Hi, my family (husband + 2 teenage boys) will be going to England the following week. We'll be flying in to Heathrow then stay at a place in Rutland, Leicestershire(?) How do you get to Rutland from Heathrow? Should we rent a car? We plan on seeing a few places as Bath, Oxford, see a show (in London or Manchester?. Are there tickets we can purchase here in the US to allow us to visit museums and tourist places in UK more cheaply? Any other better places to see? This is a first for my family. Thanks so much!

How long will you be in England for?The trains in England are very good.From heathrow there will be a subway to a main train station.I think that you would get to Rutland from Euston station.There is lots to see and do in London and many day trips from London by <BR>train.The southern parts of England are nicer than the north,but the people are nicer in the north.Cornwall and the Cotswolds are the loveliest parts of England in my opinion.

Edith <BR> <BR>I would not recommend a car. While in London use the Tube (subway). Upon arrival at Heathrow follow the signs for the "Underground" take a few moments to look at the map. Purchase a Travelcard for however many days you will stay. When you purchase the card you can also get a small map of the system at no additional charge. The info that came with your hotel will probably tell you at which stop you are to get off, and possibly directions as well. For a trip to Bath, Oxford, etc. use Britrail. Prices are very reasonable and can be purchased at the time of travel. If you want you can go to www.eurail.com for complete info on <BR>Britrail. Pick up a copy of Berlitz London Pocket Guide, Michelin has a similar one as well. They are very small, concise and FIT IN YOUR POCKET which is a very good thing. Larger books are too bulky to carry around. London is fabulous, you'll love it. Hope this helps!

Edith, <BR>I'm not too sure the two previous respondents fully understood the nature of your questions. If memory serves, Rutland is about 80 miles from London and lies between Liecester and Peterborough. From Heathrow, I would expect you would take the high speed train from the airport to Paddington Station, then the underground Circle or Hammersmith and City line to King's Cross and St. Pancras station. There you can take the train from St. Pancras to Liecester, or from King's Cross to Peterborough. Rutland. The latter is a shorter route (about an hour and fifteen minutes). Britrail's website is presently under reconstruction and will refer you to the Raileurope site: www.raileurope.com which may detail how to get from either Liecester or Peterborough to Rutland. It would seem to me that car rental from Heathrow would be a better alternative if you're prepared to deal with driving "on the wrong side of the road" and coping with roundabouts. You can get auto routing by checking the Shell website: www.euroshell.com If driving from Rutland to London, plan on parking in London's suburbs and taking public transportation, (Network Southeast trains, busses or underground) to the city. <BR> <BR>You mention theatre in Manchester and London. Check the website www.whatson.com for theatre listing, reservations and ticketing in Liecester, Birmingham, Peterborough, all of which are closer to Rutland than Manchester, and of course London and Manchester, as well. There is no admission charge to most of Britain's major museums. There are charges for Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge but the charges include the cost of guided tours. <BR>

Go ahead and drive in England. Just remember to keep the steering wheel in the middle of the road and it is easy.

Hello <BR>The Rough Guide to Britain or the Lonely Planet guide will be useful to you, helping you find the places that will attract you and your sons. <BR>I would think about taking a BritRail pass which is only available from your country before you travel, as others have suggested, but if you take a car, then remember that petrol costs about £1 a LITRE and that parking can be difficult in large centres. Most tourist places are on a rail route. <BR>Check out www.railtrack.co.uk for train enquiries, or call 44 345 484950. You wil need the name of the nearest railway station in Rutland, which is a county and not a town so will have several railway stations. <BR>Buying a BritRail pass for the family will save you money, I think, and yoy can come and go as you please. Just taking individual trips can soon add up, especially because single {one-way} journeys are not half the price of returns, so if you are making a circuit and not doubling back on yourself it can be dear. <BR>If you fancy going further north, try York which is fabulous and also Durham. If you have time, you can go to E'burgh, but I don't know if you have time. <BR>U K can be expensive. Keep prices down by eating at places like Pierre Victoire and Pizza Express or in pubs. No need to tip more than 10% in restaurants, nor at bars or to taxi drivers.