Oh, to be in England--and we were! Trip Report of 2 Weeks in London and Day Trips
Dec 18th, 2009, 08:14 PM
#81
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OK if you insist:
(You need to know we are very willing to be very busy for a couple weeks; and our priorities, from the 3 of us, had us at opposite ends of England, so....)Also already have BandB's for every night! So not looking to change itinerary much
July 29-Fly into HLR, arrive about 12:30pm--go into London, to BandB on Tenniel Close, explore neighborhood, maybe see Oscar Wilde spots on St. James and Hatchards
July 30-Aug 2-We have 3 whole days in London; one day Westminster Abbey and Imperial War Museum; one British Library and Museum; one St. Pauls and South Bank--not hurried any day and nothing in stone except NOT St. Pauls or Westminster on Sunday
We've been to London before and so are re-seeing a couple things and feel like we have a handle on the Tube, what we want to see, etc.
Aug. 3--Pick up rental car (not sure where yet) and drive to Oxford; use Park and Ride to get into city; see as many Lewis and Tolkein sites we can but definitely stopping by Magdelan College. Spend night in Oxford
Aug. 4--Drive by Tolkien's grave, Black Bourton (very egocentric--an ancestral relative, novelist Maria Edgeworth born there) and on to Shrewsbury--see at least the Abbey (because of Cadfael) and whatever else of the city we can. Spend night in Shrewsbury.
Aug. 5--Drive to Conwy--maybe go by a castle important to Llewelyn--spend afternoon on walls and castle in Conwy --MAYBE drive to Llandudno. Spend night in Conwy.
Aug. 6--Drive to Carlisle--long drive--try to be there to spend time seeing city walls and castle--MAYBE drive a bit through Lake District like near Windemere--depends on weather, traffice, etc. Spend night in Carlisle
Aug. 7--See Hadrian's Wall--Stop at several important stops=--MAYBE see Durham Cathedral if we get there in time. Spend night in Durham.
Aug. 8--Drive to York and spend the day; spend the night in York.
Aug. 9--Drive to Dartford--have free night in a hotel. Not sure about this day--might stop in Lincoln. I know this is a long drive day with lots of traffic--would like to see Lincoln AND Cambridge but probably have to skip Cambridge; we'll see; staying in Dartford Marriott
Aug. 10--Drive to Dover and see cliffs and castle (MIGHT/Greatly desire to stop by Canterbury Cathedral--depends on traffic/etc.). Spend the night in Dover.
Aug. 11-Drive back to Heathrow area. Go through Rye and to Battle and maybe to Bodiam Castle--we'll see. Turn car in.
Haven't made reservations but some hotel near Heathrom like Jury's.
Aug. 12--very early flight back to Texas!
We're opting this time for this sort of driving tour; our plan is to most days be in the destination spot by lunch or early afternoon, park in the bandb, and see sights. I know it's a cursory look at most places but that's ok.
I'm the type that needs to make such plans way ahead and with 3 adults traveling (DD will be 21) our options were limited somewhat. I'm thinking of this as our ABC tour--Abbeys and Ancient Rome, Bed and Breakfasts, and Castles and Cathedrals amd a Car.!
This itinerary won't appeal to many/most, but after hours and hours with maps, forums, books, websites, etc. and with our wishes, this is it for now!
(You need to know we are very willing to be very busy for a couple weeks; and our priorities, from the 3 of us, had us at opposite ends of England, so....)Also already have BandB's for every night! So not looking to change itinerary much
July 29-Fly into HLR, arrive about 12:30pm--go into London, to BandB on Tenniel Close, explore neighborhood, maybe see Oscar Wilde spots on St. James and Hatchards
July 30-Aug 2-We have 3 whole days in London; one day Westminster Abbey and Imperial War Museum; one British Library and Museum; one St. Pauls and South Bank--not hurried any day and nothing in stone except NOT St. Pauls or Westminster on Sunday
We've been to London before and so are re-seeing a couple things and feel like we have a handle on the Tube, what we want to see, etc.
