Reaching the Lake District
 

If you were thinking of a slow drive up from the south coast to the Lake District, with a couple of overnight stops on the way (we don't want to do more than 120 miles a day), where would you pick?

I'm thinking stop #1 could be the Cotswolds or Stratford on Avon. Is Banbury of any interest?

The second one is trickier. The geographical area I need to fit it is is roughly Manchester-Preston-ish, which doesn't appeal. Lytham St Anne's? Chester?

Just mulling it over at the moment, but if anyone has any bright ideas, do chip in.

Don't stay in Banbury. Nice town to live in -- lousy for driving through/visiting. Somewhere in the northeastern Cotswolds would be good. Evesham, Tewkesbury, or maybe Broadway or Chipping Campden.

Then Chester would be fine for night 2.

Thanks.

We enjoyed stopping in Chester on the way from Liverpool to the Peaks. This was just a day trip.

THank you.

I wouldn't stay in Preston, but Manchester is a great city to stay in. Excellent hotels and restaurants across the price ranges, with food from around the world. This is a historical city and well worth seeing and I'm not sure why you dismiss it as not appealing?

There are excellent road links up to the Lakes from the city to get you there in 90 minutes or so.

Just because it's a big city really. I have actually stayed in Manchester in the past.