Getting to Kelmscott Manor
 

Because my wife's a fan of William Morris, a visit to Kelmscott's a must. We'll be using public transport and know the bus stops at Leclade. We would walk, or perhaps taxi if possible one way, with a possible stop at Buscot Park. Trying to decide between Burford and Painswick as a base. Which would provide the easiest route to Leclade? Looks as though neither has a direct route. Also, any recommendations as to where to stay in either?

have you looked at the website? they provide directions, including for getting there by public transport:

http://www.kelmscottmanor.co.uk/visiting

it's not clear whether Burford or Painswick would be better to stay in - you'd need to look at the bus timetables.

the information says that it's only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Painswick is miles away.

Burford is so much closer, and a reasonable taxi ride. Less than 10 miles to Kelmscott Manor.

You'll love the house/garden.

Yes. Confirm that they will be open. We once came all the way from Hampshire to find it closed.

From Painswick you would get the 46 bus to Stroud. Then a bus to Cirencester, and another bus to Lechlade. Finally walk or get a taxi to Kelmscott.

Alternatively you could get the train to Swindon and then a bus or taxi to Lechlade.

I'll try and find out if there are day tours from Stroud or Cheltenham to Kelmscott - I'm sure there must be something.

Buses from Burford to Lechlade require changing in Minster Lovell(fine) and Carterton (hideous, centre of acute social deprivation, but quite safe and a wonderful antidote to the thatch and chintz cliche the area is burdened with) and take 2 hrs each way.

Buses from Painswick cover more distance but take the same time. Both options require a 3 mile walk each way or taxi. The walk to Buscot is about the same distance. Lechlade is a perfectly pretty Thameside town: the walks to and from Buscot and Kelmscott both make up a pleasant half day and with a spot of lunch and leisurely sightseeing could easily each fill up a relaxing day. I'd move to Lechlade (or Fairford, which is a bit less pretty but whose church has the finest medieval stained glass in the English speaking world)

There are direct buses to Lechlade from Fairford and Cirencester (also interesting).

In this part of the world, you either walk or drive (or if you're antisocial, cycle). Buses rarely let you see very much, except for the housing estates most visitors are happy to miss.

...but if you DO want a bus, www.transportdirect.info gives the timetables.

I know there is no reasonable bus route from Burford which is why I mentioned the cab. Much easier than the convoluted bus journeys from Painswick or Burford.

As flanner suggests, if Kelmscott is a primary reason for visiting then staying in Lechlade or Fairford makes miles more sense. They also have reasonable bus connections to other parts.

But honestly -what you <i>REALLY</i> want to do is rent a car. Then you could stay in Painswick, or Burford or absolutely anywhere you wanted . . .

As you have an interest in the Arts and Crafts movement, you might be interested to know that Painswick has some almshouses designed by Stanley Barnsley, and also in a chapel on Gloucester Street there is a stained glass window by Edward Burne-Jones.

There's quite a lot of information about the Arts & Crafts movement in the Cotswolds here...

http://www.cotswolds.info/arts-craft...movement.shtml

But to see many of the places mentioned you would need a car.