Aug. 3--Pick up rental car (not sure where yet) and drive to Oxford; use Park and Ride to get into city; see as many Lewis and Tolkein sites we can but definitely stopping by Magdelan College. Spend night in Oxford
Aug. 4--Drive by Tolkien's grave, Black Bourton (very egocentric--an ancestral relative, novelist Maria Edgeworth born there) and on to Shrewsbury--see at least the Abbey (because of Cadfael) and whatever else of the city we can. Spend night in Shrewsbury.
Aug. 5--Drive to Conwy--maybe go by a castle important to Llewelyn--spend afternoon on walls and castle in Conwy --MAYBE drive to Llandudno. Spend night in Conwy.
Aug. 6--Drive to Carlisle--long drive--try to be there to spend time seeing city walls and castle--MAYBE drive a bit through Lake District like near Windemere--depends on weather, traffice, etc. Spend night in Carlisle
Aug. 7--See Hadrian's Wall--Stop at several important stops=--MAYBE see Durham Cathedral if we get there in time. Spend night in Durham.
Aug. 8--Drive to York and spend the day; spend the night in York.
Aug. 9--Drive to Dartford--have free night in a hotel. Not sure about this day--might stop in Lincoln. I know this is a long drive day with lots of traffic--would like to see Lincoln AND Cambridge but probably have to skip Cambridge; we'll see; staying in Dartford Marriott
Aug. 10--Drive to Dover and see cliffs and castle (MIGHT/Greatly desire to stop by Canterbury Cathedral--depends on traffic/etc.). Spend the night in Dover.
Aug. 11-Drive back to Heathrow area. Go through Rye and to Battle and maybe to Bodiam Castle--we'll see. Turn car in.
Haven't made reservations but some hotel near Heathrom like Jury's.
Aug. 12--very early flight back to Texas!
We're opting this time for this sort of driving tour; our plan is to most days be in the destination spot by lunch or early afternoon, park in the bandb, and see sights. I know it's a cursory look at most places but that's ok.
I'm the type that needs to make such plans way ahead and with 3 adults traveling (DD will be 21) our options were limited somewhat. I'm thinking of this as our ABC tour--Abbeys and Ancient Rome, Bed and Breakfasts, and Castles and Cathedrals amd a Car.!
This itinerary won't appeal to many/most, but after hours and hours with maps, forums, books, websites, etc. and with our wishes, this is it for now!
Dec 18th, 2009, 09:41 PM
#83
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Black Bourton:
1. Be sure to look inside the church. There's a small cluster of churches in the area with surviving 13th/14th century wallpaintings: Black Bourton is one of them.
It's really the medieval annexe to the local airbase (normally the RAF's major logistics centre) So there's a touching row of modern military graves where most ancient English churches have Victorian monuments or Tudor-era wool-bales
2. Be cautious about the local wines. Wine making in England has advanced immensely over the past 20 years, and the local Castle Vineyard produces passable - going on OK really - whites. Their belief you can make reds at this latitude is shared by practically no-one else. Taste their red and you'll soon see why.
1. Be sure to look inside the church. There's a small cluster of churches in the area with surviving 13th/14th century wallpaintings: Black Bourton is one of them.
It's really the medieval annexe to the local airbase (normally the RAF's major logistics centre) So there's a touching row of modern military graves where most ancient English churches have Victorian monuments or Tudor-era wool-bales
2. Be cautious about the local wines. Wine making in England has advanced immensely over the past 20 years, and the local Castle Vineyard produces passable - going on OK really - whites. Their belief you can make reds at this latitude is shared by practically no-one else. Taste their red and you'll soon see why.
Dec 19th, 2009, 03:44 AM
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Thanks as ever, flanneruk--just the sort of specific info that makes planning and then seeing purposeful.
(and I know my itinerary is a bit bonkers and fast, but if you --or others--have any other comment, I'll brace myself and listen!)
(and I know my itinerary is a bit bonkers and fast, but if you --or others--have any other comment, I'll brace myself and listen!)
Dec 19th, 2009, 04:39 AM
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Aug. 7--See Hadrian's Wall--Stop at several important stops=--MAYBE see Durham Cathedral if we get there in time. Spend night in Durham.>>>
I'd do this the other way round. Durham Cathedral is magnificent. Hadrian's wall is a wall.
