Help with more time in English countryside!
 

We will not be able to go to France as planned. We are now arriving in London on May 22 with a whole week to explore. We are free uhtil the 29th or 30th when we will go to Kingsclere for the week end to stay with family and June 1 - 7 we will be staying in a flat in London for free. Right now I am thinking of going to Bath for a couple of days first to get over jet lag and then off to the Cotswolds for the rest of a relaxing week.

Is a week too long? If we are going to split 4/3 what's the best way to do this without so much time in the car since it is that bank week?

What is the best way -- there are LOTS of good ways and no single choice will be "best".

If it was me - I might spend the first day/night in Windsor w/o a car. Get over the jet lag, see the castle, walk in the Great Park - whatever,

Then on day 2 I'd pick up a car and head to Bath for 2 nights. Use one day for Bath and one day to explore around the area -- maybe to Wells/Glastonbury or Stourhead or Lacock or wherever you want,

so night of May 22 in Windsor,
May 23 and 24 in and around Bath
and finish up w/ 4 nights in the Cotswolds.

Not rushed, time to recover from the jet lag car-less, and plenty of time for both Bath and the Cotswolds.

oops - are you arriving at LHR or at LGW? That would make a difference re my recommendation . . . . .

I'm coming into Heathrow. That just made more sense considering we wanted to head to the Cotswolds.

What town in the Cotswolds would have some good walking? I was thinking Broadway which would allow a walk day to Chipping Campden if the weather allowed? Any other suggestions on where we could walk and not have to move our bags?

Thanks janisj

Broadway would be a good choice for walking...last spring we renewed our interest in the Cotswolds and spent four days. with some driving and some pleasant walking. Based in Broadway, a walk to Chipping Campden would be a logical choice.

We thoroughly enjoyed our hike to the Broadway Tower (down as well as uphill)....meadows, red deer, panoramic views.

Within about seven miles from Broadway there are the informal Mill Dene Gardens in the village of Blockley (off the Moreton-Broadway Road, A-44, which we also enjoyed..very tranquil, uncrowded gardens....don't know your budget, but I can recommend a comfortable B and B in the heart of Broadway's Main Street..."Small Talk Lodge"...pubs and restaurants (including an above average Indian) all closeby.

www.smalltalklodge.co.uk/

http://www.milldenegarden.co.uk/

Happy travels in the UK, teach!
Stu T.

I personally would not stay in Broadway - nothing particularly wrong w/ it - just not the best choice IMO. Since you'll have a car you can actually stay anywhere. I'd look in Burford - it has a wonderful "Wool church" and you can walk along the River Windrush to Minster Lovell old hall.

http://www.historic-uk.com/Destinati...sterlovell.htm
http://www.britainexpress.com/counti...re/Burford.htm

Or maybe in/near Chipping Campden, which is really near Hidcote Manor (so is Broadway for that matter - I'd just prefer Burford or Chipping Campden)

http://hearteng.110mb.com/gardens/hidcote.htm (I linked this site because the photos are better than on the National Trust's own site)

You honestly can't make a mistake though - since every part of the Cotswolds is easily accessible by road from every other part. And every town/village will have loads of footpaths in the area

janisj:

Did you ever decide on a luncheon stop for your upcoming Cotswolds trip? I recall that I suggested The Fox and Hounds in Great Walford ..whatever you decide, I'm sure you will have a great visit.

You're right about the OP...whatever she decides she's sure to have an enjoyable visit.

stu t.

Hi - I took everyone's suggestions and printed them out on a list. We'll be there for a full week so we'll likely hit a few of them. Thanks.

Thanks for all of your help. At the moment, I have a great price for the B and B in Broadway. I'm looking into the other places, but with this economy that may be my deciding factor.

forgot the name of the B and B...the Small Talk and it looks lovely.

Teach:

Yes, The Small Talk , which I recommended in a post above. Good sized, comfortable, clean rooms, very large bathrooms, stall shower, full and tasty English breakfast (with choices), and delightful, friendly and competent hosts. Laurie(he) and Maggie. Laurie is very quick about taking your luggage up and down the stairs...there is a chairlift which he installed for an older daughter, but it's for guest's use. Give regards to them fom The Towers of California (May 2008)....they may remember us for the wild drinking parties we gave...NOT. (LOL). Parking is around the corner, and up the lane leading back to the lodge..it belongs to the offices thereof but spaces are saved for the lodge guests.

The Broadway Hotel across Main Street has a "Jockey's Bar" pub with a good menu..my journal says that the cajun chicken toasted paninis are delicious, also the pork tenderloins...when we ate a few meals there in May 2008, the £ was at 2-1..ouch..so menu items at £10 were $20...at 1.40, prices should be more below "gulping" range. Further down Main Street is a rather elegant Tandoori Indian resto which we also favored a lot.

The "Small Talk" has a nice little tea room abutting the lodge (by the same name), but Tisane's across the street is a bit more cozy and satyisfying.

The walk up to the imposing 1799 Tower is a "must", as I mentioned above...the walk to Chipping Campden is about 4-5 miles of pleasant country road....and a prize of a town when you arrive.

I'll include a link to my pics..London and The Cotswolds, taken last spring ...may serve to somewhat orient you to the surroundings.

Any questions, Teach, please do not hesitate to post here or email. Enjoy the journey....you will.

Stu Tower [email protected]

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...Cotswolds2008#

Note: Teach, the pix are best viewed by "slide show" (upper left hand corner)..set to about 5 seconds, sit back and relax.
stu

Thanks so much, tower. I am getting so excited!!!

From Broadway, we have enjoyed walks to the Slaughters, lovely villages with dining options. Broadway itself seems overrun with tour busses and tourists during the day, but in the evening it is quiet.