Marge, <BR> <BR>Seems like your posting generated almost as many comments as there are places to visit in the UK. <BR> <BR>My "two pence" worth is more general: I'd suggest that you pick a couple of spots and spend a decent amount of time in each, rather than traipsing from location to location. Susan Toth, one of my favorite travel journal writers, calls this the "thumbprint" method. She suggests taking a map of the UK and trying and see no more than you can cover with your thumb. <BR> <BR>Modifying that a bit for your 3 week trip, you could stay a week in Cumbria/Lake District, a week in Cornwall/Devon, and/or a week in the Scotish Highlands. If you can find good accomodations for your family, perhaps a self-catering cottage, staying in one place is certainly less tiring. And you get a chance to really absorb what the region has to offer. <BR> <BR>Good luck with your trip plans <BR> <BR>David White <BR>http://www.KidsToLondon.com <BR>[email protected]

Marge, <BR>Regarding Stratford and the Cotswolds - they are way over run with tourists and tour buses - that is what turns the real traveler off I think. Personally I am glad we saw those places many years ago before the masses started traveling! That said I'd also recommend York as a great place to visit. <BR> <BR>We go to the UK every year and sometimes just take day trips from London - we avoid the big tourist destinations tho and have a real nice time exploring lesser known places without tour buses all over the place. York does get a lot of tourists but it's not too bad (of course we were there in the spring!). There are many beautiful places to visit all over the UK that you can't really go wrong with most of them, it's all a matter of personal interests.

Topping for Marge

I would certainly see Stonehenge - it isn't as much fun as when you could walk among the stones, but it is still impressive. I would also see the stones at Avebury and the neaby west kennet passage grave. These are unique sites that I think your kids will remember. <BR> <BR>Hadrian's Wall is also interesting and unique. <BR> <BR>My favorite castle is Threave Castle in SW Scotland, but almost all the castles have something special about them. <BR> <BR>Whatever you do, spend time on the smaller roads and discover something unusual

I posted earlier, but I must agree with steve, my very favorite thing to do is "get lost on country roads". <BR> <BR>we have seen things and met people and have the best times when lost, hopefully you will too. As long as Ihave a place to sleep at the end of the day ,I am happy

People's lists seem pretty well spot on. Here's a (native's) suggestions. <BR> <BR>Castles: The best are in wales, if you're not going there warwick is great (Incidentally it's owned by madam tussauds, so they can get something right). THere are also loads of ruined ones that are completely untended as well as managed ones eg Corfe in Dorset. You may have to use your imagination but you will have it to yourself, just look on a landranger Ordnance survey map. Kids love this. <BR> <BR>Shakespeare: Do yourselves a favour and give straford a bodyswerve. Its a tourist hell hole, although the RSC productions are as good as it gets. If you want to see a similar untouched town go to Ludlow. In London the best WS productions are at the NAtional Theatre, the globe is not really an artistic endevour (although i hear good things). Off the beaten track, go to the open air theatre in Regents Park. They usually have a production of one of his comedies on and if you have the weather it can be wonderful <BR> <BR>Scenery: This is a matter of personal taste. I prefer the peak district to the Lake district, it's much less crowded too. <BR> <BR>London: Anything with a queue of french kids outside of it is rubbish eg Madam Tussauds, London Dungeon, Britain at War, Rock Circus. <BR>Anything that advertises itself as "traditional" isn't . <BR> <BR>Avoid anything with the word "ye" in it eg "ye olde copper kettle". <BR> <BR>Soem stuff we keep to ourselves (I will now be hunted down and killed): <BR> <BR>Wimbledon Village <BR> <BR>Richmond Deer Park <BR> <BR>Bushey Park (not Hampton Court park) <BR> <BR>The churches in the Square Mile <BR> <BR>Shepherd's Market and the backstreets of Mayfair <BR> <BR>Sir John Soane Museum <BR> <BR>I'll post others as I think of them. <BR> <BR>

Agree about the Peak District - V. Nice. <BR>Nice comment about avoiding anything with "Ye" in the name - agree there also. Runnymede ( near Windsor ) is a very nice place I discovered recently - it's where King John signed/sealed Magna Carta. There's also an Air Force memorial ( one of the biggest memorials ) & memorials to Magna Carta & JFK. Legoland in the same area is V. expensive for what is there.

