Southwestern England
 

Can anyone suggest a town or village between Heathrow and Exeter which would make a nice and relaxing one night stay? One large problem is that I would need to find a place which could accommodate my handicapped husband (no major stairs, shower with safety bars, first floor bedroom). I have absolutely no familiarity with this area at all and would really appreciate suggestions.

How are you travelling?

If car and not jetlagged I would suggest Salisbury

Winchester or Salisbury - two fine FINE towns regardless of their stunning cathedrals - I liked Winchester a tad more - both have lovely walks south of town thru cow pastures or at least Salisbury does.

By car after a flight from California arriving Heathrow at 7:30am. Do not expect to be too jet lagged I will look up accommodations in Winchester and Salisbury. Many thanks. Just looking at names on a map doesn't give me an idea as to whether an overnight stay is warranted or not. I know I don't want to stay at or around the airport and it is too hard of a drive to get to Gidleigh Park a day early.

<i>Do not expect to be too jet lagged</i>

You'll be arriving at midnight California time, by the time you get through the airport and collect your car it will be around 2:00am, by the time you reach Salisbury - assuming you do - it will be around 4:00am according to your bodyclock

Have you thought about getting the train to Exeter and picking up a car once in the southwest?

Train to Exeter is easy - just take the airbus to nearby Feltham or another air link to a station on the train like to Exeter - save on the day of a car rental and Exeter is nice too - not nearly as nice to me as Winchester or Salisbury though - you obviously if staying in Salisbury include a visit to nearby Stonehenge.

Trains are very difficult for my husband to negotiate; he much prefers driving. Plus we will need a car for the next week as from Gidleigh Park we will be driving to Oxford with side trips along the way. For some strange reason, travel west to east doesn't bother me. Coming back to California however absolutely brings me to me knees for a couple of weeks.

Trains are very difficult for my husband to negotiate;>

Standard class (2nd cl) on British trains are about the most uncomfortable I have seen in Europe - if taking the train and physically challenged or big or tall then first class is about the best I've seen on European trains - figures in class-bound Britain! I'd stay with the car given your qualms - 2nd class can at any time suddenly turn into SRO - making uncomfy seats in a littered with old newspapers, paper cups, food wrappings, etc even more of a nightmare at times.

PLEASE do not drive after an over night flight. Sure you <i>might</i> feel fine but more than likely not. I live in CA and travel to the UK at least twice a year, usually 3 times. In the (long) past I have collected a car on arrival. But long ago learned there is no rhyme nor reason to how rested I am.

Why not stay the first night in Windsor? It is only 7 mies from LHR, is a nice town, and has a LOT to fill the day. The next day you'll have about a 3.5 hour drive to Exeter.

As for handicapped accessible rooms - look at these sites

http://www.disabledholidaydirectory....23/hotel-at92/
http://www.goodaccessguide.co.uk/acc...tion/index.php
http://www.accessatlast.com/disabled...ation/ENGLAND/

"my handicapped husband"

Be aware that in the UK he will be disabled not handicapped, some people way take exception if you use the "h" word.

Be sure to ask for a GROUND FLOOR room. Our first floor in England means one floor up from the ground so you could be faced with stairs.

So, Winchester, Salisbury (the town is very flat) and Windsor all great suggestions. I prefer Salisbury but DYOR. "Ground floor" and tell the hotel about being disabled, many hotels have great rooms now designed for the disabled and honestly you don't want a tiny bathroom with no hand-holds if you need them.

Only other advice is make sure you are parking in the hotel carpark, given UK legislation any sensible hotel will have slots for the disabled right by reception with easy access doors. But, if they don't have their own carpark you could end up on the road away from reception. No need to start schleping if you can arrange an easy space.

Morgana dead right about the language, "handicapped" is off the spectrum for the PC. This has been true throughout the 2000s but very re-enforced by the Olympics.

I doubt very much whether anyone is going to correct a disabled person who is using a different term from the one they might use themselves, or someone phoning to book a room with improved access etc.

Well,... they might be surprised and if themselves disabled, hurt. Hopefully they will ask about special requirements.

I once heard a Yorkshire person use the phrase "call a spade a spade" to an American. American, very hurt, Brit, very confused and surprised. Took hours to calm it down.

like the word Chunnel 'handicapped' used by American janis and others is natural because that is what we say and we are usually clueless as to the mistake in British terms what we are saying - like to 'collect' a car to most of us would mean as actually collect them as a hobby much like stamp collecting - it is impossible for the average American to be versed in such nomenclature but it does help to know that - but should we abandon our American language once in Britain? to me that can be putting on airs at time - now if handicapped offends British spastics - that's a word I've heard used in Britain - indeed they have Spastics Shops for handicapped people to buy aids - and spastic to us is a very perjorative term - meaning total slob or uncoordinated person - we would never used spastic to describe a handicapped person.

"Morgana dead right about the language, "handicapped" is off the spectrum for the PC. This has been true throughout the 2000s but very re-enforced by the Olympics."

It wasn't Morgana that mentioned it.

"now if handicapped offends British spastics - that's a word I've heard used in Britain"

Must have been a long time ago, I haven't heard it since the 70's.

>> 'handicapped' used by American janis and others is natural because that is what we say and we are usually clueless as to the mistake<<

No - I am not clueless. I use Disabled myself. I used 'handicapped' in my post because that is <i>the term the OP used</i> and I chose not to correct her. Other issues (such as driving after an overnight flight) were more important IMO . . .

He's been told that before - he's just doing it to get a rise.