Stonehenge, Salisbury, Bath, Cotswolds, Cardiff - logistics
 

Hi All,
We have about 3 days to take in Stonehenge, Salisbury, Bath, Cotswolds and Dr. Who Museum in Cardiff in June. Any suggestions on the best way to do this and what area(s) should we stay in to do this in the most efficient manner. We consist of my husband, myself, and our two boys, ages 16 and 12.
Thanks!

That is a LOT for just 3 days -- and do you have 3 full days (4 nights) or less like 2+ days/2 nights? Where are you starting from? And where are you heading to afterwards?

But in general . . . for London to London: Collect car at LHR, drive to Salisbury tour the city, drive out to Stonehenge (you need to pre-book parking), then in the mid to late afternoon drive to Bath, stay the night and the next morning til lunch time. in the afternoon drive to Cardiff and tour the Dr Who exhibit at last entry at 3:30 PM. Stay the night. Next morning early drive from Cardiff meandering through the Cotswolds all day back to LHR to drop the car.

This gives you very little time in Bath or the Cotswolds

What JJ said, except that the train would probably be quicker and more efficient at least for half of the journey.

I would suggest [depending on the time you arrive in LHR] getting the train to Paddington and then the fast train to Cardiff for the Dr Who - that way the kids will be happy because you will have seen that first.

Then work your way back to LHR - you could get the train to Bath, then pick up a car and drive through the Cotswolds to LHR, or drive SE to Salisbury and then back to London via Stonehenge.

IMO with only 3 days [even if they are whole days] you would be hard pressed to do everything you have listed.

The Doctor Who Experience is closing permamently this summer, so make sure it's going to be open if it's your sole reason for visiting Cardiff.

Lee Ann

Yes Train to Bath like annhig says and drive back to Salisbury via the Cotswolds. Better IMO jettison the Cotswolds this time and spread your time out amongst the other places.

Trains booked far enough in advance can be very cheap - www.nationalrail.co.uk can book your own-much cheaper than walk-up fares though usually have severe restrictions on changes/refunds. For lots on British trains check www.seat61.com - right on info on discounted tickets; www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Sans the Cotswolds you could do it all by train-cars in cities are useless - buses or taxis go all the time Salisbury the several miles to Stonehenge.

Whether you take the trains or drive . . . This is not a 3 day excursion.

Using trains is faster for the long distances but then you have the hassle of getting to a rental agency. If you drop the Cotswolds you could do the entire thing by train. Basically one day for Salisbury/Stonehenge, one day for Bath, and one day for Cardiff and the journey back to London.

That is way, way more than we are attempting to do on an almost 2-week trip to England in May. Our itinerary is different (though it does include Bath), but I cannot imagine trying to cram that all into 3 days.

I would drop Cotswolds becauase you have such limited time - Cotswolds in not a drive-by or drive-thru but getting out in neat wool villages - doing at least some easy walks, etc. To just drive thru would not be that great ---need a few days at least.

There is no such place as "Cotswold" - it is <i>the</i> Cotswolds. Otherwise it is an adjective.

Hi CreativeMom - are you coming from London? You might try something similar to what we are doing for our trip in June. This way, you could fit in all you want to see.

Day 1: London to Bath by train in the morning. Pick up rental car and drive to Cardiff for Dr. Who Museum. Stop at Chepstow Castle on the way back to Bath. Overnight in Bath.

Day 2: Spend the day in Bath seeing Roman Baths, Walking Tour, Bath Abbey, maybe a river boat cruise? Overnight in Bath.

Day 3: Mad Max Tour of Stonehenge, Salisbury, and the Cotswolds. Overnight in Bath.

Alternatively, you could do the Sunset Inner Circle Tour of Stonehenge the evening of Day 2 - and spend more time in the Cotswolds on Day 3. Rental car would come in handy.

Rachill_az's plan would work -- but it would be a 4 day itinerary (including getting back to London) and you say you have 3 days.