David, have you ever ventured outside London? No, to be fair, Ludlow is a greatplace to visit. Let me be different and suggest some really excellent places that rarely appear on the overseas visitors itinerary: <BR> <BR>1 A drive through the Trough of Bowland in Lancashire (the place where some of the Royals wish to retire); <BR>2 Branscombe in Devon; <BR>3 Robin Hoods Bay in Yorkshire (for really olde and quaint cottages - no seriously); <BR>4 Feed the ducks in Downham Village, Lancashire - where they filmed Whistle Down the Wind; <BR>5 For a really romantic walk (and great for your kids) try Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire. <BR> <BR>Okay, hands up, I know I am biased towards the North of England, but its got so much more than just the Lake District (and I did mention Devon). <BR> <BR>

Wow, you really have a lot of great advice here, although I'm not sure you'll be any clearer. Having been to England more than 10x in past 20 years I think wherever you go you'll find interesting/lovely areas. Particularly if you love history, and even better if your kids do/you can get them exited about things before you go. I'm sure in the 3 weeks you'll want to go everywhere but my advice is to actually book three self-catering cottages in three different areas and take day trips from there. You obviously won't be able to see all of England, but those areas you do see you can truly fall in love with. The advantage of a cottage is obvious with three kids. Not only can you unpack for 7 days, save money on some meals, but the kids can really explore wherever you rent cottages. That said the main areas I would recommend are: <BR> <BR>Cotswolds <BR>Kent/Sussex <BR>Cornwall <BR> <BR>and save the north for another visit. (Personally I think the Lake District is over-rated, it's beautiful but Canada and the US offer the same kinds of beauty ten-fold. Yorkshire is worthwhile but to do with south requires a lot of driving with 3 kids.) <BR>Then within these areas I would do day trips seeing: <BR> <BR>Cotswolds <BR> Oxford <BR> Stratford <BR>wick Castle

Sorry, hit the wrong button. Anyway, within three areas would see: <BR> <BR>Cotswolds - Stratford, Warwick Castle, Baddesley Clinton, Oxford, Waddesdon Manor, Blenheim (and Churchill's grave at Bladon), Hidcote Manor Garden, Sudeley Castle, Snowshill (the kids will love this), Bath (not just the Roman Baths but the Costume Museum as well), Great Tew, Cropredy. Drive to: <BR> <BR>Cornwall - On way can see Longleat (kids will love lions). Isles of Scilly, Tintagel, Lanhydrock, St. Mawes, Beaches, seafood. Drive to: <BR> <BR>Kent/Sussex. On way see Stonehenge, Stourhead Gardens, Wilton House, Salisbury Cathedral. In K/E - Sissinghurst, Rye, Bateman's, Scotney Castle Gardens, Hever, Chartwell, Knole, Dover, Canterbury, Battle, Hastings. <BR>Send note to me personally if you want any more info. <BR> <BR>

The Weald of Kent is lovely, with places like Hever Castle, Penshurst Place (has a great adventure playground in the gardens) Chartwell (Winston Churchill's home) all within a 20 mile radius, really pretty countryside as well.

Can't do it all on one trip. <BR>My must sees include Northern Wales, Scotland (Edinburgh, Glencoe and Isle of Skye), York and Yorkshire Dales, Lake Country and Peak District, Oxford or Cambridge, Bath, Devon and Cornwall. My don't bothers are Chester (the town was ruined by a mall), Worcester, Coventry, Cheltanham, Stratford and the Cotswolds, the latter being the most overrated, boring, touristy place in England. About the only thing worth seeing there was Blenheim Palace. Warwick Castle would also be good if you are traveling with kids.

I agree 100% with Capo - all those places are definately 'must sees'. I would also add the Lake District - go for somewhere off the beaten track like Buttermere; Langdale or Borrowdale. <BR> <BR>In York, don't miss Barley hall - a medieval oak-framed house in the heart of York which is far superior to the much busier Jorvik center. <BR> <BR>If you are going to Skye, don't miss Plockton (a small village in a stunning setting on the mainland) a few miles from the road bridge to Skye. <BR> <BR>------- quote ------------------ <BR>Author: Capo ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 8/07/2001, 6:25 pm ET <BR> <BR> <BR>Message: The places I loved in the UK on my first trip there (which was also my first trip to Europe) in 1979 were (in no particular order)... <BR> <BR>York, Bath, Cambridge, Rye (a very small town on the south coast of England), Edinburgh, and the Isle of Skye. <BR>----------------------------- end quote -----

