HOW LONG IN ENGLAND?
 

We are going to do our only trip to Europe in 2012, carefully avoiding the Olympics AND the build up to the Olympics.

8 weeks is our maximum as we want to reserve cash for a different trip the following year. We have already decided on 10 days - 2 weeks in Italy, maybe a side trip to Greece for 3 days or so, 4 days approx in Switzerland, a side trip from there to Rottweil in Germany, perhaps Neuschwanstein and Munich, 2 weeks plus in France and maybe a short river cruise Amsterdam to Basel. We plan to get a car and drive in France but prefer trains elsewhere except England.

Coming from Australia we want to spend time in Singapore and possibly Dubai coming and going to avoid arriving zombie-like from long haul flights.

That leaves us about 16 days for England, far too much in my view. All we want to do is check out London for a few days then have a quick look at the south west, where our ancestors lived nearly 200 years ago.

How can we use the extra week or so in Europe?

"far too much in my view."

It isn't.

It's fairly niaive to think that you could see all of England, let alone the UK in 16 days. Do I detect a hint of "I don't really want to go to England" in your dismissive "far too much in my view"? A case of colonial republicanism? Or have you been many times and know it all intimitely? Were you born here and have vowed not to spend too much time here ever again?

I'd look at the Islands differently and think about your interests and the fact that this is your only trip to Europe.

I think you should set aside 5 days for London, it does go on and on with lots to do.

South West, depends if they were from but lets assume a couple of days of walking around villages and looking in churches.

Then what else could you see.

Cathedrals, Salisbury is along the way and one of the world's finest.
Dorset's Jurasic path
Winchester
STonehenge
Oxford
Something shakspearean in the mddlands
Cambridge
Ely
York
Lincoln

it kinda goes on and on

Then there is Scotland and Ireland.

I'd allow couple of days for Glasgow and a a day for Edinburg (or the other way around and stay in one and train it to the other.

Dublin is a world away and worth a couple of days.

So keep thinking and search on this web site for England to see what people like to do

"<i>far too much in my view.</i>"

If you feel that way -- just go to London for a long weekend and be done w/ it. I fear the glories of England will be lost on you. You could easily spend 16 weeks and not hit all the high points, 16 days is nothing . . .

Nothing wrong w/ not wanting to go someplace - there a lots of other countries to choose from. Why go to England at all if you already think you won't enjoy it?

I've lived in the UK for over 60 years and not seen half of it, so in five days you will see very little. What are your interests, town or country, historic buildings, beautiful scenery? Come back with some ideas and we can help.