Hello all, I'm working on details for an upcoming England trip in April. My husband and I will arrive LHR in the morning and immediately travel to Winchester for two nights. The day we depart Winchester we will spend exploring Stonehenge (early inner circle tour), Avebury, and Salisbury as time allows. We need to select a location for a single overnight between Winchester and our base in the Cotswolds; I was thinking either Salisbury or Bradford-on-Avon. I am leaning towards Bradford-on-Avon as we will spend the next three nights in the Cotswolds and it puts us very close to the Cotswolds itself and the town looks super charming. Is there any advantage to either or are both a good choice?

First question -- how are you getting to Winchester? Not a good idea driving after an overnight flight.

>>overnight in Salisbury or Bradford-on-Avon<<

Unless you want to visit Bath, there really is no reason to build in a stop anywhere. Winchester to Stonehenge to say Burford is only about 2.5 hours car time. But if you have already booked Winchester and Cotswold accommodations with a night in between - then I'd probably stop somewhere like Castle Combe, Lacock or Corsham.

Hi janisj, we will either take public transportation or hire a private driver from the airport in advance. Some of the quotes aren't terribly more expensive than public transport and it would be incredibly convenient.

No, we are going to skip Bath. I would like to visit Castle Combe and Lacock, so I thought staying a night in proximity to that area would make it easy to start our tour there. We like to stay in a location where we can park the car for the night and walk to pubs/restaurants for dinner and drinks so I was thinking Bradford-on-Avon would be big enough to give us some choice. I'll have to look into options in your suggested locations.

There are several pubs and restaurants in Corsham

The Manor House in Castle Combe would be a very worthwhile (and pricey, I expect) overnight stop. It's a beautiful property.

I've walked through Bradford several times & once through Castle Comb. I much prefer the former, thought Castle Comb pretty, certainly, but boring. If the choice is between those 2 I'd recommend Bradford unless the property you mention would outweigh anything of interest in the village of CC itself. Bradford-on-Avon is, despite its popularity with visitors, a real live town, whereas CC seemed a stage set. Even on foot I simply passed through to an accommodation in the countryside and didn't feel I'd missed a thing.

Hello-I am in the process of planning a last minute trip to London. I am also interested in visiting Lacock and the other areas you mention. I wondered if you might provide a link to the driver you found that was reasonable? I am trying to plan day trips from London using trains but I like the option of a driver. Thank you.

between the two suggested Salisbury has more to do and some more wonderful buildings.

I understand that, on at least one day recently, Lacock was virtually closed down to film an episode of Downton Abbey. The film company even paid for the whole school to be taken on a trip outside the village so that the local noise level was lower. It would be a shame to arrange an expensive visit and find you were not allowed to go where you wanted.

Emily: (Welcome to Fodors -- I know you've been registered for a year but this seems to be your first post)

Day trips from London w/ a private driver tend to be very expensive. The OP was talking about a driver from LHR to their first stop and there are several taxi companies/car services that specialize on Airport transfers. But driving out from London several times will add up quickly. Plus because of traffic and distances, trains/public transport is often faster.

But budget is relative - so if one has a lot to spend it is possible to hire driver guides by the day.

Devizes?

There are some places to stay in and around Avebury too.

Downton Abbey has finished.

This filming was for the movie sequel.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...Leech-set.html

>>closed down to film an episode of Downton Abbey. <<

>>Downton Abbey has finished.<<

The telly series ended ages ago -- but you both do need to get out more Its a block buster movie being filmed - has been covered in all the media.

I do that is why I never heard about a copy over rated film being made.
That make Devizes or Avebury looking even better as an option(s).

Thank you all for your helpful replies. Eily, if you still want the driver info let me know and I’ll look though my notes on my computer and respond.

Hello! Yes, please! If you can easily find the information I would most appreciative Thank you, candj83!

Thank you, Janisj. Yes, it is my first post. I am an armchair traveler; but a trip to London has presented itself- and I am scrambling to pull it together. I was attracted to this post as I am considering visiting the same places. Thank you for the clarification on the car hire.

This is the service I found but you may find more competitive options with some searching.

https://www.airporttaxis-uk.co.uk/Heathrow