Durham is also a good destination to wander and potter about in.
Seen one wall, seen 'em all.
I'd do this the other way round. Durham Cathedral is magnificent. Hadrian's wall is a wall.
Durham is also a good destination to wander and potter about in.
Seen one wall, seen 'em all.
Dec 19th, 2009, 04:44 AM
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Wow, sounds like you have done your homework, I'm impressed. I know what you mean about making plans, works for me too. We all have our own way of doing things including travel - if we all did things the same way, wouldn't it be boring!!
I'm sure you will have a wonderful time, its sounds like a fun trip. I shall look forward to your report.
I'm sure you will have a wonderful time, its sounds like a fun trip. I shall look forward to your report.
Dec 19th, 2009, 05:41 AM
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CW--I live in a city that isn't even 200 years old and almost everything older than about 100 years has been blown away by sea breezes of one strength or another. So to be somewhere that is nearly 2000 years old is beyond amazing! Silly southern yanks, I know! But that day is pretty flexible as to stops and time spent at each. We do hope to make it to Durham in time to see the Cathedral (open til 7 and the BandB isn't far from it.)
Dec 19th, 2009, 11:00 AM
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Sounds like a fun itinerary exploring the countryside a bit.
We are too chicken to rent a car to Oxford (driving on the left side of the road when we have never done that before is too scary for us). Even though I am sure you get used to it fast enough when you experience it.
Did you ever go to the Ashmolean museum in Oxford? I read that it re-opened.
We are too chicken to rent a car to Oxford (driving on the left side of the road when we have never done that before is too scary for us). Even though I am sure you get used to it fast enough when you experience it.
Did you ever go to the Ashmolean museum in Oxford? I read that it re-opened.
Dec 19th, 2009, 11:08 AM
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We were too chicken to drive our first trip, too. Now DH has some UK driving (on business) under his belt so he's willing to drive this time. But we won't be driving IN Oxford; we'll use a Park and Ride (very near our BandB) and bus into town.
Never went to the Ashmolean--too many other stops and other places taking priority!
Never went to the Ashmolean--too many other stops and other places taking priority!
Dec 19th, 2009, 07:12 PM
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Texasbookworm, we picked up our car at AutoEurope's Marble Arch depot. From there it's really easy to get on the motorway to Oxford.
The Tolkiens are buried in Wolvercote Cemetery. There are handy signs directing you to their grave; we have pictures in our Picasa album which you may have seen already.
Lee Ann
The Tolkiens are buried in Wolvercote Cemetery. There are handy signs directing you to their grave; we have pictures in our Picasa album which you may have seen already.
Lee Ann
Dec 20th, 2009, 04:23 AM
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Lee Ann,
Yes, we were looking at your pictures again just yesterday, actually! How funny. DH enjoyed yours of Conwy Castle, one of our destinations.
I'm wondering if a car service like justairports might be a good option, getting us from LHR upon arrival to our BandB in Bayswater (instead of using the Tube, which would work but have one station change) and then 4 days later picking us up early and taking us to car rental at LHR. Wouldn't cost much more than tube ride for 3 from LHR and the extra charge it looks like it would cost to pick up car one place and drop it off at LHR. Plus then we wouldn't have to navigate out of London and pay congestion charge. But there is a car rental place about 10 minute walk or less from our bandb, and we rode Tube to our BandB from LHR in 2008, so I don't know--maybe I should just start another thread with this question.
Yes, we were looking at your pictures again just yesterday, actually! How funny. DH enjoyed yours of Conwy Castle, one of our destinations.
I'm wondering if a car service like justairports might be a good option, getting us from LHR upon arrival to our BandB in Bayswater (instead of using the Tube, which would work but have one station change) and then 4 days later picking us up early and taking us to car rental at LHR. Wouldn't cost much more than tube ride for 3 from LHR and the extra charge it looks like it would cost to pick up car one place and drop it off at LHR. Plus then we wouldn't have to navigate out of London and pay congestion charge. But there is a car rental place about 10 minute walk or less from our bandb, and we rode Tube to our BandB from LHR in 2008, so I don't know--maybe I should just start another thread with this question.
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