would like to see some shakespeare this summer. questions: <BR>1. can i get to stratford from heathrow by train or bus? how long does it take? <BR>2. what's the best place to stay in stratford? <BR>3. where else would you recommend in the area? <BR>4. how about stonehenge? is it accessible without a car from london or stratford?

Can someone bring up that thread "Stonehenge closed"? What is the preferred site for official government announcements about this? I couldn't get it work earlier this week. Any new or better sites for this information? <BR>

Melody, can't answer the Stratford Q in detail, but can do the Stonehenge one -see the English Heritage site below for latest opening details. <BR> <BR>http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...es/default.asp

Hello Melody, <BR> <BR>By train you have to change at London Paddington:- <BR>Heathrow-Paddington = 15minutes (Heathrow Express) <BR>Paddington-Stratford = 2hours 10minutes <BR> <BR>By coach you normally have to change at London Victoria Coach Station. <BR>Total journey time is about 5 hours. <BR>(There is an alternative infrequent service from Heathrow changing at Birmingham, - journey time about 4hours.) For details:- <BR>www.gobycoach.com <BR> <BR>Where else to visit? <BR>-Warwick Castle <BR>-Kennilworth Castle <BR>-Blenheim Palace <BR>-Chipping Campden and ... the Cotswolds <BR> <BR>Stonehenge:- <BR>By train from London Waterloo to Salisbury (1hour 20minutes), then by bus (40minute ride) from Salisbury. <BR>OR <BR>By guided tour (coach) from London, <BR>e.g. Evan Evans, Frames Rickards, Stray Travel etc. (Most combine Stonehenge with Bath). <BR> <BR>I can't suggest where to stay in Stratford, ... but hope the above helps. <BR> <BR>Steve <BR> <BR>

Hello again Melody, <BR> <BR>CORRECTION to the above:- <BR> <BR>If you're going directly from Heathrow, you DON'T need to go via Paddington. <BR> <BR>Instead, catch the rail-link bus from Heathrow to READING station. <BR>From READING to STRATFORD your journey time is 1hour 30-50minutes. <BR> <BR>For timetables see:- <BR>www.railtrack.co.uk <BR> <BR>Steve

Melody <BR> <BR>Stratford is a tourist own so the options as to where to stay are widespread and across the hole range of quality. <BR> <BR>Probably the "best" place to stay IN Stratford is the Alveston Manor. there's a very fancy place jut outside, the name of which escapes me just now. <BR> <BR>But if it were me, eben in a money no object kind of way, I'd want somehere more "real". There are some very nice little hotels in the centre; the Shakespear and the Falcon, being but two. The Arden is on the other side of the road from main theatre, sort of half way between the Swan and the Other Place. <BR> <BR>You might want to have a look at www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk