Help please - Train Brain Strain
 

Apparently I'm prolific this evening -- thank you in advance.<BR><BR>Ok, here's the deal: Going to Europe with the parents (hey, it's a FREE trip!) and my dad is on business so we're going in a bunch of directions and frankly I AM STUMPED on how to do this economically (as well as joyously).<BR><BR>We are meeting at Gatwick airport on the 16th and then taking a train to Sherborne that afternoon.While the pa is working on the 17th, my mom and I want to do some sightseeing (perhaps Bath? or suggestion??). On the 18th we leave for Ipswich and while my dad has to be there my mom and I don't so we thought hey... let's go to London for several hours that day and then onto Ipswich from there. <BR><BR>Stay with me here... So when in Ipswich, the ma and I would also like to do some sightseeing and as far as I can tell we could maybe, possibly? do Norwich and Cambridge and then back to Ipswich in the same day. Is this possible? And if it is, will it cost a bloody fortune all of this?<BR><BR> I've tried to look up fares but I'm having no luck. And, to make a LOOOONG story even longer, after Ipswich the family is headed for Paris via the Eurostar which is even more confusing because now I'm not sure if we should just fork over bucks for a Britrail pass + Eurostar. Can some good samaritan genius train taker of British heritage (if only in spirit) please be so kind as to tell me what the heck we should do here? I have this feeling if I don't figure it out we're going to be like the Griswalds in European vacation REDUX! <BR><BR>Any and all train routing suggestions or sightseeing itineraries or referrals to brain surgeons welcome.<BR><BR>Gracias.

TTT for Spoon

Righty ho. I can give some advice on Ipswich/Norwich/Cambridge if desired...<BR><BR>When coming over from the West Country, don't be in a hurry to get to Ipswich, it's not exactly the most historic or exciting place in the East Anglia, but if you press me, I could come up with a couple of places you could go and see (I was born there and lived there for 11 years, so I have a bit of local knowledge). <BR><BR>If I were in your boat, I'd make an effort to see London the day your dad goes to Ipswich. If you're staying in Ipswich overnight, then you can catch a train from London Liverpool Street to Ipswich (they go about every half hour and take about an hour) in the evening. The next day I would suggest going to Cambridge for the whole day. There's plenty to see and do there (went to university there so lived there for four years) and it's beautiful.<BR><BR>Rail timetables in England are easy, it's www.railtrack.com, bookings can be made at www.thetrainline.co.uk. Costs are relatively high though, expect &pound;15 to &pound;20 from London to Ipswich, maybe the same to Cambridge.<BR><BR>To take Eurostar, you'll need to get to Waterloo International. No need for a British Rail pass, just buy a ticket to Waterloo and it should include your tube travel through London.<BR><BR>If you need anything more, don't hestitate to ask.<BR><BR>Jim

TTT

I believe the Britrail pass is expensive for what it is, so check out the point to point prices. (I was in their offices in Montreal a few weeks back and they are basically printing their own money!)<BR><BR>Check out the link to www.thetrainline.com again for timetables and prices. <BR><BR>Salisbury is very possible and you have to connect via Salisbury to get to Bath in any case. The return trip from Bath would take several hours, so not ideal.<BR><BR>I'd strongly recommend getting a car (or a lift) and checking out Glastonbury and Wells. (Wells Cathedral is used in Harry Potter as Hogwarts and kicks Salisbury's @$$) <BR><BR>I've said it before and I'll say it again, Salisbury is a pretty poor Cathedral and only famous because it lies on the coach tour route from London to Bath.<BR><BR>I'd personally be wary of trains as they are notoriously unreliable. My best suggestion if you want to do this is for your Pa to get a friendly colleague in Sherborne to look into buses for you.<BR><BR>As a shocking alternative, and what I would do in your shoes, you could simply spend the day pottering around Sherborne, there's an abbey, a castle, antique shops, tea rooms etc etc and actually experience a beautiful little piece of England not over-run by tourists<BR><BR>I'll defer to Jimbo on the East Anglia thing, a bit north for me.

topping for Kimberly

You will not turn into the Griswold just study the map,rent an automatic car and you will save $$$ and see much more! I think the Eurostar is overpriced,especially for 3 of you.You are in the land of cheap cheap airlines!For goodness sake,fly unless you want the experience of saying you went under the English channel!!!

Kim, I don't know much about your itinerary, even though I'm of British heritage (maternal side). But I do have a train tip. I think the tickets are less expensive if you start your journey after the morning rush hour, maybe 9 or 9:30 am. I know this is true if you are leaving London, but it may be true for other locations as well.