Not sure why but I feel, having spent a lot of time there in the past two decades, that I need to say something in defence of the poor Cotswolds. It's true that zillions of American tourists have overrun the place, but the reason they went there in the first place was because it's beautiful, rich in heritage/history, and loaded with places to see without having to spend your entire trip on the horrible M-roads travelling from Cornwall to the Isle of Skye. You only have three weeks and are travelling with three kids, I think that's what you should focus on when deciding what to do - and still be sane. If you stay away from the peak Cotswold tourist times - June-end of August, don't go on bus tours, visit the gardens and estates later in afternoon, stay away from McDonalds and theme pubs (and anyplace that has 'fries' or Caesar salad on the menu), pack picnic lunches, don't go in to a pub/restaurant when you see a tour bus parked outside, get off the beaten path - i.e. explore all the little lanes and backroads, and stay in a village that is not Bourton on the Water or Stow on the Wold, you'll be able to see why all the tourists keep coming back here.

Durham has "the finest skyline in northern Europe"-Pevsner. <BR>Arrive by train after dark and you would swear it was Disneyland. <BR>The pubs are great too-genuine not plastic

Among so many other places, York is a must-see. In York, the Castle Museum will delight your kids (and you!). The Jorvik Viking Museum is a definitely "don't bother", even though you will see crowds waiting to get in.

Must see: York (the minster, the shambles, medieval city walls), North Yorkshire Dales (including Fountains Abbey/Studley Royal--ruins of an abbey in a beautiful setting). If you're in the dales area, there are some very picturesque villages and other sights (Skipton Castle, Bolton Abbey, Ripon Cathedral, plus all the villages along the way).

Hi Marge, <BR> <BR> I love the UK and have visited several times. I can not think of a place that I would say "don't bother". I will however give my favoites. <BR> <BR> Must see <BR> <BR>1 Cornwall (Lost Gardens of Heligan, Abbey gardens in Tresco) <BR> (Fowey Harbor) <BR> (Minack Theatre) <BR> (Port Isaac) <BR> (Polperro) <BR> (Tintagel Castle) <BR> (Clovelly) <BR> <BR>2 Glamis Castle in Scotland <BR>3 Blair Castle in Scotland <BR>4 Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood House <BR>5 Eilean Donan Castle near Kyle of Lochalsh <BR>6 Uruquart Castle (Loch Ness) <BR>7 must see Loch Katrine near Callander <BR>8 Isle of Skye <BR>9 Jedburgh Abbey <BR>10 York <BR>11 Castle Howard <BR>12 Rievaulx Abbey <BR>13 Durham (neat city) <BR>14 Stow on the Wold <BR>15 Bibury <BR>16 Bath <BR>17 Caerfilly Castle <BR>18 Castle Coch <BR>19 Bodnant Gardens <BR>20 Beaumaris Castle <BR>21 Conwy Castle <BR>22 Betwys-y-coed <BR>23 Powis Castle <BR>24 Warwick Castle (a little touristy) <BR>25 Blenheim Palace <BR>26 Stourhead <BR> <BR> There are so many wonderful places to go, but it would take all day. E-mail me if you'd like any specifics. Have a great trip! <BR>

I'd agree with some of the other posters about Stratford On Avon being touristy & not worth a visit,my personal favourites are;Robin Hoods Bay,Whitby (both very atmospheric),Fountains Abbey,The Lost Gardens of Heligan,The Eden Project & St Ives in Cornwall,Edinburgh,Glasgow & The Scottish/English Borders,The Peak & Lake Disticts,Chatsworth House,National Space Centre Leicester, & Stamford.My husband reccomends Skipton & Settle in Yorkshire.Have a fantastic trip.

I live near Stratford upon Avon and feel very upset at some of the negative things posted about the town. I can only imagine that you've all visited in the height of the season when a small market town like Stratford does become overloaded with day trippers.It is possible to escape the crowds though. The riverside setting and the theatres plus the friendly locals make Stratford a good centre for exploring some of the pretty villages nearby such as Ilmington (try the Howard Arms) or Armscote (The Fox and Goose) <BR>Try to stay in or near Stratford so that you can experience the town when the day trippers ahev gone home. <BR>Our Christmas lights are wonderful- much better than Regent Street in London