North/South. <BR> <BR>And, although links to Bed & Breakfasts are very welcome and appreciated, I should have been more explicit and said 'Bulletin Boards'!

How about flying in to London - you can't go to England and miss London - then flying out of Manchester? I agree with Penny re: September, we've always had good luck then and there just doesn't seem to be the same crowds as in May. Of course you miss some of the great garden flowering that happens in June, but depends on what you're going for. I'd also vote for North Wales, is really lovely. Places worth visiting: Caernarfon, Holyhead, Portmeiron (can buy seconds of the pottery there, actually even stay there!), Penrhyn Castle, Bodnant Gardens, Criccieth (great place to use as a base), the slate caverns, train ride up Mt. Snowdon (you can actually walk down if the weather is fine), Betwys-y-Coed (I hope I've spelled that right), Bangor (check to see if there are any Welsh choirs putting on performances). And have you considered renting a self-catering cottage instead of all B&Bs? I can recommend some if you are interested. Areas to visit in England: Shrewsbury - are you a Brother Cadfael fan? Chester, Derbyshire - particularly if you like to hike (also where Peak Practice is filmed), and of course Yorkshire (Heartbeat - how can you tell I watch too much British television - is filmed in a place called Goathland, not that far from Whitby). If you are a fan of Coronation Street you can also tour Granada Studios at Manchester (I'd also suggest renting your car from there, you can easily get there fr. London, for example, by train.) Have fun and feel free to contact me if you'd like any cottage info.

I'm afraid I can't be very specific, as it is too long since I was there, but I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the two English counties of Shropshire and Herefordshire, which are situated in what is called the Marches Country, in England, but right on the border of Wales. Handy for day trips into Wales,including Cardiff, and also handy for the Cotswolds,including Oxford and Stratford upon Avon, but just a little way off the heavily beaten tourist tracks. I am sure that there would be a stack of B&Bs in both counties, plus some lovely old pubs, that would also have accomodation. <BR>Have a look on you maps for the towns of Hereford, Leominster,Ludlow, Church Stretton and Shrewsbury. They are all excellent places to stay, except that Shrewsbury may be a bit big and busy these days. Very pleasant scenery and central to your original requests.