Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Just back from nine days in England

And I have to say all the info I got on this forum was a MAJOR help! So thanks to you all for reccomendations and suggestions!
The Brits couldn't have been kinder, the weather was not sunny, but never too bothersome, and the landscapes and culture just took our breaths away..so those of you about to go you are in for a treat...We went to research a book so we did have a purpose in visiting the places we did, but I'd reccomend them to anyone for their interst and beauty...
Here are some tips....
Hotels- In London Tupphams Belgravia at 28 Ebury Street...small, charming, English hotel in very nice area...beautiful little breakfast room and the food was fine..the room was very charming and a good buy for the money.
Queensbury Hotel in Bath- high priced, but elegant and lovely room...food very good as well.
Frances Hotel in Bath - room too small, ask for a four poster if you can,but nice hotel in good location to walking to shops and the food was excellent.
The Kitley House outside of Plymouth....big old dark manor house, a bit gloomy looking on the outside, but AMAZING room inside (our favorite room of the bunch (The Churchill room- four poster bed)Wonderful views, excellent service and in the 1800's the house nanny, one Janet Hubbard, wrote the nursery rhyme, Old Mother Hubbard, here....

Fowey Hall in Fowey (Cornwall)...this was the house that Toad Hall in Wind In The Willows was based on..just a great place, very grand and yet very friendly (they specialize in children and though our kids are grown, we loved seeing the little ones and the house dog, Milly that slept by the fire in the study)..our room was beautiful and the view of the harbor from the window took our breaths away. Great service and excellent food.

The Highlights...Cornwall- Fowey- beautiful village by the water..interesting history
Thaxted in Essex..wonderful ancient village with stunning 14th century church
Saffron Walden- home of Henry Winstanley.and Audley End.great shopping and wonderful old bookshop
London of course...this time we loved the Mozart concert by candlelight in St. Martins In The Field.
We did drive (not in London) and had no problems..though the round abouts were daunting since they don't give you east-west or north south directions..you've got to know the names of all the towns and villages.....get a good map...
We loved being in towns like Thaxted and Saffron Walden that weren't full of tourists..but rather working class English..
Some mundane practical stuff...
Would just make sure that your hotel has a restaurant so you don't have to go out if you're tired...the better the hotel the more variety you'll find in the food..
Since we only take one big trip a year we figure it's not the time to skimp..
We did invest in travel socks for the plane ride- from Travelsmith..really helped keep our legs from cramping up.
My husband did get a cough while in London and we went to a doctor- expensive because it was London but very good. he wrote out a prescription for him and told him to drink plenty of H20 on the plane...if you get a cold and have to fly..don't fool around because the air pressure can drive it deeper into your chest..My husband was feeling much better by the time we got home.

Packed twice as many clothes as we needed! Underwear being the biggest waste..you can do with 2 pair for 9 days..just wash out each night..we ended up sending back a box of our clothes so we could bring back books that we bought (we're suckers for books)

We did use our credit cards to rack up frequent flyer miles and so were able to upgrade to first class...couldn't believe the difference in how we felt..actually able to stretch out and sleep....will try and save up all year for next trip's miles....

We brought a new digital camera..Kodak easy share dx 6490......fantastic pictures, easy to use and lots of amazing features..very happy with it...

Hope a bit of this is of some help and good luck on your journey!Ellij