help with cutting down trip
 

I posted a note earlier on an England itinerary for my family this summer. Most responded that it was too much to see in 6 days. Help me cut the "it's OK" ones so we can have more time with the "it was wonderful" ones!!! Thanks
Windson Castle
Oxford
Blenheim Palace
Stratford
Warwick
Bath
Stonehenge
Salisbury
Winchester
Chawton
Hever
Chartwell
Knole
Leeds Castle
Canterbury

My husband and I took an Oxford/Stratford/Warwick castle day tour last summer. We spent about 2 hours in Oxford, 3 hours in Stratford, and 3 hours at Warwick castle. I could have spent more time at Oxford, but the overview tour we had we enough. I liked Stratford better, but that is just my opinion. Warwick castle is a big medieval theme park. Fun for kids and adults, but we found three hours there to be enough. The jousting tournament was interesting. If you are strapped for time, then I suggest a day tour from London to some of these sights, maybe combined like we did.

Well, of course it's all a matter of opinion, but we drove to Stonehenge and, of course, couldn't get very close. I was not overwhelmed -- but guess I didn't know why I would be. OK, so it's amazing they moved those rocks, but when all's said and done that's all it is -- a bunch of rocks. Sorry. And it's really kind of out of the way, except for also visiting Salisbury, which is pretty low on my list anyway.

Windsor and Warwick are both don't misses to me!! Oxford is worth a couple hours just to see.

Blenheim Palace is nice, but only if one of your trips is going by it.

Stratford is only a big deal for seeing a show there, if not, I'd forget about it. But it is easy in combination with Warwick and Oxford, so if Shakespeare means anything to you, it's worth a stop. Standing in Anne Hathaway's Garden is pretty impressive.

I was moved and awed by being in Canterbury Cathedral (while mostly I'm not by cathedrals and churches). Since a sense of history there. I think someone on another post told you to forget Dover. But actually I think a trip to Dover to stand on the cliffs, visit the underground part of the castle and the WWII military museum and hospital is great. Coupled with a stop in Canterbury, I think it makes a great day.

Bath is worth it!

Winchester is nice, but not a must do in my opinion. I'd substitute Brighton as I think the Brighton Pavillion is sensational. Hastings and Rye can be combined in a sort of loop with Brighton and makes for some pleasant stops.

After many trips to England, Chawton, Hever, Chartwell, Knole and Leeds are still on my "to do" list, so can't comment, except that Leeds would probably be at the top of that list.

I agree that Windsor is easily accomplished as a day tour from London so you'll have more time for travel on your 6 "travel days".

I'd offer this suggestion...

Break up the intensity of your many visits to castles and cathedrals, etc by simply taking in some of the lovely English countryside. There are many, many such opportunities.

Take a hike or two, following the one of the numerous footpaths the overlook the Downs and that traverse pretty unspoiled villages. Or take that great hike over the white cliffs that overlook the Channel, called "The Seven Sisters".

This could be a welcome and relaxing interlude to your hectic pace, one that you'll savor every bit as much as one of those can't-miss sites!

If I had to chose I would eliminate

Chawton
Hever
Chartwell
Knole

And I would do Leeds Castle as a drive by only if right near a road I was on anyway - it's beautiful from the outside but the inside is not much compared to a lot of other places.

Looked at another way I absolutely would not miss

Stonehenge - just being near a (calendar? church?) created by our ancestors so many thousands of years ago gave me palpitations

Windsor Castle - history and royalty in one

Bath - from the Romans to Jane Austen - how can you miss?

Oxford - to help us Americans understand history and the British caste/class system

Hope this is a help. I'm sure you'll have a great time!

I've not made it to all the places on your list, but here are my favorites:

Windsor Castle - you get the castle and a lovely town along with it

Oxford - it makes for a great day of sightseeing to visit all the colleges, the churches, and museums. Great bookstore there, too, called Blackwell's.

Warwick - thought this was fascinating. Look them up on the web for a preview. The countryside looking down from the castle ramparts is so quintessentially English that it will take your breath away.

Bath - there's a reason Jane Austen loved it!

Canterbury - the cathedral is magnificent, and the town has a nice feel to it. It gave me goosebumps knowing that Chaucer and I were in the same place!

Only "OK" to me was Stratford. Town was too big and too touristy. I preferred the small villages of the Cotswolds to Stratford.

If I were you, I would save all the sites in the eastern part of the country for another trip and just have a grand old time in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, and Oxfordshire. In these counties you can see Bath Abbey, Salisbury Cathedral, and Winchester Cathedral (not to mention a Saxon church at Bradford-on-Avon and countless other lovely country churches) -- I personally don't see the sense in driving all the way over to Canterbury to see that cathedral specifically. The same principle applies to country houses, castles, gardens, etc. Wherever you end up you will find an abundance of interesting, historic, and beautiful sites all around you.

Like another poster above, I'd recommend you look at adding some small towns and villages to your itinerary and allow plenty of time to get away from the traffic and noise and just walk in the country.

Enjoy your trip!